Balancing on the Precipice
Twin World Crossover
Chapter Six
Hannah woke with a start. Her alarm was going off. Slapping the off button, she hauled herself out of bed. She still felt happy about the dream last night. She could still remember her dragoness mother's voice and her sister's laugh. There was a knock at the door.
"Hannah! Get up! You have school today!"
"Fine! I'll be down in-" Hannah stopped.
Her voice had changed. It was smoother and more melodic. Overall it sounded more beautiful. Frowning, she tried speaking again.
"I'll be down in a minute!"
Her voice stayed the same. Pushing the thought aside, she dressed herself. Packing her homework, she ran downstairs. She threw two pieces of bread in the toaster. Grabbing the toast, she sat down at the table across from her mom. Her mom frowned.
"Unusual hair color choice Hannah. And you have colored contacts in right?"
Hannah frowned. "I haven't done my hair yet."
Finishing her toast, she ran upstairs into the bathroom. That was when she saw her hair. It was navy blue, the same color as the scales she had in her dream. Her eyes were still green, but were much more vibrant, almost neon green. She was completely baffled.
***
Sunset slowly became aware of her surroundings. Blankets covered her and she was surrounded by the smell of her mate. It was pitch black and she could see nothing. She tried to sit up, but hissed when pain lanced up her arms and back. Every nerve in her body was screaming in protest, even her wings and tail.
A door cracked open and a slit of light flooded the room. Sarah, in full vixen form, poked her head in. She saw Sunset and crept over, worry written all over her face.
"How are you feeling?" Sarah put her hand to Sunset's snout, feeling for a fever.
"Everything hurts."
Sarah smiled. "That's what Mattheiu said."
"What?"
"He used his telepathy on you. He could sense your pain."
Sunset was suddenly afraid. "Did he say he could sense my dream?"
Sarah shook her head. "No. Besides, we could tell what you were dreaming about from what you were saying."
"Huh?"
"You were calling out for your mom."
Sunset blushed. She always managed to keep these dreams a secret. She found it very embarassing.
"Your lucky to have such a dedicated mate."
"Say whaaa?"
Sarah stepped aside. Mattheiu was asleep on a cot. He only had a thin sheet over him. It was then that Sunset realized she was in his bed. That's why she could smell him surrounding her.
"He stayed with you till about three o'clock in the morning before going to sleep. He even skipped dinner. He was that worried about you." Sarah smiled. "You want some Tylenol to ease the pain?"
Sunset nodded. As soon as Sarah left the room, she, with great pain and effort, leaned out of the bed to kiss Mattheiu on the forhead.
Sarah came back in with a pill and some water. She helped Sunset to sit up and swallow the pill.
"Hope you feel better Sunset. I had Jacob call you in sick for school." Sarah left the room.
Sunset laid there, feeling sorry for Mattheiu. He was actually shivering a bit. Finaly, she couldn't stand it anymore.
She threw off some of the blankets. She leaned out, hissing with pain, as she gingerly picked up Mattheiu, carrying him over to the bed. His skin was cold to the touch. Sunset pulled him in close before pulling the blankets over both of them and falling asleep again.
***
Worry etched Hannah's mind when neither Mattheiu nor Marissa showed up for classes that day. She figured it had something to do with the creature she saw Marissa turn into. Even though the creature looked like a killing machine, a small part of her was worried about it.
"Ms. Lambert!"
Hannah snapped out of her daydream. Her math teacher, a black Indo-Canadian, was standing in front of her desk, glaring at her
"Yes Mr. Aaku?"
"I asked you what the proper equation for a parabola is!"
"Ummm yeah it's-" Hannah searched her mind for the proper answer. "Y equals A bracket X minus P all squared minus Q."
"Next time pay attention!" Mr. Aaku stormed off. "I expect pages 156, questions 1 to 15, 17 and 21 to be done for tomorrow."
The bell rang. Hannah got up and-
"And you, Hannah Lambert have detention!"
Hannah sighed and sat back down. She wanted to check on Mattheiu and Marissa, but Mr. Aaku had stopped her. That pissed her off. Mr. Aaku picked up his water bottle from his desk.
'Ohh man.' Hannah thought longingly. 'If that bottle exploded right now it would-"
BANG!
Mr. Aaku yelped as his water bottle shattered for no reason, spraying water everywhere, including his labtop computer. Hannah stared for a moment, then fought back the urge to laugh.
'Now it would be perfect if his computer just-'
The labtop began to smoke. Then the keyboard exploded, sending keys flying in every direction. Hannah redoubled her efforts not to laugh.
