26 IXTAL 13 WITH FLOWERS (1/2)
extra chapter!
Tomorrow I don't know if I'll make another chapter!
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The dampness of Tonnika's market and the heavy odor of the crowd often drove shoppers to make hasty decisions, but Hatilly was mesmerized. She had spotted a strange matted bud surrounded by wilted red leaves, a specimen she had never seen before.
”You won't want this one,” said the old florist. ”It's a very rare midnight zoquid. It was brought from the southern jungles where sunlight never touches the forest floor. It's more for alchemists and potion specialists…”
The merchant then tried to draw his attention to a bouquet of sapphire roses. ”These are from Ionia. I prepared them myself to grow on Kumangra's rugged soil ... Or maybe you like some moon pearls?”
Hatilly didn't listen. Anyone could see the beauty of the sapphire roses and the pearls of the moon. But this zoquidea had an exotic beauty, similar to that of the craked native lilies of the Serpentine Delta or the cadaverous tulips. She and Cazworth were great lovers of rare flowers.
”I'll take the zoccid.”
With a confused expression, the florist received the gold placed in the palm of his hand. Then she wrapped the button in a damp silk nest and placed the package in Hatilly's hands. She saw that the air roots clung to something hard and white like chalk.
”What is it?”
”The zoquids are rooted in foreign objects,” said the merchant. ”This is a piece of bone.”
By candlelight, leaning over his antique desk, Cazworth made notes in the margins of his book. He only raised his head when Hatilly placed the ceramic pot on the table. The strange zochoid, half buried in a mound of wet earth, already seemed happier, with its livelier green and red tones.
”A seedling for the blossoming of a businessman.” Proud of herself, she kissed his cheek. He smiled and turned to examine the specimen.
”When you said you needed flowers to brighten up the place, I thought they would be colorful.” Cazworth jabbed the plant with the feather. ”What curious thing is that?”
”An exotic gift to celebrate the opening of Kumangra's newest commercial establishment ... Cazworth Exotic Items.”
Cazworth pulled his wife into his lap.
”Well, if you're saying this is a rarity, then it deserves a reward.”
He kissed her tenderly. A single petal opened, revealing itself in the dark room.
”It's starting,” said Hatilly. ”Will you stay up all night?”
”Probably. I still need to stamp several invoices; the other partners are still worried about shipping routes…”
Hatilly yawned.
”You don't have to keep me company, my dear wife. Go to bed. I'll wake you up when your flower begins to open.”
”Thank you, dear husband.”
Hatilly woke up with an itch on his heel.
Here so close to the jungle, there was always a lot of ant. She kicked off the nuisance and, still half asleep, turned to the empty pillow beside her. Cazworth had not come to bed.
The insect was insistent and was now climbing up his ankle. She took off the sheets and saw that it was not an insect but a vine that snaked through her fingers, tangling at her ankle and up her leg.
The fright and panic roused her completely.
She started to kick, but couldn't make the rods loosen her leg. They tightened even more, biting at his flesh. She plucked them with her nails and the thorns made her hands bleed.
The snaking stems formed a trail beneath the bedroom door, from which sprouted aerial roots that climbed the bed frame. She immediately remembered Cazworth.
Armed with her lamp and sewing scissors, Hatilly followed the vines down the hallway of the mansion. Their thickness increased as she walked toward her fountain from Cazworth's office.