That’s something I haven’t really considered. It only makes this potion more important.
I stare at the note. Under Hall, as in all the way down below the dungeons. Fun.
“There will be basic supplies available in the study hall, but take an inventory of what is there versus what you need and take whatever else from the stores here, plus the advanced materials you’ll need to procure yourself.”
“Thank you,” I tell her. My heart is racing with both anxiety and excitement. This potion will take a minimum of three weeks to make, but it’ll be massive if I can pull it off.
I’m not much closer to uncovering my sister’s killer. Everything is so circumstantial.
But I am closer to regaining my power. I’m achingly close to being able to do something when I do find her killer.
* * *
It tookJarron less than forty-eight hours to get four of my five requested ingredients, but the last is taking a bit longer. He promised I’d have it by the end of the week, so I’m taking him on his word and starting the potion now. Unicorn bone meal is one of the last ingredients to go in, so I can live without it for ten days if I start now. If it comes any later, my potion will be ruined. I’ve told Jarron this, but I’ve also decided it’s worth the gamble.
I want this potion yesterday.
So, now begins my countdown. The instructions say it will give me three full uses before it runs out, and that’s a generous portion, assuming it’ll be used on very strong demons.
I’m already preparing for the likelihood that I’ll want to make a second batch, and I’m researching what other potions I want to begin. I’ve made a few useful basic potions in class that I’ve packaged up and saved for later use. One is a blood clotter, to save someone from bleeding out too quickly when injured. Another is a speed accelerator. It doesn’t make you as fast as most supernaturals and is impressively short lived, but it’s potentially useful all the same. And the last is a stunning potion that will shock the target in a fairly painful manner.
Jarron sits in the corner, flipping through one of his books while I work, hair pulled back and white gloves covering my hands.
“Do demons do any human things?” I ask him.
He quirks a brow. “Meaning?”
“I like reading as much as anyone, but I was curious if you ever use technology? Internet, social media, etcetera.”
He smirks. “Why? Were you hoping to change your Facebook status to in a relationship with the prince of the Under World?”
I snort. “No.”
“Do demons use technology? Sometimes. Do I? Rarely.”
“So, if you needed to post to TikTok to save the world, you’d let us all burn?”
He chuckles. “How, exactly, would posting to TikTok save the world?”
“Hypothetical.”
“I’m sure I could figure it out. I’m not totally oblivious; I just don’t particularly like being connected all the time. Some of my contacts prefer that form of communication, though. I got one of your potion ingredients from Facebook.”
“Which one? Take it back!” I joke.
“So hilarious,” he mocks.
I continue working in the resulting silence, organizing my ingredients. I pull out a gemstone and set it in the center of the empty cauldron. I pour in a few more ingredients then begin my first spell over the spice, sage, and salt water.
The next time I glance up at the old Victorian clock on the wall, it’s a half hour later. “Damn,” I mutter. “Not much time left.”
We’re supposed to head up to the party in the next hour, and I’m going to need a shower first.
“There isn’t any real rush, but I can help if you want.”
“We’re supposed to be there in an hour.”
“Believe me, we can be as late as we want.”
