The Garden

by Emily Shore

  As soon as I slide into the water, I realize I’m in danger of shedding Sera’s skin. This is where I must be the most careful. Sera was raised in upstate New York near the mountains. No lakes or great bodies of water, unlike where Serenity was. My guise wouldn’t have had much opportunity to swim. I can’t descend underneath the water and let it compose my blood like I want to. No matter how much I want to stray to the deep end, I remain in the shallows and let the water nurse my chest and no farther. I focus on the glow of the pool spotlights and the synthetic candles lined in the corners and resting on tables around the rooftop.

  “Do you have a preference for dessert?”

  It seems strange he would ask such a question as my dinner preferences weren’t noted whatsoever. In any case, chocolate seems to be a safe option, but I try to wrap my head around Sera and what she would say.

  “What is your favorite dessert, Force?” I ask with a hint of a smile, circling my hands in the water.

  “I have a sweet tooth, I’m afraid. A rich indulgent cake will be just the thing for me.”

  So, that’s where I got my sweet tooth. Even now, it beckons. If I could have, I would’ve spent a five-course meal of nothing but desserts.

  “I will have a plethora for you to choose from. After all, there is no one perfect dessert in this world. The options are endless.” Is that supposed to be metaphorical?

  Force is a good swimmer. His arms pump under the water, driving it back, muscles in his shoulders expanding until he pauses to rest against the back wall. That’s when he motions for me to join him. Sera wouldn’t refuse, so I swim for him, but I try to take it slow, feigning a lack of ability with clumsy movements until I reach the wall alongside him.

  Force cups my chin. Turns it to one side and then the other, observing my faux face. “Something about you, Sera. I can’t quite put my finger on it.” He raises one index finger to the air in front of my face. “But there is something…something.” He almost singsongs the last phrase.

  “Perhaps you will know by the end of the night.”

  He thumbs my chin, purses his lips with a nod. “Perhaps. But I think I’d enjoy some dessert first.”

  After we’ve changed into our previous clothes, swan drones carry out tray after tray of dessert options from lemon truffles to sexy chocolate cheesecakes to opulent sundaes adorned with gold leaves and dusted with edible gold shavings served in crystal goblets with imported champagne caviar. Specially designed sugar swans complete the ensemble. As much as I want to help myself to a bit of everything, I dig my fingernails into my other hand to prevent it from sampling anything but a small truffle.

  Force, with his extravagant sweet tooth, helps himself to a blend of a chocolate cake with champagne jelly and rich chocolate pudding. His svelte figure would surprise me but for those moments I watched him swim.

  Dessert takes time, but I know what’s coming. I try to keep myself from trembling.

  Then, I remember. The graphickers, Finch and Raven, Gull and her abusive lover, Seedkeeper, Forget-Me-Not’s evicted child, and Cosmos’s dead child…Shane. Death is something I’ve touched. Strengthening my resolve, I think of my mother. I think of my real father. I think of my sister. Somewhere in the Temple. Time for me to deal death, too.

  At last, “Will you join me downstairs for a bath, Sera?”

  Just as Neil predicted, Force holds two champagne glasses in one hand, thin glass clinking together.

  The statement is so simple, so revealing. Time to stop stretching the anticipation. Time to stop playing games. Force knows what he wants. And it will always be on his terms, which is why he leads me to his bedroom where he can set the playing field. Neil was right about everything.

  Once inside, Force pops open the bottle of waiting champagne and pours two glasses.

  “Permit me a moment,” Force addresses me with a light touch on my shoulder. “I will run the bathwater and call for you soon. Feel free to get comfortable.”

  Code word for ‘feel free to take off all your clothes’.

  First, I lower myself to the bed, then remove the contact lens quickly and carefully so it doesn’t break too early. I don’t waste any time before slipping it into the drink. It dissolves instantly.

  I undo the ribbons of my blouse first, but take a sip of champagne from the untampered with glass to steel myself. Force returns a moment later. Not disappointed I’m not naked yet.

  “Celebratory toast first?” I play coy, smiling.

  Force returns the grin. Lifts the glass. So close. He taps his to mine. Three. Lifts it to his lips. Two. Blinks once, smile creasing, head tilting. One.

  “Oh, Serenity.”

  Zero.

