15

Abel

“Solana, wait up!” I called out when we drew near the kitchen door, the huge brown double doors that led to the dining room wide ajar. She swiveled around once to scoff at me, then ran straight into the house.

I chased after her hotly, almost knocking over a maid who was busy shuffling around in the kitchen and setting things for breakfast. “Sorry!”

“Solana!” I shouted, only a few steps behind her now. She panted as she went up the stairs two at a time, her chest heaving, and her speed and agility quite incredible for a girl. She suddenly missed a foot, a cry wringing past her lips as she fell, almost hitting her forehead on the edge of a stair when I reached out and caught her by the waist, lifting her, holding her close to my chest. She clung to me, her breathing heavy and I realized why she'd run away. Her face glistened, stained with tears and a few drops of mucus fell from her nose — the effect of the cold morning. Her eyes were puffy, face flushed scarlet.

She shifted her e