Seven Years Later
"Noah, did you do this?" Elara stood over her older brother, holding out a shirt that had clearly been ruined by thick, yellow paint.
Noah, eyes locked on the gaming screen, didn't even turn his head. "Elara, I'm busy. Don't disturb me. I'm at the final level and I have to win."
Elara's eyes flickered with a faint violet hue. Instead of arguing, she walked over to the wall outlet and yanked the plug. The TV screen cut to black, accompanied by a chorus of groans from the three boys in the room.
"Elara, you made us lose!" Nyxen, the son of Katelyn and Sage, shouted.
"We were on the final level," Zevan, Dominick and Jeniva's son, added with frustration.
Noah remained silent, but he turned toward his younger sister, his expression hardening.
"You should have answered me when I asked you nicely, Noah," Elara said, turning to leave. "I'm telling Daddy you destroyed my painting."
