Page 2 of Magic Blooms

two

“So you have magic in your world?” I asked with a start, not having seen any evidence of such yet.

“Here, yes. In our world, not so much.” She shook her head emphatically, then broke into a sly smile. “Don’t think I didn’t notice how you avoided my question, missy.”

I sucked in a deep breath and bit my lower lip.

“I’m guessing you’re not sharing with me because you yourself don’t know.

Never mind, we can figure that part out together,” Lorraine continued with a chuckle—I couldn’t tell whether it was good-natured or not.

“As to magic here, it’s a well-kept secret, you see.

So don’t go around blabbing about magic and other worlds to just anyone.

They’ll lock you up in the loony bin just as fast as they can catch you. ”

My head spun as I tried and failed to follow both threads of conversation, but they tangled helplessly in my mind. “I don’t understand.”

A loud cah-clunk sounded from above, and Lorraine ripped her gaze away from me to study the ceiling.

“Oh, heck. Let’s get you tucked away. Thankfully, I do have a spare room I can put you in.

It isn’t much, but it’s always better to have a place to lay your head than not.

Now listen, I’ll take care of you while you’re here, but I need you to be on your best behavior. ”

My brows drew together. “I don’t make a habit of misbehaving.”

“Oh dear. Then we really won’t get along.

” She reached out and grabbed my arm, pulling me through her spacious home.

The hallway we went through had various photos on the wall, but nothing to give me a clue as to where I’d landed.

Most of the images featured Lorraine standing with various others in front of the same large home we were in now.

But before I could stare at any of them for long, Lorraine continued to pull me along to an open door at the top of the stairs. Once there, she nudged me inside.

“I’ve got to get lunch started for the guests soon. When I’m done, we’ll sort you all out. Okay, hun? Until then, you sit tight, and try not to break anything. I have a ‘you break it you buy it policy’ for a reason, you know.”

With that last declaration, she shut the door right in my face and left me to settle into my new quarters alone.

I glanced around the room that I’d been so unceremoniously shoved into.

Although the home itself was large and grand, everything here was small and dainty.

A short table rested in front of the one thin window in the room, and one diminutive plant sat upon its surface, struggling to find the light to save its withered vines.

How depressing.

It appeared to be a room for sleeping with one small bed in the center, a chest against one wall, and a tall, narrow mirror.

I was drawn to my own reflection, shocked at the sight.

I looked so… so wrecked. Dark circles stood out under my eyes, and my hair looked even worse than I’d originally feared.

I quickly tried to run my fingers through the strands, but that was as futile as it was painful.

My flowy, cream-colored dress had been pristine before I was sent here.

Even though I didn’t remember putting it on, I knew that everything I wore was clean and pressed and perfect.

Now there were little rips along the bottom where it had gotten snagged on various branches and twigs, and the entire hem had been weighted down with mud.

When I got back home, I'd be the laughingstock of the earth elementals for letting nature control me rather than the other way around. As it should be. I wasn’t looking forward to that, but I’d gladly be the brunt of their jokes if it meant I could go home.

I slowly sat on the bed and attempted to center myself.

Think. I needed to remember. What had happened?

My memories zipped back to the last time I’d awoken in my own bed.

It was a big day, and I’d had trouble sleeping due to nervousness.

Dante was scheduled to have dinner with my family.

The water elemental who was supposed to be my husband had never been formally hosted in my kingdom before.

Sure, there had been informal meetings between our families as the negotiations had progressed. But this was different.

It was an entire gala to celebrate our upcoming union. I was going to be surrounded by friends and family, and all would be celebrating Dante and me.

Our engagement party should have been the event of the season.

So how had it all gone so terribly wrong?

I’d woken up and gotten dressed…

Yes! I remembered seeing this dress laid out for me.

My mother had it specially made as a gift.

I ran my fingers over the luxe material.

I’d gotten dressed and run through the halls of the estate, giggling at all the decorations and preparations.

I tried to concentrate harder, to see farther, but there was nothing there.

It was just a black void where my memories used to be.

