The Mirror Key

Chapter 7: Cotton Candy Hair

Chapter 7: Cotton Candy Hair

[[Xanthe Arcene has a disturbing vision wherein Azlin shape-shifts into people she knows. But the real Azlin becomes energetic due to some snacks called ‘Elemenstix’. And both girls seem to be becoming fast friends.]]

<<The description sounds dull, but I’m too tired to fix it. Sorry (not sorry). (:p)>>

***

Azlin woke up to someone poking her face.

Her eyesight was bleary, but she could make out a glimmer of strangely coloured hair in a tousled state. Despite her sleepiness, she recognized the owner of those locks immediately.

In response, the snow-haired girl groaned and rolled over, shoving her head face-first into her pillow. “Nolan. What are you doing here?”

“Well, hello to you too,” came the amused reply. “Is that any way to greet your brother this early in the morning?”

“Don’t lie to me. I know it’s night time,” She slowly lifted her head and stared into a pair of dark eyes identical to her own. “And was that any way to wake up your sister?”

Her sibling shrugged, smile glinting. “At least you woke up.” Then his tone grew a tad serious. “Now why are you in the infirmary this time?”

“The usual headaches. Nothing serious.” Her vision blurred, and then focused. “Now how did you know where to find me?”

He gave her a deadpanned look. “You‘re in the infirmary almost every other week.”

She couldn’t deny that. “Whatever. You’ve seen me. Now leave.”

However to Azlin’s disappointment, he shook his head.

“Why not?”

For some reason, a sheepish grin was painted on Nolan’s face. “I sort snuck up here without permission.”

Azlin’s eyes widened, and she quickly sat up, ignoring the jabs of pain. “You what?”

Her voice bounced off the walls, and her brother quickly covered her mouth with his hand. “Shh!” He cast a frantic look at the door. “Do you want me to get caught?”

Azlin rolled her eyes and took his hand off her mouth. “No, but do you want to be punished? You of all people know how strict the rules here are.” She hoped her voice didn’t come off as worrying. She didn’t want her brother to think-

“So you do care about me, huh?”

She glared, but said nothing else. She steadily lowered herself back into a sleeping position, and stared at the ceiling.

On the other hand, Nolan snickered and sat on the edge of her bed. “Anyway, did you know that you’ve missed three days of class?”

“Really?”

“Yeah- does this have to do with the fact you look half-dead? No offense.”

Azlin blinked in surprise. She snuck a glance at her hands and wrists, and saw the paper white complexion. Now that she thought about it…

“I guess it’s the side effect of the serum.”

“Serum? You’ve never been given a serum for your headaches before.”

Azlin winced as she remembered. “The serum… wasn’t for my headache.”

“Well, what was it for?”