𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐎𝐒 | SPINOFF

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

MARCELLA
CRIST

It was well past midnight, and the house was wrapped in an eerie, almost unnatural silence when I finally noticed Avery trembling under the covers. Her face was flushed, her breathing shallow, and when I reached out, her skin felt like heat. She was burning up, her whole body wracked with shivers, and her teeth clattered as she tried to talk.

"Avery, let me call my dad to take you to the doctor," I whispered, brushing back a damp strand of hair from her forehead. She was shaking so badly, her teeth chattering with every breath. "You're freezing, and you're crying..."

Avery gave the faintest shake of her head, trying to force a reassuring smile even as her eyes filled with pain. "I-I don't wanna be a burden," she managed, her voice barely a whisper. "Please... don't."

Her words hit me, and my heart clenched. Typical Avery—always so worried about being a bother, even when she could barely hold herself up. "At least let me call Jaxon to help me find some meds?" I pleaded, desperate to do something, anything, to make her feel better.

After a long pause, she gave a weak nod. I bolted out of my room, practically running down the hallway until I reached Jaxon's room, but instead of him, Damon opened the door, his face already set in a scowl.

"What do you want?" he demanded, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Your brother went out with Liliana."

I swallowed, still reeling from the worry gnawing at me. "Avery has a really bad fever, and I need help," I whispered, barely able to keep my voice steady. Damon's expression softened, his eyes filling with a rare flash of concern. Without another word, he called out for Alessio.

Alessio emerged from behind Damon, his expression tense as he looked me over. "What's going on?" he asked, his voice calm but serious.

"Avery has one of those fevers again, like the ones she used to get before last summer," I explained in a rush, my words tumbling over each other. "You were always the one who could calm her down. She needs you."

Without hesitation, Alessio nodded, following me back to my room. Damon was already there, pulling Avery off the bed gently, trying to ease her shaking form. But as soon as her eyes landed on Alessio, her tremors intensified, a flicker of panic flashing across her face.

"Hey, hey, look at me," Alessio said softly, stepping closer as he slipped off her hoodie, leaving her in just a tank top. He turned to us, his voice steady and calm. "Guys, set up the shower. Make it cold."

Damon and I exchanged a quick glance before hurrying into the bathroom. I tried to adjust the shower settings, but Damon pushed my hand away. "Let me do it," he muttered.

I shot him an annoyed glare. "It's my shower."

Damon's eyes darkened, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as he adjusted the faucet. "Marcella, I swear to God," he muttered, leaning in close enough that I could feel his breath against my ear. "One day, I'm going to ruin you real bad, and you'll have no one to blame but yourself."