But I already remembered more than I had when I’d awoken here. At this point, any progress was good—though I did wish it would come a little faster. Unfortunately, time was one thing I just didn’t have. I had to get home, and I had to get there as soon as possible.

What would happen if I didn’t show up for my own engagement party? Would my family know that I hadn’t missed it on purpose? Would Dante?

Or would it be viewed as a great insult and lead to a war between our kingdoms?

The longer I remained stuck here, the worse the chances were that I could return to the peaceful life that had been intended for me. No, we couldn’t have that.

I sighed in defeat as I reached out for the plant. Poor thing. Stuck in its pot like I was stuck in this realm. No way to get out and no way of knowing where to go if it got out.

Well, I certainly couldn’t help myself—at least not until I had more information—but maybe I could help this poor sick sapling.

I held the pot close to me and closed my eyes.

It required precious little effort to offer a spark of life to the flagging plant, causing the green to come back into the dull stem and leaves as the entire thing perked up.

As the plant regained its strength, I lost some of mine.

Why was this making me tired? My magic had never winded me like this before.

A tear rolled down my cheek, and I sucked in a breath, willing myself to do better. I was the daughter of Orthoceras and the next in line to lead the earth elementals. I was betrothed to the most powerful water elemental that existed.

I was stronger than this. Better.

My shoulders started to shake as I reflected on how wrong this entire situation was proving to be. I set the plant back on the ledge, then held my head in my hands and let the tears flow freely.

The only thing that brought me out of my own self-pity was the loud boom of thunder. It was so sudden it caused me to jump off the bed. It was now pouring rain outside. How had that happened? It had been bright and sunny just a few moments ago while Lorraine had led me inside.

The door opened behind me, and I flinched in surprise as I turned to see Lorraine standing there with a handful of clothes.

“Yeesh. This storm came on quick. Good news. That means the guided nature hike has been postponed, and we have more time together. Why don’t you get changed and then we can talk?

” Lorraine’s eyes suddenly narrowed as she stared at something over my shoulder. “Well, that’s curious…”

I followed her gaze and saw that she was looking at the plant I’d revived. Was healing it a mistake? I didn’t really know the rules… “I’m sorry. It looked like it needed some help.”

Lorraine’s eyes narrowed and she stepped inside, pulling the door closed behind her. “You’re telling me you just did that?

“I—”

Before I could answer, an ear-piercing scream cut through the house.

Lorraine immediately dropped the clothes in her hands and ran out.

For a split second, I debated standing in place, but curiosity overtook me and I ran out behind her.

Besides, if there was something dangerous happening, I’d rather know about it now than risk falling victim to it later.

I quickened my steps to keep pace with Lorraine, and we converged upon a small group of strangers gathered in the front room.

The woman screaming was easy enough to locate, since all eyes were already focused on her.

Her hair surrounded her in a giant red puff, unlike any shade I’d ever seen in nature, in this world or my own.

Her slight frame appeared even smaller as she folded in on herself, skinny arms hugging her skinny chest—everything shaking.

The screams continued.

That was when I realized everyone was looking down toward her feet, and I finally saw the source of her abject terror.

A tiny animal with barely any fur and a squiggly pink tail zipped past her feet on fast little hooves.

The curious creature then turned toward the stairs and continued to tear his way across the inn.

I couldn’t tell if he was enjoying the ruckus he created or was every bit as terrified as the screaming woman. Perhaps, it was both.

“Where did you come from, little one?” I asked, dropping down to sit on the floor.

The animal’s enormous dark eyes—comically large for its small head—stared up at me curiously, somehow knowing I didn’t belong here and studying me just as carefully. Next thing I knew, the tiny thing unceremoniously fell on its hind, its pink hooves spreading out.

“Don’t just stare at it! Get that thing out of here!

” The shrill voice of the woman cut through me, and the small creature seemed to know she was a threat because it scurried to my side in fear that matched the woman’s easily—well, that answered that question, at least. I instinctively picked it up in my arms and held it tightly as I stood up.