FORTITUDINE (COMPLETED)

30) Crown me Head Elder

"Alexandra. You need to eat. The crowning is tonight. You're going to be Head Elder Alexa. Isn't this what you wanted?" Asks Thomas as he holds a bowl of chicken soup in his hand.

I sigh and gently push the bowl away from my face. "I didn't know how much it would cost. Thomas, how do you not hate me? I killed Blayne-and Julia! Stephen hates me." My voice cracks and I rest my head in my hands.

Thomas set the bowl of soup on the bed stand and sits on the edge of my bed. "He doesn't hate you Alexa and you know that. He...loves you. And I do too. We could never hate you Alexandra. He's just...grieving. Give him time."

I sniffle and look him in the eyes. "But what about Blayne?" I whimper as he reaches out to hug me.

"What about him Alexa? I didn't know him. And whenever we were talking to each other all he would speak were curses to me and my father. In my eyes, he was just a man who got the better genes from the family." He spoke softly into my hair as he kissed the top of my head, squeezing my shoulder comfortingly.

I chuckle weakly. "Oh please, he isn't half as handsome as you." I mutter. Thomas laughs and pulls away from me to look me in the eyes, half serious and half joking.

"Handsomer than Stephen? There's still time to leave him for me." He smiles sadly and picks up the bowl of soup as he prepares to leave.

I giggle and shake my head. "Sorry Thomas. I love you like the brother...the brother I used to have."

Thomas gives me an understanding look and turns to leave but I reach out and grab his arm.

"Could you...maybe leave the soup?" I ask quietly as I watch the warm steam rise from the bowl.

"Of course. You know what?" He asks as he carefully hands me the bowl. I tilt my head to the side and raise an eyebrow.

"No, what?" I ask as Thomas starts walking to the door. "I have the perfect remedy for sadness. He'll at least keep you company when no one else can..."

I set the bowl of soup back onto the bed stand and watch as Thomas slips out of the room. "Who would be so kind to keep me company?" I mumble to myself as Thomas struggles to walk back into my room, his back facing me and his arms behind the partially closed door.

"Well-grunt-besides me of course-pant pant-stop struggling you seventy pound cat!" He directs the last comment to what was behind the door scraping his claws against the floor in protest from being woken from his beauty sleep.

I smile the most genuine smile I've done all day and squeal in delight as Thomas finally drags my cat, Riki, into the room by his front paws.

"Riki! I completely forgot he was here!" I cry out as Riki suddenly perks up when he hears my voice. He lets out a very loud...roar...and jumps onto the bed making the wooden frame groan in protest.

"My goodness have you grown! I don't think he's a normal cat do you Thomas?" I direct the last part to a panting, red-faced Thomas.

He shakes his head and opens his mouth the speak but takes a large gulp of air instead.

"No...I found out that...he is called a...black panther. Highly dangerous but seams to be like a normal cat around you so...your father allowed you to keep him as long as you keep him calm and nonthreatening." He says as he eyes the large, black cat.

"I will, I promise! He won't-uff-be a problem." I say as Riki decides to lay down in my lap.

Thomas nods his head. "Good. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a Head Elder Crowning to help plan." He winks at me as he closes the door behind him.