please feel free to review. i wonder what they are going to do for season 3? better bring my boy alucard back. please forgive typing mistakes. i need glasses badly. please review! thanks!

~oOo~

Sonia's eyes slowly fluttered open. Bright light poured in through a crack in the curtains covering the tall windows of the room. There was no mistaking where she was this time as she woke once more in strange, and yet also familiar, surroundings. Although she had to admit, the room was not nearly as frightening in the light. The windows ran from the floor almost to the ceilings with deep red curtains made from rich heavy fabric. The bed sat in the center of the room, something Sonia found odd, but after all that had happened, it did not phase her too much. There was what looked to be a large armoire against one wall with a vanity and against the other wall a desk while a third wall of the room was completely cover with shelves and those stacked with books.

But it was what was in front of the fireplace that caught Sonia's attention the most. It looked to be a large barrel like tub of water with another smaller basin and pitcher next to it.

Sonia slowly sat up in the bed and found her friend was gone. The realization left her feeling somewhat vulnerable again. She pulled the covers back only to find that she was not clothed, the memory of throwing off the remains of that filthy gown coming back to her. Her head spun slightly, as if she were coming down from some sort of all-night bender. But then, she supposed she literally had.

Sonia rose up slowly from the bed and walked over gingerly to the basin. The she stared down at the water and then glanced cautiously around the room. She could not remember if that had been there before, when she had awoke the first time. She had left rather hastily.

She skimmed her fingers over the surface of the water. It was lukewarm, having lost any heat that it may have come in with. The idea of someone coming in while she slept should have disturbed her but she found herself numb at the thought. At this point what did it matter? She picked up the small piece of cloth that lay next to the basin and began to wipe down her body. Bits of dried blood and dirt flaked off of her skin while her hand pulsed with a consistent dull throb and when poured the water over it, she sucked in the air between gritted teeth sharply. The cut on her hand was angry and red. It was not so deep so as to cut tendons, but in need of attention. It did not look as if it were too late for stitches just yet but the risk of infection grew the longer she left it open.

Sonia noticed that the water in the larger basin had a slight fragrance to it. A hint of something, lavender perhaps? Leaning over the tub, she scooped some of the water up in the pitcher and poured it over her hair. The scented water was not warm by any means but she began to feel a little better as bits of leaves and filth fell out. She stepped in the wash tub, which was really nothing more than a large basin itself, and poured the water over her head again and again till she could not lift the pitcher with her good hand any longer.

She did not know how long she stood there, naked, wet and shivering. She stood there till the water no longer ran off of her body in rivulets to the floor. She stood there until she heard and scratching sound and then a door slowly creak open.

For the first time since she woke up, Sonia felt her chest tighten with a familiar dread as she turned in time to see a large white muzzle with amber eyes like liquid gold come around the door.

Relief flooded Sonia as she let out a breath she had been holding. She felt herself start to giggle as she began to walk across the room. When she reached the large wolf and dropped to her knees, wrapping her arms around its neck, her giggles having given away to an almost hysterical laughter while simultaneously crying.

She could tell her friend was not fond of the embrace. It was as if he fidgeted, shifting his weight back and forth between paws, his head twisting to look everywhere but at her while giving a plaintive whine. But Sonia did not care. He was back. His presence alone was enough to scratch through the numbness. She buried her face in his fur, taking in the comforting familiarity of his scent. But this time Sonia could smell something more, something … different. Something smokey? She took the big wolf's head with her hands and pulled his face to hers.

"You smell like barbeque."

Had he been human, Sonia would have said that the look he gave her was nothing short of withering. Sonia just grinned. She was starting to feel better already; remembering she is still alive … and naked.

With a final scratch between the ears, Sonia stood up and looked around the room once more, her gaze resting on the large armoire in the corner. She looked down at her friend to see that he had turned his back to her, occasionally glancing over his shoulder with an annoyed impatient huff. Sonia actually laughed. It sounded strange to her ears.

"Such the gentleman," she chuckled.

