Out of the Lamp

Chapter 10: Indebted

Alia

When I begin to wake up, my mind is sluggish and slow. It takes so much effort to force my eyelids open. When I do, the bright morning light spears me and threatens to blind me.

'Unnnghh.' The groan that leaves my throat sounds like I'm mimicking one of the undead. I feel like I've been hit by a truck, twice.

A head shoots up into my peripheral vision, and soft hands squeeze mine. 'Alia?'

'D-dad?' I croak. 'What happened?'

He chuckles nervously, and his worried face coming into view. 'I was hoping you could tell me that.' He squeezes my hand again.

'When I came in last night, the house was blacked out, glass smashed everywhere, and you--you wouldn't wake up.' His voice breaks and I hear the heavy emotion in his voice.

I curl my fingers around his and give him a reassuring smile, while the cogs turn into overdrive mode in my head. 'I was trying out levitation.' I try to laugh but end up coughing. 'You could say it didn't go exactly to plan.'

The worry etched onto my dad's face falters for a second. Then his suspicion kicks in. He frowns and studies me. I close my eyes, not trusting them to betray me.

'You're sure that's all it was?'

'Mmhmm, I guess I overdid it and knocked out in bed, sorry to worry you.'

Dad gives me a weak smile. He sighs heavily and his eyebrows crease in thought. 'Alright.' He says, slowly. 'No more party tricks in the house, save it for the Bureau.'

At the mention of the organisation, I let out another undead groan. 'I have an appointment today.'

'Ali?' Dad says.

'Yeah.'

Dad sighs again. 'You don't look in any shape to move, Alia. You can't-'

'Not an option dad, I have to.'

He falls silent. A few moments of uncomfortable silence pass between us. With another heavy hearted sigh, he caves in.

'Fine. But you tell that useless mentor of yours, I'm to have a few words with him.'

I frown. 'Why?'

Dad gives me this parental look to silence me. I bite back a grin. 'Ok, ok, I'll tell him.'

'Are you ok getting up?'

I wave dad off with my hand and tell him to leave. Once dad leaves my room I bite down on my tongue to hold back the whimper. There's no way in hell I'm ok to move.

Taking in a few deep breaths, I brace myself to act. On the last raggedy exhale, i throw my blanket off. With a swing of my legs over the side of the bed, i push myself up.

'Woaaaah!' I throw my arms out to balance myself, almost teetering over with the rush to my head. Everything is spinning, including the contents of my stomach.

Damn Daemon! I curse him foully.

~*~

Today is a free day, so no uni. When most other people my age are spending it doing something relaxing or working, or hanging out with friends, I have an appointment at the Bureau.