Slowly, the invisible veil over Vel Quen disappeared. The city looked the same, but now it breathed. Smoke billowed out of the chimneys, dogs barked, and windows opened to let in sunlight.
What happened...? Did it work?
Lucian opened his gray eyes and found himself in a clinic, tended by a nurse who was previously frozen.
"Good morning, dear Mortician." She was a friendly face, even if he could feel how cold she was. He scanned the room and saw Alice fast asleep in a chair next to him.
Her face was completely relaxed and he heard her snoring softly. "I guess even dolls can get tired after a mourning rite like that." He tried to stretch and found his arms and legs felt completely sore.
"Well, I shouldn't be surprised."
The nurse nodded. "Mmhm, when that girl brought you in, you were dead weight. I feared we'd have to hook you up to an IV!"
"How long has it been since I was brought here, miss?"
