And when she was tortured for information all alone, secluded beneath the Coliseum, ultimately executed, she refused to give her name. For me. To protect me and Poppy and the Sindaco, the Night and the cause.
The Imperi killed my mother with no one around to see her sacrifice, to know the truth. The last thing they wanted was to make a martyr out of her. She died alone, not a witness at her side, by the hand of some nameless, faceless Imperi soldier. Simply a “traitorous member of the Night.”
Poppy all but had to erase his daughter from history. For our protection, Amalie Adeline practically never existed.
Thankfully, the Night did know her identity. Amalie Adeline was a true hero, and one whose life and sacrifice wouldn’t be in vain.
Unfortunately, their uprising didn’t end the way anyone would have hoped. But with me, they have a second chance. Renewed hope.
Finally, the truth from someone I know is being honest. Someone I know no longer has any reason to lie to me. In this moment, despite the betrayal I logically understand but am still working through, I trust my grandfather without hesitation.
But Poppy’s words are more painful than I expect them to be. It’s like one truth after another is stacked on top of me until the weight is too much to hold. For fear of toppling, I stuff and lock all the information inside, push some of it to the back, dissect what I can right now. The simplest parts. And even those I break down, skin, and clean until it’s only bones left to sift through.
The bones:
My father is the Sindaco.
My mother was a soldier, a hero killed by the Imperi.
Regardless of whether the Lunalette story is real, an entire society of people believe in me as if there is a prophecy. To them, I am their hope for revolution.
And I know quite well that believing in something makes it very real.
I don’t speak for some time as I sort all those bones of truth.
Poppy gives me the time and space to work through it all, but keeps glancing at the hourglass. I’m about to ask him if he has someplace to be, if he’s taken on a lady friend in the few days I’ve been gone, when I realize I should be the one watching the time. I should be the one itching to get moving. We have two days’ worth of work to do to prepare and only until vesper bells to do it.
Jerked out of the past and into the present, I speak loudly, quickly. “Poppy—the Imperi’s attacking. Tonight. Another Night of Reckoning.” I jump up, start packing things away, covering the furniture.
“Veda, I know already. Stop, stop.” He stands, swatting my hands away from the blanket-covered chair. “I’ve known for days. The Imperi’s posted warnings all over the island. Bragging their spies got word of the attack just in time.”
“Just in time?” I ask. “For what?”
“For an Offering. Tomorrow.” Yet again, Poppy glances at the hourglass on the table. “Today. A preemptive pleading to the Sun that he might shine through the night. Also in preparation for another Ever-Sol Feast.”
I shake my head. So many lies. “Tell me,” I say, changing the subject back to something that’s been nagging at me since I first saw that mural of the Lunalette in my cave. “Did I really get my scar the way you’ve always told me?”
“Aye,” Poppy says. “That was the day I truly believed. Before that, I’ll admit, the Lunalette was a fantastic legend, but you never know with prophecies … So many things can thwart their paths.” He guffaws. “Something as innocent as a gust of wind’s been known to change the course of fate. Just ask your father.” I raise an eyebrow, wondering where in the world he’s going with this. “Had fate not intervened, he’d be preparing to take over as High Regent. Instead he’s leading a revolt.”
“I don’t know, Poppy … Do you truly believe in all that?”
He smiles wide and proud. “I’ve always said there’s no harm in questioning things.” He has always said that. “But when, all of one year old, you wandered off that day—I’d only left you for a second and off you went! Down to the canal—always toward the water—and splash! You fell … or maybe you dove … right in. I wasn’t the wiser until I heard your scream. Rushed out back, yanked you out by your ankle, and detached that pantera fish’s jaw right from your chest. Damned thing took some skin with it.” He shakes his head, staring in the direction of the canal. “I couldn’t believe my eyes … The most jagged, gnarled, scar I’d ever seen, smack-dab over your heart. And curse me to hell and back if it didn’t resemble a star. I knew right then…”
“Knew what?”
“Well, two things … That you’d be a great fisher and I’d better start taking you fishing more so you didn’t sneak out on your own and get eaten by pantera fish.” He smiles, that unmistakable twinkle in his eye. “And that fate, when not thwarted, is truth. Just look at the Lunalette legend. That star on your chest is an omen. I truly believe, had you not fallen in the canal, some other way you’d have gotten that scar. The mark was there all along; something just had to bring it to the surface. This Lunalette, your secret claim as heir, it’s true. The whole of it.”
We sit in silence as I think on that. That Poppy believes in it. In me.
“Now.” He claps his knee, making me jump. “You have to go back.”
“What?”
“It’s not safe here for you, my Veda. With the Offering tomorrow…”
“Wait. Did the medallions arrive?” I glance toward the front door, the metal slot, then down to the floor. No medallions.
“Yes. Yours is in your room on your bedside table. No Sun.”
“Okay. Good.” I stare, brow furrowed.
“Mine’s fine too.” He waves my concern off with a flick of his wrist.
I let out a long, relieved sigh. “Don’t do that to me, Poppy!”
“Sorry.”
“I can’t go back yet. I have to help you prepare for tonight.” I glance around the house, note that nothing’s been done. Nothing. “I promise I’ll leave before vesper bells, once you’re safe in the cellar.”
“Veda…”
I place my hands on my hips. “I’m not leaving.”
He narrows his eyes at me, crooked smirk dancing at the corner of his mouth. “I never could get you to mind me. Stubborn to a fault, just like your mother.” He shakes his head as if imagining memories from long ago. “Fine. But once the house is secure, you leave, eh?”
“I promise.”
CHAPTER 16
Poppy and I do all we can to barricade the cottage until daylight.
After the last Night of Reckoning and the red paint, Poppy’s been stockpiling sheets of canvas, scraps of muslin.
“I have to see Nico before the Offering.” I speak my rambling thoughts as we spread an already paint-stained sheet over the kitchen table.
“Of course, yes.” Poppy’s suddenly working more quickly. “You’ll need to leave soon, then.”
I take in the room. “But there’s still so much to do. I suppose I could wait until—”
“No. Go now. I can finish this.” He throws his arm out, motioning all around us. “Nico needs to know you’re all right. I haven’t seen him since the day you disappeared, but you can imagine he didn’t take it well. He deserves to know you’re safe.”