thing was exactly the same. So much so that, if I’d have let it, it would have brought tears to my eyes.
The smell.
Musty leather from his books, sweet peppermint from the candles he’d always liked, and a musky tang from the same cologne he’d always worn. It was the smell that used to greet me every afternoon when I came home from school. It was the smell of the scarf he would take off and wrap around my neck and face when we’d been out playing in the snow for too long. The smell of him hugging me goodnight.
I quietly cleared my throat, forcefully shoving the unwelcome memories to the back of my mind where they belonged. Having regained my composure, I followed Anderson to the center of the room where there were two leather couches, as well as four armchairs. Min was on one couch with Taron, while Jocelyn was leaning against the desk, talking with Cormac. It wasn’t until I took a seat on the second couch that I noticed Alex sitting in the armchair nearest the desk – and, no sooner did I see him, than my worries were overwhelmingly confirmed.
Something was very wrong.
He sat listlessly staring at the side wall, eyes sunken and bloodshot, his elbow on the arm of the chair while his mouth and chin rested against his closed fist. He was very pale, looking as though he hadn’t slept at all the night before, and it was obvious he hadn’t shaved that morning.
I felt an uncomfortable stretching in my chest that made me squirm in my seat, and I had an almost overwhelming urge to run over and give him a hug. What could be wrong? Was he sick? Could be, though he didn’t look congested or feverish. He just looked… sad.
As I sat there watching him, everything in me seemed to cry out to help. Problem was, I had no idea what to do, much less what to do in a room filled with other people. I continued to stare at him, hoping he might look up and catch my eye so that maybe I could quietly ask him what was wrong, or at the very least give him a sympathetic smile.
Unfortunately, he didn’t look up until Jocelyn’s voice called all our attention to the front of the room.
“Everyone,” he said, standing up straight, lacing his hands together in front of himself. “I think we ought to begin. There is quite a lot to discuss this morning, but before we move to that, Cormac thinks it would be best to start with the Reading.”
My neck grew hot as I could suddenly feel all the eyes in the room on me, causing a ball of prickly anxiety to begin rolling around in my ribcage. Cormac took a step in my direction and I made a move to stand.
“No, no,” he said, raising his hand gently. “Stay seated, please. No need to be uncomfortable.” He smiled, taking the place on the couch next to me. “Now then,” he said, as I shifted to face him, praying it wasn’t obvious how nervous I was. “We will go slowly and I promise you won’t feel a thing. Does she have a Block?” he asked, turning to Min.
“Yes, on her Sciath. I thought it best until we knew what we’re dealing with.”
“Indeed,” Cormac agreed. Then, turning back to me, “Min has put what’s called a Block on your Sciath, making it impossible for you to access your ability as long as it’s there, did she explain that to you?”
“Yes,” I said, nodding.
“A Block can also interfere with my reading, so we will have to remove your Sciath before we can continue.”
“No argument here,” I said, looking forward to being free, even if it was only for a minute.
Min came over and reached for my arm, but I pulled away from her, remembering what she’d told me about the chaos that ensued during yesterday’s test.
“Wait,” I said. “What about yesterday? All the crazy stuff that happened because I didn’t have this on? What if someone gets hurt this time?”
“Aye,” Mr Anderson agreed, looking as concerned as I was. “Duck and cover then, shall we?” to which I heard someone – probably Mr Reid – punch him in the shoulder.
Min smiled at me comfortingly, ignoring them. “Everything will be fine. The issues we had were the direct result of your unprotected contact with the Iris. Without it here, we are all perfectly safe.”