Pentos, Magister Illyrio's manse.
The instant Lynn's consciousness withdrew, the abyssal indifference in Daenerys's eyes shattered.
Her violet eyes focused again, regaining their usual timidity and confusion.
She stared blankly at her brother, who seemed somewhat frightened, her mind utterly empty.
What happened?
She remembered being in the bathroom just now. How had she suddenly ended up in the bedroom?
The memory of everything in between seemed to have been gouged out of her mind.
Viserys froze when he saw the fear return to his sister's eyes.
Then an overwhelming sense of humiliation, mingled with rage, surged to his head.
Had he just... been frightened by this girl's gaze?
This sister he had beaten and berated at will since childhood, who never even dared raise her voice-had she actually made him step back with a single look?
Ridiculous!
This was an insult to his true dragon's blood!
"You dare look at me like that?"
Viserys's face twisted with rage.
His reasonably handsome features looked especially vicious now.
He abruptly raised his hand.
Smack!
The sharp crack of a slap rang through the room.
The force whipped Daenerys's head to one side, and five distinct finger marks instantly appeared on her pale cheek.
Her ears rang, and she tasted the metallic sweetness of blood.
The blow left Daenerys stunned.
She covered her cheek and stared at her brother in disbelief.
She did not understand.
She hadn't done anything. Why was he hitting her again?
"You have woken the dragon!"
Viserys stepped forward and seized Daenerys's chin, forcing her head up.
His nails nearly dug into her flesh, and the madness and brutality in his eyes chilled her to the bone.
"Look at me, Daenerys!"
"You're nothing but a filthy whore! I'm the one who's kept you alive all these years! I'm