Inside: a vial glowing faintly blue.
A single note lay folded beneath it.
This time, make him suffer through it using his own willpower. Don’t give in. He won’t be able to then, he won’t now. This is nothing compared to what’s coming in five days. More vials wait. He’ll have to be stronger than this. Make him burn. Make him yearn.
My stomach dropped.
I grabbed the vial and slammed the door shut.
When I turned, Louis was panting, half-laughing, eyes half-glazed over with something that definitely wasn’t normal. He was leaning at the top of the stairs. “I take it that wasn’t Santa.”
“Unless Santa’s possessed, no.” I held up the box. “The meeting’s this weekend, it looks like you’re going to just have to grin and bear whatever else is in these vials.”
“Maybe this is part of the test.” His eyes looked unfocused, blurry. “How bad do I really want it? How far am I willing to go?”
“I hadn’t really thought about that.”
He lifted a shoulder. “It would make sense. It’s something a sinister person would do.” He nodded toward the box. “That gonna fix it or make it worse? That’s the question.”
“Both?” I guessed. “Canyou feel worse?”
“Well, I sure as hell could feel better if I had you wrapped around me.” He took a step toward me. “Hands are used for touching.”
“Nope.” I shoved the box in front of me.
“Fix it,” he groaned. “Whatever demon you summoned, un-summon it.”
I dropped the box onto the table, reached in for the next vial, unscrewed the cap, and held it out. “Bottoms up, husband.”
“Maybe it really will stop it."
He hesitated, eyes flicking to mine. “What if it’s worse?”
“Then I’ll bury you in the backyard and say you died with honor. Drink it, Louis.” I was exhausted from the day. I knew he was too. We just needed to put this behind us and focus on the meeting.
Everything would be fine then.
It had to be.
He took the vial and lifted it up to me. “Cheers wife, let’s hope all body parts stay on.”
“I only care about one,” I teased.
He choked. “Which one?”
“Your brain?” I suggested. “Did it taste funny?”
He shrugged and dropped it back into the box. “Everything feels the same, I’m not sure I should be relieved or anxious for what’s to come.”
And within seconds, the wild flush in his skin began to fade. His breathing slowed. “I think I’ll go lay down now.”
“Good.” Guilt gnawed at me so swift I almost reached for his hand and said something stupid like thank you. I almost asked if he was okay. I almost did a lot of things. Instead, I tried to channel my aunt and uncles. I wouldn’t be afraid. I was just making sure nobody found out an idiot Vescovi stole some state secrets from me about the family. Now I never had to worry about it. Glorious.
11
LOUIS
The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution. -–Hannah Arendt