Another chance in a familiar time

Back in the Emerald Room, Alex was still hovering over an unconscious Felicia with Hildegarde, Constantine and Liam seated bedside. He placed a hand on Felicia's forehead and sensed that she was about to wake up.

He'd gotten it wrong? He thought she was going to be asleep for at least a month? The Goddess decided to release her mind much sooner? But where had Felicia's mind been these past few days? And what had she experienced?

Alex hoped that she would not wake up with newfound trauma.

He suddenly felt a fog settle over his eyes again. It was similar to the other vision that had appeared half an hour ago. Alex saw himself, covered in blood, holding an unconscious Felicia in his arms. She was wearing a thin white dress and both her face and the front part of her dress was spattered with more red fluid.

"I just want her to be okay." He heard himself say. "I just want her to stop hurting. I will not fail again!"

He understood. Even with no explanation, Alex understood what he was witnessing. This was a memory. Before he could delve further, the mists thickened and blurred everything. His mind withdrew and he locked eyes with his sister.

Who had just woken up.

They were back in the Emerald Room. 

"Alex." Her voice was hoarse.

"Felicia!" He immediately sat down and yanked her up into his embrace.

"My lady, thank goodness!" Hildegarde leapt to her feet.

"Lady Felicia!"

"Oh, she's awake!"

Both Liam and Constantine also stood up.

"My lady, how are you feeling?"

Felicia said nothing, she just hugged her brother and wept silently. It felt as if months had passed, not mere days. And yet, she knew exactly the time she had returned to. It was after the attack at Hildegarde's residence. She'd fainted after draining herself of magic to heal her sister, or rather, her brother.

They had returned to their first lives. 

Felicia's head was overflowing with so much information and she couldn't wait to share it with Alex. The pain and madness over being betrayed was nothing more than a distant memory. The Goddess had been correct in her assessment. Living a brand new life as Dixie Demont had indeed cured her. There was no more hate and anger within her.

Only strong love for Alex and a desire to preserve the happiness in their lives.

And her duty. She had not wanted to battle the Pope and the Demon Lord when the Goddess first made her offer, but now she was determined to do just that. Never again would she allow herself to be reduced to what she once was.

She was a Del Montague and a Saintess, a born fighter! This was a new life. It may be her first life, but she was entering it with a fresh set of eyes. The memories and knowledge of her previous lives would serve to guide her. She was Felicia, then she was Dixie and now she was back to being Felicia.

She hugged her brother tighter and ignored the voices around her. She could understand Hildegarde being in her room, but she was confused as to why Liam and Constantine were here. Most importantly, why were they in her bedroom and not downstairs in the sitting room or in the tea parlor as what is appropriate for guests?

Even though she loved Liam, she felt a bit uneasy with him at her bedside. Even more so with Prince Constantine.

Strange, my desire to protect my virtue from the opposite sex during my first life is warring against my liberated ways from my second life. My emotions and mindset are hot and cold right now. I can't believe how different I was as Felicia and Dixie. 

She pulled away from her hug and gave Alex a meaningful look. Then she looked at the other men.

"I'm curious as to what the two of you are doing in my bedroom?"

Liam and Constantine flushed slightly. 

"We were worried about you, my lady. We heard about the attack." Constantine sat back down. "I received a letter from Alex saying that you were well, but then Helena sent me a letter saying you had been unconscious for days so, well...my father insisted I come check on my future bride." 

"I'm glad to see you awake, Lady Felicia. Alex kept mumbling with his words when we asked him what the issue was but finally he told us the whole truth and I promise, your secret is safe with us." Liam added, his eyes once again admiring Felicia's delicate beauty.

"We took an oath, my lady." Hildegarde stated with a smile. 

"I suspected as much." Felicia pushed her blanket off of herself and sat cross legged. "Although it's not necessary for you, Hildegarde. My mother trusted you and that's all the reassurance I need."

Hildegarde smiled. "Shall I go inform the Duke and get the physician to check on you?"

"No, first there is something I need to tell you all. Something...very alarming and impossible, but it was all real and it's important you know as it will aid us in defeating the Pope." Felicia took a deep breath. "I assume Alex told you who was behind the attack while he was busy confessing. This will be a long explanation." Her eyes grew dark as she placed her chin on top of her interlocked fingers.

She briefly glanced at the door and the closed blinds. Night had already fallen, causing the bright candles and fireplace to draw their shadows on the wall.

Alex and Hildegarde, who were still standing promptly took their seats. Constantine and Liam were eager to hear what she had to say, but felt an uncomfortable stirring in their stomachs. This would not be a pleasant. More bad news was approaching.

"You experienced something crazy while you were asleep, didn't you?" Alex's question was a statement.

Felicia locked eyes with him. "Yes, brother." It felt a bit strange to call him that since she had long since seen him as her sister. The last time she called him brother was when she was hurling obscenities at him in the mists where their souls had passed into.

"I had a most harrowing trip through memory lane. Me healing you and the magic of the infinity symbol which you used to heal me triggered something within my soul. Lost memories from another life. Everything that happened to me after I was set to burn."

Alex's eyes hardened. He knew this part. It was in the book.

"Burn? Do you mean execution by fire?" Constantine echoed Liam's thoughts.

Felicia glanced over at them. She stared especially hard at the Crown Prince.

"Yes, I was killed by fire in my first life. And Elysium was invaded by your aunt, Empress Matilda. The northern empire of Imperium established full control over Elysium. You were dead, your parents were dead, all of nobility and all the clergymen were dead. There was nobody left and the north swooped down like vultures to claim the bounty of Elysium."

"What!?" Prince Constantine shot to his feet. "That cannot be!"