Page 88 of Potions and Proposals
Cynthia leaned in. “Despite all that he’s done for Foxford, heisa Matherson. You can never be too careful, especially not when you see how him and that mother of his schemed to take your seat. You have to know that you have the PTA behind you,” she whispered.
“I appreciate the support, but I don’t think we should judge anyone because of their past or their familial name.” Lucy folded her arms. “Wasn’t it the Berkley family who sacrificed their firstborns back in the day? Maybe it’s you we should be keepingan eye on.”
Cynthia’s glare could have cut glass. “You do waste your time reading about ancient history.”
“Oh, there’s plenty to know about your family, and some isn’t so ancient. How is Mr Kepner, the history teacher? I heard you both organised this event very closely,” Lucy hissed, placing her hand on a nearby ice sculpture and letting the heat from her touch swell.
Cynthia swept her curls over her shoulder. “You two are as bad as each other. You should be glad my family doesn’t have a vote, because neither of you is fit to guide us.”
The ice sculpture liquified, and water cascaded over a squealing Cynthia.
“Oh my goodness! It must have been the heat of all the candles and the lights.” Lucy reached for her, but Cynthia shrugged out of her grasp.
“Don’t think I didn’t know this was you,” she hissed, wiping the mascara smudged down her face.
“Please do be reasonable – I’d never use my element to pull such a stunt.”
“Everything okay?” Benedict asked, hurrying to Lucy’s side.
“Perfect! Cynthia and I were just catching up. She was telling me she sadly can’t attend our binding ceremony, and then theice sculpture melted,” she said sweetly. She’d had enough of the Berkley family for one evening.
“I wouldn’t be caught dead supporting either of you!” Cynthia turned, her anger catching the attention of a few nearby guests.
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” Benedict said, clearly confused. Fortunately, when Cynthia stalked off the guests lost interest and drifted away.
Benedict gathered up the water coating the dance floor. Within seconds the ice sculpture stood once again as though nothing had happened.
“Hardly subtle,” he admonished her.
“The kids must have pulled another prank,” she said with a grin. From his eye roll, he didn’t believe her for a second.
“What was eating her, anyway?”
“Nothing that wouldn’t spit her back out again.”
Benedict laced his fingers through hers. Lucy realised her fingers were tipped with flames, the anger in her veins still not satisfied.
“When I saw you grip the table, I thought you were going to set it alight,” he joked.
“I would have, but I figured melting the sculpture wouldn’t expose our elements. Her stupid comments got under my skin and I couldn’t resist. Thought she could use some cooling down,” she said, still irritated. No wonder Cynthia’s kid had been tormenting Thomas; it was horrible to think there were more like her in town.
The next round of chaperones appeared to relieve them, but as they left she couldn’t stop thinking about the discrimination she’d witnessed. Spotting Thomas leaving with his mum, she stopped in her tracks. Benedict jerked back as she held his hand.
“I can’t believe I didn’t catch it before. Essence of dragon,” she said, staring at his confused face. “There was an old spell inthe grimoire I was translating for the Order. In one of the final spells, I couldn’t figure out the translation. It was too vague to decipher, but it was because I mistranslated. It read essence of dragon. In the old myths, ‘essence’ referred to their venom!”
“You’ve lost me. Surely the Order aren’t going to look too closely at one small error?” Benedict said as Lucy started towards the festival grounds. Rosie and Emerson must be there by now.
“It’s not about the Order, it’s about our elements! Dragon venom stripped anyone or anything of its magic or element.”
“So it’s another element-stripping option?” he asked. “We haven’t even tried the last one you found yet.”
“That was a curse-stripping potion; there was no guarantee we’d get ours back.” She didn’t want to admit her mum had destroyed the spell. “Dragon venom works directly on our elements. Those who hunted dragons made a potion to restore their elements if they were exposed to venom!”
“But how does it restore our elements?” Benedict frowned, clearly not following.
“I don’t know! We’re talking about an ancient spell. But it’s written in the grimoire I just spent the past few months translating! All we need to do is use the venom to strip our current elements, and then use the restoring potion to restore our water and fire to their rightful places.”
His eyes widened as he grasped the weight of her words, but he shook his head. “We need the venom of a creature that’s been extinct for over 500 years?”
