Crystal

Iopen my eyes to a bright, bright light and decide I'm in the tunnel. It's a shame my limbs still don't want to co-operate, but presumably I'll be flying through instead anyway.

But then the light dims, and as I blink through crusty eyes, it goes completely. I'm in a rustic room, with grass walls, a bed covered in a crisp white sheet, and a fragrant breeze blowing through an opening, out of which I can see snow-covered mountains.

Maybe I passed through the tunnel? Maybe this is the afterlife? Which is rather strange and not what I imagined at all.

My gaze slowly wanders from the refreshing mountain view across to a chair.

In which sits, or rather slumps, the massive form of Drelix.

His eyes are closed, his fist curled under one cheek. He looks like he's dead, only the little neons zap under his scales in a slow, mesmerizing movement, and his chest rises and falls. At his feet is the star cat, although it raises its head and looks at me with a soft whirr.

I want to say his name, I want to get out of this bed and climb him like a monkey, but nothing, nothing responds.

Slowly, Drelix opens his eyes. He stares down at himself for several long seconds, then at the star cat before he's on his feet and by my side.

"Crystal! Heartsfire!" He's on the bed and I'm in his arms. "I thought…I thought I'd lost you."

His stunning, fire-filled eyes study my face, and his hand shakes as he traces his fingers over my cheek before dropping to press his lips to mine in a kiss which is so welcome I do feel like I've died and this is my afterlife.

I want to speak, to tell him it's okay, I thought I'd lost him too, but I can't. I can't do anything other than lie in his arms and revel in the scent of his smoky, spicy scales.

There is a swishing sound and what I thought was a grass wall slides to one side and a figure in a long dark red cloak with a hood steps in.

"Sister!" Drelix exclaims. "My mate is awake!"

The figure glides towards us, and I'm filled with a dread I can't explain. I do not like this creature at all, and I've just been dead. It lifts up its arms, and a pair of skeletal hands emerge to tug at the hood. I brace myself for what might happen next.

The star cat too looks on edge, staying over by the chair and watching the creature carefully.

The hood drops back, and the head of the most beautiful woman appears. She has long blonde hair, perfectly coiffed, blue eyes, and a full mouth.

She's too perfect.

"Let me see," she says, and I'm desperate for Drelix to send her away.

He slides off the bed and stands aside as she leans over me, pulling a device out of a pocket in her long cloak and running it over my body.

It burns like hell and there's nothing I can do to stop it.

"The venom is abating within her." The woman looks up at Drelix with her clear, perfect blue eyes and smiles. "She is winning the battle."

"My venom…?" Drelix queries, but she holds up a beautiful hand, tipped with almond shaped nails, where I'm sure they were skeletal before.

"We've been through this, Drelix of the Haisarkarnii. Your venom may react with that of the zigurex already in her system. You know how close she was to visiting your ancestors when you brought her here. You cannot risk undoing all our good work."

"Yes, sister." Drelix sighs, and I see the exhaustion which settles on him like the snow blanketing the mountain outside.

"You should visit the temple, make an offering to your ancestors for her," the woman suggests with yet another devastating smile. "She needs all the assistance she can get if she is to recover."

The star cat is on its feet, and although there are no sparks this time, its fur is on end.

"When will she be able to speak?" Drelix asks.

I've never wanted to yell so much in my entire life. We should not be here, and I don't want to be anywhere near whatever this creature in the cloak is.

"Her speech and motor functions will return in time, with plenty of rest, good air, and your offerings," the woman says pointedly.

"Yes, sister," Drelix says, rubbing his chin and his eyelids drooping slightly.

The star cat hisses.

"And you can take that…creature…with you," she adds. "I do not know why the high-sister tolerates it."

"It saved my mate. It stays," Drelix growls.

My heart, the only part of me which seems to be working, flip flops in my chest. He's still fighting for me. He hasn't given in to whatever the hell these creatures are completely.

"Then take it for a walk," the woman suggests, her voice filled with saccharine sweetness.

Drelix looks at me and the woman, his emotions clearly torn.

"She will be perfectly safe here," the woman says. "And she may even be better once you return from your devotions, high priest."

My head swims. High priest? What is going on?

Drelix clicks his tongue at the cat, and although it gives the woman a long stare, it joins him. He leans over me, and his lips brush my forehead.

"I will be back, little morsel, so very soon, and we will be together," he murmurs.

I want to scream as he leaves the room. Leaves me alone with the creature. The pretty face flickers to what I can only describe as a writhing mass of dark worms, then it becomes that of a beautiful woman again.

"Now," she says. "Let's see what can be done with you to ensure the Sarkarnii remains in our power."