Chapter 1 Prologue
“To the eyes that can see beauty, every moment there is creation, every moment destruction. There is no absolute creation, no absolute destruction. Both are movement, and that is eternal." – Ramana Maharshi.
The scent of the shop was a contradiction I cherished: the earthy aroma of dried herbs—lavender, chamomile, and something deeper, like soil—mingled with the clean, metallic tang of sterilized equipment. It clung to me, a second skin. I adjusted a row of amber bottles on the polished mahogany shelves, their crisp white labels a stark contrast to the bundles of dried sage hanging from the rafters. Belladonna extract. Tincture of digitalis. Elderflower infusion. My fingers brushed the glass, cool and solid. A tremor ran through me. Not from the cold.
Smoke. Acrid, choking. The shriek of metal tearing, wood splintering. A child's scream, not my own. A flash, then darkness. Then the suffocating weight of helplessness.
I pressed my thumb against a bottle of willow bark, the memory a ghost at the edges of my vision. My breath hitched. That was the chaos. This, now, was control. My world. Order.
Dole's Apothecary hummed around me, a gentle thrum of quiet perfection. On one side, the gleaming chrome and glass of the modern dispensary. On the other hand, the dark wood and ancient wisdom of the herbalist. Sunlight, strained through the antique glass of the front window, painted dusty motes in the air. My white lab coat, starched and crisp over my simple clothes, rustled as I moved between the two worlds. The polished counter bridged them, reflecting neat rows of prescription vials and hand-labeled tinctures.
I gathered the ingredients for Mrs. Gable's custom blend. Rosemary, for memory. Lemon balm, for calm. A touch of valerian, for rest. The precise measurements, the careful grind of the mortar and pestle, the rhythmic pour of the liquid—each motion a meditation. My hands moved with practiced grace, a dancer performing a familiar, soothing choreography. The amber liquid swirled, blending into a perfect, harmonious whole. This was my mastery. This was my solace.
The bell above the door jingled, a bright sound that broke the hushed quiet.
"Amaya, dear, are you there?"
A smile touched my lips. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Gable."
The elderly woman shuffled in, her sensible shoes squeaking on the polished wood floor. Her floral scarf, a splash of vibrant color in the muted shop, seemed to wilt around her shoulders. "Oh, it's this dreadful, dreadful draft. My joints, you know. They just seize up. And the memories… they keep me up at night." She wrung her hands, her gaze drifting to the ornate ceiling.
I moved to the counter, my voice soft but steady. "The wind picked up this morning. Did you try the lavender balm on your temples? It often helps with the restless nights."
Mrs. Gable sighed, a long, rattling sound. "I did, I did. But this old brain of mine just runs. Like a hamster on a wheel, dear. Round and round." She peered at the small, cloth-wrapped package in my hand. "Is that it, then? My little potion?"
"Just so." I presented the bottle. "Rosemary to sharpen the mind during the day, lemon balm for tranquility, and valerian to ease you into sleep." I tapped the glass. "A few drops in warm tea before bed. Don't take too much, now. Valerian can be rather potent."
Mrs. Gable's eyes crinkled at the corners. "Potent, you say? Perhaps a little extra wouldn't hurt. I did run into that dreadful Mr. Henderson at the market. His tomatoes are simply ghastly this year."
I chuckled, a low, melodic sound. "Even ghastly tomatoes require a clear head, Mrs. Gable. Stick to the recommended dose." I lowered my voice slightly. "And perhaps a quiet evening, away from garden produce discussions."
Mrs. Gable laughed, a surprisingly robust sound. "You always know how to make an old woman feel better, dear. Thank you. This world… it just keeps spinning faster, doesn't it? Hard to keep up." She tucked the bottle into her capacious handbag. "You're a godsend, Amaya. A real godsend."
I watched her go, the bell chiming a farewell. The afternoon light softened, painting long shadows across the floorboards. Mrs. Gable, with her complaints and her garden woes, was a comforting constant. This life, built on routine and simple remedies, felt safe. Predictable. Ordered.
But as the door closed and the silence settled, a quiet hum stirred beneath my ribs. A tiny, discordant note in the symphony of my control. My life was a meticulously constructed fortress, every stone placed to avoid the chaos that had once consumed me. But a fortress, I realized, also kept things out. Not just risk, but… something else. Something vibrant. Joy? Maybe even, just a little danger.
I turned to the belladonna, a potent poison, its power harnessed and controlled in my practiced hands. A stray breeze, or so I thought, kissed the back of my neck. A chill, sharp, and sudden coursed through me. The overhead fluorescent lights flickered, a momentary stutter that plunged the rows of bottles into brief shadow. Glass jars on the shelves rattled, a soft, almost inaudible hum, then stilled. I frowned, scanning the room. Nothing. Just a trick of the light. Fatigue, perhaps.
The bell chimed again. A new customer.