BOOK TWO
In a husky voice from not having spoken in a while, I ask, 'Who are you?'
I'm about to repeat myself when she responds, 'You're in safe hands,' as she cleans up the glass bottle. "Do you remember anything, dear?" She turns to look at me and I shake my head no, thoughtfully, realizing the mess I'm caught up in.
"And who are you?" I persist.
"Leonora...My name is Leonora". She simply replies, leaving me unsatisfied.
"And what is your name, dear?"
"Irene...Eliott." I answer hesitantly.
"Irene," I mutter, the name feeling strange and unfamiliar on my tongue.
The woman smiles warmly. "Irene Eliott. A beautiful name for a beautiful girl. You'll find many friends here, Irene, but I hope I can count myself among them."
"I don't even know you! How can I trust you?" I say curtly.
"Irene, I know you have questions. But trust me when I say that your safety—our safety—depends on you staying quiet. If we're discovered together, it could be the end of us both." Leonora grips my arm tightly, her eyes blazing with a mix of fear and desperation. "Just... trust me, please."
Weakness seeps through my body as I nod in silent acknowledgement, but Leonora's back is turned, her attention already shifting to the frenzied sounds coming from outside the tent's mesh panel. I am a shadow in her peripheral vision, fading into the fabric of the tent's walls.
✨
As my eyes sweep the room, I wonder what could have happened to me, how I got here, who these people are, and if I am safe. I try hard to put these flashes of memories in my head together and make sense out of them. But the harder I try, the more muddled up the whole thing gets. I bite my lower lip in frustration, averting my attention to Leonora.
Her response, however, has left me wanting to know more. Before I can pose another question, a tall, masculine figure suddenly appears, and Leonora freezes in fear.
The man's jet-black hair is neatly combed back, and he's adorned with gold that complements his flowing red robe. His mere presence commands inexplicable respect and fear.
"P... please, my Lord... please, forgive my delay," Leonora stammers, her voice shaky with nervousness.
"Why hide things from me, Leonora?" he yells, cutting her short.
His whole energy is terrifying and unrelenting, and it feels as if the temperature in the room has risen a few degrees.
Leonora attempts to explain herself, but is quickly silenced by the furious man. "I swear by the… I… I was going to tell you…" she pleads, but he cuts her off again, his voice filled with rage.
I shrink back into the shadows, my heart racing. I am suddenly very aware of the danger that surrounds me, and I pray silently that I will remain unnoticed.
The man heaves a deep sigh, seeming to relent a bit upon hearing Leonora's whimpers. He turns his attention to me, and even in the near darkness, I cannot hide my fear. I avert my gaze and swallow hard, hoping that he will not pay too much attention to me. What if he approaches me? I'd melt in fear even before...
"When does she recover?" he asks in a calmer tone, his gaze returning to Leonora.
She hesitates before responding, "I cannot give you a specific answer, my Lord. Her senses are dulled and she hardly remembers anything but her name."
"What is she?" he asks, and I wonder what he means by this question.
Leonora pauses before answering, "I cannot tell yet, my Lord. She was found just this evening beneath the ice."