A Lightning Storm of Spark and Flame

Chapter 13

The kitchen of the Starling home is equally as inviting and cozy as the living room. Phoebe is ushered into a chair by Chase at once and Ella forbids her to lift so much as a finger when she offers to help with food preparations. "You've been through enough today," she explains simply when the young woman puts up a token protest. "you look beyond exhausted and I won't hear of it. Chase, honey, please inform your father it's breakfast time." With one more smile in Phoebe's direction, the shifter does as he's asked, exiting the room on silent feet as he heads deeper into the house. Propping her chin tiredly on her hand, Phoebe watches the other woman move about with flawless precision. She makes every step look as graceful as dancing and a permanent half-smile adorns her lips. Soon enough, a mug of steaming peppermint tea is being placed on the table in front of her. "Thank you." Ella pats the young girl's shoulder tenderly. "Certainly, Dear. Now, tell me, has Chase explained the cause of his condition to you?" When Phoebe just looks at her blankly, the other woman laughs. "His silence," she clarifies as she brings over a pan of scrambled eggs and sets it on the table. "All he said was that his vocal cords were damaged." The words come out as more of a question than a statement, but Ella hums in agreement anyway. "That is true. But there is a great deal more to the story than that I'm afraid. If you'd like, my husband River and I can explain our side of things while we eat. i'm sure you'd like to get your mind off your own burdens for a while." As she speaks, Ella takes a fresh loaf of bread off a cooling rack and bustles back over to add it to the breakfast spread. Phoebe fidgets nervously. To stall for time, she lifts the mug to her lips and takes a sip. The liquid inside is warm and tastes crisp, fresh, and completely unlike Grandmother's tea. She loves it. "I'd be willing to listen," she says tentatively at last. "But please don't feel like you have to tell me." Chase's mother merely responds with another tinkling laugh and arranges a plate of sausages, another of fruit, and a third of waffles neatly within easy reach of everyone who would be sitting down at the table to eat. The warm smells of the food finally prompt Phoebe's stomach to register it state of emptiness. "Nonsense!" Ella says calmly as she settles herself in the chair to the young girl's right. "We'd be happy to share. Besides, we already know the extent of your story, so it is only fair that you know ours in turn." Only a minute later, Chase reappears in the doorway. walking behind him is a tall man that bares a striking resemblance to his son. It seems as though the shifter had inherited all of his father's features aside from his eyes. Chase slips into the chair on Phoebe's other side and gives her a little wave of greeting. Meanwhile, Mr. Starling extends one hand as he nears the table, palm facing outward. When it encounters the wooden surface, he trails his fingertips along its edge as he walks around it to the last remaining seat. "Our guest is across from you, river." Ella says once the man is seated. it's then that the young woman notices the unfocused, glazed appearance of his striking green eyes, not as if he's deep in thought, but genuinely blind. Smiling warmly, he reaches out a hand to her this time, and Phoebe does the same to return the handshake. "It's very nice to meet you, sir." she murmurs. "I have known you since your infancy, Miss Winslow," he answers in a deep, rich voice. "But it is a pleasure to speak with you at last. Welcome to our home. You are free to call it yours for as long as you like." She gapes in shock, unsure what to say to that, but then Ella rescues her by beginning to dish out breakfast. As they indulge in the delicious meal, she and River take turns filling their guest in on their portion of the story. Before Chase's birth, both Mr. and Mrs. Starling had been guardians for whoever needed them. Then one day, Mr. Starling had gotten into a duel with a sorcerer intent on reaching the man he protected. The shifter had emerged victorious of course, but he did not escape unscathed. "After this battle, I was permanently blinded." he says grimly. "No magic has yet been able to reverse it. But that is little in the face of what my wife and son have suffered from being in my presence." Ella sighs sadly and puts a hand on her husband's arm. "You mustn't start blaming yourself again, darling." she admonishes gently. "None of us could have predicted the effects this curse would carry. Even if we had, I wouldn't have changed a thing. Anyway, I was pregnant with Chase at this time. When River returned home to me with no sight, I was frantic. He had used his own magic to guide him here, a miracle in itself. When I immediately took up caring for him, the malevolent power within him expanded and transferred to me. Even to this day, I have not been able to shift anymore. But I consider myself fortunate because I still have full access to the rest of my magic. But this is how Chase experienced the almost complete severing of his vocal cords in his human form. We took him to every hospital we could find, but there was little they could do to fight against the curse, which continuously destroyed what progress they made." Setting down his fork, Chase reaches out to his father and taps the table twice in front of him. Mr. Starling lifts both his hands, palms facing out tort his son, who places his own against them before beginning to sign. He glances once at Ella, who nods and begins to translate for Phoebe. "But I am fortunate because I can still breathe and swallow normally. None of us are responsible for what happened. It has taught us how to adapt and brought us closer together." Once Chase is done signing, Mr. Starling squeezes his hands gently. "You are correct about that." he says, and Ella beams as well. "Thank you for telling me," Phoebe says to the table at large. She can't deny it had been a very heavy, melancholic story, but she can also see what Chase had meant about it bringing them closer as a family as a result. Once they finish breakfast, Ella insist on showing their guest upstairs so that she can get some sleep. With her belly full, Phoebe is in no position to protest. In fact, she had nearly drifted off in her chair at one point once silence had descended, prompting the shifter at her side to gently tap her shoulder before she could drop the mug of tea she'd been holding. Before she leaves, the young woman approaches the patriarch of the Starling family. "Sir," she begins, but he shakes his head and smiles up at her. "Please, call Me River." Phoebe nods automatically before remembering herself. "Alright, River. I just wanted to say thank you again for sending Chase to protect me and for welcoming me here, especially on such short notice." His expression softens. "Of course, it is no trouble. You may stay for as long as you wish." With a conspiratorial grin, he leans forward and adds, "I was your original guardian. The moment my son was old enough, I began taking him out with me to watch over you so that I could teach him everything he now knows. When I felt confident in his abilities, I allowed him to take up the responsibility on his own." Phoebe can't help the laugh that breaks out of her. "Well, it's nice to know I was in good hands for all my life then." she says. Once Chase and Ella are finished washing the dishes, the Younger shifter approaches their guest and begins tracing his finger through the air to write in the now familiar shimmery purple mist again. 'I hope you sleep well. When you awaken, there are a few things I would like to discuss if that's alright with you'. Phoebe hums affirmatively before she gets up to hug him. Chase doesn't hesitate to return the embrace and gives her a smile when she pulls back. "I truly appreciate everything," she whispers for only him to hear, and he inclines his head warmly before Ella takes hold of her elbow to guide her upstairs. The guest bedroom is small, but exudes the same sense of all-encompassing peace and safety as the rest of the house. "Sleep for as long as you like." she says as the girl immediately collapses onto the bed. The mattress is luxurious, and Phoebe finds herself plummeting towards unconsciousness at a rapid pace. Before she leaves the room, Ella drapes a soft throw blanket over her and smooths the hair away from her face in a strikingly caring, motherly gesture. "You are safe here," she breathes Soothingly. "You may rest easy." Phoebe doesn't even hear the door close behind the departing woman before she's deeply and blissfully asleep.