Twisted Wonderland: A New Dawn

Chapter 10

Rhyme winced, coming to an awareness of her surroundings again.
  "Well, Miss Rosehearts," Azul's voice seemed to be coming from far away. "I believe this concludes our deal. I'll prepare seven potions, each one made to alter your personality to a specific dorm. In return, you've agreed to one request that I will make in the future."
  Rhyme blinked, opening her eyes, and the lights inside of Azul's office came into focus, sideways.
  The events from the night before came back; running from Prefect till she had reached Octavinelle, collapsing from pain in her ankle and exhaustion from running, somewhat consciously telling Azul what she wanted before the darkness of sleep overtook her.
  Sitting up, Rhyme cracked her neck. "Sorry for falling asleep." She said.
  Azul didn't look up from the golden contract he was writing out. "I don't believe you need to apologize for that," he said. "After all, you did run around the entire main campus grounds, half of it on a broken ankle. I recommend having someone look at it before it becomes worse."
  "What?" Rhyme asked, then looked down to her ankle. Her shoe and sock had been removed, revealing that her skin had swelled and made Rhyme wince when she touched it.
  "You should also return to Ramshackle till the potions are ready," Azul said, pausing, lifting the pen from the contract. "Prefect has told the Headmage about where you are and it would be in both of our interest to give the assumption that I refused your request."
  "I thought you were still offering deals to people," Rhyme said, looking back up. "You simply changed your price."
  "I do offer deals, but this falls out of my normal clientele," Azul said, meeting her gaze. "And if you wish for this desire of yours to happen, you must return to Ramshackle and make everyone believe that I refused your request."
  "Then how will I take the potions? Everyone will notice if I drink a potion and suddenly have the personality for a different dorm." Rhyme inquired.
  "Fear not!" Azul exclaimed. "I am a masterful potions maker. I will prepare the potions with the necessary ingredients to make sure you are not discovered. Though you should be wary when taking them, Miss Rosehearts. Your true self will be reflected in mirrors and each potion will wear off after three days."
  "Avoid mirrors and don't stick around for more than three days," Rhyme repeated. "Got it."
  Azul looked over the contract in front of him one last time before turning it over to Rhyme. "If you'll just sign at the bottom, I will begin crafting the potions after class." He said, holding out an intricate pen that reminded Rhyme of a fish skeleton.
  She hesitated for a moment, her hand stretched out to take the pen and Azul noticed.
  "There is time to back out," he said. "Once you sign, unless I revoke the contract or the terms are met in full, you will be bound to it. I'm not sure your brother will approve-"
  "Riddle has nothing to do with this," Rhyme snapped. "So leave him out of this. I know what I'm doing."
  Grabbing the pen, Rhyme signed her name at the bottom of the contract, then watched as it flashed a golden colour then faded to black.
  "Very well," Azul said, pulling the contract back and standing. "Should the terms fail between us, I will tell the Headmage that you forced me into making these potions and you will be expelled. After all, making these kinds of potions is taboo and I can not have a blemish on my record."
  "I know," Rhyme said, nodding. "But I believe that the terms will stand."
  "And do you believe you'll find your true dorm this way?" Azul asked, placing the contract inside a large vault behind his desk.
  "I belong somewhere," Rhyme replied. "The Mirror of Darkness might not have seen it, but I'll find it myself."
  Closing the vault door, Azul turned around and nodded. "Very well," he said. "I'll have Floyd and Jade escort you back to the Hall of Mirrors."
  Rhyme nodded, too proud of herself to say anything. This was going to work. It had too.
~~~~~
  Headmage Crowley was waiting in the Hall of Mirrors when Rhyme, Floyd and Jade stepped out of the Octavinelle mirror.
  "Here she is Headmage," Jade said. "None too worse for wear except for a sprained ankle and a fair level of exhaustion."
  "Thank you Mr Leech," Crowley said. "I will make sure Miss Rosehearts visits the infirmary before escorting her back to Ramshackle Dorm."
  "See you later, Little Seahorse!" Floyd cried, waving as he and Jade walked away, heading to class.
  Crowley looked down at Rhyme, who looked away, trying to muster up some regret.
  "Can you walk?" Crowley asked gently, surprising Rhyme and she looked up at the Headmage. She was expecting to get reprimanded or ignored, not kindness.
  "Y-yes," she said, stumbling over the word in her surprise. "I'll be slow, but I can walk."
  A moment of silence lapsed between them then Crowley held out his raven-tipped staff to Rhyme. "This may serve you better in this moment than it will me." He said.
  Rhyme reached out to take it, but paused, her fingers trembling before she pulled her hand back, curling her fingers in. No. She couldn't give into the kindness. It was all an act. Since when did the Headmage of an elite school care about one student in particular? And one who was nothing compared to the others?
  "Thank you for offering," Rhyme said, lowering her arm. "But as I said before, I can walk."
  And she did, slowly limping past the Headmage and out of the Hall of Mirrors, careful to hide her wincing every time she stepped onto her throbbing ankle.
~~~~~~
  It seemed to take forever to get to the infirmary and Rhyme eventually gave into wincing publicly, tears spilling down her cheeks, but a light of determination burned brightly in her eyes.
  Crowley walked behind Rhyme, about five paces, keeping his mouth shut even after Rhyme stumbled and nearly fell. He could sense that she wasn't going to accept his help.
  Rhyme was nearly delusional with pain when she finally reached the infirmary, falling onto one of the beds and closing her eyes in pain.
  Stupid. She realized. Maybe there was a wind spell prepared in his staff and it would have helped her avoid this. Now the damage was going to be more severe.
  Rhyme remained in a state of half consciousness as her ankle was iced then wrapped and a slightly bitter potion washed down her throat, lessening the pain slightly.
  "Bed rest," someone said. "The potion will numb the pain but she'll have to heal herself through time."
  "Of course," Crowley said. "And the damage?"
  "Contained. The ankle is in a dangerous state and could mean permanent damage." The first voice said, and to Rhyme it sounded farther away as she drifted into the darkness again.