My little humming bird

Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

I awoke this morning in a motel somewhere far off the highway. It was the usual roach motel you would find anywhere off the beaten track. The bathrooms were moldy and there were holes in the window curtains. The already thin blankets were unraveling and of course there were roaches everywhere.

The sunlight streaming in through holes in the curtains as it lit up the small shabby room. I looked over at the next bed to see a sleeping Lillian. I got out of the gross bed and into the rusty shower.

Letting the warm water run over my body it rinsed away my stress. Of course that didn't last long because there was a loud banging at the door.

I hopped out of the shower and threw my clothes on. I stepped out of the bathroom with my wet hair soaking the back of my shirt. Lils was sitting up in bed now. I nodded at her, having a silent conversation. She crawled out of bed and grimaced before crawling under it. The banging continued at the door. I grabbed my knife from my bag and held it tightly by my side. I looked through the peep hole in the door. Outside stood a girl no older than me. She had a scared look on her face. I tucked my knife away and opened the door wearily.

"Hello, can I help you?" I looked at the girl. She was a sickly yellow pale color and her forehead was beaded with sweat.

"Please. Help me." She was obviously sick and in dire need of help.

"Of course, come in." I said. I was having a battle in my head about letting her in or not. I couldn't simply leave her to possibly die. On the other hand it could be a trick. To late now I suppose. I had already let her in.

Lils had already come out of hiding when she had heard no commotion from outside.

"Make room on the bed." Lils straightened the thin ugly blankets and moved her stuff off of it. Helping the girl onto the bed and making her comfortable she said

"Thank you." I nodded unsure what to say.

"Get the healing kit." Lils brought it over with a wet wash cloth. She dabbed at her forehead as I did my work. "She has yellow fever."

"Yellow fever? Isn't that in more of the tropical and subtropical parts of South America and Africa?"

"Yes, I don't know what she's doing here with it but it's bad." My hands worked on there own as my mind started to try to figure things out. How is it that she has yellow fever and yet she's in Virginia. She couldn't have come looking for us, did she? My thoughts were interrupted put a coughing fit and groaning. I poured a pink liquid into a bowl. "Drink this, it will help the fever." She drained the bowl with a fowl expression on her face.

"It tastes like rotten fruit." She said. I shrugged and continued my work. It should've taken her at least 5 days to recover but healing was my specialty. I mixed powders and liquids. I crushed things and stirred them together. As time passed her skin returned to it's normal olive tan color and she relaxed. When I had done all I could I gave her a sleeping draft.

"I've done what I can now your body has to clean out the rest." She murmured another thank you as her eyes fluttered closed.

"What now?" Lils asked.

"We leave. Pack your stuff and be ready in ten minuets."

"What! We can't just leave her like that."

"We can and we will." I went into the bathroom gathering up the toiletries.

"No."

"What did you say?" I poked my head out the door. I gave her a cold hard look.

"I said no. I'm not leaving her. She needs help. She might be lost or have no home."

"She could also be a psycho crazy person or even worse a Follower. She's not a pet Lillian. She's probably as old as me and can take care of herself. Now let's go." I threw her bag at her. She caught it but didn't move. Instead she pulled up a creaky old chair and sat down promptly. I rolled my eyes and was about to say more but the girl groaned and began to wake. I stood shocked and confused. That sleeping draft should've lasted an hour why did it... then it dawned on me.

"Shit. Lils c'mon, we have to go."

"But-"

"She's a Genii. Only her kind can heal that fast. Now we have to go before she realizes who we are."

"No wait!" the voice came from the girl. She sounded panicked and worried. She sat up in bed and looked into my eyes pleading to be heard.

"What do you want?" I took out my knife so she could see I was in no mood for games.

"I've been looking for you-"

"No duh. So has all the others of you Kind."

"Let her finish." Lils said. I gave her a hard look as if to say 'who's side are you on?' But I kept my mouth shut.

"My name is Tuarwen. I was abandoned recently and I have information you need." She had an odd accent that I couldn't place.

"How old are you?" I looked at her skeptically.

"Seventeen in human years but if you want to be exact I'm 112."

"Wait, in human years?" I stood thinking for a moment. "Wait, your an Elf aren't you?" Tuarwen tucked her slick black hair behind a pointed ear.

"Yea." She looked at me sheepishly.

"I thought you said she was a Genii."

"Elves are cousins to them. Weren't you paying attention in history lessons?" Lils looked at the floor.

"Guess not. Any way, why were you abandoned? Elves never abandon each other."

"Till now. Arthion, our leader, was making plans with the Genii. I was against it so they threw me out. I now have a bounty on my head. I thought you could help me so I came in search of you."

"You said you had information for us, right?" Lils questioned.

"Oh I do. You see I worked in the court. I know of most plans.

"Hold on, even for a court lady you couldn't come that close to the plans."

"Arthion, he is my father."

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Sorry it's so late! I sprained my wrist at dance and rehearsals have been keeping me real busy. But any who hope you can forgive me for my lateness. Please comment what you think and don't forget to vote! sorry again for the late chapter. Bye!