Anyone would use whatever they could to lord over the other in this clan and it annoyed Audrey to no end. It would have annoyed her even more now if not for the despicable flavour currently in her mouth. She made it to the greenhouse just as she thought she was going to lose her breakfast. She flung the door open and dashed inside and started looking for the polygrond plant. She last remembered it being on the greenhouse's ground level but it was not there.
She sprinted for the stairs, taking two steps at a time, then halting in-between steps because of her heaving stomach. She made it to the second floor with great difficulty, with this humid air and the war raging in her stomach and her mouth, Audrey was sure that she looked almost as green as most of the leaves. One of the mirrors she passed by affirmed her suspicion. Her skin was a sickly green that made her dull brown eyes look just as ill and her curly brown hair looked just the same although it was all over the place. Her mother would have a fit, if she saw her hair.
She painstakingly looked through the first row of plants, if she got the wrong plant, she might as well be committing suicide. Her stomach lurched again. She had to hurry. The third and fifth row and the second corridor had nothing to offer.
Audrey was just about to give up when she saw it. The thin vines and its dainty pink flowers beckoned her closer with the promise of relief. Somewhere in the back of her mind she wondered why it was back here deep in the greenhouse. Then something else caught her eye, a crystal clear bowl of water. She went for it, it was the easier and faster option and dove for the bowl, poured some of the water in her mouth, hurriedly swished it around and spat it all out. Gods that was nasty!
A small scream and a chorus of swears rang out. Audrey snapped her eyes open and that was when she noticed the three people standing a few feet from her. She had not seen or heard them when she came in, maybe because of what had been in her mouth but they were there alright. Audrey could recognize those faces anywhere. Her former friends turned ravenous enemies.
One of them had been the unfortunate victim of her projectile. And that unfortunate victim, with her wet lavender dress from the chest down was none other than Florence Vist. And she was flanked by her stooges, Silas Avarit and Wren Floit, who looked just as stunned and annoyed as Florence.
"Hello Silas, Wren, Florence, i have not seen you three in a while. How have you been?" Audrey asked with a cheery tone.
It looked like she had interrupted something.
Florence threw her an annoyed and exasperated look. "Definitely better than you. We all heard you failed the test yet again." she snapped. "My father will hear about this! Look at what you did to my dress!"
Audrey looked indifferent, not that the words did not sting on some level. Chalk marks on the floor and their distinct pattern, although hidden by their cloaks and their feet, identified their objective. A summoning. But summoning what? She definitely had interrupted something. Something they so very clearly were not supposed to be doing. She was not as stupid as they thought her to be. Not entirely.
She had been stupid enough to believe they were her friends and were not just using her to get through their training. They, unlike her, were full fledged and trained–quotes on that–witches from influential families.
She ignored Florence's screech. "Yeah, I got rotten luck again this year. By the way, are you still struggling with your summoning spells?"
The look of annoyance and indignation on Florence's face grew. Her strawberry blonde hair almost matched the red growing on her face.
"I guess you would know all about struggling. Seeing as you cannot get one thing right." Silas said. His short golden hair gleamed in the light of the greenhouse but his lavender eyes darkened with hostility. Audrey wondered how in hell she fell in love with the hair conditioning obsessed piece of work. He also just happened to be Florence's betrothed, and in all honesty they deserved each other.
"Sorry about your dress, Florence but Wren's here, he can help you with that and maybe make it good as new or perhaps even better." Audrey added. Sighting the redhead trying to speak up. The accusation was in the air. Panic grew in both his and Florence's blue eyes.
Silas as thick as he was did not get it and looked from her to his betrothed and Wren. "Forget this." Florence quickly said. "Let's go." She took a few steps in the direction of the exit, the sound of her expensive heels clicking all the way, Silas and Wren close behind.
Leaving her to clean the mess. Audrey took a closer look at the summoning symbol they had drawn on the ground. Florence was never good at summoning and the other two just did not care enough for it. She should not have interrupted them. They could have all burned together along with this greenhouse and left her life with a bit more peace.
*
*
[Please note that this will be a particularly dark story. There will be blood, gore and a series of tough and mostly uncomfortable topics, though I will try to add comic relief. Due warning will be given where necessary. I'll put a glossary or try to better explain some words.
You can follow me on my socials if you want to keep in touch:
Facebook page: @Chelseasbooksandmusings
Instagram: UCNWrites]