Elena gasped as her eyes flew open. Her body jolted upright, bringing her up immediately. For a moment, she didn't know where she was. The sheets beneath her were soft, heavy, and smelled faintly of cedar and a strong herb. The air was cold and when she looked around, realization dawned on her. The room was shadowed, the drapes drawn, the faint crackle of a fire dancing against black stone walls.
Her thumped loudly in her chest before skipping a beat.
This wasn't Calithar's kingdom. No, no. This wasn't the clothes store.
Her hands clutched the sheets beneath her hand. The room was larger than her chamber in Eryndor, but everything from the dark wood furniture to the black draperies were painted in dark, dreary colors.
She sat up suddenly, panic rushing through her chest. "Where... where am I?" she whispered to herself in a trembling voice.
