Chapter 15
Ma was gone for the morning, so I took the opportunity to reorganize the shelves in the back of the Apothecary. The desire to tear them apart had been clawing at me for a while, but that wasn’t the type of work that Ma prioritized.
Usually, we just flung our freshly distilled potions onto the shelves with little care. It took forever to restock anything with this routine.
I started by taking all the bottles down and dusting them. Some were well past their expiration date. I sighed. This was why we desperately needed a new system. The money and resources we would save just by putting things in some type of grouping would be a game changer.
Eyeing the cubbies to the left, a wave of exhaustion hit me. A pile of scattered stones sat haphazardly around the baskets meant to house them. I picked up a piece of amethyst, blowing dust into the air. I rubbed the surface against my apron until it reflected the light.
There were a few stones I couldn’t identify. One in particular stood out. I was sure I’d never seen anything like it. It was stuck somewhere between a deep blue and violet, and shimmers of light ran through its center as if it was alive.
The bell on the front door chimed. A sliver of anxiety ran over me as Ma's footsteps approached. Things had been so tense between us lately. I hoped my morning project wouldn’t push us further in that direction.
Her eyes narrowed as she took in the new setup.
“Fia, what have you done now?” Ma questioned, arching her brow at me.
“I did some mild organizing.” I gulped. She didn’t look happy. With a bit of hesitation, I strode over to the shelves and began explaining the new system.
“So I can’t just throw the products back here anymore? I have to put them in their correct section?” She eyed me. Only Ma would have such an aversion to efficiency.
She walked around the shelves, inspecting them. I couldn’t figure out what she was thinking.
“I guess it’s not so bad. We probably should have done this a long time ago.” She turned to me, rolling her eyes and giving me the smile I hadn’t seen in weeks.
A wave of relief washed over me.
“So you like it?” I asked a bit too eagerly.
“Well, I didn’t say that. But I understand the need for some structure around here. We all know it’s not my strong suit.” She walked over to her desk and sat down.
“I do have a question, actually,” I said, following her.
“Hmm?”
“What is this? I’ve never seen it before.” I held out my hand to reveal the mysterious blue-violet stone.
“It just came in yesterday, actually.” She smiled and observed it proudly. “I’ve been trying to get my hands on a piece of it for some time. It’s called arcanite.”
“It looks as though it’s alive.” I held it up to the flame of a candle and peered through the lights that danced within. The sharp exterior refracted a kaleidoscope of colors onto the wall.
“It’s very rare. Some think it’s simply a conductor for essence. Or that it can store it. No one really knows for sure. But things seem to thrive around it.”
“How does it work?” I asked. I’d never learned about this in school. I wondered where it came from.
“It’s a bit of a mystery, but I have a few experiments in mind. I was going to bury one of the stones in a plant box in the greenhouse and see if it enhances the growth rate or yield.”
“Interesting. We’ll have to keep an eye on it.” I gave her a slight smile and wandered back to my station. I hoped I’d be here long enough to see the effects, but part of me was hopeless.
Ma stayed silent for a while, rifling through some parchment. Eventually, she sighed and looked up at me.
“Listen Fia, I know things have been tense lately between us. I don’t want you to think I’m upset with you. I’ve just been trying to process everything. You know how I feel about the Guard. After everything that happened with my brother… I mean, I won’t lie, I’m a bit terrified–”
“No need to be. I’m not training with the General anymore,” I interrupted her, desperate for things to go back to normal between us. I couldn’t get there fast enough.
Her eyes widened.
“I–well, it just wasn't working out.” I gave her a half-smile before looking down. A tinge of sadness tried to creep in, but I shook it off.
Ma just stared at me. I slid into my desk chair and leaned back, giving her a look of reassurance.
“Fia… I don’t know what to say. You wanted to try.
I get it. I think it was noble of you. I do…
” She gave me a sympathetic look. “But selfishly, I’m so relieved that you’ve ended it.
You have no idea how worried I have been about you.
I don’t trust him. There’s some thing about the General that doesn’t sit right with me. I don’t think his intentions are good.”
Ma leaned over the desk as her head shook. The lines of her face seemed softer.
“I understand. It was a mistake.” I sighed. “I just want us to be okay again.”
Ma nodded and smiled at me, letting me know that we were on the same page. The rest of the day breezed by in perfect monotony.
I shuffled to the back of the shop, making sure the cauldrons were cooled before grabbing my bag. Ma was waiting for me in the front, leaning against the door frame and quietly humming to herself. For the first time in weeks, the tension in her posture was gone.
“Tell Osta to come by soon. It’s been forever since she’s pranced around the shop, distracting you from your work. I miss it.” Ma chuckled. Things felt deliciously normal.
“I’ll let her know. I’m sure she misses your relentless taunting just as much.” I laughed and reached for the door. She nudged me playfully as we stepped outside.
The evening breeze had a crispness to it. I wrapped my arms around myself to keep the shivers at bay. Ma turned around to lock up. The sun was barely visible above the horizon and the street buzzed with city sounds as people made their trek home from work.
