Slow drips of water echoed in the cold, dark room. It was so loud as each drop hit the pools of water on the floor causing her head to hurt. She couldn't understand why it was so loud.
Zia lay on a long table, anticipating the worst while the pain permeating through her body began to become more intense. She turned her head to the left, slowly, but she couldn't see anyone through her blurry vision.
The longer she gazed at her surroundings the clearer her vision became. The room was empty.
"Is anyone there?" She whispered, with a crack in her voice. She felt completely parched.
No one replied. She was alone in the darkness.
Zia pulled down the blankets that covered her, keeping her warm, and looked over at her arm that was immobile.
The pain emitting from it ached her head and neck. Her arm was wedged between two boards to keep her from moving it. Breathing heavily, she moved her other hand up to her side where she was damaged.
Gently, she began touching her stitches. The stitch path was long, trailing along her petite frame. She flinched when she touched certain tender areas and decided to stop before she worsened the pain.
"Hello". She said, hoping for a response. There was no reply.
Zia remembered the room but didn't like it one bit. Damien used this room for dark things. She felt it was some sort of torture room. She did not feel good there at all.
She took her hand and placed it behind her back carefully, not to move too quickly and and end up hurting herself.
Pushing herself up on one hand with the ounce of strength that remained in her, she let out a soft yelp of pain as she fell back to the table. Her whole body hurt. She tried placing her hand behind her back again, pushing up firmly.
Bringing herself to a sitting position, Zia began feeling nauseous. She wasn't sure what day it was or when she had eaten last. All she knew was she was in too much pain.
Zia swung her legs down the side of the table and sat there for a moment. Each movement seemed to last an eternity. She kept looking around to see if anyone would show up, but she was still alone.
Suddenly, an image caught her eye. She had seen it before. She blinked to clear her vision, but the form was there in the darkness of a corner in the room.
Zia slid off the table, falling to the floor, pulling down the blankets with her as she fell. She whimpered, holding on to her side, trying not to undo the stitches. She sat there for a moment to regain her strength and allow the pain to subside.
"Show yourself. Who are you?" She asked, directing her questions to the image in the darkness. Was she losing her mind? Was she speaking to an empty room?
No. There was no way this was imaginary. Especially twice in a row. "I am not crazy." She whispered.
Zia's injured arm uselessly hung down the side of her body. She braced herself once again on her other hand, pushing herself up. She was too weak to stand. Reaching up for the edge of the table, she began pulling herself up as a sharp pain in her side caused her hand to slip off the table.
Tears formed in her eyes as she began feeling hopeless. She tried to take a deep breath but a sharp pain prevented her from doing so.
Her breathing remained shallow as she took a few more breaths and put her hand up on the table, pulling herself up again. She released a small cry, while forcing her body up to a standing position as she leaned over the table to brace herself.
Panting heavily, she looked down at her gown. Blood began to seep out of her stitches, staining the blue garment. She looked up in the direction of the image that was no longer there. She felt so confused. What is happening? She thought.
Turning around carefully while bracing herself on the table, she was startled to be face to face with the image that lurked in the darkness.
Zia gasped, placing her hand over her mouth as she slipped to the floor. The large creature grabbed her before she could hit the ground.
The creature was careful not to touch any of her injuries. Its large hands supported her under her elbow while the other arm supported her unharmed side, holding her body firmly against his. How did he know where to hold her? She thought.
Her heartbeat began racing but she wasn't afraid. There was a strange feeling that drew her to this creature. She felt safe for a moment. She was at peace for the first time in a long time. She stared into the creatures red, glowing eyes deeply as if trying to read his mind.
He was a beast.
His horns were large and black like that of a bull. His features were humanlike with fangs protruding from both sides of his mouth. His skin was a dark bluish, black hue with a hard material shaping his chest, abdomen and arms.
Zia's eyes scanned his body from his face down to his chest, as far as she could see being so close. He was large and muscular.
As she looked beyond the figure holding her up, she saw large black wings attached to him. Her eyes opened wide, as she blinked several times in disbelief.
"What are you?" She whispered, looking into his mesmerizing eyes.
The creature lifted Zia's legs up easing her body from the weight she applied to it by standing.
With one arm under the back of her knees and the other supporting her upper body, she rested her head on his chest, feeling lightheaded. She closed her eyes in the comfort of the creature's arms.
"You must leave this place. There is danger." He whispered in a low voice that seemed to echo into the depths of her soul. She lifted her head and looked him in the eye as his face was near hers.
"How?" I am hurt." She replied, looking down at her blood-stained gown, as a tear fell down her cheek.
"Leave this place. Please." He said softly as he placed her down on the table gently, covering her body with the blankets.
Zia locked her eyes with his the entire time as he situated her as comfortably as possible without hurting her.
When he was sure Zia was secure, he stepped away and disappeared in a whirl of dark smoke.
"Wait. Don't leave!" Zia cried, as the room became silent.
"Oh my God, Zia! You are awake!" Ansel cried out upon seeing Zia. She ran over to her, hugging her.
"Oww!" Zia cried out. "I am so sorry darling." Ansel apologized, realizing she had squeezed her too hard. "I am so happy you're awake! How are you feeling?" Ansel asked.
"My head hurts. I feel like I am going to pass out." Zia said with pain in her voice.
Ansel pulled back one the blankets from Zia's body, revealing her bloody nightgown.
"Oh no! Did you try to get up?" Ansel asked. "Yes, I fell." Zia replied.
Ansel stared at Zia for a moment with a confused look on her face. "How did you get back on the table?" Ansel asked, looking at the table that was too high for Zia's injured body to get back on without assistance.
"I, I am not sure, Ansel." Zia replied with uncertainty.
What if the creature she had seen was just her imagination? She couldn't tell Ansel about it. What would she say? What would she think? Ansel would panic.
"Well, you need to keep still in order to heal. I don't even know how you are awake and moving around. This is a miracle! You cannot move around, or you will reinjure yourself. I will go get Aeson to check the bleeding you're having. You may have ruptured your stitches." She said.
"Ok, Ansel. I will try to keep still but I am in so much pain. It is hard to get comfortable." Zia mumbled, as she drift in and out of consciousness.
"Rest here. Do not move. I will get you some pain medicine as well." Ansel said. "Alright." Zia replied, drifting off to sleep.