"Stop scratching! You're just going to make it worse," Shara scolded her little sister.
"But it's so ITCHY!" Monica scratched an ugly red bump on her arm but Shara swatted her hand away. Ever since Shara and Monica moved in with their grandfather, Wells, Shara has taken over the parental role to Monica—and she has taken that role very seriously. Ever since two days ago when Monica started to contract little itchy bumps all over her body, Shara has sat by her and refused to let her out of bed. For Monica, that means the end of the world as she knows it. She can't help with the store, can't go outside to play, and can't talk to anyone.
End. Of. The. World.
The only plus side was that Micah, a half-human/half-monster boy who has moved into the Sharance Tree, came to see if she was alright every day. Ever since he pretended to be a prince from her favorite fairy-tale she's liked him more. A few weeks ago, Monica told her sister that she has made up her mind. Once she gets older she will marry that boy. Shara had laughed and patted the girl's head. She said, "Oh Monica, can't you save some of the boys for the rest of us?"
"Sis, when is Micah coming over to visit?" Monica asked.
"The answer is still the same since the last three times you've asked me."
"But I forgot again," Monica said, looking up at Shara with wide, innocent eyes.
Shara sighed. If her sister was cute now, she feared what she would become once she got older.
"He will probably come once he gets a chance, Monica. He has a lot of work to do; tending crops, doing requests, fighting monsters." A dreamy expression appeared in Shara's eyes.
"Yeah, I know." Monica frowned, scratching unconsciously. Monica didn't like that peculiar look on her sister's face when she talks about her Micah. "I just wish he would come sooner."
"I know you do. You just have to wait a little longer. Maybe he'll bring over some flowers for you." The thought made her smile. He was always bringing lovely flowers to her and Monica.
"I hope he brings the cute little pink ones! What do you call those ones again?" she asked as Shara put her hand on her little sister's forehead.
"It's called a pink cat." A worried look clouded Shara's face as she felt the girl's temperature. "Are you sure you don't want to go to the apothecary, Monica?"
She barely finished her sentence when Monica practically yelled. "NOOO! I don't wanna go there!"
"You would see Marjorie, not Marian. You trust Marjorie, don't you?"
"NOOO!" Monica screamed and dove under the blankets. "Nothing can stop Marian!"
Shara sighed but she couldn't blame her sister. The blue-haired witch scared everybody in town, and while Marjorie is an expert she doesn't exactly rein her granddaughter in well. The only thing that's more impossible than controlling Marian was getting Monica to go to the apothecary. Shara gave up and patted the lump of covers Monica was hiding under. "Get some rest. I'll go get Wells to watch you while I make you some herbal tea."
The lump didn't answer. Shara shook her head and went downstairs.