It was unbearably hot. She felt the wait of heavy blankest on top of her. She was damp with sweat and her throat felt sore and bruised.

Slowly she opened her eyes, the room appearing to spin and throb. It was dark except for the light of dying embers in a softly glowing fireplace. She heard voices, soft and indistinct. Turning her head she saw two shadowy figures taking in the far corner of the room.

She tried to talk to them, but her throat was dryer than she thought and all she could produce was a strangled cough.

At the sound the two people jumped and stared at her, obviously surprised.

She tried again but still an airy groan was all that came. Immediately one of them ran across the room and knelt beside her, relief and traces of concern showing in her face.

The woman took her hand and held it tightly, her blue eyes rimmed with black but shining.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" She said ribbing her arm soothingly.

"I'm… My thought is really soar." She managed to croak out.

The woman frowned. "Yeah well, that's probably due to the huge bruise you have on your neck. Can you tell me how you got it?"

The lost look in the young girls eyes deepened. "I… I can't remember."

The woman nodded. "Do you remember me Claire? I'm Nattily." She asked quietly.

The girls looked surprised. She closed her eyes and thought. "I don't think so… Is… Is my name Claire?"

Nattilys' face contorted in surprise. She was completely stunned by Claire's words.

"Nattily!" A mails voice called from across the room.

"Let her get some rest. You don't want her getting any sicker."

Nattily nodded her head and patted Claire's hand before rising and walking across the room. She sat on her bed and took out some knitting things.

Claire's mind was a whirl with activity. Why couldn't she remember anything? Even her name? Had something happened to her? She lifted her arm with grate difficulty and rubbed her neck. Yes there was defiantly a bruise there, she winced. Maybe someone had tried to kill her. Suddenly images came back to her. Just a picture of a rope. Although she had much to work through she just couldn't keep her eyes open anymore. It was a short, hopeless battle against sleep. It finally overpowered her and her world went black again.

888

When it looked like Claire had finally fallen asleep Nathan walked over and sat beside his sister. Nattily had tears in her eyes that she quickly tried to hide from her brother. Although she knew that he had seen them. He wrapped his arm around her and she leaned into his comforting embrace.

"She didn't even recognize me." She whispered. "I've thought about her every day, Wondering ware she was, if she was aright. But now she doesn't remember anything!" She sniffled and rubbed her eyes. "Not a thing!"

Nathan shushed her and rubbed her back. "It's okay" He whispered calmingly. "It's not her fault. It's not like that at all. Did you see the bruise on her neck?"

Nattily nodded, whipping away more tears.

"Well" He continued. "I'm sure I've seen that sort of wound before…"

Nattily looked up into his face, her eyes wide with surprise.

"A while ago, at the opera house, there was a man. Bouquet I think his name was. Well you remember the night Debienne and Poligny Retired? Tyler and I had gone down below to… Well… Truthfully to get blind drunk. But anyway when we got to the third cellar and sat down to drink, Tyler suddenly got very quiet and when I asked him what was wrong he just pointed behind me. So I turned around and there was M Bouquet! Hanging by a noose in between two sets!"

Nattily gasped.

"So anyway Tyler ran up above to get help and I went to cut him down. When I finally DID get him down I took the rope off and he had the most hideous wound wrapping all the way around his neck. I never forgot it. To this day I see that scar in nightmares. And I saw it again when I found Claire. I'm pretty sure she was hung Nattily! Or at least almost strangled with some sort of rope."

Nattily looked over at her sleeping friend, a barely distinguishable shadow buried in her blankets. "Poor Claire… Who would do something like that?" She asked quietly.

"I don't know." Said Nathan. "But if I ever find them…" He left off. Murder in his normally gentle eyes.

AN:

There is no excuse for my tardiness. All I can do is

A Let you all know that I am in fact still alive.

And

B Run away as fast as I can from all the people I promised a speedy update to so that I may remain alive!