The slow, steady beat of a drum echoed through the void, filling it with purpose and meaning. Even though it couldn't be compared to the abyss between worlds, it was still a world absent of everything that one would consider a mortal plane to be.

While initially, the beat of the drum was just a sound, the only sound in the endless darkness, eventually its rhythmic pulse turned into something else.

It was the promise of life, opportunity and the possibility of a future, a driving force to continue onwards no matter what while at the same time offering support and comfort.

However, to the only entity that existed within this space, Nyx, the sound represented much more.

It was a call to war. The promise of vengeance against those that had caused her so much pain and suffering. A reason to continue struggling.

And, when it was all over, there was even the hint that she might be able to gain what she always wanted.

Peace.

Nyx lost herself within the beat, feeling her doubts and confusion slowly float away. The beat seemed eternal, never-ending, immortal. It merged with the darkness, coming together in a union Nyx could only describe as perfect.

It was everything she wanted to become, and more.

As time progressed, while the beat did not increase in tempo, it got louder. Nyx felt her soul-shaking in time, feeling energised and motivated.

Eventually, small cracks appeared, however, these weren't let light through, but the five senses.

Sound, touch, taste, smell and after an undetermined amount of time, sight.

With it, Nyx's consciousness returned to her body and she slowly opened her eyes, the bright sunlight causing her to squint as she looked up at a clean, white ceiling above.

The sound of a mechanical clock ticked away to her right while the faint sound of jumbled voices, the sound of wooden wheels on cobblestone and the occasional shout, emanated from the window on her left.

Soft, silk sheets covered her body, wrapping Nyx in warmth while the feather pillow she rested her head upon, cradled her neck comfortably.

Nyx took a deep breath, enjoying the various sensations of comfort that were almost alien, as her mind started to recollect what had happened.

Taking another deep breath, Nyx realised that she wasn't in any pain.

It wasn't just her chest, her body felt completely fine.

Tentatively taking another deep breath, then slowly moving her right arm to the side and out of the silky cover, Nyx was astonished and quickly circulated what little essence she had.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Not only had her humerus healed perfectly, along with her other broken and fractured bones, but her body had recovered significantly. Even the blood that was pumping through her veins was thick and full of vitality, delivering oxygen and nutrients to every part of her body.

If it wasn't for the calcium deposits where her bones had fractured or broken, her bodies outstanding affinity for dark energy and the noticeable absence of her reproductive organs, Nyx would have even suspected that this wasn't the same body and she had died and been resummoned.

However, it being the same body didn't make any sense to Nyx.

A frown appeared on her enchanting face as Nyx experimentally lifted herself into a sitting position, still expecting some sort of pain but relieved when there was none, before analysing her surroundings.

Noting the familiar scars on her arms and hands, Nyx realised that she was once again in a small, enclosed room.

However, this time, the walls were plastered and painted white, a single, simple wooden door to one side while a small window looked out upon what looked like a sprawling city.

On the opposite side to the window, stood a pedestal with a basin of water. A small, round mirror hung above it while to its side, stood a wooden wardrobe.

The entire room was immaculate, not a spec of dust or dirt could be seen anywhere and when Nyx breathed in again, she found she could smell the faint scent of flowers.

There wasn't much else to see, bar a clock hanging next to the door, and nothing appeared threatening or intimidating but instead of putting Nyx at ease, it just caused her to frown harder.

The last thing she could remember was being pinned down at the bottom of the stairs, having been captured as her life slowly slipped away.

Assuming that she was in the same body, at least until she confirmed it with the mirror, it meant that she had somehow survived.

The next logical step would be that she would be imprisoned, yet the lack of restraints and mundaneness of the room seemed to indicate differently.

"Was my ransom paid?" Nyx's soft voice, full of confusion, matched the look on her face. "No, after what I did, I doubt they would have let me go. So, that means I was rescued? If so, was it the people that assaulted the house or did it happen after?"

While Nyx could think of many theories, without more information, it was all useless speculation and so, with a shake of her head, she slid her legs to the side of the bed and dangled them over the edge.

Now the cover had fallen away, Nyx realised that she was wearing a thin, almost seethrough, white gown, weirdly enough making her white skin, look more human looking.

Pushing away the obvious question on who had dressed her, Nyx's small feet found the wooden floor as she wobbly stood up, the muscles in her legs feeling a lot weaker than she remembered.

Smiling with joy that she could use her right arm again, propping herself up against the bed for balance, Nyx approached the small mirror, wanting to see if she really was in the same body.

Walking shakily the last few steps on her own, Nyx reached the mirror and, in an action that reminded her of when she first took control of this body, stared into the mirror.

The dark blue eyes were staring back, along with the beautifully sharp and elegant face, looking even more elf-like now it had been washed, putting Nyx's doubts to rest.

Yet, Nyx's frown didn't vanish, instead, it got worse.

Where she had initially had short, cropped brown hair that had slowly turned darker due to her attunement, it had only become an uneven bob cut by the time Nyx had escaped. She remembered looking at herself in the mirror before the fat man arrived.

However, what she saw now did not match that image at all.

Silky smooth, pitch black hair that flowed down to her shoulders like a veil of darkness, causing Nyx's white skin to stand out all the more intensely.

Even though it rose many questions, Nyx couldn't help but smile. She thought it looked pretty good.