"Back again after SEVERAL WEEKS. I HATE exams!! Well read and review as always. And excuse these " ". I've been using them to space things out so don't be confused when they appear. This chapter is short and crappy since I haven't spent enough time to edit it. I've just noticed how HOT Ben Affleck is in leather pants!!! ^_~"

"Isis Ishtar watched worriedly as her younger brother, Malik, tossed and turned in his sleep. The pills she had given him were supposed to provide restful sleep. A few hours after swallowing, Malik dozed into slumber, but restful? To that it was an absolute negative. At times he would lapse into utter silence except for heavy breathing mutter constantly imperceptible words. Straining her ears Isis could make out several words such as 'leave', 'power' and 'screams'. This didn't help ease her worries over Malik's condition."

"The illness had arrived last week, unexpectedly with no forewarning signs. The day began normally, Isis waking up Malik early morning with the phrase 'Wake up sleepyhead!'. Malik retorted with the usual 'I'm-not-a-child-so- don't-treat-me-like-one' comeback, before disappearing into the bathroom."

"Coming out after a lengthy shower with steam billowing through the doorway, Malik entered the cramped kitchen of their small apartment. Rishid sitting at the table greeted Malik with a polite good-morning. Rishid had been sipping herbal tea while scanning the newspaper for jobs. The one he had currently at a local grocery store did not satisfy him with its long shifts and low income. Malik banged some cupboards open, preparing a cup of black coffee. His violet eyes drifted towards the window and in a dreamy voice he commented how it seemed it was about to snow. Then he collapsed."

"It had been sunny that day."

"Rishid and Isis drove to the nearest hospital emergency. Isis stated all of the facts Doctors began pouring into the cramped apartment, called upon by a desperate Isis. The doctors' diagnoses on Malik's state all varied; from a brain tumor, a flu, a migraine, cancer or tuberculosis. One doctor ventured to speak that the boy's condition could not be classified under any disease known in medical history, because of Malik's widely varied symptoms. At that Isis had Rishid escort all the doctors out of their apartment and took upon herself to care for Malik."

"She had a gut feeling that Malik's illness was otherworldly, possibly related to the Shadow Realm, thus could not be cured with modern medicine. She decided after deliberate consideration that her brother would only get well with daily care, common sense, prayers and possibly plants that she knew contained healing properties."

"So here she was, sitting by her brother's bedside faithfully, wiping sweat away from his heated skin with towels. She had surrounded Malik with hot water bottles and covered him with blankets in hopes of burning out the fever he had cumulated. At least he had no visible wounds on himself as he had yesterday. Isis shivered at the memory."

"She had walked out for a few minutes to get some dry towels, but rushed back when she heard a cry of pain. Flying to Malik's side she gasped when she saw bruises mysteriously appearing all over Malik's skin. Her brother was huddled in a ball, cowering and protecting his head with arms as if to prevent blows. Frantically Isis shrieked for Rishid and with his help they stripped Malik to his boxers and applied a healing ointment. Malik shrunk under their hands and flinched when the ointment touched him. After about half an hour, the barrage of bruises stopped, fading away leaving no mark on the skin. Malik's breathing returned to normal and he lay prone on the bed. Through all this he had been unconscious."

"Isis shook her head, ridding herself of the memories. Reliving past memories wouldn't help Isis with her mission, only what occurred in the present mattered. She needed to be strong for her brother, to be able to make him strong as well. Rishid walked into the room."

" "Isis..." he said softly. "The museum called." "

"Isis didn't move her body to acknowledge what Rishid had said."

" "Isis...they're threatening to take away your job if you don't go tomorrow," Rishid said."

" "I...don't...care," Isis said flatly. "Damn my museum colleagues! I have my brother to take care of!" she thought fiercely to herself."

" "Isis..." Rishid sighed and placed a calming hand on Isis' shoulder. His mistress had been prone to short tempers nowadays, stress and frustration fueling her anger. He couldn't blame her, her patience had been wearing thin, long before Malik's sickness. She was trying to do too much; providing the base of this 'family's' income, doing most of the chores, thinking on how to pay next month's rent and worrying every second about Malik's future."

"The doorbell rang. Isis moved up to answer, but Rishid firmly pushed her back into her chair. There she was again, trying to do everything."

" "Let me get it," he said and left. Isis sat down without argument."

"Peeping through the door's peephole he saw a person with jet-black hair, wearing sunglasses and dark clothes. As if knowing Rishid was looking at them, the person grinned widely."

"Curious, Rishid unlocked the door and opened it."

" "Yes?" he asked."

"A teenage girl before him swept off her large sunglasses revealing twinkling black eyes. Her chalk-white skin contrasted against her black leather jacket, leather pants and dark tank top. A silver ankh on a chain around her neck, twinkled from where it hung."

" "Hi, I'm Death," the girl said cheerfully. "I believe there's a sick patient awaiting my attention?" "

"As always...read and review!!! Musical theory exam coming up the following Saturday...GAH!!! *pound head against computer* WHY DID I SIGN UP FOR IT?!?! A thousand apologies non-existent readers for bad and short chapter. I also would like to add...CRITICISE in your review! I don't want flames, since they're stupid, or praises, because they don't help...I WANT THE TRUTH ABOUT MY WRITING. Encouragement would help too. ^_^ See ya!"