Reflections

[Rowana]

Nothingness. Cold, dark, peaceful emptiness. But from the void there was an unexpected pull. "Rose, dear, come back and embrace the pain of life. I will make it worth your trouble."With those words came the fire, the burning, wrenching pain of a thousand torches that seared through her skin, through her blood. No part of her was left untouched as the torturous torment of life enveloped her entire body into the depths of her core.Her eyes snapped open, but they saw nothing. Her mouth opened as if to scream, but no sound escaped. Her lungs struggled to force air in and out in ragged, broken attempts, but each slight movement was another knife stabbing into her.Another soft voice whispered nearby. "Embrace it and you'll be free."She forced her eyes closed, tears leaking down across her burning cheeks, and took a breath, the movement causing another twist in the knife that felt to be stabbing her again and again and again. Her scream echoed through the room, almost as if disembodied. She heard a soft whimper, and felt her essence of herself pull away from the pain once more as her body began to slip into shock, shivering uncontrollably.Again, the voices called her back. "Rose, dear, can you hear me?"Yes, she heard echo through her thoughts as she hovered not-quite separate and not-quite joined to her body."Where does it hurt?" the other voice whispered somewhere.Her mind could not even find the words to describe where, and she heard herself respond distantly as she began to separate again."Lessons are best learned this way sweetie...Once more she felt her consciousness slam back into the full awareness of the pain in her physical body. She clawed at the floor to find something, anything, to hold on to. Something to give her the strength to endure.But just before she began to slip away once more, a sharp force flowed from her shoulders down through her being the healing energy of life washed over her. As the energy withdrew it took with it some of the agony. Another hand touched her, and again energy flowed over her, though this time radiating from the middle outward in an abrupt and overwhelming sensation of ecstasy and feeling, but it withdrew as fast as it came, leaving her only with a warmth and a longing as she caught her breath.The fire was gone. The knives had disappeared. In its place was an encompassing soreness and fatigue."Better dear?"She nodded, the simple motion bringing on a slight ache, reminding her of the ordeal she had just lived through."We'll see to you after this is all over... Rest..."Obediently, she closed her eyes, eyes that still could not register the images before it, still lost in a world of feeling and emotion. She took a ragged breath as the tears continued to flow. She was overcome.Once again a soft voice floated to her ears. "Take the pain into you and free yourself of fear."She tried to speak, but realized her mouth was dry. She licked her lips and then whispered, "Yes Mistress," back to the voices that whispered to her, the whispers of the Mistress, the words of Xeen that had pushed her to her limits and brought her back again."The pain is temporary. You have faced it and come to know it. You are stronger for it."

[Alatriel]

The mistress wanted her to practice.  It was important for her to learn so that she could be a valuable asset to her master and her mistresses.  So that her Patron could have valuable information that only she could give him.  She padded barefooted back to her room that she used to practice her skills.  The room felt chill after being in the room with the warm fire that the mistress had lit with her magic.  Carefully she set about relighting the candles, placing them close enough for light, but far enough away not to catch on anything.  Pulling her shawl around her again she poured herself a class of wine and took a few slow calming breaths to get a sure image in her mind of what she wanted to look for.  Taking her left wrist into her right hand she felt the engraved pattern and inscription on the gold band that had been on her wrist since that first started her new life.

Cautiously and curiously she started to focus on the soft ripples in the wine as the liquid almost seemed to churn for a moment before it slowed its movement and stilled.
Inside the liquid, she started to see the images form.  It was a room adorned with very fine furniture and exquisite and refined tastes.  There, in an elegant low-cut yellow gown, showing the curve of her back, a form that was so familiar to her.  Her posture was one that was often only seen in private, a thoughtful, concerned look that few ever had the privilege of looking upon.  

Mistress Lila turned as if hearing a noise and all evidence of the concern she had been feeling were immediately erased as she pulled out a small fan and looked towards the entrance of the room with a radiant smile and perfect posture typical for one of her stature in the wealthy circles of Katherian.

A man entered the room, his tan skin mostly obscured by his long black cloak, gloves and hood.  The lighting played upon him casting him in mostly shadow.  Mistress Lila approached the man with confidence, and yet, Rose could feel the fear and other strong emotions radiating from her.

The image started to fade, but Rose hung on to her concentration to try to see a bit further into what was transpiring.  She looked more at the man for just a moment when his dark eyes raised slightly as if looking back at her.

Then the image was lost.

She was back in her room, the glass of wine before her.
Something different had happened this time... but what?

[Alatriel]

Rose wandered back from the market place carrying a loaf of bread.  It wasn't the first time a man had ever grabbed her, nor, she thought, would it be the last.  But that was how men were.  She walked past a cart that was selling glass and mirrored glass.  The vendor had turned to talk to another customer, but as Rose walked past, the image reflected back at her was her own, and yet it was moving independently.  Her reflection beckoned her closer with soundless words mouthed with an inviting and demure smile that Rose herself had used before on countless occasions.  It was a well known expression, and yet, not one she was making currently.  She felt compelled to see closer what it was that she was calling to herself to witness.  As she neared, the mirror image of herself moved so that Rose could view the alley behind her.  

Some distance behind her Blackwatch guards patrolled the streets as they often did.

The feeling shifted and so did her perception.  She was no longer looking at a reflection, she was now standing behind the mirror, looking out on the street.  

A familiar face of a man was standing down the street on the corner.  It was Charlie.  Suddenly he was grabbed from behind by two Blackwatch guards and pulled back into the alley while two more resumed guard, blocking where they took him.

