I Reincarnated as the Villainess and I Refuse to Follow the Plot

The greenhouse door opened with a soft click. Air whooshed out, carrying the overpowering scent of Casa Blanca lilies. I wrinkled my nose at the smell while Sayvren covered his mouth and nose.

"Disgusting." He grumbled, looking over at me. "I'll just wait out here."

"Like hell you will." I reached toward him, wrapping an arm around his body. "You'll still be able to hear if anyone comes close, won't you?"

"That's beside the point." He squirmed, voice coming out muffled. "Do you have any idea how strong my senses are? My nose is dying, Kyla."

"You'll be fine." I rolled my eyes and stepped inside, the door closing shut behind me.

Darkness washed through the elongated room. I didn't dare move until my eyes fully adjusted. How is it so dark in here with all the windows? I turned my head to the right, pausing when a glow caught my eye. Dim and green it seemed to almost pulsate.

Confused, I released Sayvren, and squinted – surprised to see the glow was coming from several rows of lilies along the far wall.

"Sayvren, do Casa Blanca lilies normally glow in the dark in this world?" I moved toward them, avoiding the haphazard plant boxes littering the floor.

"No. That's a weird question." He floated ahead, glancing around the room. Muttering, he swooped forward, looking down at a cluster of plants. "These are bloomshuns."

"What?" I spared him a glance, stopping before the glowing flowers. "What the hell are bloomshuns?"

"Do you not actually study anything?" Sayvren sighed. "Or have the books mortals read no longer encompass the onyx rift? It has been closed for centuries so maybe that's why everyone ignores it. You humans never-"

"Sayvren," I said, voice flat. "What is a bloomshun?"

"It's a mushroom that grows when the body of a griffin starts to decay." He grumbled. "Why does no one let me talk?"

"Griffins?" I turned, walking down the path. "I didn't know they were real." Yet another thing that wasn't mentioned in the novel. I'm starting to wonder how accurate that damn book really was.

"This is why you humans need to pay attention to things." Sayvren humphed, before launching into a rant about human ignorance and fear.

I tuned him out, walking further away. The further I moved, the more I noticed glowing coming from different locations throughout and the absence in several others. Is she grafting the lilies with the mushrooms?

I slowed my pace and crouched down, examining the mushrooms. Even within the dim light, I could make out the coloring and shape. They were golf ball sized and shaped, but the color was either a dark red or black. Pink and yellow spots decorated the tops, varying in size.

I reached my hand out, considering taking one, when Sayvren's voice stopped me cold. "Don't touch them!" He flew over, grabbing my face with his small hands. "They're toxic and can kill you."

"I...see." I recoiled, standing. "Why does she have them then?"

"Probably mixing them." Sayvren swooped down, plucking one of the mushrooms. "Or extracting their oil."

"Didn't you say they were toxic? Why are you touching it?"

"I am nature." He shrugged, dropping it. "They're harmless to me."

"Right, of course." I walked around the plant box, careful not to brush up against it.

Toxic mushrooms with idiotic names, what's next? I made my way further down, until an old wooden door appeared before me. I took a breath and opened it – unsure what to expect. The door creaked open, wobbling on its hinges. I walked inside, scanning the room.

The small interior was no larger than a small closet. A workbench sat directly across from the door, with a single mortar and pestle on the surface. Half-shelving covered the walls, housing various bottles of dark liquid.

I moved toward the bench, peering into the mortar. A dark black tar substance – glowing faintly – clung to the surface. I leaned forward, wrinkling my nose when a strong scent of decay, lilies, and something acidic hovered just above the surface.

What is this? Is it the stuff she's using to brainwash people?

I straightened back up, glancing at the vials. There were at least fifty of them, all eerily holding a similar substance inside. A strong feeling of fear slammed into my stomach while chills ran down my arms.

I pressed a hand to my abdomen, taking a few deep breaths. Why am I reacting like this?

