Alex scowled. “I thought she was going to the Flower Parade?”
Archie’s eyes opened. “I forgot about that! It’s the last day, isn’t it?”
“March first. Same day every year.”
“What about you?” their mother asked. It took Alex a moment to register that her eyes were locked on her.
“Have you ever been?” asked Archie.
Alex shook her head, the knots forgotten. “Eight years down the line.”
“Why don’t you join Peri? She’s taking Natalia.”
“And Jasper?”
Archie shrugged carelessly. “Who knows what our brother’s doing.” Alex enjoyed how he looped her into being “our”, making them of shared souls.
“Even he doesn’t know sometimes.” Alex smiled.
“We’ll have a party here tonight anyway,” their mother announced. The Darby’s always held a garden party on the last night of the Flower Parade. “And stop worrying about what everyone else is doing.” She put her mug down. “If you want to go, ask the girls. I bought their dresses. I can buy you one too.”
“This late?”
She nodded confidently. “This late.”
Do I want to go?
She’d never experienced it before, simply because she’d never felt like she’d fit in. She had been an orphan and a murderous one. Pasts like that were held against people. Even Alex held it against herself. Never going to the parade was less about not wanting to go and more about not wanting to be accused of something whilst there if something went wrong.
Alex left her breakfast. She was fed up playing the victim and the monster. Today was the last day and if she didn’t join it this year she feared she never would. This year she was going to bite the silver bullet and say fuck it to the world.
◆◆◆
Natalia’s wet hair dripped down her back and her body ached the more Peri combed through it. Her cuts and scrapes had been patched but with every brush, the sensation sent electric shocks around her body.
A knock at the door. Peri yelled, “In!”
Noah’s head poked round the door. Natalia was so startled and excited at seeing him that she lept from her seat and flung herself at him before Noah stepped into the room. She wrapped into him, relieved he was safe.
Remaining in his arms as she pulled back to look at him, she said, “You’re here.”
Noah grinned, braces shining. “No thanks to you, princess.”
Peri closed the gap between them and pointed the comb towards Noah. “How do you feel?”
Noah tucked the neck of Natalia’s dressing gown back into place at her throat. She snorted and Peri glanced between the friends. Noah dropped his hand and his tone grew serious when he asked, “Can I have word, in private?”
“Whatever you have to say, you can say to me too,” Peri insisted.
“She’s a good friend,” Natalia assured him.
Noah seemed to accept that. “Is… all of this real?” His dark eyes were wide, wild, desperation visible as he waved his arms as if trying to physically grasp onto something tangible. “Is everything real? Are Creatures and Monsters really real?”
Natalia’s heart sank through her body. She was well acquainted with the slippery slope Noah was trying to navigate. In fact she was still there. Even now, she didn’t have a firm grip on the cliff edge she dangled over. But she had the truth now, her truth, despite not fully understanding it.
Without warning, Natalia thought of last night and how Jasper had carried her home. She couldn’t remember entering this house. Had she fallen asleep in his arms? The memory was unsettling. Her cheeks flamed in response and when Noah gasped, she knew the bronze dust had appeared.
“It is real,” he whispered.
Her dust had been her best option of proof. Explanations were all well and good, but Natalia remembered words had only done so much for her. It wasn’t until she’d had undeniable proof that she’d begun to accept things. Meeting his eyes, she nodded.
Noah’s face softened. “This is your life?”
She took his hands in hers. “You’re part of this now too,” she told him. “You’re not a Creature, but you’re a Human blessed with knowledge.”
“Those people don’t come along often, amore,” Peri said behind them. At some point, she’d walked away. “We call you Watchers. You’re not one of us but at the same time, you are. You can see us, be part of us, without sharing our Heavenly gifts.”
“Maybe I should get myself bitten by a Vampire or something? Really join you.”
“I’m sure Gold would like you too much,” Peri commented, wiggling her dark and well-shaped eyebrows.
