Safe and Sound

                                    

                                          
Characters: Estelle, Seren, and Azriel
Book: This story does not directly tie into any of my fanfictions. 
This story would take place when Estelle is four years old. 
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	Estelle lay awake, hugging a pillow in a deadly grip. Thunder clapped outside the walls of her bedroom. She folded her wings around herself and tugged a thick blanket over her head. It wasn't enough to hide the flashes of lightning that illuminated her room. 
	She wasn't sure she liked having a big room to herself, even though it was large enough to play in, and her parents' room was right next door. She didn't mind it during the day, but sometimes, it was scary at night, especially during storms. She didn't like storms. They were big, loud, and powerful. She was so small in comparison.
	Estelle sat up, flipping her ponytail over her shoulder so that it hung down her back. She drew her knees to her chest and gazed out her balcony doors. They were securely fastened as always, but a part of her was afraid that they'd fly open and the wind would pull her right out of bed. It would yank her into the sky and carry her so far away that no one would ever be able to find her. 
	That's not true, her shadows whispered, brushing against her round cheeks. We are part Illyrian. The wind obeys us. We're the ones with wings. 
	"Wings that Daddy says I can't use yet," Estelle whispered. "I'm not big or strong enough."
	Soon you'll be able to, and the wind knows it must bow to you anyway. 
	Thunder boomed, rattling her windows and shelves. Estelle yelped, throwing the blanket over her head. I'm safe, she told herself. Mama says thunder can't hurt me, and Daddy used his magic to ward the house. I'm safe. 
	Safe, safe, safe, the shadows murmured. They nestled in her hair and coiled around her neck. Safe with the Shadow and the Flame. 
	Estelle bit her lip, itching to crawl out of bed and go into her parents' room. She clutched her blanket tighter, fighting the urge. She'd been trying to sleep in her own room more ever since her little brother was born. She'd seen how tired her parents were some mornings and knew they needed to sleep uninterrupted. 
	Go, the shadows urged. They won't mind. 
	Estelle flinched as another crack of thunder resonated in her pointed ears. She lifted her head a heartbeat later, hearing a softer sound. Estelle threw her blanket off, listening intently. The cry came again. She slid out of bed and tiptoed to the door. It opened with a faint creak. Estelle peered into the hallway, but saw no one. Again, the cry reached her. 
	She left her bedroom and paused beside her parents' door. If her brother was crying, surely her parents would hear it. Then again, if they were as tired tonight as they were other nights, maybe they wouldn't. Estelle pushed the door open and ducked inside. There were two more doors on the wall opposite her parents' bed. One led to the bathroom and the other led to her brother's nursery. 
	Estelle slunk across the room and opened the nursery door. A timid coo greeted her. She smiled, padding towards the cradle. Estelle dragged her stool over to its side and stepped up, peering down at her brother. Lysander's eyes were wide as he looked at her. 
	"Were you crying?" Estelle whispered. 
	His small hand reached for her. She let her own fall and Lysander wrapped his fist around her finger. Shadows slithered down his arm and he gasped, trying to kick his legs. His own tiny wings sprawled out on either side of him, fluttering as he wiggled.