The whole thing was over in seconds. I put down my binoculars and finished the anatomical sketch I’d been working on then listed the new observations while they were fresh in my mind. I had a timer and sonar sensor running, and I recorded each value.
“All in a night’s work,” Aurielle said as she closed her notebook and stood.
“I have to admit, that was worth the late night.” I moved my pencil quickly across the page, putting the finishing touches on my notes.
A sensation like electricity began trickling up my arms, and I dropped the pencil. I loosely ran my hands over the blanket, trying to decipher where it had come from.
“Are you ready to head back?” Aurielle asked, not appearing to have experienced it.
The electricity rippled to the right, and I glimpsed a glowing moonflower off the side of the path, seeming to beckon in the direction of the Perilous Grove. “I’m going to make a stop first.You head back.”
“You sure?” Aurielle asked, obviously wondering why I wanted to linger in the dark forest after midnight. “Oh, are you planning to meet up with C?—”
I cut her off with a slice of my hand and a laugh. “That’s not it! We’re close to the Perilous Grove, and I haven’t been out there yet this school year. I want to check it out while I’m here.” I couldn’t explain what was drawing me there to Aurielle, but it had to be a message from the Root and Vine Society.
Aurielle’s face was uneasy, but I reassured her. “I’ll be fine. Just a pit stop, and then I’ll head back. You go and get some sleep.”
“Okay. Good luck, B.”
I was grateful for Aurielle’s tendency not to pry, knowing I likely would have been peppered with a few more questions if Yasmin or Coral were here. I picked one of the two lanterns off the ground, and Aurielle lifted the other. “Thanks. And thanks for keeping me company on the bat mission. See you in the morning.”
The soft earth crunched under my feet as I cut off the trail and ventured into the thicket deeper in the woods, holding the lantern aloft to light my path.
The moonflowers did indeed lead to the Perilous Grove, and when I got there, I turned around in a circle, unsure where to look. Why hadn’t the message drawn me to the Evergreen Conservatory? There was a chill in the air that was a staple of the fall in Weed, and I tugged up the collar of my coat.
The sound of soft creaking set me on high alert, and I swiveled, anticipating seeing Kaito or possibly Callan. But the eerie noise had come from the ten-foot-tall corpse plant. It wasn’t due to open for a few more months when it would emit the carcass-like smell that—in a human botanical garden—would draw a crowd of visitors a mile long.
But as I stepped toward it, the massive green exterior unfurled in front of my eyes. It folded outward to reveal a purple interior while the spadix remained standing tall, like a thick sword protruding froma flower.
I inhaled sharply and stepped closer. It wasn’t until I was right next to the plant that I realized I didn’t smell anything. Despite my lack of ability to perform Floracantus on campus, it seemed that some of my innate powers were still intact and my defensive plant affinity was kicking in to block the pungent odor. That, or this wasn’t an official bloom and the plant wasn’t producing the smell at all. I wasn’t sure which possibility was most surprising.
My eyes landed on a letter made of green leaves, nestled in the giant open plant. With shaky hands, I reached out and removed it from the corpse plant.
Once the envelope was in my hand, the corpse flower creaked and slowly reversed its previous actions, folding up once more.
I stumbled to a nearby stump and sat down, dizzy from what had just occurred. I’d been attending Evergreen Academy for a year now. I’d seen magic. But that display had beenbreathtaking.
My hands shook as I broke the seal of deep myrtle-green wax and opened the letter that had been so elaborately delivered.
You have been invited to a field study in counterpoison development. This study is classified. If you accept, submit this invitation to Professor East for further instructions.
I let out a laugh of exhilarated disbelief.Counter-poison development?Classified? Was this why it had taken so long for me to receive an invitation?
I turned to the corpse flower and gave a small salute of thanks.
It was difficult to contain my awed smile as I walked back to campus, envelope securely in hand. I finally had a field studies assignment, and I had a feeling it was a good one.
Chapter Twenty-Five
When I woke the next morning, memories of the previous night came rushing back in a flood. The corpse flower opening before me. The envelope of green leaves waiting for me. The mysterious field studies assignment. Had I dreamed it all?
My eyes shifted to my nightstand, and I grabbed my notebook as I sat up. The green leaf-composed envelope was tucked securely inside. I let out a deep breath.Not a dream.
Yasmin was still asleep—the sun was just starting to creep over the horizon—so I bundled up in a coat and scarf and decided to take my books and art supplies out to one of the gazebos by the lake.
The field studies assignment claimed to be classified and mentioned Professor East. It was best if I didn’t tell anyone else about it until after I had a chance to meet with him. So I would use my tried-and-true distraction—art—while I waited to speak with him.
Once at the gazebo, I settled onto a bench and spread my notebook on the table. Dragonflies flitted by then zoomed low to skim across the water. The morning air was cool, but thesun was beginning to deliver a touch of warmth. Morning glories bloomed in a circle around the gazebo, this variety emitting a sweet jasmine smell into the air.