Then everything was where it was before.  Rose looked at her own reflection in the mirror before her.  The reflected image looked back at her.  Rose looked over her shoulder towards the alley.  There were no Blackwatch guards there, and there was no sign of Charlie.

Rose furrowed her brow slightly, and shrugged a bit as she made her way back to the house.

Maybe it was just her imagination playing tricks on her.

[Alatriel]

It was like old times again as Lila smiled down on her and brushed her hair like a little girl brushes her doll's hair.  "I've missed you so much, my Rose.  Promise me you'll never leave me again?"

"Never, mistress, I'll never leave if you don't want me to."

Time seemed to move slowly as Lila ran her fingers through Rose's hair and brushed and braided.  She told her how beautiful she looked.

Reality slammed back for a moment and Rose's head throbbed.  She looked around, still in the room at the temple of Xeen in Katherian.  Tears threatened to well up momentarily as she realized that Lila was not there.    She had two glasses of wine before her, but they weren't for drinking, they were to use in a task, a task given to her by Mistress Sophia.  As she tried to concentrate on the glass of wine, the world around her became foggy once more and her vision failed her.

Rose opened her eyes and realized she was lying down, looking up at the face of her mistress.

Lila looked at her again with an amused smile.  "Rose, what are you doing?"

"Mistress Sophia needs me to do something for her, mistress.  I'm supposed to be doing a job for her"

Lila frowned, "You shouldn't worry about such things, my Rose.  I need you right now.  Do you place her needs above mine?"

Rose looked astonished at her mistress. "Oh, no, mistress!  I would do anything for you!" she exclaimed.

She smiled, "Then stop worrying about such things."  Lila gently stroked Rose's face, allowing Rose to enjoy her touch again, and reassuring her of her affections.  "Come on then, rub my shoulders for me."

Rose obediently moved to brush Lila's hair away from her neck and started to rub her shoulders.

"Tell me," Lila started, coaxing, "what have you learned about Mistress Sophia in your time with her?"

Rose began to tell Lila everything she knew about Sophia.  She told her of the rooms that she had given her in Leringard, and how the house had started to come alive with furniture and servants and people at last.  She told her how Sophia had given her access to a treatise on divination through the use of skeleton knuckles.  She told her about the signet ring that Sophia had given her to use to scry on the man called Lexander Gray, and the scrying lessons she had tried with Razeriem so that she could better train her gift.  She told her about the feeling of being watched and the scent of perfume once when she was in Sophia's house, and the headache she got when she tried to push away the feeling... until finally it went away.

Lila listened and finally interrupted Rose's accounting of information.  "You can scry?" she marveled.

"Yes, mistress," Rose said earnestly, but her expression shifted to one of concern.  "Why did you meet with the man that frightened you?"

Lila turned her head slightly with an odd look on her face.  

"I don't know what you're talking about, Rose, but it's wonderful that you can do this."  She smiled.  "Would you scry on Sophia for me?  Could you try that now?"

"I'll try anything for you, mistress."  Rose looked over to where she was before and realized that the same two glasses of wine were still present.  One had belonged to Mistress Sophia, the other had belonged to the other man... the man who had said he might want to buy Rose if she was for sale.  Rose looked at the man's glass with a bit of distaste for a moment, and then picked up Sophia's glass, whispering a soft trigger word and concentrating on the liquid still left in the glass.

As the images started to form, Rose described what she saw to Lila.  She told her how Sophia was in a room that looked like a laboratory of some kind with a man, and there were alchemical reagents all around.

"Good, Rose," Lila soothed, "Sophia needs to be watched.  I need you to tell me everything you can about her as you see it.  I need this information."

"Yes, mistress, I'll tell you as soon as I know," Rose stated as she continued to stare into the glass, but after a few moments the images began to fade.  "I'm sorry, mistress, I can't see any more."

Lila frowns, "Then try again, please."

Rose looked back at the glass once more, her headache returning.

Rose closed her eyes rubbed her head, trying to will the headache to disappear.  When she opened them again, she found herself looking into a glass of wine, Sophia's glass, but Lila was nowhere to be seen.   She could feel traces of magic still lingering in the air, but she seemed to be alone.  Disoriented, she rubbed her forehead and moved towards the doorway and out into the main temple, the music and laughter drifting up through the rafters from the party downstairs.  She looked around for someone and asked for something to help with her headache and something to drink, both of which she was readily given, and she made her way back to the room once more to attempt to focus on her task once more.
Her vision blurring, Rose tried to focus through the pain of the headache to see the glasses before her again, and this time tried to reach for the man's glass.  Her hands shook and she sat back away from the glasses for a moment, then pushed them under the bed as she collapsed into an instant sleep on the floor.

[Alatriel]

The scent of incense wafted into Rose's senses as she opened her eyes slowly, her whole body aching.  She felt feverish and she shivered even as she perspired, her light gown she had been wearing in the temple soaked as her body had tried to rid itself of toxins.  She looked around the room.  It wasn't where she had been when she had fallen asleep... at least she didn't think it was.  She pushed herself up from the cushions she found herself lying on.  No, she hadn't fallen asleep on cushions before... had she?  Rubbing her eyes and wiping some of the sweat from her brow, she made her way slowly into the temple, holding on to walls and columns to help steady her as the room kept trying to lean its way in on her.  She didn't remember partaking of so much the night before that she would have had this reaction, but she knew that for each pleasure there was often a pain that accompanied it.  That was how it worked, that was how the Mistress let them learn.

