Chapter Eleven-
Flora dashed though the palace grounds, her hair tangling in the wind as she picked up her pace. After Dane's departure Flora had quickly tried to wrap up her other tasks, yet somehow as she found herself scribing her developments in her journal time had slipped away from the burnette. It wasn't until her phone had chimed did Flora become aware of the time that had passed. Painfully aware of that.
Now with a little over an hour until the festivities Flora found herself amidst a panic as her feet led her home. As she turned past the greenhouse her green eyes landed on a smiling figure that waved at her. A smile lined Flora's lips as she approached the figure, that of a small, young girl ten years her junior. "Miele, what are you doing home so early?"
The girl, Miele, looked off to the side as her cheeks flushed. "I had a fight with my friend."
Flora softened at the girl's admission, she knelt down and softly caressed Miele's face. "Oh, I'm sorry sweetie. Want to tell me what happened on the way back home?" Flora offered her free hand out for Miele.
Miele nodded as she sniffled and took Flora's hand. That is until a questioning look adored her face. "Yeah, but why are you headed home sis? Usually papa has to drag you home."
Flora blew some loose hair from her face as the two made their way towards a small cabin in the distance. "Miele! That isn't tru-" The burnette paused as she caught the sideways look her younger sister offered her. "Fair enough, Dane invited me to join him at the luncheon at the palace today-"
Before Flora could elaborate Miele squeezed her sister's hand and in glee squealed as she began to jump up and down. "Flora! That's amazing, you get to meet royalty! I heard papa say about how we have visitors from another realm here, and you get to meet them!"
Flora could feel her checks flush as she watched her sister's outburst as a few passerbys gave wayward looks at the sisters. "Miele, we meet with royals frequently…though I am not sure why I was invited. Perhaps I should message Dane and tell him I can't com-"
"No!" Miele abruptly stopped her excited response as her face mustered a serious expression. Or at least what was feasible for a six-year-old. "You have to go, Dane asked you after all. Now come on, let's get home so you can get ready already!"
With that Flora found herself being dragged a few feet by her little sister towards their home.
Though Flora remained thankful of Miele's positive disposition and excitement, the teen couldn't help but to feel a way of anxiety wash over her as she quickly showered and stumbled around the bathroom. With a towel over her head, Flora made her way into her bedroom. With one hand she began to towel dry her long mane, as her leafy green eyes survived her space. Between her unmade bed, piles of notebooks and textbooks littering the floor, her desk coated with beakers and test tubes and the endless sea of plants Flora was unsure where she had placed her dress shoes- her only good pair.
A sigh escaped her lips as she dropped her damp towel on her desk chair and began rifling through her disorganized closet and examining each garment. It took a few moments of shuffling through the options until Flora's fingers latched around a hanger and pulled out a dress. A flowy short-sleeved light green dress, Flora wrinkled up her nose as she held the dress against her frame and eyed her reflection in the mirror. She tilted her head a little, as she mental criticized both the apparel and her own self. With a heavy sigh Flora slipped out of her robe and changed into the dress and grabbed a pair of mostly white flats.
With her brush at hand Flora began to work though her tangles and arrange her long locks into a series of braids she pinned on her head. Just as the burette went to place the final hair pin in a gasp filled the air. Alarmed, Flora turned to see an excited Miele standing in her doorway.
"You look like a princess Flora," Miele squealed.
Flora laughed lightly as she stood and offered a shrug, "You're way too kind, sweetie…" Flora's voice trailed as she caught her reflection once more. At the back of her mind she wanted to laugh away the compliment. A princess? Unlikely. The light green fabric did nothing to compliment her tanned complexion, nor did the dress itself as it hung from her slender frame and felt tight around her shoulders.
Flora's fingers danced across the skirt of the dress, as she half-heartedly wished the dress was something more…more… she didn't know the right word. As the tip of her tongue itched for the adjective that escaped her, there was a slight tingle in the tips of Flora's fingers. The sensation echoed that of a limb falling asleep prompted the teen to wiggle her fingers.
Deep in thought it took Flora a few moments for her sister's voice though her thoughts. "Sorry, what was that Miele?"
With eyes wide and her expression animated, Miele pointed at her sister, "Your dress! It changed!"
Confused Flora's head dropped to her frame as her own eyes grew in alarm as she jumped back and looked at her reflection. The simple dress had indeed transformed before the two sisters' eyes. From a simple frock to a off-the shoulder pastel pink dress that hugged her frame effortlessly. It was miraculous- at least to Miele who had admiration and wonder lining her face. But for Flora, she felt her blood turn cold as she could only catch a few breaths. Her hand flew to her chest as the sound of her heart beat overwhelmed her ears.
