16 Chapter 16

It's been a week since that night and Clara's sleep has been plagued with nightmares ever since. She began to lose her appetite and by the end was skipping lunch entirely. She did her best to hide the fact she wasn't eating but they all noticed.

"Clara what's going on?" Philip had cornered her after lunch. "You aren't eating lunch and barely anything at home."

"I'm just not as hungry Philip. Don't worry about it okay?" Clara gave her best fake smile but he saw right through it.

"We are gonna go see Elijah. Your cells must be exhausted and need to be healed before anymore damage can happen," Philip grabbed her arm but Clara quickly pulled out of the grip and stared at him.

"Don't grab me." Her voice was laced with anger that he'd never heard. It was almost venomous from so much anger from him grabbing her wrist. "I am fine and you are overstepping with me."

"I am being a brother Clara! It's my job to care and you have lost weight, more than what you should be," his voice was calming though but Clara was still full of anger. "I've had to watch from afar as you suffer but I don't anymore so let's go see Elijah."

"So what if I've lost weight? I don't really care and you may be my brother but right now you are overstepping. I need time to adjust having a family that actually notices things and doesn't worry so much about all the eyes being on me," she threw her hands up in a fit to try and control her anger.

"That means something is wrong Clara. Did Scarlet do something again?" Philip took a step closer to try and grab her wrist again but she stepped back and put her hand forward to keep the space.

"No it doesn't have anything to do with her and if you step and closer I'll put up a small wall. I'm going to study hall," she turned away and saw Emmett.

"Fine but I'm mentioning this to our parents okay? And next time I'll make Galor pick you up and take you," Philip went to walk away but before Clara yelled.

"He isn't your guard he's mine. Don't threaten me with my own guard. He doesn't have to listen to you," before she turned off. "You enjoy the show?" Clara directed her attention to Emmett.

"You must realize that you haven't been good at hiding your emotions. I got worried when you weren't in study hall," Emmett stayed a step back having seen her outburst.

"Yeah well I don't exactly want to talk about it anyways. He pushed to hard," was all Clara said before going to study hall.

The professor didn't say anything as they both walked in with Galor in their trail. He didn't even really look up from whatever he was reading. Clara sat in the back corner and Emmett next to her. Galor stood in the actual corner so he could see the whole room.

Emmett kept looking over at her to make sure she was okay. It shouldn't have bugged her but it did. Maybe he noticed that because at some point he stopped. She understood everyone was worried but she didn't them to be all over her.

She got home and went straight to her room, didn't even bother to say hi to anyone. She didn't think anyone would understand what she was going through, the slump of her life right now. This world was so perfect for everyone else. Cheerful and wonderful but it didn't matter.

Maybe ten minutes later someone knocked and spoke, "Clara, it's Maddox. Mind if I come in so we can talk?" Clara had hardly had time to get to know her true parents but that didn't matter to her right now either. "Please," he added in a plea.

"Fine come in," the door opened slowly as if he was giving her time to make sure that she wanted to talk. After about a minute in walked Maddox. He was in his usual formal work clothes including the cape.

"Philip talked to me about what's going on with you. We don't have to talk about anything right away but you can always come to Katryn or me. Always okay?" Maddox never looked from Clara as he talked to make her believe it more. It kinda worked.

"I am not used to relying on people. My parents," she saw a cringe so she added, " in the other world only cared about me getting too much attention. A thirteen year old as a senior is crazy so it got all the coverage. They were always so mad when a newspaper came out with me on it. I just had to listen to their thoughts to know what was happening and I trusted no ones word so I'm still learning to adjust."

"I know Clara and while I might not understand I'm here for you. I'm sorry though, that we put you through all that heartache and troublesome life," even though Maddox smiled, his eyes showed sadness and even pain.

"You have nothing to be sorry for though Maddox. It was for my safety and yours as well," Clara even smiled but that didn't seem to change his mood either.

"Is it from your past? Is that what you are so upset about?"

"I was bullied a lot, physically and mentally and I keep replying one of the times. It's been haunting my dreams and I thought I long since forgot about it."

"T-they physically hurt you?" Maddox had whispered the question and Clara almost didn't hear it.

"Unfortunately yes but it wasn't your fault. You had no idea what those humans are like when someone is seen as better or different. They will beat you down to make themselves feel better."

"I knew a little. I knew they might call you names and be mean but that's what it's like here sometimes. I didn't know they physically caused harm as well."

"Their minds don't shatter like ours do. It's full of crime there. There isn't safe for typically children like here is," Clara had gotten up and moved next to Maddox.

"That's just horrible," his face had paled as he thought of the place she grew up.

"Yes it really is. Kidnappings are typically or at least happen often enough to seem that way," Clara slowly got up from her bed and spun in her room. "I mean this room is the same size or maybe even bigger than my home and many others there."

