I had woken up around 8:30 this morning. Ali was still asleep. He must have been especially tired or had gotten to sleep even later than he usually did. I just hoped he wasn't going to crash or close to evolving again. Of course, I loved my little brother, but those things were just difficult to deal with.

When I went into the kitchen to make myself oatmeal, Recah was at the table with her typewriter. She seemed to love it since she went out of her way to use it most days. One of these days, I'd have to ask where she got it from.

I didn't think we had typewriters in the Engrada of old. I would have thought Mother or Leon would've gotten me one. I loved writing when I was a little girl. I would write up little stories then give it to Mother or Leon or one of my tutors, so they could fix my spelling mistakes. Then I would read my story to Phoenix before he went to bed.

I sighed. I didn't think I could ever repay my debt to Noelle...

Annie and Ali really did save me when Phoenix and I were trapped in limbo. Even though Phoenix didn't know how to read, which was to be expected of a four-year-old, and I had a feeling his speech delay wouldn't have helped the matter if he was older, he absolutely adored stories. Unless he was exhausted or feeling bad, he wouldn't go to sleep without one.

If I hadn't always been telling him one in there, I didn't know what it would have taken to get him talking. He always did his best to mimic me. I honestly believed that was what did it.

"I could go set up in my room if you want?" Recah offered.

"No, sweetie, you're fine." I shook my head. "Watching you write got me thinking about times long passed. I really shouldn't be dwelling on the past, anyway."

She moved a stray hair out of my face. "You're thinking about the time you spent in there with your baby brother?"

I nodded. "I can't stop myself when I think about what my childhood was like before that day came. Phoenix was so young that he probably doesn't remember what came before."

"It doesn't help to worry about that, though."

Of course, I knew that... It just wasn't easy.

"Is our prince still sleeping?"

"When I came out of our room, he was."

Recah got out the necessary instruments to brew a pot of tea. "I hope he isn't about to crash. It feels like he should be up by now."

"If it gets bad enough, his parents will make him take medicine." I finally got out the oatmeal. "They try to check on him for this specific reason, I imagine."

"Probably." Recah turned on the stove. "I can't believe I didn't ask this when you came in. You feel alright? The battle effects have worn off?"

I turned my head and rolled my eyes. "I needed to rest for a few more days, but I'm fine now."

I added a little bit of sugar before I sat down and ate my oatmeal.

Soon after that, the kettle whistled to tell Recah that the water for her tea was ready.

Ali came in soon after Recah sat down. "Morning, dear. Morning, Onee-chan."

Ali seemed to be especially relaxed this morning. He seemed to be more likely to call me that if he was relieved or more comfortable in his own skin. It suggested he got an especially good sleep tonight.

"I made extra oatmeal if you want some."

If Ali didn't want it or Recah didn't take some, Duke would probably finish it off. He was a growing boy, so he could really eat a lot if given the opportunity. That wasn't to say he had no restraint, though. He always seemed to know when he needed to stop. That impressed me about him.

"I'm sort of tempted to comb through a bookstore today."

"Looking for a new book?" I asked.

He nodded. "I love what I have, but I sort of feel like reading something new."

Recah turned her head. Still, I could see that she was smiling. I had this weird feeling she was planning something.

Ali got a bottle out of the fridge and made himself some toast.

Recah then grabbed her typewriter and took off. She was going to write up her scheme, no doubt. I just wished I had some idea of what it was.

Predictably, Duke grabbed the rest of the oatmeal when he came in. Ali was on his phone, probably looking at different books or bookstores.

Phoenix came in when Duke put his dirty dishes in the sink. He looked a bit pale...

My baby brother sat at the table. It looked like he was barely holding himself up. I hoped he wouldn't face plant into his food or hit his head on the table.

"What do you want for breakfast?" Ali asked.

Phoenix went into a coughing fit when he went into open his mouth.

Duke gave him a pat on the back. "That pesky cough doesn't want to go away, does it, bud?"

Pesky cough? What did Duke mean by that? How long had this been going on? Oh, I really didn't want to know that I wasn't there when my baby brother needed me.

Ali handed Phoenix a glass of water.

'Yucky...'