It was another mistress she was looking for, though.  Had Mistress Sophia returned from her meeting?  She looked around those still in the temple as the sun's rays peeked in the windows.  Most of the people who had stayed from the previous night's revelry were asleep, their bodies entwined and comfortable in various places around the temple.  Rose scanned the people but saw no one that looked like Mistress Sophia.

But was it Mistress Sophia that needed her?  Mistress Lila had told her that she needed her more than Mistress Sophia.

Rose knew what she had to do.  She went back to the room where her things were stored for her stay, and changed out of the soaked temple clothes that she wore, and used a towel and water from a basin to try to clean herself up to make herself more presentable, then slowly got dressed and pulled her hair back.  It would not do to present herself to her mistress's house looking as she felt.

Moving back through the temple and stepping over and around the sleeping bodies as carefully as she could, she made her way to the exit, and out into the all-too-bright sun of early afternoon.  She knew the path well to her family's house.  She made her way to the back door that she always used to go in and out of the house, and asked to see Mistress Lila.  Gemma, the housekeeper, looked at Rose with a bit of concern at the perspiration on her forehead and exposed skin.  She told her to wait while she fetched the master.

Rose waited until Master Cedric appeared, looking prim and put-together as he usually did.  She explained to him that Mistress Lila had told her she needed her there and wanted her there.

Cedric's face hardened to her. "When your presence is needed you'll be called.  Is that clear?" he said firmly with a commanding tone.

"Yes, master Cedric," Rose answered quietly, though very confused.

"Now," Cedric continued, "I need you to entertain a guest of mine.  He likes magic tricks, so it seems it's true.  Lila and I need you to keep our family in good standing.  Now, go."  He paused a moment.  "Who knows?  Be a good girl and perhaps you can see Lila after.  I'll at least give you a reward of something that you like."  He smiled at her with a polite expression that she had grown so accustomed to over the years.

Still confused and unsteady, Rose nodded and bowed her head.  "Yes, Master Cedric.  Should I read cards for him then?  I... have them with me.  I could change if you wish.  I don't know that I'm dressed to entertain, but I will do as you ask."

Cedric pondered a moment.  "The cards are good.  He might enjoy that kind of exotic entertainment.  But I hope you know how to make our guest happy.  Remember that you are being the face of our house.  This is very important for a personal project Lila and I have.  With that said, you know what to do."  

Rose nodded again.  "Yes, master, I remember.  I will do my best to see that he is happy."  

Cedric gestured for one of the house guards to show her to the guest room, and Rose went along with him easily.  

This is for a project of Lila's.  It's an important task for the household.  If I can do this, even if I feel this way, maybe they won't replace me after all.  She thought to herself.

The house guard escorted Rose to the guest room where a man in his late forties, fat and not even remotely handsome, waited for her dressed in a silk robe of several colors and a big odd hat that seemed like a tower around his head.  His eyes were greedy as he looked at her over his beard and abundant mustache.  Rose was led into the room and instructed to kneel before him on a pillow, which seemed to be something of a cultural tradition to the man.

The man had Rose read her cards for him a couple times and asked her a few questions, but her vision started to become foggy again.  She felt cold, and shivered a bit, even though she could feel herself still sweating in spite of the chill she felt.

"You look uncomfortable," she heard the man say, but the words almost sounded removed from her.  She blinked as she realized he was asking her to change clothes into something less restricting.  She acquiesced to his request and stood again, picking up her cards to take with her as she went.  The house guard went with her, and she realized that he was not there to make sure that she stayed, but to ensure her protection as she completed the task given to her by her master.

Rose wandered through the house to a room where she knew there was clothes that was stored there for special occasions such as this.  She changed into a light gown that fit loosely and only barely clung to her curves and yet its thin fabric left little to the imagination.  She pulled her hair back down and carefully ran a brush through it, letting it hang loose down her back.  She shivered again and as she looked in the mirror she could tell that her complexion was pale.  

I have to do this, for my master and my mistress.  They've done so much for me, and this will help them in their business deals and ensure my place here. she thought to herself.  In her mind's eye she could see Lila looking approvingly at her as she walked back towards the guard.

Halfway back to the room though, her vision blurred again and her steps faltered.  She could feel herself falling, but the house guard caught her.  "Easy, wench," he said as he helped her up and supported her, but his words sounded blurred to Rose's ears as she muttered a soft word of gratitude.  In her mind, Rose could still see Lila's face, but it began to disappear as if in smoke.  If she wanted to see her, she had to do what Master Cedric had asked her to do.

The guard saw her to the room once more and let her go.  There were words exchanged between Rose and the man.  The man seemed pleased.  He asked if she could dance.  The room was already spinning.  To dance in a room like that, perhaps wouldn't be any more difficult than normal.  Rose started to move through the familiar dance steps, but with each moment, the room tilted more on her and her vision darkened.  She knew she was falling.  

Strong hands lifted her and brought her to the man where she opened her eyes and looked into the man's bearded face as he lifted a glass of something cool to her lips.  It tasted like water.  She sipped the water, and then mumbled an apology for her clumsiness as she felt her vision darkening again.  The man held her close to him and quieted her, telling her to rest.

[Alatriel]

Through the darkness came a soft whisper calling her name.  "Rose... Can you hear me, dear?"  Rose opened her eyes.  The headache was gone.  All of the pain was gone, and she looked on into Bree's face as she called to her.  