  My shoulders don’t sink. His revelation doesn’t collapse me. On the contrary, it rouses me. Over a day spent with this mirage on my face, over a day spent with this pretend character, over a day and it was all for nothing. Lightning saturates my screech when I charge for my father. I know what will happen, but it is the only action that feels natural. Desperate to unearth Serenity and her lightning.

  Force’s hand comes down, flinging me to the floor so I knock into the end table. A second later, he breaks the champagne glass, grabs a chunk, stoops before me, and brandishes it at my throat.

  “You thought I wouldn’t recognize my own daughter?” he mocks me. “I had my suspicions as soon as I saw your profile. After all, you look so much like your mother.”

  I narrow my eyes and try to swipe the shard aside, but my father takes a clump of my hair in his hand and pulls hard. “But there is my spirit, yes.” He rubs his lips against the side of my forehead. I thrash against him, but he yanks on my hair again, eliciting a yowl from me. “It’s good to finally have you home, daughter. Would you like to know what betrayed you? I have spent hours studying every video feed of your performances. You could never hope to hide yourself in the water. You also never once asked about the Swan symbols. It’s as if you knew why. Any other girl, I would’ve taken right to my bed. It was a good plan.”

  I growl at him before demanding, “Where’s my mother, you sick, demented bastard?”

  Force stares right into my eyes, piercing them with his own replicas. “We both know you’re not ready to see your mother yet, are you? Not with this face. She wouldn’t recognize you like I did.” He drags his other finger down my cheek. I try to bite it, but he jerks my head back again.

  “The disappearance of my bounty hunter also made me suspicious. Should have known Neil would try something. That erratic boy always has a hidden agenda. It’s why I never considered leaving my empire to him.” He cups the side of my face, his hand like a chain while the other draws just a drop of blood from the shard at my throat. “I haven’t spent all this time as Temple director not to learn a few things. I may seem chaotic, but rest assured, my daughter, there is order to everything I do. I have no doubt you would’ve followed through with your plan even if he concocted it. You are your father’s daughter.”

  Eyes predatory, I hiss and bring one of my fists up, but my father grips me by the wrist to stifle my attempt. “A couple of weeks’ isolation will be just the thing to calm you down. And for that ridiculous face to fall off.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You will see your mother again soon. And that toadstool of a thief she calls a husband.”

  “My sister! What have you done with my sister?” I hurl the words in his face.

  “Ahh…” Force raises his brows. “Now, that is an entirely different question. With a monumental answer. One you will have to wait for.”

  Before I can say or do anything else, my father yanks me up by my hair, causing my scalp to protest in pain. Next, he gets his arms around me, hand gripping my waist and dragging me across to the room opposite of his where he chucks me through the door and slams it behind him.

  I try the lock. Smash my body against the door. I try anything I might get my hands on, but there is nothing breakable in this room. He has seen to that.

  Ins
tead of speaking to me with a muffled voice through the door, my father instead cackles beyond the speakers.

  “I can’t tell you what an enjoyable evening it was, Serenity.”

  I kick at the door, frustrated. “What are you going to do?” He knows I’m not talking about just me.

  “Just as I told you before, daughter. I have plans for you. So many plans. And until your face wears off, you will remain in your room for as long as it takes. Pleasant dreams.”

  I pound on the door, slam my body up against it, but it doesn’t budge. Everything in this room taunts me from the swan paintings and chandelier far above my head to the white bedspread with tiny embellished digital swans that flutter wings and swim on the fabric. Even the curtains have swan details. Projected onto the ceiling are swans everywhere. It’s all too much. Suddenly, I’m far too caught up in my failure even to take the winding staircase down to the first level of my prison room. We worked so hard.

  Slumping to the floor with my back to the bed, I curl my knees to my chest and start to sob, muttering apologies to everyone I can think of. I apologize to my mother and Kerrick for failing to free them; to my sister for failing to find her; to Neil for failing after he did everything he could to get me this far; to Luc for choosing this route despite everything he gave up for me. Almost finished. I apologize to myself.

  Only one person left to apologize to.

  I say his name.

  “You never have to say you’re sorry to me.”

  I collapse.

  I soar.

  I sink.

  I fly.

  I ignite.

  The voice, it’s soft, muted, coming from somewhere above me.

  “Ser.”

  He says the one word, the one name he’s always called me just before he opens the vent shaft and drops into the room just a few feet from me. I don’t waste any time before jumping into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist, and kissing him senseless even if it feels awkward with these heart-shaped prosthetic lips.

