Page 28 of Petals for Vicious Secrets

“Someone came after you were born. I thought they were going to take you from me, and I was ready to kill them. But they said they had orders from the Organ House to scan you.”

“To scan me?” Hope held her breath.

“With a compassom,” Aurora clarified, her voice almost audible. “You have the panom mark, Hope. At the back of your neck.”

Hope felt the floor was unstable and thanked the Fifth for already being sat down. Was that her ears buzzing or had the woods gone silent? She looked at the compassom with wide eyes, realizing exactly what anyone would see if they placed the device at the back of her neck. Understanding the implications of such a mark.

“They discarded us because I was proof,” Hope concluded with a knot in her guts.

“You were the evidence of a Ruler’s infidelity, yes. And you were a risk for the magical system of Thyria. Any panom-to-be is a liability for the system.”

Was that what she was, then? A panom-to-be? Hope wasn’t sure she knew what to do with that information. If she even wanted to do anything with it.

“How did the Organ House find out about you? About me?” her voice was almost a whisper.

“Because your father is its Ruler. His name is Rhei Coralt. He’s the Organ Mandor of Thyria.”

Hope was plaiting Nina’s shoulder-long hair without paying much attention. Her hands moved subconsciously, the movements as familiar as walking.

Nina almost choked on her apple when Hope explained the conversation with Aurora. “I can’t believe you are a panom-to-be and the daughter of the Organ Mandor,” Nina said, shaking her head, her ocean-colored eyes so wide Hope could see white all around them.

“I can’t believe she knew and didn’t tell me,” Hope sighed, finishing the simple yet beautiful braid.

“I know,” Nina stayed still while Hope caressed the loose strands of her white hair.

Hope had expected whatever her mother kept from her to be something big. Maybe not this big, but something hurtful enough that Aurora avoided the subject and shut her emotions during years.

“I understand she didn’t want to explain about my father and what happened between them and so on, but that she also forgot to tell me I am a panom-to-be, seriously? Not to mention I didn’t even know what a panom was until you mentioned it the other day, for Fifth’s sake.” Betrayed. That’s exactly what she felt.

Nina turned around to face her. “I know exactly what you feel.”

Hope looked at her warily. Her friend’s face showed empathy and understanding. Deep understanding.

As if reading the silent questions in Hope’s mind, Nina clarified, “My parents never told me what they were really working on at the North and West Houses. I never got the chance to ask them before they disappeared.”

“Are they here?” Hope’s brows raised.

Nina shook her head. “My brother didn’t find them in Verdania and I had no better luck. My best guess is that they are dead.” Nina sighed, as if she didn’t know which option would be worse.

“Cardinals. I’m sorry,” Hope said.

“I wonder if it is related to why Raoul ended up discarded here, you know?” Nina wiped the corner of her eye, looking at the reddish sky above them as night was nearing. “Have you tried the compassom?”

Hope took out the transparent square from her pocket. “No, I haven’t.” Not that she could see the back of her neck even if she had tried.

“Do you want me to try?” Nina asked with raised eyebrows that did not hide her excitement.

Since her mother had already told her what she had there, it made little difference to have Nina check, she guessed.

“All yours,” Hope handed the compassom to Nina without a second thought. Right before any possible regret set in.

Nina’s warm to touch hands gently moved Hope’s dark hair from her back to lean on one of her shoulders, leaving the back of her neck exposed. Hope’s skin felt tight against the touch of such a sensitive area.

“I am so nervous. I hope it doesn’t explode or something,” Nina chuckled somehow hysterically.

“As long as we don’t explode with it,” Hope laughed.

Nina exhaled. “Here we go.”

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