6. Amanita

SIX

AMANITA

"I don't care if you need to up the dosage!" Agaric's angered voice stopped me in my tracks, the foreign tone startling me.

"My prince, if we continue to use the ingredients as we have, our current supply will run out in a matter of days. We must be vigilant. The long-term effects are unknown and could permanently—"

"I do not care!" Glass shattered, followed by his raised voice. The commotion was coming from the same storage room we had passed before, the one that was to remain locked at all times according to what Agaric had said before. I peeked into the cracked doorway and watched as Agaric scolded the old man. "You will find a solution, quickly. We are running out of time. If Morel indeed survived his injuries, it is only a matter of time before he wreaks havoc on Dryade." The old man cowered, cleaning the mess Agaric had made with his outburst. "I shall accelerate things on my end. Once the ritual is complete, I shall have no further need for your medicine."

"Ah, there you are!" Agaric, returning to usual beaming self, rushed to me as I sat beneath the weeping willow, forcing a smile, pretending to not have heard his secret conversation. "I have been searching all over for you. Whatever are you doing here?" He asked, glancing at the small patch of darkness.

"Just enjoying the fresh air." I lied through my teeth, beginning to stand and offer him a courtesy of formality.

"Oh no, please." He stopped me. "Do not exert yourself. I only came to tell you that tonight, I am to host a ball. A masquerade ball, in fact. One thrown in honor of my recent victory against Morel. As it has already been a month, it is only fitting that the ball should take place tonight, here, in the royal gardens beneath the full moon. Would you care to join me, Lady Amanita?"

The question surprised me, distracting me from the mystery of the storage closet. I hadn't attended a ball before, at least not to my knowledge. I almost felt unworthy of his company, the idea of the perfect prince hand in hand with the scarred stranger, but the idea of dancing beneath the moon excited me. "I'd be honored," I smiled. Maybe a ball was just the thing I needed to feel more at home here.

"Perfect. I shall send a costume to your chamber for tonight. Something befitting a beauty such as yourself." I blushed at the compliment. "Now, my lady, you must promise me a dance beneath the moonlight." I nodded. "Marvelous. I shall not disturb you any longer." He bowed, glancing at the dark earth aside me before quickly exiting the garden.

A masquerade ball. How intriguing . I unclenched my hand, revealing the blue mushrooms I had hidden as I placed them back into the earth, my nails scraping tiny holes into the dirt, replanting them in the hopes of their resurrection. After recovering, I snuck back into the royal gardens the same night Agaric had the tiny fungi torn from the earth, salvaging what few I could. Regardless of his feelings towards his brother, the prince's late mother's garden of shadows deserved to prosper and thrive. There was plenty of proof of the king blooming all around. The queen deserved even the smallest recognition. "Grow, little night caps. Absorb the darkness and bring forth your light. Grow and be free."

The costume Agaric had chosen was a shock. It was beyond beautiful, flattering my body and features in every way possible, the opposite color palette of any of the dresses I had been provided since my recovery. The cool, pastel tones were opposite the warm, vibrant colors of Dryade, of Agaric himself. I hesitated before glancing into the tall, floor-length mirror, examining my reflection. Part of me wanted to look away, as if it were some strange habit my body remembered, but I continued to gaze forward, staring at my costume, examining each detail closely.

The tight corset and flared skirts were covered with hand-stitched golden filigree along a silky ivory material. Gold and silver flakes were sewn within the thread that looped through a thin, dusky periwinkle layer of tulle. The tulle gathered loosely around my arms, flowing freely onto the floor and gathering into a thin line of ruffles at the hem. Despite my genuine dislike of dresses, I much enjoyed the style of this particular gown. It felt as if Agaric had picked something that truly fit me.

My hair was elegantly gathered back, painted with crushed gold and silver flakes, diamond hair pins placed strategically throughout the pulled curls, catching the light like stars against my dark inky hair. It was as if the night sky itself perched atop my head. My pale skin was dusted in a crushed moonstone shimmer, glistening in the light. The mask chosen for me was that of an ivory crescent moon. The hand-carved planet was also dusted in the same crushed shimmer as my flesh, the two matching in color. The moon was painted with an angelic, smiling face, flowers in all shades of blue adorning the gold and silver mask, reaching across to create a blue bouquet. It was exquisite—fit for a queen.

