Greetings from The Lady Mage.
Hello, and welcome to chapter three of 'A Little Different'. Thankyou so much for the lovely reviews! I'm glad this is interesting to you! And for those anxiously awaiting the next chap of Second Chances, I'll have it up in just a few days- it just needs a little tweaking! For those who haven't read Second Chances, READ IT!
Read, Enjoy, Review!
Michael laid his hand over the little girl's forehead. At 3:00PM, her fever was finally going down. Though she had yet to wake up, he was hopeful for her. She had moved in her sleep, which was a good sign. Perhaps she would recover. Selene was still asleep, her arms loosely wrapped around the blankets holding the child. She'd fallen asleep near the stove/heater, curled up on Michael's coat on the floor. Together, the two looked rather peaceful.
He'd been sitting awake since noon. The sounds of trucks driving in the distance had put him on edge, and he feared discovery even though he could tell this warehouse was long forgotten amongst the mortals working above ground. What would he do if someone found them? If they opened the door . . God, the light would land right on Selene!
Michael hopped up from his perch on the crate, hurrying to the door. There was no one near, but he'd rather not chance anything. He began to pile crates up in front of the stairs, blocking out the door and any sunlight that its opening would allow in. When he finished moving the crates, he turned around to sit back by the heater.
"What are you doing?" Selene asked quietly, scaring the hell out of Michael. She smirked when he jumped back from her like she was about to strike. "Michael?"
"Jesus, Selene." he grumbled, coming and sitting down behind her. "You scared the shit outta me."
"What were you doing? Why did you move all the boxes?"
"In case someone should happen by- if they opened the doors, the sun would shine in. It's 3:00- the sun is on this side of the building." he explained quietly, laying down behind her. He laid his arm over her side, his hand resting on the bundle of blankets in her arms.
Selene scowled, but didn't move his arm from her side. "No one has been back here in a long time." she stated. "No one will come. There was no need to move all the crates."
"Well, it makes me feel better." he returned. "So get over it."
"Paranoid."
"Better safe than sorry."
"You're still paranoid."
"Get over that too, then."
That evening, Selene awoke to keep watch so Michael could get some sleep. While her hybrid slumbered near the heater, she sat across from him, the toddler laid out in front of her. She held a book in her hands that she honestly was trying to read, but she just couldn't find the basics of proper potato farming too terribly interesting.
After a good half hour of reading the same sentence over and over, the vampiress finally shut the book with a soft, bored sigh. Nothing to do, nothing to think about. Well, take that back. There was plenty to think about, but she didn't want to put any more thought into Viktor or Marcus or the covens.
Ready to resign to a fate of at least two more hours of complete boredom, she began to turn to lay back down, but a tiny noise from the little girl in front of her halted her descent. The toddler wiggled in her blankets, a deep frown etched into her tiny features. Her lips pulled back into a little snarl as a soft moan passed through.
"Michael."
The hyrbid's eyes popped open, his head turning to see Selene as she pulled the little girl back up into her arms. He sat up, watching the little girl writhe against Selene's chest. "What happened?"
"She just started moving. Probably just a nightmare." Selene answered, pulling the blankets away, freeing the little girl's arms. Her hands immediatly went to cup her temples as she grimaced in pain, whimpering as she tried to bring herself even closer to Selene.
Michael came around the heater, gently pulling the little girl's hands away from her little head before she could pull her hair out. Holding her hands in one of his, he laid his other on her forehead. "Her fever is almost normal."
Selene reached up and smoothed the girl's hair back. She still clung to her sleep, struggling against Michael's hand, her feet kicking under the blankets. Michael released her hands, and they went back to the girl's temples. She continued to fight, her legs kicking out as she cupped her little head.
"Here." Michael pulled the child into his lap, pulling her from her blanket. He gently held her legs down, trying to rock her. Once she was pinned into stillness, the grimace on her face deepened.
On the floor, the heater began to quiver.