“Gold?” Noah questioned.
“The Vampire who brought me here,” Natalia answered.
Noah sighed and removed his hands from Natalia’s. He smiled. “So, what’s the mission? Are we strolling around this City? Is everyone going to show off their powers in a talent contest?”
How is he handling this so well? “No. There’s a Fairy festival—”
“The Flower Parade,” Peri cut in, closer.
Natalia turned and Peri was at her side again. She was dressed in a lengthy two strapped, white to blush pink ombré dress that sat beautifully against her golden brown skin. Her cropped black hair was pinned up with pink rose clips. At her throat hung a pink necklace and a stack of bracelets clung to her left arm.
“It’s the last day,” Peri continued. “And I’m taking the Fairy.”
Noah pulled a face. “A parade? That’s not my scene.”
Peri smiled, her usually blue painted lips swapped for a gold and pink lip-gloss. “They’ll be a smaller party here tonight. The Darby’s always hold one for friends and close family as a conclusion to the Parade party. Maybe you’ll dress up for that? Who knows, you might meet someone cute.”
Noah threw Natalia a wink – she knew that to mean a “no thank you” signal on the last thing Peri had said – and then slipped out the room. He appeared comfortable, much more than Natalia had been.
The second he was gone Peri shuffled Natalia back to the chair and resumed her work.
By the end, Natalia barely recognised herself. Her long brown hair was pulled behind her shoulders, curls pressed into the ends, and a thick band of daises held it out of her face. Her lips were painted a subtle mauve, and the strapless bronze dress clung to her curves, daises stitched throughout the length of the skirt. Her heels were simple, not too high or low.
She looked beautiful.
Was this what being a Fairy meant? Was this how Fairies were supposed to look? She remembered stories of how Fairies were enchanting – what Mermaids could do with their voice, Fairies could do with their faces.
“Yes,” Peri said.
Horrified, Natalia realised she’d spoken aloud. “I meant—”
“Don’t you dare back-track!” she scorned. “You do look beautiful.” Peri’s smile was kind and warm. “And yes, Fairies do tend to be the best dressed at any event.”
Peri wasted no time and snatched Natalia’s hand, dragging her along. Archie waited at the bottom of the stairs. As the girls descended, he smiled and started snapping pictures with a camera he pulled out from his jacket – candid, action, and overly laughing shots where the girls couldn’t hold a serious smile. It all reminded Natalia of prom.
At first, she hadn’t wanted to go to the Parade. It’d taken hours of arguing to give in, mainly as Peri wasn’t about to relent. Natalia had argued because it seemed unfair for a Parade to happen after the city being ruined and lives lost. But Peri had reminded her that things like this happened all the time. Creatures constantly put their lives on the line and things didn’t always go according to plan. Everyone knew what they were getting into when they took up their Purpose – it was their life. This was no different. Life was continuing on as intended. And these festivals helped celebrate life and living.
Still, it was one of the hardest things Natalia had to accept.
Peri gave Archie a
swift kiss and sashayed past, leading Natalia out onto the streets. Someone shouted their names as a light breeze brushed their skin, and Natalia glanced back to find Alex chasing after them.
Her one-shoulder dress was a deep green, shorter in the front. A stem of pink gladiolus flowers were woven into her wavy brown hair, green leaves and all. Natalia didn’t know how she knew the flower type, she just did, as if it were natural for her to know.
Natalia turned to the city as the other girls hugged.
Banners of bright flowers were strung up between houses and streetlamps. Fallen petals were scattered along the ground and the walls were decorated with even more vines now.
“Every flower has meaning,” Peri explained as they joined a gaggle of similarly dressed people. “We wear what we want to represent or have.”
Natalia eyed the crowd. Some wore flowered dresses, some posh suits, and others in between wearing whatever fancy garments they had. They danced in what had been the City’s square, though the fountain was absent.
