"Why can't I remember?"
Aira pressed both hands against her temples. Something must have happened to her. Something had caused her to forget these memories. But what?
She concentrated harder. She tried to pull the memory toward her. Slowly, the image returned. This time, it was clearer.
The first image, the Imperial Palace of Eldarion. Its enormous halls. The white marble walls. And the familiar figure of the emperor at the end of the hall. At first, his face was still unclear. But this time, something began to register in her mind.
His face.
His dark hair.
His crimson eyes.
His presence.
Then another memory surfaced. The Emperor stood before her, his expression calm yet intimidating. Another memory followed, his cold, steady voice echoing in her mind.
Then another....
His hand reaching toward her.
Another.....
The way he had looked at her.
The memories came in fragments, brief, blurry, yet strangely vivid.
The Emperor...
