Page 84 of Spirit Storm

Asher is suddenly there, crouching in front of me. His hands grip my shoulders, his eyes wide, but his voice purposefully even. "Okay. Hey. Hi. Look at me."

"Ash—"

"I brought Dr. Thorne. He’s going to help you.”

Dr. Thorne crosses the room in quick strides. When he drops to one knee in front of me, he takes my face in his pale blue hands, tilts it up, and looks directly into my eyes. “You Hallowind girls certainly keep me busy. All right, Poppy, let’s see what the problem is, shall we?”

Whatever he sees makes something shift in his expression—sharp and clinical and urgent all at once. "How long has she been like this?"

"Ten minutes. Maybe fifteen."

He looks from me to the Concordance Mirror and back to Asher. “Take us to the Summoning Hall, and bring the mirror.”

Wylder has the mirror off the wall at the same second Asher is portaling us across campus.

My stomach drops, and for one terrifying second, my magic has nothing to push against, and it lurches outward in every direction⁠—

And then we materialize at the Summoning Hall.

“Straight into the Destiny Sphere, gentlemen. Hurry.”

Asher hops us into the round room and lays me on the intricate pattern etched into the floor. The domed ceiling of painted stars that don't quite hold still rise above us, and I lie back.

“It’s going to be all right now,” I say, unsure if I’m convincing him or myself. “Don’t look so worried, sweetie. I’m right where I need to be. We’ll figure out everything else after.”

“Hendrix, get your ass out here so he can help her.”

Asher swallows and squeezes my hand, his eyes much too watery for my liking. “I love you, Poppy.”

“I love you more. Now, go.”

He’s gone in a flash.

Dr. Thorne’s voice comes through the intercom. “We’re just going to seal the chamber, Poppy. You remember how this works, right?”

“Yeah, do your thing, Doc.”

Another pulse of magic rolls through my chest, and I press my fist against my sternum. My scream echoes off the dome and seems to hang in the air forever.

“I know you’re in crisis, Poppy. Please try to remain calm and very still.”

I draw a deep breath and give him a thumbs up. Because really, that’s all I have to offer right now.

Magic shifts the moment he seals the chamber and activates the room. The energy around me amplifies, and the hair on my body stands on end. Then, the etched pattern in the floor begins to glow.

Everything in me wants to know what happened, how we got here, what Tharuzel did to me, but this is not my first Destiny Sphere rodeo. His readings get muddled by magical feedback if I move.

“That’s it. Close your eyes and relax.” Dr. Thorne says. “You’re doing very well, Poppy.”

A faint hum vibrates from the activated runes on the floor. They’re seeking resonance with the chaos running wild through me. The magic inside me doesn't want to be soothed. It’s panicked, churning, restless, rolling through my chest, arms, and legs, searching for a way out.

Every few seconds a massive surge shoves against the inside of my ribs. My fingers curl and I clench my teeth. I want to pull it in, to wrestle with it, to do something⁠—

But I keep my eyes closed and try to remain still.

“You’ve got this, baby girl. Happy thoughts. Cheeseburgers, and onesies, and Marvel movie marathons, and snuggling on a Sunday morning.”

As Asher recaps my list of favorite things, hot tears slide out of my closed eyes and drip down into my ears.