The afternoon light poured into the main hall as Aela dressed it up as best she could for the party. A familiar stabbing pain in her fingertips. "I should probably deplete more mana before the party starts." I probably should return to Adian's side once I finish.. make sure he has all he needs.

Aela went outside along the stone path of the garden, just past it was a large blackened ditch from where she would release her mana since she was a child. Aela got herself ready and knelt down on the burnt earth, she took a sharp inhale and summoned her flames. Four flames danced around her one of each color that she could muster. Aela gritted her teeth as pain radiated through her as she increased the height and heat of the flames. "How could something so beautiful cause so much pain?" The session took it's toll as it most often did. Leaving Aela in the pit panting and shaking, the whole thing didn't help with her now intense pain that screamed as she moved to stand.

Aela stumbled as she reached the top of the ditch huffing and looking over her shoulder and back to the house. "I might be late to my own birthday, if I don't hurry. And with everyone waiting would be rude." Aela's cheeks slowly grew hot and red as she realized Eric would be there as well. She took off toward the house in a faster manner than she intended. Pain shuttered with each breath as her chest felt heavy. It was uncomfortable of course and very annoying but nothing a few smiles couldn't hide.

Aela went upstairs to Adian's room. The light in the room was of low embers of flames dancing around his figure. Which shook with pain and fatigue from the constant heat.His black hair soaked and sweat beading all over him and his loose clothing. The embers highlighted his sharp features contorting in pain.

Adian's eyes glanced over to Aela as she gently placed another cool rag on his forehead, and began replacing cold compresses that were on his arms. Aela stopped at his left forearm where fresh burns were. Another surge in mana. Adian slowly takes Aela's hand and smiles. "Don't worry about me so much. It's your eighteenth birthday isn't it?"
Aela glanced over in shock as he smiled mischievously a glimmer of his former self shown through. "How..did you?"
Adian smiled and laughed slightly. "That is my secret." Aela rolled her eyes at his comment but it was nice to hear his laughter even though it sounded so soft and raspy. With the final touches of his treatment, Aela moved forward with feeding him a cold soup. To her surprise Adian began to sit up. "Not today you don't go on. You have other obligations." He took the bowl and spoon from her and began feeding himself.

Aela felt a smile spread across her face. It was almost for a moment she had her strong older brother. The one she remembered when she was really young. Before the sickness began to manifest.. and years later the loss of their parents.With the means of money set on her shoulders.
Adian noticed she was spacing out his hazel eyes meet her own. "It's rude to stare you know. Don't make me push you out of this room. You'd fall down the stairs."
Aela stood up quickly getting the hint, she couldn't help but smile back with a banter of her own. As she closed the door a slight worry lingered. It was the talking downstairs that caught her attention guests seemed to be arriving already. Aela hurried down the stairs to meet the guests and formerly greet them. "I apologize for my tardiness, please come in and make yourself comfortable

Emily and Phillip sighed. After doing all that research, they found the one being who could help them. That awful day was still fresh in their minds. They were still thinking about it as they made their way to their friends birthday celebration. Emily frowned. Eric did as well.

"Must we go to this party Eric?"

-"I am afraid so. We must seem normal, at least for now. Do not fret. I'll find an excuse for us to leave before sunset. We will also begin our journey to find the sorceress queen very soon."

Emily sighed. She nodded.
"Thank you."
She managed a faint smile. They would soon arrive at the estate in question. Emily stood there and waited. Eric walked up to the door. He took a deep breath. Then, he knocked on the door. After that, they were both waiting to be let inside.

Emily really hoped her brother told her the truth. Those first four nights since the curse was placed on them were horrible. That first night, it was painful and afterwards? She had turned into an ugly wild boar and he had turned into a stinky skunk. The second night? She was a horrible screeching parrot and he was a helpless little mouse. The third night? She had turned into a fierce bear and he had turned into an almost equally fierce wolf. The fourth night? She had turned into a pony, which wasn't so bad by comparison, but Eric had turned into vampire bat and she had felt bad for her brother.

Emily almost teared up before the door opened for them.

@Vampiretwilight

Aela smiled as her guests would make small talk around her, once the knock was heard an eerie silence fell over the room just a moment. The sound of heels hitting stone pounded against her head and already sore chest. She grasped the door wearing a smile her green eyes seemed to sparkle as she laid eyes on the guests who she truly longed to arrive. She couldn’t help but hug them both. “Emily and Eric Welcome! Come on in! Make yourself at home! I went all out with a new recipe for pastries I think you’d like.”

