Axel Light Trilogy: Wands and Shield

Chapter 28-A

When Axel visited Elliot later that day, there were some visitors in his hospital room.

'Hi Axel,' said a girl who was standing next to Elliot's bed.

There was a lady on a chair next to the bed and a man standing at the foot of the bed. The man strode towards Axel and shook his hands.

'Axel? I am Elliot's uncle, Matthew, and this is his aunt, Janet,' said Matthew warmly.

'Hi Mr. Tenner, nice to meet you. I know Sue,' said Axel, nodding towards the girl.

Suzanna Tenner was Elliot's cousin, and she went to the same school as Axel and Elliot, just a year older. Axel knew that Jane and Janet were sisters.

'Billy had asked me to tell you that he had pre-ordered a Spark 4000,' said Suzanna to Elliot, they seemed to have resumed the conversion that they were having before Axel walked in.

'What?! They always do that! I just got the 3000, and now they are releasing a new one?! That's crazy! How are we supposed to keep up!' cried Elliot.

'You are not supposed to keep up,' tutted Suzanna, shaking her head and turning to look at Axel who had just stood next to her.

'How are you, Sue?' asked Axel, smiling at her.

It was nice to see someone familiar from school and Stirling.

'I'm fine! Are you better now?' asked Suzanna warmly. 'We missed you at school!'

Axel nodded back at her and smiled, 'I missed school too, and everyone there. You came to Xeliq to see Elliot?'

'Yes, we can only see him here...' said Suzanna but she stopped, looking unsurely at her father.

Axel sensed some discomfort among them, looking at each other interchangeably.

'They can't come to our house at Stirling as it is out of bounds to anyone,' said Elliot, untactfully, 'But I can have visitors here in the hospital.'

'I'm sorry,' said Axel quietly.

It was all because of him that everyone else had to suffer, to be inconvenienced, to sacrifice at great length – just to protect him.

'Why are you sorry?' said Suzanna, surprised, 'I will grab at the chance to visit Xeliq,' she beamed at him, 'Besides, we are cousins now, right?'

Suzanna gave Axel a soft punch on his shoulder. Axel grinned back at her.

Matthew cleared his throat. 'We should get going, Sue. Mom doesn't like to ride in the dark, right, Janet?'

Janet nodded and patted Elliot's hand, 'Get well soon, alright, Elliot? You can come to our house anytime when you are back at Stirling,' said Mrs. Tenner.

She patted Axel on his arm too, 'Axel, nice to have you in the family,' she smiled at Axel, and he returned her smile.

The Tenners left the room and closed the door behind them.

'Can you help me to place an order for a Spark 4000?' whispered Elliot urgently, 'and pretend that it is for yourself? You don't have a broom, so Mom and Dad will not be suspicious...'

'What?! NO!' cried Axel incredulously. 'You just got a Spark 3000! Do you think they will let me get a broom when I can't even take one step out of the house?'

'You are right,' said Elliot dejectedly. 'Now I wished that MaxPol had destroyed my Spark 3000 instead of sending it back to our home.'

Axel sighed and shook his head. Even with the prospect of not being able to walk would not stop Elliot from thinking about broomsticks.