springfever

The changes started slowly, much like the start of spring. Almost unnoticable, they begin, creeping up from behind untill you see signs of it everywhere.

Fields of Heather never noticed the changes.

Leaning over one of her flower beds, Heather idely pushed a strand of hair, which unknown to her, had started growing faster, thicker, and shinery, back behind her ear. Frowing,she pursed her lips, unaware that they were redder and fuller then before. Leaning back, Heather stretched her back, reaching her arms above and back over her head, equally oblivious to the eyes watching her.

Kai13 had noticed the changes.

He stood in the shade, watching Heather work. He frowned, noting the small, subtle changes. Her skin was a darker, leafier green, the yellow highlights on her cheeks were brighter, her eyes were a darker shade of violet, and her moves... Was it his imagination, or were her movements becomeing more sensual? The way she walked, tossed her hair back, even the way she ate seemed more fluid, more graceful.

And she remained blind to these changes.

He had tryed to talk to her about them several times, but she kept insisting nothing was different or that he must be seeing things. "You must be getting too much sun, it's messing with your eyes." she had giggled to which he had replyed, "The dead do not get too much sun."

Sighing, Kai13 watched Heather walk away. He didn't know what was happening to her, but he was going to find out.

*****
An unmistakeable shape sliped from the shade of a lilac bush. It glided threw the tall grass, with less sound then a whisper. Heather closed her eyes, letting the warm morning sunlight wash over her. She didn't know why, but she felt compeled sit here, the sun light warming her. She pulled her knees up, wrapped her arms around them and rested her chin on them . Her hair fell down around her face, nearly reaching the ground.

Something cool caressed the back of her leg. Smiling slightly, Heather opened her eyes to see the tip of a black tail disapear under her upraised legs. Dropping her hand, trailed a finger along smooth cool hide. "Hi Sid." The snake paused, turning one black eye up at her. It coiled up next to her, basking in the sun light. After several minutes, it slithered off in search of breakfast. Heather closed her eyes again, soothed by the warm beat of the sun on her skin.

Kai13 walked back out onto the balcony. He could just see Heather, threw the trees. He had to admit, she was stunning. Her skin fairly glowed in the sunlight, like polished jade. He stood there, drinking in her beauty.

Sighing, Kai13 leaned agenst the stone railing. He hadn't told anyone about his conserns, not his brothers, not the other ladies. How could they possably help? Human standerds couldn't be used with Heather. He had to get help from elsewhere and for once, he was glad of Heather's intrest in magic. He wondered how much longer it would take, he had left the message almost an hour ago.

"Oh bother, is anyone there???"

Kai13 quickly walked back inside and over to the corner of the room. There stood an old full lenth mirror.

"Is this thing working???"

Kai13 tapped the surface of the mirror. Suddenly his reflection disapeared as the glass seemed to ripple. In it's place appeared a woman. Startled she jumped back, almost falling over a chair sitting too close to the mirror on her end. She was tall and thin, with long, pale pink hair. Her skin was a soft leafy green with tan undertones. She composed herself, running her hands down her long yellow dress. "Oh my! Why I let that girl talk me into this I'll never know. By The Mother, why does she want to play with magic?" she mumbled to herself before remembering he could hear her. "Oh... you must be Kai13."

"Yes," Kai13 tryed hard not to smile, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Grove of Apple Blossoms."

She waved one hand in the air, as if waving off such formality, "OH pish-posh, call me Aunt Blossom, that's what Heather calls me. And speaking of the child, how is she? Is anything wrong?"

Kai13 looked down at the mirror's base a moment, a little uncomfertable, "Well... it's kinda hard to explain...."

*****
Heather was thirsty. Several small bottles of water lay on the floor of the store room, empty. Heather eyed up the larger gallon bottles in her small refigerator. She knew she shouldn't, those were for several exotic plants that prefured their water cold but the need was too great. She grabed one of the gallon jugs, tearing the cap off. Sitting on the cool cement floor of the greenhouse's store room, Heather upended the jug, gulping down the biting icyness she craved.

The plastic jug fell to the floor. Heather leaned back, eyes closed, the tip of her tongue catching the last drops of prescious liquid. The sweet cold spread out threw her feverish body. Her skin felt like it was on fire, her blood was flowing lava. The heat was burning threw her. Opening her eyes, Heather felt the temporary calm disapear, the heat was building again. She grabbed another jug of water.

Heather was VERY thirsty.

*****
Aunt Blossom listened calmly as Kai13 read off all of the changes he had witnessed. She nodded her head and sighed, wishing again that her niece hadn't left home so young.

"Dear boy, what you have just descibed are the early stages of The Blooming." Aunt Blossom said solumly.

Kai13 turned a little paler then normal, "Is that a bad thing?"