I glanced over to find Ma staring off to the left with narrowed eyes.
“Fia,” was all she said.
My body flooded with fear. The General was walking towards us with his usual confident gate. The air froze in my lungs .
He wasn’t wasting any more time, it seemed. But did he have to do this at this very fucking moment?
Esprithe sake .
I narrowed my eyes, feeling Ma's gaze on me. She couldn’t see this.
I turned towards her, meeting her puzzled expression. “Ma, I’ll take care of this. You should just head home,” I said, but the words seemed to flow past her. Clearly, she intended on staying for whatever was about to take place.
I could kill him.
Maybe I should—a last act of defiance before accepting my fate. Something purred inside me at the thought.
I glared at him as he approached. He wore a long wool coat and his usual black attire. His eyes looked inquisitive and clever. But his face seemed… different?
“Good evening Fia, I hope you’ve been well,” he said in his typical, velvety tone. “Maladea, it’s nice to see you again.” He nodded in her direction.
We both stayed silent.
He shifted his weight and looked down before crossing his arms. He looked nervous. Or like he was trying to look nervous. I wasn’t sure.
What is going on?
“Fia, I’d really like to have a conversation with you.” He glanced up, meeting my gaze with a sparkle in his eye and a soft smile. Forced charm didn’t particularly suit him, but he sure was laying it on thick.
I scoffed. A part of me wanted to laugh at his performance.
“Fia, I know our last meeting ended badly. And I take responsibility for my part in that.” His lips went rigid.
There it was.
A crack in the facade.
“So why are you here?” I asked, keeping my voice flat. Ma shot me a look of disapproval but stayed silent .
“I want us to try one more time. I think I’ve found an alternative approach. If this doesn’t work, you never have to hear from me again. You have my word.” He raised his hands as if to offer some sort of surrender.
I’d never hear from him again? It sounded too good to be true. I didn’t believe it for a second.
“What is this different approach?” I questioned, crossing my arms.
“We can discuss that at the gym,” he said plainly. His eyes stole a quick glance at Ma, who was still standing there, silently trying to hide her contempt.
“Nothing has worked so far.” I tried to keep my voice level, but some of it came out with more ice than intended.
“Fia, just put your faith in me this one last time. You owe it to yourself to try. I know you want to learn to control this. And we can go now, just to get it over with. No waiting, no games. And I promise to be on my best behavior this time.” He smiled.
My eyes narrowed.
Your promise means nothing.
The words echoed in my mind. I had drilled that truth deep into my bones.
Never take him at his word. Always suspect an ulterior motive.
The General’s only priority was himself.
This act couldn’t fool me. I saw him for exactly what he was, what he had always been: a devastatingly beautiful serpent, just like the symbol that loomed upon every flag in this kingdom and every set of armor in the Guard.
Nothing had changed.
My eyes shifted to Ma, who was subtly shaking her head in disapproval. “Ma, you should go home. I–” I cut my eyes to the General, “I’m going to go with him and see what this miraculous plan is before I agree to anything.”
She didn’t know it, but I didn’t exactly have a choice.
I turned back to Ma. If her sour expression was any indication, she was not buying any of this.
“I’ll be fine. I promise. And I’ll see you tomorrow.” I gave her a quick hug, which she didn’t return. She sighed and took off in the direction of her apartment.
I exhaled sharply. The man’s timing was excruciating. He really couldn’t wait until I was alone?
For Epsrithe fucking sake .
“Shall we?” he cooed, coming to stand beside me. As soon as Ma was out of sight, his demeanor snapped back to that of the General. The snake. We started towards the gym. Satisfaction seemed to radiate with every step he took.
As we approached the familiar reflective windows, my heart felt heavy. I had stormed out in such a rage the last time. He stopped and softly grabbed my arm, turning me towards him. I jerked away from the heat of his touch.
“Aren’t we going inside?” I questioned, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes, but we need to talk first.” His expression was serious now.
“I know I’ve been hard on you and perhaps caused more frustration than encouragement.
This is a new situation for me as well. I usually train people to enhance an ability they can already channel.
It’s been a bit of trial and error with you.
I might have made some mistakes in my approach–”
“Just tell me what the plan is,” I interrupted him. The man truly loved rambling, or maybe he just loved the sound of his own voice. I couldn’t be sure.
“I need you to forget everything we’ve learned.
Approach this with a fresh mind. Pay attention.
Find your focus. That is the priority.” His eyes locked with mine.
There was no trace of the General I had come to know.
The face staring back at me was devoid of the mystery that usually drenched his features.
"I need you to trust me.” The intensity of his eyes made me want to believe him.
I paused, but eventually nodded. It’s not like I could change my mind now.
He turned towards the door .
“Find it,” he reminded me before pulling the handle and motioning for me to step inside.
This time, there was no hesitation. I walked straight past him and into the dimly lit gym.
The door closed behind me. The General’s footsteps were slow, measured.
I glanced towards our practice area and froze.
A chill ran over my entire body as I made eye contact with the blue-eyed guard from the dam.