The Poison with no Antidote

SOFOSYS' POV

The library is a dingy corner of my house that gives me the greatest solace. The stacks of books piled high on the wall-to-ceiling shelves are soothing to my soul and I would rather prefer the loneliness of the library to the fake crowd. Books will always remain my best friend. 

The Petrywinkler chirped from afar, sitting atop a high pile of books on Ancient Numerology. I looked up from my heavy scriptures, trying to understand what he means. However, I am not as gifted as Cassadrei is, so I utterly fail at comprehending the creature. Probably, he is still hungry. I sigh. He has an appetite that cannot be satiated howsoever I may try, so I put my mind back to my reading. Today, I am researching, on the Ancient creatures and how to domesticate them. So far, the results have been insignificant, there's so much less data on ancient creatures, let alone trying to tame them. 

I thank the Lords for having my personal library with me even on Earth. It was a difficult bit of magic, to conceal and carry the entire two-storeyed library into a single briefcase, but it was most necessary. I had predicted that I will require some advanced reading on Goblin History even on Earth, so I was prudent enough to carry the library. Afterall, these smartphones that the Earthlings use can hardly provide the information that I would require. 

 I am really worried about Jacob, he has not attended a single History lecture since his dispute with Linda. On questioning Michael, all I could know was that he is in an extremely gloomy mood, prone to being in his bed the whole day and he has not talked to anyone for five whole days! I am astounded, Jacob isn't a guy to lie low, especially in the face of adversities. I wonder what has befallen him. 

I try to hatch a plan to extract Michael out of his cocoon when I hear the commotion outside. There's a lot of shouting involved, and suddenly the Petrywinkler starts to chirp viciously. It jumps from it's make-shift nest of books and hops along the entire length of the library, animatedly shouting and swirling in the air. 

I hear Michael's frantic yells and a loud thud on the door, and hurriedly go forward to open it. 

On opening, I am dumbstruck! Michael is carrying an unconscious Cassadrei while the entire neighborhood stares. He's shouting for me to open the door quickly, his face is red from exertion and he is sweating profusely. I hurriedly let him in and then slam the door on the face of the curious onlookers. They can be dealt with later on. 

On entering the house, Micheal immediately carries Cassadrei to the sofa and lays her down! He is breathing jaggedly and trying to explain, while I calmly listen. 

"I.. I don't know what happened! One moment, we were talking and then, next moment she's on the floor, clutching her throat and screaming. She got unconscious and the restaurant wanted to take her to the hospital. I prohibited it, knowing her.. er..lineage is different from us humans and so doctors won't be of any help. I told them, she has fits and she's under medication….that she needs to take them right away and so I brought her here, on a taxi, to you. You know what's wrong, right?"

Michael looked desperate, and on the verge of tears. I take a look at Cassadrei, then kneeling before her, I look at her nail beds. They have turned blue, and her eyelids and lips were bluish too. 

"She has been poisoned." I say. 

Michael sits down on the sofa suddenly, covering his face with his hands.

"But.. but...how? I... I didn't do anything. Trust me." He says, frenzied. 

"I trust you." I reply calmly, "This can't be any mortal beings' doing. This is Fjery leaf poison, one of the deadliest and it's not available on Earth. This can only be the work of any Magical being who has smuggled Fjery leaves on Earth. I wonder…"

"Deadliest! What do you mean by deadliest? She...she can't DIE!" Michael shouts. 

"Don't worry!" I reply reassuringly, "Thankfully, Mafhaelorian Goblins have an inherent power of healing which protects them from any sorts of poisoning. Cassadrei won't die, she would be incapacitated for a few hours and I will administer her the remedial medicines that will help her recover quickly. "

"But, but isn't there an antidote?" Michael asks bewildered. 

"Sadly, no. It's deadly on humans, as I have mentioned."

I go inside the library and open the medicine cabinet to get two Rewsybll seeds. The Petrywinkler is still chirping vehemently. He rushes out and starts chirping even more loudly when he sees an unconscious Cassadrei. Michael looks visibly irritated. 

"Get away from her!" He tries to shoo the creature away, but the Petrywinkler remains, moaning over Cassadrei's unconscious form. 

"She isn't dead. She'll be alright in a few hours." I try to placate the Petrywinkler, but my pleas fall to deaf ears. The Petrywinkler begins to moan. 

The shrill sound of a Petrywinkler's moan is intolerable. I quickly cover my ears and Michael follows suit. 

Then suddenly, to everyone's surprise, Cassadrei wakes up. Michael's jaw drops.

"Where...where am I?" Cassadrei asks in an enchanted voice, "What happened? I remember, I couldn't breathe….my eyes blurred, my throat felt so hot….then I collapsed. It was so dark, I felt so cold….then, then, someone warm held me... I don't remember anything else!"

"Cassie? Are you alright! Oh thank God you are breathing, I thought you would die!" Michael says with visible relief, then turning to me,"You..you said she'll be incapacitated for a few hours." Michael asks me in an accusing tone. 

"So, should it be." I reply, confused, "even with the full range of Cassadrei's powers, she shouldn't get well so soon."

Suddenly, it all gets clear to me. The Petrywinkler's moan. An infant Petrywinkler possesses many unknown magical powers….could the Petrywinkler's moan be the antidote to a deadly poison?