average human’s Reviews > Hectic Elements: Fairview Academy Book 1 > Status Update

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I give Yelana a pointed side-eye but move to stand before the large range of plants anyway.
Starting safe, I pick up a red rose and sniff it’s middle.
I immediately sneeze – since roses and I have never really gotten along – and place it back down.
Next I pick up a small vine with some little white flowers on it.
It smells nice, and my dragon opens an eye to peer at it for a moment, but then she turns her head away.
“What is this one?” I hold it up to show the girls.
“Jasmine.” Yelana answers.
“Is it poisonous?”
“Only to animals if they eat it.”
“Oh.” I drop it back on the table and wipe off my hand.
That’d explain why she looked at it for a moment. She probably knew it was dangerous to her.
“It’s not poisonous to Fae animals. Only earthly animals.” Yelana adds. “Dragons and other mythics are safe from it.”
Well there goes that theory.
Imelda moves to stand beside me, pointing to one of those orange lily flowers with spots. “Try this one. If she was interested in the Jasmine, it could be because it’s an exotic flower. They originated in ancient Persia; the Tiger Lily comes from Asia.”
Picking up the flower, giving it a tentative sniff, I wait a moment.
She shows no interest at all, and I don’t really like the smell of it.
“No. I think it might have been because it was poisonous.” I admit as I set the flower back in its spot.
“Did she like that it was poisonous or was she wary of it?” Imelda prods.
“I don’t know.” I think hard, even try to prod an answer out of her. She only huffs at me. “She’s not giving me anything to go off. She’s been kind of sluggish lately, especially after the fight. I think it took a lot out of her.”
“Without knowing how to regenerate her, she would have been storing up little bits of power for years. It is entirely possible she is now drained – that isn’t good for either of you. You must be as close to full power as possible for the Shift. We need to keep you topped up 24/7.” Imelda states, reaching out to nudge a........ mushroom? “Try this one. I’m pretty sure it’s poisonous.”
Picking it up, the mushroom had a light orangey-brown umbrella top, with a thin ghostly grey, white, and orange stem.
It didn’t look harmful, it looked like an ordinary mushroom. Not scary at all.
Pinching the delicate stem between two fingers, I bring it to my nose.
Earthy, a bit of a sweet tinge, mealy, and it felt like a firm sponge between my fingers.
Something about it was very appealing.
Head rising with intense interest, slumberous eyes wide, my dragon took in the mushroom through my eyes.
Rising inside me, suddenly energised, she stretches up and opens her maw wide.
Confused and taken off guard when my middle cramps with hunger, my hand moves to clutch my stomach.
“Sinta?”
“You didn’t lick it, did you?” Yelana demands, eyes wide.
“No.” I assure her, but I don’t give her the mushroom when she reaches for it. “I think she wants me to eat it.”
“No way.”
“That is not happening.”
I stare at them, my middle seizing with hunger cramps, and shrug. “She’s sitting inside me with her mouth open, and my stomach is getting hunger pains. She wants me to eat it.” I insist. “Isn’t that a good thing? Why would my dragon want me to eat something if it’ll hurt me?”
“It will do more than hurt you. That mushroom can kill a human in under two minutes.” Yelana snaps.
“Is there an antidote?” I ask.
“Why the fuck would I have an antidote?” She growls.
“Oh, I don’t know, you have us all – including the Princess of House Fire and Gold – in a room with deadly plants, so I imagine a smart person would have the antidotes with them in case there was an accident?!” I snip.
Yelana blanches.
Imelda, eyes wide and mouth tight, slowly nods. “Indeed, a smart person would.” Fussing with the sleeves of her flowy white blouse, she clears her throat. “Unfortunately, neither I nor Yelana thought of it. We got a bit distracted.”
The next few minutes was filled by a heavy silence. And a fair amount of awkward glances.
“Okay, so, no antidote…..” I murmur after we all exchange apologetic looks. “What about a healer? Could they intervene?”
“Yes, actually.” Imelda beams, then deflates a little. “Oh, but we need to keep this secret. I only have one I trust and she’s unavailable.”
“We could call Elijah? I’m pretty sure he has a biology class that’s ending any minute now.” Yelana offers.
I flash them a surprised look. “You guys know Elijah?”
“Yes. We grew up together.” Imelda murmurs as she pulls out her phone. “Do not eat that mushroom until we have a safety net.”
Guilty, lowering the mushroom from where I’d been intently studying it, I set it back on the table and force myself to go sit in a chair.
“Yes, Elijah, hi. I was wondering……”