~ ~ ~
Holly lifted her nose and flared her nostrils. As close as they were to the tunnel, the air was now oppressive.
She opened her nostrils and let the scent in, breaking it apart until she could see each aspect of the spell.
As suspected, something chemical was being pumped into the air to alter the perceptions of those nearby.
She pathed to Rez. There’s a fae-based drug in the air.
He slid his arm around her waist again. How do you want to handle this?
I know I can make an antidote. I’ll slip into the time-path, head to my workroom then be back in just a couple of minutes. But you two behave.
She didn’t wait for him to approve her plan. She knew what she needed to do and she would work as fast as she could.
The trip was so quick back to her workroom, she had to take a moment to collect her thoughts. When she stepped into the present once more, she was fully aware she was now tracking time with Rez and Oregis.
She continued to process the layers of the drug-spell as she gathered her ingredients for the antidote. She used her mortar and pestle and ground down each herb, root and spice. Dipping her finger in, she caught a few grains on her tongue and waited.
As she held the original air-permeating drug in her head, the antidote began to work. She watched it dispel the effects and knew she had it.
To the mortar, she added a simple compound that helped shape the mixture into a thin wafer. She created a much smaller version for Oregis.
She didn’t hang back to do clean-up. There wasn’t time. The antidote had a short shelf-life and she didn’t want to leave the men in that part of the black market for very long.
She slid her wafer on her tongue and with the other two on a piece of foil in her hand, she returned. Still within the time-path, she found Oregis and Rez bent over a case of what turned out to be a bunch of cheap watches.
She rolled her eyes.
Now, how to get back to the present without drawing too much attention to herself.
She waited for a moment, and noticed a nearby crowd of half-drunk shifters and trolls that appeared to be passing through. She took up a position behind them and stepped into the present near Rez.
“I’m back.”
He glanced at her, rose up and quickly shot an arm around her waist.
“See anything you like?”
Rez grinned. “Just you.”
“Good answer.” She offered a smile. “I’ve got something for you, Sweetheart. Open wide.” Drug use was pervasive in the black market.
She plucked the larger wafer off the foil.
He parted his lips and she placed it on his tongue.
She glanced at Oregis. “You, too, Handsome, or did you think I would leave you out?”
Oregis grinned. “I like you like this.”
Holly chuckled. She’d always been fond of Oregis.
He parted his lips and took the wafer. “Spicy with a kick.”
“You two ready to party?” It seemed like the right question.
“Hell, yeah.”