she’s been kicked out by her parents.’
‘That’s horrible! What’s their number? I can talk to them.’
‘Mom, no!’ His idiotic excuse was already backfiring. ‘You’ll make it worse. Can she stay here?’
‘Of course she can. For as long as she needs.’ Jacqueline seemed tipsy at that point. ‘Does everything look brighter around here or is it just me?’
‘It’s just you, Mom.’
She shrugged and wandered back downstairs, humming to herself. Nate worried if Violet’s presence was making his mother act like a weirdo, then what was going to happen to everyone else she encountered?
Violet’s return to the physical world was wonderful and terrifying at once. The food she ate tasted strange compared to what she remembered. The milk she’d drunk wasn’t the same as the milk from her family’s goat that she’d collected every other day. There was an abundance of things in Nate’s kitchen, more than her own family would need in a year. A lot of it was kept in tins and would last forever, still Nate’s mother kept buying more without using any of it first.
Jacqueline was much kinder than Violet’s mother had ever been. She fussed over Violet, offering her things like cookies and tea. She even insisted on brushing and braiding Violet’s hair, fawning over how soft it felt.
Nate was disturbed by all of this and clearly wanted to say more than he actually did. Jacqueline had no qualms about buying Violet new clothes, spending more money than Nate claimed she owned.
It was decided Violet was going to attend school with Nate, something she was more delighted about than he was.
There had been one school in her village that her parents had been too poor to send her to. Violet had tried to teach Annabelle to read, knowing when she was old enough, she was going to be married off. Violet missed her sister more than anyone. She’d had Violet’s pretty golden hair and blue eyes, and had been more fond of playing games and hiding from everyone. This infuriated had their father and upset their mother often.
Nate told Violet his father had died many years before. The pictures Nate showed Violet made her think he was a kind man; she could see by his eyes he was less severe than her own father. Nate said he couldn’t remember much about him.
Thomas had hated Rebecca hadn’t given him a son. He was so willing to sacrifice Violet, proving if she were a boy he’d have done more to stop Joseph. Rebecca had lost a child before Violet was born. They spoke little of it, and Violet sensed she’d been a disappointment to her parents. Rebecca’s love was more apparent, but it was hidden at times to appease Thomas.
Violet did her best back then to be dutiful and good. She was happy to marry Samuel, and she’d not wanted to disobey her father when he ordered she go to the town and steal bread.
She’d waited for the market in the village to be teeming with people before she made her attempt. Anxious and trembling, she’d hovered by the baker’s stall, pretending to look for what she wanted and taking a loaf of bread once his back was turned. Another woman had caught her running as she’d frantically tried to tuck the loaf under her apron. The council had come to the scene to arrest her and she’d been locked in the church basement until she was to be brought before the village court.
Having everything she needed now did little to make Violet happy. Her memories were clearer and her mind wasn’t trapped in a haze anymore. She knew as a kelesnae these images were slowly fading, and she wondered if she would’ve forgotten who she was had enough time passed.
She did everything Nate instructed her to, not that she found him demanding. Violet wanted to earn his favour, and she was fretful whenever he wasn’t around. He was warming to her in turn, showing her a kindness no one else had. She was safe with him, and to ask for anything more would have been selfish.
Though this sense of safety didn’t exist in her sleep. Violet was troubled by dreams of the Enorahts returning. She’d seen no sign of them since her death, but now she was human again, it was hard not to believe they’d come back and kill her, and harm whoever stood in their way, including Nathaniel. She was wary of his safety as he was of hers, insisting she keep near him so her fears were lessened.
The heat from the sun felt so lovely on her skin and the birds twittering around her no longer sounded hollow. But the air smelt different now she could sense the horrible fumes and the stench of garbage. Putting her nose to a flower, it was harder to pick up the perfume as it had been before. She said this to Nate and he almost sounded sorry for her.
‘I’ve never really noticed it,’ he confessed. ‘It’s just what I’m used to. Chemicals are everywhere, it’s gross but no one’s doing enough to stop it.’
‘Why not?’ she asked innocently. ‘Why would anyone want to live in this mess?’
‘No one does. It’s just how things are, Violet. I’m sorry.’