"Did you find something?" Sayvren asked suddenly, making me jump.

"Damn it, Sayvren." I snapped, taking another deep breath. "You scared me."

"What are you doing lost in thought?" He flew in, wrinkling his nose. "I thought you couldn't get caught. Isn't time of the essence?"

"It is."

Should I take a bottle? But, what if she notices? I didn't bring anything with me to carry anything, and even if I had, I wouldn't have been able to prepare a container. Cassius's words replayed once more, making my decision easy enough.

I grabbed one of the bottles, dropping it into my pocket. "Let's go."

"Fine by me." Sayvren shrugged, leaving the room. "I think you should burn this building down. Nothing good can come from this."

"I can't." I followed after him, rubbing my arms. "If that was an option, I would."

"You know if you'd stop being so cautious your life might be less-"

"Shut up, Sayvren." I snapped, opening the door and stepping back out into the night.

Surprisingly, Sayvren didn't talk as we wound back through the grounds. Whether it counted as a demand or he didn't want to be swatted – I had no idea. I figured he'd have enough common sense to tap me on the shoulder if he heard anyone in the vicinity. Either way, he was finally silent and that was a win.

The closer we got to the manor, the more unease I began to feel. I found myself constantly scanning the area, expecting someone to jump out at any moment. Fortunately, no one appeared out of the shadows, and no sounds of movement could be heard.

We ducked inside and made our way to my room, trying to make as little noise as possible. The same feeling of tomb-like stillness blanketed the building. When we reached the landing, the sound of voices whispered from the other end of the corridor.

I shot a look at Sayvren but he shrugged. Useless sprite. I pressed my back against the wall, straining my ears to hear what was being said. Sayvren floated next to me tapping his lips. Are you joking? I can't risk speaking right now.

I grabbed him, pulling him away from the opening. The voices, both female sounding, trailed off after several minutes, before fading away entirely. I waited a few more minutes before releasing him.

"Speak, you useless creature."

"I am not useless." He snapped, with a shrug. "You told me to shut up."

"Did you honestly think that was an order?"

"No," he shook his head, "But the bond chooses what is, not me."

"Fine, I don't care right now. What were they saying?"

"Nothing interesting." He turned heading the direction we had originally come from. "Apparently they were hurrying to meet their lord."

So something is happening other than the men picking up that...body. I thought, quickening my step and walking quickly to my room. The halls stretched for what felt like hours, before we finally arrived at my door. I placed my hand on the knob to open it when movement to my left reached my ears.

I glanced over, heart picking up speed. What now? Have I been caught?

"M-my lady?" Alora's voice sounded, a second before she stepped out of the darkness. The light from the moon shone in, casting her in an unsettling glow. Her eyes, blank and disoriented, looked over my shoulder. "Are you not sleeping sleep?"

Sayvren snickered, crossing his arms. "Sleeping sleep? She's so far gone."

"Shut up, Sayvren." I grumbled, pushing open the door. "Alora, I wanted a glass of water but I changed my mind."

"Wa...ter?" She tilted her head. "Why am I here? I need to sleep."

She turned on her heel, muttering under her breath. Relieved, I slid into the room, closing the door behind me.

I hurried across the room, pulling out the dresser drawer key. Sayvren yawned loudly as I unlocked the drawer, fished the vial out of my pocket, and slid it inside.

"I'm tired, I'll see you later." He waved before disappearing.

"Thanks for the half help." I muttered, locking the drawer. I kicked off my slippers and stripped, before pulling on the nightgown.

Exhaustion washed over me as I sat on my bed. Tonight was horrible. I stretched, yawning. But at least I have something to go on if nothing else. The real question was, how soon I would be able to talk to Cassius.

I need to find an excuse to go to the castle. I shifted, laying down and staring at the ceiling. Would he actually help me though? I groaned, closing my eyes.

I hope this wasn't all for nothing.