Above

24

Estelle
"Focus Estelle." Wrenton says, scratching the scruff on his chin.
I close my eyes and try to envision myself creating an earthquake, but nothing happened.
"Why are you so distracted?" Wrenton asks.
I sigh. "I'm worried."
"About?" He asks.
"Annaliesee just got out of the hospital and she's already planning a reception." I sigh. "She's overworking herself."
He chuckles. "You're cute when you're worried."
"You're an ass."
He kneels in front of me. "Okay fiesty one, how about we take a break?"
I nod. "Thanks."
"Oh, do you have a date to Ned and Melissa's reception yet?" Wrenton asks.
"No, I think I might go solo." I answer.
"Come with me, we'll have a good time." He winks.
I roll my eyes. "I'll think about it."
"Alright love, I'll see you in a bit."
I stand. "Yeah, whatever."
***
"I don't understand the question." I say.
"Beige or Champagne?! It's not that difficult!" Annaliesee says.
"Champagne." I say. "Why are we throwing them a classy reception?"
"Because they need to unwind, Melissa's just had a baby and they eloped." She says. "It's the least I can do."
"I thought they said nothing big?" I ask.
She laughs. "They asked me to plan it, do they really think I'm going to do 'nothing big?'" She uses air quotes to emphasize the words.
"I guess not." I say, tapping my fingers on the table. "Anyway, who are you going with?"
"I'm going alone." She says. "Who are you going with?"
"Wrenton asked me before I came here, but he kind of freaks me out." I say. "I dunno, I'll probably end up going with him."
"Isn't that your trainer?" She asks.
I nod.
"Why don't you go ask Luca or Leeciy?" She asks.
"Luca is going with Felicity, and Leeciy will probably go with Gabrie." I sigh, pushing my hair back.
"I mean -- what's the worst that can happen?" Annaliesee leans forward. "You ask him, he says no or you ask him and he says yes."
"Or I ask him and Gabrie beheads him, besides, I'm fine with going with Wrenton."
"Estelle, he gives me a bad feeling, I don't know if I want you going with him." Annaliesee says, gnawing on the end of her pencil.
I shrug. "What's the worst he can do?"
"I dunno, hurt you?" She says.
I sigh. "Can you tell me the meaning of the roses again?"
Annaliesee sighs. "Fine."
***
I walk home, hoping to get in a quick shower before supper.
Once. I open the door, I'm meeted with Leeciy sitting on the couch, fiddling with something.
"Um, hey." I say, slipping off my athletic shoes.
He jumps up, making sure not to make eye contact. "Hi."
"Are you okay? You look pale." I walk closer.
"U-uh no, I'm fine." He sputters out, backing up."
"Leeciy." I press.
He stays silent.
I step forward again. "Are you okay?"
"Estelle?" He looks up at me, finally. "Estelle, I feel strange." He starts falling forward.
I rush forward, thankfully catching him. "Hey, what's wrong?"
"My head hurts." He murmurs. "It hurts, it hurts, it hurts."
I drag him towards the couch, pulling him so he can sit-ish. "Do you need medical attention."
His arms flies up to his head. "Help me please."
"I don't know what to do." I say.
He breaths heavily. "September u-used to get horrendous migranes, what'd you do then?"
"He had medicine, but he would usually play music really softly through his earbuds." I say, grabbing his left hand and squeezing it.
He pulls it away, right before grunting in pain.
"Leeciy, I don't know." I say.
He whimpers. "Please, just make it stop."
I press my hands to the side of his head and start murmuring a prayer I learned from my mom when I was seven.
He grabs my arm, and starts reciting the prayer too, as if he'd been saying it his entire life.
After we're done, his nose starts dripping thick, black, blood.
He quickly presses the heel of his hand against his nose, hoping to keep from making a mess.
"I'll go grab a towel." I stand, starting to walk away.
His long fingers wrap around my wrist. "Don't leave, I can't be alone right now."
I nod, then sit next to him. "I'll stay forever if you need it."
He bites his lip, screwing his eyes shut in pain.
The front door creaks open. "Estelle?"
Cirus.
"Over here!" I shout.
Small footsteps walk to us. "Dad?"
I smile softly, taking note that Cirus calls Leeciy 'Dad.'
"What's wrong?" She asks.
I shrug. "He's in a lot of pain, I don't know what's wrong."
She thinks for a moment. "Help me take off his shirt."
"What?" I ask.
Cirus has already hooked her little hands on the hem of his shirt, lifting it up.
I help, successfully taking it off.
Black inky blood drips from the middle of The Mark.
"I suspected that this was it." Cirus says, seemingly unphased.
I wad up his sweater and press it to the wound. "What's happening?"
Leeciy hisses.
"He hasn't used his Oura konnes in a while." She says. "His Mark feels like its being taken advantage of, so it attacks him."
"Oh my god." I murmur.
She shrugs. "He's gotta learn something."
I search my brain for skills. "Latin! Learn Latin!"
Leeciy's eyes snap open, his eyes glowing blue and his pupils dilating. "Im procidens ad te."
"He'll be okay now." Cirus nods. "Oh, supper's ready in the mess hall." She gets up and scurries out of the house.
"Leeciy?" I ask. "Are you okay?"
He nods. "I'm fine, thank you."
"Are you sure?" I ask, setting a hand on his sweaty shoulder.
He grabs his shirt thay I had dropped on his lap. "I'm sure." He yanks the bloodstained sweater over his head.
"I'm glad you're okay." I say.
He nods. "Thanks for helping by the way." He stands.
"Where are you going?" I ask.
He grins back at me. "You heard Cirus, there's supper."