"Ah, there you are dear.  I wondered if you were going to come back.  I was thinking that perhaps you and I should talk about what it is that you want, your own desires.  You, remember, like we talked about before?"  Bree smiled at her and pulled her closer, then turning her so that she could stand behind her and wrap her arms around her.  She kissed Rose on the neck affectionately.  "You've done so well pleasing others, dear."  She smoothed Rose's hair back and then rested her cheek against hers.  "But now we need to figure out what it is that you want."

Rose closed her eyes, enjoying the attention.  "I want this," she said with little hesitation, "to be cared for, appreciated.  It's what I had before, before the magic, before the visions, before the binding at the stone and being told to travel abroad."

Bree listened for a moment, letting her state her desires.  "Those are good wants, dear, but you know that you can't always have what you want.  If you did, you wouldn't appreciate it anymore when you had it.  It's alright to tell people what you want, though."

Rose turned to look at her.  "I can't make demands," she protested, a twinge of nervousness creeping into her voice.
Bree pulled away from her and took a step backwards, starting to fade from view.  Her voice called back to her, "Then I can't help you yet."

Rose called out to her, begging her to return as she looked around the darkness, alone.

Pain started to find its way back to her, and she felt herself falling once more, feeling only bits of sensations mixed with pain.  She felt herself choke, and tried to swallow as something cool and wet- water- was carefully poured at her lips.

"Come back, Rose, you don't want to be there now," a voice whispered in her ear again, and she felt herself drifting away gain, leaving the pain behind.

"What's happening?" Rose asked, confused.  "Why is there so much pain?"

"Shh... there is no need to concern yourself with that now, my dear.  There will be time enough for the pain later.  For now, you are here with me."  Rose felt the touch of invisible hands brushing her skin as the words soothed her.  "You have a gift, my dear.  We need to protect that gift so that it isn't lost, don't we?"

Rose nodded, closing her eyes to use her other senses to commune with the voice since her eyes were not serving her.

"Do you know where your gift comes from, my dear?" the voice asked.  "Do you know what it's for?"

"My mistress told me that it was a blessing of Xeen, my lady," she answered.  

The voice laughed musically, the notes of her voice lingering in the abyss.  "Is that so?  How wonderful, my dear.  It must be something truly special indeed.  Does it please you to have such a gift?"

"Yes, my lady," Rose answered, hesitation in her response, "but sometimes it feels as much a curse as a gift."

The source of the voice, though not seen, seemed to stop, and Rose could sense a seriousness coming from her.  "Yes, it is often the way of things, you know.  There are both to everything in life.  You cannot have one without the other.  In order to embrace the pleasures life offers you, you must embrace the pain as well.  In this case, you must embrace the curse as well as the gift.  You must do this if you want to make it your own."

"Does it belong to me at all, my lady?  Does anything belong to me at all?"  Rose could feel the pain seeping in once more as she asked the questions

The voice drifted off again distantly as Rose's pain increased, "That is for you to find out, my dear..."

Light stabbed at her eyes beneath her eyelashes as the pain wracked her entire body.  She opened her mouth to find that she was parched.  She moved her mouth to ask for water but only a soft whimper escaped.  She felt someone move near her and brush a large hand against her cheek then lift her behind the neck to sit her again, each touch, each movement pounding her head like a dwarven hammer against an anvil.  Once again, water was brought to her lips.  She coughed and sputtered as she tried to swallow, once, twice, and then she choked again and the water was removed.  

"Rose, come away," she heard another voice say.  "It's not time yet."  She felt a hand gently, but firmly take hers and pull her away again back into the blackness.

This time she was alone.

Voices whispered to each other, but not to her.

"She's doing fine."

"No she isn't.  Look at her.  Is she dying?"

"No,  you know as well as I do that she can't die, not like this."

"Do I?  Do you?  How do you know that it worked?"

There was a sound of a slap.

"Do not speak to me that way, child.  I know what I'm doing and this is for the best."

"She wants to see me, I want to see her.  I can do everything you've asked and still have her with me."

"No, and do not make me raise my hand to you again, child.  You will do as you are told.  I have plans for this one.  You've had enough time with her.  Now it is time for you to put away childish things.  Don't worry, I'll see that she is fine."

The voices drifted off and Rose was left again alone in the silence and stillness, but not for long.

"You are an exquisite creature," the voice of a man drifted past.

"Perhaps her family would not mind parting with her... for the right price of course..." another man's voice said casually.

"An arrangement could be made for the temple to acquire you if you aren't happy with your situation," a woman's voice said in passing.

"You could make any wish at all... and that's what you'd wish for?" a man's voice asked in disbelief.

"I... I can't.  Kat would be awful upset with me if I did," said another voice.

"I can't.  Not anymore.  I don't love you.  I can't keep taking advantage of you like that," said another man's voice.

"Rose Marshall!  How could you even think of disobeying your father and the Will of the Gold in such a way?  To think you were caught with the Johnson boy... You will have to be punished for this transgression!"

The voices continued to speak and mix together in her head and her head began to pound.

"Make it stop!" she called into the abyss, holding her head against the incessant voices and her throbbing head.  If the voices didn't stop, her head felt like it would explode.

The pain only increased, pounding inside her head, the voices droning on and blending into nothing but pressure building inside her skull.  She moaned, her entire body now aching.  

A voice told her to quiet down, and she tried her best, but couldn't help but to whimper.  It was not long before she felt strong arms lift her again, and then darkness took her again.  

This time, though, the voices were quiet for a little while.

[Alatriel]

The bath felt like paradise with the warm water lapping against her sore body.  The sweating had stopped, the shakes were subsiding, now she just had to regain her strength again.  She was finding she still had a hard time staying awake.  She remembered Master Cedric coming in a few times to check on her progress.  He stroked her hair away from her face gently and told her she had done well and that he was pleased with her.

