“Make it brief.” The matron pursed her lips.
Noli inwardly sighed with relief. If she could get Charlotte to the faery garden, they could speak freely. They went off. Charlotte shot her a look when she walked right past the kitchen garden.
“Cook likes the thyme from the other garden better.” She led Charlotte to the back, opened the old wooden door, and walked in.
Charlotte stood in the doorway, awestruck, as she drunk in her surroundings. “I had no idea this was here,” she whispered.
“I don’t think Miss Gregory does, either. There’s another rose garden.” Noli had found that out the hard way. “Will you tell me what’s bothering you? Please?” She picked thyme, relishing the scents of the herbs and flowers in bloom, the sensation of leaves under her fingers.
Squirming, Charlotte bent forward, hiding face in flowers. “They want to send me elsewhere. My uncle asked them to give me one more chance. If not, I’m to return home.”
“Return home? Is that a good thing?” Something seemed off.
“No, it’s not.” Charlotte’s voice broke. “Uncle Nash … hurts me. Down there. He never actually compromised me, so I’m still marriageable. But the things he did to me are far worse than being strung up on a bar and beaten with a whip, shocked, and everything else they do here.” Tears pricked her eyes and she shuddered.
Putting down her bundle of thyme, Noli wrapped her arms around Charlotte. He did what? The horrific thought made Noli cringe.
“I can’t win,” she bawled. “I don’t want to go back— either as me or some perfect, marriageable drone. Even an asylum would be better than this. But no. He won’t let me go. Why won’t he let me go?”
Noli stroked Charlotte’s hair, holding her tight. “Why did he send you here?”
“My aunt did,” Charlotte hiccupped. “She discovered what he was doing and blamed it on me—hence the flirtatious label.” For a moment she went quiet. “We could run away.”
“Escape?” Noli’s voice hushed as she gathered some flowers to go with her thyme.
“Why not?” Charlotte cocked her head.
“Where would we go?” Noli’s heart skipped a few beats.
Charlotte replied, “Anyplace but here.”
“I suppose we could go to my house. Still, escape?” The word barely passed her lips. “If they caught us … or even suspected we entertained the thought … ”
“The water room and isolation at the least. Just think about it. Do you really want to be a mindless lady? To never fly a hoverboard or read a book again?”
Actually, flying a hoverboard illegally was wrong. But to never read another book? Never learn more about plants and the way things work?
Running away was serious and could have consequences even if they weren’t caught. “Let me think about it, I’m not sure I want to end up in a detention center.”
A look of disappointment crossed Charlotte’s face. “Think fast. I’m not sure how long my chance will last.”
A rustling from near the fence made them look up. Noli’s mouth grew dry with fear and she hoped no one had overheard them.
The movement came, not from the garden’s entrance, but the other side of the fence. Someone had cleared a spot away. A handsome face peered through—a fine-looking man with long, black hair tied back in a tail and piercing yellow eyes. For some reason he reminded her of V. Though poised and polished, he still looked a bit like a ruffian—or at the very least a rake.
“I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to frighten you.” His voice sounded silky and accented. “This is a lovely garden—a faery garden, I should think.”
Noli and Charlotte moved closer together, seeking each other’s safety. “It is, isn’t it,” Noli said softly, unsure if she wanted him to go away or not.
“Do you believe in the Fae, the fair folk?” He arched a dark eyebrow.
“No, I don’t. They’re just pretty stories for children.” She nervously rearranged the flowers in her hands.
An odd smile played on his lips. “You think so?”
Charlotte went pale. “You won’t tell, will you?”
“Tell what to whom?” His smile stretched. “Besides, who’d believe anyone from here?”
After being at Findlay House for two months Noli had seen the stream of men and the occasional woman entering, the painted fancy-women strolling the gardens with men on their arms, heard groups of people laughing eerily late at night.
