The suns rose and set, just skimming the surface of the land before rising again. Days passed into weeks, and not just one or two, but three then four until, finally, the seventh arrived.
The suns settled in the sky for the day. A beam of gentle light ghosted over closed eyes; softly they blinked into awaking. Normally unused facial muscles twitched slightly as eyes scrunched and un-scrunched, small hands twitched on the stitched blanket covering the small body, caressing, reassuring her that the pain that still lingered in her body wasn't a dream. Slowly her eyes opened, looking around the room and she breathed a sigh of relief.
Looking to her left and wincing slightly at her sore neck she smiled. With his head cocked to the side at a strange and unforgiving angle and sitting on one plush chair by her head lay Tolan. His hand was limp on the mattress not far from her own hand. Reaching over slowly she allowed her fingers to caress Tolan's wrinkled ones, and she watched him twitch and awaken, blinking once then twice before sitting up suddenly with shock written upon his face. "Diabolique, child," he whispered before boldly grabbing the child, pulling her blanket and all onto his lap. "Gods child, you had us worried!"
"How...how long?" the child asked softly as she coughed. A tumbler of water was placed against her lips allowing her to drink a little.
"Better?"
A nod was Tolan's response as the child looked up at him expectantly.
"Seven weeks," the old man finally answered softly. He watched as Diabolique sighed and looked out of the window towards the twin suns as they slowly passed. She frowned as memories that were not her own passed over her mind. These memories were strange. "Tolan... I remember things that haven't happened to me. Why?" she asked in the innocent way only a child could.
"Karl's guard said you were sick. You weren't sick, were you?" Tolan found himself asking as his mind raced to what knowledge he knew.
"No, there was a man with pointy ears who said his name was Capulatio..." She trailed off, though she did not notice Tolan's sharp intake of breath on hearing the name.
Tolan knew of that name, he had dealt with the consequences four times before. The fifth time now it seemed. How well he had improved his techniques was to show in the future, though he knew that the consequences Diabolique would face were not something to look forward to – for either of them.
"How are you feeling?" Tolan asked as the child leaned against him.
"Tired I guess." A yawn confirmed it, he smiled slightly as the child's eyes slowly shut as he sat in a peaceful silence.
"She awoke?" came a deep voice form the doorway, causing Tolan to look over.
"She did Latro," Tolan answered as Latro watched the old man, bellying his age, settle the child again on the bed. Though unlike the last time, this was with love like any grandfather would show.
"Good," Latro remarked as he turned to leave, though he stopped before turning the corner. "Her eyes Tolan, what colour are they?" Latro asked as he looked over his shoulder, his hand gripping the wall almost for support.
"They are... red. The hazel has been changed; though the white is there... it's as if they're on fire, dancing almost with her feelings..." Tolan trailed off with a frown of worry.
"Don't worry old man, because I know that child won't." Latro grinned as he walked away from them.
Karl stood silently at the window. The seven weeks that had passed had been unfortunately quiet: no arguments or punishments to deal out, no duties to order, nothing at all. The shadowed leader had not arrived neither to check on him nor the child which, to Karl, was not strange. He observed the population of Haven. It was quiet, probably with worry, concern and other useless emotions over the small child who lay in a bed, oblivious to the world around her. How little she knew, but how much she'd be learning.
Toban raised an eyebrow. Mia stood in disbelief, dropping her knife. Latro stood leaning against the wall, arms crossed, looking impressed. For there was Diabolique looking at the small group, wide-eyed and giving the group a good look at her new eyes.
"Bloody hell," Toban muttered as Mia was quick to give the recovering child a hug, settle her on the table and attempt to get food into her. Diabolique found herself looking pleadingly at Latro who, in turn, shrugged helplessly for he was no fool when it came to mother hens and their chicks; in his experience they were worse than warriors on the hunt.