Sonia walked across the room and pulled open the doors to the armoire. Articles of clothing were folded on neatly on shelves and in drawers. A familiar unsettling feeling began to come over her once more as she rummaged around inside. All of the clothing were dresses or long robe-like garments that one had to lace up or clasp with small hooks. And there was nothing in the way of undergarments other than small light camisole-like tops and what looked to be … pantaloons?

She slipped on a camisole top and then one of the dresses over that. It was a little big but after wrestling with the clasps and lacing the front as tight as she could, it would do. She gathered up the bottom of the dress and tied it up in a knot at the hem so that it would not drag the ground. As for the underwear, well ….

Sonia walked back over to where her panties lay crumpled up and discarded on the floor. She took it over to the tub and scrubbed it and then laid it out by the fire to dry. Not the best solution, but until she could get somewhere to get some new ones it would have to do. There was no way she was wearing those pantaloons undies. Sonia looked at her reflection in the mirror by the dressing table. Some strange girl in a poorly fitted dress and bags under her eyes stared back at her. She combed her hair with her fingers, gathering it at the nape of her neck, twisting and draping it over her shoulder. It was the best she could do, given the circumstances, whatever those circumstances now were.

A sharp yip pulled Sonia's attention. She looked to see her friend pacing impatiently by the door. She walked back over to the table with the wash basin and grabbed a piece of cloth to wrap her hand with. A second, more insistent yip came at her once more. She looked to see her friend was now standing in the entrance.

"What? You have somewhere to be?" she sighed as she walked towards the door. "Well I don't feel like getting lost again."

That was met with a low growl and whine as gold eyes glared up at her.

"The last time I left this room, I was almost raped and two people died. Believe me when I tell you that I don't give a shit if little Timmy fell down a well. Now if there is food on the other hand …"

Another growling yip was her response but this time he snapped his teeth at her and bolted out the door.

"Hey," Sonia yelled as she jumped back. She stood there in shock for a moment before a loud yowl echoed down the hallway. She walked out to find her rather pushy friend waiting on the far end. He darted around the corner, only to peek his head back around the corner when she did not immediately follow. Another disgruntled growl was sent her way.

"Serioulsy," Sonia grumbled back. As soon as she took a step in his direction he disappeared around the corner once more. "I am not running after you," she muttered. But it turned out she would not have to.

Unlike her first adventure out in this building, she was not to desperately chase a labyrinth of hallways. Once she rounded the corner she caught brief glimpse of a white tail darting through an open door. Sonia hesitated. Not because she was about to follow some extremely well trained wild animal into a unknown room within a bizarre mind fucking building. She hesitated because of the smell.

And it smelled good.

Sonia ran heedlessly towards the open door and almost wept at what she saw.

It was a large room, similar to some sort of grand solarium, tall open windows spilled bright light within. Bookshelves lined the walls, at least two maybe even three stories of them, all the way up to the large sky light overhead. Giant orbs, set up almost like a model solar system hung from the ceiling. It was a grand room. And there were certainly even more wonders to behold beneath the shadows of the arches from the landings. But that is not what almost brought Sonia to tears. It was the table that sat in the center of the room. It was not a large table by any means. It was actually quite average, almost lost with its insignificance within the grandeur of the room.

But it was completely covered with food. The growl from her stomached echoed off the walls.

Sonia did not even think about whether she should or not, she simply began to stuff handfuls into her mouth, utensils be damned. There was bread and a thick soup along with some meat she did not recognize but did not care. She simply consumed it without thinking. She grabbed one of the cups and took a large swallow of liquid only to almost spit it out as she started to choke. It was wine. A thickly sweet wine that was similar to brandy. It had a gritty texture to it, almost as if the rinds of whatever fruit had been fermented to make it had not been filtered out. Not horrible but certainly not what she was expecting. Another cup on the table had what Sonia thought was tea; it was black, somewhat bitter and warm, but she no longer cared. It was sustenance.

