A Small Light In the Darkness
POV: Vanessa
I didn’t know how long I was out but when I came to, Zeb was passed out on the bed next to me in Alexandra’s room. Dorothea was looking really tired and Alexandra was no where to be found. I pulled myself up from laying down, I had a small headache. Dorothea smiled at me, “Hey kiddo, how are you?” I rubbed my neck, “How long was I out?” She yawned, “A day and a half.” I couldn’t remember what it was that made me faint but I had to ask, “Where is Xan?” She giggled, “She’s at school right now.” My eyes widened, “I’m missing work!?” She pushed me back into the bed and shook her head, “I went to go speak to the Headmaster yesterday about taking a position with the university on water magic theory. I let him know that you passed out after capturing our prisoner.” I shook my head, “What prisoner?” Zeb gasped behind me in the bed, “Oh my goddess, Dorothea! She has amnesia!” Dorothea rolled her eyes, “She doesn’t have amnesia, stupid. She probably just lost the memory of capturing Alexandra’s assassin. Is that right Ness?” I nodded, “I vaguely remember a man being pinned by a larger version of Sebastian but I don’t remember much after that.” Zeb nodded, “I think the doc did mention there may be some short-term stuff. Perhaps it would be helpful for Ness to retrace her steps?” Dorothea laughed, “She says something smart for once.” Zeb shot her a pointed look, “Oh shut up.” Zeb got off the bed and offered her arm for me to lean on, “Come dear, we’re going to take you to Zero’s cell. Perhaps seeing it with him inside will help you out.”
I rose out of the bed and Dorothea got out of her seat, “I don’t think we should make her go down the stairs, she could be dizzy and fall then we’d be back at square one. Let me make a portal.” Zeb agreed and remarked about how prudent and thoughtful her sister was being for once. We stepped through the portal and in front of me was the door with the earth rune on it. I walked over to the door and peered inside. My hands trembled looking at the face of the man sleeping inside the cell, “Can we open the door?” Zeb shook her head, “We aren’t allowed to enter without the accompaniment of a guard like Jess or Derek.” Tears were streaming down my face and faced her, “Please, I need to be in there.” Dorothea patted my arm, “What is it dear?” I gave her a pleading face, “That man in there is not a man named Zero. His name is Talon Esperanza.” Zeb shook her head, “I know what Talon looks like and he looks nothing like him.” I shook my head, “I was his fiancé once upon a time, I would know the face of the man I Iove.” Dorothea sighed, “That may well be the case but the Citadel will know we’ve opened this door without a Citadel soldier. We’d all be charged with treason if that happened. The King’s orders were absolute and adamant. It is for the safety of his Queen candidate. Derek will be home in less than an hour. They’re probably wrapping up with the Headmaster.” I had to concede to them for now but I would raise the issue with Alexandra when she arrived. She would not deny me being in the presence of my fiancé.
I was pacing about the study impatiently, waiting for the trio to enter the room from the secret passage that they took from the headmaster’s office. Suddenly, I heard the click of the bookcase being opened and Jess walked through first. They were giggling about something and she was not paying attention. Alexandra was the first to notice me and walked over hurriedly to hug me, “Aunt Ness, I was so worried about you. Are you okay?” I looked at her, “I’m fine but I need your assistance.” She saw the look on my face and grabbed my arms and sat down on the settee with me, “What’s up? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” I nodded, “I have. That man, Zero, he’s not some assassin raised by some noble family to be a killer. That is Talon.” She gasped, “What? How is it that Derek didn’t recognize him then?” I remember reading something in my books a while ago and I mumbled, “True love is not blind.” She rubbed her chin, “Are you saying he is being disguised by some magic?” I nodded, “I believe so. You all see a different man but I see the face of my one true love. I need to see him Xan even if he is asleep.” She looked up at Derek then back at me, “Derek, will accompany us. Let’s go.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me up and led the way.
A short while later, we were standing in front of Talon’s cell and Derek unlocked it and entered first. Alexandra allowed me to enter first and I drug the chair from across the room and sat directly in front of his bed. It pained me to see him in shackles in the basement of his own sister’s home. I saw the red hair that was beginning to grow back on his head, it appeared that The Order made him shave his head to keep him from being recognizable. I stroked his cheek which made him stir and I whispered, “Come back to me, my love. I need to talk to you.” Slowly he opened his eyes and smiled at me, “Red? Is that you?” I buried my head into his chest and sobbed, “Where have you been? I thought you were dead.” I heard the clanging of chains and I felt him stroking my head, “I don’t remember anything, Red. I only remember trying to get the king out of the tower and seeing rubble falling down on us.” I heard someone walk up closer and smelling the lilac scent, I knew it was this man’s niece. She was rubbing my back, “You can’t push him Aunt Ness. Whisperia said that he would lose his memories from after the curse initially. We need to give him time to remember.” Talon gasped, “I-is this my little niece Alexandra?” I pulled my head up to look him in the eyes and merely nodded. I saw a tear roll down his cheek, “I never thought I would see you again, little rose. You’ve grown to such a beautiful young woman. I know your parents must be so proud, Talia spoke of you often after you left Vellum.”
Suddenly, Talon let out a scream and pulled his hands to his head. I saw something flash in his eyes and he reached out to Xan. He grabbed her arm and pulled her down to him then tried to wrap his hands around her neck. I saw Derek’s hand shoot out to grab Talon’s arm and he pried Xan from his grasp. Derek’s leg kicked the chair I was sitting in and the chair slid across the room. I looked up to find that Alexandra had fainted and Derek was carrying her bridal style back across the room. Talon was mumbling, "I will capture you; it is what my master wishes. It will be done.” He then pulled his hands to his head and was crying and screaming. Derek looked over at me as he made his way out of the room, “Ms. Tannen, you need to come with me!” I rose to my feet slowly and in a daze left the room, unable to grasp what had happened. One minute were speaking to Talon and the next minute a murderous rage crashed like a wave into his personality and he turned into the assassin Zero. Derek was cursing but I wasn’t paying attention. We made our way up the stairs and I heard Derek shouting about getting a doctor and to summon Whisperia. As we made our way into the foyer, my knees gave out and I fell to my knees. Zeb ran over to me, “Ness, what is going on?” I shook my head repeatedly for a while as I heard Derek running up the stairs, barking orders. Zeb asked again, “Ness, I need you to tell me what happened.” I sat there shaking my head, “I can’t. I can’t. I can’t.” Dorothea crossed the room and slapped my face, “Snap out of it kiddo.” I placed my hand on the cheek that she had just slapped, “He was Talon, he spoke my nickname to me. He was talking to Xan about how her parents must’ve felt so proud of her. All of a sudden, he was trying to kill her talking about his master and his mission. It’s like that human story of Jekyll and Hyde.” I heard a woman’s voice from the front door, “Yes, that’s exactly what he’s experiencing. You woke him up too soon.”
