When Elena's eyes fluttered open, the world around her was dim and still.
She had fallen asleep right there on the floor.
Her body felt heavy and her head was clouded. Every bone in her frame ached as though she had been dragged across gravel all night. Slowly but painfully, she turned her face to the side and saw her reflection in the tall silver mirror across the room.
Her reflection startled her. Her skin looked pale, deathly pale, almost translucent under the light from the still drawn curtains.
The maids still hadn't come to help her prepare for the day.
Her lips were dry, her hair tangled, and her eyes seemed duller than usual, ringed with faint dark shadows. She raised a trembling hand to her neck. It was burning. Her skin felt unnaturally hot so.
