The Garden

by Emily Shore

  I decide not to pursue him. By now, I hope Jade will be finished with Sky. Something in the way she didn’t want me present this time makes me suspicious, and everything inside me pulls me to him.

  “What are you going to do about the pool?” I ask Magnolia as we progress to the Museum.

  “It has a natural filter. The blood will have dissolved by morning. I doubt we could have managed without Neil’s help.”

  “Where there’s a will…” I deny.

  “He is kind to you. Do not take that lightly. Most men lack the quality. This is my wing.” She touches the handle of the southern wing door before her milky eyes land on my face, expression still just as barren. “Goodnight, Serenity.” Her lips touch mine, feather-light—a sister-to-sister kiss, but it reminds me of Jade’s kiss.

  Considering the events of the night, the notion doesn’t register as strange, even to someone like me. For one moment, I think I catch a glimpse beyond the silver shield that is Magnolia. Not just a reflection of myself since Magnolia seems like a mirage of a Flower. Not a broken one. No, she wrapped armor around herself long ago. Like my mother, she endures, but not as some fragile ghost. All I want to know is why? What happened to Magnolia in her past? And has the same thing happened to Jade?

  “Why are you wearing a man’s shirt, Ser?” It’s the first question Sky has for me when I arrive in the Shed.

  Looking down, I realize I was oblivious to the fact I am still wearing Neil’s token up until now. The muscles in Sky’s neck tighten, don’t settle even after I scramble to take it off like it’s some stinging nettle plant. Without answering right away, I squeeze my eyes to see better through the bars and the muted light. From here, I can see the bandages where Jade spent time healing him again. Whether the marks underneath are fresh from today or not, I can’t tell.

  “What did she ask you tonight?” I want to know.

  “Can we at least swap answers?” he bargains.

  I glance down at Neil’s shirt before turning back to Sky. “It’s a long story.”

  “I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere anytime soon.” Sky chuckles while raising one of the iron wrist cuffs anchored into the wall.

  “Don’t talk like that. I’ll get you out of here somehow. Don’t you have any faith in me?”

  “I have the utmost faith in you, Serenity. It’s the rest of the world I don’t trust.”

  “Well, right now, you can’t see the rest of the world, much less interact with it. So, why don’t you let me try rescuing you for once?”

  Sky leans back as best he can, but I can make out his wince from the wounds in his back when they meet the wall. “Have you considered I might not want you to rescue me yet?”

  “What do you mean yet? Why on earth don’t you want to get out of here?”

  Sky just shakes his head before angling it to the side to eye me, eyes softening to warm brown muslin. “Silly girl.”

  “The shirt belongs to my client.” I don’t wait a second before following with, “He gave it to me when he noticed me shivering…just before pulling the body of the Seedkeeper who attacked me out of the water.”

  “Did you kill him?” Sky inquires, planting his head on the wall behind him, eyes focused on the ceiling, but I imagine his ears are sharpened to my every word.

  “No.” I shake my head, curling up against the iron bars. “I had help.”

  “Does Luc know?”

  “No.”

  “Good. Don’t tell him.”

  “Wasn’t planning on it.” He’d probably implode thanks to that inhibitor device.

  “Tell me about this client. What’s his name?”

  “Neil. Neil Bloode.”

  “Never heard of him.”

  I brace the bottom of my hand against one of the bars before dragging my thumb down an edge. “He has an all-access pass to any Museum in the country. One of those digital barcode tattoo deals. I don’t know much about him other than he’s well-connected, and he wants to deal with some new disease that’s sweeping the nation.”

  “Diseases and drugs have swept the nation since they gave a green light to the industry.” Sky nods, understanding. “Any idea what he’s planning?”

  “No.” I can smell faint traces of salt in the air. Imagine it’s from his dried sweat. Soon, the entire Shed will smell like Sky. “He wants to trust me. He’s taking things slow.”

  “Slow is good. Just let me know whenever you find out anything new.”

