* * *
There were flashes. It seemed only the flashes existed. There was nothing beyond, nothing to reach out and touch.
A blanket settled over, making the white light grow dull. Something was breaking through the flashes, a familiar setting, one I couldn’t forget.
A soft blue light illuminated a room. The black symbols decorating the white walls hummed in tune, their notes rising and falling elegantly. There were ten symbols in total, each representing a desirable or important trait. Two of the symbols represented innocence and purity; a wall bearing those two symbols made it obvious the room belonged to a child. And, yes, there she was, a small figure lying in her bed, staring at the ceiling. She was restless, unable to close her eyes and drift off to sleep. The vines of her bed encircled her, giving off their scent in the form of tiny warm droplets that fell upon her skin.
Everything was as it should be, but it didn’t feel right. The tunes, the aroma, and the flickering of the flame were all things to relax, to induce sleep. The child closed her eyes, but quickly reopened them. She knew what she needed and it wasn’t enclosed within the four walls. Her feet met the soft fur that lined the floor. She stood and headed to the door, passing wooden toys of all shapes and sizes. Once out of her room, she eyed the large hall and hugged herself as if feeling cold. She didn’t feel comfortable here. She couldn’t see the sky.
The hall was richly decorated, with treasures from all over the world. Red and gold were pleasing colours, and they complimented the room’s beautiful structure in the form of cloth draped along the walls. Sparkling jewels sat upon carved stones that were placed in the center of the room, located for all to see.
“Petal, are you all right?” asked a feminine voice filled with worry.
The girl looked to her right to see her mother rushing toward her, her long, wavy black hair bouncing about her shoulders. She wore a white night gown, but looked to be completely awake.
“I...cannot sleep again, mother,” the girl replied in a tiny voice.
Her mother’s arms wrapped around her, and the girl breathed in her sweet scent. “You have been awake all this time?”
A nod from the girl as an almost shameful look passed over her features.
“I did not want to upset father again.”
Her mother drew back and looked at her, green eyes glistening in the darkness. “You do not have to worry about that, my sweet girl. For now, he is not here.” She smiled and kissed her daughter lightly on the forehead.
“So...I can go outside?”
Her mother stood and held out a hand. “Anything for you.”
“But...what about the...?”
“Mystren, you know I will protect you.”
The girl smiled brightly and took her mother’s hand. The night called to her.
Only outside would she feel at home.