Potions, Power and Pain

Chapter 20

Avana had never really liked elixirs and potions, but being forced to sit through the class now felt like some kind of sick joke.

Despite the merchant having reassured her that he only sold authentic products, Avana was certain that he had conned her. Over two weeks had passed and she hadn't noticed any difference in the way Rowan acted around her. Unless he was truly excellent at concealing his emotions, or was trying very hard to suppress them, in which case the merchant had said that his feelings would only grow stronger, Rowan was definitely not in love with her. This pissed Avana off.

In this class, students were forced to pair up, so Avana and Rowan had become partners. She had loved it at the start of the year, but now it was just annoying her. Especially because Rowan seemed awfully distracted again. He had been acting very preoccupied and inattentive for a while and it was really beginning to get on Avana's nerves.

She lifted her head, only to catch him staring off at something again. She snapped her fingers in front of his face. "Hello? I would appreciate a little help with this you know," she chastised. "You have barely done anything since the class started. I am almost beginning to regret partnering up with you."

"Oh, yeah sorry," Rowan mumbled. "What do you need help with?"

"Can you please cut up and grind these lithops? And then smash up the blister beetles, ugh those things are so repulsive and nauseating, I gag every time I see one"

Without answering her, Rowan began absentmindedly doing all of the tasks she had unloaded on him. He was staring at something again. Avana followed his line of sight and quickly realised just who he had been staring at, Reena Tansy.

It was no secret that Reena was smart. It pained Avana to admit it but it was true. But she was also exceptionally talented at elixirs and potions, Avana had never understood why. Why she was good at it, or even why she enjoyed it. Avana personally found it so revolting, having to cut up, or grind, or smash dead insects or animals, and touch weird plants.

Rowan staring at Reena was not particularly weird. Every student in the class tried to peek at her work and see what she was doing, hoping to get some pointers or copy the way she was doing things. No one ever outright asked her for help though, obviously. The same way she worked alone because no one had wanted to partner up with her at the start of the year. She was not part of the Fae. She was half human. She disgusted Avana almost as much as the roadkill she was forced to touch in this class. If she weren't half human, Reena might have even been pretty.