

The change in her was appalling, and no longer able to stomach it, I sent her to live in the weald, where her wildness would be welcomed. She quaffed all manner of strange fungi, herbs, and concoctions, intent on gaining some insight into the horror we both knew to be growing beneath us.

My licentious impulse gave way to a genuine professional respect, and together, we began to plant, harvest, and brew.Īs time wore on, her wild policy of self-experimentation grew intolerable.

Her knowledge of horticulturalism and its role in various arcane practices impressed me greatly. My work was interrupted, however, by a singularly striking young woman who insisted on repeated calls to the house. I had collected many rare and elusive volumes on ancient herbal properties and was set to enjoy several weeks immersed in comfortable study.