She could not tell you just how long she had stood there, shoveling the food in her face. She had been so caught up she managed to forget the pain in her hand. She had even forgotten about her friend. She picked up a piece of meat and glanced around the room, whistling softly, but he did not answer.

"Hey boy … where'd you go?"

Sonia smiled. She probably just offended him. It was in this moment that she really looked at her surroundings. The room, while grand, was also in a state of some disrepair. There looked to be areas where the bookshelves had caved in, and sections of the walls had fallen out, as if there had been some sort of demolition. Or perhaps an earthquake. It was a shame really. The room was quite ornate with the architecture done in a gothic style. Some would say it was gaudy, but for one who up in New Orleans seeing rib vaulted ceilings and flying buttresses was like home.

Sonia began to nibble absently on the piece of meat in her hand when something on the table caught her eye. Next to one of the platters of food were utensils, and among those utensils was a knife. Sonia set down the piece of meat and picked up the knife. It was long and sharp with a serrated edge. Obviously meant for cutting meat or bread. She tightened her grip on the hilt. It could not hurt to have it around.

"That will not be necessary."

The almost calm façade that Sonia had been carefully constructing around herself shattered. With a gasp she held the tightly onto the knife, glancing wildly around the room.

Shit, she thought angrily. Of course there is someone there. She just stuffed her stupid, greedy, fat little face with God knows what. A sedative probably. And now they are just waiting for her to fall over. Idiot!

"I said that will not be necessary," the voice repeated, "I mean you no harm."

That's convenient, she thought bitterly, lucky me. She looked around the room. Where was the voice coming from?

"Of course you don't," she called back, "that's why you're hiding in the shadows. Completely harmless." Sonia looked around the room, trying to pinpoint the location of the voice. "Are you his owner?"

"Owner?"

"Yes, owner," Sonia said with thinly veiled annoyance, "of the giant white dog who came in here just before me but has now disappeared. Is he yours?"

He did not answer right away this time. Sonia thought she saw a flash of movement from one of the shadowy areas beneath the second story landing near some stairs.

"It is not a dog."

Sonia blinked. "What?"

"It is not a dog," the voice repeated with, what sounded like a hint of frustration, "it is a wolf. Not a dog."

Sonia felt her annoyance begin to build. "Sorry. Being kidnapped in the middle of the night has kind of thrown me off a bit."

"You have not been kidnapped. At least not by me."

"Then how did I get here," she demanded.

"Do you truly have no memory of how you came to be here?"

"I have … I don't know," Sonia pressed her hands to her eyes. "The memory I have, it can't be real …" she dropped her hands away from her face and squinted into the shadows, "who are you?"

It was quiet for several seconds before Sonia finally movement once more from the shadowy area beneath the landing. She braced herself. She would not move. She refused to give one step. She did not know what she expected to step out of the darkness, but it certainly was not this.

He was tall man with a lean build, although certainly not thin. He was dressed in a simple loose shit and black pants. His hair fell down in gold waves past his shoulders and his eyes flashed as they caught the light in a peculiar manner. He had delicate features, with high cheekbones and well defined jaw, he was quite handsome. No, handsome did not do him justice. He was beautiful, almost otherworldly. One could not help but be drawn towards him, like a moth to a flame.

But Sonia had been burned quite enough already, perhaps that is why she did not allow herself to be lulled into some sort of false complacency. He was beautiful yes, but there was a haughtiness to it. There was a chill to his gaze, an icy coldness that would most certainly burn if touched. His eyes, while hypnotic, also made the hair on the back of her neck rise. She did not feel danger from this man, but she knew he was dangerous.

Sonia took a step back.

The man in front of her did not approach, he simply raised a perfectly arched eyebrow. He then placed an elegant hand over his chest and gave a slight bow.

"Forgive me, you are correct. Introductions are in order. My name is Alucard. This is my … home." Sonia could not help but notice the slight pause as he said the word home. It seemed to her that for a moment his lip had curled slightly with distaste. But it was gone in a flash and he continued talking. "You are injured and I am certain that your hand will become, if it is not already, infected. Please, allow me to see to your wounds and we can discuss the circumstances of your coming here, for I promise, I am just as confounded as you by your arrival."