“It’s a house of ill-repute, isn’t it?” She shouldn’t speak to him; as soon as he appeared she should’ve grabbed Charlotte by the arm and dragged her out of the garden. That’s what a proper lady would do when approached by a man she didn’t know without a chaperone present. Just the fact he approached them meant either he or his intentions were improper. If someone should find out, they’d be punished. They were supposed to ignore the occupants on both sides of them. To talk to a patron would be worse than speaking to one of the painted ladies.
Still, there was something about him.
“More than just that. I’m Kevighn, Kevighn Silver.” Taking off his hat, he bowed. His hypnotic yellow eyes made her want to trust him, though common sense said she shouldn’t.
“I’m sorry, sir, but we should go.” Noli grabbed Charlotte’s arm and pulled her towards the gate. They took their flowers and herbs, fleeing the garden, hearts racing.
“I can’t believe we spoke to him,” Charlotte whispered outside of the walled garden. “But he was handsome.”
“That he was.” Something in him also seemed dangerous.
As long as he didn’t tell.
“Magnolia Braddock, come here,” Miss Gregory demanded at supper. Noli approached the head of the table, heart growing heavier with every step. Had that man from next door told? Had someone overhead her and Charlotte’s conversation?
“What is this?” Miss Gregory’s face became even more pinched as her thin lips pursed together in disproval. Today she wore all black which made her look spindly. She clutched Nicomachean Ethics, displaying it for the whole table to see.
“It’s a book, Miss Gregory.” Noli cast down her eyes, biting her lip. Margaret. It couldn’t have been anyone but. She must have gone through her things and found it. Her beady eyes narrowed in disapproval. “Who is Steven Darrow?”
Of course V’s name was written inside the cover in his neat hand. “He’s my neighbor, he lent me the book.”
“Ah, the neighbor boy. Why on earth would he give you such a thing to read?” Her voice dripped with disbelief.
Noli tried to compose an acceptable answer in her mind. “He’s from a scholarly family. He has no mother. Even his younger sister reads such things.”
Miss Gregory squinted, as if that might help her process Noli’s answer. “He encourages you to have Ideas and do naughty things?”
“Actually he thought taking the car was a bad idea.” Noli’s voice softened as she braced for a blow for contradicting the headmistress.
Her eyes narrowed but her boney hand didn’t fly out. “Yet he didn’t stop you.”
Of course, as a male, in her opinion, he should’ve stopped Noli from doing such things. Ugh, she couldn’t escape this horrid, outdated way of thinking.
“I’m glad you’re away from such influences. It must be because he has no mother, so he doesn’t understand how women should be. But, the real problem isn’t him giving you the book, but it still being in your possession. Not only did I take all your books, save one, but you heard the doctor say reading such things aren’t good for your current state. How did you get this?”
Noli tried not to flinch at Miss Gregory’s tone. “I’d never steal my books back, Miss Gregory.” That would be suicide. Things taken from the girls were kept under lock and key. “It was in my valise. The one I left in the sitting room by accident when I arrived. When I remembered I left it, I took the book out and hid it before I brought you the contents.”
“What? You insolent girl.” She smacked Noli across the face with the boo
k.
Tears of pain pricked her eyes. Parts of the table filled with whispers. Others simply looked on, appalled or smirking. Even the fancies paused their conversations to put a hand to their mouths in horror.
“Since it wasn’t my book, I wanted to make sure it didn’t leave my possession,” Noli whispered, eyes downcast.
“That’s deceitful, Magnolia. Hiding a book and disobeying me like that.” Her tongue clucked in disproval. “You were starting to adjust. You’ll be punished for this. Severely. Deceit and disobedience are not tolerated. Do you hear me?”
“Yes, Miss Gregory.”
She handed the book to Noli. “Tear out a page.”
Noli blinked. Tear a page out of a book?
Miss Gregory slapped Noli’s face so hard her teeth rattled. “Did you not hear me?”
“Yes, Miss Gregory.” Biting her lip, she tore the first page out of the book, hand trembling. Hopefully, V would understand.
“Throw it into the fire.” Her beady eyes gleamed with pleasure.
“I will not.” Noli bit her tongue as soon as the words left her lips, but it was too late. Miss Gregory boxed her ears. “Insolent, disobedient girl. Do as you’re told. Now.” Ears ringing, Noli threw the page into the fire, arms shaking, trying to ignore the titters and stares of the girls behind her.
