Page 100 of A Touch of Poison
And for a moment.
A fraction of a fraction of a second.
A fiery crown.
Such strange beauty.
I sank into its crackling show, letting it reveal more shapes and colours.
Gradually, I became aware of the way the fire hummed. As did the world around me. Kaliban’s magic was a constant presence. There was more in the room, different tones—perhaps magical objects like the fireplace and the fae lights. Outside, other pitches merged together, forming a chaotic set of notes.
But there was the makings of something beautiful in there.
I sifted through the vibrations. They weren’tquitesounds but close. This note and this note went together. Add in a third and ignore the rest, leaving… A set of frequencies that worked together like a harmonious chord.
“Now look at your hands,” Kaliban’s soft voice crept into my reverie.
I let my head sink, everything slow as treacle after so long staring into the fire. I blinked at my hands where they rested in my lap. Why was he asking me to—?
I gasped.
My fingers.
The purple stain had retreated, leaving only my nails and the very tips dark. “I… I did it. It’s gone!” I huffed a laugh, heart leaping. “Does that mean—?”
The colour flooded back, covering my skin to the first knuckle.
“Oh.” I didn’t bother to disguise the way my shoulders sank—my thoughts were probably loud enough for Kaliban to hear my disappointment.
“Not ‘oh,’ Kat.” He sat back, palms pressed together. “You controlled your magic.”
“Only for—”
“A moment, I know. But it was a moment more than you’ve managed before. If you can do it for a moment, you can do it for a minute. And if you can do it for a minute…” He spread his hands and raised his eyebrows, his rare smile infectious.
I rubbed my fingertips together. I still hadn’t felt any magic inside myself, but that hum—I’d felt it outside me.
Slowly, I nodded. “It’s a start.”
38
Kat
That night, Rose walked me through the streets of Tenebris, both of us a little tipsy. We had joined Ari, Perry, and Ella for dinner at Moonsong Spire, a restaurant at the top of one of the city towers, where we’d watched the sunset turn Luminis into Tenebris.
The setting sun’s lengthening shadows had spread over the city, bit by bit, turning white marble into black basalt. Alabaster into obsidian. Pale moonstone into dark labradorite.
I’d watched from the rooftop terrace, tears streaking down my cheeks. What a place. What a world to grow up in. If I’d grown up somewhere like this, perhaps I would’ve understood Bastian’s love of beauty right away.
Even now, as we reached the bridge leading to the palace, I had to wipe my cheeks. Rose opened and closed her mouth like she didn’t know what to say before squeezing my gloved hand and wishing me goodnight. Dusk’s guards greeted me, and I set out across the bridge, keeping to its very centre.
I’d left the restaurant early, not wanting to drink more fae wine and lose the memory of this night. It was one I’d hold close and lock in my heart.
What had Bastian said?When you have nothing left, even a scrap of something is important.
I may have lost part of myself when I’d taken that poison. I may not be sure of who I was or my purpose. But I hadsomethingand maybe that would help get me through.
I had to find him, tell him I understood. Apologise for… I didn’t know what for, just that it seemed stupid that I had evernotunderstood.