  My turn for a question. “How do I know you’ll be here for that long?”

  Sky looks away from the ceiling, eyes hemming in on mine. “What do you mean?”

  “The Seedkeepers…they’re all trained to respond to Jade’s voice. They’re just dead to everyone else. Like blank slates, Sky. Like she hollowed them out and is keeping their souls in jars while their ghosts guard the Garden.”

  “Nice analogy.”

  “How do I know you won’t become like that?”

  “Now, who’s lost faith in whom?” Sky counters with a snort, shaking his arms out.

  “I’m serious.”

  He expresses a half-groan/half-sigh before replying, “Jade won’t be turning me into a Seedkeeper any time soon. Not until she has her way with me.”

  I practically snarl at the words, scratching my nails into the bars before I slam a hand against them. “How long can she possibly keep this up?”

  “Oh, she’s very patient. She enjoys the buildup.”

  “And you?”

  “Am I patient? Oh, you wound me.”

  “How long can you possibly keep this up, Sky?”

  His eyes remind me of a forest after a fire—deep, enduring, and ready with the onslaught of rebirth when he responds, “As long as it takes.”

  “Takes for what?”

  Sky doesn’t answer.

  17

  F o r G e t M e N o t

  After the incident with the Seedkeeper, Jade takes extra care with her Flowers. Magnolia’s plot has worked like a ripe garden. No Flowers are suspected, and because of his death, Jade is screening clients more than usual. Her budding stress leads her to visit Sky more often, but thus far, no one has caught me in the Shed after hours. Every time I sneak inside, the iron bars seem more and more like a growing mountain. Luc joins me for dinner every evening while mornings are reserved for Nightingale…and Snowdrop, who is becoming quite popular. Other Flowers have welcomed her. They teach her all they know about body painting and makeup. No one ever bothers to approach me thanks to Jade’s insistence on tutoring me alone.

  “Notice the way I paint one side while leaving the other emptier to entice?”

  I can’t focus on anything Jade is saying. No eye for design, no patience for art. I can appreciate it, but I will never learn it. Her attempts to school me in seduction have failed. The notion wages a war within me. It would be too simple to master it, especially considering Jade’s words…The sight of your body alone is enough to seduce, Skeleton Flower.

  With Magnolia’s mirage next to my naked self, I feel less vulnerable. Our secret has knitted us together.

  Jade begins at the apex of my forehead, painting tiny white flowers down to the bridge of my nose, curving along my right cheek and one side of my neck, painting them to the precise dimensions of a Skeleton Flower until it looks like clumps of them decorate my chest on that side until they curl around to my left hip.

  Next, Jade paints white in the area between my thighs, imitating vines coming around the base of my spine. Fortunately, she also adds a bottom of Skeleton Flowers all strung together. They are synthetic, designed not to wilt but advanced enough to mimic real Skeleton flowers so they will still turn translucent. At first, I’m afraid she is going to leave me completely bare on the left side of my chest, but she directs Magnolia to finish. Magnolia paints a few lone Skeleton Flowers over my breasts. At least it’s better than nothing. Diamond dust speckled across the paint completes my ensemble.

  “All this is bioluminescent and waterproof,” Jade
informs me. “Magnolia will help you remove it with the right ointments later. Now, let us see to that hair.”

  This time, my exhibit is dark. Music low and ominous with the telltale hint of thunder in the background. Spotlights splash onto my body before every thunder crack. Less like the Skeleton Flower and more like the lightning, I step off the stones to the beat of soft drums with my feet gliding across the glassy floor beneath the surface. Not long before the rain begins its slow, steady drip, drip, drip.

