The Transparency Tonic
Page 27
“You don’t know much about Mezzarix,” Wanda said. “That’s not how he operates.”
“Clearly, I made a mistake. Our ways are not your ways and haven’t been for hundreds and hundreds of years. I should not have trusted your father.”
“What about him?” Wanda nodded at Carlisle, who had half a dinner roll crammed in his mouth. “Why isn’t he sick?”
“Carlisle’s just a boy. A wee pup. He shows his true age because he never drank too much Silt.” Cadence’s eyes drifted over to her son, but she wore a look that might have been resentment. “I wouldn’t allow it. Forbade him from indulging in our practices.” She sneered, her eyes turning cold and dark. “He’s hated me for it all these years, but look at him now. Young and spry and full of life.”
Full of life? Wanda would hardly label Carlisle as young or spry. He looked to be maybe seventy years old, with a crooked back and plagued by arthritis. Who were these people? Where had they come from?
“Look, Ms. Bimini, we have the means to help you. Potions. Elixirs that can perhaps heal your condition. I’ll bring you something right away.”
“It doesn’t matter,” she said, rasping.
“I need your cooperation,” Wanda continued as Cadence broke out in another fit of harsh coughing. “Help me understand more about your island and where to find it on a map.”
Cadence finally succeeded in pressing her fist to her lips and stifling her horrible hacking. Tears oozed from the corners of her eyes, but instead of sobbing uncontrollably, the woman began to laugh. “No map exists. There’s nothing to understand. It’s not written in books or scrolls or on stones. The fountain cannot be found, except by those who found it first.”
Wanda wiped her face with her hand, growing frustrated with Cadence’s cryptic conversation. “What are you talking about?” she demanded. “What fountain?”
Cadence cleared her throat and gazed up at Wanda, her eyes twinkling in the dimly lit room. “The Fountain of Youth.”
Seventy-seven kilometers due east of the Miami shores, the puttering ship San Cristóbal began to slow its diesel-powered engines. Fishing nets lay in massive heaps on either side of the boat, unused and unwound. The once clear, star-studded sky had been smothered by a thick blanket of storm clouds churning ferociously overhead. The bow of the boat dipped into the Atlantic, sending a spray of salt water, as the captain of the three-man crew suddenly killed the propeller.
“El Maestro, we may have found something,” the Puerto Rican captain announced into the cabin’s intercom. The other two members of the crew gazed through the window, hands gripping the guardrail.
A few moments later, a door opened from below and footsteps arose as Mezzarix Rook ascended the steps. Ravian McFarland stumbled after, followed closely by Zelda, who was clutching her stomach and grimacing in pain. Her complexion almost matched the color of her green hair, and her lips were pale but not from her favorite white lipstick.
Mezzarix moved into the cabin and held his hand along the length of his forehead, staring out into the ocean. A hauntingly bluish light cut through the darkness, and Mezzarix had to strain his eyes as rain began to shower down upon the ship.
“I don’t see anything, do you?” Mezzarix asked Zelda.
Zelda made a sound like a busted carburetor and leaned against the wall, trying not to vomit.
“There’s nothing on the instruments,” the captain said. “But something is out there. The stone—she showed me.”
“Are you certain?” Mezzarix glanced sideways at the captain, his eyes narrowed. He had no reason not to trust him. Captain Davila and his crew had been thoroughly Blotched and would be for as long as needed. The potion hadn’t taken any time to brew either. Not now that Mezzarix owned the Vessel. “Show me.” He turned back to stare through the glass as Ms. Bimini’s keystone lit up the night.
The captain gestured for Mezzarix to join him at his side. The two men gazed through the window for several silent moments.
“¡Allá!” The captain raised his voice with excitement. He pointed a finger to a spot almost completely hidden along the horizon. “You see it, no?”
Mezzarix pressed his nose against the glass, growing frustrated with the almost blinding rain.
“I don’t—” But he stopped short.
In the bluish light, drifting in and out of view as the waves of the ocean continuously toppled, a distant island had suddenly appeared.
A compendium of both approved and unapproved potions and ingredients, as well as common terms used throughout the potion-making community. Locations in italics pinpoint the exact source of where B.R.E.W.’s most-elite Elixirists have worked tirelessly to discover key ingredients to specific potions.
Auditory Tablet—Costa Rica. Concoction contained in a capsule that gives the user the ability to hear conversations and communicate without requiring cell phones, walkie-talkies, or other means of vocal transmission. Depending on dosage, the effects of the Auditory Tablet generally dissolve within ten to fifteen minutes of consumption.
