DISC: I DO NOT own any of the characters from Sofia the First or Elena of Avalor.
Enjoy!
"Sanctuary in Avalor"
Chapter 7
Elena awoke to the feeling of someone jabbing her in the ribs. Opening her eyes, she glanced over just as Isabel did it again. Hearing her little sister whimpering in her sleep, Elena sprang into action. Pulling the little girl into her arms, she hugged her close.
"Isa…esta bien, baby. Estoy aqui. Yo te tengo. It's just a bad dream. You're safe…" Elena watched as Isabel's eyes opened and she let out a cry of terror.
"Let go! Let me go!"
"Isa? Isa, it's me. I'm the one holding you. You're safe…" Elena felt Isabel relax a minute later. Rubbing her back, she hugged her close.
"Elena?"
"Uh-huh," Elena locked eyes with her sister to prove her point.
"I'm so scared!" Isabel admitted.
"I know you are. I promised you I'd do my best to protect you. I'm going to keep that promise. You have to go back to school tomorrow. I'll go with you," she kissed her sister's head.
"What if this girl doesn't listen to you," Isabel sniffed.
"Oh she will," Elena said determinately. She grinned a little, "Besides, I can be pretty persuasive."
Isabel managed a tiny smile at her sister's joke.
"Why don't you get ready for the day. I'm gonna do the same. Then I'm gonna check on Sofia," Elena ran a hand through Isabel's hair.
Isabel hesitated.
"Can I stay here a little longer, pore favor?"
"Siempre," Elena hugged her closer.
After a few more minutes of cuddling, the two sisters got up for the day.
"Do you have a grand council meeting this morning?" Isabel asked.
"No," Elena replied. With that, she left in the direction of her room. Going inside, she changed for the day. After doing her hair and brushing her teeth, she went to check on Sofia. She sat down on the edge of the bed. Reaching out, she ran a hand through the pre-teen's hair. She watched her awaken and visibly relax when they locked eyes.
"Hey, Sof. I'm sorry I didn't come back. I fell asleep in Isabel's room."
"Esta bien," Sofia sleepily said.
"Are you sure?" Elena asked.
Sofia nodded.
"Alex kept me company."
"I'm glad. How do you feel?"
"Okay. It still hurts!"
"I know. You'll feel better in a few days. Are you hungry?"
"A little," Sofia admitted.
"That's good. I'm gonna get you something small to start off. After you eat it and keep it down, I'll give you some more medicine."
"How's Isabel?" Sofia asked.
"She's scared," Elena revealed, "she'll be okay. I'm gonna help her."
"I have to say I'm sorry," Sofia frowned.
Elena shook her head.
"No you don't. It was my fault," she reminded her.
"Are you guys okay now?" Sofia coughed a minute later.
"Pretty much," Elena replied.
"That's good," Sofia yawned.
"I have fifteen minutes and they're all yours," Elena informed the eleven-year-old.
"What about Isa?" Sofia asked.
Elena frowned.
"She's getting ready for the day. Let me give you some advice."
"Yeah?" Sofia asked right before coughing again.
"Don't call her that. It's my special name for her. Technically it's a familia nickname, but I came up with it first. If you slip, she'll understand, but try not to do it too often. It'll only make things worse between you two."
"Okay," Sofia nodded.
The two spent the next fifteen minutes together, talking and Elena held Sofia to make up for the night before.
"Okay, Sof, I'll be back. This time, I will be. I'm gonna get you something to eat. Give me fifteen minutes."
"Okay," Sofia replied.
Tucking Sofia back in, Elena stood. Leaving the room, she went across the hall and softly knocked on her sister's door. "Isa? Are you ready?"
"Uh-huh," Isabel replied.
Entering, Elena found her sister staring out of the window. Her eyes were glued to the sky.
"I really miss you, Pappi," she admitted, unshed tears in her voice.
Elena blinked back her own at the ten-year-old's words.
"He's watching over both of us," she rested a gentle hand on Isabel's back.
"How do you know?" Isabel asked without turning around.
"I just do. Also, I have some advice for you. I know it'll be hard for you to hear…"
"What is it?" Isabel sniffed back more tears.
"Compassion is the key," Elena passed along the advice their mother had given her in the hospital. Reaching out her arms, she wrapped them around Isabel. She hugged her close.
"I love you so much, Isa. I might not be able to protect you from everything, but that doesn't mean I don't love you."
"I know," Isabel returned her sister's hug.
"Bente con mi. Let's get downstairs for breakfast."
"I'm not that hungry," Isabel revealed.
"Will you try eating a little for me?"
Isabel nodded.
The two sisters entered the dining room to find the rest of their familia waiting for them. Their mother rose from her seat and met them halfway to the table. The three embraced. Pulling away, they sat down to eat.
"Did you girls work everything out?"
"Yeah," Isabel answered.
Elena reached out and squeezed Isabel's hand.
