Once Betrayed Never Forgotten

Chapter 104: The Verdant Enigma

Golden afternoon light bathes the castle grounds in a syrupy glow, draping the lush gardens in warmth. My footsteps crunch softly over gravel pathways, the scent of flowers filling my lungs. The sprawling formal gardens stretch before me, vibrant and verdant, a riot of color and life.

Bloodbane and Pyra had left a while ago, their curiosity pulling them into the depths of the surrounding woods. The Earth realm was a strange new world to them, their lives until now spent amidst the burning landscapes of the Fiery realm. They had wandered off, awestruck by the green canopy above, the chirping of birds, and the rustling leaves beneath their feet.

As for me, I’d stayed behind at Greenharrow Castle, anticipation twisting in my stomach, waiting for Aleksandr to arrive. The hours had dragged by, each moment spent scanning the grounds, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.

“I guess I can keep myself busy until then,” I mutter, my gaze sweeping over the gardens, the warmth of the afternoon light casting a dreamy haze over the scene. The topiaries stand like sentinels, their carefully trimmed forms casting shadows on the paths. I pass rows of flowers–daffodils and hyacinths, their petals glowing in shades of yellow and purple. Lilies bloom beside them, their white and pink flowers spreading open, their delicate fragrance filling the air.

The path leads me into a kitchen garden, rows of cabbages and tomatoes, sunflowers towering above them, their heads nodding towards the sky. Herbs fill neat, orderly beds, their pungent aromas mingling in the air. This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

I continue walking, my footsteps leading me into a wilder part of the garden. The formal rows give way to a riot of wildflowers, their vibrant petals swaying in the breeze, bees buzzing lazily around them. Beyond them, an orchard spreads out, its branches heavy with fruit, apples, pears, pomegranates, and peaches hanging in vivid clusters.

I pluck a peach from a low–hanging branch, its golden skin soft against my fingertips. I bite into it, its juice dripping down my chin, its sweet, sun- warmed flesh filling my mouth. The warmth of the fruit mingles with the golden light of the afternoon, wrapping around me like a soothing balm.

A strange sense of unease pricks at the back of my mind, gnawing at me as I look around. “Wait, when did Tatiana abduct me from Los Angeles?” mutter to mysell, my brow furrowing. It had been around Halloween, the night filled with ghosts and ghouls, the air crisp with autumn chill. I’d been trapped in the Fiery realm for at least a month.

I calculate the days in my head, the realization hitting me like a blow to the chest. “It’s early December,” murmur, my gaze sweeping over the verdant orchard, the vibrant flowers. The lushness around me seems almost mocking, a blatant defiance of the laws of nature.

“How can everything be so alive in the dead of winter?” I wonder aloud, my fingers brushing against the smooth bark of a pear tree. Its branches droop with golden fruit speckled with tiny red dots like a galaxy of crimson stars, each pear gleaming in the sun

A cold knot tightens in my chest, the sight of the orchard taking on an eerie quality. The air feels thick, the stents of earth and fruit mingling in a heady blend that makes my head spin.

I turn away, my feet carrying me down a winding path, leading me towards a towering hedge maze, its dense walls of white dog rose hedges looming over me. The soft fragrance of the roses fills the air, their delicate white petals fluttering gently in the breeze. I step inside, the thick green walls surrounding me, their thorny branches stretching overhead, weaving into a canopy.

The path twists and turns, each corner revealing new, unfamiliar passages. The sunlight filters through the canopy, casting dappled patterns on the ground, the scent of roses clinging to the air. My footsteps crunch softly over the gravel path, the sound echoing through the narrow comdors +10%

“Everything’s so lush,” I murmur, the unease gnawing at me. “Why is it so verdant here? What’s keeping everything alive?”

My fingers brush against the prickly thorns of the hedge, a dull ache spreading through my chest. I glance up, the sunlight glinting off the delicate white roses, their petals gleaming in the soft light.

