Page 51 of Liminal

I’m saved from trying to figure out the subtle undertones when a nudge from the Arcanaeum draws my gaze up. A familiar pair of black eyes frown down at me from the Gallery.

Dakari must’ve showered, because his skin is clear of the grime that coated him before, and he’s wearing a fresh set of clothes.

How much of that mess with the Carltons did he see?

All at once, I feel surrounded by them. Suffocated.

Every single heir was in the Arcanaeum together for the first time in centuries.

All of a sudden, I’m transported mentally back to the Vault, surrounded by the six families as they watch my life force bleed out.

Before I can do something melodramatic, like start running down the halls wailing like a true poltergeist, I let go, joining with the Arcanaeum until they can’t find me.

Surely, whatever this is will pass. I just need rest.

Fifteen

Kyrith

Idon’t go to Hopkinson’s class.

I drift, formless, within the building for a few hours, then stay invisible as I grind up the herbs and set potions to distil in the corner of Jasper’s room. Dakari watches the bottles and jars floating, but says nothing, honouring my silent request for space.

Until it comes time to start treatment, and there’s no putting it off any longer.

I’ve deliberately left it until the last possible moment. There are just ten minutes until the others will arrive for tutoring, so if Dakari has questions, I have a reasonable excuse not to answer them.

It’s not cowardly; it’s strategic.

I breeze into being and look down at Jasper, knowing instinctively that Dakari’s head has snapped up to watch me.

“This will not be pleasant,” I warn him. “But it is necessary.”

That’s all the preparation I give him before I murmur an immobilisation spell under my breath and tip the contents of the small vial down Jasper’s throat.

His system has been decimated by whatever potions they’ve been giving him, and I need to sort out his liver and kidneys before I work on anything else. If they fail while I’m trying to treat his heart…

Jasper’s eyes fly open, and his throat works like he’s trying to reject the potion, but I use my magic to force his jaw shut. For the first time I see the warm chocolate rings of his irises, almost completely drowned out by the yellowed whites.

“Shhh,” I whisper, trying my best to soothe him. “I promise, this will pass. I’m sorry it hurts.”

All I can do is try to comfort him as the seizures work their way through his body. It’s not a pretty process. The Arcanaeum helps where it can, cleaning soiled bedding stained with sweat and other fluids as soon as they become dirty.

I can’t touch him, but I use telekinesis to brush a sweat-soaked lock of hair from his forehead. It’s just a small gesture, but it seems to soothe him somewhat.

It feels like longer than ten minutes before the potion has run its course, and Jasper finally goes limp on the bed, exhausted and spent.

But a quick spell reveals his kidneys and liver have been rejuvenated. It will take a few hours for the effects to show, but already some of the yellowing and puffiness is subsiding, leaving flawless skin that holds the hint of a rich bronze undertone.

“When will he wake?” Dakari asks, but I shake my head.

“He can’t yet. I had to heal his liver and his kidneys before I start on his heart. Once his body is healthy, I can start on the rest. The damage to his magical core is extreme. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Dakari’s scowl returns, a dark threat consuming his expression, and I float backward instinctively.

“I’ll give him the night to recover,” I murmur. “I have guests who need tending to, anyway. In the morning, I’ll administer the heart tincture to try to reduce the swelling there. Depending on how he responds… perhaps a week until he wakes up.”

Dakari closes his book slowly, as if the action physically pains him.