Roberta stood obediently to the side and said, “Aunt Felicia, this is it.”
Felicia nodded and unlocked the door to the pharmacy with the key.
A strong aroma of herbs greeted her as soon as the door opened. The room was filled with the sight of shelves lined with rare herbs covering two full walls.
Before stepping in, Felicia glanced back at Roberta and said, “You can go about your own business. I don’t need anyone to watch over me.”
Roberta fidgeted with her hands and looked slightly uneasy. “It’s alright, Aunt Felicia. I’ll just wait outside, and I won’t disturb you..
“Consider me taking a break, or there’ll be more chores waiting for me.”
It seemed true. Talia had always made life difficult for Roberta and constantly found ways to torment her, whether it was by making her do laundry or clean spotless rooms.
Felicia nodded. “Suit yourself.”
Roberta smiled faintly. “Thank you, Aunt Felicia,
Felicia said nothing else and stepped into the pharmacy. As she entered, the heavy door closed slowly behind her with Roberta standing still, looking as docile as ever.
Felicia took in the sight of the room and switched on all the lights to better examine everything inside. Aside from the variety of herbs, what caught her attention most were the medicines her grandfather had created.
There was an entire row of shelves filled with jars and bottles. Each was carefully labeled with the name of the medicine alongside its intended use and ingredients.
Felicia’s gaze lingered for a while until she noticed a small white porcelain bottle placed at the top of one of the shelves.
“Is this poison?” Felicia wondered as she took the bottle and scrutinized it closely. The label
C
bore Clive’s handwriting, and it read “Lethal upon contact with blood, extremely poisonous, no antidote.”
She quietly returned the bottle to its original place.
Besides that bottle of deadly poison, there were many others. It was no wonder Clive had earned the title of the “Poison Sage” while he was young. His reputation was well–deserved.
After examining the medicines, Felicia finally found what she had been most eager to see. It was a collection of ancient medical texts detailing the properties of different herbs and methods to make poisons.
Just as she was about to read one of the ancient texts, a loud crash came from outside followed by a cry of pain.
Felicia put the book down and went to check. When she opened the door to the pharmacy, she found Roberta lying amidst a pile of shattered glass.
Not far away, the twin siblings were holding slingshots. They made funny faces when they saw Felicia and quickly ran off.
Felicia frowned and knelt beside Roberta. “Where are you hurt?”
Roberta had refused to answer, but she finally murmured under Felicia’s steady gaze, “My hand and leg…
The twins had struck her with their slingshots, and a picture in the corridor had shattered. When the frame fell and hit the ground, Roberta slipped, and several shards of glass pierced
her skin.
They weren’t deep, but they looked like they hurt
Felicia was going to help her up. “Let’s go. Let’s treat your injuries.”
Roberta sniffled and was on the verge of tears. It hurts so much, Aunt Felicia. I can’t walk.”
Felicia paused briefly before saying, “Wait here. I’ll get a medicine kit and take care of your wounds.”
Roberta nodded. “Alright.”
Felicia left the basement and ran into a maid when she arrived on the ground floor.
She asked for a medicine kit and was about to return to the basement when she saw Clive approach her, followed by Kayla.
