“I memorized it, Millie. Of all the information in Loyria’s notebook, that notation was the most critical to preserve the health and well-being of our planet. It would be grossly irresponsible of us to dispense this poison without a failsafe.”
My shoulders ached with the responsibility. “Maybe both of you should go back to the cottage. I can do this alone, and it would be better to poison one person than three.” A shudder worked its way through my bones. I’d just found Pierce. Surely it wasn’t my time to die.
They gave me identical headshakes. No words were necessary, as both of my “mothers” had mastered the art of ordering their children to shut the hell up with little more than a glance.
The garden loomed straight ahead. My steps faltered. “Are we absolutely positive this is the best thing to do?”
“Yes.” Two voices. One answer.
“Okay, then. Which plant is going to sacrifice its life for the benefit of science?”
Siofra’s eyebrows shot up. “Ask them, iníon, not us.”
“Doesn’t that seem…painful?”
Millie touched my sleeve. “They’re plants, Child, not people. They don’t have our fears.”
“It’s just that killing anything bothers me.” Images of Fion Connor and Eamon Grady flashed in my mind. “Well, anything that’s innocent.”
We’d reached the garden, and I set the glass jar on a barren section of ground. “Millie, will you please stand guard while I chat with the plants. And Siofra, will you ask them too? I’d like to be positive we select the right plant.”
“Yes. Let’s sit on our usual boulders. Tradition is a good foundation at times like this.”
We sat. I took my gloves off and set them aside. My hands hadn’t touched any of the liquid, and the gloves made my palms sweat.
My rock had been absorbing sun all day, and it provided comforting warmth that seeped up through my torso. I spread my focus over the garden, visualized a layer of energy connecting me to the plants, and waited.
All four pieces of sea glass from my bracelets began to hum. I rubbed them. Thank goodness I’d removed my gloves. The humming got louder, shooting a message through my fingertips, but I had no idea what it was trying to tell me. The glass had become a living, breathing part of my life, and often sang when I needed reassurance or comfort, but this was a different sound. One I’d never heard or felt. I tuned in, deepening my connection with the glass.
One of the pieces, the largest one, wanted to be released. I quickly unfastened it, and tucked it into my pocket. This was a bad time to have my concentration interrupted by a demanding piece of sea glass. Fortunately, my other bracelets quieted, and I was able to keep on task.
It didn’t take long before a scraggly shrub at the edge of the plot stood out from the rest. “Do you see that older shrub, Siofra. I could be wrong, but it sounds…tired. Is that the one.”
She patted my hand. “Yes, I believe so. Shall we proceed, then?”
I wanted to get this over with. “It will either work or not, and waiting isn’t going to change the outcome.” I worked my hands into the gloves again, then circled the garden, back toward Millie and the formula she’d been guarding. With a silent prayer to the goddess, I picked it up, and headed for the shrub. Reaching into the earth, I grounded myself, chased all doubt aside, and slowly poured some of the liquid around the base of the plant. When the ground was saturated, I set the jar aside, stripped off my gloves, stepped back and joined hands with Siofra and Millie. “Sorry about the sweaty palms.” They only held on tighter. These women were my family. My “moms,” and it was only right I share this moment with them, the culmination of a process my mother had set in motion so many years ago.
Late afternoon sunlight sent a soft glow over the garden, and there we stood, representing three phases of life: young woman, matron, and crone, all bearing witness to an infinite power. To kill or to heal. That was our responsibility to determine.
Like time-lapse photography, the shrub crumpled.
The three of us breathed a collective sigh, and I let go of their hands, scrubbed my palms on my cargoes. “All right. Now how do we fix it, make it a healing potion instead of a killer?”
The sea glass in my pocket was practically shouting at me. “What the hell?” I whipped it out, tried to rub it into its usual calm state.
“What’s wrong?” Siofra eyed the glass. “It’s very loud, isn’t it?”
“I’ve never heard it sound this way, like it’s asking for freedom, maybe.” I handed it to her. “You try.”
