Chapter 175: A shifter's bite

Erick was about to climb the stairs with a bowl of warm porridge in the tray he was carrying when Dane was stirring in his mind.

He paused at the bottom of the stairs and asked in his mind. 'What's wrong, Dane?'

'I scent something strangely familiar…' he replied.

Erick frowned. 'Something familiar?' he repeated in his mind as he discreetly looked around him. It was weird that Dane should find something strangely familiar in this house when he did not scented it before when Erick was here previously.

As if knowing what Erick was thinking of, Dane explained that since he had most of his broken souls back, his senses were getting stronger, or rather, were getting back to normal.

However, Erick was getting more curious as to what was making Dane feel a bit anxious. He could feel the latter's concern at the discovery of the strange familiar scent.

Before Erick could think of an answer, Remi, Amber's brother, stood at the top of the stairs, looking down at him curiously. "Big brother Erick?" he called out. "What are you doing there?"

Erick turned his head and suddenly, he felt Dane shouting in his mind, 'Him! It's him!'

Erick's eyes widened in surprise as he studied at the sickly-looking young boy at the top of the stairs. 'Are you sure it's him?' Erick asked in his mind.

'Are you doubting me, you brat?' Dane snarled.

Remi was wearing a loose soft grey shirt that showed a bit of his collarbone and short pants. Although he was seven years old, he looked like he was five years old; younger than his age. He had heard from Amber that her younger brother was only two years old when he was afflicted with cancer. Although she mentioned that it was cancer, truthfully Amber's parents weren't sure of what's the real ailment. The many doctors that they went to weren't even sure of the ailment.

Erick narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the young boy, who was looking back at him, all confused as to why the big brother was staring at him like that. "Big brother Erick?" he called out again nervously.

Erick blinked his eyes furiously and then let out a smile as to not scare the young boy away. "Ah, sorry. I was daydreaming earlier," he lied, still smiling.

Remi smiled back, looking relieved that the big brother wasn't angry at him. "Be careful, Big brother Erick," he cautioned. He then saw the bowl on the tray that Erick was carrying and asked, "Is that for big sister?"

Erick nodded as he climbed up the stairs. Once he was standing beside Remi, he looked down and gently asked, "Do you want to go visit your sister?"

Remi looked down at his bare feet sadly. "I do want to," he said softly. "But my parents and big sister were worried that I might catch whatever big sister was having and my sickness might worsen."

Erick balanced the tray with one hand and patted the young boy on the head gently. "You won't, I promise you," he reassured. "So, come on. Your sister would be too happy to see you."

Remi smiled widely with happiness as he nodded his head vigorously.

He dutifully followed Erick from behind and stopped when the latter stopped as well to knock on the door.

When they heard Amber's raspy voice, telling them to come in, Erick stood aside, allowing Remi to open the door for them. He watched as Remi quickly rushed inside, oblivious to Amber's surprised look at the presence of her little brother.

He continued to watch as Remi jumped into Amber's arms. He felt his hands tightened on the tray he was holding as he watched Remi giving his sister a kiss on the cheek.

*Crack*

He looked down and saw a small crack on the tray where his hands were holding. He quickly walked over to the bedside table and placed the tray there.

Amber, who thought that she must be hearing things, looked over to where the tray was and cocked an eyebrow when she saw the cracks.

Erick just looked away, feeling a bit guilty when Amber stared at him suspiciously.

Remi, who did not know what was happening, pulled back from his sister's embrace and grinned widely. "Big sis! I missed you!" he declared.

"Who told you that you can be here? You might catch my flu!" Amber scolded gently.

Remi pouted sadly. He then looked at Erick from beneath his lashes and said nothing.

Seeing that her brother was looking at Erick, she looked at him again, suspiciously. "Erick…" she said slowly.

"He won't," Erick said confidently.

"But you don't understand---"

"I'm confident that he will be fine, Amber," Erick promised with a determined look on his face.

When Amber looked into his eyes, she knew that he was serious and that he was confident with his promise.

He then looked at the oblivious young boy, who seems content to just sit next to his sister, and walked closer to her. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "I'll tell you later."

Feeling a bit ticklish from him whispering in her ear, she pushed him away, her face turning red from embarrassment.

Remi tilted his head in confusion when he saw his sister's beet red face. "What's wrong, big sister?" he asked.

Amber forced a smile on her face while sneaking a glare at Erick for making her feel that way. "It's nothing, Remi. Don't worry," she reassured him.

"Why don't you go downstairs and accompany mom in the kitchen?" she suggested. "Dad's coming home tonight so she probably would like some company while she's cooking the storm there."

Remi nodded happily. He jumped down from the bed and ran out of the room before Amber could tell him to be careful and not to run.

Once he had left the room, Amber immediately turned to Erick with accusing eyes. But before she could say anything, she suddenly sneezed.

Erick quickly grabbed a handful of tissues and placed them gently on her nose. "Alright now, blow," he instructed softly.

No longer feeling embarrassed by his actions, Amber blew, ungracefully. To her joy, Erick did not seem disgusted by it but rather, he became more gentle in his gestures.

After she was done blowing her nose, Erick threw the dirtied tissues into the dustbin and sat down next to her on the bed. He took the tray from the bedside table and placed them on her lap. He was about to hand her the spoon but when she tried to reach for it, he pulled his hand away and asked teasingly, "Do you want me to feed you with my mouth or…?"

Rolling her eyes, she grabbed the spoon from his grasp and retorted, "I can eat by myself!" Though, her face became more red from embarrassment.

His grin grew wider when he saw how shy she became. It made him want to pounce on her and kiss her. But then again, she probably will kick him away from her.

After a couple of bites, Amber placed the spoon in the bowl and turned to Erick. "What was it you wanted to tell me?" she asked.

Erick's face turned solemn and then he said, "I know that this seems crazy but I believed that your brother is not sick because of cancer."

Amber frowned. "Whatever do you mean?" she asked in bewilderment.

"Do you believe me if I told you that it was probably from a shifter's bite?" Erick asked with a serious look on his face.

Amber's eyes widened with surprise. "What do you mean?" she repeated. Her mind was going crazy. Shifter's bite? How could it be?

"That's why I need to talk with your parents to ask about this."

Amber nodded slowly. "Alright then…"