Page 73 of Stitched Up in You
A short horse jaunt later across Frank’s wooded estate, we arrive at a big stable yard much like Brom’s, only this one is painted white with a blue roof and is easily twice the size.
Another thing unlike Brom’s is that it's not gated, and Frank seems to get more nervous the closer we get.
“This place was initially meant to house creatures that couldn't survive anywhere else,” he says once we get near the large double doors. He pulls Brom to a halt and dismounts before reaching for me.
My heart jolts when his strong arms go around me, but he places me quickly on my feet.
I watch and wait as he swats the big horse on his rump, sending him trotting away. I glance at the large stable doors, noticing the intricate depiction of a moon and stars inlaid in the soft wood, and my curiosity grows. “What's in there?” I ask him, and when I step closer my stomach twists with excitement, and an undeniable feeling washes over me that then makes me nervous to even get near the door.
“I'm sure you have already guessed that if anyone were to see Brom and what he can do, it would be a media nightmare in the making, and best-case scenario, he would go to a facility somewhere,” Frank states.
“Oh, you don't have to tell me, there's no telling what types of tests and stuff they would put a horse like him through,” I murmur, knowing how cruel people can be to animals. It’s part of the reason I decided to donate his money to the cat and dog fund.
“Correct, which is why I made this place to begin with. Now, when we get inside, you mustn’t touch anything, and don’t let go of my hand until I tell you to,” he instructs.
I frown but nod my head and take his outstretched hand in mine, ignoring the small jolt of sensation that crackles at the touch.
“Alright, close your eyes,” he says, wrapping his free arm around me.
I give him a look that saysdon't you be trying anything funny.
“Just do it,” he remarks, his lips turning up at the edges as he rubs a hand down my back.
I do as he asks, closing my eyes, waiting for whatever he's got planned next, and hear a sliding door opening.
The soft scent of hay greets my nose, and also a sweet potent smell I can’t place.
He leads me further into the building, and after several steps, he steers me around a sharp corner before pulling me to a stop.
“Right, you can open your eyes now,” he says.
I gasp. Glowing bright flowers of various colors overflow everywhere in large rows that seem to go on forever. The stable is easily the size of a football stadium, more greenery than I’ve ever seen in one place with huge, leafy green vegetation surrounding the flowers. The floor is a moss green but hardlike marble. I glance up and notice that the roof isn’t painted blue after all, it’s made up of light blue glass panels, allowing a spotless view of the sky overhead. “What kind of flowers are these?” I ask, wondering if they’re fiber-optic with how they glow in different spots before dimming and glowing again.
“Don’t touch them. They’re supernatural flowers,” he answers.
“Wow,” I murmur, turning in place and pushing my glasses up my nose to see better.
“There are many flowers in the supernatural world, and all of them have various medicinal properties. However, most of these you see here are toxic to humans. There are some that work as aphrodisiacs and are safe to use, and others that have extraordinary healing properties.”
I can’t help but admire the blue and violet ones, they seem to shimmer brighter than the rest. “What are the blue ones called?” I ask, pointing at them.
“Those are called moonflowers. They’re toxic, and incidentally, they’re why you’re here. The ingredients we use to formulate what we sell through Talbot are cultivated elsewhere as none of those serums we offer the public are made with anything harmful. Several shipments of the moonflower formula were taken from a distribution center the same week you hacked Talbot. It’s what Mikael and the others are trying to track down as we speak,” he reveals.
My breath hitches in my throat as understanding thunders through me. “What?” I blurt.
“We suspected Pelican Group was waiting for any holes in the infrastructure to gain access to our recipe kits for a while. We never accounted for you, or how they used you as a shield to hide their gaining access to our resources. They of course have no idea what they were in for after taking it,” he says, his voice gruff and matter of fact.
“What will it do to them?” I ask, wondering if I’ve somehow hurt anyone.
“Nothing, as we have everything in place to get it back before anyone is harmed.”
I shake my head. “I’m so sorry, I?—”
“You couldn’t have known. Now turn around,” he says, a small smile playing on his lips as he stares across the top of my head.
I turn around, and my hands fly up to my mouth. My gaze widens, and my eyes bug out of my head at the sight before me. “You have a freaking unicorn.” I say, staring at the majestic white beast. The horse is shorter than Brom, with a freaking coiled, gleaming pearlescent horn atop its head.
“His name is Perseus, but he doesn’t like to be touched and will shy away if you get too close,” Frank says.
