She woke up before she opened her eyes and it was the worst feeling she’d ever experienced in recent memory. Even worse than the day she found out she was pregnant. Her head pounded and she winced, the dim overhead lights piercing her eyelids even before they opened. The cushion beneath her creaked as she turned on her back. The smell of this place was familiar, dusty and old, but she couldn’t place it yet. Where was she? She couldn’t remember. And if she couldn’t remember, then it must have been an amazing party.

Evony’s eyes opened to the ceiling of the Dark archives and she frowned. Waking up in strange places wasn’t something Evony was unfamiliar with, but the archives were not a place she would have ever expected. She looked around from her place on the couch, a heavy blanket draped over her, trying to piece together the last few days. What the hell did she get up to?

Her body screamed in protest when she lifted herself to lean against the arm of the designer couch, the hammering in her head relentless. It almost felt like she was going to pass out until her eyes found the key. Lauren pored over a large leather bound book on the table in the next room over, her toe tapping the floor as she flipped pages. And it all came flooding back.

”Shit,” Evony thought she whispered. When Lauren’s head turned in her direction, Evony groaned and slid down the arm of the couch until she was lying down again. She closed her eyes.

”How are you feeling?” Lauren asked from the table. The tone was soft, but Evony imagined her eyes were not.

”Like I was hit by a truck,” Evony replied matter-of-factly. She groaned again and squeezed the bridge of her nose. ”What is this, my head feels like it’s going to explode.” She pulled herself up and leaned against the back of the couch. ”Everything hurts.”

Lauren nodded at the book and flipped a page. ”That’s consistent with my research.”

The Morrigan narrowed her eyes at the doctor. She’d already taken part in an unofficial experiment and wasn’t keen on being part of any more. ”What research?” she said between her teeth.