Willow
The short man’s hands hovered around my waist, and I wondered whether that was where he actually needed to focus his healing power or if he was looking for an excuse to grope me. The urges I stirred in men had always been both a blessing and a curse, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Just as I was about to ask what creature he was, given his dainty stature and peculiar features, a knock resounded on the door, making him flinch. I just hoped it wasn’t my stalker. The idiot couldn’t stay away, which was understandable, but he was insufferable.
Another knock.
‘Do you expect me to open it for you?’ I shouted, and the elf-looking man startled.
What was his problem?
He momentarily stepped away, seemingly done with patching me up, his overgrown ears tucked back. He looked almost… afraid. Did he expect me to attack him in my state? And why would I? What a weird place.
The door opened, revealing an infuriating brown-haired girl, eyeing me with unmistakable judgement. Ava always had a knack for painting everyone in the worst light. Within moments, she would probably pin the massacre on me.
Leaning back in the chair, I channelled my currently limited inner power. ‘Unless you’re here to guide me toward a portal, piss off.’
A deep frown flickered across her oddly vibrant face before she schooled it into nonchalance.
Dear Gods, was our baby Ava finally growing up? The way she carried herself was different. I noticed it yesterday too.
She stepped over the threshold, allowing the healer to leave, and looked around the room. Her unimpressed gaze slid over the amenities and furniture like she looked for something. ‘No television. This must be your personal hell, no?’
Bitch.
‘Excuse me?’
‘You heard me,’ my younger sister bit back, and I wondered what sparked such an uptake in her confidence. ‘I need to know what happened at home.’
‘Tough shit,’ I smiled, flicking my hair back. ‘You need something, I need something. Information’s never free, don’t you know that?’
Taking the seat across from me, on a well-cushioned but obsolete rocking chair, she observed my form with a scowl. ‘There is no portal. They don’t need them in case you haven’t noticed.’
Fuck. ‘There must be one somewhere!’
‘There isn’t.’ Her eyes narrowed into slits. ‘Their powers allow them to spontaneously portal on their own.’
I racked my brain for ways to entice her to help me break out of this hellhole, but a miserable cockroach like her didn’t need much. Creatures like that were content living in mud and shit.
Little Ava crossed her legs, straightening her back, and I nearly gasped at her boldness. ‘Now, answer my questions.’
A grin worked its way to my face. Winding her up used to be my favourite pastime. How I missed the simpler times… ‘You get one. Choose wisely.’
‘Have you been drained?’ she asked solemnly, as if she weren't sure she wanted the answer. Why it interested her was beyond me. We weren’t close.
Nonetheless, a deal was a deal, though it stung to admit my defeat. ‘My powers are already recovering.’
Ava leaned in. ‘Have they vanished for a while?’
Something in her eyes said she wouldn’t stop until I answered, and I wasn’t in the mood for bad company.
‘Not entirely, but to answer the question—yes—they have been drained. What’s it to you?’ I seethed, baring my teeth.
Her lips pressed into a thin line, like there was something she was afraid to say.
I still affected her. Nice.
‘Worse than when you exhaust yourself?’ she asked quickly, her features composed into a mask of stoicism.
