Page 24 of Petals for Vicious Secrets

Lenna looked through the window of the waholt at the houses they were passing at a vertiginous speed. She couldn’t help but acknowledge the advancements that made the floating vehicle incredibly comfortable for its passengers. Even at such speed, she could not even feel a tremor or a noise. The only way to be mindful of the distance they were traveling was by looking outside.

Her chest felt small as she observed the buildings where people lived in the suburbs of the North Petal, each second farther from the North House grounds and its closest city: Borealia. As they approached the Organ Core, the circle-shaped territory in the middle of Thyria that held the Organ House in in the middle of the capital, Corentre, the scarcity of trees or nature because of lack of space between the cramped half-broken buildings made Lenna feel breathless. That people lived like this when her father's gardens and any of the Elite's rich-ass manors could accommodate hundreds of citizens... It just wasn't right. Maybe when it would be Lenna's turn to rule, she could change something.

“I can't stand it.” Ayla sighed from the opposite side of the wagon, shutting down her curtain with a sharp movement. “Can anyone please remind me why people choose to live in these abhorrent, disgusting places again?” she asked in a bored tone, while examining her manicured nails.

From the comfortable sofas around the delicate table in the center of the wagon, their father cleared his throat. A warning to Lenna to keep her mouth shut. They had heard her thoughts many times in the past.

Lenna snorted. “They live like this because their Ruler allows it,” she said, looking at her father with a hateful smile. “This father of ours, I mean. The one sitting on a couch that costs more than a dozen of those barracks.”

Father interlaced his hands on his lap and looked at Lenna straight in the eyes. Him not saying anything for a few seconds made her brace herself for a storm. “We're not having this conversation today.”

“Surprise, surprise,” Lenna said ironically, serving herself a glass of scented water from the drinks cabinet. “Is this when you give us the talk about playing happy family while we're in the Organ House? Because you can spare us the lecture.”

Again, her father took a few seconds to say anything. As if it was taking a lot of effort or patience to stay calm. Lenna could feel her mother's stare, her lips curled downward and her frowned brows. Ayla was still standing tall next to the window with the curtains shut, expectant and eager to see how father was most likely going to tell Lenna off. Even with her expression, she looked stunning.

The pearl dresses the sisters wore for their Fifth Ceremony were truly astonishing. Thousands if not millions of small transparent beaded pearls covered their bodies from the neck collar to the high heeled transparent shoes. The long sleeves ended in a diamond ring around their middle finger. When Lenna had first seen it, she had thought it would be both uncomfortable and extremely revealing. They were revealing because the minuscule pearls adjusted to every single curve of their bodies, but it wasn’t exactly see-through thanks to the reflection on each round pearl. And somehow, her dress was extremely comfortable. It felt like a second skin.

Her father cleared his throat again and Lenna was about to ask him if he wanted a fucking mint when he finally spoke. “It would be convenient to be seen as a cohesive family.” Here was the talk, then. “Today is a day that will change your lives and those of everyone who lives in Thyria. The focus will be on you two.”

Ayla lifted her chin a bit more, if it was even possible. As if the fact that everyone would look at her was a welcomed challenge. Lenna was more excited about what would come after the Ceremony and becoming familiar with her magic and how to use it than the Ceremony itself. She had never been to a Fifth Ceremony before and no one had answered her questions during the past few weeks about what actually happened in there, so it was difficult to know whether it was just a lot of noise for nothing or not.

The waholt decreased its speed and finally stopped, right in the poorest suburbs at the edge of the North Petal, in front of the bridge that crossed the Jofryo River to the Organ Core. Tents made of branches and homemade bricks stood against each other, and skinny, barefooted children had paused their ball game to look at the majestic vehicle in front of them. Waholts were only used by the Elite or the Rulers around Thyria, and even though some families liked to use them frequently, especially amongst the Elite, they were unusual enough to make a bunch of kids stare at them. Technically, they were staring at the technological pomposity of the metallic floating vehicle, not at the people inside, since the windows were one-way only.

The driver's voice resounded through the speaker, so they could all hear what he was communicating to the security staff at the borders of the Organ Core. "Waholt N462 requesting permission to enter the Organ Core at 10:47 ante meridiem on Sunday fifth of May. Five passengers on board, all alive and in good condition." Lenna cringed at the need to specify their living condition. The driver continued, "Passenger Jasper Brachyan, birth panom, Ruler of the North House of Thyria. Passenger Veronica Brachyan, acquired panom, wife of the North House Ruler. Passenger Lenna Brachyan, human and panom-to-be, first daughter of the North House Ruler and heir of the North House. Passenger Ayla Brachyan, human and panom-to-be, second daughter of the North House Ruler. Passenger Anton Gerdan, human, driver of the waholt, speaking."

The silence that followed was tense. Lenna knew what the tight lips of her sister meant. How much Ayla hated to have been born second, by mere minutes, and therefore the second everything. Second daughter, second in line, second on the list. Maybe one day she’d grow out of it, but for now it stung her sister like a bunch of thorns thrown at her face.

Lenna was not happy with what she had just heard because her mother, her sister and herself had been defined in relation to her father. Wife of, daughters of. As if they were no one by themselves. As if they were not worth a title, were it not because they were the relatives of the male figure of the North Ruler. As if they somehow belonged to him. She would have wanted to see how the South House members would have been described, as the Ruler was a woman. Would her life partner then be defined as “husband of the Ruler of the South House”?

The intercom broadcasted a female voice granting permission.

They started crossing the border, and got a glimpse of the kids waving goodbye to the waholt while jumping up and down laughing, ready to resume their ball game on the street. A sudden warm feeling like going underwater but not getting wet was the sign that indicated they were officially in the Organ Core.

Ayla opened the curtain next to her with excitement in her face, like a child the first time that sees a rainbow in the sky.

Ayla exhaled deeply, savoring their surroundings with pleasure. “This is much better”, she said with a grin. The waholt drove across the Organ city, Corentre, slowly, probably because of speed restrictions, but it left them contemplating everything around them as if they were having a touristic visit.

Elegant buildings lined carefully along the clean, long streets that lead to the Organ House in the very center. Most were white, their entrances showing wide wooden or metal doors decorated with beautifully carved details of flora from Thyria.

The gardens and fountains in front of some buildings were impressive. It would take a handful of gardeners on a regular basis to keep them so beautiful. So alive. Floral trees in full bloom bordered the sides of the streets, and the gentle wind seemed to play along, occasionally sending red, orange and pink petals to the air. Like a warm-colored rain under a sunny sky. Lenna couldn’t help but wonder if this beautiful weather was the fruit of some panom influence. Regardless, it was probably one of the most beautiful views she had ever seen.

The citizens, most well-accustomed Elite members and very well dressed, walked smoothly, with no rush. As if life could wait for them.

“I want to live here,” said Ayla with a sigh, leaning her hand on the window as if trying to absorb as much as possible.

“Well, you are going to live here for a while,” their mother muttered, also looking through the window.

“What?!” A hopeful Ayla and an incredulous Lenna looked at their mother.

Father cleared his throat. Again. “We are not saying anything, Veronica.” His voice was firm.

“What the fuck do you mean, you are not saying anything?” Lenna spat. “Ayla is going to be living here, and you are not saying anything?”

“We are not saying—” her father started.

“You too, Lenna,” her mother cut.

Lenna didn’t know whether to laugh or shout at them. Was this some sort of pre-Fifth novice joke? It couldn’t be true. “Very fucking funny,” she said.

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