Josanna had led Damien to a night-atrium towards the back of the manor. There was a domed roof, but it was covered with a metal shield like that of an observatory.
“All the flowers here bloom at night,” she said.
The stone walkway was lined with tiny lights, just enough to lead the way, but not enough to illuminate the space. There were more mosses than grasses, and the trees were pruned to keep them at eye level.
He followed her under vine-covered arches, which led him to a trickling fountain in the center of the atrium.
She sat on the edge of the fountain. “At night we open up the roof. And the Moonflower, Nymphae, Evening Primrose, Night Jasmine, Angels Trumpets- They open up. Some things need the darkness... in order to fully blossom.”
Damien made a noncommittal noise as he gazed around the atrium. “You think?”
“It’s not philosophy, silly. These flowers are proof. I don’t trust them, though...”
“The flowers?”
“Mmhmm. They tell far too many pretty lies. Pretty lies are the worst kind. I prefer thorns.”
Damien gave a crooked smile and sat down next to her on the stone fountain’s ledge.
“Yeah. Thorns. They know what they’re all about. That’s for sure.”
She giggled and said, “You’re a flower.”
Damien looked offended.
“I’m a flower too. Everything about me is a lie.”
Damien leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Such as?”
She only giggled and then stood on the fountain edge. She put out her arms to balance herself as she tiptoed away from him, around the ledge. “I’m born from a mere moment. I may fade, but I will never die. I can resurrect the dead and can turn back time. I am not really a girl. What am I?”
Damien thought. Thought again and smirked, “A photograph.”
The girl slumped in her tight-rope walk around the fountain. She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Close enough...”
Damien laughed. “I’m kidding. You’re not a girl, or a photograph, but a memory.”
“And memories lie.” She hopped off the ledge, and her skirts plumed around her for a moment. “You know that all too well.”
“And can you explain to me how you know me,” he continued with an old-man gravel, “...all too well?”
She strolled away on her tiptoes. “Our dreams keep slipping by each other...” Suddenly, she was before him, her black eyes piercing down at him through the darkness. She said with a sad-knowing, “It’s awful you were so alone. But, if you like,” she sat next to him, “...I can sit here with you in the dark.”
Damien thought for a long moment and said, “I’d like that.”
They sat there in the silence, she with her bare feet, wiggling her toes, and he wringing his hands. Damien thought about flowers and thorns, which made him start to hum Guns and Roses. He thought about how much he hated pretty lies. He hated them so much, of course, he didn’t want to be one.
He saw too many people surround themselves with pretty lies that could not hold up to cold, dead reality. Their walls of flowers came crashing down around them in a rain of fire rather than petals. He was tired of teetering on the edge of sanity. If he was going to stumble and fall anyway, well, he might as well jump. He was tired of living in fear of punishment and reward. Tired of fearing the darkness and fearing other people. They didn’t deserve his fear. Neither the darkness nor people were made of any substance.
He regarded his new acquaintance, but she did not meet his gaze. She was staring down at her feet. He moved his eyes over the sleeping atrium, and decided it was time to wake it up. The blossoms all began to twist and open. The moon flowers draping the arches, the red flowers on the fountain’s lily pads. The Night-blooming Jasmine, the peach-colored Angel’s trumpets.
Josanna jumped at the sound of all of them opening at once, and then one by one, Damien made them glow and glitter, and the atrium was softened in the glistening radiance. Her dark circles peered around in amusement before turning to him.
He gave her a crooked smile, and they both looked off into the garden.
***
Loki found the pair soon after leaving the study. The moment Damien saw him walking down the arched path, the glow hid away inside the flowers, and the flowers all closed up, as if a small village slammed close all their shutters.
Loki stopped and squinted down the rest of the walkway at Damien. Loki gave him a disappointed look. “Really? Don’t stop on my account. I thought it was quite lovely.”
Damien chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. “My bad.”
One single Moonflower opened up by Loki’s face, as if inspecting him. He turned to the glowing flower and smirked. He said, “See? I’m not that scary.” And the flower clammed back up as if in response.
Josanna tried to hide a giggle, Loki clicked his tongue as he continued his approach.
Damien was enchanted by her pixie-like nature and was still staring at her when Loki stopped before them with his hands in his pockets. Damien had a crush. It was evident to Loki, but maybe not to Damien himself.
Loki needed to put aside the innocence of their moment to address the danger of this mansion. “Josanna, do you know why we came here today?”
She smiled with her knowing eyes and nodded. “To find the murderer. It was Mr. Scarlett in the study with the revolver.”
Loki made a dramatic, unsure face but said, “Yes... Damien, I think... we might need to take Josanna on vacation for a bit, just long enough for me to get yelled at for interfering in someone else’s private matters, and for me to maneuver this despicable situation to everyone’s benefit.”
“Okay.” Damien squinted at him. “And where are you thinking?”
Loki took in a hissing breath. “Alec’s.” He tensed, waiting for the counter-argument he assumed he would receive.
“As you w- Sure. I can do that.” Damien nodded and glanced at Josanna.
Loki smiled, relieved. “Josanna, would you like to stay with Alec for a spell?”
Josanna nodded and began petting the long black hair on her shoulder. “Only if Bunnie can come with me.”
“Who’s Bunnie?” Damien asked.
“A ghost,” Josanna said.
Damien nodded.
“Yes.” Loki smiled and crouched in front of her. “Of course she can come with you, but you have to go now. Damien, can you...?” Loki waved a probing hand at Damien.
“Yeah. I can do that. No problem.”
“I’ll come see you soon?” Loki looked into Josanna’s eyes with a paternal fondness.
She reached out and touched a finger to his pointed nose. “No, you won’t.” She stood, and Loki, who looked sad for a moment, backed away.
Loki said, “Damien, please come home when you’re through?”
Damien nodded, and he and Josanna vanished.
