"In another world…"

"Look! She's waking up!"

"Why not this one?"

"Get a doctor! Get a nurse! Get someone!"

"I…can't…"

Words and voices drifted in and out of her subconscious. The sounds of machines beeping, doors closing, feet scuffling against tile. There was the singing of magic and the chirping of birds somewhere far off. She could almost feel the sunshine in her hair and felt the mist of a nearby waterfall caressing her cheeks. Though, the room was too cold. The blankets across her legs felt heavy. Her eyelids felt heavy. Too heavy to lift. The light outside was too bright.

"I'm sorry."

A light in her eyes, blinding. Noise. Metal, cold, hard, unforgiving. Where's the singing? Where are the birds and the sun and the sound of falling water?

"Get me a sedative." A cruel voice. Monotone, indifferent.

"No, won't that put her back to sleep?" This one is familiar to her. Concerned, feminine but strong.

"Her heart is racing, her blood pressure is spiking, we need to calm her down or she might slip back into the coma!"

Pain. Stinging, burning, spreading like fire in her veins. She opened her eyes, wide, too wide. Faces to go with the voices but she wasn't sure of their names. Some familiar, others alien. She screamed at them wordlessly as the flames in her body quieted to numbness and she sank back against the pillows and cold, damp sheets.

"Is she?"

"She's stable. She may fall asleep, but she can hear you now. Though, we'll keep the bracelet on as a precaution."

"She would never hurt us."

"I'm not worried about you." The cruel voice seemed farther away now. She heard a door close with a heavy sound. There was movement nearby, a shifting of cloth and leather squeaking. She tried to lift her eyelids but they were weighed down with sleep.

"Elera?" The female voice again. "Elera, can you hear me? It's Cassandra."

"Perhaps you should let her rest?" A male voice, warm and kind. She knew this one too.

"She's been resting for months, Cullen!" The woman growled. "Come on Elera. Open your eyes?" There was a firmness to the woman's voice that she wanted to answer. Like she'd been on the wrong end of that brash voice more than once, but it was somehow endearing.

She forced her eyes to open, but it was slow and they closed instantly. "There! You see!" Delight colored the female voice. "Come on, Elera, try again."

Elera? Elera…was that her name?

"Ar lath ma, vhenan."

Vhenan…vhenan, she knew that name too. Sang on the lips of one she'd kissed…and missed. One name made her heart ache but the other felt like…home. She fought against her body and tried to lift her lids once more. The light was dimmer now but it was no less a struggle.

"Maker." Someone said it, or maybe they both had. The word felt heavy on their lips. It was important, maybe to them, but it felt hollow to her. It wasn't her maker.

It was getting easier to open her eyes. Her lids were still so heavy and sleep felt like a shroud hanging over her, ready to smother her once more, but she managed to hold it at bay. The room was dim. There were lights from somewhere nearby. Faint, unnatural glows, casting false light into the shadows of the room. Machines beeped and breathed beside her. The room was cold and sterile. Too white, even in the darkness. A face peered down at her. A familiar face. Cassandra? It was familiar and it wasn't.

"Elera?" Her face was beautiful, despite the scars. Her pale, hazel eyes looked tired and bloodshot, but were no less striking. Her short, black hair made her bronze skin look all the more rich, even in the sparse lighting. A man's face came into view next. His honey colored curls looked disheveled and out of place, even though they were cropped close. His eyes were as warm as his voice and he looked to have a few days stubble beginning to bloom across his strong jaw.

"We thought we'd lost you." He rumbled and the sound made her want to smile. She knew these two. She had to, but…

It was all wrong. This wasn't…but hadn't she been…weren't they…it was all a blur, all fuzzy shadows eating away at her memories. She had impressions. Feelings, but nothing else. She felt as if she knew these people, but didn't know where from. She didn't understand. Where had it all gone? Where was the voice from before? There had been another man. Not the cruel one who didn't care. There had been another voice. A soft, cultured timber that sang to her blood like magic.

"Do you know where you are?" Cassandra asked.

"Do you know who we are?" Cullen asked. Cassandra and Cullen. She knew them, didn't she? Didn't she?

She opened her mouth to speak. Her throat was raw, as if she'd swallowed glass. It was so dry, she had to try twice before choking out a single word. "No."