  As required, I stray close to the windows first before wandering back to the center, but then, thunder rumbles, timed to the rhythmic symphony bellowing through the speakers. And I feel it. Feel the bass resonating through the floor into my feet. And the choir of soprano voices chanting sings in my blood. My inner lightning tickles a current into my fingertips, and I reach down into the water, cupping it and letting it loose. Water droplets flee my hands, and I lift them, swaying back and forth to the music as rain pirouettes with me. Some sort of motion-sensing rain that mimics me. My dance is nothing gentle. It’s ferocious. Hands slap the water, launching rivulets into the air, braided hair lashes the stones until I finally crash to my knees and fall into the water. I shoot all the emotions from this week. Tonight, floating in just the few inches of water is enough. Freeing my hair, I close my eyes and let the strands swarm the water around me like some undine seeking her human soul.

  A few minutes later, Jade wrings out my hair, then provides me with a towel and motions for me to follow. Only, it’s not to a nearby room but the elevator. She seems surprised when I don’t ask her any questions.

  “No curiosity tonight?” Jade practically purrs.

  I shake my head. “He referred to selecting a different location.” Besides, I am trying to gather all my nerves. They’re ready to flutter right out of my skin because I’ll finally get the chance to learn more about my sister tonight. And perhaps even more tomorrow.

  Composing herself, Jade faces the steel elevator doors, voice monotone. “After tomorrow night, your exhibits will repeat. Much of the international clients come here for a week or two before departing overseas again. Mr. Bloode is the exception. He has reserved a month’s stay. I imagine he has business in the area.”

  When the elevator doors open, Jade announces, “Hopefully, third time’s a charm, Skeleton Flower. Perhaps he has had this location in mind the whole time. A prime place for plucking, I must admit. You have the advantage of more romance than many of my Flowers. Do not waste it,” she advises me, her voice sharper than a grindstone.

  She is wasting her time. At least, I hope she is. Despite Neil’s words to me, another voice cows to Jade. Is he just leading up to the inevitable? The location she referred to is the subterranean pool—the grotto where the Seedkeeper attacked me just a week prior. Already swimming, I watch as Neil plows through the water, muscles raking it back before he rises upon my entrance, hands smoothing his dark locks away from his face.

  “Thank you, Madam Director.” He keeps his words to her pointed and brief, and I watch her return to the Garden. “Serenity…” His voice softens like fleece on snow. “I have secured the remainder of the night, so we won’t be disturbed.”

  Alarm tolls inside me, but I suck it back, lasso it into my bones instead of letting it take hold of my blood. On his next words, I settle, lift even.

  “Would you care to join me for a refreshment?” He moves through the water, gesturing to the silver platter on the pool’s edge, which houses an edible arrangement of fruit, cheese, and a bowl of chocolate.

  Shedding some of my alarm, I approach the edge of the pool and kneel before sliding my legs into the water and helping myself to a strawberry while clumping the towel around my chest. Just as I bite into the fruit, the knowledge he could be naked sours the sweet juice a little.

  “Glad to see the incident from last week has not summoned up a water phobia for you,” Neil observes while planting his chest against the stone and grabbing a pineapple wedge.

  “Nothing will ever make me afraid of the water.” I stick my finger into the liquid chocolate, swirling it around.

  “Yes, you don’t strike me as one who scares easily.” He raises his index finger to his lips and watches as I bring mine to my mouth and suck off the chocolate. “That is the kind of girl I’ve been looking for. Another rarity in this day and age. Most girls are bred to be one of two things—empowered or submissive. Either way, the giving of their bodies is required. You are an exception.”

  “And why have you been looking for such a girl?”

  “Now, that is a question that requires much explanation. But I doubt it’s really the one you want to ask.” He reaches out and scoots my towel upward, thumbing my thigh’s birthmark in reminder. As if I need one.

  “What is she like?”

  “Intriguing…” Neil comments before stationing his hands on the stone right next to me. “I expected you to ask how I know her or where she is.”

  “What is her name, Neil?”

  He drums his fingers on the stone. “Her name is Bliss, but Force calls her Mara.”

  “Mara…” I sample the word, let it roll off my tongue, but I don’t like it as much as Bliss.

