The Immortal Bloom – Prologue
Mia
I stare at the tiny plant in front of me, willing it to grow. Come on, little guy. You can do it. Just a little chlorophyll, a smidge of photosynthesis. Is that too much to ask?
Apparently, it is. The seedling droops pathetically, its leaves yellowing at the edges. I sigh, running a hand through my hair. This is the second attempt this month, third in the last three, and I’m running out of both patience and seeds.
“All right, you stubborn little sprout,” I mutter, reaching for my notebook. “What’s your deal? Too much water? Not enough light? Secret vendetta against botanists?”
I jot down my observations, trying to keep my frustration from seeping into my notes. Professional. Objective. That’s the key. Even if this plant is currently my nemesis.
The lab around me is quiet, the hum of equipment a soothing white noise. It’s late — or early, depending on your perspective. The sun won’t be up for hours, but I can’t bring myself to leave. Not when I’m so close to a breakthrough. I can feel it.
I glance at the dwindling pile of seeds on my workbench. When I found them in the countryside a few months ago, I thought I’d struck gold. A previously undiscovered species, with properties unlike anything I’d ever seen. The potential for medical breakthroughs, for advancing our understanding of plant biology — it’s all there, locked in these tiny, stubborn seeds.
If only I could get them to grow for more than a few days without withering.
Come on, Mia. Think. What am I missing?
I review my notes for the umpteenth time. The soil composition is perfect, the temperature and humidity carefully controlled. I’ve tried every combination of light exposure and watering schedule I can think of. And yet…
A yawn escapes me, and I glance at the clock. 3:47 AM. Great. Another night spent talking to plants instead of sleeping. My mother would be so proud.
“Just one more try,” I tell myself, reaching for another seed. “Then I’ll go home. Promise.”
As I prepare the growing medium, my mind wanders to the day I found these seeds. It was supposed to be a routine field study, just another day cataloging local flora. But there, in a secluded glade that felt almost… magical, I found them. Golden seeds, unlike anything I’d ever seen before. And when I touched them, I swear I felt a spark of… something. Energy. Potential. Life.
Of course, trying to explain that to my colleagues would be a one-way ticket to the loony bin. So I’ve kept it to myself, working on this project in my off-hours. Not that I have many of those these days.
Hours later, I’m so lost in thought that I almost miss the sound of footsteps approaching the lab. My heart leaps into my throat as I recognize the rhythm. Adrian.
Oops. I was supposed to go home hours ago!
Panic surges through me as I scramble to hide the plant and my notes. The last thing I need is for Adrian to see this. He’s already stolen my work once; I’m not about to give him another chance.
I’ve just managed to shove everything into a drawer when the lab door swings open. Adrian Brasher strolls in like he owns the place, which, unfortunately, he kind of does. Department head, rising star of the botanical world, and the bane of my existence.
“Mia,” he says, his voice dripping with false warmth. “Burning the midnight oil again, I see.”
I force a smile, hoping it doesn’t look as strained as it feels. “Just wrapping up some work. You know how it is.”
He nods, his eyes scanning the lab. I resist the urge to stand in front of the drawer where I’ve hidden my research. Act natural, Mia. You’re just a normal botanist doing normal botanist things at seven AM. Nothing suspicious here.
“Indeed I do,” Adrian says, taking a step closer. I fight the urge to back away. “Dedication is admirable. But one must be careful not to… overextend oneself.”
The threat in his words is thinly veiled, and I cool by a few degrees. How did I ever find this man attractive? The affair we had last year feels like a distant nightmare now, one I’d give anything to forget.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I say, my voice steadier than I feel.
Adrian’s eyes narrow, and for a moment, I’m sure he’s going to call me out. But then he smiles, all charm and perfect teeth. “Excellent. Oh, and don’t forget — staff meeting in my office in thirty minutes.”
I blink, caught off guard. “Really? I was thinking about heading home.”
He backs away. “Rest can wait, Mia. I expect to see you there.”
As the door closes behind him, I let out a breath long breath. My heart is pounding, and cold sweat coats the back of my neck. Something’s not right. Adrian may be a workaholic, but even he doesn’t call meetings before nine AM.
I glance at the drawer where I’ve hidden my research. I should leave it here. It’s safer in the lab, behind locked doors and security systems. But something — paranoia or maybe just good old-fashioned fear — tells me I can’t leave it behind.
Quickly, I gather up my notes and the remaining seeds. There aren’t many left — barely a handful. I hesitate for a moment, then shove them into my pocket. Better safe than sorry.
As I make my way to Adrian’s office, my mind races. What could this meeting be about? And why do I feel like I’m walking into a trap?
The halls are eerily quiet, my footsteps echoing off the polished floors. My eyes burn with fatigue, and my shoulders ache from leaning over the lab counter the last few hours. I pass by darkened labs and empty offices, each one a reminder of how alone I am right now. By the time I reach Adrian’s office, my nerves are wound tighter than a spring.
I take a deep breath, straighten my lab coat, and knock.
“Come in,” Adrian’s voice calls out.
I step inside, and immediately my sense of unease intensifies. Adrian is seated behind his desk, looking far too pleased with himself. And he’s not alone. Two men in security uniforms flank him, their expressions grim.
“Ah, Mia,” Adrian says, his smile not reaching his eyes. “Thank you for joining us. Please, have a seat.”
I remain standing, my hand still on the doorknob. “What’s going on, Adrian?”
