Page 19

Chapter Nineteen

T he din of the library faded away as I flipped the note over, scouring for anything I might have missed.

The back of the paper contained a stamped logo consisting of roots and swirling vines.

A feeling of déjà vu came over me as recognition dawned.

The same logo had been carved into the tiny fairy-sized arch I had seen embedded on the brick wall on the summer solstice. I read the note again.

Follow the lights at midnight. Come alone.

That didn’t sound daunting at all.

What on earth was this? Some kind of invitation, clearly, but to what? And who had it come from? Was I really going to wherever these so-called lights led in the middle of the night—by myself?

And who uses typewriters these days?

I cleaned up the workspace where I had been studying, stuffed the note in my pocket, and headed to my room. When I entered, Yasmin was there, everything seeming perfectly normal. She was writing in her notebook at her desk, the moonlight shining through our window like an iridescent beacon.

My first instinct was to tell her about the note, but the come alone part was a clear warning to keep this secret. Could the message have been from Professor East? But why wouldn’t he just invite me to his office if he needed to meet?

Yasmin stretched her arms over her head and yawned. “I’m beat. Affinity studies were hard core today. Professor Sato is really pushing us second-years.”

“I’m sure you crushed it,” I assured her.

We got ready for bed, but I didn’t try to fall asleep. Instead, I kept an eye on my watch and snuck out of bed just before midnight once I heard the soft breathing that indicated Yasmin was sleeping. I dressed in dark colors, made sure the note was in my pocket, then snuck out of the room.

I tiptoed down the stairs and through the central atrium, not spotting another soul. “Follow the lights,” I whispered, scanning each area as I passed through it.

Once outside, directly beyond the front entrance to the main atrium, I spotted a moonflower, altered for bioluminescence, glowing with a soft white light.

As I scanned the area, I saw another incandescent white flower in the distance, near the line of trees where the forest began. From there, the flowers appeared in roughly twenty-to-fifty-foot intervals, leading deeper into the forest. The white petals were like solar lights, guiding me forward.

“Hopefully, this isn’t some kind of strange prank,” I murmured. Tension was coiling through my body, my instincts debating whether this was a good idea.

But despite the tension, the feeling of inquisitiveness I was experiencing was even stronger. Despite the novelty of the mission, I was encouraged to keep going. I eyed the flowers suspiciously. Were they emitting some kind of calming fragrance?

At a flash of light above, I craned my neck and saw that one of the flowers was growing in the canopy of the trees.

I realized I was expected to tree walk and wished I had access to my powers. But then I looked ahead and saw the dark imposing figure of the brick wall. It appeared the flowers were leading me over the wall, where I would be able to use my affinity powers on the other side if they were needed.

A jolt of excitement hit me as I spotted wooden foot panels on the tree closest to the wall.

Taking that as a sign, I used the panels to climb the tree more easily.

At the top, a pendant exactly like the one Meadow had leant me on midsummer was hanging from a branch beside a moonflower lamp.

The words Carry Me were printed on a delicate paper tag.

Was this whole thing some scheme of Meadow’s?

I palmed the Shasta lily pendant then carefully stepped across to a large branch of a tree on the other side of the wall where another flower was glowing.

My affinity powers kicked in immediately, the tree branches rearranging themselves to make a path for me. There was another flower beacon in the distance.

Enjoying the freeing feeling of tree walking, I made my way through the trees for what felt like ten to fifteen minutes.

Finally, I noticed a few moonflowers on the ground and took that as my cue to climb down. As I descended, I heard a soft whooshing noise that hadn’t been audible from the canopy.

I turned toward the sound and then walked until the forest opened to a small clearing. I sucked in a breath as the moonlight glimmered off the water. The view before me was enchanting.

There were a few thin waterfalls, at least twenty feet tall, cascading into a large, glimmering pool. Water lilies floated along the surface, and water bubbled over smooth rocks in the shallow portions of the water.

My heart rate ratcheted up as I gazed into the natural pool. The moonflowers were glowing from the bottom of the lake. Were the flowers directing me to swim under the waterfalls?

“Okay, aquatic affinity, don’t fail me now.” I assessed the area one more time but couldn’t make out much beyond what the moonflowers and stars above were illuminating.

Taking a deep breath of determination, I removed my shoes and sweatshirt and stepped into the water. I expected a shock of cold but was pleasantly surprised that it was the temperature of a soothing bath.

