hand, and dragged her in his wake.

“What has he found?” Elena gasped as they all reached the same

point simultaneously.

“I don’t know. It’s not part of the Great Ballroom,” replied

Meredith. Saber was sitting up proudly in front of a bed of tall,

clustering pale lavender (deep violet) hydrangeas.

“They don’t look like they’re doing too well,” said Bonnie.

“And it’s not below any of the upper ballrooms, either,” Meredith

said, stooping to get at Saber’s height and then look up. “There’s just the

library.”

“Well, I know one thing without a question,” Damon said. “We’re

going to have to dig up this flower patch and I don’t fancy asking Ms.

Larkspur-eyes-Now-I-have-to-kill-you for her permission.”

“Oh, did you think they were larkspur, her eyes? Because I thought

of bluebells, rahthah,” said a guest behind Bonnie.

“Did she really say she had to kill you? But why?” another guest,

nearer to Elena asked nervously.

Elena ignored them. “Well, let’s put it this way, she’s certainly not

going to like it. But it’s the only clue we’ve got.” Except, I suppose, if

the kitsune meant to leave it here, but then took off in a coach, she added

voicelessly to Damon.

“So that means the show can commence,” cried one of the young