"Well done my little one.  You did well," he said softly, caressing her face.  "You shall have a reward for your excellent service to our house."

Rose closed her eyes and smiled softly.  "Will I be able to see Mistress Lila now?"

Cedric paused only slightly, but then stroked her face again.  "You should get better first.  You don't want her to see you like this do you?"

Rose's face scrunched up slightly and she frowned, then she shook her head in acceptance.

Cedric seemed satisfied and he stood and walked towards the door.

"Master Cedric," Rose asked hesitantly, "have I done something wrong that Mistress Lila would replace me?"

His footsteps halted and he turned to look at her.  "Replace you?  We have still welcomed you in this house have we not?  I hope you don't want that to change do you?"

She shook her head, the movement causing her head to ache again.

"Then stop worrying about those things," he said.  "You are tired and imagining things.  You are valued here.  You know that."

She licked her lips and softly continued.  "Did she meet with Lexander Gray?"

Cedric frowned at her, and his words came back harsh towards her in response.  "First, it's Master Lexander Gray for you girl.  You will remember your place when you speak of your betters.  You will not repeat another word concerning this unless you want to get punished, am I understood?"  Cedric's words may have been spoken to Rose, but it seemed that they were for all of the people in the room, including those that were currently caring for Rose's recovery.

"Yes, master," she replied quietly.

"Perhaps sending you out of the world was not the best idea after all," Cedric continued.  "You are losing respect.  What do you think Mistress Lila think of this?  Would she be proud?

Rose's face contorted in embarrassment.  "No, master, I'm sorry..."

"We need to speak once you got better.  I need to learn where you are getting such manners," he said, seeming to try to regain control of his temper.  "And you should be sorry.  Now I'll let it go for today just because the service you did to us... but do not repeat that again, girl."

She swallowed hard.  "I... only worried because she seemed frightened, master.  When she met with a man I didn't recognize.  I didn't mean to speak out of turn."

He nodded, and seemed to calm a bit.  "Your concern is noted and appreciated."  He came closer to her again and caressed her hair again.  "You are faithful to us, and I'll let Lila know of your concerns."

Rose closed her eyes again, enjoying the touch and praise from him as the fatigue of recent days began to creep in on her once more.  "Thank you, Master Cedric."

"Lila is a fine.  She is doing well.  She's a smart girl isn't she?"  Cedric reassured her.  "You should let her do things.  She sees more than you do."

Rose swallowed.  "I see... a lot, master Cedric."
His touch pulled away from her.  "Are you saying you think you know more than she does?"

Rose bit her lip, her eyes opening and looking at him, then lowered her gaze quickly.  "I..." she searched for the words, but couldn't find them.

Cedric frowned.  "It seems you need to be re-educated.

"No, please!" she pleaded.  "I can see things with magic!"

Cedric tilted his head.  "Rose... you are under a lot of stress."  He touched her hair again.  "Are you again trying to go against my judgment?  Do you think we don't want the best for you?  Who else other than us know what is best for you, little one?  You see with magic... I see.  This of course is just another reason we need to talk.  When you're better."

Rose... a voice whispered in her ear  Rose... tell him what he wants to hear.

Quietly, Rose acquiesced.  "Yes master, as you wish."

Good girl, Rose.  It's time to come away again.  We need to find something.  First... say yes sir.

"Yes sir."

Very good.  Let the water soothe you, Rose dear.  The others will take care of you, but we have to find something, the voice continued to whisper to her.

What do we need to find? her mind asked back.

You'll see... it replied.  Tell him you'll be good.

"Yes, sir, I'll be good."

Cedric's hand pulled away from Rose as Rose drifted off along with the whispering voice.  Off to find something.  

[Alatriel]

"Rose," the voice whispered just from behind her ear.  "How long have you been sitting here in this room?"

"I don't know," she whispered back.  "I can't see the sun here."

"You can create the sun, dear one.  Go ahead.  You see into rooms without windows.  You can see out of this one."

After Rose had almost recovered, Master Cedric had let her know that the man she had entertained had been found dead, floating in a river, something she had seen for herself in a glass of wine.  He told her the authorities knew that he had been here in this house with her.  For her own protection, Master Cedric had hidden her away in his house to keep her safe.

But the time seemed to slow... and then there was no day or night.

"You're a prisoner now," the voice whispered to her.  "Maybe he killed that man.  He was still floating in the water when you saw him.  If the authorities had found him, don't you think they would have taken him out of the water?  Come on Rose... think.  Think way back.  You remember how those types of people do things."

"No," Rose whispered back.  "He wouldn't..."

"Are you so sure?"

"No..."

"Go ahead.  Make your window.  Pretend your troubles away.  I'll be here when you're ready."

Rose weaved the Al'noth with a few words and she created a small window to view the landscape of Leringard.  She would pretend for now.  

[Alatriel]

A man's voice drifted through her head.  "You've done very well, my Rose.  I'm proud of you.  Don't worry, I want you.  I will take care of you.  You are valuable to me."

The woman's voice of doubt had drifted away; it was silent now.

No more would Rose be a prisoner.  She was free.  Master Cedric would take care of her, and she would be able to serve him even more as he continued to help her learn how to master her gift.  

She smiled as she lifted her chin to the warmth of the sun. Everything he had done was to protect her.  She'd been silly to doubt him.  Everything worked out just fine, just as he said it would.

