Magic and Other Ways to Incite Rebellion

Chapter 9

So, I'm at the DPS about to get my Learners Permit, then I have drivers ed immediately after, and then immediately after THAT I have karate then I'll be home, feed and shower and it'll be 9:30 and guess what? I have to film and create a magazine ad for a project and do Spanish homework and biology homework and draw and color 2 maps of Africa and English homework and the only thing I have done is my geometry homework. But whatever. Sorry, it's short.

Adam came back late that night. He had been called to a meeting with his parents discussing the condition of Daniella: Yes, she was fine, yes she was awake now, yes, she knew.

She knew now.

Adam wondered what had gone on between Daniella and everyone while he was gone. Was she scared? Was she lost? He should have been there, but he was kind of (conveniently) called away. Adam also wondered how his friends and Daniella got along. It had been hours since he left.

He wandered over to the living room and was puzzled to find Kurt on the floor and Sammy on the couch- but where was Daniella?

He heard a commotion in the kitchen. Discretely, he drew his 18 inch dagger from its concealed sheath on his belt buckle. He blew a stand of hair from his eyes.

Slowly, he crouched towards the kitchen, creeping and preparing himself for whatever he may find there, but what he ended up finding was Rosemary.

"Oh, god. It's just you Ro."

"What do you mean, 'just me?'" She arched her brow, although because her cheeks were puffed up with what seemed to be granola bar it was muffled. Adam laughed, causing her to redden as she swallowed. He reached out and ruffled her hair.

"Anyways, where's my sister?"

Rose gave a dismissive wave. "She's not sharing rooms with any of the boys, don't worry. She's in my bed, hence why I'm here." Adam looked bemused, not understanding what she meant. "She's a restless sleeper... Don't you remember?" She went to the pantry and retrieved a bar for Adam, but he refused.

Adam realized what this may have meant, although he needed to confirm. "No, she actually sleeps like the dead. But... define restless sleeper?"

"You know... sweats, talkes a little. Moves a lot. Hey, you look a little stressed-"

"She's 18." He grabbed a water bottle from under the sink.

Rose stopped breathing. At the exact same time, they began to swiftly walk to Rose's room. "Well, that would have been nice to know before."

"I didn't think about it before. It's been so long since the last one-"

They abruptly stopped in front of the door. They heard whines from the other side. Quickly, they entered the room.

Daniella lied there, bathed in sweat and curled into a ball. Her thick dark locks were matted and tangled, and dark circles marred her otherwise fair face.

"Daniella." Adam had reached the bed before Rose, and was tenderly trying to wake her up. He had to be careful. "Daniella, wake up."

Her skin was unbelievably hot, Adam was sure he could fry an egg on her. But at the same time, she was shivering violently. Suddenly with a gasp, she woke up.

Bleary eyed, she grasped her head. "Whoa, that's a killer headache." Finally, she noticed Adam and Rose. "You ding dong!" she accused, crossing her sweaty arms. "You left me there with all this new information! And you, too," she turned her head to Rosemary, "Rosie."

Although he was guilty and wanted to explain everything, and wanted to know how she got off with the boys, Adam had more pressing questions to ask. He opened the water bottle he brought and handed it to her, which she chugged graciously. "How long has this been going on?"

Daniella shook out her sweaty hair to cool herself. "How long has what been going on?"

"I was wondering why you were so sweaty when I healed you- I figured the portions were just taking a while to work. Daniella, how long have you been 18 for?"

"A few months, but-"

"You've been experiencing fevers, extreme sweat or shivering, and the occasional headache?"

"Yeah, how did you-"

Adam furrowed his brow, quickly calculating, but he had to confirm. "How long?"

Daniella hesitated, aware of how keenly her brother was paying attention and becoming anxious. "Um, a few days. Should I be-"

Rose, who had been otherwise quiet throughout the ordeal, said what Adam couldn't right then as the panic overwhelmed him. "You're getting your powers, Dani."