Conscious ripped Corabelle from the incessant boredom of the closest approximation to sleep she’d experienced in a good while.

  Though it wasn’t a pleasant awakening.

  The acute pain of torn flesh had healed, though a deep soreness still radiated from the points of trauma.

  Regardless she sat up, opening her eyes against the oddly harsh candlelight illuminating the recovery hollow.

  Deep purple and red bruises with yellowing edges glared angrily at her from beneath the scraps of her shirt. Blisters just under a thin layer of scar filled with opaque yellow ooze dotted them in the formation of the imprint the teeth left behind.

  “Good. Your recovery was fast,” The same mage who tended to her earlier commented from a desk across the room as she stood up.

  “How are the others?” Corabelle questioned quickly.

  The mage looked down at the healed wounds, “You’ve been unconscious for less than an hour. Little has changed. The others are still working on healing them.” She looked as though she wanted to say something, but held her tongue.

  “What's wrong?”

  “Nothing,” her eyes didn’t remove themselves from the blisters. “You’re just… interesting. That’s not typically now the antivenom causes the expulsion of the toxin. I’m not worried about it since it does appear to be healing in its own way. It’s just…. Your body really is quite fascinating.” For the first time the echo of a smile graced her lips.

  Though before Cora could respond she was interrupted.

  Ella entered the room, her hand clasped oddly tightly in front of her, “You’re awake. That’s great news.” A relieved smile accompanied her words.

  “I was just saying the same thing,” The mage gave her a genuine smile. “If only we all recovered this quickly.”

  Ella gave her a nod of agreement, “Cora,” Her expression became a little more serious. “I wish I didn’t have to tell you this now, but I'm afraid it’s important.”

  Her heart skipped a beat, “What’s wrong? What happened to the others?”

  “Nothing!” Ella quickly assured. “Everyone is fine.”

  “Then what is wrong?

  Her lips pursed as though she could quite find a way to explain her thoughts,”I suspect it will be easier if I just come out with it. While you were unconscious, the ritual worked. Zaramir is awake.”

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Corabelle flew to her feet crossing the room in an instant.

  The mage’s hand reached out trying to catch her, but she slipped past, “I think you---”

  Her protests were interrupted. “The ritual was supposed to take longer! Is he alright? Is everyone---” Though her questions were cut short as she saw him.

  Just outside the doorway stood Zaramir.

  His eyes were wider, more frightened than Corabelle ever recalled seeing. His chest shuttered with rapid breath. Disbelief was the only expression she could identify on his face, though more writhed just beneath the surface

  The paralysis that overtook him seemed contagious as she found herself to be equally immoveable.

  This was what she’d been working toward for days, but she hadn’t expected this ritual to work. A moment she’d been wishing for years but momentarily she was unable to move, to talk, to barely think.

  Fortunately she didn’t seem to need to form a full thought to finally act.

  Her body moved of its own accord, her arms cinched tightly around his waist before she could blink, the motion jolting her brain free of its stupor, “You’re awake.” Her voice came out muffed as she pressed her face on him.

  Every muscle was tense under her touch. His breathing quickened further, his heartbeat pounded loudly against his rib, He didn't return the embrace, his body petrified.

  After a moment, words finally came, barely louder than a breath, “How are you here?”

  She separated herself just enough to look up to him, “It’s a long story,” The words broke free with a sharp laugh of relief.

  His still wide eyes were looking down at her, but his head hadn’t as though he were scared to move, “You.. you…” He couldn’t form words.

  “Cora,” Ella’s voice came with that unnerving firm but gentleness she did so well.

  Corabelle released him, taking a step back, “What’s wrong?”

  “Cora,” Ella’s gentle voice repeated. “He thought he killed you.”

  “No!” the words spilled over each other. “When? I’m here. I’m fine!”

  The space was closed between her and Zaramir before Ella could respond.

  She was an encapsulated embrace just barely lighter than painful, as he finally formed real words, “I remember-- I remember destroying you. They made me. In my home. I remember.” She felt hot tears fall on her cheek from above as he held her impossibly tight with his shaking arm.

  Her arms coiled back around him, “No! You stopped them,” She insisted. “You fought back. You saved me.”

  “All this time,” He pulled away just far enough to take her face in his hand,in a firm but gentle hold as he stared into her eyes as if looking for a hint that this was all an elaborate falsehood, “I thought… I was certain-- They made me believe...” His own eyes burned red with tears. “You were gone.”

  She mirrored the gesture, taking his face in her own hands as she pressed her head more firmly into his hand in assurance, “I don’t know what they did to you, but I promise I’m alright--better than that. I’m safe-- We’re safe here. They can’t find us anymore.”

  She slid her arms back around his waist gripping as tightly as she could without hurting him.

  He wrapped his arm back around her and pulled her back against him, “I don’t understand how all this happened but--” He didn’t finish his thought as he pressed his cheek against the top of her head, his fingers lacing up through the back of her hair as though he expected her to fall through his fingers like sand.

  Tears burned her own eyes as she pulled him impossibly closer, “I hardly believe it myself.” She murmured.