Banishment (Exiled)—Term used by B.R.E.W. officials for sending a convicted Scourge to a Forbidden Zone for an extended period of time. Banishment prevents the need to build and staff prisons while also keeping the convicted safely away from the innocent population. Banished Scourges live out their term of punishment in a safe and almost entirely brewing-free environment.
Blight Bomb—Chernobyl, Ukraine. An explosive and unpredictable potion used for crumbling walls and destroying buildings. Increases in strength if left unchecked and will eventually demolish an entire structure before being rendered benign. (Key ingredients: plaited nickel; feather grass; radioactive water.)
Burning Rubber Reduction—United States of America, Indiana. Putty-like substance that, when applied to a vehicle’s tires, propels the motorist forward, often at breakneck speeds, without requiring pedaling. Steering is still necessary and recommended. (Key ingredients: American cockroach intestines; peregrine falcon feathers.)
Cacophonous Compound—United States of America, Michigan. The purpose of this substance is to create utter discord and discombobulation by filling a general space with random and overlapping noise. Sounds that may surface from use of this potion include, but are not limited to, chattering children, off-putting music, and malfunctioning appliances. (Key ingredients: Magicicada wings; crinkled aluminum; strawberry preserves.)
Certe Syrup—Latvia. Replicating potion that, when poured into a locked device, such as a doorknob or a padlock, will produce an exact copy of the fastening mechanism. Perfect for making a spare key in a pinch. (Key ingredients: yak butter; lauku tea; puff adder venom.)
Chamber President—Leader of B.R.E.W.’s Chamber of Directors and presiding officer within the Community. This individual has the power and authority to govern the ongoing practice of potion making.
Clasping Cannikin—Origin Unknown. Highly illegal device used to form a modified Blood Link between two relatives. This potion allows a banished potion master the freedom of venturing beyond the borders of his or her area of exile. Most Clasping Cannikins have a short lifespan and can carry harmful, even fatal, consequences if the individual does not return immediately to his or her Forbidden Zone before the potion expires. (Key ingredients: proboscis monkey snout; spotted filefish spine; chipped ferrite.)
Copen Warner—A well-known and respected distributor of brewing equipment throughout the Community. Copen Warner offers high-end options of Bunsen burners, heating elements, and an assortment of handcrafted cauldrons for only the most seasoned Elixirists. The company slogan is “Why limit yourself with less when you can brew with the best?”
Decurdler—United States of America, Wisconsin. Acid-reducing potion that lines the stomach with a temporary layer of cooling gel, at which point the consumer may ingest any substance without upsetting the stomach. (Key ingredients: jack pine bark; carrion beetle shells.)
Dentadura Draught—Peru. Used by South American Elixirists for an array of dental remedies. Various applications of the draught may cause teeth to soften, help prevent teething babies from biting, or even strengthen the user’s molars to the point of crushing stone. (Key ingredients: alpaca milk; ginseng; acorns.)
Distractor Potions—Origin Varies. A type of ward used by Elixirists to avert the curiosity of outside eyes. The concoction causes basic confusion and redirection to where intruders find themselves suddenly interested in some other location. (Key ingredients: dogfish scales; shattered pieces of a kaleidoscope.)
Dunka Draught—Latvia. Gritty potion that, when released within the general area of an opponent, will strike the intended target repeatedly with a series of hooks, jabs, and uppercuts. (Key ingredients: sessile barnacles, tapioca pudding, tow-truck axle grease.)
ExSpongement—Term used to describe the process of permanently removing an Elixirist’s ability to brew. There have been forty-seven known ExSpongements carried out since the formation of B.R.E.W., and though sentencing may be reversed, it is an extremely difficult practice requiring highly trained Elixirists authorized to use the Vessel.
Fire Rocket—Poland. Dangerously explosive potion used primarily in long-range battles. As the name suggests, it propels a missile-like projectile across long distances and, upon impact, will envelop the intended target with a blanket of fire. (Key ingredients: barberry pulp; thorn apple seeds; Lebanese sika plant kernels.)
Funnel Formula—United States of America, Oklahoma. When squirted from a pipette, this potion transforms an intended target, either living or inanimate, into a mini tornado. (Key ingredients: black rat tail; clubmoss; pickled sycamore seeds.)
Fusion Potion—General term for a potion that aids in the melding of inanimate objects with the essence of a living creature. They are controversial concoctions that require full clearance from B.R.E.W. prior to use.
