The warm embrace enfolded her and she lost herself to the touch and the music. It was almost as though the two of them had been set aside from reality and into a beautiful, magical world of their own. The music washed over them.
"…I wish for this night time to last for a life time…."
Daniel ran one hand down her cheek, nuzzling her face and flicking the tip of her nose with his tongue. "I love you," he whispered.
And then the blood began to flow, trickling down her wrists so that her arms became as bloody gloves. Her blood smeared all over Daniel's fur but he appeared not to notice, pressing his forehead against hers so that they gazed into one another's eyes.
And then she was falling, falling into those eyes through a spectrum of colours from which distorted faces leered and sneered. And then Daniel's hands were reaching out to her and he grasped her about the wrist. Together the two of them were consumed by the rainbow shadows.
Kataryna woke with a start to find she lay in her hammock. Her arms and legs were wrapped tightly in bandages. As soon as she opened her eyes, someone pressed something against her lips. Warm liquid trickled out and she spluttered in startlement, it trickling down her front.
"Don't waste it," said a voice that sounded as though it were muffled by water, "it's nettle tea. Best thing for a body weakened by blood loss."
"Is it?" Her words sounded too thick for her lips.
"And the second best thing is rest," Aranaya replied. "We were worried about you for a moment there." There was genuine concern in her voice. "Those roaches were certainly nasty."
The events of earlier sprung to mind in a confusing jumble. Tawny had said many hurtful things, most of which were irrelevant or past. But there were two in particular she remembered.
"My funeral was a year ago?"
"Your what?" Aranaya frowned.
"My funeral," Kataryna answered, quiet calmly, "I, um… died on the 28th Octover in the year of the Crippled Grasshopper. It's a long story."
"It's now the 3rd Novremver in the year of the Gibbering Hamster," Aranaya replied, keeping her composure, "the Grasshopper was a full turn of the seasons ago."
"I must have been dead longer then I thought." She wondered how this would have affected Daniel. The image in the mirror must have been a reflection of the past. Had he recovered from her suicide yet? Maybe taken another lover? She shuddered at the thought and tried to push it from her mind.
"Anyway, drink your nettle." She tilted the cup once more and this time Kataryna managed to drink down some of the bitter liquid.
"I need to know," Kataryna continued, "is there a concert or something on tonight? Only, Tawny spoke of it and I think she and her friends are going to be up to some sort of mischief."
"Titus was looking through the papers earlier, I'm sure he'll have sorted it out. Now girl, get some rest, you look like death warmed up."
For some reason, Kataryna found this comment extremely amusing and could not hold back the laughter. It burbled and bounced about in her head and left her feeling quite giddy. "Death warmed up," she gasped and slurred, "I'm dead you know."
"Then why are you still bleeding?" Aranaya commented wryly and left.