Normal can be the most beautiful thing there is...
No one knows that more than Aline and her brother.
Aline Blake never knew what was going to happen. Only thirteen years old, she had no clue about life's dark secrets. But that would soon change...
...
Liam met me and Alastor when I got back. Yet again, he stood leaning against the door frame. Izadora tried to gather us so that we could continue on, but without success. Now that everyone had gotten to know each other for a few hours, we had already started to group ourselves.
Tristan came up to me and Liam along with Katie, her parrot perched majestically on her shoulder.
"Hi," she said a little shyly.
I smiled at her. "Hello."
Liam looked at me. "I guess I'll have to go help Izzy sort this out. Can you manage?"
I nodded.
When he was a bit away Tristan and Katie stared at me. "Who was that?" they asked in chorus.
"Liam Stone," I answered. "He's my brother's friend. Or was, maybe I should say."
Tristan looked at me. "Who is your brother? I haven't seen you talking to anyone."
I was instantly depressed, I hadn't thought about Simon for hours - which made me happy, I didn't want to think about all the bad things all the time.
Tristan saw that and instantly started to get me not to think about it. "You don't have to answer," he said.
But I had already decided, I wanted to talk about it. "He couldn't come," I answered and hid my face behind my brown bangs. "He's not really himself right now."
Tristan and Katie looked at me tensenly, wanted to hear the continuation.
I sighed. "You've probably heard of him," I said. "The boy whose powers took over isn't someone you forget in the first place."
Now they gaped, basically.
"Simon Blake?!" Katie exclaimed. "Is that your brother?"
"Shhh." I tried to silent her a little. "Not so loud."
"Sorry." Katie looked embarrassed.
"It's nothing," I answered, "but try not to scream. I'm not so proud of it."
Tristan watched me. "We understand you, Aline," he said. "But you've gotta admit it's a little cool. He's known all over Canai."
"Not in a good way," I muttered.
Suddenly Izadora came up to us. "Hi," she said and sighed. "I couldn't help but hear you talk about..." She turned to me. "...how is he? Simon?"
I didn't want her to lose hope that he would one day become well again. "He... It's not so good..."
Her smile faded. "That was what I was afraid of," she said.
I nodded in agreement. It was just too much to think about.
Izadora seemed to think so as well, because when she talked again she had completely different thoughts. "Anyway," she said, "we must move on. I thank the Gods that Liam came along. I don't know how I could handle this otherwise..."
She went to Liam to help him shut us up so we could move on.
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