Testing The Vine Keeper's Love
Osprey
I paced back and forth yet again, waiting for Gerald to gain consciousness again. If I kept pacing like this, I was going to wear a path so deep into the wood flooring that I would eventually end up in the dirt below the cabin. I sighed as I forced myself to stop, turning toward Vine Keeper Annaria who was leaning against the wall with her eyes glued to me.
“Which is going to be better for Annie? For Giselda? You speak to the Goddess. Have you spoken to her about what the best option is?” I growled.
“You know that I can’t tell you what your future holds. It is against the laws that I live by,” she told me.
“But you told Annie her future,” I argued. “Or was that just your way of trying to save her? Which is exactly the same thing that I’m doing. Why am I wrong for asking how to keep her safe?”
“Because we cannot interfere with your lives. Annie was not shown her future. She was shown two visions. One for each one of the ways her life could go. She was then told that her future would depend on her decisions. I did not tell her what to do. That is on her shoulders.”
I narrowed my eyes on her. “Then do the same for me. Show me the two ways that this can go and let me decide that way.”
She shook her head. “You know it doesn’t work that way.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “It should. This is about Annie and her safety. Don’t you love her enough to risk the punishment from the Goddess?”
She sighed. “I do. But–”
“Help me save her, Vine Keeper Annaria. I know we can make this right. Please,” I begged.
She sighed as she bent down to place her hands flat on the floor. I watched in awe as vines came up out of the floor, almost instantly covering it in entirety. I stood still as some of the vines wrapped around my legs, moving up my body until they were wrapped around my throat. I took a deep breath as thorns began to press against my throat. A moment later, it pierced my neck, injecting me with something that pulled me under immediately.
*My eyes snapped open and I instantly sucked in breath when I found myself in strange woods. I looked around curiously, eyeing every little plant, searching for a familiar face. Vine Keeper Annaria stepped up next to me, placing her hand on my arm.*
*“Just watch.”*
*I stood frozen in place with my eyes repeatedly scanning the forest, waiting for something to happen. Suddenly, hundreds of animals, ranging from field mice to deer and wolves filled the clearing, obviously desperate to escape from something. I tried to sidestep the stampede but Vine Keeper Annaria held me in place. I flinched when a wolf jumped at me, easily passing through me to land behind me. As the last animals appeared between the trees, a large intimidating shadow launched itself at a small bear. It rolled, screaming in pain as the larger bear snapped its neck. Several loud cries of pain came from all around me before six bears turned around to attack the bear that killed the small one.*
*I watched in horror as the larger bear eliminated all six bears before shifting back. I stared in shock at my brother as he chuckled darkly. He reached down to put both of his hands into the deceased bears’ blood before wiping his hands all over his body. I uttered a small cry as the bears began to shift back before the vines started to cover them. I sank to my knees as I found myself staring at Scarlett and a little girl with her face. Giselda, Annie, Elena, Hannah, and our mother all laid out in front of me, crushing me even more. I looked up at Gerald as tears began to run down my face.*
*“How could you?” I asked.*
*A hand landed on my shoulder. “He can’t hear you, son.”*
*I turned my gaze to Vine Keeper Annaria. “Which choice is this?”*
*“That I can’t tell you. Come. There’s two more visions to show you.”*
*I got shakily back to my feet, wiping furiously at my face. “He’s so evil. Is there any way that he doesn’t become evil?”*
*“I can’t tell you that either.”*
*I sighed. “Of course you can’t.”*
*She patted my shoulder before the scene changed to a beautiful large house with a glorious yard sprawling in front of it. I shifted my weight anxiously, praying that this vision was better than the last one, but thinking about the Gerald that he was now, I was absolutely sure that it wasn’t going to be. When the door opened, I held my breath as Gerald, Giselda, Logan, and Annie all walked out. Logan had his arm draped over Annie’s shoulder while he chatted amicably with Gerald about sleuth business. Gerald chuckled at something he said before pulling Giselda around in front of him and putting his hand on her stomach.*
*She smiled up at him before pressing her lips against his. “Are you two going to have another cub?” Giselda asked Annie.*
*“Of course we are. We have to catch up to you two,” Logan said, kissing Annie’s cheek.*
*Annie rolled her eyes, smiling. “Well, then since you think we need to catch up, I won’t tell you that I’m pregnant.”*
*Logan’s eyes widened. “What? When? Are you sure?”*
“Annie nodded, giggling. “Mom ran the test when she was here today. I was going to tell you tonight.”*
*Logan picked her up, twirling her around in a circle, shouting with joy before setting her back down on the ground. “Oh my Goddess, Annie! That’s fucking amazing!” He turned to grin at Gerald and Giselda. “Are you guys going to be the Goddess parents?”*
*Gerald smirked. “I thought that was how this worked. You are ours and we’re yours.”*
*Annie clapped her hands excitedly before throwing her arms around Gerald’s neck and pecking his cheek. “Thank you!”*
*“Of course, sis.”*
*The scene froze and I walked up onto the porch, circling around them a few times before turning back to Vine Keeper Annaria. “So there’s a chance that something I decide could make all of them happy?”*
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