Telepathy... By the look on Ali's face, he had heard that, too. Phoenix must have really been feeling yucky... Now that he could talk, he really only used telepathy with us if he was scared or not feeling good.

Duke raised an eyebrow and put the back of his hand on Phoenix's forehead. He immediately jerked his hand away.

I wished I had been the one to do that, but I was glad Ali didn't do it. He didn't really respond to extreme warmth, so he might not have been able to tell if Phoenix had a fever or not.

"Do you want to go back to bed, Eni?"

'Bed...'

Ali ran his fingers through Phoenix's hair. "You can come lay down in our bed with me and T, okay?"

'Okay.'

When he tried to stand, Phoenix's legs melted into jelly. Ali grabbed him before he could hit the ground.

"Do you just want to hold onto me?"

Phoenix let his eyes be his answer. He also put his arms around Ali.

I followed Ali as he carried our brother into our room. This reminded me of something that happened when Phoenix and I were younger...

***

I woke up drenched in sweat. Kayleigh. It was hot that morning.

Phoenix came into my room with our caretakers trailing behind him. "T-T, wind?" Tears poked out of the corners of his eyes. "Hot..."

"Of course, buddy." I smiled. "But, not in here." I reached for my little brother.

"I wouldn't touch him, princess." Mahri hid the tremble in her voice terribly. "His skin temperature is quite high."

I situated him in my arms then stood up straight. "I don't care!"

His caretaker raised her eyebrows. "He's not hurting you, princess?"

"Of course not!" I gritted my teeth. "He's my little brother!"

I couldn't even believe she was asking me that. At the time, I felt like I was being disrespected. That was my baby brother she was talking about. He couldn't know I was in pain. A little kid shouldn't have to worry about something like that.

Mahri scurried off. "I need to inform Her Majesty."

Phoenix dug into my shirt. "T-T, owie..."

"I don't know why it hurts, buddy." I did better than my caretaker at keeping my voice steady. "But I'll do what I can to make it go away, okay?"

"Okay..." His lip quivered as he spoke.

I took him to a nearby stream. His caretaker scurried after us.

I lowered him into the water. "Can you take him?"

"Yes, princess!" She flinched when she took my baby brother from me.

The air was warm and couldn't cool much further since Phoenix was radiating so much heat. His fire meant to be a friend, but it hurt him that day. Had Ali suffered through similar experiences growing up?

"Hang on, buddy." I went further downstream, listening for the calmest currents. I used them to send him gentle sprays.

Phoenix found his smile and let out a cute, little laugh.

"It seems to be working, princess!" Her face lit up. "I can't believe it! What a relief!"

It was a relief. I didn't know if it'd work, but it was all I could think to do for him.

***

I turned on the ceiling fan. If this turned out to be like that was, it was going to get hot in here. I was surprised it wasn't hot in there when I poked my head into his room. Ali might not get affected too much, but Phoenix and I wouldn't be so lucky.

I had Ain get a damp washcloth to put on Phoenix's forehead. Since the stream helped him, I knew the washcloth would likely have a similar effect.

I had to call Noelle. I couldn't bother Leon when he was running Engrada for me. Still, I needed advice to care for my baby brother. There had to be more we could do for him. She would want to know about this, anyway, because this is would leave some sort of impact on my siblings and me.

I went into Phoenix's room to make the call since I knew only Ali and Aunt Sarah would dare to disturb me while I was in there.

The phone only rang once before Noelle picked up. "Hey, Tia. What's up?"

The words wouldn't come out.

"Tia, I can feel that you're pacing through the phone." Noelle was enunciating her words. "You need to talk to me, or I can't help you."

"Phoe isn't doing very good, Annie... He's burning up..."

Annie sighed. "You're wondering if you can do more for him, right? I'd have to look at him to know that." Her voice was soft. "I could come take a look. Or I could ask Hannah to."

"What about your KK?"

"Ame could take care of her for a few days. You three are always going to be my biggest priority..."

I had tears in my eyes. "Annie..."

"I'll be there soon. I need to let Leon and the others know. In the meantime, keep an eye on Alain. There is something he could do for our little fire-bird, but it could cause other problems if he isn't careful."

"I will, Annie."

***

Poor Eni! Thoughts on the chapter? Theories? Predictions?

~Shino out!