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The path leads me deeper into the maze, the scent of roses growing stronger, mingling with the musty odor of the earth. My thoughts swirl, my mind racing with unanswered questions,

“Is this place connected to the missing Earth Angel?” I wonder aloud, my voice barely a whisper. The vibrant foliage, the inexplicable abundance–it all feels too deliberate, too strange to be natural. And it would make sense, seeing as her sword embedded with the Earth gem was hidden in a tree outside the castle. I’m still wearing the sword on my hip, sheathed in the crimson scabbard forged from my own blood, concealing its true nature.

The golden light of late afternoon casts long shadows over the maze, the delicate petals of the white roses glowing like ethereal lanterns. I stand in silence, the scent of earth and flowers mingling in the air, my mind swirling with unanswered questions.

I let my gaze wander, the thorny hedges surrounding me, their dense walls weaving into a twisted labyrinth. My Engers brush over the tips of leaves, the sound of birdsong echoing through the narrow corridors. A breeze stirs the leaves overhead, the gentle rustle blending with the distant hum of

Chapter 104 The Verdant Enigma

Insects.

Turning a corner, I step into a clearing, my breath catching in my throat at the sight that greets me. The gravel path curves sharply, leading into a small clearing at the center of the maze.

In the center of the clearing stands a beautiful statue, its form towering over the surrounding hedges, its ethereal presence bathed in the golden light of the sun.

The statue depicts a stunningly perfect figure, an angel with wings of gleaming emerald peen, the vivid color of moss and new leaves. The wings fan out behind her, their intricate feathers catching the light, each blade etched with a meticulousness that defies human craftsmanship. The angel’s robes. wrought from gleaming gold, flow around her, their folds shimmering like liquid metal Delicate Bowers are woven into the fabric, their petals formed from tiny gemstones: rubies for roses, amethysts for lilacs and crocus, peridots for fresh spring leaves, and seed pearls for daisies. The gems sparkle in the sunlight, casting prismatic glints onto the ground.

Her coppery–strawberry blonde hair flows down her back, each strand intricately carved from the same gleaming metal, woven with emeralds that gleam like star. Her face is turned towards me, her blazing green eyes fixed on a distant point, their color mirrored in the stones woven through her hair. A serene smile plays on her lips, her hands held up before her, palms facing upwards, as if waiting for something, asking for something

“Verde,” murmur, my gaze drawn to the emeralds that glint in her hair, their deep green matching her eyes. “Where are you? What happened to you?”

sup closer, my hand brushing against the smooth metal of her robes. A surge of warmth flows into me, the energy of the earth pulsing through my

connection to the world around me. It’s like the earth itself is speaking to me, its power flowing through me, grounding me, connecting me to the lie the surrounds us.

Interupts my reverie, breaking through the allence like a dagger through the stillness. “Well, thats the million dollar question, isn’t it, lass?”

whunt ansund, my heart leaping into my throat, my gaze landing on a dark figure standing at the edge of the clearing. The light of the setting sun casts long shadows over his face, his lips twisted into a crooked grin.

Kean. U breathe, recognition settling in

Be sex forward, his velvet suit Gitching the light, the dark green fabric gleaming like the foliage around es. “Age, that it is,” he says, his hazel eyes Framing. Verriles been missing for centuries.”

I game back at the sutur, its serene smile seeming to mock me. “Do you know where she is?” I ask, my voice tinged with desperation

Kieran cruciles, moong his head. I only I did, lass. It’s a mystery for the ages. His eyes flicker to the statue, his grin widening. “But it seems ye’ve

I nod, my guze lingetting in the statue, the angel’s emerald wings gleaming in the sunlight. “Kieran, what exactly is the connection between the vampire clans and the six anged, and their caims? Taik.

“Ah, now that“!

o gleums in his eye

And with that, he begins to wEONE DID THE.

Chapter Com

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Man I thought there for a minus that the cutlue wat het That someone turned her into stone and maybe laying her sword back into her

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