Chapter Three: Ice to Fire

"Bret, you have company." Mom said, walking into the living room. I poked my head out of the top of the covers to see Nancy following my mom into the room. Her German Shepard was staying by her side, glancing at the kitchen.

 "What is she doing here?" I muttered, pulling my head back into my cocoon.

 "I'm here to observe what's happening to you." She replied, I just muttered ok not really caring what she said, just trying to say warm.

 "You ok?" Mom asked, rushing over, trying to open the blankets while I screamed for her to stop, It's too cold. She stopped, then started throwing more blankets on me. I don't know what was going on, but I heard Nancy and Mom talking about something.

 The ice in me started to melt, becoming fire, so I threw all the blankets off, which didn't do anything. Mom and Nancy were standing on the other side of the coffee table. Nancy seemed to be taking notes while Mom looked so worried. I always hated to worry her, but I did my best not to show how uncomfortable I was, but I'm sure I failed miserably.

 "Do you need anything?" Mom asked since there was nothing else to do or say. I just shook my head no, so she sat down, and Nancy followed, taking notes. They started watching TV with nothing else to do. When the fire started to freeze over, causing me to reach for all the blankets to cover myself. This is how the next few hours passed, with me going from hot to cold, while everyone else occasionally asked if I was okay while watching TV. They couldn't do anything other than help cover or uncover me.

 I looked up at the windows, wishing I could see out. When Lea built the house, she had 12 12-inch windows installed on the first floor at the top of the wall. All I could see was a little bit of light coming in, but I didn't know if that was the lights or the sun.

 I didn't get any relief in sleep either. In my dreams, I was being chased through the city by something I couldn't quite see, but it would throw objects at me and shoot fire every so often. At one point, I was trudging through knee-deep water while still dodging fire and other things thrown at me. As I kept moving, the water got deeper and deeper until it was over my head, so I started swimming, but then something pulled me down quickly and fast. 

 I jolted awake, taking deep breaths as Mom rushed over to me, wondering if I was ok. After I calmed down a bit, I told her that I had drowned in my dream. She told me that it would never happen, and if it did, she and Lea would save me. That, oddly enough, did comfort me, mainly because Lea is inhuman and nothing would stop her from coming after me.

 I calmed down a bit, but was still shaking slightly. That's when Nancy suggested I try eating. I nodded, attempting to get to my feet, but Mom stopped me from going to get it myself.

She came back with a bowl full of soup for both of us. I didn't eat much before I was full, wanting to go back to sleep. This time when I slept there was nothing but darkness.

I sat up feeling like weak and out of it. Looking around I saw Nancy still on the other side of the room still writing.

"How long was I out?" I mutter my voice still feeling weak.

 "Three days your elements have been coming in. Usual kids cry for those three day but it seems you have more energy surging thought your body so it took more of a toll." Nancy explained looking at her notes then up at me.

 "Does that mean that is how strong I will be?"

 "Not at all that's just what is in your body at this point. Technically speaking we summon and control elements but we do house a little in our body to help the other come through."

 "What happened?"

 "What do you mean?"

 "That crater? Did I hurt Jake?" I asked, which made her go silent, then take a deep breath.

 "It wasn't your fault. You were full of power, and when you were egged on, it released."

 "I see." I frowned, wondering if he and the other people caught up in whatever happened were ok.

 "No one died or had serious injuries that would affect them for the rest of their lives." She smiled.

 "What about the nearby business?"

 "Well, there were two that got extremely damaged, but the city came together to help them since they have been open for so many years, so they are more than fine. They also got new customers after their stories got out."

 "That's good." I smiled, relieved, but still felt awful for what I did, even though I don't remember what or how it happened.

"Where's my mom?" I asked, looking toward the kitchen.

"Her and your aunt had to go get stuff from the store. Your mom didn't want to go, but your aunt convinced her."

We went quiet, listening to the TV in the background. I didn't know what else to say, so I just lay back watching the news. I couldn't tell you one word of what they said; I just stared at the screen.

"We're home." Mom announced, opening the door, her hands full of bags, followed by Lea, who had even more. I wanted to get up to hug my mom, but I felt so weak, so I just replied Welcome home. Mom dropped everything, rushing into the living room, putting her hands on my face, checking for a fever.

"Glad you're alive," Lea stated, standing in the doorway. That was the closest she would say to I love you. I smiled at her, and she went back to the kitchen to put everything away. 

Mom went into the kitchen, grabbing bowls of soup from the large pot on the stove. Whenever anyone in the house got sick, she always made sure to keep soup on the stove.

Mom came back into the living room, giving Nancy a bowl, then me. Lea followed her in taking Nancy's bowl away.

 "Lea, why did you do that?" Mom snapped, reaching for Nancy's bowl, but Lea pulled it away.

 "She's a River." Lea spat.

 "And?"

"They are enemies of our family."

"So is everyone else. Just be nice to her." Mom begged.

"Lea, please." I croaked, feeling so weak. Lea bit her lip, looking at me, then sighed, saying she was getting Nancy a fresh bowl. Lea went into the kitchen while Mom grinned at me, both of us knowing she had a weak spot when it came to me.

Lea came back with a fresh bowl full of soup, then went to get one for her and her mom. Neither one of them wanted to leave me alone. I was so thankful for them.

When my bowl got empty, Lea went to refill it, but I told her I was sleepy. I saw her exchange glances with mom. I wonder what they were thinking in that moment, but I didn't ask, and it's not like they would tell me anyway.

Lea came back after taking my bowl to the kitchen, then got the TV remote off the table, changing it to the show she recorded while I was out. The show was about hiding Zeus, and we were hooked. I lay back, doing my best to watch the show, but I didn't stay up too long.