Page 139 of Once the Skies Fade

The small bit of wine was still enough to coat my tongue before sliding easily down my throat.

Nothing happened.

Aside from Isa’s scolding voice booming toward me, “Matthias! What in the stars?—”

A single cackle from Warren cut through her words, followed by a collective gasp from the rest of the Assembly. Isa once more leaned over the table—much further this time, with her entire torso barely hovering over its surface. Her hand shot out in a silent demand for the wineglass.

I hesitated, taking a moment to assess my well-being. Fingers. Hands. Feet. Legs. Head. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Everything was in working order. Perhaps I needed to take another sip.

I started to lift it to my mouth again, but Phillip reached his hand over and grabbed it.

“Don’t,” he said, though he made no move to actually pull the glass away; he simply held his hand firmly in place, blocking me from another dose.

Korben laughed. “Let him drink more if he wants. Narrows the competition.”

Ignoring him, Isa moved closer. “Hand it over.”

As I moved to relinquish it, Phillip pulled his hand away and waited for a tense moment, studying me. Isa clutched the glass and awkwardly scooted backwards. Wine sloshed out and splashed onto the table, leaving deep red spots that might have resembled blood perfectly had it been thicker.

“What were you thinking?” Isa asked, smoothing down her jacket and checking to make sure her dagger was still secure.

I opened my mouth to answer, but the room flickered around me, like someone had extinguished all the lamps and relit them immediately. Looking around, I tried to focus, but ribbons of darkness danced across my vision, reminding me of the queen’s deadly, elegant shadows.

Hurry up.

She’s dying.

My thoughts nudged me in hissed whispers.

I pushed my fingers through the smoky strands, mesmerized by how my hand seemed not my own, like I was watching someone else choosing the glass and pulling it close. Darkness bathed the room once more, still brief, but longer this time. Tremors coursed through my arm, shaking my fingers.

Steady.

Little closer.

My lips could barely sense the glass against them, only aware it was there by the pressure of it as I tilted it back. The cool water cleansed away the taste of the wine, and I slowly set the glass down and began to count my breaths. Turning my head, I searched for Isa’s face. The room seemed to stretch out away from me, and I could barely make out her outline, let alone her expression.

Not it.

The black ribbons swelled as they continued to swirl.

That is definitely not the one.

Voices echoed around me, but I couldn’t make out any of their words, only their tones. Anger. Confusion. Laughter. A crash.

Through it all I narrowed in on the next glass, but it was now sitting so far away from me. Time seemed to lengthen, slowing. Or maybe it was me who was sluggish, but the glass was in my hand and to my lips before I even realized I was holding it.

WasI the one holding it?

Does it matter?

Just drink it.

The glass tipped up. The water cooled my senses, temporarily slicing through the dark patches and sparking a sliver of hope when my surroundings came back into focus. Within moments, though, everything faded, the inky streams trailing through my vision again, thicker this time. Silence settled around me, but I doubted everyone had stopped talking.

Why was my hand moving so slowly?

I opened my mouth—I thought—to ask Isa if Phillip or Graham had found the antidote yet, but snapped it shut again. I couldn’t waste time with that. If they’d won, they’d be giving me the antidote already. If Isa didn’t make sure of that, then Calla surely would.

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