“Then we find our own.” She ran her tongue against her cheek, her hands on her hips.
I knew that look. “What are you thinking?” I asked.
“What if I put you to sleep? Like, a deep sleep?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Like…a coma?”
“Kind of. I know of some herbs that can help with insomnia. I read about them inThe Mysterious Properties of Magical Herbsby Lady Elowina. What if I make you a potion that will knock you out? It might be strong enough to knock out the manananggal, too.”
Images of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty came to mind. Sleeping like the dead. If it was strong enough, maybe…If the manananggal was asleep, it could mean I wouldn’t have to worry about hurting anyone. “Nix,” I said, heart leaping. “You are brilliant.”
Nix’s smile was infectious.
Together, we headed out of the main house and toward the jungle. Nix mentioned that some of the herbs could be found in the mountains. Even though they were harmless on their own, they were a powerful sleeping potion when combined. But the fact that the recipe came from the book written by the mambabarang that had tried to kill me was less than comforting.
“You sure this isn’t too dangerous?” I asked.
“Ninety percent sure,” she said, picking up a wicker basket from a stack near the kitchens. “Okay, eighty-five. I’ll make an antidote just in case.”
I would take those odds. I was so exhausted, getting knocked over the head with a club sounded just as tempting. I trusted Nix, though. With her on my side, tonight wouldn’t be so bad.
We didn’t see anyone while we walked on the lawn, skirting the outer edges of the jungle, until we came upon a group of people near the front gate. There, Edgardo was speaking with some of the gardeners and other groundskeepers.
“I want all of you to be on high alert,” Edgardo said. “A curfew will be in place at sunset so as to avoid any more encounters with the creature. The last thing we want is an incident that could endanger anyone.” When he noticed me approaching, his eyes went wide, and he bowed at the waist. “Apologies, Your Majesty. I wanted to speak to you in person. We have rumors of a monster lurking near the grounds.”
“I heard,” I said. The gardeners and groundskeepers looked uneasy, and I didn’t blame them. They bowed and curtsied to me as well, but the fear never left their eyes. If I didn’t know what was happening, either, I would have been scared, too. “Please listen to Edgardo,” I told them. “For your own safety, until we can get the matter resolved, stay indoors at night. For now, I don’t think you have anything to worry about, though, not until darkness falls.”
I glanced at Nix, and she nodded reassuringly.
Edgardo looked at me quizzically but decided not to press. He dismissed the groundskeepers and turned to me and Nix. “Might I ask where you are headed today?”
“We are simply appreciating the outdoors,” Nix said. “It’s too beautiful here to stay inside.”
Edgardo seemed to take pride in that. “Ah yes. Well, be sureto be careful around the property. The mountain holds plenty of secrets, magical and mundane in nature. Might I recommend the hot spring or the waterfall? Your friend Amador was readying to take a ride.”
He held out his arm and gestured toward Amador, who was sitting proudly atop her horse with a stable boy leading it by the reins. I was about to tell Edgardo that she wasn’t my friend, but I held my tongue. “Thank you, Edgardo. If you’d be so kind, please tell the rest of the staff of the curfew. Everyone’s safety is of the utmost importance until we can get everything under control.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” Edgardo snapped his heels together and bowed, then walked away. But before we could slip away into the jungle, Amador and the stable boy arrived. Amador dismissed the stable boy and adjusted her kid gloves.
“Having a good time?” I asked, mustering a smile.
“It’s not awful,” she said. Her eyes lingered on Nix briefly before she looked at me. “Did you hear of the monster?”
“Oh, I figured it was right in front of me.” I thought I was being exceptionally clever, but a bitterness on my tongue made the moment less sweet. I knew I was being catty, but it felt good to lash out for a bit. Amador’s frown was worth it at first. Then my satisfaction ebbed away, and the bitterness stayed in my mouth.
Amador made a snooty little snort and said, “Since you’re queen, you should handle the issue.”
I folded my arms across my chest. “I’m working on it.”
“I heard Qian and his men talking. They want to set traps, I think.”
“That’s not necessary,” I said.
“No?” Amador tilted her head. She looked again at Nix, who averted her gaze.
“We’re dealing with it,” I said.
Amador’s brow furrowed. “Are you, now? Though, if you ask me, I’m not sure what you can do, seeing as you still haven’t learned to control your power.”
