It was a dark place, that place that Nisha visited sometimes. Not on purpose, mind you, but she couldn't help it. Father and Mother had cried a lot, the first time it had happened, when the blood mage they knew had explained that Nisha was a very, very sick baby, and that the chances of her living to adulthood were slim without a miracle. Of course, she didn't remember any of that, her brother had told her about it when she was older. Her father didn't like to talk about it. Her father didn't even like to talk about her. He seemed to very withdrawn her entire life, perhaps hoping not to get too attached to a child destined to die.
Well, Nisha had managed to hang on this long. Yes, sometimes she would have an episode, like now, but she always managed to pull out of it eventually. Sometimes it took hours for her to regain consciousness, usually Gavin's worried face would be hovering near her as her eyes opened again, and he would cling to her and cry in relief. Oh how she wished Gavin were there now. She didn't know how long she was out, but with the healer's help, her heart returned to a normal, steady, if slightly off, rhythm, and her lungs began to work properly, sucking in deeper breaths as her skin returned to a more alive color.
Slowly she became aware, her chest ached, her head throbbed, and she was lying on a flat, hard surface. Slowly her eyes flickered open, they looked dull and lost as she looked slowly around, her face thoroughly confused. After a moment she realized there was a man in the corner, that she didn't know and she jumped up with a shout. At least, she tried to. Her limbs felt heavy and she could barely move, the scream was little more than a hoarse whimper. Where was she? What happened? Where was Gavin?