The child whimpered again, trying to bring her hands back to her head. Finally, she grunted, then fell limp.
"One hell of a nightmare." Michael murmered, helping Selene to rewrap the toddler. Once she was settled back with Selene, he retrieved the bottle of water and the pills. Another dose of medicine should bring her fever the rest of the way down.
That night, they moved again, taking the same stolen van and moving another town over. The little girl lay silent in the back seat, still unconscious, situated between a roll of blankets and their single duffle and sleepingbag since there were no seatbelts to secure her.
There next hole was an abandoned house- ready to fall in. There was no basement, but Michael managed to secure blankets over the windows of the room they were going to stay in. It was a little farm house- two story- that had to have been abandoned at least twenty years ago. They were occupying the master bedroom upstairs.
"It's getting early." Michael said, turning on the heater. He'd placed it on a pair of boards from downstairs to keep from catching fire to anything. The lantern was hanging from the chandeleir above. Michael turned to Selene.
"Are you going to keep watch first?" she asked, laying the toddler out on the sleeping bag on the old bed.
Michael nodded. "Yeah. I'll watch first. Have a good sleep."
The vampiress laid down behind the little girl, pulling her up close to try to share what little bodyheat she could, and closed her eyes.
While Selene and the child slept, Michael sat against the back of the door. There wasn't anything to do- nothing to read, nothing to tinker with, nothing to look at . . . besides Selene, but her face was hidden behind the little girl's blankets.
"We need to ransack a library or something." he murmered to himself, leaning his hand back against the door. "Or hide out in a movie theatre or something . . . "
A little moan and yawn caught his attention. He turned to see the bed next to him, and nearly jumped when his eyes met a tiny pair of mismatched ones. The little girl was awake!
"Hello." he said in a soft whisper. The little girl blinked at him with her mismatched eyes- one being deep blue, almost violet, and the other being a pretty grass green. She pulled on little hand up out of the blanket and scrunched her fingers at him- a shy hello. Behind her, Selene stirred, pulling the child protectively closer to her. "Does your head hurt anymore?" he asked her quietly.
The little girl just watched him, not making a move, not making a sound. He crawled a little closer, carefully putting his hand on the girl's forehead. Her fever was gone for now.
"Can you talk?" he asked.
No answer.
"Can you understand what I am saying?"
No answer.
"Konnen Sie mich verstehen? (Can you understand me?)"
Still no answer. Either the girl was deaf, mute, or just dumb. Perhaps her fever had gotten too high. Was this brain damage? He scowled lightly, trying to remember what he'd been taught in college about brain damage. He'd been an intern for two years, but had never come across it in his intership.
A tiny hand on his forhead startled him out of his thoughts. The little girl felt his forhead like he had her's, then ran her thumb down the bridge of his nose before pulling her hand back. With a little smile, her returned her gesture. He tapped her chin, then smiled when she reached out to tap his. The two played this game for another few moments, echoing eachother's movements.
It was encouraging. She could mimic, which was a very good sign, and meant she had the capability of short term memory, so no loss there.
"Konnen Sie sprechen? (Can you speak?)" he whispered.
No answer.
He paused for a second, trying to think what could be wrong. Finally, an idea came. He tapped her chin, then his own, then opened his mouth wide. Perhaps there was something wrong with her tongue? Something wrong with her throat he could see? She opened her mouth, but as far as he could tell, everything looked normal. He stuck his tongue out and she stuck out her's. He licked his lips and she licked her's.
"Well, you don't seem broken." he murmered, watching her yawn. He pulled her blanket a little tighter around her, then brushed her hair out of her face. "Schlafzeit. Gute Nacht, kleines Madchen. (Sleep time. Good night, little girl.)"
The little girl yawned again, then turned to cuddle up towards Selene, closing her little eyes. Only seconds passed before she was back asleep again.
Michael moved back to the door. It would be at least another five hours before Selene would wake up.
Well, what did you think? Was it good? Bad? Tell me in a review!