With one last look up at the rushing waterfalls and the moon above it, I inhaled a deep breath and dove down, kicking my legs to propel me forward. My eyes stayed open as I swam, the moonflowers lighting the way.

There was a ripple along my skin as I sensed the aquatic plants calling to me, as if curious about my visit.

I counted as I pulled my arms through the water, trying to stay focused on my path instead of the plants as I swam through the near dark, the moonflowers providing a continuous shimmer of light as I streamed through the water.

Twenty-one… twenty-two… twenty-three… and before I could count to twenty-four, the pool ended, and I shot upward.

My head emerged from the water, and I breathed deeply then looked around.

I climbed out of the shallow pool to step into a damp, moss-covered cave.

A few crystals were sparkling, lit by some scattered moonflowers, but otherwise, the area was dimly lit.

The entrance to the cave was overflowing with plant life, various shades of green sprouting from the sides and top of the cave as if by magic.

There was an odd assortment of plants—ones that shouldn’t be growing out of rock in that fashion.

I saw the expected plants for a cave, like moss, but also ferns, trailing flowers, grasses.

A tuft of strawberries hung from the ceiling, practically asking to be eaten.

I hesitated by the edge of the pool, not seeing the moonflowers leading anywhere else .

“Nicely done,” came a voice from behind me. I jumped and spun around but relaxed slightly when I recognized a fellow second-year. It was Kaito, my harvester affinity partner from the autumn equinox. He held a fluffy pink plant in his hands.

“Before we go further, I must ask you a few questions.”

I thought this situation was utterly strange, but the high from connecting with the aquatic plants and the magic glimmering of the cave had me wanting to know why I had been called here.

I nodded. “Ask away.”

“Everything about tonight is secret and meant only for a privileged few. Do you swear never to tell anyone else about what you have seen or heard tonight or to reveal this location?”

I debated it for a moment, finding it difficult to commit to a promise like that when I still didn’t know what was going on. But my intuition was telling me it was okay, and I decided to trust it. “I swear,” I agreed.

Well, I guess you’re going all in now, Briar.

The fluffy blooms of the pink plants were positioned perfectly upright, not extended toward me like a floral should be doing.

Kaito glanced at it. “Okay, you’re clear. Follow me.”

We proceeded deeper into the cave, the air smelling like moss and something sweet. I looked up to see trailing honeysuckle and abundant wisteria lining the ceiling. I began to reach out with my floral affinities to examine their cells but was interrupted by Kaito coming to a pause.

“Our last recruit is here.” He stepped to the side, and I took in the view in front of me.

We were in a large cavern, the limestone interior lit completely with lanterns and moonflowers lining the ground beside the circular walls.

And were those… yes, lightning bugs were flitting around the cave.

I had never seen one before since they weren’t fit for the climate here.

Or so I had thought. As usual, Evergreen Academy was proving to me that nothing was impossible, even outside of its official grounds.

I recognized some of the others who were gathered in the center of the room and placed each of their affinity powers as a pattern emerged.

There was Laurus—a top herbs affinity second-year I had once done a project with, Hollis—the fern founder’s descendant—and other excelling students with floral, grasses, and aquatic affinities.

Lastly, my eyes fell on Meadow, founder’s descendant for mosses. With Kaito having a harvester affinity, every lead affinity was represented except for trees and defensive plants.

“Congratulations to each of you for making it here along your individual paths,” Kaito said. “Remember how you came as that’s how you will return if you are called here again.”

“And where is here?” Nalin, the aquatics affinity student, asked.

“The falls are known as Moonlit Falls. The rest of this area”—he waved a hand around the nonsensically plant-covered cave—“is colloquially known as the Evergreen Conservatory. Knowledge of its existence is by invitation only.”

There were murmurs as my classmates sorted through that nugget of news. Evergreen Conservatory? I knew there were nine plant conservatories in the United States, one for each of the plant affinities. But Kaito was right—this regional one was obviously a well-kept secret.

“Let’s get this party started,” a wonderfully familiar voice said, and Callan stepped out from a dark area of the cave.

Callan. Of course he was part of this.

“And what is this party ?” I asked.

Meadow was grinning broadly, as if she already knew.

Callan’s eyes snapped to mine with a twinkle of amusement before roving over the rest of the group. “We’re called the Root and Vine Society. And you are our newest recruits.”