Page 19 of Hair, She Bears
“What do you want?” he asked, taking a step closer to the tower.
“Is Mother alright? He jumped from the window, and I wanted to confirm he was completely healed.” Zella tilted her head.
“What does it matter to you?”
“I make the drug. I’d like to know the formula worked.”
Carlyle choked. “You’re the manufacturer?”
“What did you expect, a troll?”
“Well, no…” He tugged on his beard again. “Mother is fine, fully recovered.”
“That is excellent. Thank you.” She pulled her head back into the window. Her gaze dropped to Malik, and she shrugged. Malik held up his hand and counted down on his fingers. When he reached zero, Carlyle’s voice echoed up from the ground.
“Miss?”
Malik grinned and gestured for her to answer.
“Yes?” she asked, leaning out again.
“Since I’m spending my evening guarding you, may I ask a favor?” Carlyle hovered underneath her window.
“There’s not much I can do from up here.”
“I’ve been having terrible aches in my leg, miss.”
“He was shot several years ago during a hijack, saving my father’s life,” Malik murmured. His finger traced a light design over her bare foot. “The cold bothers his injury.”
Zenna dipped her hand into the apron pocket and extracted the over-filled vial of Votras Alute. She held it out the window, allowing the setting sun to stream through the bottle.
“Mr…”
“Carlyle.” His eyes followed the vial.
“Mr. Carlyle.”
“Just Carlyle, miss.”
“Carlyle, I do have one test bottle of powder from this morning’s batch.” She placed her hand on the windowsill and leaned further out, the vial clasped between two fingers. “However, I must warn you, this is a strong dose.”
“I can handle it.” His growl held a note of pride.
“What does that mean?” Malik muttered. Zenna’s eyes flicked to him.
“It’s a full vial, so this amount will cure his injury.”
“Completely?” His eyes rounded. “Mother said that wasn’t possible. He warned too much would cause a person to go insane.”
“He lied.”
“Carlyle was at my father’s side when he took control from Bruno Rossi…” Malik’s finger tapped a gentle rhythm on the top of her foot. “Give it to him.”
She nodded and returned her attention to the man pacing back and forth in front of the tower.
“Ready?”
Carlyle stretched up his hand.
