He nodded, not reaching out to stop her, perhaps for fear of making her run further or perhaps not wanting her to stay if she couldn’t give him what he so clearly sought from her.
She ran from the room and out into the garden, her eyes stinging with tears that refused to fall, as confusion washed over her.
Why was it that the more everything started to make sense, the less certain she was of herself? Was this just another thing the Alchemist had stolen from her? Her ability to make judgments knowing her own mind. Ari’s feelings seemed so real. Her own feelings seemed so real! But were they? The last time she’d kissed a man, it had cost her and Raph their home.
She knew now that was why the Alchemist had kissed her. Not because he wanted her, but because he wanted her house. He kept her father alive just long enough for her feelings to develop deeply enough that he could steal away her home, knowing that her father would never be foolish enough to sign it over to him.
Yet, when she’d smelled the Alchemist’s perfume just now, it hadn’t affected her head in the same way it had in the past. What was different? She was missing something big. She knew it. She also knew there was only one person who might be able to explain it to her. And he was fast asleep in the infirmary.
She ran deeper into the garden, away from the palace, through the lavender garden and past the rows of tea trees, finding a clump of cassias like the ones Raph liked to climb back home. She pulled herself up to sit on one of the branches, wanting to hide from the world. Maybe some time alone would help everything make sense.
It was getting late in the day now and dark shadows were falling across the ground. She made herself comfortable and watched the shadows grow longer, steadying her breathing. She’d go back to Raph shortly. She just needed a little more time. It was nice sitting here where nobody could disturb her.
She heard the unmistakable sound of leaves crunching under a boot, and a dark shadow crept out from behind one of the trees. It was a man in a cloak. He walked straight past her tree, unaware of her presence and headed across the garden.
Jasmine’s hand flew to her mouth as she caught sight of the man’s face.
It was the Alchemist! The very man who’d caused all this chaos and confusion, almost as if he’d been conjured by the smell of his perfume.
She slid silently from the tree, determined to find out what he was up to. Because whatever it was, it couldn’t be good.
ARI
THE NOW
Ari cursed, hating himself for letting Jasmine go. But after kissing her without her permission once before, he needed her to come to him next time. He’d never force himself on her again. She was starting to trust him. He could see that. He could feel it. But she didn’t yet trust herself. The Alchemist had really messed with her mind.
He picked up a metal bowl and threw it against the door from which Jasmine had just run through. That felt better.
Hopefully, if she got the air she said she needed, she’d return to him, ready to let him wrap his arms around her as he ached to do. He had to be patient.
He went to the door and picked up the bowl, placing it neatly back on the shelf. Jasmine had done a wonderful job cleaning up the perfumery. He’d tried his best to help but knew he hadn’t been of much use. Jasmine wasn’t afraid of hard work. Surely there was no better quality for a queen than that! Those delicate women his mother had selected for him didn’t know the meaning of hard work. Unless he counted powdering their nose, as they seemed to work pretty hard on that. Jasmine didn’t need to do that to be beautiful. Her nose was powdered with wisdom and loyalty and courage.
Ari had told Jasmine almost everything about himself and she’d still seemed to love him. Talking to her had helped him come to terms with what had happened with Ana and for the first time, he truly believed that it wasn’t his fault. It had been so clear and simple to Jasmine. When he’d finally said his story out loud it was like he himself had woken from a sleep.
No elixir had ever worked on him before, which was the reason why he’d felt so safe against the plague. It was like Jasmine was an elixir in herself. The only one to ever break through and take hold of all his senses.
He knew why the elixirs didn’t work on him. It was the one thing he hadn’t told Jasmine about himself. The one thing he’d never told anybody. It was a flaw about himself that he didn’t understand, although knew was there. It terrified him, making it a fear as well as a flaw. He wanted to tell Jasmine about it but wasn’t sure how she’d react. Would it make her run away again as soon as she found her way back?
Because the one thing he was missing seemed to be the one thing that was the source of the light behind her eyes.
If she still loved him after that then he’d know she was his true love. Only time would tell. He must wait for her to come to him. Even if it killed him.
JASMINE
THE NOW
Jasmine followed the Alchemist through the dusk, keeping her distance, certain he was unaware of her presence. What on earth was he doing here in the palace gardens? He seemed to know his way around the maze of trees and plants, heading somewhere with purpose, a black sack clutched in one hand. At least he was keeping away from the palace, which meant he was keeping away from the infirmary and Raph. It seemed someone, or something, else was his target this time.
The ground turned from soft leaves to gravel and Jasmine heard the Alchemist’s boots crunching on the stones. She dropped back, not wanting to alert him that he was being followed.
He headed to a barren patch of the garden with a scraggy-looking tree that Jasmine didn’t recognize. She crouched behind a bush and peered out, wondering what the Alchemist could want with such a sorry specimen. It had a thick trunk and branches with patchy leaves growing in clumps. There was no sign of any fruit or flowers, but Jasmine well knew that this didn’t mean that it didn’t grow any when conditions were right.