The Lady Mage
Hello, and welcome to chapter three of 'A Little Different'. Thankyou so much for the lovely reviews! I'm glad this is interesting to you! And for those anxiously awaiting the next chap of Second Chances, I'll have it up in just a few days- it just needs a little tweaking! For those who haven't read Second Chances, READ IT!
Read, Enjoy, Review!
Michael laid his hand over the little girl's forehead. At 3:00PM, her fever was finally going down. Though she had yet to wake up, he was hopeful for her. She had moved in her sleep, which was a good sign. Perhaps she would recover. Selene was still asleep, her arms loosely wrapped around the blankets holding the child. She'd fallen asleep near the stove/heater, curled up on Michael's coat on the floor. Together, the two looked rather peaceful.
He'd been sitting awake since noon. The sounds of trucks driving in the distance had put him on edge, and he feared discovery even though he could tell this warehouse was long forgotten amongst the mortals working above ground. What would he do if someone found them? If they opened the door . . God, the light would land right on Selene!
Michael hopped up from his perch on the crate, hurrying to the door. There was no one near, but he'd rather not chance anything. He began to pile crates up in front of the stairs, blocking out the door and any sunlight that its opening would allow in. When he finished moving the crates, he turned around to sit back by the heater.
"What are you doing?" Selene asked quietly, scaring the hell out of Michael. She smirked when he jumped back from her like she was about to strike. "Michael?"
"Jesus, Selene." he grumbled, coming and sitting down behind her. "You scared the shit outta me."
"What were you doing? Why did you move all the boxes?"
"In case someone should happen by- if they opened the doors, the sun would shine in. It's 3:00- the sun is on this side of the building." he explained quietly, laying down behind her. He laid his arm over her side, his hand resting on the bundle of blankets in her arms.
Selene scowled, but didn't move his arm from her side. "No one has been back here in a long time." she stated. "No one will come. There was no need to move all the crates."
"Well, it makes me feel better." he returned. "So get over it."
"Paranoid."
"Better safe than sorry."
"You're still paranoid."
"Get over that too, then."
That evening, Selene awoke to keep watch so Michael could get some sleep. While her hybrid slumbered near the heater, she sat across from him, the toddler laid out in front of her. She held a book in her hands that she honestly was trying to read, but she just couldn't find the basics of proper potato farming too terribly interesting.
After a good half hour of reading the same sentence over and over, the vampiress finally shut the book with a soft, bored sigh. Nothing to do, nothing to think about. Well, take that back. There was plenty to think about, but she didn't want to put any more thought into Viktor or Marcus or the covens.
Ready to resign to a fate of at least two more hours of complete boredom, she began to turn to lay back down, but a tiny noise from the little girl in front of her halted her descent. The toddler wiggled in her blankets, a deep frown etched into her tiny features. Her lips pulled back into a little snarl as a soft moan passed through.
"Michael."
The hyrbid's eyes popped open, his head turning to see Selene as she pulled the little girl back up into her arms. He sat up, watching the little girl writhe against Selene's chest. "What happened?"
"She just started moving. Probably just a nightmare." Selene answered, pulling the blankets away, freeing the little girl's arms. Her hands immediatly went to cup her temples as she grimaced in pain, whimpering as she tried to bring herself even closer to Selene.
Michael came around the heater, gently pulling the little girl's hands away from her little head before she could pull her hair out. Holding her hands in one of his, he laid his other on her forehead. "Her fever is almost normal."
Selene reached up and smoothed the girl's hair back. She still clung to her sleep, struggling against Michael's hand, her feet kicking under the blankets. Michael released her hands, and they went back to the girl's temples. She continued to fight, her legs kicking out as she cupped her little head.
"Here." Michael pulled the child into his lap, pulling her from her blanket. He gently held her legs down, trying to rock her. Once she was pinned into stillness, the grimace on her face deepened.
On the floor, the heater began to quiver.
