Eyes are staring at me, unblinking; they are watching me and I can't break away from them.
"Herse, are you ok? Herse, speak to me." His voice is so real, I wonder why it's so real when he's not really here.
"What happened in here?" It's father! But it can't be, but it has to be, I'll sit up and see for myself, if I can get unbound from those eyes of his.
"She fell off the bed, she was having a nightmare."
"Alright Mercury, help her up and we'll get her some stimulant to wake her properly." He's really all right! My eyes feel filled with sand and grit and sleep but I can almost see.
"Mercury?" My voice sounds funny, like I'm talking through cotton wool, or a gag or something and my throat is full of gunk, I hope he understands me.
"Yeah, it's me. You ok?" I can see him now, his eyes are still as blue as the dreamed summer sky, but he's concerned. I really must have fallen of the bed.
"Uh-huh, are you?"
"Why shouldn't I be?" He frowns as he speaks; he looks funny like that, like a vampire from the show back inside, Fluffy? No, Duffy?
"Buffy?" He supplies. Yes, that's it. I nod because my voice is strange still.
"Here you go little one," it's my father, he's really alive!
"Are you ok?" I sound worried, even to my own ears.
"Of course, I've just spoken to the Commander actually." I hold my breath, or I will after I have some more of this drink, it makes me feel awake.
"What did he say?"
"You aren't able to come with me on the Shadow this time."
"But I have to, I can't go back!"
"You're not going back." His hands are gentle but firm on my shoulders; he knows that if I went back she would kill me. But it's going to be ok; it's all going to be ok.
"You're going with another ship, they have another week of leave in Zion, plenty of time to get you up-to-date on training and settled with the crew." I can't say anything and I watch as Mercury drags my father away, it's funny to see. My father is tall and solid and Mercury is little and thin, he's built like me almost, but taller. He is saying something and I can't hear him, but father is making him understand his answers. Mercury must be happy about it because he's smiling and holding my hand again. I wonder why he just suddenly appeared at the bed when he was over the other side of the room a minute ago.
"We're going with Thanatos, on the Zephyr." He is very excited and I smile without meaning to.
"Who is he?"
"The one who always stands up to Helen all the time, he needs some new people and we're going."
"What about the Shadow?" His excitement is contagious but my family need me, I have to be able to save them from her.
"They're doing a few runs to make sure the other ships are okay up at broadcast, a supply run, nothing really worth the drama." He shrugs and is still smiling at me. We are going on a ship together, despite regulations. My eyes feel heavy again. And gunk is filling my throat and I feel like my stomach is eating itself. I'm hungry. Nothing moves for a moment, I must have spoken aloud, or gods, don't let them get angry at me.
"You hear that Clemency?" Mercury is leaping around like a lunatic. "She's hungry!" He laughs, loudly and I am very confused. Why is this a good thing? The nice woman has come back now, she is holding something in her hands, it looks like a container of goo. I really hope it is. Which is very strange considering the tastelessness of it.
"Would you like some of this Herse?" I nod a little, waiting for her to take it away. But she is handing it to me, and I'm allowed to eat it! I have to try very hard not to eat it in a hurry, to make it last. I wonder if there is enough for everyone to have some.
"Can you start tomorrow?" Father is talking to the nice woman; she nods and whispers something that makes my father angry. He makes a reply and now he is walking back to me. His hand is light on my shoulder.
"I need you to try very hard with your training and your work while I'm gone, ok?" I nod, there is still goo in my mouth and it's impolite to talk with your mouth full.
"I'll get my stuff off the Shadow and come back later, ok?" I nod again, Mercury is really excited and I suppose I should be too, but I'm going to miss Maralah, and I hope that nothing bad happens to her. She has been ever so good to me as a best friend and a sister. I miss her, but she is busy fixing the ship, it took some damage and she is training to be a mechanic as well. I wonder how I know that too? Someone must have told me.
"Take care little one, the others and I will see you in a few months." He smiles and is gone, but that is ok, the nice lady is staying and I think I can talk to her. After I have a nap, I'm tired again; eating takes a lot of energy. I'll just close my eyes for a moment and then finish the bowl…
A/N: So, is she in the dream world or the real world? You tell me...
Vampiryyn: Hi there! Glad you popped by, even if it was just to comment on the name of Helen, who is evil and should never be portrayed as anything else no matter what Hollywood makes the Trojan War out to be... Ok, won't rant on about that. I hope you like this chapter too, not just for names and stuff...
AbsolutelyNoSoliciting: Helen makes her own evil, just read the Illiad (Homer) or Trojan Women (Eurpides). My gods, that woman was nothing but Evil! Don't worry, Herse is a noblewoman born, she's got brains and beauty. She was orignially an Athenian princess you see and that means she has nothing but the best bloodlines. Enjoy this chapter!