The Potion Diaries (7 page)

Now I have their full attention. I sit down on the chair next to Molly and relay the entire story to her and my parents. At some point, Mum puts food in front of me, and the next time I look down, I’ve demolished it.

When I finish, they’re speechless. Molly is the first to break the silence. ‘But is Princess Evelyn okay?’

‘Of course she is – we just have to do our best to save her.’ I smile at her, but I know my eyes tell a different story.

Mum interprets my look. ‘Molly, it’s been a long night. Maybe you should get ready for bed?’

‘But I want to hear what Sam has to do to save Princess Evelyn!’

‘She’ll tell you all about it in the morning.’

Molly huffs and shuffles up the stairs to her room.

‘So how is the Princess
really
?’ asks Mum.

I shrug. ‘Strangely, she looked fine. But imagine: she’s in love with herself . . . things could go from fine to terrible very quickly, and the Royals are worried. But that’s not all. We were also joined by Emilia Thoth.’

My dad turns to me sharply. ‘The King’s exiled sister? How in dragon’s name did she get through the Palace security?’

I shrug. ‘Auden’s Horn calls all eligible Novaen alchemists, even the ones the Royal family has banished. I guess it didn’t get the memo about her exile. The King didn’t seem to have much choice in the matter.’ I shiver. ‘She looked . . . unnatural. What kind of person would do that to themselves?’ Only the darkest experimental potions would have the ability to change a person to look like Emilia.

‘Someone with a big grudge to bear,’ says my dad, his voice grave.

‘How did Grandad respond?’ Mum asks.

I almost don’t want to tell them. But my face goes all red and blotchy when I try to lie, and I can already feel heat pricking the bottom of my neck as I think about it.

‘Sam . . .’ My mum puts her hand on mine.

I sigh. ‘He doesn’t want to do it. He doesn’t want anything to do with the Wilde Hunt and won’t be joining.’

She takes her hand away, and shares a look with my dad. They might have a secret old married people language all their own, but I know enough about those looks to interpret their meaning. ‘But why? I don’t understand. Why is Grandad so against the Hunt when it could be a chance for us to prove ourselves to the whole world? At least it would be free publicity for the business! We could actually get the till ringing again!’

‘If your grandfather says no, he has a good reason,’ says my dad.

‘Plus, Emilia Thoth? She’s what nightmares are made of. I don’t want you anywhere near her warpath,’ Mum says.

‘So I’m just supposed to let the Princess go steadily insane even if I have the chance to cure her?’

‘Someone else will help her, honey.’

‘But
I
could help her! You keep telling me I have this gift but now that I actually have the chance to use it, you’re not letting me!’ My cheeks prickle with heat. All I can think about is the silent till in the store. The empty jars on the shelves that will never be filled. The years of pinching pennies, just so that Molly and I can have an education. Grandad taught me to be a proud Kemi, but how can I be proud? We’ve been offered a chance to prove ourselves, and we’re just going to throw it away. It’s typical. ‘I’m going to my room.’

‘Sam—’ Mum tries to call me back to the table, but I’m already up the stairs, my eyes blurring with tears.

I throw myself onto the bed. I don’t know why my family is being so difficult about this.

There’s one other family I know who must be going through the same thing. I drag my laptop off my nightstand and onto the duvet. As soon as I log on, Anita pops up on the video chat, her face flushed with excitement. Her dark hair is tied back into a ponytail, and I can see the thick straps of a backpack over her shoulders.

‘I’ve been waiting for you all evening, Sam, what took you so long? Dad said he saw you at the Palace! We don’t have much time to get to—’

She must register the look on my face, because she stops mid-sentence.

‘Grandad said no,’ I say.

The image of Anita shakes as she reaches out and grabs her computer screen. ‘What? You’re kidding? You haven’t joined yet?’

I shake my head. ‘I know, I don’t get it either.’

‘But a Wilde Hunt! It’s practically a Kemi family tradition!’

‘Maybe back in the day . . .’ I take in more of Anita’s outfit, and it’s clear she’s dressed to go Find an ingredient. I swallow down my jealousy, and force a smile. ‘Now, it’s the Patels’ turn.’

Anita sees through my act, though. ‘Oh Sam, you should be here. My dad was hesitant too. He won’t actually participate in the Hunt either; he’s got commitments at the store he can’t leave. But he made me his apprentice and Auden’s Horn accepted my entry just a moment ago. Arjun is coming along as our Finder. We never thought we’d get an opportunity like this in our lifetimes. We might not have a hope of winning but we’re going to try.’

There is a commotion on the screen, bringing into focus the familiar dark-eyed features of Anita’s brother, Arjun, as he forces himself into the frame, his hair stiffened with just a bit too much gel.

‘Hey, Sam, I overheard. That sucks.’

I nod, but I have to bite my lip to stop myself crying.

Arjun looks at Anita. ‘Okay, sis, we gotta go.’

‘Good luck, guys,’ I choke out, waving as the computer screen goes black.

Our video chat over, I snap down the lid on my laptop. I change into my PJs and jump back on my bed, flicking on the TV that sits on the dresser in the corner of my room. There, in front of me, is Evelyn’s shining face, her pearly white teeth bared in a perfect smile.
EVELYN CANCELS BIRTHDAY PARTY, REASON CURRENTLY UNKNOWN,
the scrolling caption reads. So, the news of her poisoning hasn’t broken to the media yet.

I feel a twinge of guilt. What could’ve driven Evelyn to mix a love potion when the consequences could’ve been – well, I guess not much worse than what actually happened to her? But then there is something else – a spark of admiration. She’d mixed it on her own – unearthed the formula for a potion so many try and fail to produce.

