I opened my eyes and realized that I was no longer outside. Instead, I was on my couch and hearing voices coming from another room. Well, the voices weren't the only thing strange I noticed. I also happened to notice the bunch of leaves next to my head. Yeah, considering Cerys knocked over any plants I brought inside, I know it's not that.

"Oh, sei finalmente sveglio? Quello è buono. Ero preoccupato che ti ho fatto del male irreparabile."

Well, I must be going crazy. Either that, or a giant plant is speaking to me in a language that I can't understand. 50-50 chance either way, I guess. "Come again?"

Luckily, that's when Cerys and the agents came into the room. Froth looked, and I use this lightly, amused. It was kind of strange coming from him.

"So you're awake. You probably have some questions, I'm assuming. If you do, you should start asking."

I sat up as Cerys came over and hopped onto the couch, all the while glaring with all eight eyes at the plant. Wait, is it moving? Oh no...

I took a breath to organize my thoughts before I asked, "Who is she?" That managed a nod from the agents before the plant moved around the couch to reveal a slightly feminine form. When I made eye contact with her, she looked away shyly.

Froth took the lead with explaining. "She's a mandrake. Her cries earlier knocked you out, although it was partially your fault considering you startled her." He looked over at the mandrake. "Why don't you introduce yourself?" She covered her face with her leaves and mumbled quietly.

Wow, shyer than a kraken girl's nipple, this one. "Umm, any chance you could speak up some?"

She moved the leaves so I could see her face better. Wow, her eyes are gorgeous. Almost like a grassy field on a sunny day. "Il mio nome è Ortensia Abelie Fiore."

I looked over at Froth. "I have absolutely no idea what she just said. Want to fill me in?"

"She told you her name. Anyone would have known that." Froth stated.

I'd know that if I knew what language that was... "So, want to tell me what language that is, or do I have to guess that too?" Mildly passive-aggressive, but he deserves it.

Froth headed for the front door. "I'll leave that up to you to figure out. Have fun." With that, all the agents were gone.

All I could do was sigh. Not only was I given care of another girl, this one doesn't speak English. "So, you said your name was 'Ortensia,' right?" I gave a thumbs up to help her understand the question, and she nodded.

Cerys looked at me. "We need to teach her English, don't we? Well, I'm going to watch TV. Oh, and one of the agents brought the mail in. There's some kind of fancy envelope for you." She turned on the television, and the noise grabbed Ortensia's attention.

"C'è la televisione qui. Quale programma è questo?" She asked Cerys as she moved in front of the couch.

"I have no idea what you just said, Leafy. So just be quiet for now and let me watch my show, understand?" No response, as if she expected anything.

A fancy envelope? I grabbed the mail from the table. What could it be? Just then, I recognized the handwritten address on the front. "What could she be sending me? And why would she send it to me to begin with?" I opened the envelope and removed the contents. Why? Why this? Why me? I crumpled the paper in my fist. She should have known what my answer would have been before she sent it. Hopefully, she doesn't show up looking for me for not answering. That's a confrontation that I don't need right now...

AN: Sorry for the shorter/extremely late chapter. Life as a way of intruding when you least expect it. I'll hopefully be a bit quicker with the next ones. Also, Ortensia's profile will be coming up soon as well, so stay tuned. Same monster time. Same monster channel. -CymrianDragul