Lightning Strikes

20

Second-last chapter! Hope you liked the double update. Also, I can tell you that the last chapter will definitely be feeling a bit too fast-paced, sorry. We're all lucky that I didn't start doing that halfway through.

"How long have you been having these night terrors?" Kara asked as she wiped the sweat off Aru's forehead.

"Since Aiden died," Aru admitted. "So around two months now."

"Aiden died?" Kara asked, horrified. She tightened her grip on Aru as if she was afraid her younger sister was next.

"Yeah," Aru coughed. Kara cupped Aru's chin. She pressed the back of her hand to Aru's forehead. "You're burning up. Come on, let's get you water."

"S'okay," Aru groaned. Kara ignored her and lifted her up from the bed.

"And why are you so light?" Kara asked. "Have you even been eating?"

"I have, a little bit, at least."

Kara shook her head slowly. She led Aru to the kitchen and helped her sit down at the dining table. She pressed a wet towel to Aru's forehead. "Now tell me. What were you dreaming about?"

"I don't remember much of that day, Kara," Aru explained. "I just remembered something pretty important."

"Yeah?" Kara asked. "What?"

"I know who killed Aiden. I know who sent those asuras."

"And?"

"It doesn't help me one bit," Aru deflated. Kara found a thermometer and stuck it under her tongue. "You really are burning up. Don't talk right now, okay? Just breathe."

Aru started hyperventilating as she struggled to breathe. Kara forced her to drink water. She placed Aru's head in her lap once again and then started humming.

It was an old lullaby, one that Aru knew well. Kara had a sweet voice as well, and the words dripped like golden honey from a comb. She drifted off to sleep in her sister's arms.

The next morning, it was their mother who woke them up. "Why're you two out here?" she asked. Kara and Aru woke up with a start, Aru sat upright as Kara quickly ruffled her hair, trying to straighten it out.

"Aru had a fever," Kara said.

Her mother quickly checked to see if Aru's temperature was still high. "Thank the gods that you're alright."

"Thank Kara," Aru shot back. "Why'd you sleep out here?"

Kara smirked at her and winked.

Jaz walked out of the room she was sleeping in. "Oh, everyone's already up?"

"Yeah, no thanks to Mom," Aru cracked. Kara laughed, shaking her head.

"Aru had a bit of a fever," Kara explained to Jaz. Jaz quickly checked Aru. "Oh, you're fine now. If that happens again, I'll make you a potion."

"What potion?" Aru asked. "Do you even have ingredients?"

"Yeah, I do, and the potion is called 'ice-water'. I'm sure you can figure out how to make it."

"Aw, shut up!"

Kara grinned. "What day is it?"

"Sunday," Kritika supplied. "The others don't have school today."

"So they're coming over?"

"No," her mother shook her head. "Not unless you call them."

Aru nodded and called her sisters through their mind link. Kara winced. "It's been a while since that happened."