Chapter 13

Five months later, Aria was stretched out on the bearskin rug in front of the fireplace one evening, reading. She was so engrossed in her book that she didn't notice anyone had joined her until a hand waved in front of her face. She blinked and jerked her head back, looking up to see Vicente sitting in front of her with his usual cheerful smile.

"I asked if I could join you and you didn't respond," he said.

Aria sat up and grinned. "Sorry, I tend to get a little...absorbed in my reading."

Vicente laughed. "So I see. What are you reading?"

She turned the book so he could see the title. "It's Fundamentals of Alchemy. So far, it's really interesting."

Vicente cocked his head. "Is that one from my bookshelf? I didn't think I had a copy of that."

"It was way down on the bottom shelf."

"I see. I've never been very fond of alchemy, so I have to ask: why in the Void would you want to read something like that?"

Aria grinned. "I like to read pretty much anything. I didn't get much chance before, but I love reading. Actually, I just love learning in general."

"Really? What's your favorite book?"

Aria looked down with a small smile on her face. "Uh, Immortal Blood. That's always kind of been my favorite..."

"And why is that?"

Aria could feel the flush creep over her cheeks. "Um, I've always been kind of...fascinated...by vampires."

Vicente grinned. "I see. And that's the only book you brought with you, isn't it?" At Aria's surprised look, he said, "I heard you and Antionetta talking about it once."

"Yeah, that's right. It's the only book I have from...when my parents died."

Vicente reached over and put his hand on her knee, squeezing gently. "I'm sorry," he said after a moment. "How did it happen?"

Aria looked away, gazing into the fireplace. "A fire. When I was ten. They were jewel merchants in the Imperial City. We lived above the store, so the fire destroyed both our home and their shop. I heard a couple of years ago that someone bought the shop and repaired it. I didn't have any other family, so I lived on the streets after that." She hesitated, then sighed. "It was my fault."

Vicente narrowed his eyes. "What?"

"The fire. It was my fault."

"What makes you say that?"

"I was reading by the fireplace that night after my parents went to bed. It was late and I got tired. I forgot to bank the fire before I went to bed, and...by the time I woke up, it was too late. The fire had spread over the entire first floor and part of the second floor. I could hear my parents screaming, but I couldn't get to them..."

"Aria..." Vicente whispered.

"My room was at the back of the building. There was a window in there, and I threw a book through it and managed to get out. The fire was at my door by that time."

Vicente didn't say anything for a long moment. He moved his hand from her knee to her chin, cupping it and forcing her to look at him. "You were a child. There was nothing you could do. And I'm glad that you did survive, because it brought you here."

Aria gave him a small smile. "Thanks, Vicente."

Vicente released her chin and pointed at the book in her lap. "So, tell me what you've learned about alchemy."

Aria was grateful for the change in subject. Knowing that Vicente didn't like alchemy made his willingness to talk about it that much more important to her. "It's amazing, Vicente. There are so many uses for so many things. Carrots, corn, potatoes- things that we use for cooking every day can be used for so many other things.

"And mushrooms! Vicente, there are so many different mushrooms, each with a different use. Steel Blue Entaloma, Fly Aminita, Green Stain, Summer Bolette. Did you know that combining crushed Cairne Bolette caps with powdered venison makes a good healing potion? Mixing it with aloe vera juice makes it even more potent, but water works in a pinch. And the book says you can mix things like brown sugar into most drinkable potions to make them taste better..."

Vicente listened patiently as she rambled on about all the things she was learning, pleased that his change of subject worked. When she finally stopped for a breath, he broke in with a question. "I noticed that you only mentioned potions. I take it you're not interested in brewing poisons?"

Aria shook her head. "Not really. Antionetta said Mraaj-Dar makes really good poisons, but he hates making potions. He's just barely starting to be nice to me, so I don't want to encroach on his territory and give him one more reason to hate me."

"Wouldn't a healing spell work just as well?"

"Actually, I don't know any. Last I knew, you were supposed to teach me," she said with a playful shove. "Plus, I don't really see the point of a healing spell when I've got potions that work just as well."

"You mean aside from the fact that you don't have to carry or mix anything?"

"Well, yeah...there is that."

Vicente shifted to a more comfortable position. "Both spells and potions have their advantages and disadvantages. Knowing them both and being able to cover one's disadvantages with the other's advantages could be a useful skill, indeed." He thought for a moment. "As you so kindly pointed out, I did offer to teach you some basic spells. We'll start with something simple. But first, let me paint a picture for you."

"What?"

" A scenario. To help you learn the importance of certain spells in certain situations."

