He avoids her stare, which to me is hella sus. “I’d rather not answer that.”
“Why not?” Saxon asks. “Wait… did you steal it from someone?”
The headmaster remains quiet, and I guess Saxon was right on the money.
“The source of this object isn’t important. Let’s focus on finalizing the spell,” Isadora interjects.
Lucca makes a displeased face, and steps closer to Vivi. I’m getting strong alpha protector vibes from him, and I wonder if he forgot to shield his emotions from me.
Once Solomon is done collecting our donations, he stops Vivi from cutting herself. “No, dear. I don’t need your blood.”
“You don’t?” she asks, surprised.
“Wouldn’t Vivi’s blood be the most important for the spell considering she’s the only Nightingale here?” Aurora asks.
Solomon doesn’t dignify her with an answer, and Aurora flattens her lips. Boy, lots of egos getting chaffed tonight.
The High Witch carries on with the spell, and things go from spooky toPoltergeist-level scary in zero point two seconds.
Lucca reaches for Vivi’s waist, pulling her closer to him. He seems to have half a mind to pick her up in his arms and get the hell out of here. But Solomon turns to Vivi and says, “Now it’s your turn, child.”
She tries to step away from Lucca, but he keeps his hold. She gives him a reassuring smile. “It’s okay, my love.”
Reluctantly, he releases her, but he keeps watching the headmaster with his sharp gaze. If this spell goes wrong and Vivi gets hurt, Solomon is cooked.
The headmaster doesn’t seem to notice Lucca’s glare when he offers Vivi the bowl. “You must drink it.”
“What?” she squeaks.
“You can’t be serious. You want Vivi to drink blood?” Karl interjects.
Solomon gives him a look that makesmefeel stupid, and that glare isn’t even aimed at me. “No, I was just kidding. Of course she has to drink it. I wouldn’t have asked her to do it otherwise.”
Vivi stares at the bowl with a look of uncertainty. Lucca, on the other hand, seems guilty as hell. I wonder why.
A moment later, she drinks from the bowl, and I’m shocked that she’s not gagging. I wouldn’t have been able to drink blood when I was human. She doesn’t barf, but she does start to shake as if she’s having a seizure. Shit.
“What is that potion doing to her?” Lucca tries to get to Vivi, but Aurora halts him.
“You can’t stop the spell now!”
He yanks his arm back, showing off his fangs. “The hell I can’t!”
“If you do, it’ll all be for nothing. I can’t lose my sister.”
“Lucca, Vivi will be all right,” Ronan chimes in.
“You don’t know that.”
My stomach is tied into knots. I shake my head, trying to get rid of the bad feeling that’s licking at the back of my neck. If Lucca is rattled, then so am I.
A storm seems to gather around Vivi as the magic increases exponentially. Her eyes become completely white in a freakish manner. She looks possessed as she drops the bowl and walks toward the Taluah Mirror. I have a bad feeling about this.
Don’t touch that thing, Vivi.
Lucca runs to her, faster than anyone can stop him, and Aurora screams, “No!”
But before he can reach Vivi, he seems to hit an invisible barrier, which sends him flying back. I stare wide-eyed while he spasms on the ground as if he’s being electrocuted. Son of a bitch.
