Page 3 of The Botanist and the Beast

While the rest of Quinlan lived on the eastern side of the town to stay away from the veil, Theo lived in a quiet cottage on its western edge. His home was in the middle of a grassy field, but the acre he lived on was spilling over with flowers his parents planted.

Their garden was lush with roses, jasmine, snapdragons, and more that swayed in the morning breeze. Small fruit trees dotted the yard as well, obscuring the windows. Some of the foliage was from the human world, some from the veil, and some crossbred creations. All would be used for his medicines, teas, food, and decorations he sold in town.

In the back corner of the yard behind their house was a small, dilapidated shed where Theo worked. It was full of gardening tools, dust, and junk. Theo dreamed of working in a greenhouse instead, but he knew that day wouldn't come. Money was far too tight.

Sleepily he brought in a few plants he had never seen before, set them on the table, and pulled out his notebook again. He flipped to a blank page and began sketching. He always added new flowers to his notes even if he was exhausted because it cleared his head of the lingering grief he felt after visiting his parents’ grave.

He was sure to get the curl of their vines, the shade of the petals, and texture of the leaves just right. He'd list any initial magical properties he observed and the environment they grew, and a list of plants it shared multiple properties with. Then he'dspend a few days to weeks trying to discover any medicinal or novel properties that people may see as valuable. It was a tedious art and science with lots of dead ends, but he didn't mind. The moment he made a breakthrough, it was all worth it.

Absentmindedly, he flipped back in his notebook at he stared at the elusive blue rose he had been hunting for. It was so rare most didn't think it existed in their world or the veil, but if he found it, they'd be financially set. Many wealthy people wanted it simply to brag about such a rarity in their possession, but it was also alleged that the blue petals had medicinal properties that could cure most illnesses.Maybe I need to walk further into the veil or travel to the southern summer door.All at once the door flew open, making him jump.

His youngest sister, Coralie, came rushing in and clutched his arm." Theo, you have to come inside."

Coralie was a tiny thing at five feet tall. Her light brown skin was the color of sand dunes and matched Theo's down to the light spray of freckles on her cheeks. However, while Theo had dark curly hair and green eyes, Coralie had orange hair she wore in two large afro puffs that looked like marigolds in bloom and big brown eyes.

She was sixteen now, but he still saw her as a little kid. She was in a plain blouse and pants that she had for a few years now. His sisters were the reason he would always ignore the pull of the veil.

"What are you doing up so early?" He closed his sketchbook on his pencil and gave his full attention to her. "If it's a spider, I want you to try and kill it yourself first. When I'm not around, you need to be able to do it."

"First of all, I killed a spider yesterday. Second, that's not why I'm here." She crossed her arms and lowered her voice. "Mrs. Fallon is here, and she won't leave."

"She's here at dawn?" He frowned. "Is it about the loan?"

"No idea. I told her you were gone, and she said she'd wait. Luna is avoiding her by locking herself in her room. Being alone with her is so awkward. Please come save me."

"Alright. On the way. You don't have to stay while I talk to her." Theo chuckled as he pictured the hushed argument his sisters must've had in the hallway. "Go on back to bed."

Sure enough, an antsy Mrs. Fallon was on his sofa, her spine as straight as a board. She had pale white skin, brown hair with silver strands pulled back on a tight bun. Their home was cozy, with jewel toned knit blankets and pillows, warm wood furnishings, and vases of dried flowers. Mrs. Fallon and her coldness that seemed to be a signature of the wealthy looked deeply out of place.

"Oh, there you are, Theo," she said with obvious relief.

"Sorry for the wait, Mrs. Fallon." He stifled a yawn, clapped his hands together, and sat on a chair across from her. "Now, what can I do for you? Is this a special flower order again? Perhaps you're looking for something medicinal." Normally he hated requests at his home, but Mrs. Fallon always knocked the cost off his debt. Plus, Mrs. Fallon, for all her faults, didn't pay any mind to his scars. Since he was a kid, she'd been kind to him, so he'd do special favors for her despite his sister's protest.

"I actually have an abnormal request." She shifted in her seat. "I needed to come early because there's not much time."

"Not much time?" he repeated, not understanding her. There was a light tinkering from the kitchen that hinted at his sisters didn't go back to bed but choose to eavesdrop.

"I want you to escort my Adora to Beaumont."

"In the middle of spring?" he said in shock. The kitchen went quiet.

"She is to be engaged to a wealthy suitor at the ball in Beaumont that's happening in two days. He's a great fit for her and is from a good family. The fastest path is through thewestern forest. Adora intends to leave today. You go into the veil all the time, and that makes you the best to escort her safely."

"Unfortunately, it's far too dangerous for anyone, even me to travel long distances through the western forest. The veil's door is there now, and it'll be another month until it rolls to the southern forest." He shook his head as he explained. "If we're deep in the woods when the fog comes, we'll be dropped in the middle of the veil. There could be enchanted creatures waiting for us, or we could get turned around and not know how to find our way back. I appreciate that this is important to Adora and your family, but I must advise she doesn't go. Her lover should wait to propose on first day of summer."

He slapped his hands on his thighs and got to his feet. "Now, if that's all, I really must get back to my plants and sleep before I head back to market. I'm happy to have one of the girls walk you back home."

Mrs. Fallon didn't move from the couch. "I'll pay you Fifty thousand gold."

"Fifty thousand?" Theo repeated in disbelief as he looked down at her.

"Adora is going whether I like it or not. Her father has it in her head I'm hysterical. You know he's not originally from here. He is one of the people that thinks the veil isn't real, but I know what's in there. I need you to do this, Theo. I don't want Adora to get lost. She is my world and I'm willing to do anything for her. Just like you'd do anything for your sisters."

Speechless by the amount of money offered, he sat back down and rolled the idea around in his head.

"He won't do it," Luna said, coming into the room. She whipped her head, making the ivory-colored beads at the end of her long onyx braid clack together. "You can't toss some gold, and talk about his love for us, and expect him to risk his life. Theo is as valuable as Adora."

"If your husband is so sure it's fine, make him take her," Coralie snapped as she stood at Luna's side. "Why drag our brother into your family's ignorance and lack of respect for the veil?"

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