𝐕𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐬 - 𝐀 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲

chapter ten - black-mud swamp

Despite the many drying incantations Violet had muttered, the rain seemed desperate to stick to her.

Her hair, usually soft obedient waves, had long started to frizz, and it took every ounce of self-control not to yank it out by the handful. Instead, her eyes only roved the area for maybe the hundredth time since she'd arrived, guessing with growing frustration where the Xilith leaves might be.

It should have been easy. In fact, she'd almost expected it to be easy. She was a nature fairy after all and had been surrounded by plants since birth, but the biodiversity she usually cherished now only added to her turmoil: she just couldn't figure out where anything was.

A drop of rain splattered onto her nose, making her sneeze so loudly her father would be jealous.

Ah yes, the weather wasn't helping either.

Wet and faintly humid, she almost had a headache just thinking about trekking through the mud.

Jenny and Stella had been right, she realised sadly. And in more than one way. Even leaving aside the possible disgust – Linphea's soils were definitely less gritty – she feared that the plant had been so dirtied that it would be hardly visible. Or worse, that it had been swept away by some creature looking to stock up on it.

Violet stilled, and an idea came to her like a flash of lightning.

The Undines! They lived here, and from what Flora had told her, Xilith leaves were an essential part of their lives, and she'd given them a bunch after her and the rest of the Winx had released the giant turtle it grew on from the harsh influence of red willow. She'd also said the last time she'd checked on them, they'd managed to create a new system of growing and harvesting the leaves.

Maybe – and this was a huge maybe – if she tracked them down, they'd be willing to give her a few?

It wasn't the best plan, but she was glad she had at least some sense of direction now instead of having to wander around aimlessly for hours on end.

With that in mind, Violet pushed her hair roughly away from her eyes as she stepped closer to the direction of the actual swamp.

She actually managed to make it a few steps before a sudden grittiness on her calves sent her staggering in shock.

Disgusting.

Closing her eyes, she expected to feel the squidgy impact that came with falling headfirst into the damp mud-covered ground at any moment.

It never came.

But she did land on something relatively soft – velvety almost – but covering something a lot firmer underneath.

Cracking open a wary eye, she was met by the sight of a crimson vest and overcoat, with a ruffled white shirt peeking out from underneath. As she moved her gaze slowly upwards, the sinking feeling in her stomach grew – especially once those familiar eyes caught her in his trap.

She realised a few things then: that she never would be able to tell if they were more of a pale grey or crystal blue, that he was clearly hiding a lot of muscle . . . and that they were standing very close together.

But that all mattered very little as she blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"Lord Vasili? I-I thought you'd disappeared!"

She regretted the words almost immediately as she said them, her voice childish and high-pitched to her own ears. What if he thought she sounded pathetic? Desperate even?

Clearing her throat, she only hoped her cheeks weren't burning as she took a small step back and allowed for a more appropriate distance between them. But of course, it was just her luck that her shoe managed to snag on something that very moment, the dimension clearly out to embarrass her.