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[Alisiea]

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Freedom.

Few people truly know the meaning of the word. The feel of it. The taste of it.

Miles unwind beneath her feet as she runs through the deep forest. Everything is alive. Vibrant. A deer is no match for her speed. It jerks to the right. She follows. Leaping over fallen logs and across narrow streams she pursues it up into the hills overlooking the town of Ocllo.

The forest is alive.

Overhead, the moon, full and brilliant in its passing, reflects off the slate gray rooftops and lingers beneath the leafless trees.

The deer escaped. She let it go. Her hunger would be sated later, before the rising sun.

A tongue of rock jutting from the hillside offers her a place to sit and rest. Looking down upon the grey roofed buildings and the empty streets, she remembers.

The dance, sensual, exotic. There is freedom there as well. The movement of the body. The intoxication of the song. The spin and swirl of her naked feet as she moves in rhythm to the beat of the tambourine. Oh, how she lives for the dance. The look on the men’s faces as they watch her legs. How they smile and dig out coin so eager are they for the dream to be real.

All save one. One who knows how such a dream is nothing more than a nightmare in disguise.

Looking down upon the sleeping town she remembers how she came to this. How she faltered in her step. How the rhythm of the dance was broken and the nightmare began:


**********


She awoke with a lurch:

The rancid odor of rotting straw mixed with the stench of stale urine flooded her nostrils. Her eyes burned from a blinding headache that threatened to mash her brain like a pea. At first she did not feel her body, such was the disconnect. She lay on her back sucking air like a babe fresh from the womb. Lifting her hand she examined it, curious. Yes, it was hers. Dirt under the nails and something else, darker. She frowned. As awareness crept back into her now conscious mind and her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she realized she was lying naked of a floor of straw and sand.

Stone? The ceiling and walls were rough hewn and, even in this dim light, she could see they were stained with something dark. Splattered, as if some mad artist had expressed their nightmares with dark paint. She tried to move but her bones and muscles cried out in abject agony. She groaned.

“She is awake.” A voice from somewhere in the dim shadows spoke. But it was more a whispered hiss than a solid voice.

Alisiea turned her head in the direction of the voice. As her vision cleared she could make out a dark figure standing in the shadows behind … were those bars? She tried to lift her head but her muscles would not obey.

“Where … where am I?” She heard herself ask. The searing pain in her head had burned away all memory.

“You are safe,” the voice whispered.

“Where are her clothes?” Another voice, different, more solid than the first asked.

“Shredded,” answered the first, “go and fetch something to cover her.”

Alisiea struggled to pull loose straw over her nakedness. She searched in vain for any recollection that might shed light on where she was. She brushed a damp, matted tangle of auburn hair from her eyes. She tried to speak again but her throat was raw, swollen. She felt feverish. She touched her face. Ran her fingers over her cheeks and chin. It was not the plague. Then why? Why was she here?

Time became a delirious brew of pain, forgetfulness and exhaustion. In her stupor she heard the echo of keys and the rusty creak of iron hinges as someone pushed open the bars. A blanket was tossed over her and the bars clanged shut. Under the blankets warm embrace, Alisiea quickly fell asleep.


**********

She had no way of telling if it had been hours or days but when she next woke she felt refreshed. All pain in her body and brain had vanished. Her vision was clear and sharp and she felt strong … stronger than at any time in her life. She sat up and took stock of her surroundings. She was in a cell of some sort. Heavy stone with no windows or light save a single lantern hanging in one corner near the ceiling. She sniffed. She could smell everything down to the finest detail. Every molecule was unique; every droplet of sweat told a story. She tilted her head and looked toward the bars. The same dark figure stood in the shadows watching her. She heard a tiny shuffle and her head snapped towards it. A mouse dashed from one crack in the stone wall to another, shifting small bits of straw as it ran. She frowned. How could she hear …?