Aela released the two from the hug. She might of gone a bit too far with that stunt. She calmly cleared her throat, “I’m sorry about that. I’m just so excited to see you both! You haven’t been by the bakery in a while. And I was starting to get worried.“

Emily blinked and froze. She cleared her throat afterwards.
"Um....thank you."
She looked at her brother. Eric had frozen for a moment as well. He was now also clearing his own throat before speaking.

-"Um, yes. Thank you."
He and Emily entered the house and the door closed behind them. He sighed at the mention of them not being at the bakery for a while, while Emily nodded at the mention of pastries and such.

-"Well....let's just say we had a personal reason for that."

Emily sighed and nodded.
"What my brother has said. We apologize as well."

Eric nodded in agreement with that last part. He and Emily had been trying to keep it a secret from her for sometime, at least until after they found the queen and broke the curse. They did not want her to worry about them.

@Emera Lore

Aela kept stealing glances at Eric when she had the chance. Hoping Emily didn’t notice too much. When he apologized they made eye contact. Aela felt her cheeks flush slightly, she turned her head to regain her composure.
Aela turned her head back in their direction smiled it seemed slightly off. “Don’t worry about it you two. You’re here and that’s what matters.” Music grew in a crescendo as she was asked to dance. “Excuse me, seems the dance floor is calling me. But I promise to catch up with you two. Make yourself at home!”
Aela danced across the dance floor with grace and poise despite the growing ache in her chest. The effects were worse than she thought she’d have to endure. Aela held out until, the dance had concluded. “I’m sorry you will have to excuse me. I’m going to catch my breath. She retreated outside and sat down in the shade against the cold stone. She breathed in and out a bit roughly. Trying to catch her breath between coughs.
“Why did the flare ups have to be so intense? And why did they have to happen now of all times.” Aela closed her eyes as a slight cool breeze moved through the garden.
Not only that...something was bothering Emily she was close to tears. Aela couldn’t quite put her finger on the reason. But she had a feeling she’d need to check on her. The sound of footsteps caught her attention as she opened her eyes slowly. @Vampiretwilight

@Emera Lore
Eric and Emily both nodded. Emily sighed. Eric spoke.
-"If you say so."
Emily and Eric both blinked when the music started. They both listened as their friend excused herself when she was being asked to dance.

-"We understand. It is alright."
Emily nodded in agreement.

"Go on and have fun."
Emily managed a faint smile. They both watched her leave. Then, they both sighed again. They glanced at each other and frowned.

"I wish we could tell her, Eric."

-"We can't, not now. Don't you see that? We can not drag her into this mess. It is not her fault. Not to mention, She should not have to shoulder such a burden. We have to leave her and her brother out of this, for their own good, their own protection."

Emily sighed and nodded.
"Very well."
She teared up again. She went to have a seat. Eric followed to make sure that she was alright.

@Vampiretwilight

Aela noticed the sounds of the footsteps were from some other guests. What caught her eye was Emily moving to sit down almost immediately followed by Eric. Aela felt like she should head over, but something kept her back. What if they needed space? Did she do something wrong to them?
Aela mulled over a few weeks in her head and came up empty. She stood up to head on over when another gentleman asked to join her instead.

Aela didn’t recall much of what he was saying. But it seemed he wanted a dance. She promised she’d give him one later and was able to reach Emily and Eric.

Emily? May I sit with you? Aela looked over to Eric as well. “I’ve known you two for a while. And it seems like something is bothering you. I don’t mean to pry, into your personal buisness just know I’m here for you. Whatever you need.

Aela sighed and smiled “Some party huh? Seems to be a drag if you ask me. If you want we could slip out maybe do something else? Afterall, it is my party I can come and go as I please.”

....It will help keep my mind off..other matters. Aela looked down tears threatening to fall from her own eyes for a moment.

Eric and Emily had been lost in their own thoughts for a while. That was when they heard Aela. They heard her when she spoke, and when she had approached them. They both blinked and looked at her. Eric cleared his throat. Emily spoke without doing the same.

"um, very well."
She, then, finally cleared her throat. Eric simply shrugged.

"Nothing is wrong. Truly."
Emily did her best to lie to keep her friend safe. Eric nodded.

-"What my sister has said."

Emily and Eric both shrugged.
"It seems...nice enough."

Eric nodded in agreement. He glanced around and then looked at Aela again. They both blinked when they heard that request from their friend after that. They glanced at each other for a moment. Luckily, it was not sunset yet for another couple hours or so.

"Very well."
-"Alright."

The twins stood up. They waited for her. They frowned when they noticed tears.

Aela straightened smiling wiping away a tear that fell. I probably shouldn’t add to their problems...but I should tell them. Aela looked to the stairs. I will tell them when we have our own time and when things have sorted out.

