Seth studied the woman before him. She was tall for a woman. She wore a long black robe and cloak that shimmered around her as if the fabric it was made of was not quite whole. It was as if the strands within the fabric were constantly rearranging themselves to better fit her body, a body that Seth was unable to measure with his intent eyes. Seth realized that this must be due to his tired eyes and the poor lighting in the room. Perhaps the woman shivered under her clothing, causing it to move so much. The clothing fit her well, if not a bit tightly, yet with its constant movement he could not really tell much about her build, only that she appeared slender. But it was not her body, nor her clothing that had Seth reeling in unanticipated horror. It was the woman’s face. Not that her face was twisted or mangled, quite the contrary she had a small, pretty face. She had a familiar face. The woman before him had a face that Seth had seen recently in a dream. Or was it a memory? The face staring back at Seth was the face of his mother. Only it had been changed, altered slightly for reasons unknown to him. All the facial features were there just as he remembered them. Her high cheek bones, narrow pointy nose, full rosy lips, all there just as he remembered. The eyes and hair however were unfamiliar. The woman’s eyes could only be described as crimson. There was no pupil at their center, no interruption to the swirl of blood in her gaze. This looked horribly unnatural to Seth, and it made him uncomfortable, nervous. Her hair too was different than his mother’s. Instead of the long brown flowing locks he remembered, there was in its place rows of black braids. The hair was knotted tightly to the woman’s scalp in neat rows from her forehead, over the top of her head, and then still braided trailing down her back and over her shoulders. The image reminded Seth of a farmer’s fields. In all, the woman was beautiful, with a striking resemblance to his mother. Seth wondered what illness or injury had befallen the woman causing the insides of her eyes to bleed. He felt sorry for the woman realizing that she must be blind, not even knowing she was a prisoner. The poor woman probably did not even realize he was here with her.
Seth’s scrutiny had only lasted a moment, but the woman remained, her gaze fixed in his direction, with no sign of emotion on her face. It was as if she waited for something. Seth watched the woman a minute longer, then deciding that what he was doing was rude he decided to let the woman know he was there.
“Excuse me miss.” Seth began in a tone barely over a whisper, trying not to startle the woman. “Are you ok?”
Seth waited for the woman’s response, but it did not come. The woman remained still peering with sightless eyes in his direction, her features unchanged. Perhaps she was deaf too.
“Can I help you?” Seth said, this time quite loudly.
The woman’s face stirred. The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, and one eyebrow rose as if she were amused by his question.
“Perhaps you can.” The woman replied, her voice much deeper than Seth had anticipated. Not so deep it was unnatural for a woman, but deep enough it did not sound as if it came from the woman’s mouth.
“Are you hurt?” Seth asked.
No answer.
“Can I get you something?”
Again the woman did not respond.
“What can I do for you?” Seth again asked the woman, this time trying to broaden the range of his question.
“Find me.” The woman responded simply.
“What do you mean “find me” you’re directly in front of me.” Seth replied, now thoroughly confused.
“I am lost, and nearly forgotten Seth. Seek me out once in Valdadore, find me and I shall help you.” She stated in her hollow voice.
Seth’s mouth hung open. He did not know how the woman knew his name, or how she knew he was traveling to Valdadore. Nor did Seth know how the woman expected him to get out of this god forsaken room. Seth began to get angry, thinking the woman must have something to do with his imprisonment, after all she knew too much about him. Something in Seth’s subconscious brushed at him as if wanting attention, but Seth mentally brushed it aside, too busy now to deal with anything else.
“Who are you and how did you bring me here?” Seth demanded of the woman.
“I am who you seek, and I have brought you nowhere. You came here of your own volition.” The woman replied, no hint of emotion on her face, nor in her voice.
“I seek no one lady. Now take me back to my companions.” Seth again demanded.
“You will seek something eventually and when you do, look to the oldest buildings.” The woman retorted in a hollow melody. “When you have found me, and when you know me, I shall help you find what you seek.”
Seth shook his head in both disbelief and anger. What was wrong with this woman? Was she both blind and crazy? How did she get here? How am I supposed to get out? What in the name of the god’s is she talking about? All this Seth asked himself, shaking his head, his eyes closed in concentration. He realized that no matter how crazy the woman might be, she had found a way into the room, and he needed a way out. He opened his eyes to face her once again and ask her this most important question, but she was gone. Replacing the woman was a swirl of blackness that steadily grew faster and faster, consuming within it the room and Seth alike. When the Darkness swallowed Seth he tried to scream, but no sound escaped his lips. Terrified, Seth forced himself to reopen his eyes.
Seth found himself once again within the confines of the small stone cavern that was his shelter. In his arms slept Sara, peacefully breathing her sweet warm breath into the cold night air. His twin and Ashton both snored loudly across the small room. Everything was as he had left it, only he realized now that he had not left. It had been his dream that had awoken him. He remembered it clearly. It had been so real he could swear it had actually happened. He remembered every detail of the small circular room he had been in, every detail of the woman who was his only company within that room. A shudder raced down Seth’s spine at the thought of the woman and her unseeing blood-like eyes. It had been an unnatural dream. Something unlike any other dream Seth could ever remember having. He knew he would not easily forget it. Silently hoping to himself that he would not dream again this night, Seth closed his eyes, trying to quickly fall back asleep. After all, the sooner he slept, the faster the night passed, and the sooner he could again spend the day with Sara.
Chapter 6
As expected, morning came all too quickly. Sara was the first to wake, and decided she should wake the others so they could resume their journey. She turned in Seth’s lap, and kissed him gently, waking him the nicest way she could imagine.
Seth’s eyes fluttered open, feeling Sara’s lips on his cheek. He reached his large hands up to cup her face, and lightly grasping it on either side, pulled her mouth to his. He tasted her sweet breath before their lips met, and reveled in the taste. Pressing their lips together, Seth held her tightly to him and kissed her firmly, passionately for as long as his sore body would allow. Releasing her face, he then wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her body against his and whispered in her ear.