“She tell you why this stuff is green?” The off-color liquid swirled in the mug Hwalín was moving around in her hand. “It smells kind of funky too.”
Alma, a mug of her own in hand, carefully plopped herself down on the black leather couch her sister would always drink on. She sighed quietly as she spotted the discolored red-wine stains on the seat next to her—a faded reminder of better days.
”She adds a lot of weird herbs that kind of change a lot of the essence of the coffee. It oddly tastes really good.”
“Herbs?” Hwalín’s eyes lit up. “That’s all you had to say.”
“Don’t forget, there’s magic in this coffee. We’re about to go through some of Heli’s memories here. From a few months back. Wouldn’t say why she went up there and that ‘these memories aren’t going to reveal anything incriminating anyway.’ Which should worry me, but I’ve already numbed myself to the stupid shit she says.” Alma looked at Hwalín and did a double take. “Wait. Should I be worried? I’m afraid of what added drugs are going to do to you.”
“Oi, it’s already in my hands. You ain’t about to cut me off now.”
“Uhhhh… You don’t get violent, do you?”
“Violent? Naw. I do sometimes get pretty handsy though, if you know what I mean.” The Hecatian grinned creepily and made a honking gesture with both her hands.
Alma, a look of disgust plastered across her face, slowly took her pistol from its holster and laid it gently on the table. She then turned to Qu’l-Nia. “Q, you sure you won’t be joining us?”
“As much as I would like to participate, I am afraid your friend’s magic would not affect me the same way it would you or Hwalín.” The eldritch woman was sitting cross-legged on the floor of the room. “I shall simply have to sit this one out and observe.”
"Kay. But if you see Hwalín start to come towards me, you blast her with some kind of eldritch ray or whatever it is you do to sick-in-the-head elfwin.”
“It’s gonna take more than thaaat.” Hwalín held her mug up in a toast.
“I’m just saying,” Alma whispered to Qu’l-Nia. She pointed at the table. “My gun’s right there.”
“I cannot guarantee anything, Alma.”
Alma clicked her teeth in annoyance. She held the mug in her hand and stared into the steam rising from it. From a quick whiff, notes of the silken, earthy aroma wafting from the coffee reminded her immediately of Heloise. A scent that often lingered about her in those gentle moments at her forest home, especially right after her showers, before she would lose herself in whatever type of fragrant perfume she decided on that day. Something inside stirred, and Alma smiled at the familiar feeling. The pleasant memory had helped her feel a little less lonely and she began to think how she couldn’t imagine where she would be without her best friend. She took a sip from the infused coffee. It tasted as delicious as she remembered. The tingling sensation was new. In truth, she’d never done a memory dive like this before, even though Alma had usually always been the witting guinea pig for Heloise’s magical experiments. The ex-soldier wanted something to prove and the witch wanted to prove she knew what she was doing. Alma took another bigger gulp after that. Her mind swirled. She looked over at Hwalín, who was still downing the piping hot mug in her single, initial gulp. Alma’s eyes continued to wander. The room looked a bit hazy, kind of like when she would get drunk. Looking over at Qu-l-Nia, she could see the alien woman simply staring back at her, with an inquisitive smile upon her face. Alma thought maybe she smiled back at her, but she wasn’t sure. The sniper leaned back in her seat and looked up at the ceiling. It seemed almost like she could hear Heli’s distant voice coming from somewhere up above.
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“Fucking—! Shit! This weather is going to freeze my nipples off! Why did I think this was a good idea?! I hate the snow!” Heloise shuddered as shivering hands secured the fuzzy pink hood tightly around her head. Another sudden blizzard had kicked up, piercing the very faint protective layer of makeup on her face. The snowflakes building up on her lashes were irritating her more than anything. She was high up in the Akhlut Mountains, on a steep slope and surrounded by a maze of frozen trees. She was searching for something to help with a condition she’s come down with. A screech from amidst the treetops scrambled her thoughts. “Son of a bitch.”
The witch quickly concealed herself under a nearby tree. She scanned the area above her—frost-bitten branches devoid of life showed no signs of whatever the source of that sound was. Any normal living being would be understandably frightened in a situation like this. Heloise was far removed from normal.
“Azotha’s wounds… I know for a fucking fact the rip-o’-wills fly off to hibernate at this time of year. Nothing should be awake right now! So, imagine my shock when I hear the ugly cry—”
Solis Fulmen Natura!
“—of a Caladrius!” She had whipped out her staff in almost an instant. The crystal atop of its crown glowing a red hot as it fired a ball of flame at a naked spot in the trees above.
The fireball splashed against a distortion, directly where she had aimed her attack. The invisible creature cried out in righteous anger as it sank like a stone from its perch and hit the snow below.
“Shouldn’t have given away your hiding spot, foteur de merde volant.” The witch made her way to where the creature had dropped down. With its camouflage disabled, it was easy to spot among the frigid patch of grass around it. She stood over it triumphantly, examining its shimmering white plumage. “Could you have, like, made this any easier? You come out here in the middle of bumfuck nowhere to hide and then cry out as soon as you see a little trouble a-brewing your way? Ya know, I guess I can’t blame you. Most people don’t even know you exist. But witches certainly know a little more about the esoteric world! And unluckily for you, I just happen to need your curative powers. Unluckily for me, it would’ve been a whole lot easier if you were still alive… Shit…” She began to chew frustratingly on her thumb’s fake nail.
Then came an eerie change in the singed body of the Caladrius lying in the snow. An appalling miasma rose slowly from its body, causing the blonde witch to hop backwards—a second too late. Heloise suddenly found herself trying not to retch as she was flung headfirst into a violent coughing fit. Her eyes watered and her nose began to run, freezing painfully as her fluids hit the frigid air.