Mental void

Ferra leads you to the infirmary, answering any questions with, “You’ll see, master”. You wonder what could possibly be happening, especially since Rahu seemed to think it would be much longer before Victoria awoke. Ferra doesn’t seem to be rushing, despite the worry she shows, so you assume it’s not as bad as it sounds.

When the two of you walk into the room where Victoria is, you find her sitting up in the bed, staring blankly straight ahead. Kaeli sits in a chair in front of her, head in hands. Her face is hidden, but from the way her shoulders shake, you can tell that she’s quietly crying. Glancing again at the unmoving Victoria, you walk over to Kaeli and put a hand on her shoulder. Kaeli wipes her face, and looks up at you with reddened eyes, placing a hand on yours.

When she doesn’t say anything, you glance at Victoria again before speaking. “What happened? She’s…awake?”

Kaeli sighs. “She suddenly sat up, just like you see her. But she doesn’t react, she hasn’t said anything. She’s just…there.”

She looks at Victoria. “There’s nothing in her eyes. It’s like she’s…I don’t know, like one of my clockwork toys, before I wind it up. Nothing I do gets a reaction.”

Ferra nods. “That is what I mean, master. Awake, sort of. Like I was before I was given life. A shell.”

You shake your head and sigh. “I don’t know. Rahu warned us that she might be…different, but this is extreme. We need to consult with him about this.”

You step closer to your former enemy, and brush her now black hair back over her shoulder. Leaning in, you look into her eyes. Kaeli is right, there seems to be nothing there. You shake your head, and gently pat Victoria on the shoulder.

“I hope we can fix you.”

Suddenly, Victoria reaches up, lightning fast. Her hand closes on your wrist in an iron hard grip, almost painfully holding you. Both you and Kaeli jump in surprise, and Ferra is at your side in an instant. Victoria’s mouth works soundlessly for a moment, and then you hear her speak, in a hoarse whisper.

“Free…but…not…released. Please…I…need…”

Her eyes move, flicking up to meet yours, and they’re full of fear and desperation. “Help…me…”

Slowly, keeping her grip on your wrist, she lifts your hand to her head. She shivers under your touch, and you gasp as you feel a twinge in your mind. You remember that she has telepathic abilities, and in a rush you understand what she wants. You lift your other hand to her head, and the connection grows, and you can sense the darkness roiling inside her mind.

Ignoring the questions you’re dimly aware of from Kaeli and Ferra, you instinctively push your consciousness forward into the darkness. It recoils from you, your powers forcing the intrusive presence out. You recognize it instantly, though with your mind inside Victoria’s, you’re not sure who made the recognition. It doesn’t matter, though, as your powers push the influence of Niran out, however he got in there.

When the last of the darkness is gone, you feel yourself being pushed back, returning to yourself. With a gasp, you slam back into your own mind, staggering back until Ferra catches you. Victoria looks around, eyes wide, and seems about to say something, but then her eyes roll back and she falls back into the bed.

Kaeli rushes over to her side, checking her over. After a moment, she nods. “She is alive. What…what happened?”

You shake your head. “Somehow, Niran was in her mind. Victoria used my power to drive him out somehow. I don’t entirely understand, but I think she’ll recover now.”

You look at the once again unconscious woman.