She stood straighter these days, she felt more confident.  No more did she feel lost or abandoned.  She knew where she belonged, she knew where she was wanted and cared for- desired.  And she could go back there.  She knew her place, and the knowing brought her comfort and security.  

Everything she did now would be for him.  She said another prayer of thanks to Xeen for the lessons.  She had endured a lot of pain, and it had indeed made her stronger.

[Alatriel]

It was a simple attempt.  Watch the woman, Katelyn Poetr.  She had a focus in her hand as well as the knowledge of her to help her concentration.  She watched as the woman walked through fields with the man she knew, Charlie Poetr, and another larger man, strong... this must be "Muscles" as Charlie referred to often.  She continued to watch for a while, easy to stay concentrated and in another world as she followed them.

The world suddenly crashed around her and she was back in the reading room.  There was an elf talking to her.  The words came to her slowly and distorted.  

Darkness swallowed her.

The guards were looking around the house.
They were attacking him!  Master was fighting two others.  She watched in horror as Master Cedric was pierced in the chest with a rapier, falling backwards, badly wounded.  A scream of terror and anguish echoed through her mind as she struggled to get to him but couldn't.  She could only watch.

One of the house guards finally arrived and helped to push back the attackers.  She looked around frantically for Master Cedric, but she could no longer see him.

Her scream as she gained consciousness echoed through the Inn.  Her whole body ached, her head throbbed, and a feeling of dread and grief gripped her heart and gut.  She was being held down.  Did the attackers have her?  She screamed again in confusion, pain, and fear.  There were voices around her.  They didn't make sense.  The pressure holding her down was released, and she fell into anguished sobs.  The voices kept talking to her.  They made no sense.  

"Please don't die," she begged her Master in desperate whispers.  "Please don't die."

The voices continued to talk around her, to her.  They were distant.  They were not important.  Gathering what strength she could, Rose moved her hand to create a mirror so that she could try to find Master Cedric, to see that he was alright.  As the image shimmered into being, a mirror was suddenly in her hand as if summoned.  Rose looked in the mirror "Show me." She said aloud, willing to see if Cedric was alive.

There was nothing.

The mirror fell to the ground, shattering.

[Alatriel]

The magic in the room hummed, permeating her being with a warmth, electricity.  A pleasure.  The first attempt was easy, and confirmed her thoughts as she watched the vial of holy water from birth until it's last battle in a fight between an elven undead hunter and a vampire.  The vial had fallen in a crack until it was retrieved by another elf.

Pulling back from the scrying was easy this time.  The warmth of the magic and power surrounded her, enveloped her, and relaxed her.

The next request was also simple.  A dagger.  But the dagger's life was not important.  Not as important as the owner.  She was pleasing someone by learning the answer to their questions.  That was what she sought.  Answers.  She followed the owner.  A monster.  A creature of darkness with sharp teeth.  A vampire.  Fear.  The vampire knew fear.  The hunter came for him this time.  Again, she watched the same battle, but this time from a different point of view.  The vampire fought, but was ended.  It knew no more.  

And yet...

Something pulled at her, not wanting to let her go.

She was tired, but she knew the elven man wanted more from her.  She knew she could attempt one more, but was not certain she could sustain it.  With these others here, though, anything seemed possible.  She told him she could try one more.

He wanted directions.  Again, she let herself slip into the magic, though this time, there was fog.  Her magics were not strong enough.  

But then, she felt a surge of power from another source.  It bolstered her, permeated her and helped her push through the mist.  There was what he wanted.  The directions.  Mountains.  A boulder.  Blood red ferns.

As she pulled herself back, she expected to feel weak and dizzy as she had so many times before.  But as she stood there and let herself return fully, she felt tired, but otherwise perfectly fine.

The power in the room still hummed, caressing her, loving her, renewing her.

Anything was possible here.

[Alatriel]

She needed the answer.  She wanted to feel the power again, feel the hum, the ecstasy of the power in the room again, but she needed to know the answer to the question.  She needed to see it.

Again, the hunter and a vampire were locked in a dance of death.  The vampire knocked the vial from the hunter's hand.  They struggled.  Finally the hunter came away with a stake in his hand as the vampire turned to dust.  Another vampire was engaged and knocked to the ground.  A silvered blade was placed to the vampire's neck, and then the vampire was no more.

Time passed.


The hunter once again was in a crypt somewhere, alone, in the dark, hunting.
Images blur past.  The hunter was overrun.

The hunter was tied to a wall, taunted by those he hunted.

Suddenly Rose's heart raced.  Something was behind her.  She looked behind her, but saw nothing.  She was being hunted.  It was coming for her.  She looked back at the hunter.  He was in pain.  The vampiress was stroking a finger down his cheek.  He flinched.  But there was blood from somewhere.

"He's coming Rose.  It's too late.  You waited too long.  RUN!"

She ran.  Faster.  Faster.  Laughter sounded around her.  There was no way she could escape.  It was coming for her, it would catch her.  All around was darkness.  She was confused.

A light.  A song.  Something to run to.  It was enjoying her terror, enjoying the hunt.  It toyed with her.  The light and the song was just out of reach, when the creature overtook her.

She screamed.

It began to taste her life's energies, to draw from her.  She felt her life slipping away from her.  It was cruel, and it enjoyed the slow torment and fear. She would never again see the light of day.

A blast of energy, and the creature dislodges from her.  She feels herself being pulled, and she runs again as fast as she can towards the light.  She knows the creature is behind them both.  It attacks the other, but then they are back, the creature slammed against the wall of the protections.  It was angry.  It would continue to attack.  The connection was broken.

