As I emerged into the glade of black bat flowers I reached for the lanyard around my neck and realized too late that I didn抰 have it. I抎 left it on the table in the hallway so that Persephone and Circe could have access to it if they needed it.
揋reat,?I said aloud. 揂ll the way out here with no key.?The flowers tilted toward me. 揇on抰 judge me, y抋ll.?I turned to leave when a noise caught my attention. Just a hint of a familiar voice. Persephone was speaking somewhere close by.
I slowly approached the gate and found the lock open. Persephone was still there. I hesitated but only for a second before slipping through the gate and standing still against the inner wall. I inched along until I had no choice but to step into the open square in the middle of the garden.
揑抦 sorry,?I said as I went around the corner. 揑 thought you might be done and I棓
I stopped short. A cloud of sweet-smelling smoke rolled gently out of the moon gate and covered everything in a gauzy haze. The flickering of firelight cast dancing shadows in the smoke.
I crept to the wall, peering through the opening into the Poison Garden. Persephone stood with her back to me, two blazing torches stuck in the ground on either side of a makeshift altar of black hellebore, Blacknight hollyhock, and Devil抯 Pet all tangled together, on top of which sat black candles whose flames held back some of the dark. Smoke from some kind of incense billowed over the rim of a large bowl and spilled down in ghostly sheets. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of black blooms had sprung up at Persephone抯 feet梞ore black hellebore, black velvet petunias, calla lilies, more hollyhock, black bat flowers, and dozens of others. New blooms burst to life all around as Persephone swayed side to side.
揑t is all I ask,?Persephone said, her voice wavering. 揕et it be me.?
A hand clamped down on my shoulder, and as I opened my mouth to scream another set of fingers pressed against my lips. I spun around to find myself caught in Circe抯 arms, her eyes wide. She motioned for me to keep quiet, and I swallowed my terrified scream. She moved her hand away from my mouth and peered into the Poison Garden. A look of confusion twisted her features.
I stepped back as she continued to watch Persephone. I wanted to grab the flowers I抎 come for and get out when Circe stepped into the Poison Garden.
揥hat the hell are you doing??Circe said, anger coloring her every word.
Persephone huffed. 揕eave me alone, Circe.?
揥hy are you doing this??Circe said, her voice tight, her hands balled at her sides.
揧ou know why,?Persephone said.
I suddenly felt like I was intruding on grown folks?business and turned to leave.
揧ou don抰 think we can do this,?Circe said.
I stopped and stood still.
揑 actually think we might, and that抯 an even more terrifying thought,?said Persephone. 揧ou know what the possibilities are.?
揑 don抰 know anything anymore,?Circe snapped. 揑 didn抰 think you抎 be out here doing ?this.?She got right up in Persephone抯 face. 揥hat are you saying to her? To Hecate??
揑抦 trying to do my part,?Persephone said. 揇o you know what it抯 like to feel so useless??
揢seless??Circe was sobbing. 揑 need you! Everybody else is gone!?
揘ot everybody,?Persephone said. 揂nd this is how you抣l make sure she抯 safe. That抯 all Selene and you and me ever wanted. Whatever it takes, Circe. That抯 what we said.?
Through the moon gate I watched as Circe hung her head. I left the garden as fast as I could and made my way home in the dim light of the bioluminescent plants, the smell of incense and flames clinging to me. I didn抰 have black flowers as an offering, but Persephone seemed to have it covered. Circe抯 agonized response to witnessing whatever it was Persephone was doing stuck with me, burrowed its way into my head, and rooted itself there. As I climbed into bed next to Mo, Persephone抯 words echoed in my head.
Let it be me.
CHAPTER 13
I sat at the end of my bed staring down at Circe抯 moon clock. The golden dial had passed over the waxing crescent and was about to pass over the first quarter moon. Another seven days had gone by, and the mood in the house had plummeted from tentative hopefulness to despair.
In the early evening, I sat in the apothecary after Mo had gone upstairs without eating, without speaking other than to tell me she loved me. Circe came to join me and closed the heavy door behind her. When I looked up to meet her gaze she was smiling.
揚lease tell me what there is to smile about because I really need something right now,?I said.
She stood in front of me and took my hands in hers. 揑t抯 time.?
I stared blankly at her. 揥hat??
揈verything is wrapped up. Marie got the call. We leave tonight.?