Standing, she wrapped the blanket around her body and turned facing the bars. She took several steps toward the figure. She could smell her, a female, but she smelled different, unusual. She smelled of death. Alisiea backed away, not out of fear but from a wary sense that something had happened. Something unnatural.

“Who are you?” She asked. Clutching the blanket tightly around her body. Something stirred inside. Something powerful. Something not her but of her.

“Who I am is not important,” the woman whispered. “It is enough you are safe.”

“Safe? Safe from what?”

“Safe from hurting others.”

“I … I do not understand. How can I hurt others? I am no threat. Why do you keep me here?” Her anger was rising. She had been in jail before, a long time ago, in Trinsic, for stealing, but they had released her after four days.

“How long have I been here?” She asked.

“Three days.” The woman replied.

Alisiea frowned. Three days? She moved away from the door and sat against the wall. Three days? She searched her memory but could not conjure it.

“Why am I in this cell? What have I done?”

There was silence and for a moment she thought the strange woman with the whispered voice had left.

“You entered the master’s house without leave. You were caught attempting to steal food.” The whispered voice answered.

“Master’s house?” Alisiea stood and began pacing the small cell trying to remember.

“Master’s house.” She repeated the phrase over and over in an effort to grasp what the strange woman was talking about.

She remembered there was rain. A constant steady rain. There was the forest. The smell of autumn leaves and damp earth … and … and the howling of wolves.

There was … Trinsic. She paused in her pacing. Trinsic. Yes, she remembered Trinsic and the old man.
She frowned. But that was months ago. Months since the city took the old man’s house after he died. They had tossed her out. Eviction.
For the second time in her life she had been rejected. First by the troupe of Gypsies she had been born to. Her mother vanished. Her father unknown.
She had no skill save her wild Gypsy dance to help the troupe get by. But it had not been enough. So she was cast out. That was three years ago.
But now …
Now she was … here.

She tore at her hair.

“What have I done? Why are you keeping me here?” She moved towards the bars. “Let me go. I promise I will not return, ever. I swear it.”

“I’m afraid it’s too late for that,” the woman answered.

“What do you mean, too late?” Panic was now replacing anger. Alisiea wanted nothing more to do with this. She wanted out.

“Let me go!” she screamed.

A mix of panic and anger rushed through her. She tore at her hair. She wanted to tear the bars down. Destroy what lay beyond.

A searing heat burned her flesh. Molten lead replaced her blood. Her bones became unhinged, her muscles tore themselves apart. All went dark.

“She is shifting again.”

It was the last thing she heard.


**********


Someone was standing over her. A woman, pale skin, almost white with hair the color blue silk. She had a patch over one eye and the other was … orange? Alisiea frowned and pulled loose straw over her nakedness. The blanket was gone.

“I brought you this to wear,” the woman said, holding out her arm. A plain maiden’s gown hung over her arm. Alisiea pulled herself into a sitting position.

“What happened to me? Where is the blanket?”

“The blanket is gone,” the woman whispered. It was the same voice Alisiea heard before. “You tore the blanket to shreds I’m afraid, so we brought you this.” She held out her arm. Alisiea reached out, took the gown, and slipped it over her head. The fabric felt cool against her skin. She was feverish again.

“I don’t understand. What is wrong with me?” She asked as she stood and laced up the front of the gown.

The woman studied her for a long moment before a crooked smile creased her lips. Alisiea backed away into a corner, she did not like the way the woman was looking at her.

“Who are you?” She demanded. “What have you done to me?”

“I am called Mei Fa Lo and I have done nothing to you. I am merely here to observe … and report.”

“Re…report?”

“Aye. In fact,” she glanced toward the bars. “William should be arriving soon.” She looked back at Alisiea. “You are to be released today.”

Alisiea looked down at her bare feet. She did not know what she would do once she was released. Where would she go? She had no money, no clothes save those given her and no food. Food. She looked up. The woman called Mei was smiling at her. Food. Of course. Now she remembered...


