One Look

Chapter 30

"You honestly thought Nathaniel would join us for a drink?" Oscar laughed. We were sat in the library, the one we had gathered in since we were just children. We chose to sit behind a bookshelf so we wouldn't be in the open if anyone dared to enter.

"He promised", I whined, as I eyed up our selection of alcoholic beverages that Oscar had brought but did not let slip where he had taken them from. "Shall we just start without him?"

"I believe we should, I believe it has almost been an hour since we had agreed to meet".

My confidence from an hour earlier had certainly dwindled and I now looked upon these drinks with a frown, what was I trying to achieve by drinking them? Oscar and I looked upon everything as a competition, where we getting to old for those games? Was this taking it all a little too far?

"I don't know about you, but I am in dire need of a drink right about now", Oscar whispered and opened the first bottle. He poured some of the contents of the bottle into a glass and before I could even blink, he had thrown the contents into his mouth. With a grimace he poured out another glass.

"May you pour me a glass also?" I said gently, and Oscar raised his eyebrows.

"I suggest you start on something lighter, since you have a delicate stomach", he suggested. I narrowed my own eyes in determination, no way was he going to belittle because of my status as a woman. "No, I am not challenging you this time", he began, "it's just this stuff is strong and you don't drink".

"Well if you're drinking it, I will drink it", I huffed. Oscar glanced wearily around the room, but before he had a chance to protest, I snatched the bottle from his grasp and poured myself a glass of the slightly brown liquid. I wrinkled my nose at the scent coming from the drink before I hesitantly raised the glass to my lips. As Oscar watched I emptied the contents into my mouth and forced myself not to throw up as the liquid burned its way down my throat. It was almost like I was drinking liquid flames. I tried not to shiver as I placed the glass on the floor beside me. It took me a moment to collect my bearings before I looked at Oscar and grinned.

"I will have another glass of that".

"You really are something else Eloise", he muttered as he shook his head.

"Afraid you'll be a drunken fool before me", I smirked, but my eyes narrowed with a challenge.

Instead of taking my bait, he just laughed before he said, "If you are drinking that, you'll be sleeping in your own vomit before we have even been in here for a full hour".

"I will ensure that doesn't happen", I grinned. We were both sat cross legged on the floor, our backs against bookshelves and the selection of drinks between us. Oscar was sat across from me and he motioned for me to pass him the bottle. I topped up my glass before I slid the bottle to him.

"How are you feeling after finding those letters?" Oscar asked. I took a sip from the burning liquid before I met his eyes.

"Weird. I honestly do not know how to feel and even just thinking about it at all is making my head spin", I grimaced.

"Fine we will put that in the pile of things we shall not discuss tonight", he smiled. I nodded gratefully as I poured myself out another glass. I found the quicker I drank it, the quicker I got used to the taste. "Woah slow down, I really do not want to carry you to your bedchambers just yet".

"I really thought this was supposed to make you feel different", I pointed out.

"Take your time because it will all hit you at once if you drink it too fast", Oscar said slowly. "Though then I will win, so actually drink as quick as you want".