Chapter 31

31

T here was an eerie feeling to campus this morning, and I wasn't sure if it was because I knew I had to talk to Ivy again, or if it was something else entirely. Regardless, I forced myself not to call Noah and beg him to take me back to his flat. I had to face this sometime, and I shouldn't keep missing class because of it.

Wednesday classes usually breezed by, but since I was so worked up with anxiety, I could barely pay attention. I couldn't focus on anything but what I had to do after I finished my classes.

The time dragged by, torturing me each time I looked at my watch, hoping it was nearing the end of my schedule.

When my last class ended, I sat in the lecture hall and spent ten minutes trying to type out a text to Ivy. I had so much I would much rather say through text than in person. Six deleted drafts later, all I texted was:

Meet me in front of the library at two.

I was miserable for the two minutes it took for Ivy to respond, terrified she was going to decline. She could easily avoid me and hope I would keep her little secret.

Which I couldn't. It went against who I was, though I would give her some time to decide her plan forward.

Ivy texted back a short yes , and I gathered my things to head to the library. My stomach churned, and I wondered if I needed to stop to vomit first. As I walked across campus, I cataloged all the places I could run to if I did.

Though I was fifteen minutes early, Ivy was already there. Her brows were pinched, and I could already see that her eyes were watery. The sight made my heart constrict as I watched her fiddle with her hands like she did when she was nervous or worried.

I attempted to remind myself that she'd done something terrible and I shouldn't go easy on her, but I didn't have the energy to stay cold. My eyes were also watery, and the bridge of my nose burned as I closed the distance between us. I did, however, keep enough space that made it clear I would not be hugging her.

"Henri," Ivy whispered, her voice barely audible. I bit my lip, hoping it would hold my tears at bay.

"Ivy, I have a few things to ask you. It shouldn't take long." Though I couldn't force myself to sound detached, I still didn't have any interest in small talk—or rather, I knew I shouldn't. What I really wanted was to ask her how she was and pretend the information I learned was all a dream or an elaborate prank, something.

"Okay, I…I'll tell you anything you want to know. I'm so sorry, Henri."

I looked around, not wanting to see the look on her face. As I did, I noted there weren't any people nearby.

"Do you have anything to do with the poison?" I held my expression stoic as I finally looked back to her.

Desperation crossed her face, and she took a step toward me, reaching out for me. She stopped mid-step when I took one back. "Henri, I swear I have no idea what you're talking about. I would never create something that could kill someone else!" Her voice was hushed, but she may as well have been screaming with how loud her words pounded in my head. Over our long friendship, I'd learned her major tells, and though I wanted to hold onto the fact that she'd lied by omission and deceived me, I truly knew in that moment, she was truthful.

"Okay. I believe you."

"Oh, thank goodne—" I held a hand up when she moved toward me again. My chest ached at my actions.

"When are you going to turn yourself in?" I crossed my arms over my chest, mostly to hold myself together.

"Henri… I-I don't…" She couldn't finish whatever she was going to say, and my blood boiled, erasing any sympathy I'd felt.

"Ivy, you have to. You can't expect me to keep this secret for you, and you certainly can't make me turn you in. You have to do it."

Ivy's chest rose and fell slowly as she looked away from me. Tears slipped down her cheeks, and I had to take a deep breath to get through this.

"Okay. Just…give me some time, okay?" Ivy whispered, her eyes pleading. I could only nod, wiping tears from my face.

"Did you take my room keys and leave the note threatening us to stop?" This was the question I perhaps dreaded the most. Not that the act itself was worse than her other crimes, but she was my best friend. She knew the entire time that I had been looking for an anti-potion.

Ivy's eyes widened, and she shook her head vehemently. "No! I would never do something like that!" Again, I nodded, though her answer brought me no peace. "I'm sorry, Henri. I just wish I could…" She shook her head, turning away from me.

"Me too," I whispered back. Though I wanted to reach out and comfort my best friend, I couldn't. I knew it would truly break me, so I just walked away.

Ivy was surely going to be exiled from the magical community, and I would likely never see her again. I wasn't even sure yet what to think about Remy having a part in all of this, no matter how small. He'd known what she was doing and allowed her to continue, aiding her in ruining her own future.

"Henri." Noah answered my phone call within a second of me clicking his contact.

"It's not her, Noah. She didn't leave the note. She's not lying."

I heard him curse. "It could be anyone."

"I know," I said, sniffling unintentionally. "But I think Professor Fortenberry is our best lead. I'm going to go to the professors' brewery and see if I can find anything."

"Henri, I don't think that's a great idea. Whoever made the poison left that threatening note. They could be in the brewery, and someone willing to create a love poison is someone I want to keep far away from you."