**********

… A cold autumn rain had been falling all day and she was tired and ravenous from not having eaten in days. She had followed a path through the woods until it brought her to a clear area near the shores of the ocean. A number of large stone buildings were grouped together like a small town. But one in particular stood out. A massive structure of ancient stone walls, battlements and towers. It was old, very old judging from the moss and lichen that clung to the foundation. Great oak doors marked the entry. Alisiea watched from the shadow of the forest for some time waiting to see if anyone went in or out. The castle seemed abandoned. The temptation was too great. Stay outside in the cold rain all night or enter the abandoned castle and sleep under the safety and warmth of its shelter; she might even find food.

Daylight was fading as she pulled open the great doors and entered. She had to pass through a second set of doors and across a grassy courtyard before gaining entrance to the main keep. Once inside she found the air stale and as old as the tapestries and rugs that lined the walls and covered the floors. A single brazier burning in one corner of the Great Room was the only light. She froze. Someone was there. Off to one side in deep shadows, sitting in the darkness. Then several whispered voices floated across the room and Alisiea clung to the shadows. Did they see her? No. If they had they would have raised the alarm. If she could get past them and up the stairs she could explore the massive building and find some hidden alcove or cupboard in which to hide for the night. Getting past them was easy. Alisiea had a skill she had developed early in life. A skill she needed in order to stay alive on her own. She could hide quite well and move with the shadows in silence. The castle was massive. The upper floors were lit by candelabras and were richly appointed. Still, she was able to keep hidden. A dining table held various bottles of liquors and wines but no solid food. She searched for over an hour, finding an extensive library and office, a laboratory and long hallways festooned with weapons and other collectables. Such items would fetch a fine price on the black markets, but for now her concern was finding food and a place to hide until morning.

She was moving along a corridor toward what appeared to be yet another library when she heard a shout from the upper floors. She froze and listened. Footsteps and the echo of more voices. Had she left one of the great doors ajar? Had she left some trace where she had passed? She had been careful, very careful. The shouts and footsteps were growing closer. Her presence had been discovered. She ran and hid in the library. Moments passed in silence as she considered her options. Give up and be turned over to the local Sheriff for prosecution or take her chances at eluding her pursuers and find another way out? She chose the latter and waited. Silence. For several long moments she listened. Nothing. She moved back into the long corridor and began sliding along the shadowed wall. Then, without warning, out of the shadows, she appeared. The woman with the blue hair and eye patch …


**********

Alisiea paused and looked up at Mei, recognition now on her face.

“You? You discovered me?”

Mei only smiled and nodded.


**********


… Alisiea turned and ran. Down the corridor and into another library. Turning a corner she found nothing; a dead end. She turned and braced herself against the wall. Mei stood at the corner watching her, blocking any escape. Then someone else came. A man, broad shouldered with brown hair falling to mid-back. His hazel eyes studied Alisiea for several moments as if trying to decide what to do. Alisiea pulled her dagger and took a defensive stance. The man and Mei whispered together for a moment and the man moved away out of sight. Was he going for help? Alisiea waited, thinking of something to say that would help them understand she meant no harm. She only wanted food and shelter for the night. Suddenly another figure appeared next to Mei and a wave of unnatural panic flushed through the young Gypsy girl. A beast that looked to be a wolf but of greater proportions. The creature seemed more man like than animal. Its glowing eyes fixed on her, sending terror through her heart. Panic won out and she rushed forward, dagger at the ready.

Then there was nothing …


**********


Alisiea looked at Mei.

“What have you done to me?” She asked, her voice pleading for the truth.

“You have been changed,” another voice, deeper, more resonant answered.

From the shadows a well-dressed man emerged and entered the cell. The same man, handsome of face with hazel eyes and long brown hair. He stood before her, his eyes spoke of sadness and understanding. He held out his hand to her.

“I am William Velkin. Come, I have much to tell you..."