The Girl of Shadows [COMPLETE]

Twelve

["Raise your words, not your voice.; for it is rain that grows flowers, not thunder." -Rumi]

The next few days were heavy. I had a massive weight taken from my shoulders, yet an enormous amount still lingered. I don't know if it was a doubt, or what, but I do know it was aggravating to get rid of.

I'd sit in my room, sobbing my eyes out, staring at the wall for hours from feeling that way. It did have one good thing, though. It distracted me from the chaos that was going on in the rest of the house.

Cedric still hadn't woken up yet. It worried all of us, imprinting deep concern for the future. Neither of us were sure if he'd live to see tomorrow, and even that was hard to think about.

It was ten in the morning, I was lying in my pajamas, tired and too lazy to get out of bed. I heard a faint knock on the door and reluctantly got up to answer it.

"Morning, sleepyhead." Thorne greeted, smiling brighter than Hugo. Niko was slouched next to him. I blinked several times before coming up with a decent response.

"Morning." I mumbled as I stretched my arms up and yawned. He chuckled and repositioned himself to stand with better posture.

"Get dressed."

"Why? I don't want to train, I'm tired."

"It's not training. It's a driving lesson." He explained, eying the dresser behind me. Couldn't say no to that. Driving is a skill that is useful for everyday purposes. Not knife throwing.

"Okay. Hold on." I cautioned, turning on the balls of my feet towards my closet. I threw on an old baggy t-shirt and some old shorts. I then joined my brothers in a very simplistic driver's ed lesson.

Our car was parked in the oval shaped driveway, practically calling for someone to start and drive it. If only we knew basic skills like driving. But this was the whole point, right?

I didn't really pay attention to Thorne. Niko was far more alert than I was and I always made my eyes center on one specific focal point in the distance. Thoughts flooded my head, blocking any random noise that could've been heard.

"Hannah." Thorne said. I didn't hear him under the numerous thoughts.

"Hannah." He repeated, Niko shaking me out of the abyss of my head.

"Sorry." I apologized. He nodded and stood out from the driver's seat of the car.

"Not interested?" He asked, hands placed upon his hips. No matter what I answered, he'd still be as bubbly as ever when teaching someone something. "Yeah. I'm not a car person." I replied, fidgeting with my fingers. He nodded again.

"Well that's okay. You can leave if you'd like."

"Thanks, anyway. Sorry I wasted your time."

"Nah, it's fine. At least someone was listening." He chuckled. I acknowledged him by slowly bobbing my head. I waved and began my journey back into the house.

"Hannah!" Elle exclaimed, pouncing on me. I screamed loud and took a few seconds to compose myself from her attack.

"Dude." I panted, hand on my heart to emphasize my fatigue. She quietly chortled. I scoffed and tried to make my escape, but I was followed by an apologetic Elle.

"Sorry. I'm just excited, can't you tell?" She whined, pleading like a puppy. I glanced back at her monotonously for a minute. I guess I had it in me to forgive her for scaring me half to death.

"Yeah, whatever." I mumbled, putting my hands in my pockets, where my talisman laid. I forget it was even there for a while, to be completely honest.