- Ann, do you have a moment? -
The middle aged man asked with a polite smile.
- Sure... -
She answered. They went to his office shortly after.
- I believe you have noticed that you have grown a lot lately. And the uppermen have noticed aswell. -
He said, giving her an envelope addressed to her with the logo of the Savior Sword Association, the biggest hero association in the whole continent. She was already working for them, but that were huge news.
She went back home nervous and confused. One month ago, she would need at least the help of other 2 colleagues to deal with a bank robbery, and now she was literally preventing a dungeon breakdown all by herself. It wasn't just because she was coming faster to the missions, but she knew that somehow, she was getting stronger.
The first thing she noticed was that William was cooking something. She decided to put her negative emotions aside, put the envelope on the couch, a smile on her face, and asked with a cherfull tone:
- What are we having for dinner tonight? -
- Your early again... There is some food in the frigde.-
William sounded tired. Dustine opened the frigde and it was full of full course meals. She went to stop him from making more food by touching his shoulder, when she finally realized he was using her warmest overcoat.
- I think we wont have space for more. -
She gave a concerned smile. William looked like he haven't slept in days, his face was paler then and his hair was once again becoming lighter. She tried to check his temperature but he dodged and almost hit her hand with the spoon he was using.
- I... I'm okay, don't worry. Why are you dressed like this? -
William asked confused. The uniform Dustine was wearing was completaly sleeveless. She used his confusion to check his temperature.
- William, you're boiling! -
Dustine said, worried.
- ... Yes... I'm boiling eggs. Goes well with soup. They will be hard boiled in 3 minutes. -
William answered confused.
- I mean you have a massive fever. -
- No I'm not! You're just in you menopause or something like that! -
William answered, almost screaming.
- I AM ON MY MID THIRTIES! -
Dustine answered, screaming. But even with that, something feel off, until Dustine realized that her scream didn't made Blair cry. Dustine ran to her room and found Blair passed out inside the crib with 2 blankets. She desperatly took her out of it and ran to the bathroom to cool her down in the sink. William slowly tried to follow her, but fell uncontious on the hallway. It made a huge noise. She got Blair out of the sink, wrapped her in a towel and went to check the noise. William's face was on the floor.
A few hours later, William was half awake in Dustine's bed, with Blair on her crib and Dustine sitting next to him, using her wind based powers to refresh her tiny overheated body. She had changed his bandages, and put a cooling pack on his forehead. He started mumbling.
- Are you feeling any better now? -
Dustine asked softly.
- Your life barely started and I already ruined it... I though I was saving you... -
He whispered with tears coming out of his eyes. Dustine got confused, but assumed it was just high fever alucinations. She stopped using her powers, grabbed something besides her and turned fully to him.
- Can you hear me? -
She asked softly. He just noded in answer and she pulled out a termometer in his armpit.
- It's okay now. You didn't know, but everyone is safe now. -
Even if it was too dark to see, Dustine putted on a painfully fake smile while cleaning his tears and covering him up. She just stood there for a few moments before William feel asleep again and went out of the bedroom. She checked the termometer and felt relieved that his fever was reverting. It was part of their agreement that Dustine would never force neither him or Blair to the hospital. After another long and stressfull day, she showered, putted on the pajamas she was wearing that morning that she hung in the bathroom, had a homemade lasagna for dinner and went to the couch to finally read the letter.
The letter was congratulating her for calling the attention of the uppermen of the SSA and that they wanted to meet her. At the very bottom there was an address with hour, date and a passworld. She lied in the couch, put the letter on her stomach and wondered what could possibly happend next.
Far away from there, a teenage boy sneaked out of his room and slowly went to his older brother room. His sister grabbed him by the shirt while he was going there, clearly worried.
- Norman! You can't do that! Dad will be mad! -
She said, her voice shaking. He stopped, turned to her and took her hand off himself and went back to his way.
- You remember last time he got you, right? -
She asked. He stopped and turned to her, his eyes were full of regret and he was clearly holding back tears. She grabbed a towel and gave it to him.
- Just try not to wet the pillow this time. -
Norman went to his brother's old bedroom, everything was organized except for his bed. Norman grabbed one of the pillows from the floor, putted on the bed, putted the towel his sister gave him on top of it and lied down, curling himself up with his head turned to the window so he would wake up during the sunrise and sneak back to his room.
After closing the door, his sister went to her closet. Hidden behind all her makeup was a empty pinkish glass jar with the name Norma in it, bedazzled with emeralds. She starred at it, sat on the floor and opened the jar like he was hopping there was something there, but there was nothing besides the light smell of peppermint.