Origin of Magic (Dragon's Gift: The Protector #3)(39)
His gaze darted to me, confusion flaring only briefly before understanding dawned. It was followed by awe. “You’re here.”
Tears welled in my eyes. “I missed you.”
Fangs grunted, clearly disappointed, but I ignored her. She stepped back from the door and I passed by her.
“Don’t you step a toe out of line,” Fangs said.
I thumbs-upped her, which I didn’t think she liked, then stepped into Ademius’s small home. Ares followed. Once he was in, I shut the door, grateful to put something between me and Fangs.
I turned to Ademius. Unable to help myself any longer, I threw my arms around him. “I can’t believe I’m seeing you again.”
He hugged me. “How you’ve grown.”
I pulled back, wiping my eyes. What an embarrassment of riches my family life had turned out to be.
“Welcome,” Ademius said.
His home was small but cozy, with stone furniture built into the wall and colorful fabric cushions making it more comfortable. It looked well lived in, like he’d been here since he’d left me in the forest.
“You’ve learned you are the chosen one,” Ademius said.
“So we’re getting straight into it?”
“You don’t have a lot of time.”
“I don’t.” But I also didn’t love hearing the label Chosen One. Didn’t they always die at the end of the movie?
Ares stepped forward, hand outstretched. “I’m Ares Warhaven.”
Ademius shook his hand. “Quite a name.”
“I know.”
“Come, sit.” Ademius gestured us over to a small table pressed against the wall. There were three chairs.
We each took one. I opened my mouth to explain why we were here, but Ademius spoke. “Have you been well these last ten years? Practicing your magic with your garden?”
I smiled at the reminder of how much he’d loved my garden. Now I knew why. “I haven’t practiced as much as I should. I lost my memory for a long time. I’ve just now learned of my plant magic.”
Worry creased Ademius’s features. “It’s more than plant magic.”
“I know. I just don’t know the extent of it. Do you?”
He shook his head. “I do not. But you must learn. Fast.”
“I will.”
“So you’re here about the Vessel of Truth.”
“I am.”
He sighed. “I made that so long ago. One of my first tasks as a Wizard.”
“It was beautiful.”
“It was, yes. Not a Ming Vase or a Faberge Egg, but beautiful in its own way.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “That was a different time. A simpler time. I didn’t know until later why I felt compelled to make the Vessel of Truth, but I’ve since learned.”
“Because I would need it?”
“Yes. I didn’t know that when I visited you. I have the slightest bit of seer blood. Not enough to see the future, but enough to get inklings. I knew only that you were important to me and the future. So I came to see you. And I liked you. I still would, I imagine.” He frowned. “If only I’d known then that you would need the Vessel of Truth. It would have saved so much misery.”
“Oh no.” My stomach dropped. “It was Drakon, wasn’t it?”
His gaze darkened, fingers stilling. “It was. The man you fight, Drakon, found me last week. He made it clear what he needed. As soon as I saw you at my door, I realized what you’d come for.”
Dread curled in my belly. “Did he hurt you?”
“Enough.”
Tears pricked my eyes. I’d failed Ademius. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t worry, dear.” Ademius tutted. “I’m thousands of years old. I’ve experienced worse.”
“Whatever it was, it was bad enough to make you give him the recipe for the potion that will ignite the Vessel of Truth.”
“All true.” He shuddered. “But it is over. I escaped. He didn’t have me for long. And you will defeat him. But you must be prepared. His evil… It is incredible. I’ve never felt anything like it.”
I was grateful he didn’t go into the details of his time with Drakon. But my soul burned for vengeance.
Ademius stood, retrieving some paper and a pen. “You are here for the recipe, correct?”
“Yes, and to see you. I’m so happy you’re still alive. When you disappeared all those years ago, I was devastated.”
“I’m sorry dear. It was unavoidable. But you’re here now. And I can give you the recipe. In all my years, I’ve never forgotten it. Complex, but manageable.”
Ademius scratched out a list of ingredients, and then a short note that I couldn’t read from across the table. He pushed the paper toward me. “I hope you have a skilled potion master for this. One wrong move, and the potion will obliterate the Vessel.”
“Yikes.”
“That’s one way of putting it.”
Ares spoke for the first time. “Would you be able to take us to the place where Drakon held you captive?”
“No.” Ademius’s voice whipped out. “Absolutely not.”
My heart tore at the fear in Ademius’s voice.