When she leaves, I grab another stack of items to add to the display. As I return to the counter, a painful prick in my chest makes my steps lurch. I grab wildly at the counter’s edge, suddenly weak and woozy. The charms in my hands clatter ontothe floor. A few customers notice, asking if I’m alright. Sunny dashes over and tries to help me to the lounge area. The pain surges now, bringing me to my knees before we get there, taking Sunny down with me.
“Call the healers!” she shrieks to the customers as I slump into her, the pain overwhelming me. This can’t be happening again! The fae must have escaped! Will it fulfill its promise to kill me this time? The edges of my vision blur as commotion erupts around me, but everything is hazy against the blinding pain radiating throughout my body.
“Stay with us, Ada! The healers are almost here.” Sunny’s voice rings in my ears, the last thing I hear as the world goes dark.
There’s a din of scrambled voices in my head. My eyes are glued shut and it takes me a minute to unstick them. My vision swims as I look around to get my bearings.
“Ada, you’re in the healers clinic,” Thea says calmly from somewhere nearby. I blink and her face hovers over mine. “I administered a pain relief potion after I examined you. It must be working if you’re back with us.”
“What happened?” I ask in confusion, my brain still sluggish.
“You collapsed at your shop. Sunny said you were clutching at your chest and whimpering in pain. The fae’s spell is at work again. The magick surges as violently as it did on Samhain night. It still resists healing.” She sounds worried. “Rest here while I make some calls. Sunny’s here too. I’ll let her know you’re awake.”
She dims the lights as she exits the room. Only a dull lingering ache remains of the excruciating pain, but I’m too exhausted to care much. I think I’ll just lay here for a while.
“Ada, I was so scared,” Sunny quavers as she appears by my side. “How are you feeling?”
“Better,” I rasp out. I don’t want to distress her any further. “I’ll be alright. Thank you for staying with me. You’re a good friend.”
“I couldn’t leave you,” she insists. “I care about you.”
I manage a weak smile for her. “I care about you too. But I don’t want to keep you here. Why don’t you close the shop and take the rest of the day off.”
She worries her lip, unsure whether to accept. “I mean it. The shop can wait until tomorrow. We could both use a break,” I assure her.
“Alright. But promise to call me when you get home? Let me know if you need anything?” she urges.
“I promise.” She wraps her arms around my shoulders carefully in a light hug, not putting any pressure on me. Her expression is still full of uncertainty as she waves one last time from the doorway before she heads out.
I’m not sure how much time passes, but with the combination of the darkened room and the pain reliever, I begin to nod off.
A deep rumbling noise startles me back to consciousness. I’m hardly able to piece together that it’s Norrell’s voice before he charges into the room with ferocious intensity.
“I came as soon as I heard!” he says in a rush of breath. “We just finished with the fae.Fuck, I should have known bringing it out of containment could harm you. I failed you again, Ada.”
I can’t suppress a resigned exhale. His melodramatics do nothing to improve my mood. If the fae’s spell is responsible, this will happen every time Niven interrogates it. I close my eyes,trying to blot out the dread of finding myself between the devil and the deep blue sea. I wonder if one day I won’t wake up again.
My eyes open again at the sound of someone else entering the room. Thea returns, her expression just as grim as before. “The worst has probably passed for now. We’ll send you home to rest more comfortably in your own bed. Please take it easy today. I’ll give you some potions to help you rest better, but don’t hesitate to call us if the chest pains return.” Turning to Norrell, she adds, “And next time y’all mess around with that fae, bring her here first.”
“You have our word,” Norrell responds solemnly.
“Focus on feeling better. I’ll take care of updating everyone on your condition.” She squeezes my hand gently as she helps me out of bed.
Norrell takes my keys from me and retrieves the Wagoneer still parked near the shop. When he returns with it, I’m able to stand and walk on my own, but Norrell hovers right beside me and helps me in.
Quiet and uncomfortable tension flares between us during the short ride home. When he pulls into the driveway, he hops out and rushes over to open the passenger side door. I take his proffered hand but let go as soon as I’m standing steady on my feet.
“Would you allow me to carry you inside?” he asks calmly, though his rigid posture makes it look like he’s ready to spring into action at my next fainting spell.
“No, I’m fit as a fiddle. I can make it,” I assure him. He’s like a shadow behind me, sticking uncomfortably close.
“I’m going to nap on the sofa,” I decide after considering my options. The comfortable spot calls out to me when my bed feels too far away up that long staircase. I refuse to let him carry me again.
“I will be here when you wake,” he says from the doorway after watching me lay down, making myself comfortable. I lack the energy to respond and almost immediately drift off to sleep. Voices in the foyer wake me a few times, but the pull of sleep is too strong for me to hear much.
The sun is low when my eyes open again. I must have slept all afternoon. It did me some good. My mind is much clearer. And I finally have just enough energy to make it up the stairs. The door to my dad’s study is open a crack as I walk by. I poke my head inside, and Niven looks up from the desk. His expression turns anxious when he sees it’s me.
In a blur of motion, he’s in front of me, hands gently grasping my shoulders. “Oh Ada, I’m so glad you’re awake. There are no words… I’m so sorry. We should have known the fae’s magick would still have such a tight grip on you. Next time, we’ll take more precautions. Make sure you’re safe. Had I known…” He sighs, his distraught gaze locked to mine. “Had I known, we would have figured out another way. We can’t let this happen again.”
