Reaction to Frostbite

Chapter 1 - Abe cont

Abe continued reading, eager to get the story going and realizing there are less useless interruptions when he reads.

I DIDN'T THINK MY DAY could get any worse until my best friend told me she might be going crazy. Again.

Adrian asked what that meant and was answered by Janine. "Unfortunately the Princess' moods and magic are linked; Rosemarie's moods are linked to Vasilissa's magic use and moods as well. After the Victor incident she started taking anti-depressants to stabilize her, though it cuts her off from her magic". Adrian could relate to the mood issues, he suffers from them himself, but would rather his methods than to lose his magic.

"I... what did you say?" I stood in the lobby of her dorm, leaning over one of my boots and adjusting it. Jerking my head up, I peered at her through the tangle of dark hair covering half my face. I'd fallen asleep after school and had skipped using a hairbrush in order to make it out the door on time.

Curiosity filled everyone as to where she was going.

Lissa's platinum blond hair was smooth and perfect, of course, hanging over her shoulders like a bridal veil as she watched me with amusement. 

"I said that I think my pills might not be working as well anymore."

Shocked, curious and fearful voices echoed the same thing. "What does that mean?" No one had the answer. They hoped that it is not like antibiotics with humans, where a virus eventually mutates to where the medicine no longer works.

I straightened up and shook the hair out of my face. 

"What does that mean?" I asked. Around us, Moroi hurried past, on their way to meet friends or go to dinner. "Have you started ..." I lowered my voice. "Have you started getting your powers back?" She shook her head, and I saw a small flash of regret in her eyes.

No one really understood her regret at not being able to use her magic, well no one but Adrian. The power is addictive and hard to let go of. Unfortunately for him, the aura vision is hard to tune out and turn off.

"No ... I feel closer to the magic, but I still can't use it. Mostly what I'm noticing lately is a little of the other stuff, you know...I'm getting more depressed now and then. Nothing even close to what it used to be," she added hastily, seeing my face. Before she'd gone on her pills, Lissa's moods could get so low that she cut herself. "It's just there a little more than it was."

While Adrian understood the moods he didn't know why anyone would cut themselves but thought better of asking that question, it seems too personal.

"What about the other things you used to get? Anxiety? Delusional thinking?"

Lissa laughed, not taking any of this as seriously as I was. "You sound like you've been reading psychiatry textbooks."

There were laughs at that. "Rose never reads unless she has to" Christian spoke in disbelief that she was studying about it now that Lissa is on the pills, surprised to learn she had.

I actually had been reading them. "I'm just worried about you. If you think the pills aren't working anymore, we need to tell someone."

Abe was wondering if perhaps he could convince his daughter to take time off after graduation before being assigned. He thought she may like to complete her own studies, perhaps pursue something in line with psychiatry.

"No, no," she said hastily. "I'm fine, really. They're still working...just not quite as much. I don't think we should panic yet. Especially you not today, at least." Her change in subject worked. I'd found out an hour ago that I would be taking my Qualifier today.