"I do know that. I wish I had seen your reaction. We've wanted you to be here for so long. It was so hard to stay away but if we saw you in person, we'd have taken you away right then and there," Maddox finally smiled and looked around the room. "You know, you've been here almost four months maybe even five months now and your bedroom doesn't have anything that says you."

"Huh?" Clara was kinda confused with that statement.

"Katryn and you should go shopping and get decorations. Maybe that'll help cheer you up from whatever past memory is haunting you," he got up and headed to the door. "I'll go get her while you get ready."

"Uh okay Maddox," Clara was still confused but he left and she got ready to head out. She changed out of her uniform into a pale green dress and got her cape on.

When she got to the living room she found Emmett and Avery there with Katryn. "Hey Clara," they both spoke together which left Clara with a bad feeling.

"Um hi?" Clara looked at Emmett who just shrugged. "What's up?"

"Emmett told me you are sad and well here we are to cheer you up!" Avery looked so proud of that fact and Clara just rolled her eyes.

"I'm heading out with Katryn. We are going shopping for decorations for my room so I will see you tomorrow," Clara's tone was of annoyance but Avery didn't pick up on that what so ever.

"Oh that'll be fun! Why don't we come with to help?" Avery looked at Emmett for back up but Emmett felt the glare and anger coming off Clara.

"Well Clara wants to spend time with her mom Avery. Let's not intrude in them," Emmett started pushing Avery out. "See you tomorrow Clara."

"Yeah definitely!" she waved to them as they left before sighing. "Those two are crazy. Well at least Avery."

"I understand it though," Katryn chuckled as she started to walk outside. "They are worried about you and honestly it is very sweet and adorable."

"Embarrassing is more like it. It's not like I'm going to break if they aren't around," Clara followed Katryn.

"Clara, you have broken a little. Every since that night you ran off for two hours."

"I haven't really. Anyways let's go," Clara grabbed both Katryn and Galor's hand. Sachell was going to come but it would draw too much unwanted attention.

The shopping area was called the Luna District. It was massive and so colorful. It was bright too even if it was late afternoon. Clara thought it might be bigger then New York City. "Pretty amazing huh?" Katryn whispered.

"Yeah it really is. Everything is so bright and colorful. It's almost like a dream," Clara went a little ahead before hearing a sigh from Galor. "Let me enjoy the Luna District!"

"Yes I know but there's a lot of risks here so don't wonder too far," he grumbled as he kept up with Clara.

She went into a store that had a lot of decorations. Clara grabbed some strings of lights that actually sparkled. "Those are fairy lights. They have powder they make that makes everything sparkle and these ones even have sparkles falling from them," Katryn explained as Clara held up even higher. She could see the sparkles falling.

"Oh wow! These would look so cool," Clara grabbed a few of the rainbow ones and some regular white ones. "Do you know if there are vines with flowers that could go on these? I think that would make it better."

"I am sure the gnomes would be happy to figure one out for you," Katryn had a very genuine smile.

Clara paid for the lights with her birth money and then headed over to the bookstore that was right next door. She wanted to see what interesting books they had and there was a lot of books there. Clara bought about ten books even though her study is already full of them which made Katryn chuckle. "Sure you don't have those?"

"I looked at all the covers and I have a photographic memory. So I'm pretty sure Katryn."

They went to a few more stores and got a large mirror, a pretty big round table, a bed end seat and some art to hang on the walls. Everything too big to carry was sent back to the house. The shopping trip was two hours but Clara wouldn't have spend them any other way.

Clara enjoyed her time with Katryn and even with Galor grumbling behind them too. "That was so much fun," Clara had a little bit of a squeal. It was probably the most girl thing Clara has ever done. "It was just so amazing there."

"I am glad you had fun," Katryn smile had never left her face. "I enjoyed it too. I hope we can have more time like this."

"Me too Katryn," Clara smiled and began walking to her room with Galor right behind her. "Sooo could you maybe get the fairy lights up for me?"

"Yeah I guess," Galor sighed and he opened the door to Clara's room. Inside Sachell had put together the table and even set the mirror up in a great place.

"Oh Sachell! You didn't have to do this for me," Clara smiled as she looked at Sachell.

"I was bored. Next time I get to come with for shopping and not left behind. It's not fair Galor gets to go everywhere. How about I go to school with you tomorrow?" Sachell got up as she just finished the last of the table. She put it together rather fast.

"Yeah I don't see why not," Clara shrugged and wondered over to her bed.

"Alright! What's next?" Sachell was smiling at the thought of moving around.

"Galor is gonna put the fairy lights up. You can help me find a place for the artwork if you want," Clara handed the lights to Galor and grabbed one of the three artworks. It was a tree that represented all four of the seasons. It was amazing. "This is my favorite."

"Well let's put it in front of your bed," Sachell took the painting and hung it up over by the door. It was right where Clara could see it from her bed.

That's how it went for all the paintings was placing them in areas Clara looked a lot. They were all magnificent paintings. The other two were of different animals that they had saved like a pegasus and a griffin. Painted perfectly and with a lovely background, Clara loved them.