The next thing I felt was movement, a jostling about that shook me back into consciousness.
Everything was blurry and my head felt heavy, but I managed to open my eyes and turn it, finding dark sky but illuminated streets going by me. "What...?"

"Good, you're awake."
I turned my head, finding Lunar behind the wheel of the vehicle I was in. "You hungry yet?"

"You tricked me..." I smirked, "I'm impressed."

"I've fooled a lot of people in my lifetime... Now, tell me why you went all crazy on me."

Right... I'd promised her answers, right before she stabbed me with something. "What was that?"

"Sedative. I keep it handy in case of emergency. It kept you out for a good two hours, which is impressive, since that kind is supposed to keep people under for up to six." She looked at me. "Now, the explanation?"

"Right... do you know about Solaris?"

"Solaris... what was once the deity of Soleanna, but destroyed by time-travel, hopefully."

I hoped that too. "He was a being that had two sons... Iblis, and I. When the Duke started trying to convince people that Solaris was just an energy being, my father got...angry."

"So he sent you to destroy everything."

" Well...not exactly... I mean, it wasn't as straight forward as that..." I paused, trying to find the right words. "... Iblis was all for it, but I was not... so they... they mind-controlled me, in a sense... made my mind see things their way."
I leaned back in the seat, looking out the front window. "...how'd you get me out without anyone noticing, Lunar?"

"It wasn't easy, I'll tell you that..." she gripped the wheel a little tighter. "...and Lunar is just my last name, like yours is Solaris..."

"Then what is your first?" I sat up again, trying to catch her gaze. "It's only fair that I know your name, since you know mine."

She looked in the mirror, then sighed. "...Alabaster. Alabaster Lunar. But my friends call me Albie."

"Alabaster...I like it. Your parents chose well."

Alabaster stiffened, "For future reference, don't ever speak about my parents, okay?"

"Why not?"

"Just...DON'T."

I shrugged, leaning back again. Perhaps she'd lost her parents to some tragedy, or maybe she too had issues with them. I did not know, but she obviously didn't like talking about it.

I suddenly felt pain in my stomach as it rumbled, and I turned to face her. "...to answer your question earlier, I do appear to need nourishment."

Alabaster grinned, "Not so fun being an organic, huh?"
She reached into the back of the car, pulling out a piece of bread. "We'll start out slow. Things like chocolate and wine can come later."

"From what I've seen of intoxicated mortals, I hope I'm immune to that side effect."
I took a bite of the bread, then noticed the chains linking my wrists to the arms of the seat. She still didn't trust me.
The bread however, though bland, lessened that pain I felt. The texture on my tongue was odd too...

"Why do you say that?"

I turned to her. "What?"

"'Mortals.' Why do you call everyone you meet a 'mortal?'"

"Is that not truth?"

"Not everyone is immortal, I know. But you say it like you're proud that you'll outlive everyone else."

"I am. It means that anyone who annoys me will eventually find a grave somewhere." Even you...

She grinned, "That's not the point... even if I was immortal, that would make me feel sad. Because that means the people I cared about will go on without me. Eventually, I'll be alone, with nobody but my own thoughts to keep me company. Then I'll really lose my mind!"

I'd never thought of it that way... "What do you mean, 'really lose your mind?'"

"Look at me! I am driving through Waterwheel, Northamer, with a hedgehog logged as insane by the medical field in my passenger seat-"

"Chained to the seat." I interrupted, hoping to express my discomfort, but she ignored it.

"Right. With him in my passenger seat, heading for a pass that'll be blocked up at any time now, to hide out until this cools down." She looked at me. "I feel really insane right now."

"Perhaps you are."

"Well if I am..." she smiled, "...I'm proud to be."