Sleep didn't find Neveah as easily as she had hoped. Perhaps her mind was just too unsettled to find rest, or the cold chill still creeping through her veins denied her any peace.
But it took Jian's intervention and gentle coaxing for her to finally drift off and welcome the darkness.
Now, the darkness pressed down all around her. Heavy and numbing. Like it was intent on pulling the air from her lungs and leaving her to waste away for the lack of it.
And after what felt like forever, a ray of light pierced the darkness and her senses began to return to her.
Her first true breath that wasn't of shadowy madness was filled with dusty particles that hurt her throat.
Neveah's eyes snapped open. The sun was high in the sky, the rays stung her eyes and she lifted a hand to shield her face.
It took another few moments before her surroundings came into perspective. And Neveah found herself in the painfully familiar ruins of Ebonhollow.
