Pamina's POV
'We're going to Marmoreal?' Folter asked excitedly. I held my hands up in warning.
'You're coming because you're too insistent.' I corrected. 'But I'll be there because… there are problems arising with my state of mind.'
'Is something the matter, Mina?' He asked, concerned as he took my hands to his lips. 'You know, you can trust me.' He was awfully cute.
'I'm having nightmares that are playing with my madness. I can't have that. I'll end up like..' I was explaining before I was cut off.
'Like me? Are you so ashamed of me? Am I so terrible?' Momma ranted from behind him. His eyes narrowed at her tone. He was very polite to her, civilized. But he couldn't stand it when someone spoke to me in such a degrading tone. He spun around to face her and I kept a hand on his shoulder, just to remind him he needn't be too harsh.
'Must you be so selfish? How hard your heart must be. Is it granite, rock or steel?' He asked meanly, glaring at her.
'I don't know. It's been a while my heart's been accustomed to feel.' She said with a haughty look and a cold air. Folter was getting angry and I couldn't blame him but she had spoken the truth.
'Folter, this isn't necessary. She no longer loves.' I explained gently and his eyes softened in pity and my mother's softened in the pleading look she sent me. I smiled sadly at her and took his hand, stepping up into a Carriage Creature.
'To Marmoreal.' I commanded and it squeaked happily, going off on its way. Folter squeezed my hand lightly and I gazed at him with a soft smile.
'I'm sorry if I overstepped my boundaries.' He apologized, kissing my cheek lightly. I grinned and kissed him back. Honestly, I loved when he was protective of me.
We arrived in Marmoreal very soon and I thanked my creature, running up the stairs to embrace Mother. She hugged me tight and released me with a happy grin but she didn't fool me. I saw dark shadows under her eyes and worry in her eyes. Uncle Tarrant stood behind her, giggling hysterically. Was something wrong?
He picked me up and spun me around. 'It's good to see you, sweet one.' He said. 'Shall we jump straight to it? We have to do it in your room, you see.'
'Alright. Is there something you're hiding from me?' I asked, turning to Mother suspiciously.
'It's not what we hid but what your mind has hid. At the moment you don't remember. I'm not sure if you want to.' Mother said. She turned to Folter. He was tense and he stared at me blankly.
'You can choose to have him there if you want.' Mother told me, looking at Folter. I looked at the King I was courting and smiled. He frowned. 'Mina.' He said, a plea.
'I'd rather he not see me in… that state.' I said and I could tell that he was disappointed but he smiled and kissed me sweetly.
'I will wait for you then…' He said, walking away. Mother took my hand and we went up to my old room. Everything was still the same, except that my hat room would be empty as I took everything in it.
'Pamina.' Mother called and I saw an all too familiar gold key in her hand. 'I'm. Afraid I'm going to have to.. ask you to wear your old… chain.' She choked out. I felt shock and some fear. Mother? Asking me to put on a shackle? How dangerous would I be?
I took the key from her swiftly and unlocked the cuff, securing it around my ankle. It transformed to suit my new size and strength. Clever spell, Mother. I gave the key back to Mother and Uncle Tarrant stared at me, staying close to Mother. She was standing near my work room door, far enough that I couldn't reach her. I realized with a depressing sense that they were treating me like an enemy. Was that what I would become?
'Pamina, on your bed, you'll find a Restoration Potion.' She said sorrowfully. I ignored my confusion and snatched up the vial and uncorked it. I looked at my Mother and Uncle Tarrant. Both fearful, like me.
'I'm going to lose all of it then. Whatever is left if my mind. It'll be gone.' I intoned. I didn't have a choice. If I got my memories back, I'd be dangerous. If I didn't, nightmares would make me dangerous anyway. I stared away from them into a mirror and said goodbye to my soft brown eyes.
I downed the potion and dropped the vial, falling to my knees as it took effect. Mother was good with Potions. It was so effective. I grabbed my head and shook it. Pictures flooded in the first thing I remembered was Daddy's body. Tears fell from my eyes. I remembered hugging his cold body to my head and his head was in front of me, blank eyes looking at me.
'Daddy!' I whispered, voice broken. I was whining and whimpering. My eyes were yellow at least I knew.
Then I saw Momma on the other side laughing at me, at him. Impossible! She was in exile then! It wasn't real, I tried to reason. But it didn't work on memories past and it wasn't working on me now. No! No! She's not here! Another memory, Momma was morphing, sometimes Mother sometimes Momma. I was fighting the madness… and losing! Mother disappeared and I lunged at Momma. I had hurt Mother instead. I knew that but Momma was taunting me in my head.
'No! No! Stop!' I begged, rocking myself. I tried to get up. I staggered to my feet, leaning against the bedpost. I remembered strong hands pulling me back. They felt like Uncle Tarrant's but when I turned it was Stayne. I shrieked in anger and my eyes flashed open, furiously wanting to attack. I saw my soulless black eyes in the mirror.
