I turned to see Alise collapse to the floor with a small sigh. I went to her quickly and picked her up, placing her on the bed. I sat next to her and stroked her hair.
It's probably just lack of sleep. After all, the mage said that we needed a lot of it and we only got two hours before Nat showed up. I'll just let her sleep. I thought. I yawned and went to lay down in my own bed, letting sleep envelop me.
Be the cartoon heart. Light a fire, light a spark. Light a fire, flame in my heart. We'll run wild, we'll be glowing in the dark.
Nat appeared behind me only seconds after I had left. My breathing was shallow, his heavy. I knew he was mad...and didn't turn to face him immediatly. He grabbed my shoulder, his touch oddly sharp, and spun me around. When I met his eyes, I cringed.
**I'll let you figure this out Maybe, I have no idea how Nat would act when angry**
Alise was awake and asleep at the same time. She was concious, she could sense what was going on around her but she didn't have the stregnth to open her eyes. She counted the time as it passed, knowing she had been like this for more than a day it seemed. Gerard was awake, and reasoning with himself she assumed the way he was pacing back and forth.
Bella and Nat had returned, but neither of them said anything to Gerard, he'd often kneel by her bed and make sure she was still breathing. She wanted to say that she hadn't gotten any sleep that she'd been just sitting like this for hours wishing she could sleep or move. But she couldn't, she couldn't move couldn't speak.
"I think something's wrong with her," Gerard said at long last to Nat and Bella.
*Ariel when you post back-track a little bit so you can do the Nat and Bella thing and then go to this okay? didn't want to mess you up or anything*
I glared at Bella furiously. I said nothing because all words i had to say were spoken with my eyes. Her gaze met mine and she cringed, loking away quickly.
"What the hell was that for?" i asked finally.
Her eyes met mine again and she held them there. "You were just blowing them off! After all tey did for you!"
"Yes, i realized that, but you didn't have to go and slap me!"
She snorted. "Yes i did. You would've kept ignoring them!"
"Would not."
"Would too."
"Would not."
"Would too."
"Would-" i sighed. "Look, we're not getting anywhere with this."
She folded her arms and glanced away again. "Are you mad at me?" she asked in a small voice.
I sighed and smiled. "No, not at you."
"But you ARE mad?"
"Yes."
"Surely not at-"
"No, I'm not mad at my brother and Alise."
"Then who?"
I wrapped my arms around her. "I'm mad at myself. Mad for not realizing what they were trying to do for me. I'm sorry."
*Bella, you can continue with this scene, or you can just skip ahead to where Alice is if you want.*
Be the cartoon heart. Light a fire, light a spark. Light a fire, flame in my heart. We'll run wild, we'll be glowing in the dark.
I went to check on Alise again, feeling for a pulse. Her heart was beating, but it was sluggish and faint. I sighed and stood up.
"I think something's wrong with her," i announced, looking over at where Nat stood, leaning casually against a wall, arms crossed and eyes closed. Him and Bella had appeared about an hour after leaving when Bella had slapped him. Nat had remained with me and Alise while Bella came and went. Right now Bella was out of the room.
Nat opened his eyes, peering at me through dark slits. I saw his gaze flicker to Alise for a moment before he sighed deeply and walked over to us.
"Move," he instructed, flicking his hand impatiently. I trusted my brothers skills enough to get out of his way quickly.
Nat reached down and took Alise's wrist and held it for a moment, closing his eyes. Then he opened his eyes and sighed again. He continued to run a small, quick examination of her before straightening and glancing at me.
"Give me a minute and I'll see if i can find out what's wrong."
I nodded.
Nathaniel-
I lay my hand on Alise's forehead and closed my eyes, seeking out her consciousness with my own. When i found it it seemed weak and faint; not a good sign.
"Alise?" i called out with my mind.
Be the cartoon heart. Light a fire, light a spark. Light a fire, flame in my heart. We'll run wild, we'll be glowing in the dark.
"I'll get you help." I assured her before withdrawing from her mind. I opened my eyes and stumbled, almost falling, but Gerard caught my arm. I sighed.
"What's wrong?"
"The mage that worked on you two miscast one of the spells on her so that she's tired but can't sleep. I'll be right back."
