Blood from little cuts made by the splinters in my palm seeped into the ground below me. I could feel its downward pull. It made me shiver.

Something was taking it. Something that whispered it wanted more.

Great. Another one that wants my blood. I don’t know if I have enough to give. Well, I hope what I have will be enough.

“Alright, so be it. Drink up brethren. Quickly have your fill. We have work to do.”   

Little deep green vines swiftly darted out from the ground, just in front of the monster. As they grew, tiny leaves burst forth, and small tendrils sprouted and curled in every direction. The vines swayed uneasily in the air as they wrapped themselves around the creature’s thick legs. The creature let out a small frustrated croak, as it wrestled itself away, snapping the little vines in the process.

“Ha! Foolish child. How clever you must think you are,” the creature said mockingly. “You truly think these wretched little strings are enough to prevent your fate? You think these pathetic things are enough to stop me? How foolish!”

At his words, more vines burst from the ground and slowly climbed its leg.

The monster screeched again, grabbing as many vines as it could, and in a frenzied state, began to rip them out of the ground.

I couldn’t help but shudder at the destruction of the plants, though I was the one that led them to their fate.

“I’m sorry, my little brethren. I’m so sorry. But you’ll have to work a bit harder.”

More vines grew out of the ground, darting straight upwards, binding the creature’s legs together. The beast roared, then used its claws to frantically slash away at the plants that kept coming after it.

When enough vines had snapped, the monster saw its chance and abruptly jumped high towards me.

“No. Quickly. Stop it. Please. Don’t let it get near me,” I whispered. I dug my hands deeper into the earth, allowing more blood to seep in.

The vines grew faster, tearing out of the ground and shooting into the air. Its body was thicker, its leaves seemingly bigger, more lush. They quickly wrapped themselves around the creatures legs and bound them tightly together.

The monster fell from the sky, and smashed to the ground. Bashing its acid ruined face on the meadow. It let out a little dazed cry. In the short moment it didn’t move, more vines started to pile on top of it, lashing it to the ground.

If it had a nose, I’m sure that would have been very broken.

I couldn’t help a little sombre chuckle at my own silly joke, as I shakily got up from the ground.

“Foolish girl! Do you think this is enough to keep me down!?”

I walked towards the thing, my eyes still glowing. Blood dripped down my hands, falling to the ground below me. As it did, tiny plants sprouted where the drops fell. Little flowers of all sorts of colours. They bloomed magnificently. Red, pinks, whites and purples. I didn’t have any time to admire them though. Nor did I want to. For I knew they would soon die in a matter of minutes.

I crouched down when I got to the creature. “Yes. I do think it will keep you down,” I said.

It screamed, and tried its hardest to wriggle free. But more vines shot out from the ground to grip around it tighter.

“I think it’s going to keep you down forever,” I said, with a sordid smile.

“You know it really was pure luck that this little creeper was in the area. Do you know what it’s called?”

I watched as the creature struggled more and more. I watched as its energy began to fade.

“You know, come to think of it, I don’t even know what you are called. Do you even have a name? But I guess that doesn’t really matter. Hm… I suppose they don’t give you much of a plant education wherever it is you come from,” I said, after thinking about it for a bit. “Well, this little one is called the corsilius vine.”

“Let me out!” It snarled. “Ah ouch! Stop! Wait till I get out! I’ll – I’ll… what’s… happening to me? What did… you… d-d-do?”

The creature’s movement was slowing down. It begun to slur its words.

”Ah. I guess it has started digging its aerial rootlets into you. It’s a fascinating plant isn’t it? You usually find it deep in the forest. We’re very lucky we managed to call to it, you know? Most of the plant is actually in the ground. Its roots span a huge length.” I stretched out my arms to reinforce the point. “Some botanist theorised it can span a whole forest floor. Interesting, isn’t it? We use it as an ingredient in potions sometimes. It is quite a helpful thing.”

