“I’m alright,” he insisted. If she started to resist the spell, it might not take.
When he was done James removed his hand, the symbol now unreadable in the stickiness. He put his fist on the floor, used it to help him get up as he went to grab a clean shop towel. He took it to the bathroom sink, intending just to wash his hands and wet the towel for Celeste, but he stayed there for a minute with his hands spread on the countertop so he could catch his breath. The way he was feeling, things might go downhill fast. He leaned down to wash up and splash cold water on his face.
James made his way down the dark hallway and returned to his office. He offered the wet towel to her. “How do you feel?”