Rose caught her breath, injured from the ordeal and weakened, exhausted.  She knew the creature, what it felt like.  The creature knew her.  It knew the taste of her flesh.  The taste of her life.

She had wanted to find the hunter's last moments.  Did she?

[Alatriel]

A ship on the salty sea, the waves rolled the ship up and down, up and down, up and down.  Her stomach feels sick.  She can taste the air, and feel the wind and mist on her face.

"No Rose.  Not that far.  You're only looking this time.  Back up."

Back further.  Only watching this time.

"I can't get to it now."

A warmth and energy.  A tingling sensation.  Life.  

Power.

Onto the ship once more, but only an observer.  

Down below.

The ship is large.  Which way to go?

A voice directs from a distance.

Down the hall.  Choose a direction.

The voice directs again, she obeys.

There is a man.  He has a map.  This is the man she's been looking for.  He doesn't know she is there.  She takes a closer look.  

He stops.  He looks around

"Rose.  He knows you're here."

"He knows I'm here."

The man goes back to his map.  He makes a few marks.

"Rose.  You need to get out.  If you don't, you might not be able to.  Get out now.  Now!"

"I have to get out!"

The door slams.  The world reels into pain and darkness.


Silently, the voice waits.

[Alatriel]

The ship again.

The man again.

Another man watches.  He waits.

He hates.

All white.  Everywhere white.  Always white.

The sea.  The mist and waves.

All white.  The man watches.  He waits.

The map.  The man marks the map.

The man is here.  The knife flashes red with blood as he leers down on her.  He aims to kill.


She screams.

[Alatriel]

"Run Rose!"

The wolves were after her.  Their eyes glowed.  Their teeth were sharp.  

They were chasing her.

She ran as fast as she can.  They were gaining.

They were here.

She screamed.

They were under attack.

[Alatriel]

Cold.

Pain.

So cold.

"I'm so cold."

"Embrace the cold.  Embrace the pain.  Shut out everything else, Rose.  Endure this.  Think of how it will enhance the warmth in contrast.  Push through this."

"I'm trying.  I'm not sure I can.  I'm so cold."

"Then sleep, Rose.  I'll send someone to warm you."

Warmth.

More pain.

"Rose...  Rose...  Time to wake up Rose.  He's coming!  Rose!  Wake up now!"

White.  All white.

The man was leering down on her.

The knife flashed with blood.

Pain.

Then darkness.

"Rose...  I'm here Rose.  Come away with me.  Come away.  There's a good girl..."

[Alatriel]

"Are you there, Mistress?"

"Yes, Rose, I'm here."

"Everything is strange here.  It's cold here.  I'm not wanted anymore.  There are so many pictures in my mind.  The come when I ask and when I don't."

"I know, Rose."

"The pictures, they tell me things."

"How do the pictures make you feel?"

Hesitation.  "Scared... excited... confused... They make me feel.  Sometimes they are so terrifying that my heart races and my skin flushes and I shake."

"You like that, don't you Rose?"

"Yes, Mistress."

"Good girl.  A very good girl.  You've done well, Rose.  This is your power, your gift.  When the visions come, you must ride them out."

"He gets angry with me when I tell them."

"Who?"

"The man, Hardragh."

"He is not your master, Rose."

"No... he is not."

"Who is your master, Rose?"

"Master Cedric."

Silence.

"Mistress?  Are you still there?"

"Yes, Rose.  I'm still here.  I'm always here."

[Alatriel]

The image had been there.  It had been a dragon, a silver and blue dragon rising into the sky, but now even as the rest of the images remained vivid in her mind, that part seemed to dissipate as if it never was.  She found herself having difficulty recalling the details as if a dream too soon forgotten upon waking.

The broken sword and the crown of nails upon the bloodied deck of a ship still remained.  The death, the chaos, and destruction still remained.

And now the images of men with a large crate in the desert and the mournful howl of someone or something that had lost something precious filled her mind.

"Something is happening Mistress."

"Yes Rose."

"The visions keep coming."

"Yes Rose."

"Are the visions real, or is it real where it's freezing cold?"

"They are both real, dear."

"Can I choose one over the other?"

"I don't think so.  You'll have to live them both for now."

"They're starting to blend together."

"I know.  Ride them out, dear.  When you are tired, retreat to me."

"Yes, mistress."

[Alatriel]

The cold was distant now as Rose entered the home.  It was familiar, and yet as if from a pleasant dream.  The air was warm and smelled of perfume and the aromas of food wafting down the hall from the kitchen.  Getting her bearings, Rose walked down the memorized path to her room and opened the door.  The room was warm and the bed was soft as if a contained cloud.

Motion.  A sudden shock to her backside.

She flinched.  "No more cold..."

Through the fog of the outside words, one word connected with her mind.  "Seas"  It was a question.

"Seas... blood and death... death and blood.... chaos walks.  More death... shattered ships...crush them, destroy them... they stole something."

A soft hand touched her forehead.  Then more contact.  She relaxed into the care of the hands reaching her through the fog and mist.

"Thank you mistress."

Yes Rose, rest.

She turned and looked, trying to focus on the one whose hands cared for her.  Slowly the image focused to a familiar sight.  Sophia.  Mistress Sophia.  Her mind cleared of fog for a moment, only to feel the full effects of the exhaustion she felt.  She closed her eyes with the pleasure at being touched and cared for again.  

"Is this real?"

Yes, Rose.

"You are in your own bed and it is warm.  This is real Rose.   Sleep if you can," Sophia's voice assured her.

