𝔈𝔭𝔥𝔢𝔪𝔢𝔯𝔞𝔩𝔦𝔱𝔶 ℭ𝔞𝔫𝔞𝔯𝔡 | ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ |

|• Chapter Two: Part One •|

     "No, not this time, maybe next time," My heart sunk a bit, "It's okay, you enjoy what your father got you, I'm good with just having you," I pulled him closer to my chest, inhaling a steady scent of his Just For Kids shampoo

     Leanne looked at the two of us,"Anson didn't get you anything? He usually does," she said, watching her words, "You know, the whole collection he has from each place you two go too..." she trailed off.

     "It just didn't happen this time, it's fine, really," Just like every time he gets mad...

     "Well, Will wanted you, he said something about you wanting to talk...I figured once you got down here I'd tell you, but Brand woke up, and he didn't go back to sleep...you know how he is after those god-awful dreams" Leanne sighed, looking away for a second,"I'm planning to cook breakfast though," She smiled cheerfully.

    "Have Brand help you, he likes to stir," I suggested. I bit down on my lower lip and gave Brandy a small smile.

    Brandy lit up,"Ooohh! Can I? Can I?" He looked at Leanne,"Can I pleaseeeee Auntie Le!?"

      Le nodded, taking Brand from me."Of course you can!" She looked at Brand and then to me,"I'll talk to you later today okay? I know something nagging at you, and I heard you and Anson last night...and I'm sure you're going to need to talk to someone about it," she said before she squeezed my arm, and then walked away with Brand.

    I turned my heel, somewhat feeling worried that Le knew what was up before I even did. I walked to the living room, pushing open the bookcase that led me into William's Study.

     Immediately the first that I see is stacks of books, at least three feet tall, piled all around Williams desk.     

    His feet were propped on the desk, one over the other and his nose was in the Edgar Allen Poe book that Anson had grabbed him.

    "This is magnificent!" Will muttered, he was in deep with his book. He flipped a page.

      I walked up to his desk, a pile of books tipped over, sending them to the floor. "Hey,"

   "Oh shit! I didn't even hear you come in!" He jumped in his seat," Oh no! Look at that, those books are on the floor, great..." He leaned over his desk from his chair and looked at the books on the ground. He shrugged and continued speaking,"oh well, I was going to put them them on the floor anyways," William sat up in his seat and he bookmarked the page he was at, which looked about midway through.

    "Did you really read that, that fast?" I asked, eying the book.

    "Yeah! I did! I love it so far! It's like a whole collection of his work. The Raven; it was the first one. It's kinda odd, but the narrator talks to this raven and they become friends talking about this place- well I think it's a place- called Nevermore up till the narrator goes mad, and then it ends with the narrator's soul never going to be lifted to see his love," William rambled.

     I smiled as William talked,"That sounds nice, I'll have to read it one day," We both know that'll never happen.

     "Once I finish reading it you can! It's so good! I've read a few of these in here before! They're all from like the mid 1800s and this book here looks about what? Sixty? seventy years old?" He said excitingly. I smiled at his amazement.

    "You and your books," I shook my head and laughed, "Le sent me in here, you wanted to talk?"

   "Ahhh, yes! You! Yes, I wanna know what you intended to talk to me about last night. Was it about my brother?"

    "Oh...that," I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. Is there a point talking about this?

   "Yeah, what about it?" He hovered over his desk.

     I let out a heavy sigh,  the air left my lungs as I looked at Will. "Yeah, it's about Anson...he's, acting different, and my attacks, well, their getting worse again," I sighed again.

    "Your attacks are happening again? They haven't happened since-"

    "I know, I know" I sighed,"I don't wanna hear about it, Anson and I argued last night about it, and I had one...he flipped out because of it," I sat down at fancy Victorian seating William had in front of his desk. He placed his elbows on the table.

    "Are you taking your medication? Le's been giving Brandy his,"

   "I quit taking it...it's been a few months," I sighed, "but Brandy needs his, it makes his episodes less frequent,"

    "Ella, you're aware he had one just last week right?" Will asked me, "He's not doing too good, and nor are you dear," William pursed his lips and folded his hands together. "Can you try to see if your medicine does a difference for right now? Le's been trying to keep Brandy some company while you two are gone, but I don't think it's going to cut it anymore. He's realizing that you two aren't home anymore,"

   "But...I want my baby to know I care about him," I whispered. My voice hiccuped slightly

    "He knows that you care about him Ella, you two have to be there for him, Anson especially. I know you do, but Anson's just been...kinda distant to everyone,"

    "He didn't bring back a memorabilia, like how he always does..." I sighed,"I don't know what's gotten into him with that, but I can't talk to him. I tried too last night and we argued,"

   "You guys argued about the items?"

    "No, about Brandy, he said that Brand needs to go to some institute or something, like  he needed help...we give Brandy all of the help he can take!" I cried,"I hate that I can't tell you what's going on in my head," I sighed,"I can't tell you what I'm thinking,"

    "If you listen to yourself you can,"

        I slammed my fist onto the desk,"But I can't! There's too many fucking voices saying shit at the same time!"

    "Ella! Please! Hear me out-" he was cut off by the books on his desk toppling over. "It's fine,"

   He looked at me,"Please, Ella. I want you to get better and the only way for you too is by going back on your prescriptions, I know you don't like it, but your going to have too for the moment,"

    "It's useless,"

   "It's not when it comes to that little boy out there," William said softly, "please, give it a month, a week, something...you can't keep being like this..."

          I crossed my arms,"why don't you go back to your book? You seemed to care more about it,"

       "Ella...please,"

       "No."

       "I don't care about my book, I care more about you, and our family," he said,"I'd give up all of this..." he looked around the room, "everything in here, I need a break from it all anyways,"

      "Then...I guess burn it all, Anson has matches," I grumbled, sliding down in my seat. I crossed my arms.

       "Ella, I'm not going to burn all of our research. I'm just telling you that I'd give all of this up to make sure you guys are all safe, and healthy,"

       "I really don't see the point in this," I sighed heavily, watching a piece of my hair fly up a bit, "this was stupid, coming to you,"

        "Ella, go take your medicine, it'll calm you down,"

        "NO!" I snapped,"I'm not going to take it! Alright? Now just, go back to your goddamn book," I rose my voice as I stood, slapping a pile of books, sending them tumbling onto the floor. William spoke, but I tuned out whatever he said when I turned my heel, and walked out of the room.