Chase wiped the sweat off Lyla’s brow. Her skin had turned a sickly green and her breath labored.
Madeleine Henderson walked into the room carrying a bowl full of a broth the shade of tomatoes. “Feed this to her, she’ll feel better in a matter of hours.”
Chase was losing his composure. They had been there roughly a week and Lyla was only getting worse. “That’s what you said about the last soup. I don’t think it’s doing any good.” He continued to wipe off her face.
“Dark spells and charms take a while to get rid of. You have to do it in stages, and Chase, it will get worse before it gets better.” Madeleine placed a hand on Chase, trying to reassure him. It did no good, Chase would worry no matter what.
He continued to wipe her face down, eyeing the soup as he did. He finally gave in and started spooning the soup into her mouth. Within minutes the sweat eased up and her greenish hue began to recede.
Madeleine stared at the two for a moment by the open door. Chase had been so attentive with Lyla since they arrived, worry etched on his face for the full week he had been here. She guessed he must be handsome when he smiled but she had yet to see one. Lyla, on the other hand, looking like a sickly sleeping beauty was stunning. She had long blonde hair that draped over milky-white skin, full pouty lower lip and high cheekbones that accentuated what must be narrow gray eyes. She looked forward to talking with them and getting to know their story. It was clear they were in love but what brought them here was a mystery to her and her husband was no help in that matter. According to him, she was to forget that they had strange black marks snaking up one of their arms like tattoos. For Chase it was the left, for Lyla the right, when they put their arms together they matched, Madeleine knew that. In all the years she had been at the Tennessee safe house she had never seen a couple quite like this.
She shut the door quietly behind her. The caretaker of the sanctuary was her husband, Tom; he was one of the Charmed. Madeleine remained hidden when others came by for help, since she wasn’t one of them, but Chase and Lyla needed much more help than what Tom could offer. They needed a maternal figure to dote on them and it was a relief to have younger kids to care for since she herself could never have kids with Tom. They were leading a criminal life according to the Charmed, but it was a moot point now since they were both in their sixties, whatever happened to them, would happen. Madeleine’s only problem was her husband’s unnatural interest in the marks on the two kids. She made a mental note to keep a stronger eye on her own husband. She walked to the library to have her evening tea with him.
*
Harley took navigator position again. They were worried about the GPS giving away their location so Harley had to be primitive and read the map. “Why don’t they teach this in school? How am I supposed to know what all these marked lines mean?” Harley was looking at the map upside-down.
Jaden watched her out of the corner of his eye, “You were valedictorian of our class and you can’t read a simple map?”
Harley threw the map down. “I can’t think when I’m upset.”
“Sure you can, you’re upset most of the time. Which exit do I take?”
Harley picked the map up again, “Exit two-seventy. There, happy now?"
“Yes, since it’s the next exit.” Harley and Jaden had bonded this last week. Ever since Kayla became sullen over Chase and Brendan and Harley weren’t talking, it fell on him and Harley to propel the group to their next destination.