The Alchemist smiled at the tree, running his hands across the trunk like he was greeting his child. Glancing around to make sure he was alone, he set down his bag and withdrew a knife. Jasmine shrunk back instinctively, hoping that she was indeed as well hidden as she thought she was.
The Alchemist’s attention was firmly on the tree and he stripped some of the papery bark from the trunk and held up the knife, making long slashes until the tree wept a dark resin.
He took a jar from his sack and collected the resin very carefully, smiling at the tree and patting it as if apologizing for the attack it’d just endured.
Jasmine watched him put the lid on his jar and tuck it back into his sack and scurry away into the darkness, away from the palace.
How very odd.
She waited for a long time, until she was certain that he’d gone, then very cautiously approached the tree. Bending her head to the injured trunk, she inhaled and drew in the unmistakable scent of the Alchemist’s perfume. She needed to go back to the perfumery to fetch a container to collect some of this.
The familiar scent put her on edge once more and she found herself checking over her shoulder, half expecting the Alchemist to reappear.
She bent to smell it again, wondering if maybe that was exactly what this resin was used for. When mixed with other scents it could increase their potency. It would help to explain what gave the Alchemist such control over them all.
Her father had once told her about an oil known as frankincense, taken from the resin of a boswellia tree. His eyes had lit up when he’d talked about it, explaining how rare the trees were. He’d never seen one himself and suspected they may be a legend, not actually existing at all. It had been his dream to find one, as it was said that its resin would enhance the power of any oil it was mixed with. Was it possible this is what she was looking at now?
The pain of losing her father too soon, tugged at her heart. He’d been a good man, dedicating his life to helping people. He hadn’t deserved to die like that. Jasmine hadn’t cried for him at the time, not realizing the harsh reality of his loss. This was just another th
ing the Alchemist had taken from her—not just her father, but her right to grieve him in the way he deserved.
Her eyes stung with tears as she tore the sleeve from her dress. Pressing it against the tree, she collected as much resin as she could, until she was certain the scent was embedded in the fabric. If the elixir she’d left with Raph was working, maybe this would help to speed it up. It was worth a try. His frail body could only hold on for so long. If he didn’t wake up soon, he was doomed. She hadn’t been able to save her father. She had to save his son instead.
Jasmine ran through the garden, confident of not losing her way. It was impossible to get lost when the giant shadow of the palace was looming out of the approaching darkness. All she had to do was follow it.
She tripped a few times in her haste and picked herself up, desperate to reach Raph while the aroma from the tree was still strong on the sleeve she clutched in her hand.
She went directly to the infirmary and burst into the room where she’d left Raph, expecting to find him lying in the darkness.
However, a lantern was burning, spilling soft light around the room. The curtain was open and moonlight was pouring through the window. Cass was standing between the two boys’ beds, pacing. She smiled to see Jasmine.
“Where have you been?” she asked, her eyes darting to the sight of her torn dress. “Are you all right? I looked for you in the perfumery, but you weren’t there.”
“I’m fine. Never mind about me. How are the boys?”
“See for yourself.”
Jasmine went to Raph’s side and touched his forehead to feel his temperature. His skin was cool and his breathing sounded normal. It was like he was having a regular sleep due to tiredness rather than grave illness.
“They’re improving,” said Cass. “The salts are working.”
Jasmine’s heart soared.
“Come on, Raph! You can do this. Wake up for me. Wake up!”
“It’s happening,” said Cass, putting a hand on her arm. “They’re going to wake up. I can feel it.”
“I have something else to try,” said Jasmine, tearing the sleeve she held and handing one half to Cass, who followed her lead and held it under Tommy’s nose.
“Come on, Raph,” urged Jasmine, placing the sleeve on the lower half of his face.
“Do we remove the salts?” asked Cass.
“No,” said Jasmine. “I could be very wrong, but I suspect if the boys smell the salts and this fragrance at the same time, it might speed up their cure.”
Cass wiped a tear from her eye. “Oh, please let it be true. Wake up, Tommy! Wake up!”
Raph was the first boy to stir, moving his head from side-to-side and groaning as his eyes sprang open.
Jasmine’s heart pumped so hard, she thought it would burst from her chest as she let out a yelp. It’d worked! She’d done it. Raph was awake. Finally, she’d saved him in the same way he’d saved her own life. Nobody had woken from the plague before. He was going to live!
“Jazz.” His voice was croaky and weak.
“Hush,” she soothed. “You’ve been asleep for a very long time. Wake up slowly.”
This didn’t stop him from trying to speak.
“You’re awake,” he said, a soft smile on his lips, his eyes fluttering to adjust to the light, no matter how dim it was.
“No, you’re awake,” said Jasmine, laughing.
“But you are, too.” His voice picked up some strength.
“Oh, yes,” she said, realizing what he meant. “You woke me up, Raph. Your elixir worked.”
“Did you use it to wake me?” he asked.
Jasmine reached for the sachet on his pillow and held it up for him to see.
“I did.” The tears that she’d been holding back, spilled from her eyes and dripped down onto the bed. “How did you know how to make it?”
“Tommy!” cried Cass from the other bed. “You’re awake. Oh, my sweet boy. Hello there.”
Raph turned his head with a look of puzzlement.
