I woke in the early hours of the morning with a start. The room was cold and my skin was clammy with sweat. The dream I'd been having was beyond normal. I had been dreaming that the world was on fire. The land, the sea, and even the sky were all in flames. I could see the forms of people writhing in agony, their bodies contorted by pain. There was a hazy voice trying to speak to me. I couldn't hear it, because the sound of the flames ripping apart the earth was too loud.
In the dream, I traveled across the earth, searching for anything, anyone, who could possibly be alive in all of this. It seemed there was no one. But finally, I came to a field. The ground was scorched and scarred. In the center of the field was a huge building. It was ancient looking, and ominous. The walls looked like enormous stone slabs, impossible for mere humans to transport. There were no windows. The only entrance or exit into the place seemed to be a huge black door. As I carefully made my way forward, alert for any disturbance to the air, I realized that there was no handle. And as I got closer still, I saw that this wasn't a door at all. It was what looked like a mirror. The glass was black. Small distortions dappled across the surface, unknown shapes that could have been anything.
When I got close enough that I could have reached out an touched it, I saw myself reflected in the mirror. Only, it wasn't really me. She seemed more to be the opposite of me than anything else. The girl looked like me, but her clothing was that of a shrine maiden, and her skin much paler than mine. Her hands were perfectly manicured, like mine, but they seemed to hold much less weight. Her face was so much more innocent, her amber eyes full of light and happiness. If it wasn't for the darkness of the place, I'm sure she would have been glowing.
I stood there studying her for a time, trying to glean a hint of who this girl was. Suddenly, her eyes came to life and she took notice of me standing there. She moved slowly at first, as if shaking off a deep sleep. As soon as she was fully aware, her face creased in despair. Her hand flew up, reaching for me. I thought that it would actually come out of the strange mirror, but it did not. Her mouth started moving, trying to speak to me. I could not hear her, but I knew that she was trying to warn me of some grave danger. After a few seconds, her body snapped straight, terror in her eyes. Some dark substance was winding its way around her, like dark ribbons meant to keep her captive. It dragged her away from me, and all I could do was watch helplessly. I was afraid that if I reached out to try and touch the mirror, I would be sucked in and lost inside its depths.
Distraught, I turned around, thinking there might be someone to help me. But I was confronted with the black ground and a wall of flames. I fell to my knees, not knowing what to do but feel helpless. I sobbed, afraid that I was losing a part of myself into the depth of that mirror.
The tears flowed for an indeterminate amount of time. I had no gauge for anything but my sorrow and fear. I felt a hand reach out and touch my shoulder. I would have been afraid, but the touch was soothing. I opened my eyes and looked up into the face of a woman. Her face was regal, her eyes knowing. Her hair was pure silver, and I thought that if I reached out and touched it it would feel like silk.
She began to speak, and her voice echoed softly like the patter of rain drops in the forest. "Mihlen..." It seemed to be a great strain for her to speak, for her voice was distant. "Mihlen, you must find a way." I stared at her, the tears drying on my cheeks. "You must find a way to come to me, Mihlen. It is of utmost importance." Her form started to waver at the edges. "You must come." Her voice faded away with her form. There was no trace left behind. Not even a footprint.
That was when I woke. I pulled the blanket tighter around myself to calm the chill that raced through my bones. I felt that something was horribly wrong. The state of the world is chaos at this time, with demons becoming bold enough to walk outside during the daylight. Next, they'll be walking in the towns, terrorizing people.
I could hear the soft breathing of the three other women in the room. The light was mostly dark, with the suggestion that it would lighten up soon. I knew that most of the women would continue sleeping for hours, even as the sun threatened to bake the outside world. I lay in bed, waiting to see if Lord Guinn's calling man would enter the room, seeking out whichever one of the fifteen women in the home the Lord had a taste for as an early morning treat. Some of these women are my friends. Most of them mean nothing to me. And a few of them are my enemies.
In the time I spent waiting, I pondered over the dream. I knew that it was significant. There was a tug in my chest that hadn't been there before, screaming at me that I must do as I was told. I was used to doing my duty. But this duty came from a source I had never encountered. I felt confused and restless. All I wanted to do was fling the covers off of myself and escape the harem I've called home for most of my life.
I calmed myself. I would find a good time to make my escape. I have thought about leaving many times over the years. Each time, my mind automatically stopped working, like something caught in the gears and forced them to a halt. It's some sort of safety trained into me by my owner. I know nothing of my past. All I know is that I am a slave, and I do what I am told. The dream that woke me caused me to feel the most emotion I think I've ever felt.
Eventually, the calling man came in as was his morning routine and gathered up Halene, a petite blond who Lord Guinn had just bought the other day. I lay in bed, pretending to be asleep. It was strange, but as the girl was led out of the room, I felt a touch of fright in my chest. It was like I was feeling what she felt. It's abnormal for me to perceive the feelings of others.
The morning dragged on. I continued laying there, shifting my position once in a while to stretch my body. Lord Guinn's concubines are not expected to do much of anything. We sleep until it's time for lunch. After that, we are permitted to stroll through the gardens or take a swim in the indoor pool. Some of the women prefer to sunbathe or sew. Usually, some time in the afternoon, Lord Guinn calls for another of his girls to tend to him. Some times he even calls two. Dinner is served, and again, it is leisure time. At the end of the day, there is usually another call for a girl. If the Lord is throwing a party, we might be invited to the after party with his friends.
I went through my day as normal. Lunch, then a swim. After dinner, I found myself sitting in the garden enjoying the warm summer breeze. The summers in Laypath are always pleasant. And the breeze blows in off the bay, carrying the scent of the sea. I climbed into a tree and sat there, staring through the branches out at the bay and all of the little ships finding their place before the dark swallowed them up. The Lord's manor is up on a hill in the city and you can see around for miles. The living quarters for the concubines is actually a little building set off on the outskirts of the Lord's property, surrounded by a high fence as if to convince people that it's not there. It has its own gardens and everything.
So this is where I am now, writing away my thoughts. It's beginning to get dark, and I can't see very well. Besides, I think I hear a voice calling my name. I will write again tomorrow evening. Maybe I will have dreams again tonight.
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