He sighs, a perfect performance of regret. “I’m afraid I have some bad news, Mia. The board has decided to terminate your position, effective immediately.”
The words hit, and I lose my breath. “What? Why? I don’t understand.”
Adrian spreads his hands in a gesture of helplessness. “Budget cuts, performance issues… you know how these things go. I fought for you, of course, but in the end, the decision was out of my hands.”
Anger rises, hot and fierce. “This is ridiculous. You can’t just fire me without warning, without cause.”
“I’m afraid we can,” Adrian says, his tone hardening. “And we have. Now, these gentlemen will escort you off the premises. You’re not to take anything with you — all research materials and personal effects will be sent to you later.”
The security guards move towards me, and suddenly the reality of the situation hits me. This is really happening. They’re kicking me out, right now, with nothing but the clothes on my back and…
The seeds in my pocket seem to burn against my leg. Adrian’s eyes flick to my lab coat, and I see a flash of something in them. Greed? Anticipation?
He knows. Somehow, he knows about the seeds.
“Adrian,” I say, my voice shaking with anger and fear. “You can’t do this.”
He just smiles, that smug, self-satisfied smile that makes me want to punch him in his perfect teeth. “I think you’ll find that I can, Mia. And I have. Goodbye.”
The security guards take my arms, not roughly but firmly enough to make it clear I don’t have a choice. As they lead me out of the office, out of the building I’ve called home for the last three years, I can feel Adrian’s eyes on me.
Watching. Waiting.
The cool morning air hits me as we step outside, and I shiver. The guards release me at the edge of the campus, their message clear: don’t come back.
I stand there for a moment, watching the sun rise over the buildings that have been my world for so long. Anger, fear, and a strange sense of freedom war within me.
Fine.
If they want me gone, I’ll go. But they’re not getting everything.
My hand slips into my pocket, feeling the shape of the seeds. My seeds. My discovery. Adrian can take my job, my lab, but he’s not taking this.
I turn and walk away, my steps quickening as I head for the tube station. I need to get home, need to think, need to plan. As I descend into the underground, my phone buzzes in my pocket.
I pull it out, along with the seeds. For a moment, I stare at the golden specks in the plastic bag in my palm. So small.
My phone buzzes again, insistent. It’s Adrian calling, calling, calling. I don’t answer. I let the calls go to voicemail.
Then the texts start coming, each one making my heart race faster.
“WHERE ARE THE SEEDS?”
“I KNOW YOU HAVE THEM!”
“BRING THEM BACK NOW OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES!”
I stare at the screen, my mind racing.
Adrian wants the seeds. Why?
I mean, I suspected they were special. I’ve been working with them for three months and I saw the way they thrived in the wild.
Hmmm.
Now I’m sure the seeds are valuable. More valuable than I realized, if Adrian’s reaction is anything to go by. And if I run now…
I can keep them away from him. Away from anyone who might misuse them, whatever they are. I can continue my research, find out what makes these plants so special, why they called to me. And maybe, just maybe, I can prove Adrian wrong. Show him and everyone else what I’m capable of.
The train arrives, its doors sliding open with a hiss. I take a deep breath, clutching the seeds tightly in my hand.
It’s time to disappear.
As I step onto the train, my mind is already racing ahead. Where can I go? What will I need? How long before Adrian realizes I’m not coming back?
The doors close behind me, and a strange mix of terror and exhilaration light me up. This is it. No turning back now.
I find a seat, my hand still in my pocket, fingers curled protectively around the seeds. They seem to pulse with warmth, almost as if they’re alive. As if they know what’s happening and are encouraging me.
Which is ridiculous, of course. They’re just seeds. Extraordinary seeds, but seeds nonetheless.
I really need to get some sleep if I’m anthropomorphizing plant matter.
My phone buzzes again, and I glance at it. More messages from Adrian, each one more threatening than the last. I should turn it off, dump it somewhere. But not yet. I might need it, at least for a little while longer. I block his number and turn off location services.
As the train rumbles through the tunnels beneath London, I begin to formulate a plan. I need somewhere to go, somewhere Adrian won’t think to look. Somewhere I can continue my research in peace.
A memory surfaces — a small cottage my parents once rented for a summer holiday. Where was it? Some tiny village in the middle of nowhere. What was it called? St… something. St. Margaret? Helena? That sounds right. But first I’ll have to get to France. I can hide out for a while and then make my way off the continent.
It’s not much of a plan, but it’s a start. A place to hide, to regroup, to figure out my next move. And maybe, just maybe, to unlock the secrets of these mysterious seeds…
You have been reading The Immortal Bloom...
Do not trust the handsome tailor. Do not plant the stolen seeds. And whatever you do, do not fall for the man with secrets as ancient as the gods.
I’m a botanist on the run. My secret isn’t just that I stole world-altering seeds from my dangerous ex—it’s that they’re starting to grow. The charming town of St. Helena was meant to be my sanctuary, a place to hide and study my discovery in peace.
Then I meet Elias. The town’s grumpy tailor is as magnetic as he is mysterious. He watches me with stormy eyes that hold the weight of centuries, and he promises protection. But I soon learn that some secrets are buried for a reason.
When my past finds me, it’s not just an academic rival at my door—it’s a malevolent god who wants what I’ve grown. To protect me, Elias is forced to reveal his own truth: he’s Zeus, the fallen king of Olympus, and my garden is now the battleground for a celestial war.
I was never meant to be a player in a divine game. But what if the power they’re all fighting over isn’t just in the seeds? What if it’s in me?
