It reminds me of when they try to remember details from when they were growing up. They trail off and get confused on what they were talking about after a sentence or two, and then completely forget they’d been on the subject in the first place. I’m the only person I know of who has ever researched any of our history. I can’t help but think there's some reason I’m able to remember things from our past, but no one else can. Maybe it has something to do with age. I am younger than them...
Last time I mentioned the thistle was in a text thread with the guys and it feels like they all just glanced over the words. Fuck it, worst case I’ll just waste a few breaths trying to get the info out. “Do you guys remember me ever telling you about the legend revolving around Queen’s Thistle?” I pause to see if pigs learned to fly today... nope, not today. Marcus and Alex offer shakes of their head, and a spark of recognition lights in Klaus’ eyes before they glaze over.
I continue on with my story, “I was reading through some of the history books which Marcus said I could borrow from his uncle’s library during one of the times we had to debrief Silas. The first time I’d come across a mention of it was from a journal that the third son of one of the first Alpha leaders wrote. Within it, he talked about a plant that in small doses would provide a euphoric sensation, but in large doses it would act as a magical syphon and deplete the person of their magic.
“They quickly realized the temporary depletion of one’s magic meant they became almost human. The individual could die because the magic wasn’t able to keep them alive through rapid healing. Shortly after the discovery, there was a prophecy which named the plant as Queen’s Thistle.” I scan the guys to see Alex and Marcus are both following along, but Klaus still has the vacant glaze in his eyes. Well, I still have two out of three, I guess I’ll take it.
“Once I found the name of the plant, I pulled every book I could find talking about it in Silas’ library. I was drawn to the story like a moth to a flame, convinced there was some kind of underlying significance to it. I finally found a book on old prophecies. Within it was a reference to the vine.
“It said Queen’s Thistle only grows in the lands of our origins, and would never thrive anywhere else unless the plant chose its first Queen to protect. The prophecy was more of a warning. It was said the Fates had forbidden it to be used against the Queen, and if it was ever used to betray her, she’d become immune to its effects along with her mate, and the plant would then choose to defend her. Basically becoming a weapon no one would realize was there, until it was too late.
“Once the plant chose to protect the betrayed Queen, it would grow wherever she was to act as a safeguard to anyone touched by magic, with malicious intent against her.” At this point, the two who are still following along appear riveted with my story.
“So what you’re saying is this Queen’s Thistle is basically a drug, until someone overdoses on it at which point it becomes a poison?” Alex asks for clarification. Yes! Finally someone has followed along long enough to get what I've been saying regarding our history.
“Exactly right!” I clap my hands together filled to bursting with excitement for something I lost hope in ever happening. The sound startles Klaus from his stupor.
“It sounds like modern day Kryptonite for Superman or wolfsbane for werewolves!” I roll my eyes, Alex and his never-ending movie references. What a geek.
“Yeah, pretty much,” I answer him. Marcus nods his head, a move he does when he starts to put everything together.
“So what you’re trying to say, is you believe one of our former Queens was betrayed with this Thistle and that's why it was growing over the area where the bunker was?” I glance down at Princess’ face, still laying against his chest. The moment Marcus realizes what I think, his body stiffens and his arms flex around her. He takes in a sharp breath. “No. We would know if she was one of us. There’s no way she could hide it, and not to mention she wouldn’t be in a coma.”
He does make some good points. “What about no one being able to remember what happened to the last of the Royal family? They all just disappeared, no one can even remember what they looked like or what their names were. We only remember they disappeared and someday, they’re supposed to come back.” Crap, I hope this isn’t something that I’m the only one who remembers.
All three guys nod their heads. “What’s with the random mention of the lost Royals for?” Klaus asks. We all stare at him like he’s a bit nuts for not following along.
“Klaus, come over here and touch Princess. I want to test something,” Alex instructs him.
“Ugh. Do I have to?” Klaus responds, but it’s lacking the conviction behind it to be completely convincing. He gets up from the couch and walks over to them, and puts his hand on her head. All three of them jump at the same time and Klaus shakes his hand.
“What the fuck was that? Felt like I got electrocuted. You know, when you get zapped and it tingles like you hit your funny bone? Damn.” He rubs his arm trying to get the prickles out of his skin.
Alex speaks up, “Yeah, dude, I felt it too. I mean there’s typically a slight buzzing feeling when I touch her, but it’s increased when it’s two of us touching her at the same time. That was borderline uncomfortable... let’s try it again.”
With a slight grunt, Klaus steps forward again, and this time he sticks out his pointer finger to touch her. “Seriously, Klaus? You aren’t E.T., balls up and touch her,” Alex goads him.
“Balls up and touch her? You sound like such a creep,” Klaus retaliates, although he isn’t wrong.
“You know what I meant, Klaus, you don’t have to pervert it.” Alex does look a bit ashamed though. Klaus huffs a breath and places his hand on her head like he did the first time. The three of them let out synchronized sighs when they don’t receive the same jolt as the first time.
“Feels like bees buzzing around under my skin now, but not too unbearable,” Marcus voices the comparison out loud for the other two. “What was it you were wanting to accomplish with this, Alex?”
Alex stops staring at Princess and glances at each of us quickly. “Oh yeah, sorry the shock distracted me. We were talking about Queen’s Thistle…”
“Holy shit!” Klaus’ exclamation cuts Alex off. We all peer at him expectantly. “As soon as he said ‘Queen’s Thistle’ it’s like I got smacked in the face with the whole conversation you just had. Like it finally processed in my brain. Such a fucking weird sensation.” I notice his hand is now softly playing with her hair. Yeah, he sure dislikes her, insert eye roll.
“Now the question is, will any of you remember the information if you aren’t touching her,” I point out. Honestly, all this goes into making a stronger case toward my theory.
Alex nods in agreement. “You can go sit down, Klaus, seeing as how you don’t want to touch her anyways.” Klaus hasn’t fooled Alex either with his protests. A frown flashes across Klaus’ face, before he schools his features again and takes his seat.
“Has anyone seen the Queen’s Thistle again, since the bunker?” Marcus questions.
“I haven’t but to be honest, I haven’t been keeping an eye out either. We’ve been traveling so much lately, I’d be surprised if it had any time grow.” I try to recall if any of my research ever talked about how long it took the plant to start growing, but I come up blank.
“Have any of you ever been close to having your magic drained? I can’t think of a single occurrence of being close to empty. Can you imagine how that would feel?” Klaus shudders at the thought, and I can’t say I don’t agree with the sentiment. My thoughts instantly go to all of our kind who’ve begun to lose their abilities to shift over the past several centuries. I wonder if it’s due to Queen’s Thistle. Or maybe some other plant with similar effects...
Although, thinking back to my research, to this day I haven’t found another reference of anything being able to drain magic from a wielder. Well, aside from natural means of depleting it through exertion.
