Chapter 28: *CHAPTER 28*

The University campus was busier than I thought it would be this time of year. Summer classes were in full swing and even though it was one of the smaller semesters, the parking lots were still full. Even still, Malcolm managed to find a parking space right next to the History building where Richard taught.

Malcolm had texted him on the way and I guess he was in the middle of his office hours because he was in a small office outside of one of the larger lecture halls. He was done up the way he had been the other day--full tweed coat despite the heat, scuffed up well-loved dress shoes, and his hair was messy enough that it looked like he had been running his hand through it.

"Interesting," Richard murmured to himself after Malcolm had finished explaining what had happened. "And these images, you were fully conscious of them--aware that you were 'dreaming' the entire time?"

"It was like I was George. Not just looking at him."

"If you're up to it Kassie, I'd like to run a few tests. I don't know why I hadn't thought of doing this before."

"What kind of tests?" I asked, suddenly wary.

"These types of images that were conjured up for you are reminiscent of some types of Magic that I've seen before. I'd like to rule those out before we continue."

"Okay."

The office was a tight fit for the three of us. Richard and I took up the only two chairs in the room leaving Malcolm to lean against the wall next to me, pulling books off the shelf. Though he acted like he wasn't paying us much attention, I could tell that his focus was solely on what was being said.

"We're going to need to take your blood," Richard warned, "are you alright with that?"

I nodded, tugging on my lip between my teeth. I wasn't huge about needles, but if it would help me figure out what was happening to me, then I was all for it.

Richard opened a drawer in the plain metal filing cabinet behind him, pulling out a clear plastic bag filled with a few items that he placed meticulously over his desk.

Malcolm watched as Richard worked, a dubious expression coming over his face, "You want to do an Affinity Test on her?"

"What's an Affinity Test?" I asked.

"It's is a very common test done among the Magi. It's typically done when someone born into the magic system is being tested for the type of Magic affinity they possess."

"Wouldn't they just know what type of magic they have when they develop it?" I asked, genuinely curious. I can't imagine there was any confusion about what type of magic Malcolm had when he started spraying fire out of his fingertips. I watched Richard pick up a few things one of them was a plastic piece he held between his fingers.

"Great question," he said, "but those with Magic typically don't develop those powers completely until they reach puberty. And until then, people with magic need to learn how to control those powers and what to expect before they even develop them. So this test was pulled together to help show any magic affinities someone might have."

"It's also good for working crime scenes," Malcolm said, offhandedly, leaning back against the shelf, "to know if the blood on a scene is Magi-related or just human."

Richard hummed his agreement, turning his bespectacled gaze back to me, "I'm going to prick your pointer finger and get a small amount of blood to run through the computer."

I set my hand down on the desk and slid it over to him.

He must have sensed my apprehension somehow because his fingers paused before reaching out to me, "Are you sure you're alright with this Kassie?"

"I'm fine," I assured him, rubbing at a bead of sweat trickling on my forehead, "I just don't like needles much."

’You'll fight a vampire with a knife and skulk around crime scenes with nothing but a baseball bat, but are afraid of a needle?’

’You're hilarious.’ I deadpanned, shoving the wall back up between us. I don't know how I'd let the wall slip down again.

Richard hummed, lips pursing, "Aversions to needles is quite common. We can always do the test another time if you'd rather. You've already been through quite a lot today."

"No, that's okay, I'd like to see what the test says," I told him, steeling myself.

He considered me a moment before nodding, "Alright, we'll be quick about it then." He pulled out an alcohol swab and wiped away at the tip of my finger. He worked meticulously and pricked my skin quickly. It stung for a second and I couldn't help the wince as he collected my blood onto a small glass slide. Malcolm watched on from the side, expressionless.

"That should do it," Richard gave me a gentle smile, the corners of his eyes crinkling. He placed a clean cotton ball onto the small prick in my finger. "Let's get this running through the software." He slid the glass slab into a boxy-looking machine on the desk behind him and began clicking a few things into his computer.

The machine whirred and clicked a few times, a flash coming through the box like it was a copy machine. The machine flashed and clicked a few more times before a beeping sound went off.

"Well, there's something I haven't seen in a while." Richard hemmed, the scholarly expression of an academic deep in his studies making a return to his face.