My Dear Brothers|✓|

Chapter 4: Male Elsas and Frying pans

Isabella POV

I could not sleep. I slept till 3:00 but after that I couldn't go back to the sweet land of slumber no matter how much I tossed and turned. It might have been because I had a nightmare about my parents but I was able to pull myself out of the dream before it became too much. I finally gave up on sleep around 3:30. I grabbed my sketchbook and pencils and walked out of my room, shutting the door quietly making sure not to make much noise. I walked down the stairs and winded up in the living room. I sat down on the sofa with my feet tucked under me and started sketching. I loved drawing but I preferred pencils to any other medium and my drawings were black and white. I was good at pencil and charcoal shading but horrible at painting. Maybe not horrible but at least not brilliant. The scenery that emerged from my pencil made me smile. I was in my element, the stillness of the air keeping my inner turmoil at peace. I think my brothers were waiting for me to crack or at least to cry but I will not do that. I cried for my family but I know they would want me to be happy. Also, I promised myself that I would never cry  for the same reason twice.

Suddenly, there was a small creak from behind me. I sat up and slowly got up, silently moving towards the sound my feet quiet as a cat's. It had been the reason my dad called me 'Cat'. Just thinking of my dad made me want to cry but I forced myself back into the present.

I heard another sound from the kitchen and I saw someone standing in front of the cabinet. There was a bottle of pills in his hand and he seemed to be crushing them and adding them to the water in the bottles. As far as I could see, it was not one of my brothers. The man in the kitchen did not seem to hear me. So I did the stupidest thing I have ever done. I crept up to him, grabbing a frying pan from the rack and silently crept forward. I was sure that this man was not one of my brothers. He had platinum blonde hair and was not as tall as my brothers who were all above 6'2". I stood behind him, took a deep breath and swung the pan hard. Hard enough to knock him out but not hard enough to kill or seriously injure him. He fell forward with a shout and clutched his head as he fell to the floor. Since I did not hit him hard enough to knock him out, I made the second biggest mistake of my life. I pulled my hand back and punched him hard. I heard two cracks as he fell back and lay there, still and silent.

I had punched him hard enough to break his nose which was gushing blood at an alarming rate and the fire-like pain in my hand told me that I had a broken bone or two myself. There was a thundering sound as all my brothers hurtled through the kitchen door, either shirtless or only in boxers to stop at the bizarre scene in front of them. Their sister, smiling sheepishly as she stood in front of a guy knocked out cold on the floor cradling her hand to her chest.

Victor was the first one to snap out of it. He was hiding something behind his back as he made his way over to the man on the floor but it was too late. I had already seen the cool metal glinting from my spot in the kitchen. I already had questions about the reasons he could have for having a gun but I behaved as though I had no idea about it. He leaned over the man and searched for a pulse on his neck. Having found it after a few moments of waiting he got up swiftly and made his way over to me. I stepped back a bit at his hard expression but as he saw me shrinking back his face softened.

"It's okay, bambina. Let me see your hand." He said softly. I gave him my injured hand which he probed gently while I looked over his shoulder to the others. Luca and Elijah where dragging the unconscious man away. Roman was heading over to us with a concerned look on his face as he carried a First-Aid kit. Alexander's face held an unreadable expression as looked at me and then he turned on his heel and walked away.

"Well you have a small fracture in your hand but it's not very bad. But I must say that was a powerful punch and I am proud of you for being able to handle yourself so easily. But what you did was also reckless but I'll let it go this time. Just please do not do it again." Victor said and his eyes showed his amusement as his lips quirked up in a small smile. At that I could not help myself. I started laughing. I was laughing so hard that there were tears in my eyes. I could feel both of my brothers looking at me as though I was deranged but I didn't care. I laughed at myself, the situation and most of all because it was what my mum taught me. She taught me to laugh when I got hurt. To see the funny side of the situation.