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“Okay!” Kira transformed and hid under the bed again. “You really need to vacuum under here if I’m going to be hiding here a lot.”

“I’ll do it tomorrow evening,” Sera promised as she went to fetch her mother.

“You don’t feel well, honey?” Aunt Sophie sat down by Ophelia. She was wrapped in a black silk dressing gown embroidered with a pretty blue dragon that matched her eyes. Ophelia shook her head.

“My head aches and I feel sick,” she said. “I feel like a ton of bricks landed on it.”

“Hmm. Does the light bother you?” Aunt Sophie asked. Ophelia shook her head again and Aunt Sophie gave a relieved smile. “Well, at least it’s not menigitis or a migraine for that matter.” She laid a hand against Ophelia’s forehead. “You’re a bit warm. I’ll get you some painkillers and if you aren’t better after a couple more hours sleep I’ll call Cass and tell her I think you have the flu… okay?”

“Okay…” Ophelia agreed and Sophie disappeared to get the tablets.

“I like your mother, Sera.” Kira poked a few flames out from under the bed. “She’s cool.”

“She is cool,” Sera agreed. “I’m lucky. Some of the parents at school are really awful.”

“And some are just useless,” Ophelia added. “Like Kate’s stepmother.”

“Yeah,” Sera said. “Like her. I sweat that woman is acid or pot or something.”

“Well she is a hippe,” Ophelia chuckled then groaned as it made her head hurt worse.

“What’s the difference between awful and use–” Kira broke off and hid again as they heard Aunt Sophie coming back. She came in with a glass of water and two Co-codamol which she handed to Ophelia.

“These should help, dear. Try to get some sleep as well. It helps just about anything. We’ll see how you feel once it’s time to get up. I think you should let Ophelia have your bed, Seraphina, since she’s sick and it’s more comfortable than the camp bed.”

“Okay, mum,” Sera agreed. “That’s a good idea.”

“Thanks!” Ophelia smiled at Sera and tried to stand uo but her legs buckled. “Meh…” she said as Aunt Sophie caught her. “My legs feel like jelly. Really heavy leaden jelly.”

“Hmm… definately sounds like flu,” Aunt Sophie said. “Help me get her to the bed, Seraphina.”

“I’m sorry to be so much trouble, Aunt Sophie,” Ophelia said as the reached the bed.

“Don’t worry about it.” Aunt Sophie laughed softly. “I’m sure you didn’t get sick deliberately.”

“Of course I didn’t… but it’s the last thing you need after MMike just recovered.”

“These things happen, dear.” Aunt Sophie shrugged. “I’ll go and get you a hot water bottle too. You’re shivering and in this weather that’s not good.”

Ophelia blinked and looked down to find it was true.

“That’s odd I don’t feel cold.” She frowned. “Well maybe just a little.”

“The hot water bottle will fix that.” Aunt Sophie smiled and left the room again.

“I should get home.” Kira emerged from under the bed, “I need to debrief with Dad and Gran. I’ll see you later whether you make it to school or not.”

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