Someone will cure her.

It just won’t be me.

They switch to a show reel highlighting the Princess and Zain.
IS A FALLING-OUT WITH A FRIEND THE CAUSE?

The newscaster’s voice drones over the images.
Speculation mounts as Zain Aster was seen entering the castle only hours before Princess Evelyn cancelled her eighteenth birthday party.
The images show Zain whispering in Evelyn’s ear, his arm draped casually around her shoulders. They look so comfortable together, like co-conspirators or old friends gossiping. But then something catches Zain’s attention and he pulls his arm away from Evelyn. I catch the barest of flinches from her, and the look in her eyes as she stares at him is full of longing. She really did love him. My finger hovers over the remote, but I can’t bring myself to change the channel while Zain is on the screen.

The potion was meant for him. That must be what the Queen Mother meant. He could’ve become instant royalty. I wonder why he didn’t want that.

It’s hard to believe that only a few hours ago Zain and I were in the same room together. Thinking about him, I almost blush, even though I’m alone. I roll my eyes at my own reaction, then finally switch over to a sitcom about a mixed group of Talented and ordinary friends who hang out together in a local bar. It was a pretty radical show in its time and I’ve seen all the episodes a thousand times. I don’t take any of it in. All I can think about is the love potion. I wonder which ingredient the Princess had written down. I wonder where Anita and Arjun are off to. I scold myself. I need to forget today ever happened.

A few episodes later, and the house is silent. I tuck in under the duvet, but I’ve barely shut my eyes when I hear a tapping sound on my window, like stones are being thrown at it. I sit up in bed, pull the curtain aside, and find myself staring straight into the face of Kirsty Donovan, the Kemi family Finder.

CHAPTER TEN

Samantha

‘
K
IRSTY!’ I PUSH UP THE WINDOW AND help her crawl through into the room. She must have climbed up the outside of the house to my window using the drainpipe. Kirsty never does things the normal way. ‘What are you doing here?’ I whisper.

I haven’t seen her in months but she looks just the same – glamour-free, tanned skin, dark-blonde hair pulled to the side in a braid that looks practical but still beautiful, her toned arms on show as they always are except in the darkest months of winter. She’s wearing her trademark uniform too – black vest top, grey-green trousers with innumerable pockets, tall boots. She’s the epitome of a Finder. I suddenly feel incredibly awkward in my yellow polka-dot pyjamas.

‘I’m here to talk about the Hunt, of course!’ I can see her eyes are shining, catching the light from the street lamps outside.

‘You heard? How?’

She winks. ‘Friends in low places, I guess. I’m a bit insulted that you haven’t already asked me to be your Finder in the Hunt, but I’ll let you off. What’s the first ingredient? We need to get ahead of the competition if the synths are involved.’

I slump back down onto my bed. ‘We’re not joining. Grandad doesn’t want anything to do with it.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ says Kirsty. ‘Why do you think I came through the window? Of course Ostanes won’t allow it; I’ve known dragons who bear less of a grudge than that man. But a Kemi has been called to the Hunt. That could be you.’

‘They want my grandfather, not me.’

‘But you could do it.’

‘No way,’ I scoff.

‘Why not? You might try to deny it, but you’ve got the Kemi gift. You know how to mix with the best of them.’

‘I’m nowhere near as good as Grandad, and I won’t be able to compete with the synths. When they get those ingredients into their big labs . . .’

‘Then think of it this way. You’re the Kemi apprentice. I don’t really get it since
obviously
you should be going to Kingstown Uni to study Synths & Potions because this is the twenty-first century, but fine. Your choice. But this is your chance to make that decision count. To make your name as an alchemist and put the Kemis back on the map. You need my help of course. And I’m offering it to you – free of charge.’

Hearing Kirsty say this out loud makes the opportunity seem real, tangible – something I can reach out and grab with both hands. I’m surprised she’s offering her services for free. Business is tough for her too. In the old days, every great alchemist would have their own Finder. If you were the Kemi master, you had a team of people you trusted to go out into the Wilds and collect ingredients. Simple, right? Sure, when you can only pick a certain leaf on the third new moon of the year, and if you miss that window, the next one’s not going to be for another twelve months. Or when you have to track a sabre-tooth lion through the Aluptian mountains, risking death by mauling. It’s a specialised skill too – to know what equipment to take, how to survive out there in the Wilds, and also to recognise the ingredients when you see them. The best Finders go out on assignment and come back with a million things you didn’t ask for, but all of a sudden realise you need.

Synths don’t need Finders, not when they can create the ingredients in a lab. Against her better judgement, Kirsty’s been forced to become more of an entrepreneur, peddling pretty but useless trinkets like amethyst pendants and gullfish eyes to eager tourists. She even had a market stall for a while along Royal Lane, but Kirsty is no good at sitting still, and she knows it.

‘I heard Emilia was at the Palace,’ Kirsty says.

I nod, slowly. The thought of Emilia’s body, tainted by those dark potions, still turns my blood cold. ‘She says she’s a master alchemist now.’

‘She hasn’t wasted a moment of her exile. I’ve heard stories about her, too.’ Kirsty hesitates. ‘In addition to her alchemical training, she’s spent all these years exploring the Wilds. I heard a ranger say there was no better Finder in the world. She could be a step ahead of the Hunt already.’

My eyes widen. ‘Alchemist
and
Finder in one?’

‘She’s going to be a formidable opponent. Even if she isn’t trying to find the cure, she’ll know exactly how to stop us.’