5. Our Handicaps #3
“Wait…” I say, sitting up straighter, trying to see him better.
“You mean Emer gave you something because of me, and it’s causing you pain right now?
” I ask, my heart constricted with barbed wire as it dawns on me that I’m the reason Levi is suffering.
How could I allow this, and how can I make it stop?
Only a monster does this to someone else and calls it love or affection.
Unshed tears burn my eyes as I hope just being in my presence isn’t causing him excruciating pain.
I don’t know what to do if we can’t find a way to fix this, whatever this is.
Dad lets out a long and low whistle as Levi’s corset falls away to expose his left pec and the bright red three-inch circle of raised, angry-looking flesh above his nipple.
“It looks worse than it feels,” Levi murmurs, but as his eyes meet mine briefly before pain hits and he looks away, that’s answer enough. Yes, it’s me.
“It looks like a pregnant mushroom exploded on your chest,” Moni shrieks as she zips back and forth in front of him in her preferred miniature size.
“That’s one hell of a curse,” Dad says, looking at the edges that seem to ripple as if they are moving on their own. It’s like they are waiting for the magic words to spread their disease further along Levi.
“It would help if we knew what you took,” Dr. Steinbeck says under his breath as he pulls out a vial of salve from his S.I.N. box.
“If you can trust what Emer said, I took a combination of the demon memory potion and Condonial.”
“Hmm. It’s been a while since I’ve heard that mineral being used.
I’ll have to look that up, but this salve should help dull some of the pain for now.
I’ll be able to get more information this weekend once your mother gets here.
” Dr. Steinbeck makes a quick note on his pad before handing Levi the salve and showing him how to apply it gently.
We all watch as it slowly dissolves into his skin, hissing and turning black as Levi sighs in relief.
Then dark brown eyes meet mine as Dr. Steinbeck turns back to me.
“Now you, young lady. What are we going to do with you?” He stands, looking between Levi and me, and blows out a frustrated breath. It’s one of the first times I’ve ever seen this man looking weary and somewhat lost.
“Well, we can at least answer what the knife that stabbed her was coated with,” Knots speaks up, pulling everyone’s attention off of me.
Grateful for the reprieve, I finish my drink, setting it down and leaning into Ryker’s side as my stomach finally settles somewhat.
“It seems that Asmodeus has possession of the Eternal Flower, and I don’t know how he got his hands on it, but it was coated with God’s Trumpet,” Knots explains, and the room goes silent.
“Well, sweet! They say the hardest part in solving a problem is admitting you got one, right?” Lynx exclaims, clapping his hands together before jumping up.
“So, now that we know what she’s been hit with, we can find what’s needed to cure this," He pulls me up next to him, ignoring Reaper’s growl of disapproval, and pulls his shirt off to throw over my head. “Let's get our asses moving.”
I can’t help it, taking a big whiff as the shirt cascades over my head and smiling up at him. His turquoise eyes sparkle at me before turning to our group that hasn’t moved, and Knots looks as pale as a sheet.
“Well, come on, Sloths and DoorKnobs, times a-wasting.” Lynx points to the ground. “I would make the portal myself, but I’m a shifter, not a taxi service.”
“Did you forget where Angel admitted that she used the Eternal Flower, Bathmat? It’s attached to Rez’s soul,” Knots says to Lynx, stopping him in his tracks.
“Lynx,” Dean Caldron speaks up solemnly before his eyes deepen with terror as they seek mine out. “If that is true, then there’s no cure for God’s Trumpet. I’m sorry, Nerezza.”
“What is God’s Trumpet?” I weakly ask, lead hitting my stomach. I latch on harder to Lynx’s arm as my world starts to spin faster.
“Well, the good news is, it’s not deadly in a direct way,” Dr. Steinbeck starts, and I manage a slight smirk.
Well, that’s a good thing.
“But it’s a process that leaves you going through symptoms of feeling nauseated, disoriented, having chills or a fever, body aches, and possibly lethargic while your powers become unreliable, leaving you defenseless until you’re practically a human.”
Practically human.
So let me get this straight. I’m going to be human, defenseless, hunted by harpies, and now I’m supposed to enter the Gauntlet—a trial built for magic-users—without any magic.
And on top of that, I have to survive a week of supernatural monsters and deadly terrain without a single spell to my name.
Yeah, that seems completely fair. Who dealt this fucking hand of cards to me?
“It’s okay. The Fates have been fucking me since I got here. I’m used to it.” I swallow down the acidic bile rising in my throat as a cold chill runs over my body, before leaning over and expelling my drink over the floor.
“Hey, bartender. I need a stronger drink and keep my tab open,” I manage to say before plopping back down on the sofa.