"It's like magic-"
"Don't say that!" The words rushed from Flora's mouth, sharper and darker than she intended. The sudden change had sent Miele back in fright, but it was nothing compared to the sensation that flooded Flora's mind. Raising her hands to her face she found herself began to tremble, there was no way this was happening.
"I-I have to go."
Maybe, perhaps just maybe she shouldn't have encouraged Bloom to go out last night. As Vanessa laid in her hospital bed she couldn't help but to replay the events from the previous night, her mind latched on to the last vivid memory. The one of her daughter's hurt and devastated face as Bloom discovered she had sold the flower shop. It was enough to make Vanessa's stomach flop and create a desire to snap at Mr. Bonner.
Still, the truth was that the fault firmly rested on Vanessa's shoulders. As her mind littered with regent there was a small knock at the door. Snapping out of her thoughts, Vanessa gazed towards the door and called out to the unknown visitor. "Please come in, if you don't mind can I get a phone to call my daughter?"
"Don't worry dearie, Bloom is fine." Eldora began as she entered the small room. "Hello Vanessa, how are you feeling?" The older woman offered a kind smile as she clasped Vanessa's free hand with her own. It appears the weight from the past evening had taken its toll on Eldora as well. With her face appearing tired, shadows of bags under her eyes and her hair slightly dishavish it was clear the woman likely got little rest. Yet her usual cheery tone and bright aura would leave you the wiser.
With their faces close, Vanessa took a moment to examine the older women up close. Her features didn't lend themselves to any of the several relatives on her late husband's side of the family. Yet there was something familiar about her kinder eyes.
It reminded Vanessa of the first time she had encountered Eldora. Bloom had been small, only shortly after she began talking with a dialect that was equally adorable as it was unfamiliar. They had been visiting a new vendor a little ways out of the city limits. Bloom had wandered into the sea of bright flowers while Vanessa had been in negotiations. As much as Vanessa hated to admit it, she had been so deep in her conversation that she hadn't even noticed that Bloom had snuck away. That is until she heard her daughter's laughter and saw Bloom smiling in Eldora's arms. Despite there having been kidnapping reports on the news that had led Vanessa's heart to falter. Seeing Bloom with Eldora hadn't caused a stir of emotions, it just simply was natural.
Since then every so often Eldora would visit, always without warning and each time a pure delight. And this time it seemed to be a godsend.
"Eldora, I am so relieved to hear that. How is Bloom, was she harmed?"
Sliding into a chair, Eldora shook her head. "Maybe a black-and-blue or two from the fall, but she remains physically unharmed. It was more the shock of things that have affected her. But she is resting now, and didn't get in until late. She didn't want to leave your side."
Vanessa nodded, "I'm glad. Truly, though I have a feeling she probably hates me."
"Bloom adores you, she was worried sick last night. Blaming herself and my is she stubborn, she hated leaving."
Vanessa gave a small laugh, "That sounds like my girl…" There was a linger in the air. "But what happened last night? One minute I was chasing after Bloom and the next there was a fire. Have there been any news reports?"
Eldora raised a single finger as she went to close the door, "Matters are rather complicated, Vanessa. But I can assure you that what happened last night was purely accidental…and responsibility rests on my shoulders."
Vanessa raised a brow, confusion across her face and coating her voice. "I hardly believe that, after all accidents happen all the time."
Taking Vanessa's hand, Eldora sighed. "There was a reason I came to visit you two, a reason that it seems I was a bit too late to address. My lack of oversight and absence has caused great harm and trouble. I do hope that you, and even Bloom, will forgive me."
"Your darling daughter is special, so vastly gifted. But having such gifts bare heavy responsibilities. I know the story of how you and Mike found Bloom. How your husband saved Bloom from a fire and how she miraculously ended the flames."
Vanessa found her mouth agape, as her voice barely tread above a whisper. "How do you know that? We swore we would never tell anyone of that."
"A friend who was, and still is, watching over Bloom told me once. What you then baby daughter did was an incredible feat of something that could only be considered magic."
"Magic.."
Eldora nodded her head, offering a wide smile. "The stories you have heard since you where a child, the same ones you told Bloom at night. Tales of fairies and magical words are as real as you and I."
Vanessa locked eyes with Eldora, "It's real…magic?"
"I know that you know this to be true. You witness that fire, and other unexplainable things Bloom has done over the years. Magic is real, it's all around you. All it takes is believing in it and yourself."
"You- you are magic, too. Aren't you?"
Eldora's eyes shimmered providing all the answer that was needed. "There is much I need to to tell you."
Authoress' Notes: Magic is in the air, but that doesn't mean everyone will like what it leads.