~oOo~

Sharp pain lanced through his head as colorful spots flashed in front of his eyes. His whole body had been beaten bloody and even the involuntary act of breathing caused some muscle or bone to ache. He dared not move away though. He knew better than to try to move before they were finished. Searing fiery bursts pulsated around his bruises, intensifying with each ragged breath, jarring and brutal. With each strike the pain amplified, muscles quivered and consciousness ebbed until black mists swirled at the edges of his mind, pulling him into sweet oblivion.

And then, on cue, the beatings would stop and he was left alone once more.

Blood was slowly oozing out of numerous wounds. A small but relentless flow of crimson.

But he felt no pain.

He had learnt a long time ago to shut himself off from the pain. He knew his arms ached, having gone numb some time ago from the constant pressure of the metal cuffs they were encased in. But that was just an irritant. Much like the bone dry feeling of his mouth and the pain that was caused whenever he tried to swallow. Just another irritant is all.

"It pains me to see you like this you know."

Ah, so it would seem the session was not over, not yet. He slowly pushed himself up from the floor, tenderly adjusting his body so he could lean back against the cold stone wall of his cell. A sharp, stabbing pain told him in no uncertain terms that he had a broken rib.

"Such a waste of talent, you being down here," the voice cooed, "I absolutely hate it."

Liar.

"But you insist on bringing this on yourself unfortunately."

The sound of heels clicking on stone echo through the damp air. He winces as a hand grips his chin, pulling his face up as cold clammy fingers comb the hair away from his face. A beautiful pale face gazes down at him, hideous in its perfection. A cold mask, like silk covering a blade. Her touch is not gentle.

"You must work harder Hector, for me. And for you. So that all may be witness to our conquest and you can take your rightful place alongside me. You do want that, don't you Hector? You do want the beatings to stop don't you?"

As if the beatings will ever stop you lying bitch.

"Yes." His voice had sounded clearer than he thought it would considering how much it hurt. The hand that had been smoothing his hair away from his face now painfully gripped a handful of that hair, jerking his head back against the wall. His vision blotches with violent colors that move and merge without pattern or design.

"Then where is my army Hector," the beautiful face snarled softly.

"You … send me … the corpses of women and children," he struggles to breathe and speak, "what is weak … in life is … weak in death. Substandard supplies … equals sub … standard product …."

Those cold unfeeling eyes consider him for a moment. "So you mean to tell me, that if I give you better "supplies" you can give me a better army …."

"Of course … a craftsman can only … work with what's … given …."

An icy gaze, colder than midwinter's dawn, weighs him for several more seconds. Suddenly blood red lips split into a radiant smile and she lets go of him as she stands up, tossing her long silver locks over her shoulder as she laughs. A giddy little school girl.

"My word Hector, why didn't you say so? All you had to do was ask. I shall see to it that you are given supplies worthy of a craftsman of you caliber." She looked down at him with thoughtful concern. A beautiful act. "Hmm, perhaps we have been little too hard on you as of late. Perhaps new quarters will also be arranged and see that you are properly tended to. It would not do to have you looking poorly when I take my throne. The queen's royal Forge Master must command respect as well." She turned and began to leave the cell. "Fetch Rosaly and tell her to clean him up. He has much work to do. I am happy to hear that you have finally come around to how things are Hector. All of these lessons, for the last few months have tormented me to no end you know. I do so want you by my side, you know that yes?"

"Yes," he rasped, "of course."

She stopped at the door of his cell and looked at him from over her shoulder. "Yes what?"

"Yes, my queen."

She smiled brightly at him, like an owner to a naughty puppy who finally learned to heel.

"Good boy," she purred. And then she left, leaving Hector with nothing other than steady throbbing pain … and a seething anger.

She was right about one thing. Hector had brought this on himself. He should have never betrayed Dracula. It was his one and only regret. Had he stayed the course, the human population would be properly controlled and he would not be here.

