Knowledge is Deadly: Book 1: The Azuran Series

Chapter 13

     Katelyn stood in the dark hallway just outside her room, watching Jackson walk away. This wasn't how she had thought the night was going to go.
     With a sigh she quietly entered Aspen's room to check on his. When she looked into the room she saw that Aspen was asleep and Blake was passed out with his head and arms on the end of the bed.
     She walked around Blake carefully and over to Aspen. She laid her hand on his forehead. It was still warm, but not as bad as earlier. She sighed and wiped his forehead with the cool rag once before leaving the room silently.
     She went into her room, slipped into comfortable clothes, and fell asleep in her bed quickly.

•~•~•~•~•~•

     Katelyn slept wonderfully well for once and only woke up later that morning. She sat up with a groan and looked around sleepily. It was bright from sunlight pouring into the room and she heard birds that hadn't migrated yet chirping outside.
      She put on jeans and a gray sweater with gray boots and combed her hair, loving the peace she was feeling.
     She walked across the hall and knocked on Aspen's door but no one answered. Slowly she opened it and looked inside. Both of them were still asleep. Aspen had rolled onto his stomach in the night but Blake hadn't moved from the end of the bed.
     Katelyn smiled and walked over to the edge of the bed, sitting on it. She nudged Blake's arm gently. When he didn't react she nudged him slightly harder. He groaned but didn't move.
     "Wake up sleepyhead." She teased, flicking his ear.
     "What time is it?" He grumbled, his voice scratchy.
     "Maybe 9-ish." She guessed.
     "I'ma' stay here." He said not moving.
     "In other words, time to get up." She said, shaking his shoulder.
     "Leave me alone.." he complained his head wobbling back and forth as she shook him.
     Katelyn sighed and gave up. She moved to the other end of the bed and poked Aspen's shoulder. He tried to move away from her.
     Blake slid off the end of the bed and hit the ground with a soft thud.
     Katelyn laughed quietly. "You're going to miss breakfast." She tried.
     Blake responded with a groan.
     Katelyn nudged Aspen's side. "Hey. It's time to take your medicine."
     "I'm asleep." He said.
     "Obviously." She said.
     "Very asleep."
     She stood up and grabbed the bottle of medicine and a spoon off of the dresser. She kicked Blake's side gently with her foot on the way back to the bed. She sat on the edge again. Aspen rolled over and sat up.
     "How do you wake up so easily?" Blake grumbled.
     Katelyn checked how much medicine Aspen would need on the side of the bottle before pouring the pale liquid into the spoon.
     Blake forced himself up and collapsed on the bed beside Aspen. He looked down at him.
     "Really?" He asked.
     Blake glanced up at him and then grabbed a pillow.
     Katelyn rolled her eyes at them as she held out the spoon in front of Aspen. Aspen took the spoon and took the medicine, careful not to spill it. His face scrunched up and he handed her back the spoon.
     "How are you feeling?" She asked as she set both the spoon and the vial on the bedside table.
     "Beside that tasting like horse crap, I'm alright." He said.
     Katelyn smirked. "Still feverish?" She asked.
     "Very." He replied.
     She put her hand on his forehead and pursed her lips when it still felt too warm.
     "I'm still completely useless aren't I?" He asked.
     "You always have been." She smirked. "But seriously, no guarding for you until that temperature plummets."
     He scoffed. "You're the worst."
     She laughed and sneered at him.
     "That was a good one.." Blake admitted.
     "Shut up." Aspen snapped.
     Katelyn grinned. "Get up if you want breakfast."
     "Fine." Blake said and sat up.
     "It's a good start. I'm going down." Katelyn said and stood up, walking towards the door.
     "I'm coming." Blake said and walked behind her.
     Katelyn looked back at Aspen. "I'll bring bacon." She said before shutting the door.
     Blake stood beside her. "I could be sleeping." He complained.
     She began walking. "Sorry. Is that your favorite hobby?"
     "My only hobby." He teased. "But yes. My main hobby."
     Katelyn shook her head and laughed. "Now I know why Kilin got you and I got him." She said, pointing down the hallway over her shoulder.
     "And why's that?" He asked looking over at her.
     "Because if you slept on the job, Kilin could protect herself."
     "Probably would do a better job anyways." He admitted.
     "Yeah because she had train-" she cut herself off and blushed.
     "What?" He asked.
     "Nothing." She said, looking away.
     'Does she know about the whole stabby stabby thing? No probably not.' He thought looking away from her.
     "Really? 'Stabby stabby thing?'" She said, amused.
     He blushed. "Don't question my head ok?"
     She bit her lip to hide a smile. "I'm just a little concerned.." she joked.
     "I warned you." He said.
     "I still wasn't ready for that."
     "It's not use to talking to other people, ok?" He she looking over at her.
     She raised an eyebrow. "And I'm not used to hearing minds 'talk'." She said.
     "Think. Who cares." He said.
     Katelyn smiled and looked down the stairs. She limped down them, irritated that her ankle was still hurting.
     Blake looked at her ankle but kept his questions about her leg in his head.
     She felt grateful that he didn't ask and entered the dining hall with him. She got her breakfast, with a side of extra bacon of course. Blake sat down with eggs and grits across from her.
     Kilin either wasn't down yet or had already eaten and left. Jackson was nowhere to be seen.
     Katelyn ate her food quickly. "How late did you stay up last night?" She asked when she was finished.
     "It was late." He said. "Aspen kept mumbling in his sleep." he said.
     Katelyn bit her lip. "He's having a lot of nightmares."
     "I feel bad. I want to help but he doesn't want to talk about them." Blake complained.
     "I know. I wish he'd open up. It doesn't work to hold them in." Katelyn said out of experience.
     "Don't be surprised if he doesn't. He never has been open about much. Likes to stick to the present rather than the past I guess." He said leaning back in his chair.
     Katelyn nodded. "That's smart. I usually do the same thing. Unless I really trust someone."
     "But Aspen- Well I don't know. He just doesn't talk about personal stuff a lot." Blake said.
     "Not even to you?" She asked, leaning forward.
     "Not even to me."
     "Hm." Katelyn grunted, thinking. 'He must have a pretty bad past..' She thought.
     Her thoughts where interrupted by Blake's. 'is that a dog?' He looked past her. 'No, no it isn't. Why would you think it was a dog?'
     Katelyn turned around but didn't see anything. She looked back at Blake, a questioning look on her face. Blake met her eyes and his face went red again.
     She laughed. "You have some very interesting thoughts."
     He ran a hand nervously threw his hair. "Now you know how I feel." He said.
     She shrugged and leaned back in her chair, smiling. "I'll get used to them."
     'Wait, would a cat-dog mix be a Dat or a Cog?' He wondered.
     Katelyn pursed her lips and looked at him, attempting to hide her amusement and confusion. 
     'Probably a Dat.' He concluded.
     "You are strange." She said. "But just imagine someone breeds a dog and a cat, so you get to point at the result and be able to say, 'look at Dat!'" She added to make him feel better.
     His face flushed again. "Now you see how much I have to filter." He said with a nervous smile.
     She laughed and stood up. "Let's go take this to Aspen." She said, picking up the extra plate of bacon and her leftover eggs and grits.
     "Ok." He said and stood up.