Page 34 of Wings of Ashes
“Ha!” Bael pointed at her. “See? She has been using magical abilities—”
“It’s red,” Mara cut him off. “Professor Bowen said it would turn—”
“Blue,” Ryker snapped and stood from his stool. He stepped close to Nix, his hulking body casting her in shadows as he leaned down to scan her pained expression. “Hurting you?” he asked in a thundering growl about the potion.
Was it hurting her? Uh, it was turning red andsizzlingon her skin.
“Step back,” Professor Bowen’s voice just barely made it to Nix’s ears around the cage of Ryker’s large, warm presence.
Suddenly, Ryker was gone, and Professor Bowen bent down to look at her.
“What does red mean?” Bael asked.
“Blue is for an active spell; red is for an unwell.”
Bael scoffed. “What the fuck kinda poetry is that, Teach?”
“Red meansshehas been bespelled. Victim to some kind of—” Professor Bowen cut himself off. “You said it is hurting you?” he asked Nix.
She scowled at Bael as she replied, “It…stings, yeah.”
Professor Bowen turned from Nix as he addressed the entire class, “You are all dismissed early. I will clean up your stations and note your progress. Exit the classroom immediately, and I will see you all tomorrow.”
The professor turned back to Nix. “My dear, this is very serious. For this potion to cause you any physical pain means that whatever is bespelling you is actively—”
“What the fuck is happening right now?” Bael asked, stepping beside the professor to be closer to Nix. Probably wanted a front row seat to her pain.
“Mr. Obsidius, I asked for the class to leave,” Professor Bowen said. “That does include you. Please grant us privacy.”
Not aware of the definition of the word “privacy,” Bael asked, “What is she bespelled with?”
“That’s really none of your business, Baelfire,” Professor Bowen replied, using Bael’s full name. “Now leave the classroom. You too, Mr. Infernox.”
Ryker hesitated to leave too? Hadn’t they done enough?
“But—” Bael started.
“Leave!” Nix yelled at him, still dripping with the red, sizzling potion.
Bael flinched and stumbled backward a step. He frowned as his hand jerked up and rubbed over a section of his chest as ifshehad hurthim.
I hate him.
Bael and Ryker reluctantly and begrudgingly left Professor Bowen and Nix alone.
“Come with me,” Professor Bowen requested. He guided her to where his desk sat at the front of the classroom, in front of a bookshelf of random vials of varying colors.
“This is very serious, Miss Oadess,” he told her. “The potion’s red color suggests that someone has hexed you. Have you been feeling odd or any differently than normal?”
She was not about to tell him how she died a fiery death six years in the future and woke up back in her younger body a few days ago. “Um…”
“Is there anyone who might have done this to you? Someone who does not like you?”
Nix knew what spell the potion was picking up on. “Actually, professor, it’s okay. I know what the magic is. It’s an illusion potion. I’ve been taking it for years.”
Professor Bowen’s nose scrunched up as he repeated, “Illusion?”
Nix bit her lip, wondering if she should tell him.
