15. Amanita

FIFTEEN

AMANITA

Morel had me moved to a far more elegant room of the palace. I would've tried to flee, but the surrounding mountains choked the landscape making it impossible for one person to trek alone. I was a prisoner in a gilded cage, struggling to remember the fact as I soaked in the ambience of the chamber, drenched in every shade of blue and lavender, silver and diamond accents scattered amongst the room like stars themselves. The room was regal beyond comparison, rivaling the one I had stayed in back in Dryade. I chuckled to myself, knowing Morel meant this as a show of bettering his brother. I glanced over my shoulder into the floor-length mirror, noticing the scars along my face. They had healed more than in Dryade, and were not as prominent as before.

I was surprised by the wardrobe provided to me, consisting of womanly tunics, casual shirts, pants, and tights, not a single dress or skirt in sight. I had chosen to wear a black, low-cut blouse with puffy sleeves, the same color pants and boots. It was a simple choice, but it felt more like myself, nothing like the ridiculous dresses Agaric preferred me in. I brushed my hair back, allowing it to freely fall down my back, the strands wild and chaotic. This is me .

"Amanita?" Orion's voice carried through the doors of my chamber before he entered. He paused, blinking as he observed me.

I glanced down at my outfit, worried I had insulted him or upset him in some way. "Is it not appropriate?" I asked, motioning to my body. "Should I change? I—"

"No, my lady. There is no need. You are free to dress as you see fit. It is just…" His words faded. "The king shall see you." I nodded, following as he led me from the room and into the hall.

I followed Orion, shadowing him as I drank in everything around me. The palace of Grisset was beautiful, filled with a coolness you could not find in Dryade. Everything was kissed with silver and dipped in the colors of the night, the entire palace dripping in what resembled moonlight, reflecting off the beautiful snowy mountains that surrounded it, tucking it away from the world. It was beautiful. Breathtaking.

We stepped into what appeared to be a large dining room, the walls consisting of ginormous stained-glass windows that peered deep into the mountains. I couldn't hold back my astonishment as I gasped out loud, stopping to take it all in.

"My lady." Morel stood at the head of a long elegant black marble table. He was dressed in a similar outfit, the only difference being that he wore faded brown pants. He looked me up and down, smirking. "It seems great minds think alike." He raised a brow, addressing my outfit choice.

"Indeed," I chuckled, approaching the table. It was overflowing with food of all kinds, the smells overwhelming my senses. Orion moved a chair opposite to Morel, waiting for me to take a seat. I hesitated, spying a cluster of mushrooms in the center of the table. They were glowing vibrant blue, perfectly on display within a large glass dome. Night caps. No, that was not their proper name… it was something else.

"I hope it is all to your liking." Morel sat down, motioning to the wide spread.

"What?" I turned to him, my thoughts still focused on the tiny fungi.

Morel furrowed his brow. "The food? Is it to your liking?"

"Ah yes, everything looks and smells exquisite." I turned back to the mushrooms, wondering how he could have them here in Grisset.

"Better than the ridiculously overwhelming scent of citrus and flowers," Morel teased. I shot my head back to him, impressed by his humor. "What?" He continued, "Don't tell me you enjoyed that heavily perfumed place?"

I laughed quietly to myself. "The opposite, actually. I couldn't stand the smells. And don't get me started on the food or the wine." I pointed to the filled glass. "Tell me it isn't sweet?" I pulled the formal glass to my lips, sniffing the deep red liquid.

"Take a sip and find out for yourself." I twisted my face at the playful command, taking a sip, pleased by its strong, bitter taste.

I stared at the dome filled with the tiny mushrooms, curious to know more. My memory was scratching at the surface of my mind, dying to be released, but I needed the smallest push. "How do you have night caps here?"

Morel's face dropped. "Night caps?" I pointed to the mushrooms. Morel scoffed. "Those are not night caps, my lady."

"But Agaric said—"

Morel slammed his fist into the table, shaking the dishes. His temper oddly didn't phase me. Instead, it entertained me, as if getting a rise out of him would be fun. "Do not speak of my brother."

I remained seated, watching him closely, burning inside. "Or what?" He glanced up at me, his amber eyes peeking through his dark hair. Crossing my arms, I raised a brow in his direction. "You've already kidnapped and tortured me, left me to rot in the darkest hole of your palace. What else can you do to me? Kill me?"

"I would not kill you," he growled.

"Good," I laughed, "because I hate to disappoint you, king of darkness ." His eyes twinkled at the title I had only remembered in the moment. "But I do not fear death."

Morel smiled, his arms now resting on the table as he clasped his hands together and leaned forward. "If you do not fear death, then tell me, Lady Amanita, what do you fear?"

"Loneliness."

My heart hung at the heavy statement as it left my lips, though I knew I meant the words. I did not fear death. I feared being alone, wandering life or death by myself, forever lost. The dark thoughts began to engulf my brain as I shook my head, forcing them back. I looked at the king, noticing just how stunning he looked in the light. I had to force my eyes away, a strange feeling pulling at my chest. I cleared my throat. "My point being, you can torture me all you want. I have nothing to lose. So again, I ask, what will you do?"

"I did not torture you." I reacted to his words, wondering how he could think such a thing was true.

"But you did."

"I did not." He seemed to be enjoying the playful argument. "All I did was help you detox." Detox?

"I'm sorry, but—"

"You were drugged. Poisoned, actually, by the same mushrooms you see there. The ones you call night caps." I stared at him, completely confused by what he was saying. "It seems Agaric has learned my mother's secret. She studied fungi, learning how very carefully measured doses could affect a human. Give someone a smaller amount, and you could alter their entire personality. Give them a larger amount, and you have influence over them—something it seems Agaric has learned to do by the looks of it. Give too much…" He stopped, staring at the tiny fungi. "Well, too much of anything is bad. Those specific mushrooms you see here," he pointed across the table, "were my mother's favorite. Agaric always called them night caps, but they're actually death caps." Death caps . Somehow, I knew what he was saying was true. "They were Hesper's favorite."

I stared at him, remembering how he watched Agaric murder his wife in front of him. "I'm very sorry for your loss." I placed my hand atop his, a shot of electricity causing me to pull back almost immediately.

Morel stared at me, silently thinking to himself before finally breaking the silence. "Would you like to see them?"

"See what?"

"The death caps. I have a few planted here, in Grisset. Hesper—" He stopped, swallowing her name. "My wife cared for them."

"I couldn't."

"Please." He gently grabbed my hand. "It would be an honor."

I gazed at him, my heart racing as we locked eyes for what felt like eternity. "Yes."