3. Chapter 3 #2
“Hopeful and hopeless all at once.”
“I know exactly what you mean.”
“Can you teach me more about your potions?” I asked. “I want to help in any way I can. Plus, I could use the distraction.”
Lily blinked. “Teach the Fae Queen about my little potions?”
“They’re not little; they’re quite significant, based on all I’ve heard about what you’ve accomplished here.
” I smiled at my friend. “Plus, I’m trying to learn a little bit about all different sorts of magic on the island.
I’ve been hunting with Silas, baking with Millie, and listening to lore with Liza.
It was only a matter of time before I needed to gather some insights from the Mixologist.”
“All right. If it’ll take your mind off things.”
Lily didn’t need much convincing to start talking about her work.
As she dove into a series of explanations, her passion shone through like sunlight.
There was joy and care in the way she handled her ingredients in potions and moved through her space, like it all worked in a particularly beautiful and complex harmony.
“My work is partly instinct.” Lily raised a bottle of something silver and squinted at it. It looked to me like pure mercury, but that couldn’t be right. “Even if I gave you the exact steps I used, your results would differ.”
“Sounds like Millie and baking,” I said. “A pinch of that and a stir of that. Something bubbles and voila. Bread.”
Lily gave a laugh. “That’s a good analogy.
When I work, I start with a simple base.
I also take into consideration things like the flavor if it’s to be ingested.
Side effects, and how to balance them appropriately with other ingredients.
For example, silver is powerful but can be bitter and cause cramping in certain potions, so I temper it with aloe to soothe.
Books help give me a basic understanding, but honestly, most of it is learned on the job.
I’m sure you understand. It must be similar with your Fae magic? ”
“Very similar. Even now, with my channels open to my ancestors, it’s not just a zap of power. I’m no Sabrina the Teenage Witch —point and shoot—if you know what I mean.”
Lily let out a huge belt of laughter. “The way I’m so pleased that someone else can understand that reference…
” She shook her head. “I love my life here, but so many islanders have no idea about mainland television. Which is totally fair, but I’ve never realized how many references I make to Friends until I came here. ”
“I relate,” I said grinning, feeling the warmth of kinship flow between us. “Working with my magic has been frustrating. It feels like I’m not doing enough. I really thought it would be more of a flood of powers once the channels were opened, and that’s just not the reality of it.”
“As much as magic can be intrinsic and natural,” Lily said, “it’s also rewarded by hard work and diligence.
I think it’s probably for your safety as much as everyone else’s.
Maybe it’s a good thing that it’s not a simple zap of power.
I imagine your ancestors have a boatload of magic.
Can you imagine handling an influx of that all at once, as new as you are? ”
“I’ve never thought about it that way,” I said. “But it’s a good point.”
“You’ve opened an access route to your ancestors, and that’s a great start. Your power will only continue to grow the more you practice, and as it does you’ll be better and better prepared to handle it.”
Lily’s point of view helped me feel less depressed about my lack of zap . I hadn’t looked at it from that perspective before, but truly, it made sense. If I had experienced a rush of my ancestors’ powers all at once, there was a very real possibility it would have been too much for me to handle.
But learning, studying, working hard—that was something I could control, and that thought made me feel empowered instead of disheartened. It might feel slow on occasion, but maybe that was for the best.
“Back to this potion.” Lily tapped the vial that contained the freeze-ray concoctions for the spirits. “I think I’m mostly done aside from a final boil, but I need to test it still. I’m going to use a Smoke Stack—have you heard of that? The Rangers use them as practice for all sorts of things.”
“I’m familiar,” I said. “Silas used one when we went hunting. I thought it was a real beast until I shot it through the heart. Instead of dying, it simply dissolved.”
“That’s exactly right. I’m hoping a Smoke Stack will let me test this formula. It’s not the same as a spirit, but I think that’s my next step.”
“How do you handle so much uncertainty in your work? You can’t always test a potion before you use it. Aren’t you afraid of hurting someone?”
Lily considered. “It’s always a risk in this line of work, same as yours, I’m sure.
If I make a mistake on a potion, obviously the consequences could be deadly for the recipient.
I don’t know if you get used to the pressure, or you just learn to balance it and live with it.
I think, as you gain confidence and a history here, it will help. ”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I was really nervous about hurting someone in the beginning. I still am, but it’s not something I think about as frequently anymore. It’s also easier to balance because, when I’m feeling uncertain, I can remind myself of all the good I’ve done.”
“Sure.”
“If I didn’t take the risk of making potions, I couldn’t have created Vamp Vites for my cousin, Poppy, and that potion makes her life a lot easier.
It’s a duty, and a calling, and yes—there is danger and risk in it, but there’s also great reward and fulfillment.
I’m sure you’ll find the same as you grow in your power and see all the good it can do for others.
You already have started to see the good—how many lives have you saved already? ”
“I can see your point. Healing Irina from the curse, and now seeing Henry’s smiling face out and about and knowing I had hand in helping him get here…” I shrugged. “That’s the whole reason I went into medicine on the mainland. To help people.”
Lily just smiled at the reminiscent look that was likely on my face. “Exactly. Not to mention, I think the coronation tomorrow will be helpful in that regard.”
“You’re talking about the giving of the heartbeat piece of the ceremony?”
“Yes. The coronation isn’t about you wearing a stunning dress and being officially elected queen, although that is a fun part of it.
” She paused to grin at me before returning to a somberness.
“This ceremony is ancient and reverent and important. When it’s done, you’ll carry a piece of everyone inside you.
That’s why Fae Queens are so empathetic.
When you breathe, you breathe island winds; when you cry, your tears are made from the rivers that flow around through our lands; when you walk, it’s the vibrations of the earth beneath your feet.
The ceremony binds you to every living thing and element in your court. ”
I couldn’t think of anything to say to that. It sounded beyond intimidating, but also a great privilege. “Silas said he tasked you with planning it? Do you need help?”
“He didn’t task me with anything. I volunteered.
” Lily winked. “I know I just gave you a whole spiel about how this ceremony is all great and powerful and somber—and it is—but you also need to wear a very pretty dress and have a lovely time, and I’m not leaving that up to Silas or Ranger X, I’m sorry.
” She rolled her eyes playfully, as if to say, Men.
“Plus, Millie is helping. She’s already gathering supplies and materials, and she’s stopping by the bungalow in a bit. We’ll have everything sorted by the time you wake up.”
“But—”
Lily raised a hand. “Don’t argue. You need your beauty rest. And also, lest I remind you that this island could be attacked by evil spirits at any time, and it’s your duty to stop them? Go home and get some sleep.”
“Well, thank you.” I spread my hands on the table, watching as the potion gurgled before me. “I couldn’t do any of this without you.”
“And we couldn’t do it without you,” Lily said. “Go home to Silas. Tomorrow will be a long day, and the Rangers will need you bright and early. It’s more important that you continue working with Dr. Lewis on the backup wards than planning which varieties of honeyed mead work best with the canapes.”