“So what will it be? Slipping away or having some of the pastries I worked so hard to make?”
Aela giggled a bit thinking of something else to lighten the mood. She showed weakness in front of them when they had their own problems. She couldn’t afford to be selfish, not when her friends needed to sort things out.
“Speaking of sweets,the bakery seemed a bit off without you two to liven things up. But I was finally able to make some decent bread and cakes without them burning. My training is coming along perfectly.”

@Emera Lore
Eric blinked. Emily blinked as well. They both saw the tear and wondered if they should say something. They glanced at each other for a moment and then looked at their friend again.

"um....."
Emily was unsure. Eric shrugged.
-"I...suppose we could slip out for a few moments. We managed to come to this party, but we must leave before dark. Personal reasons."

Emily frowned and looked at her brother. She sighed and shook her head. She felt that Eric was cutting it too close by saying that. Emily hoped that they COULD leave before sunset, before their friend saw what happened to them after the sun went down. It was bad enough that their own parents, who refused to tell anyone in order to protect THEM, had had to see them change like that. It broke both of their hearts.

Emily sighed.
"...Very well."

@Vampiretwilight

Aela smiled at Eric and Emily. A glint of mishcief in her eyes along with excitement. "Then slipping out it is. We could go to the forest, or by the ocean walk along the beach. What do you guys want to do? Me? I am fine just spending time with my friends."
Aela led the way with slipping out of the party using a secret exit by one of the rooms.

The sun peaked to the right indicating the time in the afternoon, the light shown on the cute stone passage way. The land of being in the country side was nice as the wild flowers swayed in the wind. Aela's home was on a hill that oversaw the few houses around and had a beautiful view of the small village and the ocean in the distance.

"You guys remember when we would tumble down the hill as little kids? Everything was a competition with you two and Adian around." Aela smiled at the fond memory that came to mind. "I wonder if your competitive spirits are still in tact first one to the bottom wins!"

Aela leaped off the hill and began tumbling down the grassy hill.
Once she reached the bottom she was slightly dizzy and she layed still for a moment laughing. "You know, I think the hill used to be bigger when we were younger."

@Emera Lore
Eric and Emily both saw her smile. They forced a faint smile for her sake, at least for a moment.
"Alright."
-"Very well."
Eric and Emily both nodded. They both followed her outside. They had not know about the secret exit until it was used as they followed their friend outside.

The sun seemed to be getting lower and lower. The twins noticed that at the same time. There was a slight breeze. Some flowers were in bloom. They did not care about the flowers, not at this time anyway. The reason was obvious of course, to them anyway. Anyway, they kept following their friend to the hill and such.

Emily shrugged. She had not thought about those days in a while. Eric nodded once and briefly.
-"I...think so."

They both blinked and gasped when she went down the hill like that. Emily hesitated. Eric tried to follow, only to trip and fall, rolling down the hill. Emily gasped and ran after them. She frowned. She hoped her brother was alright. She caught up with the two of them at the bottom of the hill. Eric was rubbing the back of his head a bit.

Eric shrugged when Aela spoke about how she thought the hill used to be bigger when they were younger. Emily accidentally let a sigh slip out.
"if you say so."

Emily glanced towards the sun. She really hoped that they would leave before sunset. She knew sunset was not too far away.

Aela got up and brushed herself off. "Seems you beat me Eric. You may not be the victor next time." She offered a hand to Eric to help him up. Aela caught the eyes of Emily she seemed to be zoning out and looked worried. "I promise I wont take too much of your time. Just a few more minutes and you can go ahead and do what you need to do."

"So how about we go for a short stroll instead? That should rest your weary mind."

@Vampiretwilight

Aela got up and brushed herself off. "Seems you beat me Eric. You may not be the victor next time." She offered a hand to Eric to help him up. Aela caught the eyes of Emily she seemed to be zoning out and looked worried. "I promise I wont take too much of your time. Just a few more minutes and you can go ahead and do what you need to do."

"So how about we go for a short stroll instead? That should rest your weary mind."

(i goofed :P)

@Emera Lore

(lol)

Eric barely nodded. He sat up. Emily sighed. She shook her head. They both looked at Aela. Emily nodded once.
"Alright."
-"Alright."

Eric managed to stand up on his own. He looked at the lowering sun. He frowned.
-"I...suppose we can hang out for a bit longer."

Emily looked between him and their friend.
"...Sure."

They hated hiding their secret from their friend. But, they did not want to drag her into that mess. However, they did feel guilty just keeping a secret from her in general. They could not help but wonder what she would say if she found out about that, and what the secret was.