Chapter 8 #2
While I had recently experienced just how pleasant he could be, I wasn’t about to explain it to her.
“Ri-ight,” she said when Sebastian only glowered. “Come on back, fill up a few jars, and I’ll hand over the new batch of potions.”
Glancing at Sebastian, I walked around the counter, then followed Isadora back to her workroom.
Normally it was fairly tidy with rows of jars and bottles, some glowing or glittery, others empty or with just a clear gel waiting to be infused with magic.
Now, the workroom was a total mess. Broken glass had been swept up into one far corner in a puddle of glittering ooze.
More liquids of various colors and viscosity had been hastily wiped up with what looked like old teeshirts cut into rags.
The floorboards not far from where I stood were scorched black, and a peculiar sulfuric smell permeated the space.
I did a slow spin, noticing a broken shelf that had been propped up with a broom. The filled jars on the shelf had slid precariously close to the edge. No wonder she hadn’t finished sweeping up the glass. “What the hells happened?”
Isadora had gone to her work table and looked back at me, shaking her head.
“Goblin punks. They came in here making demands and when I told them to get lost, they charged into my workroom.” She turned around fully with a jar of clear jelly in each hand.
“They got what was coming to them, but unfortunately my security measures did a bit too much damage.” She shrugged.
“It can be hard to get the explosions just right. Air pressure and temperature make a big difference.”
Now the scorch marks made sense. “Did the goblins make it out alive?”
“Unfortunately. One got hit with the hallucinogenic fumes and ran out of here screaming. The other limped out bleeding. I decided it wasn’t worth going after them, and they won’t get as far as my front doorstep if they come back.”
“Remind me to never mess with you.” My eyes drifted to Sebastian where he stood in the doorway.
It was probably a complete coincidence that goblins had tried to rob the same alchemist we’d visited on multiple occasions, but it was still worth noting.
Especially since our watchers had at least enough goblin blood to be welcome in the Bogs.
Isadora held out the jars expectantly. “Infuse these both with your magic, and we’ll be even for the last batch.” She looked at Sebastian. “And I want one more of yours for today’s order.”
I was dying to know what was in today’s order, but I’d ask Sebastian later. Even though we’d used the concoctions under dire circumstances, I could admit… they were pretty fun.
The payment, however—
I took the jars in hand, unsure of my ability to fill them.
Last time, Sebastian had roused my magic, clamping my hand over the open jar before I had even realized what was happening.
At least that meant maybe it didn’t require much concentration or knowhow.
Maybe it would be just as simple as summoning some magic and letting the gel in the open jar do the rest.
Isadora crossed her arms and leaned her butt against her worktable, a small, knowing smile playing at her lips.
I glared. “A little privacy, please?”
Her shoulders slumping with disappointment, she pushed off the worktable.
“Fi-ine. I need to set some new traps out front anyways.” She walked toward the door, then turned in the entryway.
“But I’m doing so grudgingly.” With one last look at each of us, she walked out into the front of the shop, leaving the door open behind her.
I looked down at the jars in my hands. It would probably be better to do one at a time, just in case I managed one but didn’t have enough juice for a second. One complete jar was better than two half-assed ones, wasn’t it?
I set one jar on the ground at my feet, avoiding any of the spills. Now that I knew one of the goblins had been injured, I recognized one big puddle as blood. If he’d sustained enough injuries, it might make him easier to identify…
I realized Sebastian had moved closer, and I had to swallow the lump in my throat. His fingers skimmed my hand as he gripped the jar lid, then unscrewed it. “We don’t have long before we need to meet Penelope.”
He was right, so why was I just staring at him like every rational thought had left my brain? “Right. Yep.” I tore my gaze from him to look down into the jar. “Now how does this go again?” I muttered under my breath.
“Free hand over the opening.” Either Sebastian hadn’t realized the question was rhetorical, or he didn’t care and just wanted me to hurry up.
Either way, I sealed my hand over the jar opening, closed my eyes, and tried to summon my magic.
As expected, nothing happened. I swallowed an even bigger lump in my throat. I wasn’t good at being put on the spot, and to add to it being alone with Sebastian again was distracting. Dammit, I was nervous.
Sebastian stepped closer, his long fingers skimming my neck. Suddenly I could sense his impatience, but underneath that was something else. Something warm, like a cozy crackling fire.
His fingers slipped away. “Stop doing that.”
I opened my eyes. “Hey man, I’m not the one leaking my emotions all over the place, and I’m certainly not picking up on them intentionally.” I wasn’t even sure it was actually happening until I saw the look in his eyes. That look confirmed exactly what I had felt last night.
“Has it happened with anyone else?” he asked, his tone bland.
“Gabriel a few times, mostly when he’s angry.”
Sebastian frowned. “I cannot help you rouse your magic if you keep doing it.”
Okay, I was maybe he didn’t realize it had happened last night too. “It’s not intentional!” I stepped back, clutching the jar.
“It would not happen if you managed to learn any amount of control over your magic.”
“As the guy who needs my magic, you might want to choose your words more wisely.”
He leaned forward, putting us eye to eye. “Or what?”
“Or I’ll take you to a far realm and leave your ass there for eternity.” I had narrowed my eyes so far, I almost didn’t notice the purple glow in my hands. I lifted the jar, observing the glittery, glowing contents. “Huh.”
Sebastian lifted the next jar, handing it to me as he took the filled one and screwed on the lid.
“You did that on purpose,” I accused.
“I told you, we’re short on time.”
“Man, you two have drama.”
I turned to see Isadora standing in the doorway. Clutching the next jar, it wasn’t difficult to summon more anger, and it was filled in no time. At least now we could get on with our day.