Page 119 of Elysian

I crouched.

“Take care,” Cassiel barked.

I gently lowered the jar until it was submerged except for where my fingertips held the glass. Clear liquid flooded the jar, colliding with the inkiness at the bottom. As I lifted the jar, all the contents turned into the same black liquid.

“They used this to poison you, Cassiel,” I said, more sure than anything. “This is what they called the Elixir.”

“They likely attempted to turn others without coming here,” he said.

With a nod, I agreed. “And they found it impossible.”

“So how do I do this?” Liadan asked.

“All the Lore of Old said was that those with potential must drink from the cenote.” I frowned.

Liadan didn’t waste a moment. He cupped his hand and brought it to his mouth, drinking. He shook his hand, features twisted with pain, but scooped again and drank more. The liquid remained its clear, cyan color as he brought it to his lips.

Liadan turned to look at us. His eyes widened, and he clamped his arm over his stomach. He groaned, shoulders heaving. Tilting onto his side, he writhed on the hard stone. Gashes opened along his skin.

“Help him!” I shouted. It echoed around us.

Archer and Jude burst into action, one grabbing one arm each. They both carried him to an area without as much stone. As soon as they set him down, Liadan curled into a fetal position.

“I remember when Tabby Awakened. It took almost a sennight.”

“That happened to me too.”

Liadan groaned. Archer shook his shoulder, but he did not react as he shivered.

“We should return him to the Resistance caves.” As I spoke, Jude was already crouched beside the cenote.

“Jude!” I shouted. He was already drinking. Once, twice, four times, until his body trembled so severely he could drink no more.

“Fuck!” Archer shouted, running to grab him. He dragged him away from the pond. “It was supposed to be me.”

Now he could not because with two unconscious bodies, we needed help bringing them back.

“Foolish,” Cassiel snarled. “We have done our part. Let us return.”

“We cannot leave them. What if they cannot find their way back?” Archer shouted back.

Cassiel’s expression tautened with visible annoyance. He must be tired if it was easier to read him. I grabbed his arm.

“Archer, you can carry one and Cassiel can carry the other,” I said.

‘I will do no such thing.’

“Fine, then I will do it.” I began to walk away.

He caught my arm with a rumble from his chest, strode before me to collect Liadan’s shivering body, and tossed him over his shoulder. He moved with deliberate slowness.

I still clasped the jar. I walked over to the cenote and tipped the liquid back inside. Upon touching the cenote, the black inkiness undulated and seemed to rip itself apart until it became the same clear cyan.

The magic in the cenote was fascinating. It was also why it should remain out of reach for people like Al.

“Amara, step away from there.”

I backed away at Cassiel’s order and set the jar on the ground. It tipped over and shattered.