Page 77 of Spark of Sorcery

I just came from yelling at Professor Fox and theoretically he’s a lot more scary than Madame.

Inhaling, I push down on the handle and step inside the classroom.

Madame’s kohl-lined eyes snap to me, then away and she continues issuing instructions about a potion without acknowledging me at all.

I search for a spare seat and am somewhat relieved to find Dray’s in the class as usual. I don’t think Madame would try anything with him here.

I’m less pleased to find him signaling toward an empty chair he’s saved next to his. This puts me right in the front row and right in Madame’s firing line. However, there are no other seats so I don’t have a choice but to take the one offered.

I tiptoe across the classroom as quietly as I can, even though everyone is watching me, and slide into my seat. Almost immediately, cauldrons, implements and ingredients appear on the desk in front of me.

Madame claps her hands.

“Begin,” she says.

I look down helplessly at the collection of objects. I have no clue whatsoever what we’re meant to be doing.

“And remember, anyone who fails to complete this task will be staying behind for detention.”

Madame smiles, her red lips stretched wide and I’m sure that smile is aimed like a weapon at me. The last thing I want to do is spend a detention with Madame. Firstly,because I have a hungry baby dragon to feed. Secondly, she might kill me.

Dray bumps his elbow against me.

“We’re turning lead into gold,” he says.

“I thought that was illegal,” I mutter.

“Is it?” he says with a wink. “You need to start by dousing your piece of lead in bat’s piss.”

“Ewww.” I scrunch up my nose. “That is gross”

“It’s actually a delicacy,” he says, chewing his gum. His eyes flick down my form. “Just like someone else I know. You know your pussy should be considered the most precious delicacy–”

“Can we get back to the lead and the piss?” I say, peering over my shoulder at Madame who I am sure is listening in.

“The bat’s piss smells pretty good, although freaking strong.” Dray lifts up a stoppered bottle on his desk and holds it up to the light. He takes a deep inhale. “Yeah, it’s nice.”

I sniff too, but I don’t have his wolfish olfactory skills and I can’t smell a thing. However, I’m guessing the bat’s piss is hiding any scent of dragon that may be lingering on my skin. A good thing. I don’t need Dray interrogating me in front of the Madame.

“Mr. Eros,” the Madame calls, from where she is rearranging her case of cigarettes as she perches on her desk, legs crossed, feet dangling and quite a bit of thigh showing. “I’m sure Miss Storm can do this without your help.”

“Bet she can,” he says, all smoldering eyes and good looks, “but I just can’t stop myself from helping others,” he rests his hand on his chest, “it’s like an addiction.”

“Then rein that addiction in. Students should be working alone,” she says, a little more frostily.

“I wish I could,” he says earnestly, “honestly, I really wish I could. But it’s impossible. Plus she’s our thrall,” I frown, “so the compulsion is even stronger.”

He smiles at Madame and to everyone else the smile probably seems perfectly sweet. I can see there’s something sinister about it, though. A warning for Madame not to interfere.

The Deputy Head uncrosses and recrosses her legs. Then mutters, “Very well.”

“Was that wise?” I whisper to him a few minutes later as he’s helping me to boil my bat’s piss with his magic. “Madame is in charge of the academy.”

“Yeah, but not the fucking realm, Kitten.” He laughs, like I’m being delightfully stupid.

I don’t entirely understand his meaning. Dray doesn’t know about Thorne helping me in the maze. He doesn’t know Thorne stopped and restrained Madame Bardin. He also doesn’t know it was Madame who attacked me.

As well as soaking the tiny piece of lead in bat’s piss, we’re also required to add a collection of equally delightful ingredients. Wild boar toenails, frog’s intestines and rat balls. Each is more revolting than the last and nearly everyone is dry-heaving into their fists by the time we come to the final ingredient.