A knock against my chamber door was immediately followed by his muffled voice. "My lady?" Agaric called.

"You may come in." I adjusted my dress, pleased with how I looked as I turned to greet him, hoping to not disappoint. Agaric entered the room, beaming as always. He was dressed in a vibrant orange and gold formal tunic, flourished with golden accents, threading, buttons, and seams. Warm, fiery gemstones were sewn into his jacket, sparkling as he moved. It was as if the sun itself was shining before me as he embodied the light. His red hair was styled back beneath the large hand-carved, golden sun mark, red and orange feathers peeking from the edges. His contrasting eyes popped against the colors of his costume, shining like emeralds. He stopped, taking in the sight of me. He was exquisite. Breathtaking.

"You are—" He paused, looking me up and down. His eyes made my cheeks burn as I felt the heightened energy between us. "You, Lady Amanita, look as though the moon goddess herself decided to join us tonight." He bowed, extending his hand. "Shall we?"

I stared at his gloved hand, my eyes trailing up towards his masked face. He was the sun, and I the moon. A fitting pair. I nodded, sliding my hand into his grasp. My sheer, diamond-kissed glove scratched the scars along my skin while elegantly hiding them in plain sight. "We shall." I raised a brow. He grinned before leaning down, kissing the top of my hand as I gasped quietly to myself.

"Let us join the festivities, my goddess." Hearing him call me such a name made my heart leap. Part of what drew me in towards him was the curiosity of the unknown behind his eyes. He was kind and caring, warm and inviting, but somewhere, deep in his soul, was something dark. And that was what pulled at the strings of my heart. The darkness.

Agaric roughly yanked me close, the action thickening the moment as he stared into my eyes, a look of desire burning across his face. "I know you've felt out of place here, but after tonight," he gently touched my chin as a soft gasp escaped my lips, "you will have a place." His words made no sense, but I didn't care for them. All I wanted in that moment was for him to keep inching closer. I wanted to feel his lips press against mine as my body melted into his, creating our own eclipse. Agaric studied my face, sensing my desire, the edge of his mouth curling up as he gently tilted his head. "You are bad, Lady Amanita."

I couldn't resist the urge to smile at the tease. "What's wrong with being a little bad?" Agaric bit his lower lip. His hand gripped my jaw, yanking me close as our masks nearly made contact.

"You have no idea how hard it has been to resist the urge to throw you onto the bed and take you, right here. It has been agonizing , Amanita, trying to control myself like a true gentleman." Agaric sounded as if he was in pain. "If you were not hi—" He cut off his words, clearing his throat as he released me and stepped back, and I felt both disappointed and relieved by his hesitance. "Let us join the festivities." He took my hand and led me from the chamber. Excitement and nervousness twisted inside me as we walked as one.

MOREL

"Hear my voice and listen," I addressed the small group of men as I adjusted the back across my bag, revenge and darkness flowing through my veins as we approached the towering stone wall that separated the world from the kingdom of Dryade. "Agaric's ball offers us the perfect moment to strike. The disguises allow us passage into the festivities, hiding our identities enough to get close. Remember, no matter what happens, Agaric dies tonight." I turned to look at my second in command, my friend who had stood by my side almost as long as Hesper herself. Orion nodded, knowing what I meant.

"Yes, my king." My men nodded, grunting in agreement as we approached the wall of Agaric's dry kingdom in the cover of darkness, stealth and precision one of our many strengths.

The small cluster of men and I each tossed a grappled hook high to the top of the bricked barrier. I tugged at the rope. "May the night stay strong and give us the coverage needed to carry out my vengeance. Hesper," I whispered to myself, climbing the thick rope, "I shall avenge your death, my love." My hands burned as they carried me to the top of the wall. I stood, the light breeze entering my nostrils as I gazed out at the palace in the distance. A glow of light radiated from deep within the royal gardens, the cool breeze carrying the music as it played softly in the distance. I gazed up at the full moon and night sky, bursting with life. "If I am to die, may the gods allow me to join you in the heavens, where we will be together for the rest of eternity." I glanced back at the royal gardens, my anger growing as Orion patted my shoulder.

"We're ready, my king."

I nodded, signaling to them as we descended the wall and scattered through the outskirts of the kingdom, swiftly making our way to the palace.

I'm coming for you, brother.