Page 38 of Becoming One
“There is… only one… place in the… world the… flower grows, and… I warn you it may… not be so easy… to retrieve. Because… it is so rare, it… is protected, so… mind your… surroundings. You will… find it… on the… island of… Sri Lanka.”
“Sri Lanka? Sri Lanka? Are you crazy? That’s on the other side of the fucking world. How the hell am I supposed to get there, find this plant, and get it back to you safely, and still make it to the Ranking Ceremony tomorrow?”
“I will send you… there with a… spell that will… give you… four hours, then… return you right here… to me… I… will drop you… in the… middle of… the forest where the… flower is known… to be, but… again, be… careful. The locals guard… and protect it,” Laramie said and began to chant.
“Wait. How the hell am I supposed to bring them back? And I’m not armed, how do I protect myself from these guards? You need to give me more than just go fetch me a fucking flower. This is bullshit, man. I don’t answer to you, only him. Doesheknow about this? I want to talk to?”
Suddenly a canvas messenger bag appeared in Nicu’s lap and a pair of garden shears in his hand as Laramie cut him off. “No time for… looking… at the sights. I… have less than… twenty-four… hours before… this poison… kills me. Get… the flower and… get back… here. But first, hold… on tight,” Laramie said, with a smirk and touched his hand to Nicu’s forehead.
All at once Nicu heard a whooshing sound and the room he had been in, flew past him as if he was in a tunnel. After a few seconds, he stopped and the vision before him steadied and stilled, as he dropped to his ass on the hard-packed ground with a thud. Looking around, Nicu stared in awe at the sight. He was now in a tropical forest and it was pitch black outside. Not even the moon was strong enough to help guide him. “Son of a bitch. I don’t even know what the damn thing looks like.”
In an instant a picture of a white flower popped into his head and shocked Nicu. He held the vision there as he climbed to his feet and began his trek through the trees.
* * * *
“Moron,” Laramie huffed, as he made his way back to the couch and dropped down upon it, hissing as a new jolt of agony raced through him.
“Like I don’t… have enough to deal… with. Now I… have to babysit that… total waste of life. When… he returns with… what I need, I… think I will zap… his ass with a bolt… of lightning so that… he remembers… his place.”
Laramie reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his cell phone, then dialed. When he heard the click on the other end, he knew the man he wanted to speak with was there. He never spoke as he answered, waiting to make sure who was calling him first. “I sent the… idiot, Nicu off to… find something… I need… for a potion. He’ll… be back in… a few hours.”
“Now is not the time for this, Laramie. We need him at that Ranking Ceremony now that he fucked up and didn’t win against General Orion.”
“I know… that, but it… was unavoidable… if you… want me to… continue as part of… this. That… damn fox… poisoned me and… if I don’t… make… the antidote, then… you’ll be… looking… for a new mage… to help you,” he replied, between clenched teeth.
“You are a long and faithful friend and comrade; Laramie, and we would not be where we are today if not for you and all your wicked skills. It is because of you that we are so close to getting everything we have both worked so long for. Do you need assistance with the potion or to help you stave off the poison while you are awaiting Nicu’s return?”
“No, my… friend. If I… just remain as still… as possible… for the… next few hours… then begin… to get the potion… ready before Nicu’s… return so all I… have to do is… add the final ingredient, I… should be okay.”
“Good. Very good. If you feel like that is changing, call me immediately. I can’t afford to lose you, my friend.”
“I will. So… now that the damn fox… got in our… way and… ruined our plan at… the battles, what… is the next step?”
“First, we get you in tip-top shape, then we move ahead with the rest of the plan. Once we get rid of Ezra, his elven mate, and General Orion, you can take the fox for yourself and use him as you wish for what he has made you suffer. I’m sure all his special abilities will come in very handy.”
Laramie smiled at the thought of getting his hands on a Santorini fox and using it for his own gain. “Between him… and the butterfly… dragons, we will be… unstoppable… I will call… you when everything… is done,” Laramie gasped.
“Good. My plane will be landing in a few hours. You know where to reach me.” And with that, the phone went dead.
Laramie hung up at his end and tossed the phone on the cushion beside him. Lying back against the couch, he looked up at the ceiling, then sighed heavily.A fucking Santorini fox. Nicu said the creature didn’t have any powers anymore, so how was he able to stop me? No matter, I will trap you along with the butterfly dragons, and when I do, you three will know the true meaning of pain. Now I just need to adjust my entrapment potion once that buffoon brings me the flower and I can heal. I will make you pay for this fox. Ipromiseyou.