And Lela SLEEPS! Woo!


I kept a wary eye on Lela the whole way home, worried that she might fall asleep standing up. From the way her eyelids drooped, it was a possibility.

Elizabeth was in her chair holding a steaming mug when we arrived. Nathanael was probably out fighting Dalne or something.

"You okay?" she asked as I led Lela to the couch. Lela rubbed her eyes sleepily.

"I'm fine," I said, "but Lela isn't feeling too well. She thinks she may have more marks than just the one you fixed." Elizabeth set her mug on the little table before coming over to help me find the other marks.

"Found one," Elizabeth said, her fingers hovering over Lela's chest. She grimaced when Lela visibly gagged at her touch. "It's an especially nasty one."

I continued to run my fingertips across Lela's skin, hoping we'd catch them all.

It was a tedious process, and Nathanael only showed up right when it was over. He was looking exhausted, and I wasn't sure how he could be fighting a hunter all by himself. Of course, Elizabeth quickly found and healed his marks.

Lela was looking better, but still sleepy, though it was hardly nine, so I carried her up to her room. I swear, Elizabeth was glaring holes into my head as a warning or something. When I put Lela in her bed, she mumbled something, then wrapped her arms around one of mine. I wasn't sure what to do, because I didn't want her to wake up or freak out. A couple of minutes later, Elizabeth came in and saw me sitting stiffly on the edge of Lela's bed. She almost laughed at my desperate face.

"I'll get Nathanael; he can help," she whispered.

When they came back, Nathanael grasped my wrist and froze time around us. "Now take your arm from her grasp," he said. "Careful—don't let her skin touch yours or she'll be unfrozen."

I let my jacket sleeve slip over my fingertips before slowly tugging my arm out of her embrace. Then Nathanael let time start up again. I watched Lela's face change. She was starting to look scared, or confused. Maybe both. I turned back to our mentors and saw Elizabeth press her lips together worriedly.

She and Nathanael walked out the door, leaving it open, and down the hall to their room. Then Lela began to make a noise. Gah, it was a horrible, pathetic, whimper-y noise. The sound of a girl about to cry. I closed my eyes as my throat tightened up.

I turned back to Lela, who was still in a deep slumber. She was actually crying in her sleep. I had to do something, but I didn't want to wake her up or get stuck there for the rest of the night (my parents would kill me). So I leaned over her, avoiding touching her arms, and pressed my lips to her forehead, letting some of my light seep into her.

She let out a sigh and rolled over, hugging her pillow. I grinned, feeling relieved and totally wiped out from the day's adventures.


Yup. I almost fall asleep standing up sometimes. It's on days like this.

Please review!

By the way, we'll be totally caught up next time I post chapters. ^^' I'm a little stuck.