It slipped from her fingers, landed smack on the damp earth that had absorbed the poison.
TWENTY-SIX
SADNESS ENGULFED ME, AND MY heart banged a dirge against my ribs. I could never wear that bracelet again. There was no way to purify it.
“Shit!” I dropped to my knees, afraid to touch it without gloves.
Siofra rested her hand on my shoulder. “Take a breath. Let’s see what happens.”
Chills raced under my skin. “Holy, holy freaking mother of the goddesses! Look at that!”
One branch at a time, the shrub was coming back to life.
Millie cocked her head to the side. “Do you suppose the formula wasn’t strong enough?”
Siofra snorted. “Hardly. This, ladies, is a miracle in progress. What sort of properties are in sea glass, Everly?”
I stared at her, wide-eyed. “I have no idea. You don’t seriously think the glass had anything to do with—”
“I know it did. The ocean and all its life forms live in the glass. Remember it’s been tumbling around, collecting Universal knowledge for hundreds of years. I didn’t drop it, Everly. It jumped out of my hand.”
I backed away from the plant. “No. That’s just too strange. I understand what you’re saying… Wait. There are plants in the sea. Lot’s of them. Seaweed, algae, sea grass, marsh grass, any or all of them could be the antidote for the poison. It’ll take years of intense study to figure out which ones are right.”
Millie unearthed a pair of gloves from her apron pocket, and handed them to me. “Pick that bracelet up and drop in the jar.”
I whirled to face her. “What? No. I love that bracelet.”
“It can be replaced, child. The future of humanity can not.”
I sighed, long and silent. “Actually it can’t be replaced. Each piece of sea glass is a living thing, maybe not like plants and animals, but—”
Siofra nudged me. “Their song sounds eternal to me. Like rocks. I agree with Millie that you should put it in the jar, just not quite yet. First pour some of the lethal formula around a few more plants.” She grinned, and pointed toward a cluster of greens on the other side of the garden. “How about those. They mimic us, you see. A baby, a mature specimen, and one that’s about done for.”
Millie elbowed her. “I am not about done for, Siofra Pierce.”
They were squabbling like sisters. Nothing could have made me happier. “Since you’re in agreement and you make up two-thirds of this team, we’ll do it your way.” My stomach clenched. “But I’m positive a part of me is going to die if I donate my sea glass to that…guck.”
We traipsed to the other side of the garden, I poured the mixture around the three plants, stood back, and watched them wilt into a tangle of dead leaves. My hand shook as I silently said goodbye to my bracelet, but I managed to drop it into the jar of green guck. “Should we do anything else? Stir it? How long should we wait?”
Blank stares. “You’re not helping, ladies, and this was your collective idea.”
The jar heated in my hands, and images poured onto my internal screen. “Well, damn. The green goop is hot as hell, and turning clear.”
We stared at it for several long minutes. When the jar began to cool, I squatted next to the plants. “Should I pour it?”
Siofra’s eyes were huge.
Millie, pale to begin with, had lost every trace of color from her cheeks. “It’s a bloody miracle.”
What the
hell? “You came up with idea of mixing in the sea glass, and now you’re surprised?”
“Well, yes. Miracles should always be a surprise.”
I wasn’t in the mood for a whole lot of surprises at this point, and I was done with waiting. “I’m pouring.”
The clear liquid soaked into the earth, and I counted seconds. At ten-one-thousand the leaves regained some of their deep green color. At twenty-five, the stalks began to straighten, and after a full minute there were three healthy plants dancing in the breeze. All of them had returned to their exact former state of longevity. Or so it appeared. Not being a plant, I couldn’t tell for sure. I stood, held the jar up to the few remaining bright streams of sunlight. The liquid glistened. “I think we should try this on a plant we didn’t kill, one that’s been gone for a while.”
Siofra pointed to sad-looking banana plant that bordered the garden. “That one?”
I wasn’t sure what to expect, so any wilted specimen would do. “Sure.” I poured. The plant looked healthier, but didn’t flourish like the others had.