The child whimpered again, trying to bring her hands back to her head. Finally, she grunted, then fell limp.
"One hell of a nightmare." Michael murmered, helping Selene to rewrap the toddler. Once she was settled back with Selene, he retrieved the bottle of water and the pills. Another dose of medicine should bring her fever the rest of the way down.
That night, they moved again, taking the same stolen van and moving another town over. The little girl lay silent in the back seat, still unconscious, situated between a roll of blankets and their single duffle and sleepingbag since there were no seatbelts to secure her.
There next hole was an abandoned house- ready to fall in. There was no basement, but Michael managed to secure blankets over the windows of the room they were going to stay in. It was a little farm house- two story- that had to have been abandoned at least twenty years ago. They were occupying the master bedroom upstairs.
"It's getting early." Michael said, turning on the heater. He'd placed it on a pair of boards from downstairs to keep from catching fire to anything. The lantern was hanging from the chandeleir above. Michael turned to Selene.
"Are you going to keep watch first?" she asked, laying the toddler out on the sleeping bag on the old bed.
Michael nodded. "Yeah. I'll watch first. Have a good sleep."
The vampiress laid down behind the little girl, pulling her up close to try to share what little bodyheat she could, and closed her eyes.
While Selene and the child slept, Michael sat against the back of the door. There wasn't anything to do- nothing to read, nothing to tinker with, nothing to look at . . . besides Selene, but her face was hidden behind the little girl's blankets.
"We need to ransack a library or something." he murmered to himself, leaning his hand back against the door. "Or hide out in a movie theatre or something . . . "
A little moan and yawn caught his attention. He turned to see the bed next to him, and nearly jumped when his eyes met a tiny pair of mismatched ones. The little girl was awake!
"Hello." he said in a soft whisper. The little girl blinked at him with her mismatched eyes- one being deep blue, almost violet, and the other being a pretty grass green. She pulled on little hand up out of the blanket and scrunched her fingers at him- a shy hello. Behind her, Selene stirred, pulling the child protectively closer to her. "Does your head hurt anymore?" he asked her quietly.
The little girl just watched him, not making a move, not making a sound. He crawled a little closer, carefully putting his hand on the girl's forehead. Her fever was gone for now.
"Can you talk?" he asked.
No answer.
"Can you understand what I am saying?"
No answer.
"Konnen Sie mich verstehen? (Can you understand me?)"
Still no answer. Either the girl was deaf, mute, or just dumb. Perhaps her fever had gotten too high. Was this brain damage? He scowled lightly, trying to remember what he'd been taught in college about brain damage. He'd been an intern for two years, but had never come across it in his intership.
A tiny hand on his forhead startled him out of his thoughts. The little girl felt his forhead like he had her's, then ran her thumb down the bridge of his nose before pulling her hand back. With a little smile, her returned her gesture. He tapped her chin, then smiled when she reached out to tap his. The two played this game for another few moments, echoing eachother's movements.
It was encouraging. She could mimic, which was a very good sign, and meant she had the capability of short term memory, so no loss there.
"Konnen Sie sprechen? (Can you speak?)" he whispered.
No answer.
He paused for a second, trying to think what could be wrong. Finally, an idea came. He tapped her chin, then his own, then opened his mouth wide. Perhaps there was something wrong with her tongue? Something wrong with her throat he could see? She opened her mouth, but as far as he could tell, everything looked normal. He stuck his tongue out and she stuck out her's. He licked his lips and she licked her's.
"Well, you don't seem broken." he murmered, watching her yawn. He pulled her blanket a little tighter around her, then brushed her hair out of her face. "Schlafzeit. Gute Nacht, kleines Madchen. (Sleep time. Good night, little girl.)"
The little girl yawned again, then turned to cuddle up towards Selene, closing her little eyes. Only seconds passed before she was back asleep again.
Michael moved back to the door. It would be at least another five hours before Selene would wake up.
Well, what did you think? Was it good? Bad? Tell me in a review!
The Lady Mage