Blood in the Fire

Chapter One: Mark's Cooking

Earth - June 1981

Elizabeth

The hospital had refused to discharge me, but one night in that thin bed had been plenty. I hate hospitals more than I hate wizards. It wasn't hard to convince Mark to fetch me a snack from the vending machine. I snuck out while he was gone. Luke, my other brother, would give me hell for it, but anything was better than spending another minute in that sterile white room that reeked of disinfectant.

I tried to lie to myself about why I left. I told myself I couldn't stand to be in a building where people were dying. I told myself it was the smell and that I was freaked out by the sad, old folks who suffered from dementia. Deep down, I knew I hated that place because being hospitalized made me feel weak. There was nothing more uncomfortable than to lie under white sheets and be coddled by nurses, fretted over by my brothers and subjected to sympathy visits from my friends. I'd rather rumble with a gang of street thugs, weapons and all, than listen to one more concerned person ask me how I was feeling.

The bus rattled most of the way home. As the city scenery rolled by my window, I tried to think of something to say to Mark and Luke that would justify my escape. I had nothing. A passenger rang the bell and the bus screeched to a halt. Only then did I realize that this was my stop. An older woman bumped into me on her way up the bus steps and didn't even turn to apologize. And they say kids these days have no manners, I thought absent-mindedly. I jumped off the last step onto the curb and looked up at the gray sky. It seemed appropriate that a drizzle would start just as I was getting off. The clouds were getting darker and soon the drizzle would turn into a full-on storm. I wasn't in a rush. I let the rain soak through my long black hair and bloodstained tank top as I meandered along. Luke had promised he would bring me a change of clothes the next time he visited the hospital.

 Mark and Luke had parked their cars out front so I knew they were waiting for me when I walked up to the small house we shared. The living room light shone through the window by the door. I debated not going in. They'll worry more if I don't get home. I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders and headed in to take my punishment.

Once inside, I closed the door behind me and waited. Mark was sitting on the couch and Luke was in the kitchen holding a wet dish in his left hand. For a moment, they both stared at me. Mark wore a stony expression, but Luke was livid. I swallowed and wondered if it were too late to run. I don't think my legs would have moved if I'd tried.

Then Luke exploded. "What the hell were you thinking?" he roared as he closed the gap between us in four long strides.

I didn't have a good answer so I kept my mouth shut and stared back. Luke waited for a reply. When none came, he continued to holler. "Or do you think?" He was standing above me, still gripping the white plate in the air. Strands of soft brown hair, normally neatly combed back, hung down over his forehead. "Nothing crosses your mind. It's as though there's no danger or anyone else in the world. Blades, fire, car accidents, does nothing stop you?" I looked away from his blazing eyes and focused on the plate vibrating in his unsteady hand. "Does anybody matter to you?"

Luke saw me concentrating on the plate and spun to throw it at the couch. To my surprise, it didn't break when it bounced off the cushion next to Mark and clattered to the floor. I still had nothing to say. I considered asking him what the plate had done wrong, but I didn't think my humor would go over too well. "Wake up, Elizabeth," he roared. He thrust a muscular finger in my face. "God help me, I will find a way to make you behave like an adult even if I have to punish you so hard that you have no time left to do anything but chores."

Thunder erupted outside, causing me to shiver in my wet clothes. Maybe I'm better off out in the storm? I looked to Mark for comfort, but his expression was cold. In fact, without his mischievous smile, he looked like a tanned and more athletic version of Luke.