Page 124 of A Drop of Anguish
My heart lifts and sinks at the same time. Janet rushes to the little pixie falling, and I’m a few steps behind. Her lifeless body flutters down, twisting and making it hard to calculate exactly where she’ll hit, but Janet leaps to grab her carefully between both hands and then pulls her into her chest, cradling her like a baby.
“Good catch!” I say, panting. Just a few feet away is that massive monstrosity, snoozing peacefully. It groans but remains down. “Is she okay?”
Janet holds Lola out, lying on her open hands. Her body is limp, but her chest rises and falls slightly.
“Mm okay,” a tiny voice mumbles. Both Janet and I release relieved sighs. “Did I—did it work?”
“Yes!” Janet says. “Screw those Major Hall dicks.”
I stare. Did Janet just insult someone? “You did amazing, Lola!”
“I bet you could get in now if you wanted,” Janet says more softly.
“No,” Lola whispers. “I’m not leaving Minor Hall. I can prove myself outside of school. I’ll be more successful than all of them.”
“Yeah, you will!” My heart is full of hope for my wonderful friends, who I wish I was better to. They’re incredible all on their own, and I’m so happy they’re beginning to see it. But first, we have to make it the hell out of here.
“Excuse me, but I have a potion to figure out.” Who knows how long we have until a new threat arrives?
I glance at Thompson and Jarron still desperately clawing at the force field. The demon looks like a panicked wild animal. His muscles flex as he throws his whole body at the magic keeping us apart.
Something tugs at my gut, and I turn back to look at the felled beast snoring behind me.
Clear goo pours from its nose. I tap my knee, considering.
Troll snot is an ingredient in some potions—including my nullifier. Could minotaur snot have similar properties? Or maybe the venom? I wrack my brain, trying to think this through. Minotaurs are very different than trolls. They’re stronger in magic.
Finish the potion, the voice tells me what I already know.
I rush to grab an empty vial from the shelves. There’s only one, so I’m assuming it’s the correct measurements. Then, I run back to the minotaur and drop to my knees beside its massive head.
I grimace as I place the vial under the sticky clear liquid.
Smart girl, the voice purrs in praise.You always were the smarter of us two.
My heart aches for several reasons at once. Jarron’s roar shakes me to my core, all of a sudden loud and clear.
I glance back to find he has partially broken through the barrier and is trying to force his way through a small opening. The skin on his back is ripping, blood caking the invisible magic surrounding him. He will tear himself apart to get to me.
Look how desperately he fights for you, the voice whispers in my ear. Except, it’s different now. It’s closer and softer and so utterly familiar. My stomach squeezes.
“Will he still fight for you like this once he learns that I am alive?” she asks from over my shoulder.
49
We’ll Face It Together
The glowing silhouette of a beautiful girl appears behind me.
The same kind of glowing figure that taunted me to enter the Akrasia Games a few weeks ago. She’s the same.
I close my eyes before I react. Has this been Liz the whole time? Every message, every word whispered. She’s been trying to help me?
It would make sense for her to help me. The letters and the note in the book would all fit.
Is that the puzzle piece I’m missing? Liz is still alive.
Liz is the jinn?