“The next one.” Miss Gregory’s voice cut through the tense silence of the dining room.
When she hesitated, she got another hard smack. One at a time, she tore the pages from V’s book and watched them burn to ashes, tears of defeat streaming down her face.
Miss Gregory dragged her off to the water room by her elbow. Charlotte shot her a sympathetic look. It will be okay, she mouthed. Margaret smirked.
In the water room, Miss Gregory strapped Noli down to a table and elevated her feet as they were tied down, her hands at her sides, head placed into something so she couldn’t turn it. A cloth lay over Noli’s mouth and Miss Gregory blindfolded her. Every time she fought or screamed, Miss Gregory smacked her. Fear lay like lead in her belly making her bland dinner threaten to come back up.
Ice-cold water poured over her head. The shock of the water’s frigid temperature made her scream enabling the water to get in to her mouth and nose. It burned. As she sputtered and gasped for breath, more water came down continuously. Her body thrashed at the bonds, trying to get free. Miss Gregory smacked her again.
The cloth became suffocatingly heavy with water. Terror seized her. Suddenly, just as she thought she’d die, the cloth lifted, allowing her to breath. But only for three or four breaths.
Water choked her, drowned her. Each time when she got to the point where she could take no more, Miss Gregory allowed her to breathe for a brief moment, then continued. With the way the school was set up they might be able to hide her death for years before her mother realized something was amiss.
Her life flashed before her eyes as she gagged and choked on the water pouring through the cloth. Images of her father, her mother, Jeff, V …
Yes, she was going to die. All because she hid a book. Her mama would never know how much she loved her, how sorry she was. Tears rolled down her face as she waited for death.
The cloth rose again. Air. Sweet air. She gasped for breath. Heart speeding, she waited for Miss Gregory to put back the cloth.
But she didn’t.
“Never be disobedient again, Magnolia,” Miss Gregory warned, every word making Noli tremble in terror. “I guarantee that you won’t like the consequences.”
Noli dragged herself to the washroom. She couldn’t get over the feeling of suffocating. Of drowning. Of imminent death. Even washing her face triggered memories. Her breath became ragged, her heart raced. What kind of place made girls think they would die, choking and suffocating them, as punishment? It made the beatings seem absolutely civil.
If her mama knew, surely she wouldn’t make her stay. They’d find some way to make it right with the air patrol.
Someone entered the washroom and Noli froze. Charlotte didn’t say anything. She wrapped her arms around Noli and held her tight while she cried.
Still sobbing softly, Noli whispered one word in Charlotte’s ear. “Yes.”
Nine
The Wish
Escape plans moved slowly. The best way to escape would be from the faery garden. They could climb over the fence and into the yard of the brothel, making their way to the street from there. Noli didn’t know how they’d get to Los Angeles without any money. Nevertheless, Charlotte’s time was running out.
As she replaced the flowers in the entryway, she heard shrieks from the visitor’s parlor.
Charlotte’s shrieks.
“Please, let me stay,” Charlotte cried. “I’ll cooperate, please, let me stay.”
Noli’s heart raced so fast she feared it might beat right out of her chest. She crept towards the parlor. From the doorway Noli saw Charlotte threw herself at her uncle’s feet and begged him not to take her away.
“I am sorry, but obviously this place isn’t suited to you.” The smarmy look on the gentleman’s face reminded Noli of Dr. Martin.
“Please, Uncle Nash? Please let me stay. I beg you.” Charlotte’s plea, more sob than words, made Noli’s heart wrench.
“No.” He stood. “Now come along.”
When he reached for Charlotte, she swatted at his hands and shrieked that she didn’t want to leave. Noli watched in horror as Uncle Nash picked Charlotte up and carried her toward the door as if she were a sack of flour.
For a moment Noli thought she’d be sick.
He was taking Charlotte away for good, without even letting her say goodbye.