The girls stopped together and Peri took a white ribbon from the large pole that stood in the fountain’s place. She passed one to Natalia and another to Alex. As one, they started swinging. Somehow Natalia knew the music and the dance like it had been built into her bones.
Natalia’s heart steadily rejoiced. Her soul was living, as if for the first time she understood this was who she was meant to be. The night before washed away, taken to the clouds by the musical rhythm. She wondered how long this bliss would last, selfishly hoping it would be for a while.
“You’re wearing roses,” Natalia said at Peri.
“Pink roses,” Peri corrected as she twirled.
“What do they mean?”
They came together in the dance, their ribbons twirling round one another. “Things like grace, gentleness, joy.”
“My daisies?”
Peri smiled sweetly. “Innocence and new beginnings.”
“Oh.” Natalia looped round Peri and collided with her, their backs touching. “And Alex’s flowers?”
Alex danced with another girl, their laughter inaudible but evident on their faces. Peri answered, “The gladiolus represents strength.”
Peri was right. The flowers didn’t just have meanings for what they were. They had meaning to each person.
The music changed. Natalia unhooked herself from Peri to twist and twirl round other Creatures as the dance required, holding her dress so she wouldn’t trip or rip the material.
Innocence and new beginnings, she thought, how fitting.
In just over a week, Natalia had come so far. From seeing a giant scorpion, a wolf, and a dead body in the rain, to being attacked by an over-powered polar bear, to dancing in a City she’d been locked away under. Her mind almost couldn’t keep up. So many things had happened in so little time, days in fact. It was like the world couldn’t wait to bring her into the fold, and right now, she was flying through it willingly.
Natalia wanted to be a part of this despite knowing there would be hardship like last night. But, what life didn’t have something? This was who she was. Her new beginning. She was a Creature – mind, body, heart, and soul. She wanted this life and it belonged to her.
Eventually, the dance ended. Thunderous applause broke out. Peri moved through the dancers towards her, pink-cheeked and grinning. From all her years of dancing, Natalia’s heart was elated to finally be blessed enough to do what it loved again, though her injured leg ached in protest.
“Have you done this before?” Peri asked, fanning her face with her hand.
“I used to dance ballet,” Natalia admitted.
Peri stopped still. “You never told me!”
“In case you’ve forgotten, we’ve had other things to worry about. Dancing was at the bottom of my list of things to admit.”
“Speaking of admissions.” Peri’s demeanour changed. Her left hand went near her stomach while her right stump lay against her chest where her heart was visibly beating under the skin. “I need a drink.”
Natalia could’ve sworn Peri was about to say more, but when she didn’t, Natalia didn’t press her. “What about Alex?” she asked instead.
“I’m fine,” Alex said, appearing out of the crowd. She indicated to the girl at her side. “This is my friend, Farai. We met back when we were orphans here.”
Farai grinned, her gaze showing no shame of her past. Natalia smiled back, as did Peri. Natalia couldn’t help but admire the girl’s white-silk dress and the way the fabric hung off her curves, complimenting her rich onyx skin perfectly. Her black hair was tied up into a sleek ponytail, white earrings and silvery white eye-shadow matching the gown.
“We’re just going to spend the afternoon dancing and catching up. I’ll meet you at home later,” Alex promised. Farai waved and then they were rushing off, their fingers tangled together.
Natalia took Peri’s hand and led the way through the crowd, pretending to know where she was going and pushed through anyone in the way. Peri bumped into a young girl, who she called Kei – Peri didn’t explain who she was exactly, only that she was a family friend, though Peri didn’t look too pleased to see her – and apologised before they made off.
Eventually, the girls approached a wooden stand occupied by an older woman and a young boy. Natalia asked for two drinks as Peri wandered off. When the young boy handed over what looked like cloudy lemonade, Natalia realised she had no way to pay them. What even was the currency in Atlantis? Regardless, she’d foolishly left her money at home. But the boy wouldn’t let her refuse. He handed over the large cups and smiled, saying thank you for the service.
