Offered to the Triplet Alphas

Chapter-18. Whispers of vines

[Xanthea]

An icy sensation crawled up my leg.

The din of my breaths and my heartbeats faltered in my ears as the sound of rustling grass, as if a serpent hastily slithered through them. I stood barefoot on the dewy grass, aware of every stir in the surrounding underbrush. Cold fog condensed on my skin like sweats damping my white gown.

Breathing slowly but heavily through my mouth, I kept staring at the grass apprehensively.

Subtle slithering sounds grew louder. Movement in the grass and bushes became evident. It was then I realized something was rumbling under the ground.

Unease knotted in my stomach and even before I could think about running, sinewy vines erupted from the earth all around me. I froze in my place as they whipped right before my eyes like the gigantic tentacles of an octopus. I fell on the ground, lying on my back as they coiled themselves all around my body.

I felt the movements of the vines against my skin. Their cold and damp touch as the vines slowly swallowed me into the ground. I knew I was being pulled underground, but it felt as though I was sinking. The faint light filtering through the grassy surface floated farther and farther away from me.

But there was no panic, just an uncanny peace.

There was a glow underground and a thick scent of soil and roots.

'Xanthea...' someone whispered my name in my ears. 'Come to us. Call us...'

"Who?" I mumbled with a groan.

"Xanthea?"

Moaning, I winced.

"Xanthea," the voice was close to my ears, yet I heard it as a distant murmur.

I parted my eyelids, staring at a familiar ceiling of my room in the Aile castle.

Were those the whispers of the vines?

I struggled with every blink, trying to navigate through what was real. The warm light in the room dispersed the fog before my eyes as though someone had just wiped the dew streaked glass.

"Xanthea..." someone called out to me again, but I couldn't make out whose voice it was until I turned my head and met Nesryn's eyes. Her expressions were a mix of relief and sternness. "You woke up exactly when he predicted you would."

I felt the same cold sensation on my leg. I turned my head to the other side and saw Mavka gently rubbing a sphere of ice over my leg, her gaze fixed on the task.

events came back to me and the last thing I remember was - I was

on the bed with a jerk. A sharp pain jolted through my head as it

a stoic face. She arranged pillows behind me to help

weakly, with a dry

me. Her

to stay away from Raven's plants, didn't

held my chin and

I talk to you. Why did you go near

was just... looking around... when my dress brushed against a plant... I am sorry for all

with Raven, for sure. Do you even know what plant attacked you?"

I nodded.

encountered one in real life. The real ones look different from the

one of such carvera survived. So I hope you can imagine how important

once, pursing

a plant! All you had to do was be careful. Did you

are its weakness," I said. "If we

5s.org for the full experience. You

away with a huff as she ran her fingers through her open

the plant, which is now dead anyway?" she asked, and I lifted my

"Y-yes..."

she had a look of disbelief in her eyes. "I saw the plant's main body. Uprooting it would be simpler than plucking a rose from the garden if we ignore the tentacles which were already busy devouring your leg. But you

rubbing the ice on my leg. Gulping hard, I fidgeted with my fingers, still

He loves his plants like his child. He cares about them more than anything else. So... how could I... hurt something

gaped at me with wide eyes. She got down from the

then she looked at me. "Are you out of your mind, Xanthea? No, literally, have you fucking lost it? No matter what

with an even more bitter answer. It was a truth that even Nesryn knew that the plant was worth far more than

I really thought I was going to die. And the strongest urge I felt was - even though

leg carefully. The hem of my gown was already lifted to my

permanent scar. Be grateful they saved your leg. A second's delay and they would have to amputate it,"

for saving

save you. Raven did,"

body stiffened. "H-he

lips into a

"D-does that mean..."