Ebony sat curled in the corner of the room, Sam left a while ago. She did her best to ignore the pain in her ankle, but with every involuntary twitch, pain spasmed up her leg. The companion had brought a black leather dress and brown woolen pants. She pulled the pants on hastily but needed help with the dress. It reached her knees and the sleeves reached her wrists. A pair of lace up boots lay a few feet away, she hadn't put them on yet. Interested about him, she reached out to him with her mind and found a conscious with heavy locks on it. She explored the edges of his or her -- Ebony wasn't completely sure yet -- mind, finding a small hole in the protection which she slipped through with the greatest of ease, entering the companion's mind.
"Hello," she called
Hello. I was wondering when you would find a way in.
"So you knew I would try?" she asked.
I guess I do look differently now, you probably don't recognize me. You worked for my father.
"I'm sorry, I don't remember," Ebony said.
Is this not you? An image of herself materialized in front of her. She stood wearing a crisp Lyrakk Officers uniform, a row of awards she never earned on the jackets breast with her hair pulled back into an immaculate bun. Her eyes burned crimson. You are Lieutenant Evona Vladamir of Pûnshin, are you not?
Ebony's head sagged forward as she was forced to face her past. She tried to swallow the memories as they came flooding back, the feeling of betrayal to Gabriel sinking into her chest as she allowed him to ravish her body. Her knees became weak and she dropped to them, closing her eyes for a moment, forcing her tears back. She took a deep breath. "You are Commander Varston's son, Elijah, correct?"
So you do remember me?
I do! Mercy cut in.
Get out of here, Mercy. Ebony snapped to her. She nodded and sat back on her heels. Closing her eyes, she smiled briefly, "How is your father?"
I have not seen him since you left. Since you betrayed us.
"I was doing my job, I left your father alive, is that not enough?" Ebony asked.
They broke his mind and ripped his memories of you from his skull! They berated him for your intimate relationship and striped him of his rank! They tortured him for any memories he hid from them!
The fury nearly drove her from his mind, it rushed upon her like a sudden storm, thrashing her from every side. It pulled and tugged at her hair, threatening to rip some out.
"I am sorry! I was doing as I was told!" Ebony screamed over the wind.
The Lyrakk High Command did not tell you to kill their Commanders or Generals! Do not lie to me!
“No, you don’t understand, I’m not a vampire, not a full one anyway,” Ebony said. The winds instantly ceased and Elijah’s mind was returned to calm. Confusion wound its way through the mind, playing its contradictory song, singing of beauty with the saddest melody playing in the background.
What? The word said with the saddest tone Ebony had ever heard. She could almost picture Elijah’s lip quivering like it had when they’d received news of an Alliance raid on a Vampire settlement and Elijah’s mother had been killed.
"I'm not a full vampire," she repeated.
You are Damphir?
"No, not even that close. Nor am I Decator. I was sucked nearly dry by a vampire but was transformed into an Angel by Gabriel. I acquired some vampire traits, enough to hide amongst the vampires. Your father knew this.”
No wonder my father liked you. You're different.
“Can you get me out of here?” Ebony asked. Suddenly back in reality she gasped and saw a young boy standing at the doorway. Ebony sat up straighter and smiled. Elijah stood and left. She waved the boy in and he stayed in the doorway. "I won't hurt you," she said. "Come in."
The boy's face erupted into a smile and he turned a bright red color. "I never expected the Goddess to deam me important enough to speak with.”
Ebony smiled and motioned him in again. He entered and sat down beside her. “Tell me about the Goddess,” she instructed.
He looked confused. “You do not know about yourself?”
Ebony shook her head and laughed softly. She reached up and tapped the wrap around her head, offering the boy a gentle smile. “I hit my head, I don’t remember things as well as I should. Can you fill in the gaps in my memory?”
"Of course," the boy said. "It was prophesied that a black haired, silver eyed Goddess would be found amongst the lava fields and that she would release us from our bodily forms and take us with her to heaven. The descriptions vary, but they all agree that she would be very beautiful with black hair and silver eyes."
Ebony began to process what she had just heard but six words seemed to stick out. They ran through her head constantly, release us from our bodily form. The words brought a chill to her spine and she looked to the boy. "How am I supposed to release you?"
The boy reached into his pouch and withdrew a short rock dagger. He rubbed the blade between his fingers and smiled. "You are going to bleed us dry from the throat. How hard did you hit your head?"
Ebony forced her response out, "Pretty hard." Her mind raced for a way to get out of this but it all relied on her ability to walk.
How about you let me out? I'll get us out of here. Mercy said.
Go away damned whore, you're the reason we're in this mess. Ebony retorted and mentally shoved her vampiric side as far back as she could. But she continued to pester, over taking Ebony's thought processes and babbling on anything except how to get out. I said go way!
You know, I quite enjoyed Gabriel, where is he? He was a fighter. Mercy made images of Gabriel's bloody, broken body flash in Ebony's mind. She began to feel the hot, sticky blood on her hands. She shook her head clear of the thoughts and the stickiness vanished.
Shut up and get out!
Make me. Mercy sneered but thankfully went silent.
Ebony could practically imagine her vampire side sticking her tongue out and striding away.
"Are you alright?" the boy asked. Ebony realized she had become tense with her jaw set and her fists clenched. She quickly relaxed, hoping to pass it off but knew it wouldn't work. The boy lifted the wrap from her head and ran his finger over a tender area of her skin. Having not seen her face since she woke up, Ebony assumed he was tracing the wound. He smiled as he lowered his hand and cringed as a slit appeared on his forehead, blood sliding down it. Ebony reached up and felt smooth skin under her fingers.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” she said.
He shrugged.“The goddess shouldn’t have a scar to mark her face. It’s unsightly and you’re too pretty to have one,” the boy said. He looked down for a moment and ran his thumb over the edge of his dagger, biting the corner of his lip nervously.
“What is it?” Ebony asked.
He looked up at her, his face shocked. “I, I was just wondering,” he said and then looked down, too embarrassed to speak. His cheeks flushed red.
“Wondering what?” Ebony asked tentatively.
“I was wondering if you would release me now,” he mumbled and held the dagger out to her.
Ebony stared at the proffered stone dagger. The edges stained red with and the intricate rope work that made up the hilt spattered in blood. It was a short dagger, not very long, maybe three or four inches but it would definitely get the job done.
I’ll do it! Mercy shouted giddy. Ebony felt the control of her hands and arms slip and she instantly tried to regain control. Before she could regain control, her arms, acting seemingly of their own accord, snatched up the dagger. Once she had the dagger, Ebony finally reasserted full control over all extremities.
“I couldn’t,” she said and went to give the dagger back. The boy’s hands snatched the her hand that contained the dagger and drew it across his throat. The sharp edge slicing easily through his skin and his blood sprayed across her face. He smiled before collapsing, blood gushing endlessly from his neck. Ebony cried out in shock, dropping the knife and pushing away from the body.
You know, I am kind of hungry. Mercy tried to reassure control and Ebony snapped her control down moments before Mercy gained control.
No! Ebony asserted.
You know, I won’t wilt away to nothing. I am not going away. Mercy said.
Ebony looked to the door and saw Elijah standing there, holding her rosary and a wrapped twisted wooden staff. He walked over to her and knelt down, picking up the shoes. He slipped her feet into them and quickly laced them up. Ebony slipped the rosary around her neck and took the staff in a weak grip. Elijah took her and led her out of the room.