Ash's Place

Chapter 6

Ash's POV

My cheeks flush pink but I force myself to meet Xander's gaze. His hazel eyes sparkle and his cheeks also flush as he maintains eye contact with me. He gently tugs my hand toward him until I am standing only inches from his body. His eyes flicker down to my lips causing the pink in his cheeks to deepen. He briefly looks away, but I reach up to gently touch his face. He sucks in his breath as I guide his eyes back to mine. I start to say something, but the clearing of a throat causes me to jump back from Xander.

I whip around to find Aiden casually leaning against the bookshelf behind me. He is staring me down with a smirk on his lips and a glint in his eyes. I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him. He shrugs his shoulders and shoves his hands into his pockets, gesturing with his head for me to follow him.

"Ashlee? What is wrong?" Xander hurriedly asks and I realize Aiden is annoyingly using his powers to keep himself hidden from Xander's view.

I open my mouth to tell him that I am fine, but no words will come out; Aiden is prohibiting my speech. Another one of his annoying powers. So, I use my connection to my brother to speak to him in his head.

'Aiden, please stop. Don't worry him like that.'

Aiden stops walking and glances back at me.

'He's fine. Let's go.'

I scowl, 'Well then let me at least tell Sir West where I am going.'

'No. Come with me.'

'Why?'

He rolls his eyes and lets out a very dramatic sigh, 'Because I said so.'

'That is not a good enough reason, Aiden.'

The smirk drops from his face and his voice loses its edge, 'Fine. Mom needs you. Quietly.'

I immediately understood what Aiden meant so I grabbed his arm and let his powers make me flicker out of visibility too. Xander starts panicking and calls for Finn. When Finn busts into the library, I teleport Aiden and myself out into the hallway. Aiden is stiff and silent beside me as we sneak down the hallway, up the stairs, and to the master bedroom. I hate my brother and he hates me but we both love our mother.

I still love her even if I never want to be like her. I still love her even when she doesn't love me back because she is still my mom and in some weird way, I will always love her. I don't think my mother has the capacity to really love anyone, not even my father. She is not bad; she is just broken.

We reach the room and I ready myself for the sight. Aiden opens the door and as soon as we are inside with the door shut behind us, I drop my hand from his arm and let myself become visible again. He quickly unflickers and when I look at him, his mouth is set in a firm line. His eyes are blank, and the only indicator of his emotions are his hands that are balled into fists at his side. Our mother is lying on her bed, bruised and bloodied. This is not the first time I have been called to treat her injuries. The King is nowhere to be found but I know he did this.

I am silent as I move to her. I can feel Aiden's eyes on me, and I know he wishes he could help too but he can't. His only physical power is flickering. All of his other powers are emotional. While I don't have the physical power of healing, I have the emotional power of pain relief. I can't immediately heal wounds, but I can relax the person enough that they feel less pain. I still don't know exactly how it works and since I can't heal her with my magic and the King does not let any of the healers touch his wife, I have taught myself some basic medical care.

"Get the supplies from the bathroom. She needs stitches on her forehead," I whisper.

Aiden sighs in quiet frustration but follows my directions and disappears into the en suite to gather the supplies that are stored under the sink. I turn my attention back to the Queen. She has bloody lip and a nasty gash on her forehead.