A. Poison in the Blood

A.20. Reagents

Skyler, Aiden and Trixie watched as Keira mixed ingredients and scribbled in her notebook. Trixie using her powers on her was the only thing that kept Keira from being overwhelmed by stress.

Meanwhile Forest was walking around the empty train conpartment looking for something.

Keira added a drop to the mixture and threw her head in her hands when it changed colour. "I cannot seem to make a potion that would work." Keira wiped away a stray tear. She then slapped away Skyler's hand when she tried dipping her finger in one of the chemicals. "That potion is too acidic. You will burn yourself."

"But you dipped your own fingers in and licked them off," Skyler pouted. "You weren't burned."

"It is how my abilities work," Keira explained. "Potions do not work on me unless I want them to and chemicals do not burn me."

Aiden took a small sprig of lavender from Keira's supplies and set it on fire. "Then why lick it though? I can't imagine that it tastes good," he teased.

Keira blushed. "It is a bad habit. Sometimes alchemy feels like cooking and I like eating the batter."

"I like cooking too," Skyler smiled. "But the batter doesn't burn me at least."

Aiden was still holding the flaming lavender, the plant was still whole under the licking flames. "I can't burn away abstract concepts. Can I? Then I could just burn away the mind control."

"Maybe you could burn away grief, hate and live action reboots while you're at it?" Trixie suggested with a smile.

Keira furrowed her eyebrows and started scribbling in her notebook, murmuring to herself.

Trixie frowned and looked around. "Where's Forest?"

"Down here."

She turned her head to find Forest sitting on the floor with a skunk on her lap. Trixie supressed a laugh upon seeing Forest's small smile while playing with the creature.

Skyler looked over. "Hey look! It's the same skunk we saw yesterday."

"Yeah she followed us here."

Skyler was confused. "Why? Skunks don't belong on a train!"

"Thats what I was asking her about," Forest said. "Apparently she felt a strange connection she didn't fully understand."

Trixie sighed. "I'm still stuck on the fact you're having a philosophical discussion with a skunk."

Forest snickered. "You should hear what cnidarians talk about sometime. That's when you start getting existernal crises." She took out a small paper. "Also I found another letter."

Trixie took it and read aloud.

"Hey guys, the next few hours are gonna be hectic but I have faith in you. I don't know if I'll be able to sneak in a few more letters to help so I'll just run you through the important stuff.

"She hasn't mind controlled anyone yet so you still have a chance to stop her before worst comes to worst. But you'll have to travel to the abandoned warehouse district as soon as you get off the train.

"Also you might get some unexpected allies in the upcoming mission, so... be open minded.

"You'll need to find a way to conceal Aiden's identity since he hasn't gotten some Powerine clothes yet.

"As for the cure, I suspect Keira is already on top of that. Keep a few of those handy.

"Good luck everyone, E."

"How did she get that in here? We're the only ones in this compartment" Aiden asked.

Trixie took a picture of the note. "We're still trying to figure that out."