The creature’s movement slowed to a crawl. Its thrashing stopped. It tried to scream, but it could only let out a little croak.

“It’s better known by its more common name. The undertaker vine. Its vines usually crawl up from the ground around a dying animal. Then it wraps itself around the creature, and sucks it dry. That’s why there are hardly any corpses in deep the forest. Though, I’m not too sure what happens to the bones. I suppose something else takes care of that.”

I gave the vines next to me a gentle pat. “I guess you’re eating good tonight,” I said to it. I turned back to the creature. I could see fear creeping into its eyes. “Well, I suppose I have to depart now. I have to discern a method to proceed to the capital, now that you’ve ruined my carriage. So… um… I suppose this is goodbye? Um… it wasn’t very nice to see you again. And I really hope we never cross paths, ever again. Goodbye.”

I stood up, gave the prerequisite farewell curtsy to the creature, which was beginning to sound as though it was gasping for air, and walked towards the carriage. Although I was limping slightly, my injuries luckily didn’t seem all that severe. When I came to a stop, I massaged my back, and grumbled when I saw the state that the carriage was in.

Alright. Now then. What can I do? I wish there was at least someone else to help me out… Hm… Oh. I’m missing something here. …The body …Where did it go?

The body of my coachman was gone. Left in it’s place, was a little flat tin box, that looked as though it fell out of his pocket when the creature attacked him.

It… must have been the undertaker vine. I thought, as I turned to look at the forest. There’s nobody else around that could move it. I checked. There were no witnesses… Right?

I could only pray that there were none.

Regardless, what am I to do about this? I’ll have to write an urgent letter to uncle and explain the situation once I arrive at the Rose Palace. I sighed. I couldn’t tell my uncle that I used my powers to command plants. He did not know the extent of my abilities. I would have to spin some sort of yarn. I picked up the little silver box. I opened it and saw a half used cigarette.

A cigarette case… But it doesn’t smell like tobacco. It smells a lot sweeter. Wait. Hm… The creature said it followed a scent. Was this it? Where did the coachman get this? I don’t think our house allows smoking. At least not within the grounds. The plants don’t like it. The box does look new. Was it given to our coachman?  And when? At the estate we just visited? … Was someone trying to kill me before the trial had even begun? Why? Or was this really just a very unlucky coincidence?

I touched my necklace, feeling its warmth.  

Oh Dusk. I wish I could talk to you. I don’t know what to do. But… I guess regardless whether someone is trying to kill me or not, it doesn’t matter. At least not right now.  

I debated keeping the cigarette with me, to see if I could deduce what the scent was, but I didn’t want another incident like this to happen on the way. One monster was bad enough. I tossed out the cigarette, but decided to keep the box.

It may be a clue. Now… what about the carriage.

The carriage was dented down the middle. Luckily the automaton horses seemed untouched. It was lucky our house opted to have automaton horses in our service, instead of living ones. Real horses would have been spooked and run far away.

I looked around me, wondering if there was something I could do, or some way I could hitch a ride. But I didn’t know when the nearest carriage would pass down this road.

I could ask the vine if it did indeed take the body away. But… I have another favour to ask of it, and I don’t suppose I have enough blood in me to survive it and to ask for a body back.

I slumped down and sat down on the floor. I really didn’t think the trip would be so bad. I took a deep breath and planted my hands against the ground again. “Brethren, I think I will need to elicit your aid once more.”

All at once, several vines burst from the ground around the carriage, gathering bits of wood and holding it all in place. Carefully, they withered where they met the ground, and cut themselves off. I stood back and admired their handiwork. Luckily the carriage itself was dark green, and it was difficult to see the patches the vines made.

“Good. I suppose that will do, thank you, I’ll be off now. Keep yourself well.” I was slightly dizzy when I removed myself off the ground. All this blood loss really wasn’t any good for me.

What I need is a really long nap.

I climbed up to the drivers set, pulled on the reins and set off.