No one would have thought that the late Phoebe Halliwell used to live
in the room which Drew and Xan now claimed as their own. Upon entering,
cardboard boxes from the moving-in a few days ago would be seen stacked
against the chest of drawers, a lot of their contents still unpacked. On
the right, used shirts, soiled jeans and other undesirables were draped
over an antique cream-colored lounger. Further down, a recess in the room
held the bay window from which most of the outside light streamed in. A
wooden desk sat in front of that window, giving the occupant a view of the
house next door. Where a grand queen-sized bed used to be there were now
two single beds, a couple of feet away from each other.
On one of them lay Drew, his thick auburn hair catching the afternoon light as he massaged his temples. Taking a deep breath, he reached for the hot water bottle on the bedside table beside him. He pressed it to his forehead, welcoming the warmth and temporary relief it brought to his headache.
It was then he remembered his mom. It was always either ginger or chamomile tea for a headache. Until she found out that chamomile didn't really help with the allergies, and so ginger it would always be. Along with a hot water bottle, peace and quiet.
"Hey."
Drew jumped, gritting his teeth as his nerves were rattled by the abrupt intrusion of his solitude. He sat up on the ruffled and maroon- sheeted bed, narrowing his eyes in the afternoon light as he looked at his brother in irritation.
"What in *God's name* do you want?"
As he rummaged through shelves of shirts, Xan cast a sidelong glance at his twin. It was rare to see Drew, dauntless, athletic girl-charmer, in his present state of illness and vulnerability. But, Xan reasoned, he was reckless in using his powers, something they knew all too little about. It was *his* fault after all. Drew could be a jerk sometimes; however, it was his life on the line, and his twin couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
"We're going to the hospital. See Aunt Paige."
"Now?!" Drew exclaimed, his voice teetering on the edge of hysterics.
"She'll help you get the demon mojo out your system. C'mon," assured Xan, throwing his brother a clean top. "Pru and Julia are probably waiting for us right now."
"Waitamin-" Drew took in a sharp breath as another migraine rocked his skull. His eyes burned as the world spun around him. He fell to his knees, clutching his head, willing the pain away.
"Hey. You okay?"
Drew looked up at his twin, whose outstretched hand offered help. For a moment their eyes met.
"Aah!" Xan let out a scream as the sudden pain shot through his nerves. Silence, as his eyes rolled to the back of his head, as he collapsed facedown on the bedroom rug.
Drew stared at the still form before him. His lips trembled and his breath came, short and heavy. He heard himself utter, barely a whisper:
"Xan?"
On one of them lay Drew, his thick auburn hair catching the afternoon light as he massaged his temples. Taking a deep breath, he reached for the hot water bottle on the bedside table beside him. He pressed it to his forehead, welcoming the warmth and temporary relief it brought to his headache.
It was then he remembered his mom. It was always either ginger or chamomile tea for a headache. Until she found out that chamomile didn't really help with the allergies, and so ginger it would always be. Along with a hot water bottle, peace and quiet.
"Hey."
Drew jumped, gritting his teeth as his nerves were rattled by the abrupt intrusion of his solitude. He sat up on the ruffled and maroon- sheeted bed, narrowing his eyes in the afternoon light as he looked at his brother in irritation.
"What in *God's name* do you want?"
As he rummaged through shelves of shirts, Xan cast a sidelong glance at his twin. It was rare to see Drew, dauntless, athletic girl-charmer, in his present state of illness and vulnerability. But, Xan reasoned, he was reckless in using his powers, something they knew all too little about. It was *his* fault after all. Drew could be a jerk sometimes; however, it was his life on the line, and his twin couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
"We're going to the hospital. See Aunt Paige."
"Now?!" Drew exclaimed, his voice teetering on the edge of hysterics.
"She'll help you get the demon mojo out your system. C'mon," assured Xan, throwing his brother a clean top. "Pru and Julia are probably waiting for us right now."
"Waitamin-" Drew took in a sharp breath as another migraine rocked his skull. His eyes burned as the world spun around him. He fell to his knees, clutching his head, willing the pain away.
"Hey. You okay?"
Drew looked up at his twin, whose outstretched hand offered help. For a moment their eyes met.
"Aah!" Xan let out a scream as the sudden pain shot through his nerves. Silence, as his eyes rolled to the back of his head, as he collapsed facedown on the bedroom rug.
Drew stared at the still form before him. His lips trembled and his breath came, short and heavy. He heard himself utter, barely a whisper:
"Xan?"
