The Silver Fox

Chapter 5: Annalisa

I stand outside of the prisoner's room, awaiting consent to enter and see the patient. Butterflies start to fly around inside me and I begin to rethink talking to him.

"He says yes," Jacklen calls out.

I signal my bodyguards to wait outside and step into the room. The man is sitting up in bed with shiny silver shackles around his wrists and attached to the bed. I gaze shyly at him.

"People think you are a spy who came here to turn me in," I say playfully as I sit down on a bedside chair. I stare at his handsome face and wait for his response,

"Well, I don't remember ever doing that... but I don't remember many things,"

I smile and hope that it is not too obvious that I like him,

"Well let's start with the basics, what is your name?"

"Nathanial, but you can call me Nathan. I don't remember my last name or anything about myself before waking up here...hell, I didn't even recognize my own face! I . . ."

He trails off. I can tell that it is hard for him to talk about his own amnesia.

"Well Nathan, I am Annalisa,"

"Yes, the Silver Fox. Did they send you in here to use your power to erase my mind, because, if you have not noticed already, someone got to me first," he says with a slight grimace and a half-hearted laugh.

The nick-name feels like a stab in the gut. A reminder of how much the other Raniums hate me, how they hate my long silver hair. Believe me, if I could, I would chance who I am. I would get rid of my powers and good looks. But I am stuck with who I am and will just have to make the best of it,

"No, I came here on my own, and please don't ever use that name in my presence or I will have to leave." I stand up and start towards the door, hurt that he would ever use that name or condescending tone with me. Hurt that he would ever think that I would use my powers for bad.

"Ok, ok, I am sorry, sit back down. That is just what everyone at the kingdom has called you ever since you disappeared 12 years ago."

"You remember that and not your own last name?"

"I know it's weird, but when I saw your silver hair, it just clicked. Everything else is just a jumble of bits and pieces."

Embarrassed at his glance, I pretend to ignore it and say, "I will tell Jacklen that you are a visual learner and that maybe pictures will jog your memory. Alright, I have to leave. Nice to meet you... Nathan."

I step out of the room, feeling the blood rush to my cheeks. I am satisfied that the man is really a good natured guy. A smile creeps up my face.