Zenora

Emily’s point of view:

Black, nothing but black. Where am I? Why can’t I see? Voices are in the distance, but they were too indistinctive to understand. The feeling on my body felt odd, I wanted to move but it felt like my nerves were cut, as simple commands didn’t reach my fingers or toes. Don’t panic, think about what happened. I remembered dinner and that we ate roast beef. It wasn’t even dark when I got really tired.

I could feel my hand move, but not from my own will but from someone else. A warm hand holding mine. A warm voice talking to me. I had to strain my ears to hear a faint whisper, it sounded so familiar. But I couldn’t hear it clearly. I felt so tired, my conscious mind slipping in and out continuously.

It felt like an eternity, this pointless paralytic slumber of my body. This torture of not being able to move, to open my eyes and at least look around me. I couldn’t tell where I was or what was happening around me. Was I in danger? No feeling of pain or hunger, at least that was a good thing.

Not knowing how fast time went by, was I in this state for minutes, hours or even days? I hope Brock is alright, is he even aware of my condition? Maybe he thinks I’m just asleep and his body is next to me in bed. I wanted to keep my mind sane and think about the positive, as there could be any reason for me to be this unresponsive to the outside world.

Come on, think Emily! What caused you to be like this? I said to myself, hoping an answer would pop up out of nowhere. I wanted to keep my mind busy, distracted from the torture that Brock might be in.

I didn’t get shot with an arrow, because there was no pain when I blacked out. Nor did I just faint as I’m fully aware of my thoughts right now. I have fainted before and when I woke up it was a few moments later and didn’t have any awareness during the time I was asleep. So, the only logical explanation could be that someone has paralyzed me by feeding me some substance while I was not aware of it. A shot of drugs couldn’t have been it, as they don’t have the materials for it in Zenora.

So, someone fed me something paralytic to me. I’m not aware of any substance that could do that, I might be an animal doctor so I can read symptoms and act accordingly, but I don’t know every plant, berry or flower and their characteristics. Besides that, there are a lot of strange plants on Zenora, compared to Earth. The person that would know of these things must be someone that is educated in the Zenoran greenery and their properties. The hunters at the lodge told me that they don’t have the medical knowledge so it wasn’t them. I don’t think one of the servants has the knowledge either, so now I got stuck.

My mind wandered off again. I felt a slight hot feeling now though, was my body having a fever? I guess that’s a reaction to get the strange substance out of me.

Brock kept being in my mind as well. The thought of him was the only reason I wanted to get out of this as soon as possible. The thought of him being in complete terror now, again, was another level of punishment to this situation. He must feel so much at a loss, of not being able to help me once more. He did everything to keep me safe, but both times there was something that no one could’ve thought of happening. He couldn’t have known that we would get enchanted by the Elves, or that someone wanted to harm me with food. So, he shouldn’t be feeling worthless in any way. I never thought of him worthless though, he did everything he could to make me feel safe and he took me here because he knew I’d like to see the hunters. His passion during the lovemaking was wonderful and amazing as well. He could be gentle and strong at the same time, and he knew how push the right buttons. I love his touch on my body and I love him so much!

I still couldn’t move a muscle and I was stuck in my mind. This was getting really annoying! I wanted to scream and yell so loudly, hoping someone could hear my cries. I felt my hand move again by an outside motion. The soft whisper I heard before, became a bit louder now, but still I couldn’t hear what was said. It was a female’s voice though, that was clear. But there were only two other females here, which where young hunters and they wouldn’t have a reason to come near to me.

How much time had passed right now? I didn’t know, but I wasn’t feeling so much tired as I was before. Maybe I was getting stronger again.

“… and you wouldn’t believe what Natalya did, even if I told you.” A nice warm voice said.

I realized it must be Anna! But why is she here? She was in the castle and now talking to me, while she knew I couldn’t respond to her. So, they must have informed my dad of my condition. How long was I out by now, and where was I? Did they take me to the castle?

“You have to wake up soon though, Brock is being a terrible, obnoxious man right now. He is training the hunters all day, continuously, aggravating their training course. Not even Archeops is able to calm him down. I guess he needs something to keep his mind distracted from you.” Anna said now.

That girl needs to learn some skills in communication, because this doesn’t help me! I wanted to be in Brock’s arms, and let him embrace me with all his strength! But I still couldn’t move. At least I know I’m still at the lodge though, so Anna must have come here.

“How is she doing?” I heard Cirilya say with a sad voice, is she here as well? I wanted to scream again, let them know I’m still here.

“She is still not moving, and her breathing gets slower also, this is taking too long now.” Anna said worryingly.

“The sacred waters weren’t helping either, so I guess the plants are still not fully digested in her body. Don’t worry Anna, she will come back to us.”

Hmm I guess I was right about the plants, but now my breathing got slower? How much time was I out now? My stomach rumbled, was I getting hungry? Maybe I was able to move now.

When I came back to consciousness again, I gave it all I got, I tried the best I could to move my fingers and open my eyes. I could feel the muscles in my fingertips contract. It hurt! Why did it hurt? I kept continuing though, focusing on the feeling of Anna’s warm hand embracing my own. I screamed in my mind, the pain aching through my body. Finally, I was able to clench my hand around hers.

“Cirilya she moved! She is grabbing my hand! Cirilya! Get here!” Anna screamed, crying tears of joy. “Emily, you can do it! Come on open your eyes!” She yelled at me, while I could hear Cirilya get in the room again.

I was crying of the pain that soared through my body. Prying my eyes open with all the power left in me. My dry eyes hurt as much as the muscles in my fingers. I had to blink them a few times to let the tears wet my eyes before I could see clearly into the room. Immediately I got a big hug from Anna, and Cirilya came sitting on the bed at my feet. I tried to talk, I wanted to tell Anna that my body hurt like hell. But my mouth was parched and the muscles in my face hurt as well.

“W-w- water.” I got out while my face contorted in strange ways, feeling like I hadn’t used my muscles in over a year. Anna made a towel wet with water and she let it drop in my mouth, I coughed when the drops fell down my throat.

“Take it easy, Emily. You have been asleep for almost ten days now and you need to regain your strength first.” Cirilya said. As Anna let more drops of water drip into my mouth.

Ten days!? I never thought I was gone that long, but now I know why my complete body is aching all over. I haven’t used a single muscle in such a long time, that I practically have to learn how to walk again. After a few minutes of waking up and trying to drink some water I finally was able to ask about Brock. Cirilya left the room to go get him.