Prax spat in his face again. Or tried to. This time, the spittle sailed harmlessly to one side as if space itself warped around Zagan’s head.
“Ah, of course. You cannot very well tell me as you are. However, I’m sure I can guess what you want.”
He released his hold on the suit. Prax immediately turned and ran. After two steps, Prax stumbled and fell to the beach.
Zoe watched as Shalise’s muscled body deflated. It started at her fingertips and toes, working its way up her body. Despite the jacket covering her arms, it was blatantly obvious the muscles were disappearing. The tight fabric became loose on her body.
She lay there, shaking slightly, just long enough for Zoe to grow worried.
More worried.
There was a soft giggle–a very Shalise giggle–before she pushed herself up to her knees. She patted herself down from her head to her toes, not even caring that she was covered in sand and small cuts along one side of her face from Zagan.
“I’m back,” she said. “Oh, I’m–” Wincing, Shalise put a hand to her forehead. “Ugh, he is still in here.”
“I have neither the inclination nor the time to see Praxtihr back to his cell,” Zagan said, all anger in his tone completely gone. “You can be his jailer for the foreseeable future. But, when you feel like dying, come see me. I will not forget his words. Allowing him to roam free would be a disappointment.”
With a light groan, she turned to Zagan. “Is there any way to make him shut up? He is saying very unkind things about your mother.”
“I have no mother.”
Shalise just nodded. Her nod cut off half-way. “That’s disgusting,” she said, putting on an expression that echoed her words.
“You’re the warden. I’m sure you can find some way to assert power over your prison. Good luck,” he said. Clapping his hands together, he turned to the rest of the group.
Lighting from her dagger dispersed as he glanced over it. Zoe frowned, but didn’t build up another charge. He had fixed Shalise. Though Zoe wasn’t about to forgive him, it was his fault in the first place. And Genoa was still injured thanks to him.
Glancing down at the woman, Zoe had half a mind to ask Zagan to fix her. So long as he was in a helping people mood, anyway. As she looked up towards Zagan, Zoe caught Eva’s eye.
The girl hadn’t even turned around during the whole ordeal behind her, instead focusing on Genoa. It wouldn’t surprise Zoe if she knew exactly what went on. Even aside from her ability to sense blood, this was Eva’s domain.
But Eva just shook her head slowly and solemnly.
Zoe nodded and decided not to ask anything of Zagan.
“I think that is everything on my to-do list for today,” he said. “My little embryonic one, do remember what we discussed. It especially applies to you, but also your little mortal friends. Well, back to…” His smile slid off of his face as he started walking towards the water. “I think I’ll bully Catherine into taking over my job for a few more weeks,” he mumbled just loud enough for Zoe to pick up.
With that, he dove into the water and disappeared.
Zoe sighed, tension disappearing from her shoulders. “Shalise,” she said, “are you alright?”
The brown-haired girl nodded. “I’m okay, just tired. I don’t think Prax slept at all in my body.” She paused for just a moment before a horrified look settled over her face. “They know I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Sleep,” Eva said. “You’re safe here. Unless Zagan comes back in a hissy-fit, that is. But that could happen anywhere. I don’t know how to make beds, but last time I was here, I found sleeping half in the water to be fairly pleasant.”
“You made that potion satchel,” Zoe said.
“Yeah, and I don’t know how I did that either.”
Arachne moved forwards and opened her mouth.
Eva sent her a glare, flaring her eyes bright red.
Arachne’s mouth shut with and audible clack.
“It would be best if you were to remain silent for now, Arachne.” Eva took a deep breath before half glancing over at Shalise. “So just pile up some sand into a pillow and take a nap.”
Shalise nodded, then shook her head. She walked over on unsteady feet. “I’d rather know what happened.”
“As would I,” Zoe said.
“It’s my fault,” Juliana said with a sniffle.
“No. Zagan–”
“I stole Eva’s book. Not Zagan.”
Zoe glanced at Eva. The black-haired girl didn’t react. She kept her focus on Genoa.
“Me,” Juliana continued. “I summoned that stupid demon. I drew the summoning circle Zagan used to send us to Hell. I played nice with the demon that forced my mom and Arachne to fight. And it is my fault mom’s–” Her voice cracked into a sob. “It didn’t look as bad on-screen. But part of her heart is missing.”
Zoe frowned, deciding to change the focus away from Juliana. That could be dealt with later. “Forced them to fight?” she asked Eva.
“The talkina dropped Genoa, Arachne, and myself into an arena. One of us dies, the others get to leave. Arachne was,” Eva glared again, “overzealous in her attempts at getting the rest of us out. If she had waited ten minutes, Zagan would have burst in to save the day without any of us significantly injured.”
“That’s not true,” Juliana said. “I summoned Zagan too. I only summoned him because mom got hurt. If Arachne hadn’t–I would have just kept sitting on my ass until Willie got bored enough to kill you all himself.”
Zoe pursed her lips, glancing between Juliana, Arachne, and Eva. Her gaze stopped at Genoa. Her mind raced over the sparse description of the events. She could probably ask for more details later, when Eva wasn’t concentrating on Genoa and Juliana wasn’t so hysterical. But her mind accurately summarized the events in three words. What a mess.
And, she thought, irritated, where is Wayne?
A gust of wind sent sand flying around.
Zoe erected a quick shield around their group. She didn’t want Eva to suffer any further distractions.
Wayne landed somewhat roughly on the beach a moment later. As clumsy as he was with his air magic, he still managed to cushion his fall enough to avoid Juliana’s fate of falling on his face. He carried a large case Zoe recognized as a portable potion kit and had a bandoleer of already made potions across his chest. More importantly, he had someone hanging off of his arm.
Laura Post. Brakket Academy’s head nurse. In the hand not wrapped around Wayne’s arm, she carried a large bag with a red cross on the front.
She took one look around the domain. One eye was covered with gauze and medical tape–the same eye patch she had worn since Zoe first met the nurse. Her single red eye did not widen in the slightest. No hint of surprise appeared on her face.
Her eye settled on Eva and Genoa. Without a word to Wayne, she unhooked her arm and half ran over.
Eva immediately started going over everything that was wrong and everything she had done to keep Genoa alive.
Not wanting to be in the professionals’ way, Zoe stood and moved next to Wayne, pulling Juliana along with her.
The blond gave no protests aside from a few sniffles.
“Nel told me what happened with Genoa before I came back,” Wayne said, answering her unasked question. “Figured Post was the best choice.”
Zoe leaned in and spoke quiet enough that Juliana shouldn’t hear. “Is she a demon?”
Wayne glanced at her with an eyebrow up.
“The red eye,” Zoe said. “It didn’t click until now, but it is a common feature among demons.”
“She’s been working at Brakket since you started school. Long before Martina showed up with her freak show.”
“When she looked around, she didn’t look surprised.”
Wayne’s frown deepened. “Are you going to complain if she can save the woman’s life?”