The cool, almost biting air of the hallway offered little comfort. As soon as the final echo of the latch faded, Eirin's knees buckled beneath her. Her hand flew to her mouth, fingers pressed hard against her lips, stifling a desperate, guttural gag. The bitter aftertaste of the tea, that noxious brew, clung to her tongue.
'What kind of tea was that?' Eirin wondered, her mind reeling, consumed by the burning sensation in her throat and the violent clenching of her stomach. She braced herself against the cool wall, desperately trying to hold back the tide of nausea, to prevent the humiliating act of vomiting right into the pristine, polished hallway.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?"
Shade's voice, rough around the edges yet surprisingly laced with genuine concern, cut through the dizzying fog in her mind. Eirin turned her head slowly, blinking, her vision blurring at the edges. He stood a few feet away, his brow furrowed, his dark eyes fixed on her with an unusual intensity.
