I woke up with a start, sitting straight upright then falling back down as my head throbbed. Looking around I noticed a figure sitting opposite me with his head on his knees. I try to sit up again to get a better picture of who it is, but with an agonizing groan I fall back once more. My groaning evidently stirred him because he raised his head. My first instinct was that it was Alaric with his dark hair and eyes but, amazingly, it was Marc sitting there looking at me. His face was smothered with concern that eased slightly as I raised my head a little to see him better.
"How long?"
"What?"
"How long have I been out?"
"A couple of hours. Gabriel and Alaric are down stairs. The other three went out patrolling."
"Are you OK?"
"Me? I'm fine. Now you, on the other hand, must really have banged your head if you were out for this long." The statement was humorous. Whenever rage takes control of us we are out for hours because the rage drains us completely.
"Um. Sash?"
"Hmm?"
" I have a secret to tell."
"A secret huh? What is it?" I knew what was coming but I played along.
"I was drafted by the Fallen. When I was fourteen they taught me to fight. I ran after two years when they finally trusted me. They've been hunting me down every since." He looked down as he said it. "I was drafted with my little sister." His voice was now wavering. "She tried to run before I did, but she didn't make it very far." Tears streamed down his face. He looked up at me, his expression of sadness turned to hate instantaneously. "They made me kill her, run her through with my own sword. She was only ten." He stood up, turned around and slammed his bare fist into the wall. "They told me the only way out was death, and unfaithful members didn't deserve life." His voice was just a whisper as he said it. With a final, feeble effort I sat up.
"Marc, I'm sorry." Unfortunately, my voice probably sounded cold and without empathy as I said it. He walked over to me and sat down. "I do know what it's like to lose someone."
"You do?"
"Of course I do. I wasn't always the only girl around. I had two 'sisters'. I guess you could call them that, but they were killed a long time ago." It was true they had been my best friends, but I didn't miss them like Marc missed his sister.
"Good. You're up." Gabriel stood in the doorway, his head cocked to the side like a fox.
"Are they back yet?"
"No, but they should be back soon."
"Good." I sigh. "Give me a hand will ya?" I reach a hand to Marc which he took and towed me to my feet.
"Now, let's see if I can make it down a flight of stairs shall we?" I smirk at both of them, then head to the door, push past Gabriel and head down the stairs.