The Elixir

~Secrets

"Oh my god, do you know how much trouble we'll get into if we are found with this?" Lysabel shoves it back at Xara. "Take it back!"

Xara jerks her chin vividly. "No. We need this."

"We do not need this. This," Lysabel jabs a finger at the book, "is what's going to get us kicked out of the Academy."

"This is what will give you the answer about the door," insists Xara.

Lysabel scoffs, crossing her arms and jutting out her hip. "How do you even know that the door even has any relation to Warlord?"

"Because I saw a picture of it."

"You looked through it?" Lysabel's voice rises an octave, becoming a squeak. "Oh, Founders, why did I even tell you about the door? Now my mother will disown me!"

Xara shoots her a look. "Lysa, chill. Nothing's going to happen. Besides, a little healthy curiosity never killed anyone."

"If I recall, curiosity most certainly killed the cat."

"Well, we have the journal now, so what harm can there be by looking through it?"

"I can think of many things," mumbles Lysabel.

Xara holds up a finger, leafing through the journal with efficient speed. Lysabel narrows her eyes at Xara's back.

"Wait a minute. How long have you had this book?"

Xara glances at her over her shoulder. "Not long."

"How long?" reiterates Lysabel. "Tell me the truth."

"Just since the beginning of September."

Lysabel groans, passing a hand over her face. "I can't believe this."

"Will you believe me when I find the door in the book?"

"Maybe not even then."

"Fine. But it's in this book. I remember seeing it."

Lysabel grumbles, walking to her dresser and taking out her comb, brushing her hair brashly. It's a habit of her; whenever she's stressed, she brushes or plays with her hair. Her mother despises it; she says that her one best feature will be ruined if she continues to fiddle with it.

"Here it is!" exclaims Xara, in a triumphant yet slightly surprised look.

"What?" Lysabel scurries over and flings herself on the bed beside Xara. "Where?"

Xara stabs a finger at the left page, yellowing and mottled. "That's the door, right?"

Lysabel's jaw drops. "No way." She peers closer. "How is it here?"

The door isn't very unique to look at, but merely staring at it, both on the page and in person makes Lysabel's skin prick. There's something... off about it, about what lies behind it. She skims a finger over the drawing of the door. It makes the hair on the back of her neck stand up.

"What does it say?" Lysabel asks, squinting at the incoherent squiggles.

"No idea. Thankfully, there's enough pictures that I've been able to make out most of what he means. But this..." Xara frowns. "I don't know."

Lysabel peels herself off the bed, sighing. "Well, that's settled. The door has something to do with the Warlord. Put the book away, and we can study together. Quick, before Vieva comes."

Xara does close the book, and shove it back under her bed, but there's a troubled look on her face.

"Here's what I'm thinking," says Lysabel further. "We should work on our Botany flashcards. We have that huge chapter exam coming up, right? You quiz on roots, and I'll do tonics?"