Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Science shows that hugs release oxytocin, also called the cuddle hormone
Ijumped out of bed and slipped on some boots. Edith slid into her carrier backpack with my phone while Remy told Jemison to meet up with her outside. The owl flew out the window and that made the magic in me restless.
“Do you think it’s real or a false alarm?” I asked over the beeps blaring from our phones and the walls. The shimmering blue that I started taking for granted were a vibrant red and pulsated with each alarm.
I waited for Remy while she searched for something on her tablet.
“I designed the wall alarms myself. It’s too sensitive to be false. I’m sure of it,” she replied, but her tone sounded off. Her owl print bonnet she wore to bed seemed too cute and out of place for such a serious moment.
“Dearest students, please calmly vacate the school to the courtyard,” a robotic voice blared from our apps, and the magic shimmered on the walls.
“Okay, nice and calm.” I breathed in, then out as I stepped into the hall with my bag tight against my chest.
“Shit, I’m not burning in this castle,” someone shouted as they raced past us to the stairs. I doubt he’d be the only one not acting calm.
Remy walked in the opposite direction of everyone else and waved me to follow. “Let’s take the back stairs and avoid chances of being trampled.”
Since when did we have back stairs?
I glanced at her tablet while walking and saw a layout of the castle with a little square in the upper left corner showing bright colors on the map.
“Is that?”
“Yeah, there is a fire in the potions room and near the hospital wing. The castle’s stone and our magi barrier should keep them contained but those spaces aren’t near each other.
It wasn’t an accident. Rylan will have to open an investigation when the police arrive.
” She sighed and swiped away from the map.
We turned a corner and stopped at a dead end. All I saw was a fake-looking plant, a red bench, and a five-foot painting of a fancy king I didn’t recognize. No stairs in sight.
“I think we’re lost.”
“All castles had servants’ stairs to stay out of sight.
This is one of them.” She glanced at her tablet once more, then scooted the bench away from the painting on the wall.
Like something out of a fantasy movie, she wrapped her fingers on the golden frame, and pulled it open, revealing a staircase.
“Of course there’s a hidden staircase behind a painting,” I mused, not really surprised.
“Maybe you should get laid again. You were less wound up earlier,” Remy commented while turning on her tablet flashlight.
“I didn’t get laid. Well… not like sex sex.”
“You had orgasms. That’s good enough to release oxytocin and dopamine for a less stressed you.”
We walked down a narrow, cold, and dark set of stairs. I wasn’t in the mood for this particular conversation, so I changed the subject.
“You still hanging in there?” I asked.
Her movements were more tense, her voice a little tighter. I was stressed, and I know she was, but something in my gut told me there was more.
“It’s annoying.”
I waited for her to continue, to vent, but she didn’t.
“I’m here for you, as your best friend and all.” I crossed my heart with my pointer finger.
She sighed as we made it to the ground floor but still had to walk down dusty dark hallways.
“I don’t like my projects messing up. Someone is sabotaging the school, and I don’t know who. It feels personal, but not sure why. Which I don’t like.” She hissed in frustration.
Should I offer a hug? Just lean in and go for it?
Meh, screw it. Momma intuition told me she needed comfort, and I had two arms that were conditioned to hug.
“Hey, I think we’re safe down here for now.” I stopped and opened my arms. Edith chuckled in my bag, and I rolled my eyes.
“Are you serious?” Remy arched her eyebrow, and I stepped closer. Remy wasn’t a hugger, but I’d been keeping a secret weapon for a moment like this.
Remy’s kryptonite.
“Science shows that hugs release oxytocin, also called the cuddle hormone. It also reduces cortisol which you look full of right now.”
She eyed me suspiciously.
“It’ll help you think a little more clearly on how to solve your problems.”
Her lips lifted and I held my breath.
Remy walked over and hugged me. It didn’t last the thirty seconds most of those articles I read said, but it would do.
She shook her head and smiled as she walked toward the hopeful exit.
I know she was going to figure out what happened, and who, if there was someone behind these weird happenings. But for now, she could receive comfort, and know I got her back.
“Thanks for the honor of letting me be your friend and supporting you.”
“Yeah, yeah, Momma Temperance. You’ll be singing another tune when my luteal phase starts next week, and I turn into a PMDD monster.” She laughed and I shook if off.
I handled a hormonal teenager. I think I could handle her beast. Unless she was a crier. I don’t even know what I’d do with a crying Remy.
“We can exit the burning castle now,” I said with a huff.
“Then we can work on solving the mystery behind the school fires. I just want to learn magic, attempt to try new things, and not die. Which seems like a real possibility if these lava bear attacks, and fires, and other bad things keep happening.”
“It is odd timing. Perhaps someone is trying to shut down the school.”
I considered her words and hoped she was wrong. Light danced on the ground ahead and I hoped that meant freedom.
A door! Yes!
The moonlight was blinding once Remy let us out of the castle.
But it was the raging shout that had me startled.
“Then do it!”
My eyes adjusted, and I sucked in a breath.
Rylan stood in lounge pants and a tight gray shirt with no shoes. Two men dressed in dark military outfits walked away as he stood with his index finger and thumb pinching the bridge of his nose.
Ms. Pauline rushed over with her hair a mess on top her head, and a fuzzy robe on. She checked in with her boss and noted our arrival.
Without hesitating, Remy walked up to them, ready to work. “What did they find?”
“A blackout of security. Ten seconds and we’ve got nothing.” He sighed then as if drawn to me, his gaze found mine.
His hand flexed at his side, and his mouth tightened as he scanned me. I wondered what would make him look so… ohhh.
It took half a second to see I forgot I was only wearing the shirt he let me borrow, my boots, bag, and nothing else.