Chapter 1

I landed in snowy woods, no clothes, no one around and… no sound. at first I just thought the wood was I quiet but as I tried to get up, to stand to get moving and to get warm I realized I couldn't hear anything. Not a single sound. I panicked as I grabbed at my newly pointed ears, the tips of them cold and painful. I looked around in a panic and as I turned in circles I finally noticed the heavy drag at my shoulders, large black bat like wings protruded from my back.

At the sight of them I got images of a past, created for me by the power that sent me here. A childhood in a camp surrounded by wings and warriors. Some accident causing me to lose my hearing and them locking me away in dark cellar for it. Spending years trapped in darkness, getting one meal every other day my growth stunted from the lack of nutrition.

At that thought I tried looking myself over holding my arms out finding they are almost skeletal, looking down I could see every rib in my chest, rising and falling with each breath. I started walking, in which direction I did not know I only knew if I didn't move I would freeze to death.

Of course the creature would leave me naked deaf and alone in a snow storm. I thought to myself, tightly holding my arms close to my body trying to save my warmth. I tried pulling up the new wings that hung off my back but the effort left my muscles burning and I ultimately gave up. I tried pulling up images of my previous life, of here I had com from. But nothing I couldn't even think of the right words for some of the things that used to be commonplace in my everyday life.

I was slowing down now, I don't even know how long I had been walking though stars filled the night sky. My legs were shaky, and I couldn't feel my feet. What a cruel trick this had been, that creature knew it was sending me to my death. Knew it would drop me into an environment I couldn't survive in, just to waste away and freeze before I ever got to experience ay of it.

My knees buckled at that last thought I landed face down in the snow the cold biting into my skin making it burn, unable to move but no longer shivering. That was a bad sign right? A sign that my body was getting ready to shut down? I had almost closed my eyes when I saw movement, a bird landed a couple hundred feet away. No. not a bird a male, wielding a sword and what looked like glowing gems. I slowly blinked and tried calling for help. I don't even know if I had made any sounds, I couldn't hear anything even from my on lips.

As he got closer I noticed he had long dark hair and hazel eyes. He looked grim weather from my presence or from my situation I couldn't tell. I was too weak to even lift my head up, so I just laid there as he approached. I guess when he had ruled me not a danger, he draped something over my body and hoisted me up into his arms. I could feel the groan I mad in my chest as he jumped into the air and I realized we were flying. I was grateful for any heat I could sap from his body as he held me even if my uncovered legs were freezing in the wind. And at that moment I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.

I woke in a dark warm room I realized I was now clothed in a black shirt and pants, my hands bound behind my back to a chair looking around the circular room I noticed a chair in a dark area with a male sitting in shadows watching me. I opened my mouth to say something but I wasn't sure how it would come out with me not being able to hear myself speak. I took in a deep calming breath to steady myself when two more males entered the room to my right.

I sat up straighter trying to look as calm as I could in my current situation. I recognized one of the males as the one that had found me and I guess had brought me here, the other one had similar features and the same dark hair but his eyes were an intimidating violet in color. I could tell by how the male in the chair stood when the looked at him that he was in charge.

And then he started speaking. Oh crap.

I looked at him trying to focus on his mouth, trying to make out any words. I think they noticed the blank loo on my face when they all started giving me puzzled looks. I took a dep breath and with a shaky voice attempted to speak to them.

"My name is Elida and I have no hearing, I don't know how well you will be able to understand me but I cant hear anything your saying." I could feel the word leave my lips and my chest vibrate with each word out of my mouth. They just stared at me stunned. The male with long hair looked like he was trying to hold back a snicker while the violet eyed male just stared at me intently.

I will just have to try and communicate to you through my demati powers then. My name is Rhysand and am the high lord of the night court. My companions here are Cassian and Azriel. I about jumped out of my skin when I heard another voice inside my head.

Easy there Elida we aren't here to hurt you, we just need to figure out where you came from. I gave him a level look and tried shoving him out of my head. They were talking to each other, more than likely about what to do in this strange situation.

I am going to look into your past to determine if you are a threat or not in the quickest way possible. You will not be able to hide anything from me but it will not be painful. I winced as the past that had just been created for me lept to the front of my mind. My being a young child and learning to read and write, an accident involving an explosion causing my hearing loss and my being locked up for the rest of my days. And then today when some accident left a crack in my cell wall for me to climb through and run. My collapsing and rescue just mere hours before now.

And then I was back in the room a grim but kind expression on Rhysands face as he gave a command to my savior, Cassian it was and they strode out of the room giving Azriel a nod before closing the door behind them. Azriel then stood from the corner and slowly strode to me he went to my hands and untied them, then to my feet where I hadn't even realized my ankles had been bound. And when he looked up. When he looked directly into my eyes.

My breath caught in my throat for a moment and I could tell his had too, He looked over my face taking in all of my features. I couldn't imagine how I must have looked to him, gaunt half frozen and scared. But he said nothing as he lifted me up, taking me I don't know where. Im glad he hadn't even offered to let me walk because I was sure id land right on my face since I still couldn't really feel my feet.

He ended up taking me to a bedroom where he set me on the bed, he started speaking but I couldn't read his lips when a look of realization came across his face. He looked around and grabbed a pad of paper and a pen scribbled something quickly and handed it to me.

'healer is coming in the morning Rhys thinks you have frostbite. Dinner will be here shortly.' As I was reading he headed to the door.

"thank you." I said quicky feeling the words in my chest and knowing they were probably shaky. "tell Cassian I said thank you as well." I finally finished off. He inclined his head toward me and vanished through the door.

I was alone then in the quiet, I looked around my room it was huge and hollow. A large archway led out to a balcony that looked like it was overlooking a mountain range. I wonder how high up we were, it made since all of the males have wings. I stopped at that remembering I too have wings now. I tried spreading them out with my hands touching the silky smooth membrane.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw the door open and someone walked in with a tray. It was a women she was taller than me, and she made eye contact with me ducking her head ever so slightly as she laid the tray down at the foot of my bed and backed out of the room.

The smell of the food hit me like a shock to the system, I practically lept for the tray and took it all in. hot rolls with fresh cream, roasted potatoes and chicken. A generous serving of pie and a tall goblet of wine I started on the rich delicious food not caring that I made a mess on the new clothes I was wearing. I had never had anything so flavorful in my life. After I filled my belly I set the tray on the table next to the bed and drank deeply from my wine. I laid back in the large plush bed savoring the feel of a full belly and the touch of soft sheets. I finally fell asleep gazing at the view of the mountain range.