39. Chapter 38
In the following weeks, Ivy and Ezra tried to unlock more memories of that night.
But the spell was inconsistent. Most times it would only last for seconds before both of their energy would wane.
Or the spell would latch onto a different day, which had nothing to do with the ritual.
Every memory spell and potion came with a warning of too many attempts in a short span of time.
Making more than one attempt to pull at a memory within forty-eight hours could overload the mind and cause permanent damage.
Depending on the intensity of the spell or potion, the waiting period could be longer.
“We should try this potion instead,” Ivy said, tossing her notebook on the desk in her room.
“Fine, we’ll wait.” She sighed, sinking onto her mattress and letting her arms fall to the side like a bird spreading its wings. “It feels like we’ve been making no progress and I’m…”
“Getting scared?” he asked.
She pushed herself up to sit on the edge of the bed. “Yes. It’s been over a month since they took Briar. What if she’s dead? Or what if they’re torturing her?”
“Well, the Winter Ball is coming.” Ezra sat next to her. “I don’t know why they’d plan a party for the week before finals, b—”
“Probably to take another person before most of campus leaves for break,” she murmured.
Before the thought could enter her mind, Ezra laid his hand over hers. “They won’t take you.” He squeezed gently. “I won’t let them.”
Silence stretched between them as their magic wove around each other.
She inched closer to him, her shoulder brushing against his.
When she wasn’t thinking of how to save Briar, she thought only of him and this aching tension that had been sitting between them since the library.
It was clear he wanted her. And he wasn’t dumb; he knew she wanted him in return.
But if they were to give in to the impulse, what would be the cost?
Would they risk their lives more by falling off the ledge they precariously stood on?
“We can use the party as a distraction,” he said.
Her mind cleared as she was pulled from her thoughts. “For what?”
“Breaking into the exam hall.”
Her breathing shallowed as she reared her head back. “Wait, really?”
“It’ll be the perfect time to do it.” He took a deep breath, his lips twitching and his brows creasing as if a million different things were running through his head.
“The entire school will be at the party to celebrate nearing the end of the semester. We’ll make an appearance there as an alibi, then sneak over.
Plus, with there being no exams held this month, the building should be clear of any faculty. ”
“You’ve thought a lot about this, haven’t you?”
“I know I was against the idea when you brought it up last month. It was so soon after Briar had been taken, and I was worried they’d take you too.
” His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat.
“That fear hasn’t gone away, but waiting around for the next clue for the cipher isn’t the right answer either.
I’ve already talked with the others about it and they’re in. ”
She smiled softly at him, her vision blurred as tears welled. All she’d wanted for the past year was for people to believe her. Now she had people who were standing by her side, fighting to get to the truth. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“You don’t have to thank me,” he said. “I’m with you.”
Ezra walked with her to her last alchemy lab of the semester before finals. Most of the class was spent going over what to expect and answering whatever questions the students had. But there was a question Ivy had been wanting to ask since arriving at Arcania. One she’d put off for too long.
When the others had mostly cleared out at the end of class, Ivy approached the desk. “Excuse me, Professor?”
“Yes, Ivy?” Abbott asked, glancing up from her notebook. Her face already had impatience written across it, which didn’t bode well.
“I was wondering if you could grant me permission to borrow a book from the archives?” Ivy twisted the end of her sleeve as she asked, and her heart raced.
“Which book?” Abbott sighed, her brows scrunching together. “I don’t believe there’s anything for my classes that requires something from there for the rest of the term.”
“It’s a…personal project,” Ivy said, hoping that would be enough of an explanation. “The book is called A Theory of Arcane Transference: an Experiment Regarding Loss of Magical Abilities by Eingard Bremar.”
The professor’s face curled with shock, and as if her nerves had taken over, her arm shot to the side of the desk, sending the stack of books and papers crashing to the floor.
“I’m so sorry, Professor,” Ivy said as she jumped. Her heart sank in her chest before she knelt on the floor to help pick the items up. No doubt the reaction would result in a resounding no.
By the time she’d grabbed a few things, Abbott moved to wave her hand across the pile and, within seconds, the remaining mess floated through the air to stack neatly back on her desk.
Ivy swallowed roughly as she placed what she’d gathered on top of it, and she noticed the back of a red playing card lying at the top.
Except it was unlike any she’d seen before.
Black framed the edges of a blood-red background, and in the center was an outstretched hand designed like thick black smoke.
Abbott must’ve caught her staring because a second later, she snatched the card along with the few papers beneath it and shoved it into her bag. “What kind of personal project requires such a dangerous book?”
Ivy swallowed roughly. She didn’t want to admit to many people that her parents had lost their magic. Not because she was ashamed, but she was tired of the sympathy she would receive as soon as she did. She was already botching this request, maybe telling Abbott would help.
“Um, my…parents lost their magic over twenty years ago.” Her fingers twisted the sleeves of her sweater.
“It’s the only thing I haven’t tried since the only copy of his theory is here, in the archives.
A part of why I wanted to take the work-study with you this year was in hopes you could teach me what you learned when you were his mentee. ”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Abbott muttered, her fingers lacing together on top of her desk. “I’m even more sorry to have to deny your request.”
“What?” she asked, her voice squeaking. “Why?”
The professor rose from her chair, packing the last of her things into her bag before reaching for the thick red cloak she’d hung on the hook behind her desk.
“First, the man was a raving lunatic toward the end of my mentorship. Second, the magic discussed in the book is theory. There were no test subjects, no formalities followed in the attempt to publish such work, and no scientific backing. The content is incorrect at best and unstable at worst.” Abbott clasped the cloak around her shoulders, a grave expression on her face.
“And if you want my professional opinion…if it were possible to bring someone’s magic back, twenty years is too long a time for it to return. ”
Tears welled, and she bit the inside of her cheek to keep them from falling.
“Understood. Thank you, professor.” Ivy turned away, grabbing her bag from her bench and slinging it over her shoulder.
As she shuffled out of the lab, several dirty beakers and other containers she’d have to clean this weekend littered the counters.
But when a shimmer caught her eye, she stopped.
At the bottom of the glass were remnants of a pink, iridescent liquid.