A high-pitched whine filled the air, and the crystals around my head began to vibrate. I could feel something building inside me, a pressure that went beyond physical sensation. It was like my very consciousness was being stretched.
"You can't see it," I whispered, not sure where the words were coming from. "It's not for you."
"What did she say?" Thornwick leaned closer.
And then it happened.
The pressure in my head exploded outward. Light poured from my eyes, my mouth, the markings on my arm. I caught a glimpse of the machines around me sparking before my vision swam and changed.
I was no longer in the lab. I stood in a circular chamber of stone, where nine figures in dark robes gathered around a pedestal. On the pedestal rested a simple clay cup.
"The Chalice isn't a cup," I heard myself say, but it wasn't my voice. It was older, harder. "It's a choice."
One of the robed figures turned. I caught a glimpse of a face beneath the hood, my face, but aged, scarred, with a leather eye patch.
"Find the Hidden Scroll," my older self urged. "Trust only the four who?—"
The vision shattered as I was violently yanked back to reality. The lab was in chaos. Equipment had exploded, shards of crystal and metal flying through the air. Alarms blared, and smoke filled the room.
I was still in the chair, but something, or someone, was covering me. A warm, heavy weight. Strong arms wrapped around my head and torso protectively.
The weight shifted, and I found myself staring up at Rook's face, inches from mine. He'd thrown himself over me when the equipment exploded, using his body as a shield. A nasty gash ran along his temple, blood matting his dark hair.
"You're hurt," I gasped, reaching up without thinking to touch his cheek, just below the wound. His skin was hot, almost feverish.
For a heartbeat, something vulnerable flashed in his eyes, surprise, confusion, something else I couldn't name. Then his expression shuttered, and he pulled back, wiping blood from his face with the back of his hand.
"I'll heal," his tone gruff as he helped me sit up before stepping back, putting distance between us. He looked almost shocked that I had touched him, fingers absently brushing the spot where my hand had been.
The lab was a disaster zone. The crystal apparatus had completely shattered, and several of the monitoring stations were smoking. Fenric was furiously working a fire extinguisher while Thornwick stared at me with undisguised fascination.
"Extraordinary," he breathed, seemingly unconcerned that his lab was in flames. "A complete prophetic cascade. I've only read about such reactions!"
Zane appeared at my side. "You okay, Shortstack?"
I nodded weakly, though the room was still spinning. "What happened?"
"Your magic decided it didn't like being probed," Zane gave a grim smile. "Can't say I blame it."
Thornwick was moving through the wreckage, gesturing excitedly. "We need to get her to the clinic for immediate evaluation. The readings I got before the cascade were unprecedented."
A thin man in a lab coat approached from the doorway, where several staff members had gathered to gawk at the destruction.
"Doctor, permit me to escort Ms. Winter to the medical wing," he offered. "She'll need treatment for prophetic shock."
Thornwick waved his hand dismissively, still focused on the fragments of his equipment. "Yes, yes. Take her. Full workup."
The thin man took my arm. Something about his touch made my skin crawl, but my head was pounding too hard to focus on why.
"This way, Ms. Winter," his voice oddly flat. "We'll take good care of you."
Zane frowned, watching us leave, but stayed behind to help with the cleanup. Rook hesitated, then followed after us, maintaining a few paces behind as the technician led me down a hallway to the clinic.
The medical wing was quieter, with soft lighting that didn't aggravate my throbbing headache quite as much. The technician guided me to an examination room and closed the door, leaving Rook outside.
"Sit," he instructed, gesturing to the examination table. "I need to check your vitals."
I sat, feeling strangely disconnected from my body. The blue markings on my arm had dulled to a faint glow, like embers after a fire. It was like they had depleted their power source.
