You have got to be kidding me. This library is huge.
"Ailis, if you want to find a cure for your...condition we need to find the right book." Jace explained as I tilted my head back, words failing me as I took in the hundreds of shelves and the thousands of books lining them. With that, Jace moved to a shelf and I quickly followed the telepath as he selected a book after glancing at the cover for a few seconds. Copying him I grabbed a book, following him as he headed towards an empty table.
Strangely enough the library was empty and after looking around I took a step near Jace who had already started to read, eyes flying over the pages. I took my time, not even looking up when Jace rose from his seat returning the book to its spot on the shelf before he chose a new one.
Sometime later...
"Nothing." I sighed, setting the book down on the table and Jace turned his head. "This is hopeless."
"You have only read one book. If you want a cure you need to work harder." Jace told me and I snorted, arms folded. "Ailis, are you sure you want to be changed back?" He asked and I stared at him.
"How can you say that? You think I want to be this way?" I snapped and he sighed, closing the book he had set on the table. "Besides did it ever occur to you that since this condition I have is a first, there wouldn't be any information about it?" I pointed out and he blinked, eyes going wide before his lips curled into a smile.
"You are right, Ailis. Maybe we should ask Lilliana if she can fix this." Jace suggested, not expecting me to climb from my seat eyes glaring at him. Without speaking I hurried from the room, leaving a very confused telepath to catch up with me. Right after he returned both of our books of course...
How could he even suggest asking that...horrible woman? It's bad enough being some sort of undead creature without Jace wanting the help of the one person who caused this.
Tears running down my cheeks I tried to find somewhere to hide from both necromancer and telepath. Eventually I found a room a long distance from the library, one filled with clothing so I hid myself inside just as I heard Jace calling my name..
He'll never find me here.
Just as I closed the door I heard footsteps so I quickly hid behind the door, silently hoping Jace would leave me alone. I heard someone stop just outside the door and I held my breath, forgetting for a moment I didn't really breathe. A few seconds later the footsteps moved away and I grinned, only to jump as a voice echoed in my head.
Ailis, did you forget I'm a telepath?
Jace tried not to laugh as the door creaked open and I peered out, my eyes slightly downcast.
"I just want some time alone to think. Why is that a problem?" I whispered, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand.
"You can't just give up. I didn't when I damaged my mind, losing some of my memories. Wanting to know who I am is what drove me towards learning everything thing I could." Jace told me and I slowly blinked, not sure just what to say.
"About your memories?" I asked and he smiled back at me, beckoning me to follow him. With nowhere else to go I closed the door, following him as he led me through the hallway.
"Not just the mystery about who I am but everything. Knowledge is a powerful weapon after all. Thanks to you I now have a new mystery on my hands, one I intend to solve...with your help." Jace said as he opened a new door, leading me into a new room. This one was only a fourth the size of the library but it had a desk and a fireplace, making me realize just how cold I was. Lying in front of the fireplace was a thick rug.
Even the cloak offered little comfort and I shivered, causing Jace to close the door behind him before he motioned me towards the fireplace. Once there he knelt, lighting a fire as I stood there. I sat beside it after he straightened the heat from the burning coals making me a little warmer. "Thanks, Jace. That feels a lot better." I whispered, rubbing my hands together to warm them up and he nodded. Leaving my side, Jace headed over to the table as I focused on getting warmer.
"Here, drink this." Jace said a few minutes after and I turned my head, seeing a cup in his outstretched hand. With a nod I took the cup from him, noting the other cup in his hand. Taking a seat on the rug beside me, Jace watched as I took a careful sip from the cup. Steam rose from the cup as I took a sip, yelping when I burned the very tip of my tongue. "You should blow on the cup first." Jace suggested as I pulled a face.
This time I did as he suggested and I didn't burn myself, the hot tea warming me up. Between that and the fire currently burning I started to drift off, leaning to one side as my eyelids closed. Not knowing that right now I was leaning against Jace, whose eyes were wide in shock at being used as a cushion.
I woke sometime later to find a blanket covering my body, leaving just my head uncovered. It took me a little while to figure out just where I was, still half-asleep as I raised my head. "Huh...where am I?" I mumbled, rubbing my eyes with the back of one hand.
"You're in a spare room." Lilliana explained, standing over me. When I flinched she rolled her eyes, her lips curling into a smile. "You should be thanking me for letting you stay. Instead of kicking you out."
"Like I should thank you for turning me into a freak?" I asked, eyes narrowing at her. "What do you want with me now?"
"Didn't anyone ever teach you manners?" Lilliana asked, her hand now raised and I flinched. Seeing my eyes go wide in fear she smiled, apparently enjoying my fear. If it wasn't for Jace's timely interruption I'm not sure what Lilliana would have done to me.
As I cowered, trying in vain to hide under the blanket, Jace shoved open the door. The minute he laid eyes on me, seeing me shaking he turned to see Lilliana who just giggled.
"What happened?" He asked and I sniffed, fighting the urge to cry. "Lilliana, why do you keep tormenting her?" He sighed as the necromancer turned to him, that same smile on her face as she faced the telepath.
"She makes it too easy. Besides she's mine to control whether she accepts that fact or not. Now I have business to attend to so have fun with your zombie friend." Lilliana answered, leaving with a laugh. Even with Lilliana gone I just kept shaking, afraid of the power she had over me.
"Ailis, she's just teasing you. Lilliana wouldn't really hurt you." Jace told me, kneeling beside me. He set a hand on my shoulder only to see me raise my face to his, my blue eyes still staring at the now closed door. "Ailis, can you hear me?" He asked, gently shaking my shoulder though I didn't respond.
Ailis, it's okay.
It's not okay and it never will be. She called me a zombie and maybe she's right. I have to face facts; I'm not human anymore.
Ailis, you're more human in this form than you realize.
"I'm sorry, Jace. It's just...scary being this way. After what happened to me..." I trailed off, chewing my lower lip and Jace watched as I frowned. "Actually I can't really remember what happened before the sword killed me."
"Really?" Jace asked and I nodded, not expecting him to smile at me. "I have an idea but I want to ask you first; I can read your mind and find out what happened if you want me to."
"Whoa you can do that?" I asked and he nodded, still smiling. "Oh yeah, telepath. Gotta remember that. Okay then let's do that. Or you do that, whatever."
"Okay, Ailis. Just take a deep breath and focus on what you remember." Jace said and I did as he asked, taking a breath before I remebered I didn't breathe.
I closed my eyes instead, keeping my thoughts on the few seconds before I heard Jace's voice in my head.
Ailis, can you hear me?
Yes I can. Found anything yet?
Not yet but I will.
I stayed perfectly still, thinking about the moment of my death. Just then I felt something rip through my head and I jerked, memories of fire and screaming.
Ailis, it's okay. I can see something... a village burning. I'm so sorry.
He trailed off, his mind leaving mine as my eyes shot open. I opened my mouth, gasping as I saw the last moments of my human life. I was running, tears streaking my face just as a sword flew at me. I tried to scream then...nothing.
"They're dead...all dead!" I gasped, tears streaking my face as I shuddered. "Someone attacked my village, razing it to the ground. My parents told me to run, they were trapped inside our house and then...someone stabbed me."
In shock I wrapped my arms around myself, sobbing. I was vaguely aware of a hand gently rubbing my back. Still sobbing I buried my face in Jace's chest, who held me not caring about his cloak getting soaked from my tears.