Aria nodded. "Okay."

Vicente stretched out his legs and leaned on one elbow. "Let's say you're fulfilling a contract. The target is a wealthy citizen with bodyguards who you can't kill according to the contract. You complete the contract by eliminating the target, but something goes wrong. You're seen by one of the bodyguards. You fight him and escape, but you're wounded in the process, badly enough that you're leaving a blood trail. You manage to find somewhere to hide, but you still need to escape safely. What spell would you use in a situation like that?"

Aria thought for a moment. "An invisibility spell. If they can't see you, they can't catch you. And if they can't catch you, they can't kill you."

Vicente nodded. "Good, but what about the blood trail? Remember, anything not touching you instantly becomes visible."

"A healing spell, then."

"Exactly. But there's another problem. Most healing spells work from the bottom of the wound up, healing the skin last. Not only does that not always stop the bleeding right way, but it takes time for the spell to take full effect."

"So what do you do?"

"There are some spells that will seal a wound without completely healing it. Such spells are useful for those who wish to avoid leaving signs of their presence."

"Can you teach me any spells like that?" Aria leaned forward eagerly.

Vicente sat up. "I only know a basic one, but I'll gladly teach it to you. I must admit, I would feel much better when you fulfill contracts, knowing that you have it at your disposal." He slid his Blade of Woe from his boot.

Holding the dagger in his right hand, he carefully slid the edge of the blade across his left hand, cutting his palm deeply. A few drops of blood fell to the floor. Aria watched, wide-eyed, as he set the dagger down and covered the wound with his other hand. She heard him whisper something and saw his uninjured hand glow briefly. When he took it away, the wound in his left hand had disappeared, replaced by a thin, pink line.

"That's it? Your hand is healed?" she asked.

Vicente winced as he flexed his hand a few times. "Not completely. The wound is only healed on the surface. It still hurts, I assure you."

Aria looked down at his hand again. "That would have come in handy when Mraaj-Dar hit me," she said, running her fingers over the faint scars.

"Don't remind me," Vicente replied. "I feel bad enough that I didn't heal them right away. I should have at least taught you the spell so you could do it yourself." He opened his hand and cut the palm again in the same spot. "Now it's your turn." He taught her the ancient words and instructed her to perform the spell on him.

Aria's mouth went dry as she cradled his hand in hers. She covered the wound with her hand and focused on her desire to heal this man who had become such a big part of her life. She thought about the many good moments and conversations they had shared in the last eight months. Then she whispered the spell.

A bright glow encompassed her hand for a moment before spreading to Vicente's. It was her first time casting magic and it felt strange, like she was using part of herself to heal him. When the glow faded, Vicente kept his eyes on her. "Well done," he said quietly. His eyes darkened.

Aria lost herself in his shadowy gaze. "Thank you," she heard herself whisper.

They remained like that for some time, holding hands and searching each others' eyes, oblivious to the comings and goings of those around them, until a quiet squeal broke into their world.

Aria tore her gaze away and looked toward the sound. A flash of blonde hair quickly ducked behind a pillar. She was about to say something, but Vicente beat her to it. "Antionetta, when you're finished spying on us, would you bring a flask of water and a rag? I have a slight mess to be cleaned up."

Aria hastily pulled her hands from Vicente's as the Breton girl sheepishly stepped out from behind the pillar. "Yes, sir," she said as she scurried toward the kitchen.

Vicente looked back at Aria and cleared his throat. "I believe that's enough for tonight. Perhaps next time I'll teach you a basic fire spell."

Aria nodded, but didn't say a word as he stood and helped her to her feet. He briefly squeezed her shoulder, then said goodnight and left the room. She knelt to pick up her book, but stopped when Antionetta came back to clean up the blood drops on the floor.

"How long were you watching us?" she asked quietly as she reached for the rag. She noticed the pattern, recognizing a piece of one of the blankets she had brought to the Sanctuary. Apparently Antionetta had been serious about throwing them in the rag bin.

"Long enough to know that he likes you," Antionetta said with a mischievous smile. "Did he kiss you?"

"What?! No! Of course not!" Aria felt herself blush furiously.

Unfortunately for her, Antionetta noticed her flushed cheeks. "You like him, too, don't you?"

"I am not going to have this conversation with you!"

"You like him! You like him!"

"Shush! Someone will hear you!"

The two girls finished their playful argument as the other family members got ready for bed. Thankfully, none of them asked what was going on. They were all long since used to their good-natured bickering. Long after everyone else was asleep, though, Aria thought about her best friend's words.

It was true, she realized. She did like him.