Both are real, Rose.  Rest now.  Sleep.

"Both are real."  She takes a deep breath relaxing into the bed, into the warmth.  "Sleep..."

Yes Rose.  Good girl.  Come away, let your body rest.  Heal.  You are taken care of now.

The contact remained, soothing Rose's nerves.  All through the night, Rose remained aware of the contact, keeping her grounded, her mind only taking brief trips to recent events, then finally calming to allow a dreamless sleep.

[Alatriel]

Sunlight peeked under her eyelids.  A man lay next to her, warming her skin.  There is food on the table near her bed.  
She tastes the food and remembers that she is hungry.  Stretching her legs, she ventures out of the room.

There was someone there.  He told her to go to the mistress in her work room.  The words were indistinct, but the meaning reached her.

"You remember the way, don't you Rose?"

"Yes Mistress."

"Good girl."

She stopped before the door.

"The door hurt me before, Mistress."

"It's alright this time, Rose."

She hesitates before tapping the door.

"Enter"

"Rose" the name comes through the fog.

"Must I be in both places, Mistress?"

"Yes, Rose, you must.  You must ride out both types of visions.  Where you are, and what you see.

"Yes, Mistress.  I will ride them both."

Rose looks absently around the room touching a shelf and the odd items stored.  She moves through the room as if testing it for accuracy and solidity.

"Why are you here Rose?"

"The mistress wished to speak with me here."

"Where are you Rose?"  Sophia's voice ventured through the fog as the fog began to clear somewhat.  

Something was missing.  The cage now stood empty.  There was a child there before.  She furrows her brow at the cage, then turns as she realizes her mistress is present.  "Yes, mistress?"

"I asked you where you are Rose?"

"I'm..."  She looked around, "in your work room."

Sophia's eyebrows raised.  "Sure about that?"

No...

Rose pressed her lips together and rubbed her forehead.  "Something is missing."

"Something stolen perhaps?"  Sophia's words brought back a memory of a crate in a dessert.  

Crate.  Cage.  Rose looked back at the cage.  "Stolen... they stole it.  Heartbroken, she was at the loss.  Angry and outraged."

"What was stolen Rose?  A child?"

"Yes. No.  Not yet."

"It hasn't been stolen yet then, the child?"
She turned fully and ran a hand over the cage.  "Not yet a child."  She looked down into the cage.  "You were ill.  Did you die?" she asked the empty cage.  She moved her hand and whispered a few words and the image of the child returned as it was before.  

There.  Now things are right.
Pay attention, dear one.

She turned to look at Sophia once more.  "You wanted to speak with me, mistress?"

"I did.  I leave you responsibilities and you disappear."
Rose glanced at the door.

Not yet Rose.  Stay here.

Sophia's gaze followed Rose's.  "And I am to assume about to disappear again?"

It's not time just yet.

"Time flows in and out." Rose answered the Mistress.

"I was not gone long." Rose answered Sophia.  "I was gone for... eternity..."  She shivered with the remembrance of the cold.

"So it would seem.  Time frozen?"

The memory of the bitter freezing cold returned again, and Rose shivered.  "All white until red with blood."  She touched a place on her side as if in memory with a wince as if it was something painful.

"Come here Rose"  

Go ahead, dear one.

Rose approached Sophia obediently.  Sophia took Rose's face in her hands, staring at her for several moments while brushing back a strand of her hair.  Sophia's image started to clarify.  Rose looked back at her, feeling herself fully aware again finally as Sophia's thumb stroked her cheek.

"I cannot fight these demons for you.  If it is in you master them then you will, if not they will conquor you.  Find a way to win."

Rose took a deep breath and let it out slowly.  "He isn't here, is he..."

"Who, Rose?"

"The watcher... our guide.  He wanted me dead, called me a witch.  He tried to kill me.  I don't know where he went.  I think they followed him, but he killed them.  The witch woman brought them back.  She said I wasn't my own."

"No , there is not one here but the servants and us for now."  Sophia sighed and let her hands rest on Rose's shoulders.

Rose closed her eyes tightly and then opened them again trying hard to focus on Sophia.  

"Only you know who you are Rose"

"I'm not my own.  She was right, wasn't she Mistress?  I'm not my own."

Sophia tilted her head.  "Perhaps.  Are any of us really?"

"I don't know.  Probably not."

"Then why dwell on it?"

"I have to go back."

"I 'm not planning on stopping you."

"She says I have to ride them both, here and there.  My gift... my power..."  She tilted her head so that her cheek brushed Sophia's hand on her shoulder.  "No one touches a witch."

Sophia chuckled but did not remove her hands..  "Is that so."  

"I'm sorry I disappeared.  I dont' remember leaving.  Just the pain and then fog and then the ship.  And the cold."

Sophia shrugged.  "I left you some things that should keep you warm.  The pain you will have to endure."

"I don't think we're going back to the cold now."

No, but you should prepare in case.

"Yes mistress."

"Where are you going?  Does it have anything to do with the winged pitvipers in the skies  that hailed your return?"

"But we might go back.  He'll want it..."  She looked back at Sophia again.  "They're angry and insulted."

"You insulted dragons?"

"No, mistress.  He would have killed me if I had insulted him"

"Trembled at the feet of one have you?"

Rose tilted her head in thought.  "Only with cold, mistress.  I was somewhere else.  He called me a witch too.  no one touches a witch."

Sophia reached up to move a strand of hair once more.  "You are a witch.  But only those worthy of a witch can touch her."