She lay still for a moment, blinking against the brightness as she tried to ground herself.
What was the last thing she remembered? After fleeing Lephyrin, she’d come back to Maerinys, where Syrena and Azarian were trying to remove the velsinyte curse from her bloodstream. But then, all she recalled was darkness.
This wasn’t the throne room or her ship. She seemed to be in some kind of healer’s quarters.
Her body felt heavy and unfamiliar, as if she’d been pulled apart and stitched back together in a way that didn’t quite fit. A dull ache throbbed relentlessly at her wrist, and every breath brought a subtle pain in her lungs.
What the hells is happening to me?
Suddenly, the door burst open, and Syrena appeared.
“Esmyra!” She swept into the room, her eyes wide with concern as her voice trembled. She rushed to Esmyra’s side, taking her hand. “Azarian, get in here!” she yelled over her shoulder.
Her guard rushed in a second later.
“Thank the tides, you’re awake,” Syrena breathed, fingers tightening softly around hers. “You’ve been out for days. We were all so worried.”
Confusion rapidly crept into Esmyra, and she didn’t understand why Syrena’s touch suddenly made her skin crawl.
“Something’s not right,” Kaelypso warned, and her stomach dropped.
“You’re back now, I see,” Esmyra answered. “That must be a good sign.”
“Hush and keep your wits, girl.”
Esmyra scoffed in her mind. “I don’t know who the fuck you think you’re talking to, but?—”
“You’re safe now,” Syrena whispered, bringing her attention back. “We’re here to take care of you.”
Esmyra blinked, her throat dry and raw as she tried to gather her thoughts. “What… What happened to me? Why am I here?”
Syrena’s eyes softened, full of sorrow as she gently squeezed Esmyra’s hand. “It was worse than we thought,” she began slowly. “The velsinyte was deeper than we realized.”
Esmyra’s brows furrowed. “But Azarian said you could remove it.”
Syrena nodded, biting her lip. “We tried. Do you not remember?”
“The velsinyte locked me away,”Kaelypso admitted.“I saw nothing through your eyes. It was as if I no longer existed again until just now.”
Esmyra shook her head, bile climbing her throat.
“You collapsed in the throne room, and we tried to remove more,but it clung to you like the poison was rooted in your bones. I-I couldn’t get it all. You almost died, Esmi. We were all terrified we would lose you.”
As Syrena spoke, Esmyra’s gaze drifted, searching for any clue to make sense of the swirling haze in her mind. A wave of frustration crashed over her, an odd sense of helplessness creeping in. It was like she had become a prisoner trapped inside her own mind, held captive by shadows she couldn’t name.
Her chest tightened, a dull ache settling beneath her ribs. She wanted to scream, to demand answers, but her voice felt trapped in her throat.
“Don’t panic yet,” Kaelypso ordered. “Panic helps nothing and no one.”
“It’syourturn to hush,” Esmyra snapped at her.
Having another voice in her head was clearly the last thing she needed.
“I can’t remember.” Esmyra looked back at Syrena, her brows furrowing. “I don’t rememberanything.”
Syrena’s expression softened, a flicker of sympathy shining through. “It’s okay. Perhaps you just need time.”
Esmyra felt the chill of doubt creeping in, and an odd sense of something that felt like fear radiated from Kaelypso within her.