"I know, Noah, but we have to sort this out. Even if it is never cast, this could kill someone. I can't let that happen." Frustration was churning within me, and I knew it was coming out in the way I spoke, but I couldn't help it.

"Well, I can't let something happen to you. Please at least wait for me to meet you there, okay?" I could hear the concern in his tone, which was the only thing calming the bubbling agitation within me.

"Okay," I conceded. "I'll be at the oak in front of the potions building."

"I can be there in ten minutes. I—" He paused. "I'll see you soon."

I shoved my phone back into my backpack, trying to calm myself. Noah wanted to be done with all of this, wanted to protect me, but I couldn't let it go. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if it got cast to the entire academy. Any resulting death would be on my hands if I did nothing.

The shade of the large oak tree became my hiding spot as I waited for Noah. Leaning against the trunk, I watched as students and professors moved about. Classes in the potions building were mostly over for the day.

Compared to a few months ago, it appeared there were more public couples on campus. It was perhaps a benefit of the love potion, as Ivy had suggested, though I still couldn't condone what she'd done. I knew for every happy couple, there had to have been so many cases of harassment.

It nauseated me to think of all the hurt Ivy had caused. I didn't care if her potion had created happiness, because the cloud of pain I knew it caused was so much greater. Individuals became victims by being forced into acting on heightened emotions, while others endured harm by being the recipients of those unwanted affections.

Though I could see the happiness on so many faces, I knew there was so much left unseen. Finally, I couldn't hold back the nausea anymore, and I sprinted into the potions building to find a bathroom, leaving my backpack underneath the tree in my haste. I was coming right back out, and didn't have the time to grab it. I felt uncomfortable leaving it there, but would feel worse if I puked all over the grass.

After emptying the contents of my stomach, I put the seat on the toilet down and sat with my legs pulled up to my chest, taking deep breaths. A few minutes were all I needed to collect myself, and then I would go back outside to meet Noah.

"I just don't understand why you won't give us another chance!" The voice came along with the sound of the bathroom door opening, heels clicking against the tiled floor. After a few moments of silence, she spoke again, the sink running. "Robert, it was a mistake! I've told you time and time again! I know you still love me, so why not try again?"

I gathered that whoever was talking must be on the phone, and I tried to place the familiar voice but couldn't quite register it in my memory. Her voice dripped with anger.

The sink turned off, and the door opened again as I heard, "You'll wish you hadn't…" I couldn't catch the rest of the statement as the door closed, but recognition hit.

For a moment, I was frozen in place, barely breathing as I tried to make sense of my thoughts.

The voice belonged to Professor Aster, and if my theory about Fortenberry was correct, she could be the intended victim of the poison.

Quietly, I got off the toilet and quickly washed my hands. Peeking my head out of the bathroom, I heard the clack of Aster's heels and saw her getting into a lift. Half of me wanted to run and warn her, but the other half of me paused at the idea. I didn't need to make any accusations without evidence. She was still on the phone when the lift doors closed, and I took off for the stairs. Perhaps I could catch more of their conversation.

Once I made it to the landing of the floor where the professors' offices and brewery were, I stayed in the stairwell to see if I could hear anything. Through the small glass panel in the door, I could see the lights off in the hallway, most of the professors gone for the afternoon.

Quietly, I stepped out of the stairwell, creeping along the walls to prevent being caught. I could hear the indistinct sound of Aster's voice, so I followed it. I knew her office was in this building since she was a potions professor, but I wasn't sure which. As I walked, my stomach twisted again.

"Robert, I promise you'll regret not giving this another chance!" I heard her loud and clear, her voice a yell as I approached the brewery. My stomach jumped to my throat.

I stayed against the wall but leaned over to look through the window, seeing Aster pacing the brewery. I knew I needed to leave—now.

Her face was drawn into an angry scowl, and she was muttering something under her breath. Pulling her wand out, she walked to a cabinet and yanked the doors open, casting a spell I couldn't hear. I held my breath and bit my tongue as I watched her move things in the cabinet before pulling out an amber vial.

I didn't have to see the color or the way the light reflected off the liquid to know what she held in her hand. My mind had finally caught up to my gut.

Perhaps I was the dumbest person in the academy, because I didn't hesitate to pull my wand from my belt and push my way into the room. A voice in the back of my mind screamed at me to run, to call Noah for backup. I remembered a second too late that I'd left my bag by the tree outside.

The brewery was clean, no cauldrons or vials on the benches. Nothing was suspicious aside from the vial in her hand. I may have relaxed at that if Aster hadn't spoken.

"I was wondering when you would come in," Aster said without even turning to look at me. She had already known I was here somehow. "Glad you finally joined me."