Chapter 4

The next time I woke up I was in pain. My head felt like it was being stabbed repeatedly, and I could hardly stay stood up. I felt someone's hand on my arm, and could hear some people talking, except it was as if I was underwater. Nothing was clear, not even my vision, and it felt like I couldn't control my limbs. Instead of reaching to grab my head like I usually do when I'm in pain, it reached out as if it were trying to punch someone, or take the hand off my arm. 

My vision and hearing soon became clearer. The stabbing pain in my head lessened, and my limbs became my own to control. I almost fell over; if it wasn't for someone catching me i'd be on the floor. My legs seemed weaker, and ached slightly. I could hear Elaria pestering to see if I was alright, and I assumed either Zath or Alys were holding me upright to stop me falling over. Fatigue enveloped me, and I felt as tired as ever. I just wanted to sleep. 

"You feel alright?" I could tell the voice was Zath, and it loomed above me. 

"What happened?" I asked, looking up and trying to steady myself. I ended up almost falling over again. 

"Mind control," Alys croned from beside me. I looked to my side, and he was curled up in a blanket or two, looking a little better, his hand still on my arm. "There's still a bit there,"

"But still, are you alright?" Elaria asked, looking me over. "You scared us,"

"Why?"

"You attacked us," she replied. "If Alys hadn't have caught you, you would've attacked us even more,"

"Oh," I shrunk a bit, crossing my arms as best I could with Zath holding me upright. 

"But I'm glad you're alright," she smiled at me. "We can't have you under a spell now, can we?"

I smiled back at her, and she seemed happier. She sat down on the sofa next to Alys, pushing his legs away when he tried to sprawl out. I looked around the room, curious. The last thing I remember was being in that weird green stuff, and now I was in what seemed to be an old living room, fit with a fire, lots of coffee tables with flowers on them, and a few brown leather couches. There were also a fair few bookshelves that reached the large roof, filled to the brim with leather-bound books. Zath dragged a chair to me, one that was hidden behind the couch, and made me sit down. Elaria seemed slightly confused at why I was sat on a chair and not the couch. 

"Why is he sat there?" She asked. 

"So I can keep an eye on the mind control," Alys replied. "Alizon isn't done yet y'know? She takes a while. So it's much safer for me to monitor it and repel it rather than letting it take control,"

"Oh, I see," she nodded in understanding, turning away. "But surely you're tired? You've had Argenti on you, quite a lot actually, your energy has been used to power a mind control thing, and now you're using it to monitor Oliver, aren't you tired?"

"I am, there's no denying that," he shook his head. "But i've learnt to survive on low energy, so I'm fine,"

"You're resting for the next few days," Zath stated. "I don't care what you say, you are,"

"Fine," he shrugged. "I'll do nothing for the next few days,"

"Good," Zath crossed his arms and smiled triumphantly. 

Just as I was about to ask where we were, the door opened rather harshly. I looked over the couch to see a young woman, about my age, holding a cup in the air like a child and looking very proud. She had long ginger hair, tied in two pigtails, and wore a black dress down to her knees. She looked at the couch triumphantly. 

"I did it!" She said, lowering the cup carefully. As she looked down, I noticed she too had horns, except hers were white. Her eyes were also white with no pupils. They looked almost stormy, like clouds were stuck there. She walked over, holding the cup out to Alys. "Look! All done and perfect!"

"Great, now can you use it?" He complained. "I'm tired,"

"Alright, alright," she passed me the cup. "Just drink it. It doesn't taste good, I'll warn you now,"

"Right," I took the wooden cup from her hand, admiring how it looked. It was carved to look like it was covered in tree roots, but the inside was smooth. 

Taking heed of the girl's word, I downed it in one, making sure not to taste it. Unfortunately I did, and it did taste disgusting. It was vile. I almost threw up at the taste. I don't know what it tasted like, it was as if someone took the world's most disgusting ingredients and blended them to make a drink. I was glad it was only a half-filled cup. 

"Sorry," she took the cup back. "Potions taste disgusting, I know. We're trying to give them flavours, but it isn't working,"

"You're right it isn't working," Alys complained. "You made my skin pink because of it,"

"What?" Elaria covered her mouth, and I assumed she was laughing. 

"Oh come on, that was a year ago," the girl rolled her eyes. "We're better now,"

"You dyed my hair bright green with one," a young man entered, possibly a year younger than me. He sat next to Zath, pulling his legs up and wrapping his arms around his legs. He was dressed sloppily, with sweatpants, a black  top and a pink hoodie that matched his hair colour. 

"G'afternoon Alix," Alys mumbled, not even looking at him. 

"Nice to see you alive," Alix saluted at Alys. "You tired or something,"

"Yeah," Alys let out a long yawn, removing his hand from my arm. 

"Why don't you go stay in one of the spare rooms?" Alix suggested. "You can sleep in comfort there,"

"I'm too lazy," Alys complained, wrapping the blanket around him more. 

