Sylvestra Part I: On that Night So Many Weeks Ago

[Carlson Rex]

She groaned. It was a soft groan. A groan born of an ache in the back of her head. She tried to open her eyes, but doing so induced light to the equation. Her mind wasn't ready for that.  Instead, she attempted to move. First to lift an arm, then a leg. Neither would budge. Begrudgingly, she opened her eyes and rolled her head to the left and forced her vision to focus. It took a moment, but she was able to see what she had feared. A dull, metal band around her wrist held her hand tight. She tried to lift her head to look down , but she could not get her neck to bend up far enough. And so, with an exasperated sigh, she flopped her head down. At least there was a pillow there. Her arms and legs were numb, likely the reduction in circulation and having been in this position for a long time. How long? She tried to get her muddled brain to work on that. This lasted only a few seconds before the sound of a door opening echoed through the stone room. The sound of boots steps came up to her left. Sylvestra turned her head and looked. There, before here, was one of the people who had been after her for reasons she did not know. She didn't know this person. The woman was fairly tall, at least from where Sylvestra lay. She wore a skin tight, grey outfit with black and silver accents. Her hair had little green colorations, like a plants were growing in her hair. The woman was smiling, absolutely pleased with either Sylvestra's situation, herself, or both. Syl took a deep breath and let it out.

Snapdragon: "Well. I trust you are not too uncomfortable?"

Syl glared back at the woman, who just continued to smile at her.

Snapdragon: "You lead us quite the merry chase. However, I finally caught you. Now. You're about to receive a visitor. I suggest you be polite to her. Here. Open your mouth."

Syl clamped her jaw. Then she saw what the woman was offering. Not a pill, but a sliver of ice. Sylvestra realized that her throat was very, very dry. She reluctantly opened her mouth and the ice sliver hit her tongue, causing a moment of shock. Then it started to melt from the heat of her tongue and mouth, giving a little moisture to her.

Syl: "More?"

Her voice was a croak. The woman chuckled and lifted a small cup, pulling another ice chip from it. She again offered it and Sylvestra accepted. She took another breath. This time the melting ice soothed her parched throat and vocal chords. She swallowed the water and spoke again.

Syl: "Where am I? How are you?"

Snapdragon: "For now, all you need to know is you are safe. He cannot harm you any more. As for who I am. I am the person who saved your life."

There was no sound of a door opening. A voice echoed through the stone chamber.

Voice: "That is enough, Snapdragon. Our guest needs her rest, and likely will need food and drink soon. Have Altrec see to it."

Snapdragon gave a salute, fingers over her heart, set the cup down on what was likely a table or stool too low to see from the middle of the bed, patted Sylvsetra's arm in a reassuring way that wasn't really reassuring, and then departed.

Voice: "You were quite difficult to corral."

Sylvestra considered saying nothing, then found her ability to speak taken away from her. A flickering figure, almost as if backlit against a screen, stepped into her field of vision. Without making a sound, other than her voice.

Figure: "Well. We have freed you from he that was controlling you. You are safe now. You are home. Soon we will reunite you with your Sister. She has been very worried about you since you disappeared."

Syl blinked.

Sylveatra: "Sister?"

[i[The figure seemed to smile at that question.[/i]

Figure: "Yes. I was told you had developed amnesia at some point. How much do you remember?"

Sylvestra tried to think. Her brain refused to work. She remembered a face. A kind, bald head with a warm, comforting smile.

Sylvestra: "I'm afraid I do not remember much."

The figure nodded.

Figure: "In time, you will remember all. Perhaps your Sister will help trigger your memories. For now, just know you are home. You are safe. That man cannot reach you here."

With a confused look on her face, Sylvestra nodded.

Sylveatra: "Throat dry."

Figure: "Snapdragon will come to tend to you soon. You could probably use a proper bath, a proper meal and a proper bed. Hopefully, our need to use restraints will not continue. We are concerned that you might hurt yourself by accident, or hurt someone else. Sleep now."

The figure waved her hands in the air. Within twenty seconds, Sylvestra was asleep again. The figure turned and walked from the room, passing through the door and into the stone hallway, lit by florescent lights in the ceiling. Snapdragon waited there for her, hands clasped behind her back.

Snapdragon: "A meal is being prepared. Orders?"

The figure looked back at the doorway to the room.

Figure: "We will take our time. No need to rush. The more she can remember organically, the easier reprograming her memories to reflect what has been commanded will be. Find Astra, tell her to prepare a bath for our guest. Full amenities."

Snapdragon: "Full amenities?"

Figure: "Do not question me. Remember, memories or no, she is a member of the Blood, and entitled to certain services. Go. She will sleep for at least the hour. I have seen to it, myself."

Snapdragon gives the fingers of the heart salute and departs. A bath in an hour. Meantime, the figure looked back at the door again, alone.

Figure: "I believe that man may be of great use to us. Or, at least his memory. At least, for my purposes."

The figure turns and walks up to the wall and flickers from sight, leaving only the hum of the lights to fill the void.