Page 43 of Treasured

Placing a paperweight on the open grimoire, Odette gripped the edge of the table with one hand, raising her other palm in the air. She chanted, her voice low and steady, and bright blue threads left her outstretched hand.

My back stiffened at the sight of her magic, even though it wasn’t directed at me. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to listen to someone speaking in another language without a bolt of fear running through me. Sebastian and I were used to the Tether now and even—mostly—considered it a blessing, but it didn’t mean I was any happier about being forced into it against our will.

Maybe once this was all over, I would devote some of my immortal life to learning all the languages spoken in the Four Kingdoms. It would certainly be a useful skill.

Blue magic spun around the cave as though guided by an invisible wind, building in intensity. Soon, the ribbons enveloped Odette entirely. Her voice grew louder and louder until she was yelling.

I squeezed Sebastian’s hand, barely breathing as the thick storm of magic veiled my new friend from sight.

And then Odette stopped speaking.

The silence was so sudden that each lub-dub of my heart was a boom of thunder. My breath hitched. Sebastian unfurled his wings, and they curled around me protectively.

Odette released the table and spread her arms. The ribbons hovered in the air for another moment before gathering into a tight ball the size of my fist. The sphere rotated clockwise three times. Still turning, it dove into the glass tube with the mashed remains of the leaf.

The witch picked up the vial of the black liquid from beside the grimoire. “Remember the experiment yesterday?” she asked.

I thought back and wrinkled my nose. “The one that produced a sulfuric stench?”

The three of us chuckled.

“That’s the one.” Odette gestured to the glass container. “If this works, this will be even worse.”

Before we could say anything—or even plug our noses—Odette poured the entire black vial into the magic/leaf mixture. The blue sphere twisted and writhed as the inky liquid made its way down the tube until everything bubbled and hissed.

A foul odor, like rotting meat that had been left out for days and then mixed with old eggs, filled the air. To say that it smelled bad would be an understatement of epic proportions.

Sebastian coughed, covering his nose with his sleeve, but I couldn’t move. My eyes were glued to the table in front of me. The concoction was now a deep violet, resembling the darkest part of the night before dawn, and swirls of black ink floated on the surface. Green specks were dotted throughout. Even though it smelled, it felt… right. I couldn’t explain it, but I knew we were on the right track.

Odette pulled out a cork from her pocket and covered the container.

“Now what?” Sebastian asked, his nose still plugged.

The witch huffed a laugh at his reaction before smiling. “Now we wait. The grimoire says it will be ready in four to five days.”

“And then we can test it?” I asked eagerly.

She smiled. “And then we can test it.”

Four or five nights, and then Marius might wake.

I surged forward, hugging the witch. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

Odette smiled, squeezing me back. “I hope it works.”

“Me too.”

Sebastian made a choking sound behind me, and I glanced over my shoulder. His eyes were watering, and though his nose was covered, it didn’t take a scientist to understand the foul odor was negatively affecting him.

“I think we may need to come back later,” I whispered loudly to the witch.

She glanced at Sebastian, a smirk dancing on her lips. “I see that. Go ahead.” Odette closed the grimoire. “My olfactory senses were damaged in a lab accident many years ago. I’ll keep an eye on things here.”

“Thank Isvana,” Sebastian choked out.

Taking pity on him, I threaded my hand through his. “Why don’t we go for a walk? Some fresh air might do us both some good.”

Sebastian’s shadows pulled us out of the smelly laboratory so fast I barely had time to say farewell to Odette.

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