Now she felt terrible she’d made him feel bad. ‘It’s not your doing, I know this.’
‘We have people in charge of us,’ he explained. ‘You’ve seen them. They make the rules but they don’t care about who it affects. They’re worse than the men who sentenced you to death.’
‘Perhaps I’d have been better off not coming back,’ she said then.
‘Don’t say that,’ Nate answered. ‘I’m glad you’re here and I’ll try to show you as many good things as I can. I promise it’s not all bad.’
Nate walked Violet to school that Monday. He was less enthused about going, apologising in advance for having to take her with him.
‘You’ll be the new kid,’ Nate told her grimly. ‘So people will ask questions. Just say you moved here from Kensington and you went to a Catholic school there. If they ask what you like, say reading since it’s true. And you’re really not into music or TV, your parents were pretty strict about it.’
‘What if no one believes me?’
‘You think they’ll believe the actual truth, Violet? The less you say about what happened to you, the better.’
‘But I dislike lying, Nate. It makes me feel horrible and I was always told it was wrong.’
‘Everyone lies, Violet,’ he said kindly. ‘I’m lying for you, aren’t I?’
‘This is true.’ She wasn’t happy about this, either.
‘And I don’t mind, really. If we’re completely honest, it’s only going to get us both in trouble.’
He paused then and Violet turned to where he was staring. A horrid concrete building full of rooms with large windows sat on the top of a gentle slope ahead of them. Scores of teenagers were milling around the front lawn, either yelling and hollering or throwing things at each other.
‘I hate this place,’ Nate mumbled. ‘But I’m not prepared to leave you at home all day with my mother.’
‘It’s alright, Nate. I’d much rather be with you than with her.’
‘That’s if I can get you into the same classes. Just stay by me, I’ll do what I can.’
Violet did so, walking a step behind Nate and keeping close to his shoulder. Everyone stared at her, but their eyes weren’t menacing. She was stopping conversations as she passed, reducing their voices to whispers behind her. This discomforted Nate and he took her hand as they went inside.
The petite girl with the blonde hair who’d been walking with Nate in the woods suddenly ran up to them.
‘Why didn’t you call us?’ she demanded of him. ‘And who’s this?’ The girl put her attention on Violet, instantly dropping her accusatory tone. ‘I’ve not met you before.’
‘This is Violet… Robbins…’ Nate answered, making up Violet’s new last name. ‘She’s new in town. Her parents are friends with my mom.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me about her?’ Rachel asked as she moved Nate aside to get closer to Violet. ‘I’m Rachel.’
Nate noticed Rachel’s eyes glittering over. ‘Oh god! Not you too.’
‘What me too?’ Rachel all but snatched Violet’s other hand, tugging her away from Nate. ‘C’mon, Violet. I’ll take you to meet my friends.’
Vi
olet turned to Nate for help. ‘Should I go?’
‘Rachel, hold up a second.’
‘Don’t be so possessive, Nate! What, she’s your new girlfriend already?’
‘Not exactly…’
‘Well, then she’s coming with me.’
Nate ended up following behind Violet and Rachel, growing more anxious for Rachel’s odd behaviour.
‘I’m from Kensington,’ Violet said meekly as she’d been instructed. ‘I went to a Catholic school.’
‘Well, that’s obvious, you’re dressed like a puritan. You’re allowed to show some ankle here, sweetie. You won’t be stoned to death for it.’
Rachel took over planning Violet’s schedule, interrupting Nate whenever he attempted to stop her.
‘I’ll take care of her in gym class, Nate.’
‘You don’t even know her!’ he shouted.
The entire administration office went silent.
‘Relax, would you?’ Rachel scolded. ‘You’re such a control freak. No wonder Fiona dumped you.’
Nate held his tongue and Violet could feel his anger as he scowled. ‘It’s alright,’ she muttered to him.
‘If anything bad happens, come and find me, okay?’
‘How will I know where you are?’
Rachel didn’t give Nate any time to answer, dragging Violet off to meet her friends. The moment she was separated from Nate, Violet grew just as anxious as he’d been. Rachel’s friends were dressed much like Rachel was, the brevity of their skirts and shorts leaving most of their legs exposed.
‘She’s so pretty,’ one girl said,