I turn the cold brass knob on the door the apothecary indicated and the hinges whine as it opens. Intermittent oil lamps made of stained glass hang from the ceiling alongside drying herbs and flowers, some of which I recognize from my plant obsession as a kid. The walls are lined with wrought-iron shelves overflowing with glass vials and jars. A deeply set fireplace blazes and a series of small pots hang within it. Gnarled wooden tables are covered with every type of wonder, from crystals to ornate daggers.

For a brief moment my fear is eclipsed by amazement and I can absolutely see why Ines would want to learn this trade. But my awe is short-lived because the apothecary brushes past me, her long blue skirt grazing my leg, and that simple contact nearly sends me shooting into the air.

The apothecary moves to one of the tables, which is laden with half-filled glass bottles and piles of herbs. She busies herself with some kind of sorting process and doesn’t say a word.

I walk up to the table, standing on the opposite side of it, careful not to touch anything. She looks up, and the moment we make eye contact, I swallow.

“I’d love to purchase a few products from you,” I say, and my voice feels out of place in the quiet isolated room.

She doesn’t say a word.

“Uh…something to disorient, if you have it, and a strong poison,” I say, and my tone winds up sounding more like a question than a request.

She doesn’t move; in fact she’s so still that she appears frozen. I take a breath. Ash, Aarya, and Ines told me to keep it simple, to make my request and to be gracious.

Seconds tick by, and my instinct is to talk, to fill the quiet with anything other than this anxiety-inducing silence.

“I would really appreciate it,” I finally say, hoping that the sound of my voice will snap her out of her creepily still posture. But my words seem to disappear into the stillness.

And again, the seconds tick by.

“Is there something you want me to say that I’m not saying?” I ask, and clamp my mouth shut. What in the heck was that? It came out before I could even consider it. “I have money. A stupid amount, really, and I was told to give you as much as you want, promise you more if you need it. Speaking of stupid amounts, have you taken a taxi recently? Cool experience, I’ll grant you that, but my god is it pricey.”

My hand flies to my mouth. Holy hell, what nonsense is spewing from my face? I try to back up, but I stumble, and the floor sloshes below me like it was made of liquid instead of wood.

“Oh no.” Panic grips my stomach and I look up at the apothecary. “What did you do to me?” I demand.