Page 151 of You’re So Vein

We step onto the path together, and despite itself, my foolish heart skips to be in this special place with her. As we move deeper, the plants recognise me, scenting my mother’s blood. The breeze whispers my name.

The garden remembers me.

Vibrant blue flowers pop up between the cobbles, and red blooms unfold from the weeds, bending towards Komal to waft their gentle fragrance on her.

Komal gazes at the garden, and I gaze at her, drinking in her reaction. As I peel back the layers of neglect, my mother’s vision once again becomes clear. The winding paths, the whimsical statues, the magical alignments and ritual grottos that make this place not only beautiful, but powerful.

We walk the garden, sometimes having to stop while I dig in deep with my magic to untangle the weeds and vines. The plants respond to my attentions, purring and twitching with delight. They love to be loved – pruned, touched, tidied, fed.

I show Komal the ritual circle where my mother performed her more complex magic, and the hollowed tree where Dante, Isabelle and I used to hide. And then, as we wind our way along the most forgotten path, near the west wall, we come to a tall, iron gate.

“I was never allowed in here.” I grin as I touch my hand to the lock, which drops open.

“Why not?”

“My mother thought I wasn’t advanced enough in my magic. It’s a poison garden. Everything in this area can kill you. So don’t touch anything.”

“But not you, right?” Komal frowns. “Unless it contains that one poison that affects vampires.”

I hadn’t even considered that. “Actually, it could. My mother used to keep books of notes. They might still be here…”

I make Komal wait outside while I shove my way into a small hexagonal glasshouse. Even with my magic, pushing my way through the poison plants is difficult. The air has a different scent – rich and cloying, sickly sweet, aniseed and wild garlic and death. I place my hands on the potting bench and use it to clear a path forwards, stems breaking and vines giving way before me. I step over a large, rotting tree stump, the surface blooming with mushrooms.

“Are you still alive?” Komal calls from outside.

“Yes. Are you touching things?”

“I’m not. I promise. But please hurry. It turns out the poison garden attracts huge, scary bugs.”

I reach down to a wooden drawer. Locked. I press my hand to the lock. It pops open. Thank you, Dulcina, for your blood and your trust.

Inside is a small notebook, bound in discoloured leather. I tuck it under my arm and extract myself from the tangle of plants.

“Seriously, Augustin, is that a bug or a dinosaur? I want to go back to the creepy statues.”

I take her hand as I exit the poison garden. The gate clangs shut behind us. I show Komal the grimoire in my hands.

“My mother made notes on what she studied here.” I flip it open. It’s old, the pages stained from water and dirt, the drawings by her own hand faded, her slanted handwriting stabbing at my chest. “It’s not as creepy as you might think. Many of these plants are medicinal. Used with blood magic, they can create powerful spells. Maybe we can find—”

Komal’s hand closes over mine, shutting the book. “Augustin, you’ve done enough for today. Maybe we save finding the husker until we’ve escaped the creepy statue castle with Hannah.”

“We?” My heart dares to hope.

Komal shakes her head. “I didn’t mean that. I came for Hannah, but obviously, I know that we’re not a thing anymore, that we’re never going to be a thing. I’m not pining for you, Durant. I’ve moved on.”

56Komal

AUGUSTIN NODS. “VERY WELL.”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

“Good. In fact,” I suck in a deep breath. “You might not see me around Argleton as much anymore. Now that I know I’m not going to be mayor, I’ve decided to sign up for a training course for search-and-rescue.”

“You have?” His eyes soften with golden light. “How do you feel about that?”

“I’m terrified, but someone taught me that all things worth doing are terrifying.”