  “Yes, it means bitter despite how Force dubbed her the opposite in the beginning. Even the well-known market drug is inspired by her. That was Force’s doing.” I pick up on the loathing in his voice, the way his brows dive low when he says my father’s name.

  “Do you know Force?”

  “More intimately than I care,” Neil responds with ease. “But would you rather hear more about him or your sister?”

  I blink once, waiting.

  “She is nothing like you. Once I heard of the Swan’s Garden showcase through an associate, I knew I would spend my holiday here if only to see if what Force said regarding you is true. Your encounters with him left quite an impression. You see, Bliss isn’t suitable for my purposes. Not that Force would ever allow her to leave the penthouse. She is far too…subdued for the world in any case. Not like you.”

  I narrow my brows, listening as he continues. “What she lacks in spirit, we both know you possess. She doesn’t spit out Force’s poison like you do. No, she has sucked it since she was a child, savors the sting of it to this day.”

  Just like my mother.

  “Where are Kerrick and my mother?”

  “Do you want the sugarcoated version or the cold hard facts?”

  “Both at the same time.”

  Neil chuckles and turns around so his back frames the ledge. “Good girl. You know me well. Your father is making up for lost time with your mother, but he’s taking it slow. Introducing her to the world of the Temple as it is today. When he’s not pleasuring himself with her company or bribing government officials or tending to his infinite Temple stocks, he does one of two things—oversees the management of the Aviary or searches for you. You are becoming quite famous. Smugglers and bounty hunters all over the country are jumping at the chance to reap a reward for you.”

  “So, why haven’t you taken up such an opportunity?” I wonder, my tone condescending.

  His smile supercharges, and Neil motions to the water. “Swim with me.”

  Before I can so much as protest, Neil dives beneath the surface, and I watch his body glide under an arch outside to the deeper section. Where Magnolia killed the Seedkeeper. Well…at least it’s dark. Not so much as a moon on this night—sky milky with clouds and no stars to wink through the thick netting. Sighing, I surrender the towel to the stone and ease into the water, following him but lingering under longer. Curling my legs into my chest, I exhale bubbles through my nose so I can sink lower until I can’t see or hear anything but black. I’m hunkering down in the bottom of an inkwell with my hair coiling all around me like loose spider web strands.

  That’s when I feel the hand tug on my arm, yanking me to the surface. Far too early. So, as soon as my head skims the surface, I shove his chest hard and balk, “I wasn’t finished!”

  Stung,
Neil holds up his hands in defense. “Well, well…my apologies! You were already under for a good three minutes.”

  “I can hold my breath for at least five. I’ve practiced every day since I was little.”

  We both tread water, but Neil moves his body in a semi-circle in front of me. “Color me impressed.” He twitches, flipping a silvery lock off his cheek.

  “Are you going to tell me what you want with me?”

  “So demanding, aren’t we? Especially when we have the entire night…”

  Just off to my left, I catch something white out of the corner of my eye. A Skeleton Flower. Scanning my arms and legs, I notice a few there have managed to fall off and float, reminding me of small cotton tufts. All I care about are the ones on my chest and the ones covering my bottom half—even if Neil is naked. As soon as I feel the water shift before me, I flick my head back to find him not more than a couple of inches from my face. Enough for one of my treading legs to swat his by accident. He doesn’t try to touch me, but he does pick up a floating Skeleton Flower and toys with the petals.

  “Such a remarkable Flower. One I can have much use for.”

  “You said not physically,” I remind him without backing away.

  “Forgive my curiosity…” Neil tosses the flower behind him before declaring, “I’m far too familiar with Bliss. She fosters my curiosity. You reject it. And I can’t help but wonder why. There must be something more because it’s not fear. When I do this—” He demonstrates by snaking an arm around my bare waist, pelvis crushing my hips, taut chest grinding into mine.

  “Get your hands off me!” I thrash against him, but Neil lifts an index finger to my face.

  “There it is! More than anger, it’s pride. Because no man deserves to touch you. Isn’t that right, Serenity?”