CHAPTER 3

I woke up in a cold sweat and the room was dark. My leg was in intense pain yet again and when I tried to move my ears began ringing instantly and white spots burst in front of my eyes just like the day I broke it. I began to wonder how much time had elapsed since then. Somehow I felt as though I wasn't in a dungeon. The floor felt different, almost as if it was wood instead of stone, and my clothes were completely gone. I was laying on my stomach at the moment and somehow found the strength to force myself onto my back. The back of my head hit something hard and wooden but before I could reach up to feel what it was I started to hear footsteps, louder than what I was used to. Seconds later a door swung open and in stepped a dark figure. Light burst into the room behind it blinding me to its true form. It began to move towards me and I panicked again, scrambling back and forgetting the pain in my leg. My only thought was to run.

I started with fright when her cool soft voice floated to me, "Stop that, you'll hurt yourself." I turned to look as my eyes adjusted and I saw her smiling face with those dazzling emerald eyes staring into mine. I began to cry uncontrollably and she moved over quickly. She kneeled down next to me and hugged me gently, shushing me all the while. I deciding it was merely a nightmare that I had even though it seemed to incredibly real. But no matter how real the nightmare was I was simply glad to see she was alive.

She smiled warmly and kissed my cheek, lifting me onto the bed. As I was set down I felt a sharp pain in my leg which led me to believe not that much time had elapsed from the day I broke my leg. This belief was soon confirmed by her when she said, "You've been asleep for the past three days and you've been healing really well, I don't want you to go and break your leg again, or mess up your new arm. Now, go back to sleep and get some rest, no if, ands, or buts."

I was a bit confused but glad I wasn't in a cell anymore and that she was still alive, so I simply did what she said. I closed my eyes, the thought of my "new arm" on my mind, wondering what she meant by that. Was It actually possible to get a new arm? And why would I need it? Did I hurt my arm when I fell? I decided id ask her in the morning, it was too dark at the moment to check and my arm felt fine so I wasn't really worried about it. I Soon fell asleep and from then on my night was fairly pleasant.

I awoke the next morning before the sun had risen yet and found my covers gone. She was beside the bed tending to my leg, wrapping it tightly in a clothe with a splint on four sides of it to hold it completely still. I winced a bit in pain but stayed quiet as I watched her silently. I saw a small smile play over her lips and one played over mine as well. She knew I was awake and watching her and her voice followed the small smile only a few minutes later, "You can get up and walk around now but only if you need to, I want you to stay in bed for at least a month with this since your leg will take a while to heal."

I remembered the night before and decided id ask, "What did you mean last night about my 'new arm'?". Of course I eagerly awaited her answer though I had learned not to show it. As I waited and watche d her tend to my leg I wondered if she was willing to tell me at all. She was taking quite some time with my leg and the answer that I had almost given up.

She then finished wrapping my leg and pinned the clothe with a needle. She looked up to me and smiled a bit more and beginning her answer, "Well, when you were attempting the jump from the balcony you hit your arm on a branch on the way down, shattered the bones in it and badly tore most of the flesh. At the rateyou were bleeding you would have bled to death if I didn't do something. So I took you to my friend Agaroth, The Blood Dragon. His blood can heal any wound but only when given freely by him, if taken without permission it is instant death. The is also a side effect, but it varies from person to person. I'm not sure how it will truly effect you but it was our only choice. I do hope you approve."

I nodded a bit and smiled as if to say of course I do. I was truly touched by the fact that she cared about me as she did. I was afraid if I spoke I may end up in tears again, after last night I was still a bit unstable. She smiles and pulled the covers back over me and stood to walk out, calling towards me as she left, "I'll bring you some breakfast at dawn."

I called out after her just before she left the room, "Aura?"

She turned to look at me and smiled lightly, "Yes, Donipher?", that was the name she had given me when I recovered from the wounds I had when she found me.

I smiled a bit to her and looked away, I could feel the blood rush into my cheeks and knew I was blushing, "Thank you… for caring."

She laughed a bit, "Well I've grown fond of you, I can't let you leave without a proper goodbye.", and with those words she walked from the room and the door closed behind me.