He buried her body beneath the willow tree. And knew he would never be able to track down her Soul. She would be reborn, time and time again. He would be left to chase after her, always hunting her down. A moment too late.
He had known nothing but utter singularity, his entire existence driven to one point of anguish, and then she’d come and refocused his attention until all he knew was her.
Now she was gone.
And he was alone.
2
NIGHTFELL
Pain.
It was all Vesperin Vox knew.
She was awash with sensations. Hot. Cold. Burning. Frigid. Shivering.
Electric.
Her body jerked.
She felt hands on her, stilling her, furious voices, concerned voices, worried voices. They spoke in tandem with each touch, coming to her in discordant snapshots:
"She’s seizing."
"Roll her on her left side!"
Something pried open her jaw. Her teeth clicked, jaw sore and locked. Fingers fit between her lips, then something soft and thick.
"Bite down—it’ll help."
Her body jerked. Again and again and again.
Her entire right side burned, locking up like her jaw. She was aware of it, felt it, but could do nothing to stop it or loosen her rigid limbs.
"No, no! Not your tongue." The fingers returned to her jaw, digging into the space just below her ears until her lips parted.She released a painful wheeze as her eyes rolled behind her closed lids. "Bite down on this."
Something rested against her lips, and she felt that strange, soft thing on her tongue. When the next wave of shaking gripped her, she rode it out, molars grinding down on the thing in between her lips.
Her back bowed. It felt like currents of lightning raced under her flesh. When more hands were on her, she gasped brokenly. She thought she told them,Stay back… don’t touch me.But the words were all in her head, echoing in her broken mind.
She couldn’t talk. Couldn’t move.
A prisoner of her own mind.
Masculine voices washed over her. She recognized them. She knew she did. She wanted to call out, beg for help.
"Vesperin, please?—"
"Don’t do this to me."
More seizing. Her back bowed. Her spine felt like it might snap from the pressure.
"Will she be… okay?"
Darkness.
"…hospital?"
