It was the beautiful melody pouring out of the music room that prompted Charisma to enter. Just as the first time she'd entered the room, she was mesmerized by the music Alauria played. Though she wasn't familiar with the particular piece, she was hypnotized by the beautifully haunting music. Alauria wasn't aware that she was in the room as she played with her eyes closed, and the small fact allowed Charisma the opportunity to observe the artist. Alauria's skin was flushed, and there was a pinch of fatigue that had taken over her face. The fatigue, Charisma understood; it had taken her months before she was able to sleep more than a few hours at a time after her ordeal with Zaide. From what she'd heard from Jameson, Alauria had been through an episode that would have broken even the strongest of people. But she didn't understand the flushed skin; it wasn't hot in the room and the last she'd heard, Alauria was in good health.
"You know, I could hurt you right now for trying to sneak up on me."
Shock forced Charisma to blink. "What?"
Alauria opened her eyes and frowned in confusion. "What?" She was extremely tired, despite the fact that she'd slept through the night. She figured that a few hours in the music room would have eased the oncoming headache lingering at her temples, and it did; she simply couldn't remember all that she did. There were flashes of her at different phrases of the pieces she played, but there was nothing but darkness between each flash. Either she'd been that into the music or she was just that tired. She hadn't even known that Charisma had walked into the room until she'd spoken. "Sorry, I didn't hear you come in."
"Are you all right?" Charisma took a step into the room, keeping her focus on a very confused looking Alauria.
"Yes, I'm fine." Her side ached, which she found odd considering Liam had healed it for her. Was it supposed to sting after his help? The fatigue seemed to be working a number on her. "Just tired."
Charisma nodded in understanding as she moved to stand next to the piano. "I can sympathize with how you must be feeling. It's a lot to adjust to."
"I'm dealing," Alauria replied as she continued to play.
"It's all we can do when it comes to these men and the lives they lead."
Alauria said nothing for a moment, as there was a nagging pain in the back of her head. It felt as if she'd been hit, and she was tempted to check for blood or maybe even a lump of some kind. "I think it's a matter of being able to trust them when they tell us that they'll keep us safe." Lord knew that she wouldn't have had such stress on her shoulders if she believed Lindsay when he first told her that he would take care of Raife. Hindsight always did have perfect vision.
"Maybe. I'm not so sure." Charisma looked around the room as she tried to vocalize her erratic thoughts. "Sometimes I feel as if I have to take care of myself, even when I'm not capable of it." That was most likely because she'd taught herself to rely on no one but herself. The second she was able to provide for herself, she stopped hoping that others would help her if she was in need.
"Then you are dumber than I thought to be a part of this world." Alauria shook her head slowly, as her thoughts suddenly became blurred and confusing. A wave of nausea made her groan inwardly and when she glanced over and saw the shock in Charisma's eyes, she knew that something was wrong. "What? What is it?"
"I never pegged you for one to be so brutally honest. Emphasis on the brutal."
"What do you mean?"
Charisma tilted her head in thought as she said, "Do you not remember what you just said?"
"I..." Alauria shook her head slowly as she realized that she did not. "What did I say?"
"It's not important anymore."
"Then why do you insist on wasting my time with your pathetic thoughts?" Alauria placed a hand on her stomach as the nausea increased, but maintained a neutral expression to keep Charisma from getting worried. She must have been more exhausted than she thought.
"I'm sorry I wasted your time; I thought you would have wanted someone to talk to, is all."
"Wait, stop." Alauria turned in her seat to face a quickly retreating Charisma. "You're not wasting my time."
"Then why did you just yell at me for it?" Charisma felt her eyes widen at the quick look of annoyance that crossed Alauria's face. A second later, she frowned as a part of her felt something unfamiliar. It was similar to the sensation of blood circulating after a limb had fallen asleep. There was also a heaviness in the pit of her stomach she couldn't explain. As much as the new feelings worried her, it was nothing compared to the worry she felt as she watched Alauria try to internally solve a problem. "Has this happened to you before?"
"Has what happened to me before?"
"Not remembering what you've just said."
Alauria shook her head slowly. It was strange; the nausea had faded, but her thoughts hadn't become any clearer. Her side still stung as well, prompting her to make a mental note to speak to Lindsay as she still wasn't brave enough to face Liam on her own. "It's really strange."
"I'd say its stress and exhaustion, but I'm no expert at this. My only advice would be to take a break."
"Would taking a break include not having to hear your annoying voice for more than five minutes?" Alauria's eyes widened as she partially remembered the words that escaped her mouth. "Oh, my God, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean that." She brought her fingers up to her temples to massage the tension that had built. What the hell was wrong with her?
Charisma took a cautious step back. She didn't know Alauria very well, but instinct told her that her current behavior was far from normal. "Maybe you should go take a nap or something. It takes a lot of energy, becoming part of this family."
"What would you know about it?"
"A lot more than you, considering I'm six months in." The confused look on Alauria's face prompted Charisma to ask, "You don't remember the fast fifteen seconds, do you?"
Alauria shook her head slowly. An intense feeling of dread crept up on her. Something was very wrong, and she had no idea what. "I can't remember..." She dropped her head into her hands and sighed heavily. Maybe she did need sleep. She needed something, that was sure.
"Why don't you talk to one of the brothers about it? I'm sure Lindsay would-" Charisma stopped and took a surprised step back when Alauria abruptly stood. The anger that blazed in the pianist's brown eyes scared her more than it surprised her, and she found herself retreating as Alauria advanced.
"You know nothing about him, you weak, insipid human!" Alauria was barely able to control herself as her anger had consumed her. How dare she even try to assume that she knew anything about Lindsay? "Lindsay belongs to me! He's mine!"
In her growing unease, Charisma took another step back. The pure rage rolling off Alauria had her shaking, and it wasn't long before her hands began to ache. As she looked down at hem, she noticed their redness and knew that if Alauria attacked, she'd have no choice but to burn her. "I'm not trying to take him away from you, Alauria. Calm down."
"Don't tell me what to do!"
Charisma held her hands out in defense when Alauria raged forward, and even prepared to lay her hands on the suddenly crazed woman's skin as she raised her hands to strike. Both women stopped, however, when the thin blue stream of electrical current burst forth from Alauria's hands. They both stared at each other for a moment before looking at Alauria's ferociously shaking hands. The confusion of the moment awarded Charisma an opportunity to take another step toward the door. "How did you do that?"
"I don't..." Alauria continued to stare down at her hands. They tingled, but there was no pain. That didn't mean that everything else that was going on with her had miraculously been resolved; the nausea returned with a vengeance and her head felt as if it would explode at any moment. "I don't know."
"Is everything all right in here?"
Both women turned to find Alexis and Lindsay entering the music room. As usual, Alexis wore a blank expression while Lindsay uncharacteristically displayed worry.
"I think I need to go lie down." Alauria grimaced as Lindsay placed his hands on her shoulders. It suddenly felt as if a two ton anvil had been placed on them, forcing her to stoop to accommodate the weight.
Lindsay frowned at Alauria's pinched and pale face. She looked ready to fall over, a sight he did not like. "Are you all right?"
She nodded slowly, but stopped when Charisma refuted her words. "Charisma, please."
"Something is wrong with you, Alauria. You wouldn't have almost attacked me otherwise."
