An intensely bright light sears my eyes, and I cry out in pain. Then there is darkness, and I have a sense of time passing, though I can't tell how much.

The sound of voices pulls me back to full awareness, and I realize I'm lying on something soft in the pitch dark. At first, the voices seem to be speaking a foreign language, but gradually I'm able to understand what they say.

"Did you not warn him, Dantalian?" The first voice is soft and light, and I can't tell if it's male or female.

"My name is Damien now, and no. I forgot. Do you think it's permanent?"

"I can't yet say. His physiology is similar, but I do not know if our medicines will have the same effect."

I shift slightly, feeling with my hand for the edge of the bed or whatever I'm on, and another voice speaks. This one is closer to me and deeper. "He is awake."

Footsteps approach.

"Alex?" Damien asks. "How do you feel?"

"Fine. But why is it so dark?"

No one answers.

Then Damien says, "It isn't. You've been blinded, Alex. Temporarily, we hope."

I sit up swiftly and feel a large hand settle on my shoulder. "Steady now," says the deeper voice.

"What do you mean 'blinded?'" I ask, trying not to panic. "What happened?"

"It's my fault," Damien says, sounding miserable. "I haven't jumped between planes in physical form in a long time--and it's been even longer since I traveled with a companion. I forgot to warn you to shut your eyes. I'm...sorry."

"Fucking hell. What about you?"

"I'm fine. I...shut my eyes out of habit." I can hear the wince in his tone, and I hope he feels as guilty as he sounds.

"Shit. How long is this supposed to last?" I ask, moving my hand in front of my face and seeing no change in the blank darkness before my eyes.

The lighter voice answers. "I hope your vision will heal and return to normal within a few days, but I've never treated someone with a partly human soul before, much less a composite soul like yours."

"Com--composite soul?"

"Yes. I didn't believe Damien at first, but your soul is equal parts human, demonic, and celestial. You're quite the rare animal."

Which is a polite way of calling me a freak.

"Fuck." I flop back on the soft bed. "Where are we, anyway?"

Damien answers. "We're in a place called Carnâk, on a semi-physical plane similar to Earth. The people here have physical bodies, but they're not as bound to them as humans are. Sakariel had many supporters here, among the Ascended. These people are friends."

"I am Allannan," said the lighter voice.

"And I am Deberon," said the deeper.

I feel a light touch on my hand, and then Allannan speaks. "We knew dear Sakariel in the days before...before the defeat. If it is true that you now carry the Key, we will do all we can to help you."

"I--" Several objections are on the tip of my tongue, but I feel like the fact that I'm currently meeting people from another plane of existence means I've lost the argument already. "Thank you," I say instead.

"We'll let you rest. Here--" I feel the bed dip and a moment later a soft, damp cloth smelling of medicinal herbs is laid across my eyes. "Keep this on for at least half a kell, and I'll bring a fresh batch later."

The weight on the bed disappears, and fading footsteps tell me the two Ascendant have left.

The bed dips again, and Damien sighs. "Alex...I'm so sorry. I...please forgive me."

I want to be angry at him, but it's not like I never made a mistake or forgot something important. I mean, there was the time I accidentally pulled the emergency brake on the subway, and the time I put a metal tea-kettle in Dante's new microwave. I never caused anyone to go blind, but hey, healing starts with forgiveness, right?

"I know you didn't mean for this happen," I say. "You were trying to help."

He doesn't say anything, and it annoys me that I can't see him.

"How long is half a kell, anyway?" I ask, as the cloth over my eyes begins to dry out and itch.

"I think it's like an hour, but I'm not sure," Damien replies. "There's a sort of clock thing on the wall. But it only has nine marks on it, and it has four hands."

I sigh and take the cloth from my face.

I feel the heat of Damien's body as he leans close. He rubs his fingers gently over the skin around my eyes, brushing away the clinging bits of herbs left by the poultice. "You have beautiful eyes," he says. "Just like--"

He stops himself and withdraws his hand.

"What do you need?" he asks. "Are you hungry?"

"No, but...I could use a shower and a change of clothes. Do they have that sort of thing on this...plane?"

"They do. Here, I'll help you."

He helps me up and guides me over what feels like a smooth stone floor. The sound changes and I sense we've passed into a small chamber of some kind.

"There's no shower," Damien says. "But there's a sort of bathing pool."

He starts trying to undress me, and I push his hands away. "I can take my own clothes off without seeing," I say, a little sharply. "And I can wash myself too, so there's no need to hover. Just...help me find a towel and some clothes when I'm finished."

He stands back, and I can feel him watching me as I finish undressing. Well, let him look, I think. It's the most action he's getting out of me anyway.

I step forward uncertainly, and his hand lands at my elbow. He helps me into the bathing pool, and hands me the different soaps and things that lie at hand. 

I have to admit he's patient and careful. Then again, he's also the reason I can't see.

When I'm clean, dry, and dressed in something that feels suspiciously like a wispy nightgown, he leads me back into the other chamber and I'm suddenly exhausted.

"I think I'd like to lie down again," I say, keeping my voice cool.

He helps me to the bed and I lie back.

"I'll leave you to rest, then," he says.

I feel him start to withdraw, and suddenly I very badly don't want to be alone. I reach for him and manage to catch at his clothes.

"Wait. Don't leave me. Please."

I feel his hesitation and release him.

"Sorry. It's okay. You can go," I say, going for careless.

Instead, I feel the bed dip as he lies beside me.

"I told you, Alex. If it's in my power, I'll do anything you ask. Tell me to leave, or stay as you wish. You are the Key, and as your keeper, I am yours to command."

I make a face. "I don't want to command anyone," I say. "Or be kept, for that matter. Besides, what good is a broken key?"

He doesn't say anything for such a long time that I'm barely awake when he finally speaks.

"I don't know. But it's all I have. And I'll destroy anyone or anything who tries to take it away from me. I already lost my heart. What's my soul, compared to that?"

I don't know if it's real, or something I imagine on the edge of sleep, but I feel the lightest kiss brush my lips, and the warmth of a hand in mine.