The Enchantments: Book 4 - The Key of Mulastef

Chapter 22: Stock Piling

"What do you mean I'm the key to all this?" Marlanda asked a streak of red starting to scarlet her cheeks.

Arian Sallo steps forward his large bright eyes flecked with silver streaks she notices smiles at her. "It's time for you to use the powers given you."

Marlanda is honestly confused, and by the looks of both the professor and Shawn, they're as shocked as she is.

"Pardon me?" Her voice quavers in the response."

Arian looks around at the other two people confusion crossing his sharp angled face. "I was told you, uh, you could see things?"

"I'm sorry sir, what are you talking about? I have no ability, not now not ever." She scoffed at him and turned away angrily.

Arian sees the anger in the young girl's eyes, but her look is more of a surprise than sheer anger. He decides to follow the young girl through the main foyer to where the light at the far end of the hallway illuminates the door to the main botany lab. She steps through as Arian moves in behind.

"Wow this place is incredible," he says staring at the multitude of plants that adorned the lab. Many of the plants contained inside were large glass containers, and as he moved in close to one, he saw it move towards his hand as he lay it on the outside of the glass partition.

"This one is creepy." He says with excitement in his voice.

"What is it you believe you can do for us?" Professor Tweedle asked coming up and placing an arm over Marlanda's shoulder.

"I own a consortium so to speak, we're made up of hired hands that can be deployed anywhere in the world, and for a fee, we provide let's say assistance to those who need it." He said brightly.

"Mercenaries?" Shawn asked darkly.

"By definition, yes, but overall we do so much more than that." Arian smiled.

"I don't think we'll be needing your services Mr. Sallo." The professor boldly said.

"...From what I've told you to do." His smiled slipped little, and the seriousness crossed his face.

"Listen Mr. Sallo, we been doing fine on our own for a while now and we haven't needed anyone's help," Shawn angrily said as spittle shoots from his mouth spraying the plant near where Sallo stood. The plant inside the canister moved towards the sound and to Arian's surprise sniffed the air. "Please leave."

"I will go I've paid my debt." He looks over at Marlanda. "...After you tell us where to go?"

"I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!" Marlanda screams and moves away from the advancing man.

Trying to get away from the three of them Marlanda shuffles through the lab avoiding any foliage that hung from canisters that adorn the tables. She sees herself moving to the table where the body of the minion lays unmoving. She gives the creature a wide birth and as she passes her head explodes with a multitude of pictures that race through her head at breakneck speeds. She grabs her head and falls hard to her knees. She doesn't hear Shawn as he moves in beside her, his voice a distant echo in her ears.

"Marlanda!" Shawn yells and grabs her as she wails to the floor her screams causing many of the plants to turn towards the distraction.

Both the professor and Arian move quickly through the tangle of plants to where Marlanda still grabbing her head a silent scream across her beautiful face.

"What's going on?" Professor Tweedle asks in shock.

"I have no idea," Shawn turns towards the professor as he holds Marlanda's shoulder. "Something's happening."