EXCERPT:

Sensory deprivation inside the morgue drawer threatened Jarek's sanity. In Leisos, he was always around people. The palace was massive, employing a great number of staff that went about their duties at all hours, so he was never alone. Even in the dead of night when he returned home from enjoying a lovely maiden's touch, gentle murmurs of kitchen staff or echoing footsteps of guards on patrol broke the silence.

Leisos. Home. The need to return was as important to him as breathing. Had someone in the palace poisoned him? Someone close? Possibly a family member?

Quick shallow breaths hissed in the oppressive darkness surrounding him. He couldn't see his hand touching cold metal. Despite the cool temperature, trickles of sweat beaded down his nose, pooled at the base of his throat. His hands began to shake. Panic whipped up his spine, exploded into his heart.

Kelly had just left him there. What if she didn't come back? He'd be trapped. He couldn't tell how long she'd been gone. He hadn't come so far to die anyway. He slapped his palms along the walls, desperate to find a way out of his tomb. He reached above his head, thumping his fists against metal.

"For goodness' sake, take it easy." Kelly flung open the door. Blessed white light fell onto Jarek's face. "You're gonna wake the dead with all that noise." She gave the drawer a hefty tug.

Before the unit came to a stop, Jarek bolted upright, tossed the sheets to the floor and gulped in a lungful of air. "You will not put me in there again."

"Sorry you had to go through that, but I had no choice." Kelly dragged a chair over. "Here, sit on this. We need to figure out what to do with you."

Jarek sat with the bag of clear liquid close to his chest and willed the unsteady beating of his heart under control.

Kelly gathered up the small bottles, shut the chamber, scooped the linen from the floor and tossed it into a blue container in the corner. "So, what now?"

He stared at her blankly.

Kelly continued. "What are we going to do?"

"You have cured me. Now I must return to Leisos and find out why I was poisoned and ensure the same fate does not befall my brother. How that can be done, I do not know. This is your world."

"Would you please stop making it sound like you're from another planet?" She pushed a hand through her short hair.

Jarek grew silent, thinking. After the experience in the cold tomb, he wouldn't survive long here without help.

"Okay. We need to leave. Now. The morning shift will be here any minute, and I have no clue how I would explain you. I guess you're coming with me." She retrieved her bag from the desk and tossed in the bottles of medication.

"Where are we going?" He followed Kelly out and down a dimly lit corridor, trying not to gape. The overhead lights were harsh, not like the warm glow of torches he grew up with in the palace. And the smell. How did she work here with that awful stench?

"My place. I just worked a double shift and I need some sleep. Maybe then I can figure out if I'm hallucinating or if you are for real."

"I am not imaginary, I assure you." He gestured to the bag in his hand. "What of this?"

"Keep it close and above your hand so it will flow. You were pretty dehydrated. It will replenish your body fluids." She pushed open a door and walked outside.

Jarek crossed the threshold, took two steps, when his blood turned to ice. A roar unlike anything he'd ever heard reverberated through the night air. Something was about to attack. His gaze locked onto Kelly. She was the only one who could help him. He had to protect her. He lunged, clamped his hand on her arm, and dragged her behind him.