"It's about time you two arrived," Esteban glared at Elena.
Elena sighed. Glancing up, she caught her mother staring at her. She shook her head, indicating for Elena to let it go.
"Esteban, pore favor, not this morning," Elena pleaded.
"Tardiness is unbecoming of a future queen," he continued to glare.
Elena ignored him.
Isabel, however, couldn't keep quiet.
"Leave Elena alone!" she demanded.
"Isabel…" her mother forewarned.
Isabel uncharacteristically ignored her.
"I don't believe I asked for your opinion," Esteban pointed out.
"Well I don't believe Elena asked you to pick on her," Isabel shot back. "You do it all the time and I'm tired of it!"
"Isabel Rebecca Flores…" Gabriella firmly said.
"What! I'm not lying! Esteban is always tearing Elena down and she doesn't deserve it."
"While everything you said is true, you know yelling at anyone in our familia isn't acceptable," her mother reminded her.
"I'm not saying I'm sorry, " Isabel folded her arms across her chest and glared at Esteban once again.
"Isabel, go to your room," she firmly ordered.
"Poreque! I'm not the one being mean," she pointed out.
"Isa…" Elena hissed, warningly. Her tone was gentle.
"Isabel, I'm only going to ask you one more time…go to your room, pore favor?" their mother eyed her with a look both Elena and Isabel knew. While they knew their mother would never physically hurt them, Elena knew if Isabel wasn't careful she had a feeling her sister would be on restriction.
"Fine! I'm not hungry anyway," with that, Isabel stood, turned around and stormed out of the dining room.
Elena felt torn. ON one hand, she knew her little sister had crossed the line. On the other, she understood where she was coming from. Thirdly, she had told the truth.
"Isa!" Elena called after her sister's retreating back. Turning to her mother and grandparents, she sighed. "I have to go after her. She's having a really hard time. Mamá , I agree Isa shouldn't have yelled at Esteban, but she has a point. May I go check on her, pore favor?"
"Of course you may. But after you're done talking to her, I need to."
"Okay," with that, Elena stood from her chair.
"She needs to apologize to me," Esteban stated.
"Normally, I'd agree with you, but not in this situation," Elena stood to leave.
"Poreque?" Esteban demanded.
Turning back around, Elena glared at him. "Because she was right," with that, she left the dining room. She could hear her mother calling her back, but she kept going. Going back upstairs, she knocked on her little sister's door. Hearing sobs from within, her heart clenched. Going inside, she joined Isabel on the bed. "Baby, things will get better," she rubbed her sister's back.
"When?" Isabel sobbed. "I'm tired of Esteban treating you badly and underestimating your ability to rule. You're gonna be an awesome queen. He needs to stop hurting you with his words!"
Elena pulled her distraught sister into her arms.
"Isa…I appreciate you sticking up for me, I really do. But I've learned to ignore Esteban when he says things like that for the most part. I know he's just set in his ways."
"Still, he shouldn't pick on you!" Isabel tearfully protested.
"You're right. If it gets out of hand, I'll put a stop to it myself," she vowed.
Isabel nodded.
"I love you, Elena," she let out another sob.
"I love you too," Elena kissed her sister's forehead.
"You're not gonna make me apologize to him, are you?"
"No," Elena answered.
Isabel sighed with relief.
"Mami wants to talk to you," she informed her. "I'll see if I can get her to wait until after breakfast."
"Gracias," Isabel nodded.
"If I bring some food up here, will you try to eat for me?" her older sister asked.
Isabel nodded.
"That's my girl," pulling away, Elena stood. Returning five minutes later, she handed Isabel a tray with fruit, a muffin and some oatmeal on it.
"Gracias," Isabel started eating.
"Denada. I'm gonna give Sofia some breakfast. I'll be back in a few minutes."
"I have to talk to her," Isabel sighed.
"Finish eating first and then you can," Elena ruffled the ten-year-old's hair.
"Okay," Isabel continued to eat.
Leaving her sister alone, Elena went across the hall to her own room. Setting a tray down, she sat down on the bed. "Hey, Sof. I got you something to eat."
"Gracias," Sofia sat up.
"You don't have to eat it all. Just eat as much as you can," Elena encouraged. She handed Sofia a cup.
"Ooh, this is delicioso," she smiled a little.
"I'm glad you like it!" Elena grinned back.
"Did I hear Isabel crying?" Sofia frowned.
"Yeah. She's having a bad day. She broke one of our familia rules and Mami isn't happy with her," Elena sighed.
"Can I help?" Sofia asked.
"You're sweet. I'm sure Isa would appreciate it. You need to concentrate on recovering first," Elena advised.
"Okay," Sofia sighed.
The two talked while the young girl drank as much oatmeal as possible.
"I'm done," Sofia announced.
"Okay. You ate most of it," Elena took the cup from her chosen sister's hand. "I'll take this back downstairs and then I'll be-"
Just then, a crash from Isabel's room interrupted Elena's sentence.