Millie nodded. “That makes sense. The potion wasn’t intended to raise the dead, but as a healing elixir for the sickly.”
I thought back to my mother’s notes. “Yes, I agree, Millie. There are some things we shouldn’t tamper with, and when something has passed into another dimension, it’s not appropriate to for us to cross that barrier.”
Standing, I stretched my back out. “I think we can call it a day.”
There was a rustle behind me, I whirled to see what it was, mortified that I hadn’t been paying attention to what was going on around us. Pierce strolled out of the garden maze. “Sunset in fifteen. Came to walk you home.”
I held up the jar. “Healing formula. Now all we need to do is figure out how to nullify the toxin so it can never be recreated.”
Pierce gave me a slow grin. “You’ll nail it, Belisama.”
Siofra was nodding with quick chin jabs. “Yes. Loyria found these plants in only one place—the heart of the Amazon rainforest. Which is now inaccessible. So this garden is the only remaining place on earth that these four plants are growing in proximity of each other. Correct?”
“Yes.” I drew out the syllable, not sure where she was going.
“If we nullify the garden, we nullify the toxin.”
There had to be holes in that plan. It was too simple. Or maybe not. “I’ll sit with it, and we can decide tomorrow. We haven’t eaten all day, and we’re a tired bunch of women. It isn’t a good time to speculate.”
“No,” she said. “Now bury the bracelet in the middle of the garden, and allow the sea glass to work overnight. Tomorrow we can prepare another sample of the poison, and test it.”
I handed the jar to Pierce, reached in and removed the bracelet, buried it, and carefully stripped off my gloves. “Done.” I tucked the gloves in my pocket, and pushed my sleeves up to brush the dirt off my hands. And that’s when I noticed the rope burn on my arm. “Pour some of that on me.”
Pierce backed away.
Siofra caught his arm. “It’s fine, mac. Everly wouldn’t ask if she wasn’t sure.”
“Mac?” I asked, pushing up my shirtsleeve up higher.
“Son. You’ll have your own one day.”
Not soon. Definitely not soon. “Um-hmm. Pour, please.”
His hands shook, but he managed to layer a thin film of liquid over my abrasion.
“It tingles. In a good way.”
The four of us stared, enthralled as my skin regenerated in front of us. “Holy, holy goddesses,” I whispered. There was no doubt it worked for plant life, and in the barrage of images I’d seen, I was ninety-nine percent positive it worked on humans and animals, but that niggling one percent left me in awe. “I didn’t have to drink it, just coming in contact with broken skin worked.”
Millie wrapped her arm around my waist. “Let’s get that precious potion home. I believe there’s a man waiting for us who is in desperate need.”
I took a flashlight out of Pierce’s back pocket, and turned it on. “Let’s go. I’ll lead with the light, Pierce in the middle since he’s carrying the potion, and you moms can bring up the rear.”
Siofra smiled, deep and genuine. Millie preened. Apparently motherhood was a positive deal. They fell into line behind Pierce, and I started walking. “I agree that Martin is an excellent candidate for our second test case. Is it rude to say I’m grateful he’s one of the bad guys, since this potion is…untried.”
“Rude or not, it’s the truth.” Siofra’s voice carried on the evening breeze. “And he’ll die very soon if he doesn’t try it.
Pierce was too quiet, and the back of my neck started twitching.
I shot him a quick glance. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Can’t say I’ve ever held this much power.”
“The awe factor. We’ve been absorbing it in small increments all day, but you got hit with a whammy, watching my arm heal.” No need to tell him my knees were still rattling from the entire magical, fairy-tale experience.
When we walked in the front door, Harlan and Aukele greeted us, and so did the rich scent of Siofra’s Irish stew. My stomach rumbled. I did a mental count. “Nine of us for supper. Is there enough?”
“Of course, iníon. I made up two crockpots.”
My house came equipped with two crockpots. “I’m amazed there was one.” I really needed to explore the nooks and crannies around the house a lot more closely. And speaking of which… “Aukele.”
