“I’ll explain later.Don’tsay anything,” I whisper before releasing Prisha.
My mother stops in her tracks. The smell of steamed vegetables meets us before she gets an arm’s length away. I envision the potion she is working on retroactively. “Adraa, there you are. I need you to—” My mother finally notices Jatin. “Hello.”
All I can think about as my mother talks is Prisha, who holds the biggest secret of my life in her throat. “Oh, um, well, thisis—”
“Jatin Naupure!” Jatin exclaims with two fingers to his neck and a bow.
My mother’s eyes spin and then light up. “Jatin. It’s so nice to meet you again.” She thrusts out her forearm and he presses his against it.
“It’s very nice to see you,” Jatin says with a smile.
“Sorry, but I need to get back to the clinic. Prisha, get the kemp. Adraa, I really do need you.”
“I’m kind of busy.”
She gives me a look. Examines the two of us. For a second I register fear on her face. Then it disappears. “I have two patients with Bloodlurst poisoning. Two kids who flew deliveries all day. It’s bad, Adraa.”
I tense, anger lapping at me. I need to stop the Vencrin. I need to get to Moolek. I need to talk to Prisha. I need—
“What degree of burnout are they experiencing?” I ask, tugging up my sleeves.
For the next two hours I cast pink spell after pink spell to stabilize a drug addict. Mother was right. It’s the worst the clinic has ever seen. One is so red from windburn it looks like a rash. He keeps mumbling too, something about not being able to take any more.
Jatin volunteers to help as always. As I work on the Bloodlurst poisoning he helps craft a few of the other potions Mother has fallen behind on. When we pass each other in the confusion of patients, potions, and magic, he always catches my eye and smiles. I melt and solidify at the same time.
My happiness is only pierced by Prisha, who electrifies my nerves with every glance. I watch her piece together most of my story as the Red Woman. Of course, Hiren told her everything from a few nights ago. But I had forgotten just how observant my sister is. Her eyes scream questions and mine spark with what I hope communicatesWait, don’t say anything.But when’s the last time my sister listened to me? Jatin and I are doomed.
My chance to talk to her finally comes in the potion room as Mother yells enchantments a wall away. I stir a gooey salve, with Prisha layering it on kemp to create a bandage. Jatin is next to me, glancing between us, waiting.
“Prisha, let me explain,” I whisper.
“Don’t bother. I want in.”
“What?” I must have misheard her. There’s no way that—
“I want in. I want to join you.”
I turn to face her fully. She mirrors me. “No. You can’t,” I say.
Jatin laughs.
I turn to him. “Why are you laughing?”
He leans toward me. “Because we literally had this same conversation in the Underground a month ago and you are still as stubborn as ever.”
“Prisha, you don’t even understand what’s going on or what we’re fighting.”
She crosses her arms. “You think Moolek has stolen your firelight and you want to find out why and then get it back.”
“Yeah, but…yeah, I guess that’s most of it. But there’s also Vencrin and—”
“You think Vencrin are the muscle behind Moolek’s plans. That’s why you fight in the Underground, to get close to them, right? It all makes sense now.” There is no doubt on her face or in her voice. She waits for me to verify.
“Wow,” Jatin whispers. “She’s pretty good.”
“Don’t encourage her.”
He raises his hands, but a smile lingers.
