I gave a curt nod. “Right. They’re some kind of weapon. We have to assume that.”
Charlie waited for a second. The sound of conversation rose over the shelves. “We need to get out of here. Alistair and I have been spending too much time in the library lately, and it looks weird for any Institute student to be hanging around books. If word gets back to the Warden that I brought you in here with me, he’ll know we’re on to something.”
“Then let’s get out of here.” I took Charlie’s arm to lead him out. My steps were quick and long, and we covered the library in half the time it would usually take us. The librarian’s eyes were on us as we walked out the doors. She gave us a slight smile, which I took as a kind gesture and not a threat.
Madame Rayne was nice. She wouldn’t tell on us, would she?
Wouldn’t bet on it. You couldn’t trust anybody in this place.
Once we got out of the library, Charlie and I didn’tneedto walk together. But my hand on his arm felt right, and to be honest, I didn’t want to let it go. Oberi shook her head and let out a breath, like she found our posturing annoying. We just walked in any direction, not really going anywhere, but being together.
“So… we should probably find Kallie and Marcus and tell them what we know,” Charlie started.
I went to agree, but before I could, a scream echoed down the hallway. Both Charlie and I stopped dead in our tracks, and my heart leapt into my throat.
“Help! Someone, help!” The sound came from one of the bathrooms.
“That’s Opal,” I said, already scared out of my mind. I grabbed Charlie’s hand, and we ran down the hallway. Oberi gave a loud noise, and we followed the screams to the nearest men’s room.
Opal was on her hands and knees in front of the sinks, tears streaming down her face. Beside her was my brother, lying on his back and completely still. His body was completely loose, and his complexion matched that of a ghost. His eyes had rolled to the back of his head, and his breaths were shallow.
“What happened to Ez?” I asked, falling to my knees beside him.
“He— he said he didn’t feel well. I followed him in here, and he passed out.” Opal wiped at her nose. “I’ve tried to wake him up, but he’s completely out of it! I didn’t want to leave him.”
“Go to the infirmary, Opal,” Charlie said quickly. “We have to get him help.”
Opal’s shoes slapped against the floor as she ran out of the bathroom. I put a hand over his chest and felt my brother’s weak heartbeat. It was fading by the second. Instinctively, I knew the nurses wouldn’t get here in time.
“He’sdying.” I had told my brother that avoiding treatment would kill him someday. Why hadn’t he listened?
“What are you talking about, Ava? How can you tell?” Charlie demanded.
“I justcan!” I shouted. “Don’t you feel it?”
“Feel what?”
I couldn’t explain what was coursing through me right now, except that I had an unknown certainty that my brotherwasdying, and if I didn’t help him, he’d be dead in minutes or less. I grabbed Charlie’s hand and put it onto Ezekiel’s stomach.
“Take some power from me! Tell me you can’t feel that!” I shouted.
I felt power ripple through our bond, and a bit of my magic left me to flood into Charlie. It only took moments, but the color drained from Charlie’s face. He didn’t understand what he was feeling, and neither did I, but he knew as well as I did that Ezekiel would be dead by the time Opal returned with help.
I began hyperventilating as Charlie pulled his hand away. This was like losing Monica all over again, except that it was even worse, because I was watching my little brother die. I was sobbing so hard I couldn’t see straight. The room wavered and spun around me, but I forced myself to keep conscious, because I didn’t know how many seconds my brother had left of life, and I wanted to spend his last moments by his side.
I pleaded with someone— anyone— to help me. There had to be a way to stop this.
Ava, you need to calm down, a soothing voice said.Controlling your emotions is the only way to help your brother.
I knew that voice. It resonated deep in my spirit. Charlie heard it too, and he stiffened beside me. Oberi calmly strode to my side and looked me in the eyes. Her dark pupils instantly connected with my soul, and I was certain the voice I heard in my mind was hers.
I’d waited so long for Oberi to speak to me, but I couldn’t enjoy the moment, because my brother was dying. “I don’t know what’s wrong with him,” I wept.
It’s sepsis,Oberi replied.I can smell it in his blood. Can’t your magic feel it?
Was that what I was feeling? I put my hand over Ezekiel’s body again and paid attention this time. The dark, foreboding presence I’d sensed there before was more prominent this time. It tasted like metal in my mouth, and smelled like sour blood. Now that I knew what I was looking for, it wasn’t hard to notice. The sepsis was pulsing through his veins like fire and shutting down his organs.
He’s had it for a few days, but it’s progressed quickly because of his condition. If you don’t help him, hewilldie, Oberi said firmly.