"If Silvano catches you he'll carry you up there, y'know that?" The girl added. 

"I'm counting on it," Alys shuffled his shoulders, letting out a deep breath. "Now someone go provoke him,"

"I'll tell him your little plan and he'll drag you there," Alix giggled. 

"Don't you dare," 

"I will,"

"No,"

"I will,"

"No you won't,"

"I will,"

"My Goddess, will the both of you stop it?" The girl interrupted them. 

"Geez Ali, no need to be so grumpy," Alix smiled at Ali. 

"Don't call me that," she scolded. "My name is Alizon, not Ali,"

"Yeah, yeah," Alix waved his hand in the air, brushing her comment off. 

"Anyway, how are you feeling?" She turned to face me. "Your head hurt?"

"A little," I replied. I could feel a slight aching, but that didn't compare to the stabbing from earlier on. 

"Do I… know you?" Alix questioned, looking at me in utter confusion. 

"I don't think so?" I replied. I was sure I hadn't seen him before, he didn't look like anyone I knew. 

"You know Oliver?" Elaria asked, confusion playing on her features. 

"Oliver?" He asked. 

"Who are you?" I asked, watching his face light up. 

"It's me, Ally," he stood up, smiling at me. "You remember me, right? Your old friend? Your old sister!"

"Ally?" I looked him over in confusion. My sister Ally disappeared on a boat trip to explore the unknown seas, there was no way she was alive. "You survived?"

He gave me a bright smile in return. "The rest got captured, and I was saved by Circe," he replied. 

"And," I gestured to him, feeling excitement in my veins. My sister was alive, or brother rather now. A warm fuzzy feeling erupted in my heart. I missed my sister so much, she was one of the kindest people I knew. "When did this happen,"

"I was too scared to say," he told me. "People usually don't like people changing genders,"

"I know how you feel," I nodded in understanding. "I'm just so glad you're alright, you worried me,"

"I'm so, so sorry," he replied, helping me to stand up and steady myself. He looked up at me. "Wow, you've grown,"

"Yeah, I grew after you left," I replied, remembering the times when he would gloat about how tall he was. I missed those times. 

"I don't like it," he mock sulked as per usual. 

"You always were small," I smiled at him, patting him on the head, mocking him as usual. "I'm just glad you're alive, you worried us all,"

"I know, I'm sorry," he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. 

"How about when I return you come with me?" I grabbed his wrists, holding them up like I usually did. I saw his face light up. 

"Really!" 

"Really," I nodded, feeling excited for the return of my brother already. We'd all missed him, and begged for him to return, and yet here he was. In front of me. As alive as anything, and smiling. 

"You two can return once we've delivered Elaria safely home and figured out this guardian thing," Alys waved his hand in the air. "I'm sure Elaria can use her ties to get you home anyway,"

"Yeah," Alix nodded. 

"Well, I look forward to it," I smiled, swaying a little and barely catching myself. 

"You two are related?" Alizon asked. 

"My sister's girlfriend's father adopted us," I replied. I saw Zath's ears twitch at the mention of her girlfriend. "Although it feels like we've been siblings for a while,"

"Well, it's nice of your father to do something so generous," Elaria smiled softly. 

"Yeah, it is," I nodded, my legs almost giving out on me. 

"C'mon, why don't you nap? It'll probably get rid of the headache," Alizon held her hand out after noticing. 

"I suppose so," I took it, and she steadied me so I didn't fall over. 

"You, up," she pointed at Alys. "You're coming too,"

"But my legs ache," he whined like a little child.

"I don't care, you can't sleep there all day," she went to grab the blanket. Alys moved back, protecting his yellow blanket. 

"You'll never take me alive!" He curled up even more, hiding himself completely. 

"My goddess, how difficult can an elf be?" She mumbled, fumbling with a pocket I had previously not seen at her waist. She pulled out a wand, which was bright purple, and held the handle. I didn't get a good look at it since she waved it in the air, mumbled something, and Alys began to levitate. He peeked his head out, smiling triumphantly. 

"Thanks," he winked at her. "You're the best,"

Alizon rolled her eyes, and I was surprised she didn't drop him. She looked like she was about to, fit with a glare and everything. She began walking, and I did too, except my walking was more of stumbling since my legs felt extremely tired. Zath ended up standing up and helping me to walk since I couldn't on my own. Alizon was too preoccupied with carrying Alys with her magic to help since he was still being difficult. 

By the time I reached the stairs I could hardly stand. I was relying mainly on Zath to try and drag me across the floor to get me to the room. It was almost impossible to walk, and Zath was noticing. 

"Do you want me to carry you?" He asked, noticing my weak legs. 

"Please," I replied, just wanting to sleep. 

Zath nodded, and slowly picked me up like a small child. I felt myself falling asleep on his shoulder, and I'm pretty sure I did. I don't really remember making it to a bedroom.