Ke’oki Cordial—United States of America, Hawaii. Spongy potion that can turn any solid ground into a trampoline. (Key ingredients: triggerfish lips; plumeria petals; seven-year-old Spam.)
Kunci Cream—Indonesia. Cleverly crafted potion that is used to pick the lock of a closed door. This concoction operates quickly and quietly, all while maintaining the integrity of the locking mechanism. (Key ingredients: grated anoa horns; honeybee wings; coneflower petals.)
Mangle Potions—Origin Varies. These potions can be brewed in a variety of ways and are used by Dark Elixirists in battle. Each Mangle potion yields a specific result to a particular body part—mainly arms, legs, fingers, and toes. (Key ingredients: Lonomia caterpillar husk; hemlock; oleander; pokeberry stalks.)
Ogon Oil—Russia. An instant liquid fire generally used for heating in cold, damp environments where dry tinder and a primary fuel source are not readily available. (Key ingredients: musk deer tongue; melic grass.)
Philtering Loofah—Instrument used by Philters to remove both the remnants of a potion and the resulting effects of an ingested liquid from a victim. Commonly combined with a deadening substance such as Cannonball Lead or Clove Oil.
Projecting—A term used for the rare practice of temporarily passing an Elixirist’s ability to concoct onto someone else who would otherwise be unable to brew on his or her own.
Ragaszto Ragout—Hungary. A sticky substance that adheres an intended target’s hands, feet, or other body part to any surface for an extended period of time. Commonly used by B.R.E.W. Investigators during arrests and questioning. (Key ingredients: shattered blue jeremejevite; stonefly blood; rusted knitting needles.)
Rebenemine Rub—Estonia. A rupture potion sold and traded within the Swigs and frequently used as a trigger for a variety of deadly booby traps. This rub is one of the primary potions included on B.R.E.W.’s List of Outlawed Concoctions. (Key ingredients: steeped narcissus bulbs; sand lizard fangs; lynx nostril lining.)
Replication—Unlike the Restorative skill of duplicating a known potion through a recipe, the rare Elixirist practice of Replication uses modified substances to imitate the effect and result of a potion with unknown origins. Few Elixirists possess this ability as it is both dangerous and unproven. Several noted Scourge banishments have been the result of a Replication gone wrong. (Key ingredients: Portuguese man-of-war tentacles; Andean clover honey.)
Sequester Strap—France. A chemically treated belt, band, or strap used to create a preventative ward specific to an individual. Commonly used as a means of punishment for unruly Drams. B.R.E.W.’s Chamber of Directors are the only ones with the proper authority to initiate a Sequester Strap. (Key ingredients: cassava; coypu claws; scorched neoprene.)
Sessizlik Serum—Turkey. A minor exploding potion that transforms into a thin, fabric-like substance, which then can be used to silence an opponent for a short period of time. Primarily used by Scourge members of the Turkish mafia. (Key ingredients: gray wolf whiskers; crumbled bauxite.)
Sloop Solution—Portugal. Specially contained potion that, when dropped directly into a body of water, transforms into a malleable syrup, which will expand and solidify into a durable board. The Sloop may be used as a small raft for a short period of time. (Key ingredients: fig juice; balsa sawdust.)
Smelte Sludge—Denmark. Gloppy, amber-colored potion used for melting solid substances into a sticky sludge. Works best on glass, crystal, and some porous stones. (Key ingredients: flawed opals; juniper berries; tail fluff of a European hare.)
Sottusopra Serum—Slovenia. A concoction that gives clarity and balance by constantly rendering the environment right-side up, no matter what angle the user might be standing in. Great for tumbling and handstands. This potion is the only known Elixirist concoction publicly added to the banned substance list by the International Olympic Committee. (Key ingredients: pureed radishes, cuttlefish fins, pink peppercorns.)
Swigs—Term to describe locations all over the world that act as trading posts for unsanctioned potion exchanges. Dealings within the Swigs are often illegal and rarely governed by B.R.E.W.
Wardbreakers—A controversial method of disabling wards or eliminating distractor potions from a protected area by using chemically modified insects. Beetles are the most common form of Wardbreaker, but any manner of insect can be used in a pinch, including moths, caterpillars, and cockroaches.
Writ of ExSpongement—Formal document issued by the Chamber of Directors that grants permission to ExSponge an individual. Not to be taken lightly, such a writ is virtually a death sentence to one’s potion-making ability and has been a heated topic of debate for many years.
Frank L. Cole lives with his wife and three children out West. He is the author of ten books. He is an active promoter of reading and the power of imagination and has been to more than 120 schools presenting to kids.
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