At least that was what Hector would tell himself, in the early days of his captivity. Now he was not so sure. The last few years as Carmilla's plaything had shown him the true nature of vampires as well. And they were no better than the humans they preyed upon. Still, he should have seen this coming.

He had become over confident in his skills at successfully hiding the vulnerability he had imbued his creations with. Making them instable and nowhere near the ferocity of Dracula's hordes. They were still vicious to be sure, but their life span was not as long, slowly deteriorating after a fortnight.

Most importantly they were loyal to him.

Oh they would take orders from Carmilla and her captains, but that was at his direction alone. If he told them to fall after every fourth excursion, then they would take a blade after every fourth excursion. If he instructed that they overlook children and women, then they would maul every male they came across while the children and women flee. And he made sure that the men they killed were beyond repair for even his forge work. There were some regrettable repercussions to this method of course. This caused Carmilla's forces to kill said women and children to bring to him for forging. But it was a necessary evil. He needed an excuse for the weakness, but more importantly he needed to see that they would do as they were told.

And they did. Without fail.

Now that he knew, Hector would allow for a more sizable product. A sizable product that was loyal to him, and then he could finally get some semblance of revenge on that bitch Carmilla and escape. Hopefully not alone.

Soft footsteps entered the cell, pausing at the entrance before quickening their pace over to where he still sat against the wall. The rattling of keys rang through his ears and he felt a sudden release of pressure on his wrists and the clanking of metal as chains fell to the floor. A hand cupped his face, but Hector did not wince. This was not Carmilla. The hand too warm, the touch too gentle.

Soft fingers slowly brushed blood soaked hair away from his face and he heard a little gasp. Hector smiled in spite of the pain. He forced his eyes to open, and was struck as he always was by what he saw. Even through blurred pain filled vision he could see those beautiful green eyes staring back at him, fill with concern and pain of their own … and love.

It was rather amusing really, how he had come to love Rosaly. Carmilla had sent her to Hector as a torment, as he had always despised human women. He had found them to be plotting vain creatures. Selfish and overbearing. His mother being the cruelest one of all. They had never paid him any mind and if they did it was to recoil in disgust and fear.

But not Rosaly.

She had been sent to him from the very beginning. Most likely as a spy. Hector had ignored her for the most part, simply going about his work. He assumed that she would simply run away in horror as all the others did once he began forging. But not Rosaly. Only she had remained, watching him in his work with fascination and curiosity. Sometimes she would even ask question that Hector would never answer. Several months, even years would go by before he took notice of her.

"You make life out of death here."

The statement had shocked Hector and he turned to look at her, truly look at her. She stood there staring back at him with those bright green eyes, a cat's eyes.

He began to show her then, just what he could do. The art of forging. And it is an art, regardless of what the sheep would say. And Rosaly, and only Rosaly, was the first to appreciate that. Had it not been for her, he would have simply accepted his fate. He would have remained Carmilla's toy, here to do her bidding and suffer through her sadistic whims.

He could never let Carmilla know of his true feelings. It would be her death.

A cool wet cloth brushed across his brow. He took her hand and brought it to bruised lips.

He would save her. He would saver her just as she had saved him. Soon. Very soon.

~oOo~

Sonia kept her gaze on the needle in her hand. She was unsure of the material that had been given to her to stitch the cut on her palm, but that was the least of her worries at the moment. The most pressing thing right now was trying to comprehend what this man Alucard had just told her.

She had been correct when she had assumed she was no longer in New Orleans. Indeed, she was no longer even in the country. She was in Wallachia.

And the year is fourteen ninety two.

Her head began to swim again and she strained to focus on the needle in her hand.

"Please, allow me."

