Her head feels like it's been stuffed to the brim with wasps. The buzzing sound resonates through her body, rising and falling in volume as she breathes. Her eyes shutter as bright white light floods her irises.

She hisses in, rubbing her temple, and squints up again. How had she gotten here? She sits up, ignoring the pains erupting all over her body. The room is white- it must be the school infirmary.

She rubs her head again before swinging her legs over the bed. She had to find someone. Xara! Xara would know how she'd gotten here.

'Not so fast, Miss Axelane."

In her haste to spin she nearly topples over. She catches herself on the cot before looking up.

The headmistress smiles. "Quick reflexes. I'm impressed."

She manages a wobbly smile before regaining her wits. The headmistress will have answers.

"Why am I here?"

Headmistress Casktalon arches a thin brow. "You don't remember?" She doesn't sound suspicious, but curious.

"Remember wh-" Lysabel's words break as she gasps. The buzzing is soon replaced by an overwhelming amount of memories. She grabs at the cot, and her fingers sting with pain as her nails strain.

The sword. The fight. The chamber. The Elixir. And, oh, his terrible, terrible voice. It had haunted her for too long.

The Headmistress's expression shifts into one of sympathy as Lysabel recounts the events.

"I'm sorry for what happened to you. I believe that you were tricked and manipulated into doing Cynem's bidding." Headmistress angles her chin. "Unless, I have reason to think otherwise?"

Lysabel nods vehemently, until her neck begins to ache.

The Headmistress gives her a small smile. "I do hope you feel better. And the following days will be hard. People will try and blame you for the Warlord's actions. But know the truth, and seek comfort in the fact that what they say doesn't mean a thing."

The words are ones of comfort, but Lysabel feels everything but. She's not strong-minded, like Vieva and Xara. She'll crumble under scrutiny. It would be doing her a favor if she'd been expelled.

"I'll take my leave. There is someone who wants to see you."

"My roommates?"

The Headmistress shakes her head. "Your friends have been visiting you frequently since you were admitted to the infirmary. I'll have them be notified that you are awake."

Lysabel finally stands on her own two feet, having recovered from the rush of unwanted memories. She glances out the door, only to see the hall completely empty.

"Where is everyone?"

"Winter break."

"I've been out that long?"

The Headmistress ducks her chin in agreement. Lysabel traverses to the windows. There's no snow yet, as the snow season usually happens at the beginning of the next year. But the yard and quad are threadbare.

"Who came to see me?"

Heels call attention to the person entering the room. Lysabel turns to see her mother standing in the doorway, clutching her purse handles tight.

Headmistress Casktalon squeezes Lysabel's shoulder gently.

"I'll let you two talk alone." With that, she glides out, briefly greeting her mother.

"What are you doing here?" Lysabel shimmies back up onto the bed. A hurt expression flashes in Mother's eyes.

"What, is the idea of a mother wanting to visit her daughter in the hospital so unfathomable?"

"If said mother really cares about said daughter, then yes."

Mother's eyes widen as Lysabel adjusts the blankets, pointedly avoiding Mother's gaze.

"Where is this coming from, dear?"

"When have you ever truly cared about me, Mother? When have you asked how my day went, about my friends, about anything?"

Mother stutters. "You're my daughter. Of course I care!"

"Oh, I'm sorry, but I find it hard to believe that you do, when the only time you talk to me is to assign me chores!"

Mother is silent, and Lysabel flops onto the pillow. This conversation is only tugging at her energy, which is low as it is.

"I'm sorry that's what you feel. Maybe I haven't been the best mother to you."

Lysabel chuckles wearily. "Maybe?"

"But I shall endeavor to become better." Her green eyes soften. "When I got the call that you were in the infirmary, I realized the error of my ways. It was what I had hoped to talk to you about when you woke up."

Lysabel opens her mouth, but no words are supplied. Her mother has never apologized to her about anything. She nearly laughs. What had been needed for Mother to truly understand Lysabel had been a near-death experience.

The two of them sit in awkward silence.

"I'm going to rest, Mother."

Her mother nods vigorously. "Yes. Please do. I'll come around tomorrow with Bria."

Little Bria who probably had no idea what had transpired in the past week. Lysabel smiles- a true, genuine smile that lights her up from the inside.

"I look forward to it."

>>AUTHOR'S NOTES:

we've finally reached this point. i still can't believe it.

as of now, I only have one more chapter of The Elixir to finish. This book was a mountain, and I've almost reached the peak;)

I will be beginning Deathdancer around June 20-30, depending on when I'll finish the outline and the Elixir. But I do plan to begin writing book 2 of the Elixir, but along with that, start writing one of my other paused projects. That will be revealed later on...

peace&love,

raniaditi