Chapter 132

Almara’s Pov

I’ve been to Bess’s shop numerous times and not once have I felt this cold presence that I do now. This flower shop is usually a sweet escape into a lush land that’s vibrant with colors, buzzing with life, and radiating warmth.

Though now somehow that same place, even though it looks exactly the same, has been replaced with a cold distance. As if the flowers know their caretaker is in trouble and they’re wilting away in spirit. The usual bright lights that shine in radiance is now harsh on the eyes. The aroma of fresh dirt and flowers is now a sickly sweet scent.

It’s weird being in a place when you know the owner isn’t here. Not that Bess would mind or that she hasn’t let me come in after hours before, but something about this time is different. We aren’t just escaping the world outside, we’re digging deep into one.

What need would Bess have for the Soul Plant? It’s not a regular flower that’s just in any given bouquet, as far as we know it’s only purpose is for spells and Bess didn’t run that kind of shop.

I walk idly up and down the aisles, the tile squeaking underneath my shoes. There’s several small potted plants lined on wooden benches, but it’s all greenery. It isn’t exactly flowering season. I continue down the lengths of the greenhouse and eventually come to a stop when I reach Bess’s desk.

Her desk is organized. Only a jar with pressed dried sunflowers holding several different pens and pencils, a old-fashioned calculator, and an invoice binder lay neatly placed on the beautiful wood.

The desk is made of a lightly stained oak wood. It’s smooth, though all the characters are preserved. In fact, a line where some bug must’ve been eating the wood is still visible. I trace my hand along the trail until I feel a soft spot in the wood.

That’s not good. I hear Lily say. “I don’t understand.” I reply in confusion. The desk has been preserved, it wouldn’t be rotting. I press my pointer finger gently into the squish of the wood and realize it’s not wood rot. It’s a button.

A flat tray pops from underneath the desk and on it lays a thin leather notebook. I hesitate for a moment until I hear Robert ask over my shoulder, “What’s that?” I quickly snatch the book wanting to take possession of it first before Robert does.

I’m not sure why, but I feel the need to protect Bess from him. It’s like she’s too good and Robert doesn’t deserve to be snooping through her things, like he’s ruin them somehow. Maybe that isn’t fair of me to think given how he’s helping us, but it’s going to take more than a couple days of good-doing to make up for years of horrible character.

“I don’t know, I just found it laying here.” I tell Robert so I don’t have to inform him of Bess’s secret drawer.

I flip open to a random page and just see a list of names that I don’t recognize. My first guess is these are just customers of Bess’s, but why would she need to keep them hidden? Maybe they owe her money. Lily adds and I consider that a possibility. It would be like Bess to keep those in debt private from her other customers.

I keep flipping and keep seeing more names. I begin to think that all these people cannot possibly owe money to Bess. “Wait a minute,” says Robert. “What was that name?”

“Which one?” I ask. Robert tries to take the book from my hands but I reposition myself to ward him off. Luckily, he takes the hint.

“Ryan McKey.” Robert says in disbelief.

“Who is that?” I ask aloud, the name still not meaning anything to me.

“He’s some rich governor in the human world.”

“How do you know that?” I ask. It’s not like Robert to be informed of anyone else but himself.

“He once paid my mom a visit.” Robert answers like it’s no big deal. I stop asking questions. “And Victor Soils?” Robert says again though this time a bit louder.

“What was that?” Roman asks peaking his head around the corner.

“Your mom has a notebook full of names of people including a rich governor in the people realm and one of the councilmen’s nephews.” Robert tries to take the notebook again and I nudge him off. “Let me see that.” Robert demands

“No.” I retort, closing the book.

“Why? You don’t know these people anyway.” Robert says, almost mockingly. Before I can argue back, the notebook is pulled out of my hands. I turn to see Roman standing tall next to me peering through the pages, his eyes widen at the names before him.

“Why does Bess have this?” I ask.

“Well,” Roman starts with a shake of a head, “Us Hurricane Pack members have our connections.” He brings the book closer to his eyes, “Apparently more connections than even I knew.” Roman says more under his breath.

I know that Bess was a great warrior and birthed the Alpha of the Hurricane Pack, but she had made it clear she yearned for a simpler life, that her time in the limelight was at an end. That doesn’t mean what happened in the past didn’t happen. You know what they say, keep your friends close and your enemy’s closer.

Lily’s right. Bess may not interact with those written on the list, but it never hurts to keep the contact information of powerful people. You never know when that might come in handy, like now.

“Wait a minute,” Roman says, point to the book. “I know this person.” He says as if his mind is only now collecting the details. He sets down the book and begins punching the number given into his own phone.

I can see it’s a phone number to some woman named Chrstina Tarr. “Who is she?” I ask.

“Well, before she became a traitor she was a family friend. She and my mom talked about open this shop together.” Roman uses his eyes to indicate he means the very shop in which they now stand.

“Traitor? How?” I shift my weight to my hip as I try to recall any recollection of the name.

“She started trading ingredients with the vampires. Wolfs fur for vampire blood. Native plants for native plants.” Roman says and looks at us with a shrug.

“So, she might have the Soul Plant?” I connect the dots.

“Maybe.” Roman admits.

“But wait, I still don’t get it. Why would she trade with the vampires?” Robert interjects. Robert shuts the book, but rather than put it back he tucks it into his coat pocket.

“That’s the question of the lifetime. Her reasoning was she wanted to expand commerce, though Bess being the loyal wolf she is didn’t think it would be good for business if locals found out they had some shipments from those blood suckers. Needless to say, they went their separate ways.”

“Where is she now?” I ask. Roman shrugs.

“I’m about to find out.” The lights give a flicker and the cold ominous presence of being watched is back. I notice I’m not the only one who feels it. Both Roman and Robert show a change in their demeanor.

“You two go back home. I’m going to make a meeting with this woman.” Roman lowers his voice and says more sternly, “Don’t leave the house.”