Sonia wanted to protest, she could suture a wound with her eyes closed. But in this instance, she thought perhaps he was right. Long graceful fingers took the needle and thread from her hand and began to stitch with swift deft motions. She could feel his gaze on her periodically, it was impossible not to with those strange eyes of his. She supposed he was checking to make certain she was not going to faint. Fair enough. With everything she had just learned it was a reasonable precaution to take. It might even be a welcome respite. But no, Sonia was not going to black out. Instead she concentrated on the pain, the feel of the needled as it pierced her skin was a welcome familiarity. It helped her to keep her focus.

Sonia looked at the man who was now stitching her hand. Or she tried too. He kept his head down and partially hidden behind a curtain of honey yellow hair. He seemed to avoid looking at her directly. Especially when he would speak; tilting his head slightly down and away. Or place a hand against his chin as if in thought, obscuring his mouth. Sonia could not help but notice. After a few years of working in an emergency department she had learnt to pick up on the odd body language of abuse victims or junkies. Not that she thought this man was either of those. Perhaps it was just some habit from childhood. Perhaps he was hiding something. Maybe he had bad teeth. Oral hygiene was not said to be at the top of the priority list for the dark ages.

Oh God the dark ages ….

Another country. Another time. A strange man she did not know.

Sonia's head began to swirl and she squeezed her eyes shut. The pressure on her hand paused.

"Are you alright?"

Sonia opened her eyes to find his peeking out from the curtain of hair. She found herself struck once more by the color. Like molten gold. It made Sonia think of butterscotch. She could not understand why they seemed so familiar.

"Yes," she tried to sound reassuring, "yes, I'm fine. I just … processing."

Amber eyes flicked back to her hand. "I suppose this is much to take in."

That was a bit of an understatement.

"So … you saw me come through the mirror?"

"I found you after so no, I did not see you come through."

Sonia's felt her hopes raise slightly. "So then I could've traveled some other way?" Only to have them dashed once more.

"No," he said with slight shake of his head. "As I told you before, there was could be no other way for you to enter this castle without my knowledge."

Sonia easily picked up the light tone of irritation at having to repeat himself, but she did not care.

"I suppose it's too much to hope it had been a bad dream," she whispered softly.

With a quick flick of his hand he cut the suture and stood up, walking over to the other end of the table to discard the needle. Had he used scissors? Sonia looked at her hand. The wound was still angry but the stitches were clean. She looked over to where he now stood with his back to her, rummaging through a drawer.

"What did you use?"

He stopped his search and looked over his shoulder at her. She held up her hand.

"The stitching, what did you use?"

He turned back to the drawer. "It is not cat gut if that's what you're worried about. Just silk. It will have to be removed."

He closed the drawer, having found what he was looking for and walked over to where Sonia sat. He placed small rolls of cloth before her.

Sonia looked back down at her hand. She picked up a piece of cloth and began to slowly wrap it around her palm.

"Does this sort of thing happen a lot around here … people falling through mirrors?"

Those bright eyes glanced in her direction only briefly before he turned and began walking to the other end of the table once more. "You are the first," he called over his shoulder.

"And … what did you call it again?"

"A distance mirror."

"And you just have these distance mirrors laying around? For anyone to walk through?"

"Not quite," he stopped at the other end of the table and took a seat. The late afternoon son was pouring in the window behind making him somewhat difficult to see. "I was not even aware that this one was functional till you stumbled through."

"Can I just go back through? Does it have a reverse switch or something?"

"That is … not how these things work."

Sonia felt her frustration starting to build. "Well then how does it work?"

"It depends on the mirror. Some are simply for viewing while others are capable of transferring matter. But I have never heard of one capable of bending time. I am afraid the details of how something like this would operate may be too much for you comprehend. I myself am a little vague in my knowledge. I am afraid that I have much research to do in the oncoming days ahead."

Sonia knew she say something. An unfeeling mask though his face may be, he was being a condescending ass. But something he had said stuck out.

This man, Alucard, or whatever his name was, did not have the answers. He would have to research this. It would take several days. There would be no definitive timeline on when she would have answer. No idea on when she would get home. What was she to do while he researched? Where would she go? And what if there was no answer? What if she never saw home again? What then?