Mr. Aaku looked mad.
"Ms. Lambert. You can leave. I have a mess to attend to."
Hannah got up and left the class.
Mr. Aaku stood in the doorway with his hand on the frame.
"I expect you to be in...."
But Hannah wasn't listening. She was focusing on Mr. Aaku's hand.
'If the door would close right-'
The door suddenly swung shut on Mr. Aaku's hand. He screamed. Hannah ran, laughing so much it was hard to keep standing up.
Whatever was creating these little convieniences, she liked it. Still laughing, her thoughts turned to Mattheiu and Marissa.
***
Sunset awoke to something squirming against her. There was some muffled noises. Still wanting to sleep, she groaned and pushed whatever it was off the bed. There was a yelp followed by a thud and groaning. With great effort, but less pain than before (she was still sore though), Sunset sat up and looked over the edge of the bed to see Mattheiu on his back, sprawled on the floor. He gave a meek smile
"Hi! How come I was in your bed?"
Sunset frowned. "My bed? You should have given me the cot."
"Never mind. Are you hungry?"
A gaping void suddenly opened in her stomach. She was ravenous. "Yes please!"
"What do you want?"
"Anything! I'm starving!"
Mattheiu left the room for a few minutes and came back with a sandwich. Sunset finished it in two bites, literally.
"Wow." Mattheiu stared at her. "I've never seen someone, human or Xeno do that."
Sunset blushed. "Not meaning to sound like a pig, but can I have more?"
"Sure. Another sandwich?"
"Something bigger please."
Mattheiu left the room again and came back with a big bowl of cold, leftover stir fry. Sunset began shoveling it down. Whatever amount of mana (magic) energy she had used, her body had worked overtime to regain it. Mattheiu turned his computer on and began typing. She couldn't help but think of him. This was the only true quality time they could spend together. She wanted to cuddle with him, but with the weight of her dragon form, she didn't think that it would be such a good idea. Then she noticed. Mattheiu was typing only with his right hand. His left arm was resting on his lap.
"Hey Matt."
He turned his head towards her. "Yeah?"
"What's with your arm?"
Suddenly his end of their telepathic link just snapped closed. This usually meant he was trying to keep a secret. His face flushed red as he turned away. "It's nothing."
"What do you mean 'It's nothing?'"
"I-I-It's nothing, ok..."
Sunset was starting to get pissed. "Show me your arm."
Mattheiu sighed. "You won't like it." He turned around.
Sunset gasped. His arm was tightly wrapped in a bandage. Not just a small area like his wrist, but the entire lower arm. And what was worse, a large part of it was encrusted with dried blood.
"Oh god." She could only stare.
"You thrashed around a bit when you were unconsious. Your right claws ripped into my arm."
Tears began to roll down her face. "I-I-I..." She took a deep breath. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry!" She looked at her right hand. Sure enough, the claws were covered in blood.
Mattheiu came over and sat by her. He kissed her. "It's my fault to getting so close to you while you thrashed."
"Do you have any more of these bandages?"
Mattheiu nodded. "Yeah, but I'm-"
Sunset cut in. "Go get them."
Mattheiu kissed her as he got up. "Don't worry so much about me." He left to go get the bandages. Sunset took a small rag that was on Mattheiu's nightstand and used it to soak up her tears.
Mattheiu came back with a first aid kit and handed it to Sunset. She opened it and took out the large bandage.
"Please, stop crying." Mattheiu attempted to cuddle her and console her, but it didn't work.
"Give me your arm."
Mattheiu set his bandaged arm on her lap. She took it and, using the kit's scissors, cut the dirty dressing off. Then she saw the severity of his wound.
Three deep gashes ran down the length of his lower arm. They were still seeping blood. The skin around it was laced with smaller cuts that were partially healed over. More tears streamed out of her eyes.
"I'm sorry. I should have been able to control myself."
Mattheiu kissed her again. "It's not your fault."
Sunset began licking his wound to clean it. She then dabbed on her tears. Dragon's tears, when out of pure regret or sorrow, have healing powers. She gingerly wrapped his arm in a new, clean bandage. She finshed it, neatly tucking the loose end in and kissed it.
"There. Does that feel better?"
Mattheiu looked it over. "Yes. Very much so. Thanks."
Sunset latched herself onto Mattheiu, still crying.
"I'm sorry."
"I never said you were at fault."
"I still hurt you."
"I still love you."
That seemed to snap Sunset out of her well of self pity. "You really mean it?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I?"
She stopped crying and laid down. Mattheiu laid beside her.
"You need to realize that I'll always love you, no matter what you do."