He bowed. “Namasté, Granddaughter.”
I returned the greeting. “I believe there are some papers you’ve hidden here in the house that belong to me. I’d like them, please.”
“In good time.”
“Tonight, Grandfather.” If he thought there was any chance he could wiggle out of this one…
Pierce passed between us to set the potion jar next to the green bowl. Out of the way. “Good call,” I mouthed to him.
Millie and Siofra had busied themselves setting the table and dishing out stew.
“I’ll relieve mo athair.” Pierce said, heading for the back door.
“You might as well bring Fred and Martin in as well as your father. We can’t let them starve, and everyone is going to want to see what happens when Martin drinks the potion.” Me especially, but I kept that to myself.
There wasn’t much discussion around the table. We were all starving, and made quick work of finishing off every bite of Siofra’s stew.
Martin had been informed about the potion before supper, and continuously cast surreptitious glances at the jar, but he didn’t’ ask any questions, or offer any comments. I wouldn’t have either if my life thread had been stretched to the breaking point, and my one chance for healing rested with a woman I’d attacked and threatened earlier in the day.
Everyone rinsed their own dishes, and we made quick work of straightening the kitchen.
It was time. “Do you want to try the potion, Martin?” I considered his consent to be an essential part of the process. No consent. No trial.
He rubbed his chin with a trembling hand. “I have nothing to lose.”
Siofra settled Martin on the sofa, a blanket nearby. I considered suggesting an emesis basin, but it was unlikely we had one, and I couldn’t think of a polite way to offer any other receptacle.
Pierce reached for the jar, handed it to me. My fingers vibrated with the power seeping through the glass, and my three remaining sea glass bracelets hummed in expectation.
I glanced at Millie to ask for a tumbler, but she’d beat me to it, handed me one.
My stomach twisted in anticipation.
I set the tumbler on the table, started to pour the potion, stopped. “How much?”
Aukele touched my hand. “It is in your heart to know the correct amount.”
Pressure built in my chest. And damn it all, my fingers were shaking, my palms sweating. A man’s life hung in the balance. Yes, he was the creepiest of creeps, but it was stil
l a human life. And he wasn’t threatening me or anyone I loved. “Clean combat is better.”
Fred nodded. “Your mother thought the same.”
And that was all I needed to hear. I poured, handed Martin the glass, and steadied his hands while he drank. The shaking leading the trembling.
Martin’s eyes dilated, and he collapsed onto the sofa in…a coma. Unconsciousness. Frantic, I grabbed his wrist, found a pulse. “He’s alive.”
“You know, child, he was near death. It’s possible this situation is similar to the banana plant.”
Pierce looked at me, forehead wrinkled. “Banana plant?”
We hadn’t had a second to talk. “It was part of the testing we did today. When plants have lost their connection to life, the potion doesn’t seem to heal them, only offers a temporary respite.”
Fred let out a snort. “If I can get him back to Washington for questioning, we’ll consider it a success.”
He might. I didn’t.
“And Ms. Gray,” Fred continued. “Your mother informed me that it was necessary to create the toxin before you could create a healing potion. Where is it?”
How had that detail slipped my mind? “Eradicated. Eliminated. Destroyed.” It was partly a lie, because we hadn’t tested Siofra’s theory, but I had no doubt planting the sea glass had worked. Now all I needed was a huge piece of the stuff to bury, so there would be no chance of anyone accidentally concocting the poison ever again. Even if the sea glass were unearthed, there would only be a one in a many million chance anyone would come up with the exact equation to create the poison. And I’d personally make sure the recipe was shredded.
Fred smiled. “I want to see proof, Everly Gray, but I’ll thank you now all the same. I’ve been waiting for you to clean up the last open file on Loyria Gray so I can retire. Couldn’t leave so much as a hint of that deadly stuff out in the world, since the young whipper-snapper agents don’t have the skill to manipulate impossible situations.” He pointed to his chest with his thumb. “I’m the last of the old school.”
a Touch of Intrigue Page 20