"In the meantime," he continued, interrupting Sonia's building panic, "you should remain here of course. You may roam freely about the grounds during the day, although I would advise you to stay away from the ruins on the eastern side. But once the sun is down, it would be best if you remain indoors. Preferably within your rooms. It is far too dangerous for one like you out there. So if you could please refrain from anymore late night excursions, it would be most appreciated."

For one like her?

"I'm not an invalid," she mumbled.

"Pardon?"

Sonia looked across the table at that flawlessly serene face. He was lecturing her, she was certain, but it was lacking even the slightest bit of empathy. Almost robotic. He had all the emotion of wet concrete.

Sonia was tired and hurt, but she was not incapable. She had been through enough and was not about to be put on some sort of lock down. Not that she planned on really going anywhere but that was not the point. The point was that she was not going to be treated like a child. She desperately needed to hold on to some part of herself in all this madness. Might as well start asserting herself now.

"I'm not an invalid," Sonia looked down at her hand. No. That was not her fault. That is a defensive wound. "… I know it may seem that way right now, but I'm not. I am capable of taking care of myself."

He stared at her from across the table, his head tilted slightly. "Of course."

"I'm a doctor," she practically blurted. That did not come out the way she intended at all.

"So you said."

Now what the hell did that mean? Still, she persisted.

"I'm studying to be one anyway … that's not the point."

"What is the point?"

"The point is …," what was the point? She was dealing with a lot, certainly he could see that. Her entire world had just been turned upside down and backwards … literally. She was not thinking at full capacity, she could admit that. And this man, this Alucard, was behaving as one would in an established patriarchal society. But that was not where Sonia was from. And she was not about to conform now. She had dealt with being a woman in a male dominated profession and proved herself admirably. She could certain do the same with this pretty little antique. Not to mention that right now at this moment she needed a purpose most of all or else she feared she would lose her mind, if she had not already. "… the point is I can comprehend more that you think so just tell me about these goddamn mirrors."

Sonia fought the urge to cringe. It was the best she could come up with on the spot and even then it was pretty pathetic.

The mask across the room considered her for a moment. Sonia felt as if she were being placed upon a scale and weighed. Finally, with a sigh that Sonia would have thought sounded resigned if she believed he was capable of that much emotion, he folded his arms across his chest.

"They are old. Very old. Not many exist and those that do are rarely functional. They are easily damaged you see. All it takes is one misplaced cracked piece of glass or damage to the runes and it is useless. For a viewing mirror, if all is in order, the concept is simple enough. Have a fixed point in your mind, a clear focus of your subject or destination. Visualizing a location can be as easy as calling on an old memory. But to transfer matter, you must visualize in three dimensions. Like coordinates - length, width, height. It is no small task. And only possible for the user to go from mirror to the desired location. But you, you did not just pass from one place to another. You passed through one mirror and out another. You passed through time as well."

When he began speaking, it had reminded Sonia of one of the many lectures she had attended; emotionless, bland, and tedious. But when he arrived to the topic of her mirror, she began to notice some changes in his demeanor, a slight animation to his step. He spoke now as if he were talking to himself, rationalizing some hypothesis that had never been considered before.

"The mirror you used was capable of accessing a fourth dimension, somehow capable of bending space – time to where, in theory, the time line was turned back on itself," he was animated now. Sonia blinked as he flew around the room, grabbing items along the way, "making properties of space fairly interchangeable with properties of time therefore a curved path through space becomes a curved path through time." Suddenly he was standing next to her, setting strips of silk down on the table before her. "To a moderate degree this would only allow say," he stretched the strips out, "two straight lines of different lengths to connect the same points in space. But to an extreme degree," he now took the end of the silk and moved them into a circular pattern, "it could allow lines to curve around in a circle and reconnect with the past."

He leaned over her now. It was the closest he had ever come. Even while he sutured her hand he had kept her at arm's length, never fully facing her. But now he looked directly at her. His eyes shone bright with excitement Sonia had not thought him capable of only moments before. She thought he may actually smile.

