Tastes Like Magic - part 2

Louis led the way out of the dancing crowd, lightly pushing people out of his way as needed. Evaine followed close behind, and as they finally emerged into an open space, she sucked in a full breath of relief. The cool burn in her lungs worked to clear her head of the nausea, and she began to feel a little better.

"What happened back there?" Louis asked as they walked in the direction of the archway at the far end of the garden. Jesse and his friend no longer stood there, and Evaine was grateful for the extra moment to slow her steps.

"It was just nerves," she answered, finding her voice quieter than expected. Talking about her tendency to get social panic was something she really didn't want to discuss with him. "It happens sometimes; no big deal."

"No big deal for anyone else, not you," he pointed out frankly. "When I can sense dark magic oozing out your pores, that's when it becomes an issue. What was going through your head when it happened? What were you feeling?"

Evaine's stomach roiled all over again at the thought of that woman, the look she gave her, and she had to bite back the sour taste in her mouth when it felt like the panic was ready to surge once more.

"When I saw his friend I just got scared, that's all," she said shortly, her words clipped with tension. "Just for a second I wanted to turn around and go home...to be alone."

"Like an instinct to isolate yourself," Louis mused, far more invested than Evaine thought was necessary.

"I get overwhelmed sometimes, it happens," she tried to explain it away, wishing he would just drop the matter rather than make her relive what felt like an embarrassing shortcoming of hers. "I'm not really used to being in crowds like this."

When Louis didn't offer any sort of reply, she turned to look at him, only to find that he had stopped walking a few paces back. She stopped as well, not liking his suddenly stern expression. "Evaine, when this happens to you, does it...does it taste like battery acid?"

As if to confirm his suspicions, that familiar foul taste spiked at the back of her throat, like the mention of it alone was enough to send her spiraling. Like this instinct, whatever it was, didn't want her digging any deeper.

"What does it mean, Louis?" she asked him, clenching her hands against the cold sweat which had broken out across her palms. She could no longer tell if it was a reaction of anxiety, or of something far more sinister.

He resumed walking, more slowly this time as he was lost in thought. "Magic can manifest in strange ways, particularly curse magic, which comes from a place of pain and chaos. A dark place. Sometimes it works like a puppet master, and you, the puppet. Sometimes it can infect your mind, using your own thoughts to drive you toward who knows what end. My best guess is that this curse means to steer you away from those who could affect it, from people like the woman you're about to meet."

His words clicked into place as Evaine remembered with perfect clarity the last time she had felt this particular panic. Last friday night, when a hunter had his hands on her, and then again later the same night, when she had been in a room full of monsters and creatures of magic. Who was to say how many times before that it had worked to steer her away from a situation which would have brought the truth to light?

Louis stopped just before the dark archway in the hedge where a stout man sat as a lookout, only giving the two of them a sideways glance before returning his attention to his phone.

"Evaine, if the curse is trying to protect itself, it may try to resist your efforts to figure it out," he warned her, his expression and the narrowed points of his eyes hinting at something like worry. "You might feel the urge to downplay what is happening to you, try to sweep it under the rug, or you might want to turn around and run away, not stop until you reach Jericho. Do not let it. Don't forget that you're here because you wanted to know the truth, and as long as you can hold your ground, you will not be denied."

As good as it felt to hear his confidence in her, Evaine didn't like the tone of finality in his voice. "You're not coming with me?"

Louis looked hesitantly toward the darkened archway, the slight curve that kept the destination out of sight. "No, I don't think she likes me very much; I fear I'd be more hindrance than help. But you'll have Jesse with you, and he'll have your back better than anyone. Now, I should go see about getting my phone back from Miss Johnson. Go get your answers, Evaine. And good luck."

Evaine watched Louis as he turned and headed back toward the main crowd of the party, and with a small smile, she corrected the thought she'd had earlier.

Five. She now had five friends more than a week ago, back when her life had been so different. As she turned back to face the archway, it was with renewed resolve and determination, because no matter how scary or painful her trials had been thus far, she had to believe that her life was changing for the better. This would make things better.