"ELENA! ELENA! HELP!" Isabel screamed in panic.
Jumping to her feet, Elena let the cup fall to the floor. Reaching to her left, she grabbed the scepter of Light. Rushing from the room, she ran for her sister's.
"I'm coming, Isa!" Entering the room, she heard growling. She glared when she saw a neon green creature with orange wings and what looked like tentacles holding Isabel in its grasp. Grabbing the first thing she saw, Elena hurled a golden object at the creature. "Let my sister go now!" she ordered.
"You have no authority over me!" the creature laughed, making Elena even madder.
"Elena!" Isabel cried out again.
"Shut up!" the creature slapped the little girl across the face.
Elena was seeing red now. Her sister had been hurt enough. Raising her scepter, she commanded, "Blaze!"
"Elena, no!" Isabel cried, but was once again hit by the creature.
Ignoring her sister's warning, Elena fired another shot.
"Blaze!"
This time, the beam hit the creature in the side.
Elena was satisfied to see a gash form where the scepter had struck.
"You little…" with that, The creature dropped Isabel and went for Elena.
"Isa, go wait with Sofia!"
"What if you need-" Isabel started to protest, but was cut off by her sister's command.
"Go!"
Isabel obeyed without any further protest.
Feeling a sudden sharp pain in her right leg, Elena glanced down. Seeing blood, she growled in frustration. Raising the scepter again, she shouted, "BLAZE!"
A stronger beam shot out, hitting the creature in the chest.
"You'll pay for this!" the creature vowed. "My master will see to that,"
"What do you want with my sister!" Elena demanded.
In answer, the creature turned around and flew out of the now broken window.
"Hey! Come back here! I asked you a question!" getting no response, Elena growled in frustration. "BLAZE!" she shouted one final time. As she felt the scepter obey, dizziness engulfed her from head to toe. Fighting it off, she waited until the creature was out of sight before going to check on her sister. "Isa!" Elena breathed with relief, pulling her into her embrace. "Are you okay?"
"My cheek hurts!" Isabel cried.
"We'll get you cleaned up," Elena kissed her head. "Bente con mi," picking her up, she carried Isabel to her bathroom. Setting her down, she rummaged in the cabinet for the antiseptic.
"Elena, que estas mal?" Isabel frowned in concern, sniffing back more tears of pain.
"Estoy bien," Elena tried.
Isabel shook her head.
"No you're not. Your hands are shaking."
Elena sighed.
"I just feel a little dizzy from using the scepter," she admitted. "After I get you patched up, I'll rest and be okay in an hour or two."
"Are you sure?" Isabel's frown deepened.
Elena nodded. Kneeling down, she gently examined her sister's reddened cheek. She growled inwardly when she saw the print. Slowly, she applied the medicine.
"It stings!" Isabel cried.
"I know, Isa. It'll stop in a…few minutes," Elena put her free hand to her head as more dizziness came over her. Taking a deep breath, she sighed when it passed.
Isabel gasped, glancing down at her sister's right leg.
"You're bleeding!"
"Que? What are you talking…about?" Elena looked to where her sister was pointing. At the sight of the red substance, she swallowed hard. Grabbing onto the towel rack for support, she managed to stay upright.
"What's that?" Isabel inquired.
"What's what?"
Isabel gently touched something on Elena's leg.
Elena hissed in pain.
"Sorry," the young girl apologized.
Glancing down, Elena gasped in surprise. A cut grazed the side of her right leg. But it was the shape it had taken that surprised both Flores sisters.
"It looks like a snake's head," Isabel surmised.
Elena didn't have time to answer before they were joined by a third person.
"Elena, are you all right? I heard yelling and your scepter going off," their mother joined them, her expression one of concern.
"We're fine now," Elena assured her. "A creature with wings and red tentacles tried to kidnap Isa."
Their mother gasped. She turned to Isabel and pulled her in for a hug.
"Don't worry, Mamá . I took care of it, " Elena assured her. "Isa got hurt, but I patched her up."
"Mami, Elena used her scepter to save me and now she's feeling sick," Isabel told her.
"Oh miel! You need to lie down for a while," their mother told her.
Elena felt her mother's arm wrap around her shoulders, steadying her.
"I will once Isa's taken care of," Elena tried to take a step forward, but dizziness prevented it.
"Elena!" Isabel cried in alarm.
"Esta bien, Elenita. Yo te tengo. That's my girl…"
Elena staggered, falling back against her mother as the dizziness grew worse.
"Mamá , I'll be…okay. I promise…" Elena tried to assure her even as the room started spinning.
"Elena's gonna be fine. I'll make sure of it. Why don't you go update your journal," their mother suggested.
"No," Elena weakly protested, "I…I don't want Isa to…be alone..sha-she needs to be..near me…she's in danger…" the sixteen-year-old tried to say more, but her vision suddenly blurred before everything went black…