"Wait... where are you going?"
"To find said mage," i responded, disappearing.
I appeared again in a dim room. A gray robe stood at the end of the room, his back to me. I coughed lightly.
"Who's there?" the mage called, turning sharply.
I walked forward. "My name is Nathaniel."
The mage paled. "What do you want?" he stuttered.
I took a few more steps forward, coming to stand before the old mage. I grabbed his wrist and teleported back to the room where Gerard and Alise resided, shoving the mage roughly toward the bed.
"Finish what you started or you wont find yourself in a pleasant position." i commanded.
Be the cartoon heart. Light a fire, light a spark. Light a fire, flame in my heart. We'll run wild, we'll be glowing in the dark.
I watched as Nat disappeared, reappearing with a Mage a few moments later.
"Finish what you started or you won't find yourself in a pleasant position," he ordered. The mage looked quite worried, and I grinned. That was the Nat I wanted to see...
**Sorry, I don't know what to write at the moment.**
I watched as my brother appeared with the old mage that had transformed Alise and I. Nat shoved the man towards the bed roughly, taking a few steps forward.
"Finish what you started or you wont find yourself in a pleasant position." Nat hissed, eyes flaring. The old mage pales visably, gulped, and set to work. Nat watched him intently.
After a while, i lost most interest in what the mage was doing, trusting Nat enough to make sure that the old man did nothing else wrong. I went to lean against the wall next to the window, watching as the sun reached its peak in the sky. Sluggish white clouds meandered through the sky and i tried to put a name to the shapes.
It must've been then that i fell asleep, leaning agaisnt the wall, for a awoke hours later to see the last rays of sunlight disappearing over the horizion. I glanced around and saw Nat propped casually against the wall like he had been earlier, his eyes closed, head bowed, and arms crossed. Bella stood in front of him, her back to me. She said something to Nat in a low voice and i saw his lips move in response.
Alise lay quietly on the bed. I crossed the room and sat at the foot of the bed, watching her. The old mage was gone. I glanced over at Nat again who in turn was staring at me. He blinked once, confirming my silent question. I sighed in relief.
Be the cartoon heart. Light a fire, light a spark. Light a fire, flame in my heart. We'll run wild, we'll be glowing in the dark.
Alise laid back and looked around, "how long have I been sleeping?"
Gerard shrugged, "a little longer than I have been."
"ANd how long have you been sleeping?"
"Just over two days," Nat explained.
Alise's eyes went wide, "no wonder i'm so hungry." Gerard brushed a peice of hair away from her face, gently, as if he was afraid that she was still asleep and would wake her up. "You must be hungry too," she said desperatly.
I turned to my brother, feeling my cheeks flush red. I ducked my head down.
"Can you get us some food? I don't want to leave Alise..."
I expected some sort of angry retort along the lines of 'Do i look like your maid?'. But what happened went completely against my expectations...almost.
I heard Nat sigh and snap his fingers. Instantly the aroma of smoked Ham and roast beef filled the room. When i raised my head, there was a small feast laid out on the table in the middle of the room. Nat stood over by the window again, his back to us, staring out the closed window. Bella was near him.
I let out a sigh of relief and helped Alise over to the table, eating ravenously. When i had eaten to the point that i couldn't manage another mouthful, i glanced again to Nat. He still stood in front of the window. I watched him raise his thin hand, laying his slender fingers softly against the cold glass. I saw him give a small sigh.
It was then that i realized how unhappy he was here. I could tell it when he turned back to me and smiled weakly and i saw the sadness hidden deep in his eyes. I smiled back.
"We should leave here soon," i offered. I turned to Alise. "Are you feeling fit for travel?"
Be the cartoon heart. Light a fire, light a spark. Light a fire, flame in my heart. We'll run wild, we'll be glowing in the dark.
"As long as we're not flying," she said. "I never was one for flying."
Gerard laughed, "I doubt we'll be flying...Right Nat?"
"No we shall not be flying," Nat said keeping his gaze out the window. Alise felt sorry for him, he hated this place and he was stuck here, because of her, at least for another twenty minutes or so.
"This place makes me uneasy," Alise said.
"As does it I," Bella replied, "are you feeling up to leaving now?"
