I broke the wax that sealed the bottle, unwound the coils of thread that kept the lid in place, and finally opened it. It had a familiar smell. The medicinal stink of the alcohol, but there was also something else, something both sharp and sweet. With my fingers, I fished out the lizard, slick and uncooperative. I shivered at the touch of the dead skin, which was completely smooth and lacked scales. I threw it off the side of the cliff, put the bottle to my mouth, and drank until nothing was left.
Vile
