Cosmos Blooms

A wet cough sounded above, leaking through the floor like fire sand through a sieve. Raelle fled for the stairs, disregarding the vials and calibrators on the workbench. “Mama,” Raelle cried.

The curtain on her mother’s bed box sat drawn back. One of her mother’s hands dangled over the edge. Raelle threw her leather apron aside. “Mama, I’m here.” Kneeling, she drew her mother’s hand beneath the covers. “You need warmth.”

The woman’s eyes fluttered open. “Warmth won’t help. Only the crimson brew draught can,” she wheezed. “And that’s impossible.”

“Hush, mama.” Raele dipped a cloth in the nearby water bowl and sponged her mother’s hot face. “I found the instructions in the tome. The calibrator’s already belching cleansing power. The draught’s nearly ready.”

Her mother’s head turned to listen to the steam pushing the gears of the calibrators below. “No, you can’t be brewing! Harvesting the infused cosmos blooms…” She trailed off, drawing wheezing breaths.

“Hush, everything will be fine. Callum’s harvesting. He’ll be back soon.” Raelle kissed her mother’s brow and drew back to see the panic in her eyes.

The crimson brew would save her mother as much as it had overcome her. Raelle wouldn’t heed her mother’s wishes. She wouldn’t let the incantation’s recipe die with her. Not while a chance remained.

The door banged open below. “I have the cosmos,” Callum called.

Raelle stood, her mother’s hand dropping sluggishly as she tried holding on. “Soon, Mama,” Raelle promised. She raced back down the stairs.