Open mouthed, Natalia walked away searching for her friend.
Peri was perched on a wall belonging to someone’s front garden. Natalia passed her a drink and sat beside her, careful not to fall backwards, and wondered if the homeowner would find and scold them.
“They wouldn’t let me pay,” Natalia told her.
Peri laughed, sipping her drink. “They wouldn’t. Everything’s free when there’s a party.” She sipped again. “Can I ask you something?”
Music flared up in the background. String instruments and what sounded like a flute were playing away. Natalia’s heart pulsed. “Of course. You’ve done enough for me. It’s about time you asked for payment.”
“There are conditions,” she warned, putting her drink down beside her.
Natalia drank. The liquid wasn’t too sour or sweet yet there was something beneath the surface that made her face and body buzz, not like alcohol did. She tried another sip and still couldn’t identify what it was.
Peri took Natalia’s silence as acceptance. “I’m not going to give you all the details yet and I also don’t want you telling anyone about what I’m asking of you.”
“Who have I even got to tell?”
“Your dad? Your friend?”
“Promise,” Natalia drew a cross over her heart. “I won’t.”
“I know we barely know each other, but I consider you a friend.”
Natalia agreed, not just because Peri had saved her life, but because she’d been there afterwards. Friendship wasn’t about how long someone had been in a life for, it was about how that time together was spent and how that person came to make the other feel and think. Peri had made Natalia feel accepted and wanted and equal.
Now was Natalia’s turn. Not just to return the favour, but to be a friend.
“What can I do?” she asked.
Peri smiled, her eyes gleaming. “When we get home, I need you to come with me to something.”
“Go with you where?”
“I told you, I’m not explaining everything, amore. Non ancora.”
“Are you sure you want me?” Natalia lowered her drink and reached out for Peri’s hand with the other as the other girl stared in silence. “Okay,” she agreed. “Wherever you want me to go, I will. But how are we going to get to wherever this thing is?”
Peri’s smile turned devilish. “Magic.”
“Just some old hocus pocus?”
“All you have to do is show up. The rest is on me. I’ll explain everything later.”
Natalia wanted to ask more, but Peri had already said there would be no explanations yet. She only hoped she wouldn’t wait too long for answers.
“How about another dance?” Peri downed her drink and stood, holding out her hand. Natalia accepted it.
They were halfway back to the dancing when Peri stopped. An older man and woman came strutting up to them. Both wore royal blue, but neither of them donned flowers, and their eyes were narrow, unseeing.
“Peri,” the woman addressed.
“Madre,” Peri replied. “Padre.” The man nodded once.
“I’m surprised to see you here,” the woman said, not sounding surprised at all. “And chi è questa?”
Peri’s grip on Natalia tightened. “This is my friend.”
“A Fairy?” The woman scoffed. “Speaking of other types,” she raised her chin, “are you still with that wretched boy?”
“Wretched boy?” Peri’s voice leaked with acid. Natalia wondered if she’d have to step in the middle of something soon and prepared herself. “Yes. That boy is still my boyfriend.”
“And we still don’t approve,” the man replied, his voice gruff as if he hardly ever spoke.
“I don’t need your approval.”
“Until you have some respect for us and yourself, buona giornata.” The woman pushed her nose into the air and the pair skulked off.
Once the couple were out of earshot, Natalia asked, “Who were they?”
Peri loosened her grip. “My parents.”
Natalia blanched. “What?”
Peri sighed heavily. “They don’t approve of Archie. They never have. To them, it’s beneath me to love someone who isn’t of the sea. To them, marriage is nothing except keeping a bloodline and following the Purpose as if they’ll receive some sort of crown and payment from the Heavens for being the last ones standing. But no one in the family, except me, really fights because once again, that’s beneath them.” Peri shook her head with disdain. “That’s the first time I’ve seen them since moving in with Archie.”
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