But then it was gone. He quickly straightened upright and turned away, moving back towards the other end of the table, all stiff and proper once more.

"But, this only a theory and a relative one at that. And without the proper runes, it may be impossible. Do you happen to remember what they looked like?"

Sonia's brow furrowed as she struggled to remember. "No not really. Everything from that night is kind of hazy to be honest. One minute I was cleaning it and then another …" she held up her hands, gesturing around her.

"Hmm …," was all he replied. As he looked at her his eyes seem to catch the dimming light in a most disconcerting manner. And yet also strangely familiar. "Come. The hour grows late and you should return to your room."

Sonia wanted to protest but instead she found herself hurrying to catch up as he moved at a steady pace out of the room and down the hall. It was not long before they were at the door of her room. Upon entering he walked over to the water filled basins and picked the larger one up and walked to the window where he poured it outside. Sonia made the note that he was stronger than he looked. He walked back over to the door.

"Wait," Sonia called out. That was it? He was just going to leave her here? He turned halfway to look at her over his shoulder. "So … what do you do … what about when I have to … go to … relieve …"

Without even acknowledging her discomfort, he walked over to the bed and reached underneath, pulling out a large pot. Sonia blinked.

"Oh."

He began to walk across the room to where there a narrow door that Sonia had not noticed. He opened it revealing a small closet type space with a hole in the floor and what looked to be a faucet in the wall.

"Once you are done, you turn the valve here and pour the contents down there. The water is pulled up from a spring beneath the castle."

"Can you drink it? The water I mean."

"I suppose," he said giving her a strange look, "although I do not know why you would."

He closed the door then and walked back across the room to leave. He stopped suddenly and turned, clasping his hands behind his back.

"You must forgive me. This castle is not accustomed to visitors and neither am I. I was going to the village tomorrow to seek out the tailor to adjust the existing clothing I do have and possible make you more since we do not know how long you will be here, or I can find you other accommodations. But I see now I may need to find some staff to tend to the day to day needs that I cannot. This task will be difficult as there are not many of the villagers who would be willing to come out here. I am afraid the castle has somewhat of a reputation."

"Oh? They think it's haunted," Sonia said lightheartedly.

"Something like that. If you will excuse me …" He began to close the door behind him.

"Are your rooms down the hall," Sonia called out. He stopped and looked at her from over his shoulder once more. "In case I should need or remember something …"

He did not speak right away. Sonia did not think she could be in this place alone.

"I will remain here, yes." And then he closed the door.

Sonia stood there in the center of the room. She felt an overwhelming urge to cry again. But she would not. Not anymore. She refused. She had to find a way out of here. She was going to find a way out of here. A way home. She just wished she did not feel so … alone.

Sonia searched through the armoire till she found something she felt she could sleep comfortably in and then she went and stared at the chamber pot till she could not hold it anymore. When she was done, she quickly and carefully dumped everything down the hole and rinsed her hands vigorously under the water. She chided herself for being such a ninny. It was any different from changing a bedpan at the hospital. At least not that different.

Once all that was done, Sonia climbed up onto the bed. She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on top of them. Being alone brought back the crushing reality of her situation. She would even be happy if her mannequin of a host were still here. At least she would not be alone. She concentrated on her breathing. Inhale and exhale. She was not going to panic. She would find a way home. She was not going to panic.

A soft scratching and slow creak of the door grabbed Sonia's attention and she looked to see her friend sitting at the far end of the room. Sonia's face split into a huge grin.

"Hey boy," she called out with pure joy, "where have you been?"

Sonia pulled back the covers and patted the space next to her. Her friend loped over to the side of the bed and jumped up on it, flopping down next to her with a huff. Sonia could not help but laugh softly as she curled up next to him, wrapping her arms around him and soaking up the comfort of his warmth.

"You," she said with a kiss to the top of his head, "are a sight for sore eyes."

Her friend responded with a resigned sigh, but Sonia did not care. She held him tight against her, knowing she was safe.