Pressing herself against the wall, Noli put a knuckle to her mouth, as he carried the screaming Charlotte into the entryway. Neither he nor Miss Gregory noticed her presence. The usually unflappable Miss Gregory seemed distraught, wringing her hands and asking if he’d come into her office and talk.
“Can’t I say goodbye to Magnolia?” Charlotte cried from her undignified place over his shoulder, hands flailing.
“I’ll tell her for you.” Miss Gregory frowned in a way that made deep creases on her forehead as Uncle Nash carried Charlotte out the front door.
Noli took off running right past Miss Gregory and out the front door, not caring of the ramifications. She wasn’t going to let Charlotte leave without saying goodbye.
“Charlotte! Charlotte!” she cried as she sped down the front walk.
Uncle Nash didn’t stop but Charlotte’s tear-stained face popped up eyes glimmering with life, with hope. “Magnolia!”
Miss Gregory rushed out onto the front porch in a flustered flurry of long black skirts, the matron and Dr. Martin at her side.
Noli reached for Charlotte’s hand. Failure consumed her. They’d waited too long to escape. Her friend, her lifeline to sanity in this dreadful school, was leaving for a place even worse than this. She’d never see her again. Their fingertips brushed.
“Don’t leave, Charlotte, please.” Tears streamed down her face. Dr. Martin restrained her, preventing her from gasping Charlotte’s outstretched hand. “No, let me go.” She thrashed at the doctor’s grasp. His arms tightened around her, keeping her immobile.
“Is there a problem, Miss Gregory?” Uncle Nash finally stopped. He looked down his nose at Miss Gregory, his drawl more pronounced than Charlotte’s.
“Magnolia and Charlotte are friends.” Miss Gregory’s lips pursed as she joined them on the front walk. “I thought it would be too for Magnolia’s delicate condition for her to see Charlotte leave. I didn’t realize she’d already come inside.”
Noli flinched as if a bony hand had smacked her across the face. Miss Gregory planned on letting Charlotte leave without saying goodbye.
“I see. Well, good day to you.” Uncle Nash walked towards the carriage waiting outside the tall gates, nonplussed.
“Don’t leave, Charlotte, please don’t leave.” Noli struggled against Dr. Martin, trying to break free be
fore Charlotte became lost to her forever.
Charlotte, still over her uncle’s shoulder, kicked and twisted. “Let me say goodbye to Magnolia. Please?”
“Please, let me say goodbye,” Noli shrieked in return.
“Come now, Magnolia.” Dr. Martin tried to sooth and coax her as if she were simply a hysterical female. “Let’s go to my office.”
“No.” She continued to scream for Charlotte as she watched Uncle Nash wrestle her only friend at Findlay into the waiting carriage.
Noli refused to move, even after the carriage drove away. Finally, the matron helped Dr. Martin drag her into the house and to his office. Matron held her down on the exam table for Dr. Martin.
“I’m going to give you something to calm you down so you can have a rest. Won’t that be nice?” He swabbed down her arm and stabbed her with the long, sharp needle.
She didn’t get to answer because it took effect immediately and sleep consumed her.
Kevighn hadn’t seen either girl in few days. He’d watched them quietly, looking for an opening in which to act. It also gave him a legitimate reason to frequent his favorite opium den.
Still, time was of the essence. Never before had they gotten this close to the time of the sacrifice without a girl. This uncertainty was what caused the magic to weaken. Usually, he’d found a girl far in advance. It also gave the choose girl time to enjoy her reward.
As he walked through the gates of the Red Pearl, a commotion from the school drew his attention. The girl with the red hair screamed like a harpy as some man in an expensive suit carried her to a waiting carriage. His heart sank; he’d wanted to take both girls if possible. Nevertheless, the other contained more power.
The girl with the steel-colored eyes barreled down the path, crying out for her friend. He watched in morbid fascination as the redheaded girl was forced into the carriage while they restrained the girl with the chestnut curls and carried back into the house.
Could this work to his advantage? She’d just been stripped of her dear friend. Hmmm …
He needed to catch her alone in the garden. Maybe it was time to go over the wall.
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