“That’s Tommy,” said Jasmine. “You saved his life.”
“I did?” His eyebrows pulled together.
“I have so much to tell you,” said Jasmine. “And so much you need to tell me. But first, you need your strength.” She picked up the glass of water next to his bed that Doctor Abner had been using to wet his lips. “Drink.”
Raph lifted his head from the pillow and took in the water.
“You did it, Jasmine,” said Cass. “You really did it.”
“I didn’t,” she said. “It was all Raph. He’s saved us all. And once he tells us exactly what’s in his elixir, we can save the rest of the kingdom too. The blue plague will be over at last.”
Cass left Tommy’s bed for a moment to go to Raph. She bent toward him and kissed his forehead.
“Thank you,” she said. “From the bottom of my heart. Thank you.”
Raph seemed puzzled by this sudden display of affection and gratitude from someone who was still a stranger to him.
“Where am I?” he asked, noticing his surroundings for the first time.
“You’re never going to believe me.” Jasmine laughed. “We’re in the King’s palace.”
Raph’s eyebrows shot up. “Did Ari bring us here? Where is he?”
Jasmine’s eyes dropped to the floor, as she remembered the distressed look on his face when she’d left him in the perfumery. “He’s not far.”
Doctor Abner chose that moment to sweep into the room, his cloudy eyes widening to see his two patients alert and sitting up in bed. He was an old man, one who seemed to be in need of a doctor, rather than be one himself.
“Excellent,” he said, clasping his hands together. “His Majesty will be very pleased. He’s anxious to talk to this boy.”
The doctor fussed about the boys, looking into their eyes and feeling their pulse.
“What’s this?” he asked, picking up the sachet of salts.
“That’s what cured him,” said Jasmine, seeing no point in keeping this from the doctor anymore. “Please leave it.”
“Nonsense,” Doctor Abner said. “Bed rest, warmth and constant application of fluids were what cured him.”
“But that’s not—” Cass began, before Jasmine cut her off.
“Yes, that’s right. You’ve done a wonderful job, Doctor.”
Now wasn’t the time to make enemies in the palace. They needed everyone on their side if they were going to be allowed to stay long enough for Raph to heal properly. Let the doctor think whatever he liked.
Jasmine didn’t mind who got the credit for Raph’s recovery, as long as he recovered. The fact that he’d actually cured himself with the elixir he made before he fell ill, just made his recovery all the sweeter.
Jasmine looked to the window to see the stars had come out. He did it, she said silently to the night sky. Her brother, who believed he was more like his mother than his father, had proven tonight that he was the perfect combination of the pair of them. He might have his mother’s sixth sense, but he had his father’s skill with oils. The combination of both these talents surely made him far more powerful than the Alchemist himself. And now he was awake, he could put them to use.
It was time to give the Alchemist the scent of his own medicine. Their Evernow was coming.
RAPHAEL
THE NOW
Raphael’s throat hurt. And his head ached a little. Otherwise, he felt good. Like he’d had the best sleep of his life. Probably because he’d just had exactly that. He felt like he’d been asleep for at least one hundred years. Was this how the princess in the story had felt when she’d woken up?
His dreams of his mother had been vivid. It’d felt like she’d been right there with him, holding his hand, the scent of cinnamon strong in the air. His father had been there too, smiling at him with pride. He’d been aware of Jazz’s presence like she was a cloud, something he could see but not touch. Part of him had never wanted to wake up from this feeling of being bathed in pure love and pro
tection.
Not long before he’d opened his eyes, his mother had kissed his cheek and said goodbye. He wasn’t sure why, as he was certain that he was going to wake up and be okay and she’d be able to talk to him in his head, just like she always had. He just had to wait for Jazz to figure it all out. She was smarter than she realized. He knew she’d work it out eventually.
After the ancient doctor had left, Jazz had turned out the lantern so he could rest. He hadn’t wanted to sleep—he’d had enough of that—but his body seemed to disagree and soon his eyes had felt heavy.
Waking up now, he could see that it was morning and Jazz was asleep in the chair next to his bed with her head resting on the edge of his pillow.
She was a good sister. More like a mother than a sister, even though she was no replacement for the mother he yearned for. But he loved her and life couldn’t have been easy for her either. She’d also lost both her parents and had been given the responsibility of a brother instead.
It was at these thoughts of his mother that he realized why she’d said goodbye. It wasn’t Raphael who was going anywhere. It was her. He could no longer feel his mother’s presence. Did that mean she was gone?
“Mother?” he called out, fighting back a tear that was sliding from his eye.
“Raph!” Jazz sat up and reached for his hand. “I’m here.”
“Mother,” he said again, letting the tears fall this time and not caring who saw him. Jazz could think he was a baby if she liked. He didn’t care. All he wanted was his mother.
“I’m here,” said Jazz again. “It’s me.”
“She’s gone,” said Raphael. “She’s really gone.”
“She went a long time ago.” Jazz stroked his hand, her eyes pleading with him to understand.
He shook his head. “She was with us this whole time, but not now. She’s gone.”
The Kingdoms of Evernow Box Set Page 35
