Page 13 of Inked in Bloom
Roxy points at a tall white building with a gradient of soft spring hues leading up the stairs. “That’s City Hall, where most formal gatherings take place.”
Statues of naked harbingers strategically covered in flowers and vines line either side. A few ceramic bunnies hop up the steps. I suppose loving bunnies and spring would go hand in hand, possibly an explanation of how I ended up here.
It’s a small comfort despite the situation. I think of Jessica and Sir Thumps-A-Lot. What if no one thought to take care of her? Did he even survive out on his own after he ran off? He’d just gotten his stitches out. He could have easily reinjured himself—or worse.
A throat clearing pulls me back to the present. Roxy, Cherri, and Kendrick all wait patiently for me to speak without a hint of annoyance.
“Sorry,” I say with a grimace, heat rising to my cheeks. “What’s that past City Hall?”
All I can make out is a massive greenhouse that eats up anything in the surrounding space. It’s got to be three stories tall and is completely encased in glass, showing off the lush expanse of foliage inside.
“That’s The Greenhouse, where Blooms prepare for spring, growing and experimenting with different plants and variations to bring the season,” Roxy says, blowing a kiss to the workers behind the crêpe stand to our left. “Anything new that we want to add to the Bloom repertoire is developed at The Greenhouse and approved by our Radixes.”
I scrunch my nose at the unfamiliar term. “Radixes?”
“Our leaders. Harbingers can be nominated to become a Radix once they’ve earned all their flourish marks from bringing springs.” Roxy tilts her head to the side, showing off the intricate sprays of inked flowers following the elegant line of her neck.
“Flourish marks,” I repeat, knowing I’ll probably forget half the terms they are telling me by the time this tour is over.
“Radixes also are the liaisons between the rest of the Blooms and Fate, representing our territory and its needs. Each harbinger territory has a group of leaders who have served through many seasons and strive for the collective good.” Kendrick puffs his chest a bit beneath his charcoal bomber jacket.
I glance back up at the statues draped only in flowers and flowing ribbons of chiffon.
“Most of them watch over and care for our youngest sprouts,” Roxy adds.
Kendrick purses his lips, then his brows lift. “Kind of like adoptive parents for the young Blooms who never reached mortal adulthood.”
He’s trying to make it understandable from my perspective, and I appreciate the thoughtfulness.
“They all live over in The Nest.” Cherri gestures to the next burrow. “The houses are bigger.”
Three bikes that look like a cross between a motorcycle and a vespa zoom out from the mouth of the territory, black leather jackets becoming blurs along with the shock of lavender hair of one of the riders.
There are less houses in The Nest than in our burrow, maybe a few dozen. They all stand like stunning mansions that somehow still capture the quaintness of their smaller counterparts in The Fluffle. Slowly turning in a circle, I tryorienting myself. The five burrows blossom like petals from Florezca’s City Center. I stop on the last burrow in the distance. It’s mostly stretches of earth with a few buildings. “What’s that?”
“That’s where I work,” Kendrick says, pointing a dark-purple finger at the smaller building of the pair. “At the School for Sprouts in The Nursery, the burrow where all learning takes place.”
Cherri waves beyond at the only other structure that’s partially blocked by a massive, curved archway. “That’s the Bloom Conservatory.”
“Where you’ll prepare to bring spring?” I ask, trying to see if I’ve remembered correctly.
“Of course.” Roxy places a hand on my shoulder and lowers her tone. “And where you can too, at some point.Most Blooms wait a while, until they’ve had time to settle in.”
“It’s why I’m not starting until now. It took a lot for me to get used to…all this.” Cherri shrugs and picks at her pink nailbeds. After a few quiet moments, she brightens and smiles in my direction. “But I’m looking forward to learning and earning my marks in the mortal realm.”
In the mortal realm…“As in Earth?”
“The very same,” she replies brightly.
Home.
“Why don’t we get Cherri to her orientation, then head back for that tea?” Roxy suggests, looping her arm in mine. “I think we’ve overwhelmed our new friend enough?—”
“Actually…” I clear my throat and lift my chin. “Cherri asked me to audit orientation today and keep her company.”
“Yes!” Cherri cheers.
My stomach drops. I wish I had her enthusiasm about what lay ahead. Maybe I should have told her no. The way Roxy and Kendrick are gawking at me isn’t encouraging.
