Page 75 of Venomous Lies
Flashes of the forest I’d dreamed of filled my mind along with whatever had been stalking me.
Nothing here is right.
Nothing is safe.
There is no safety in the open space.
I need to hide.
“I— I have to go.”
“Isla!” Demir called out, but I wasn’t there anymore.
I was there, yet not, as I felt my body become weightless.
Safety.
I needed to be somewhere safe.
After my attack, my room didn’t have that association anymore.
Fresh rain and cool air rushed past as I felt my being starting to unravel.
‘A place, beastie. Think of a place!’Cas commanded, forcing my racing mind to focus.
I knew exactly where I wanted to go.
I gasped loudly as my body suddenly solidified. My knees slammed onto familiar stones hard enough that I cried out at the impact.
What the fuck was that?!
‘Beastie!’Cas’ voice was full of urgency, but when I looked up to see him, I was still stuck in unending darkness.‘Are you okay?’
‘I have no idea what happened or how I got here,’I said wryly, groaning as I slumped onto the ground.‘So I’m going to say no. Please tell me this is my greenhouse.’
‘It is,’Cassius answered with a relieved sigh.
The rich smell of earth and soil filled mysenses, urging me to relax. Exhaustion pulled at my limbs, making it impossible to get up. Fully lying on the ground, I closed my eyes and focused on taking deep breaths.
Nearby plants hummed in my mind, my awareness of them like a buzzing sensation. Roots beneath the soil branched out in my direction as if seeking to cradle me, to reassure me that I was safe in their domain.
‘Isla?!’
‘I’m just tired,’I told him, my voice quiet. I whimpered as I attempted to get comfortable. Small tendrils of what felt like roots slowly snaked up my legs.‘I came here to learn things, to become better at magick, and now… Now, it’s just a fucked up mess. Echo, Bones, Hellsing…’
‘You have mates,’he replied softly, attempting to comfort me.‘Most witches would be thrilled about that.’
‘I don’t want mates!’I yelled, guilt hitting as my true feelings came out for the first time. The plants’ movements slowed as I lashed out.I opened my useless eyes to glare at him, but with my luck, I was fucking glaring at an empty pot.‘I never asked for any of this.’
‘Having a mate is never an easy thing.’Cas’ voice was gentle and full of so much pain.
‘Right now, I’d at least like to be able to see,’I muttered against the cool stone underneath me. The plants weren’t moving anymore, but the ones on my legs didn’t try to move off of me. I wanted to reassure them that I wouldn’t lose control, but honestly, I wasn’t sure if that was true or not.
‘The man that healed you wasn’t in the room with the others. He could possibly help more now.’
‘The herbology professor… Maybe. I’m so tired, Cas.’
‘Rest, beastie. We will watch over you.’
