Fever Dreams

As Sagacious recovered, he was plagued by many more memories from his vigilante past. Images of Malachai's family flitted past as he relived that fateful night, the night he'd doomed his Zee.

*****

Aurielle came to consciousness but had the presence of mind to keep still with her eyes closed. What had happened? She had gone through the circle, expecting to find herself well beneath the city streets in a nicely decorated bedroom. What had she seen? Concentrating, she recalled the cage. The cold hard cobbles of a basement or cellar. The thin gentleman servant who advised her to relax. There was a gas, rose petals, sand… and sleep.

"I can tell you're awake. Let's not further damage our relationship by furthering it with deception." The voice was rich and cultured, unnervingly calm. It was a man's voice, and men… she knew how to handle. Her eyes fluttered open and she moaned every so sweetly as she sat up. A cage. Of all the…