The Beginning of Her

The darkness engulfed me in a cold embrace. Death’s icy fingertips grazed my skin stealing what little warmth was left within my veins. My own limbs were becoming numb from the shattering pain within my chest. I looked around, but it was no use, for I couldn’t tell if I was looking left or right. Nothing pressed against my body, for I was suspended within the darkness, floating aimlessly. There was no telling time here, there was no point. There was just endless sea of nothing. That is until the burning light blossomed across the darkness. The sudden warmth chased the hands of death from my skin. But with the light came pain. An acid like feeling burned in my chest, setting each nerve on fire. I opened my mouth to scream but nothing followed except for a small gasp. Moving more sent another wave of blinding pain. There was a shushing noise followed by faint shuffling. A cool hand touch my forehead, there was smoothing sensation that numbed the pain. “Everything is okay,” A gentle voice spoke to me. My vision was still blurred as I tried to look towards the voice. I could only make out a pink blob, nothing more. “It’ll be okay, you’ve made it through the worst part,” She continued to rub her thumb against my forehead. “Rest longer Little Moon,” She hummed as my eyelids grew heavy. A gentle warmth settled through out my body as I drifted off. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — There was an electrifying jolt through out my body. Sitting up suddenly caused the air in my lungs to be stolen leaving me gasping. “Woah, steady there,” A familiar voice spoke from the far side of the small room. Wincing as I turned to see a small pink hair child. I squint my eyes as my vision focused a bit more. The person didn’t look like child anymore but as someone stuck in time. “Seeing you moving, let alone breathing brings great joy to my being,” She smiled, her voice a soft and gentle tone with a rough edge to it. I tried to speak but only ended up letting out a whisper of a letter. The tightness in my throat followed by a slight sting, “It’s okay, here,” The woman held up a wooden cup to my lips. Raising my head slightly I sipped the cool water. With every sip there was a gentle cooling sensation through out my chest. “There, now speak slowly as I ask you a few questions,” She set the cup down on what looks like a stack of books. It was hard to tell at from this angle. The woman looked at me with a tender gaze as she set me up a bit. Wincing with the movement I laid my head against the rough head board. There was a tight band across my chest, the worn blanket slipped down revealing dingy bandages. The pink woman spoke up, noticing the frown, “You were injured pretty bad. Luckily the arrows both missed vital organs and your body was already accustomed to the poison.” She said as she placed a few makeshift pillows to steady my torso. I stared at the woman, my chest tightening at the thought of near death. The woman smiled warmly before speaking again. “Do you remember your name?” She took my scarred hand rubbing a thumb softly against my skin. The fog slowly cleared from my mind. “Gracelyn,” My voice hoarse from who know what. “Good, now tell me the last thing you remembered,” Her squeezed my hand as I frowned. My mind was blurry despite the feeling of knowing what happened. Then there was a sudden snap. Memories of what happened flood my mind, a heavy rock of emotion settled in my gut. Astrel tried to kill me. My very betrothed tried to take my life just as I did to him. The settled pang in my chest had my stomach rolled with the urge to vomit. Feeling the blood drain from my face I could feel her squeezing my hand. “So you do remember,” She stated. I looked at her, searching her face. “Who are you?” I finally asked, as my memories slowly returned to me. The woman who sat beside me and possibly nursed me back to health, was unfamiliar to me. The woman let go of my hand and stood up. She walked to what seem like a tabletop held up by several books. “I have many names,” She spoke her voice growing softer as she turned her back to me. Her silver hair was braided down her back with gold accents. She wore leather pants worn from years of wear and tear with a loose blouse top. Turning back to face me she held a stone, the dark surface reflected from the light showing it was a dark blue stone. “I’ve been called a warrior, monster, a spirit,” She sat back down next to me. “But in this life time I am called a guardian,” She placed the stone in my hand. “This was on you the night I’ve found you in what the humans call the Cursed Forest,” She smiled. “I am called DeDe, so please little moon do not fret,” Her smiled was warm and welcoming, settling the uneasiness in my stomach. I looked down at the stone for a moment it was familiar to me. It was gift from Venus from what I could recall. It was the last thing they gifted me before they died. The twine that made the necklace was snapped. “How long have I been here?” I asked looking back at her. How long was I out? The more I remember the bigger the feeling of urgency becomes. Zerrian, Rob, Mom, Deravin, and many more are coming to mind. “Five months. Due to the poison in your system it took longer to heal. Even with magic,” She said taking the wooden cup and holding it out for me. I reached up for it, with my strength slowly getting back. “I’m sorry poison?” It was the second time it was mentioned. “Yes, seeing how your body was weak to began with when it shouldn’t be. It’s easy to figure out that over the years someone has been giving small dosage of poison. But to know the type, we will have to consult with an expert in that matter.” She gave a shrug as I sipped the water. “Now that you are regaining strength and starting to regain memories, why not tell me what happened,” She asked as she leaned back in her chair. Her pale red eyes watched me. What exactly happened? The real question is when did it go all wrong? “The day Venus was executed by Sicile. That day everything change, not just for me but for everyone around.” I looked at her. The secrets that was kept between friends, family, even about myself. “So tell me,” She told me. With that I began to tell her. From the moment my world shattered to my final breath. After all I might as well have one person know my side.