Aurora pov

Aurora… Aurora… wake up.

A faint tapping on both my cheeks pulled me back from the blackness. My lashes fluttered open, and through the blur I saw Laura’s face leaning over me.

“Finally,” she breathed, her voice edged with relief. “What happened?”

For a heartbeat I was lost, my mind swimming. Then the room came into focus. Cold floor under my palms. Faint traces of candle smoke in the air. I pushed myself upright, feeling dizzy.

“What happened? Why am I here?” ...