  “Sky.” I stare into his eyes, my fingers threading around his neck.

  “Told you I’d always be here.”

  “How?”

  His smile is more expansive than this sky city from top to bottom. “Kerrick’s schematics are very thorough.”

  It all makes sense now. Every word he’d said to me. This is Sky showing me like he’s always had to. Part of our never ending, revolving-door dynamic.

  “I’m here until the prosthetics wear off,” I explain to Sky. He needs nothing else. He already heard everything I’d confessed during my private apology seminar. “He said I’ll see my mother again.”

  “That means she’s alive.”

  “Can you get us out?”

  “That all depends on what cards your father plays.”

  He’s the joker in all of this.

  But now, I have an ace up my sleeve. Sky.

  Force may have planned everything down to the last detail. Our blood may bleed the same insane colors. Our minds might operate on the same frequency. But if that’s true, then he must have some inkling of how crazy his daughter will be. I will go above and beyond. I will defeat his expectations at every turn. I will show him just what a force of nature I can be. For once, lightning will compete on the same playing field. I will set the stage and name the stakes, which are higher than the heavens. Fully prepared to beat my father at his own game, I will bring down his empire no matter what it takes. I will topple the Temple.

  With Sky by my side. Just like he said, it will always be us.

  * * *

  To be continued…

  Don’t miss book 3 in the Uncaged Series, The Temple, coming April 22nd, 2019!

  Trapped by Force, Serenity is required to become Yang—the bearer of her father’s dark Temple legacy. Her new persona requires using a whip on her shell of a twin sister, but Serenity has even bigger problems. Most chillingly, a series of corpses with swan symbols carved in their chests. More than ever, Serenity needs Sky…and he will be there to protect her. No matter what it takes.

  Get your copy today!

  Acknowledgments

  First, I’d like to thank my husband for his undying support through this entire series. This is an emotional world on excruciating levels to handle. And like a true example of manhood, he’s been there to care for our daughters, to build me up, and to hold me while I wept in the fetal position.

  As usual, I must thank the ladies of CTP. Cynthia for her fine-tuning of my work and keen editorial mind, Melanie for always answering my questions and giving me good blurb/pitch advice, Rebecca for striving to do her best against the odds, for Marya for rising to the occasion and getting all the teasers done in one day after delays, for Courtney for timeliness and reminders and all the nitty gritty stage-work.

  For my street team of loyal readers. Your praise keeps me going! Stracey, that care package was amazing. It touched my heart forever and I love wearing the bracelet!

  For my new fans and readership. Keep turning those pages and I will keep writing!

  For David Hodges/Trading Yesterday. Those songs, especially Desert Lands, truly set the tone and gave me mood music.

  For every #metoo. You’re the reason I write.

  Finally, I’m acknowledging my own humanity. This book led me into researching the dark world of BDSM, its brutal psychology, and harm to the inner psyche. I combatted the demons of my own mind and past through this work. For more understanding, please read my blog post Why I Quit Fifty Shades on my website: www.emilybethshore.com. I only get by with a lot of help from the Spirit.

  About the Author

  Emily Shore is a MN author with a B.A. in Creative Writing from Metro State University and was a grand prize winner of #PitchtoPublication, which led her to working with publishing professionals. Her novellas Ruby in the Rough and Ruby in the Ruins are her first indie-published anti trafficking works. She is signed with Clean Teen Publishing for her anti-trafficking dystopian The Aviary. For every book sold, a personal donation will return to trafficking rescue.

  Throughout the years, she has connected with rescue organizations, activists, and trafficking survivors and injects truths she's learned into her books for youth. She loves motivational speaking on the issue of sex-trafficking and was recently featured at the 2018 MLA and MEA. Please contact her through her website if you would like her to speak at your local school, library, or church. In her spare time, she loves attending any abolition events, baking, painting, and spending time with all the girls in her life.

  Emily lives in Saint Paul with her husband and two daughters. They are in the process of adopting a little girl from India.

  The Garden Discussion Questions

  “This world grooms children.” Discuss how our culture grooms both boys and girls. How does grooming differ? Write/discuss examples. (The documentary Liberated: The New Sexual Revolution is a good resource for this).

  “Too many black gloves on the street. Not enough strong, calloused hands like Sky’s to help.” Consider how the majority of men who are not sex buyers and who don’t exploit women. Discuss how much they could change the culture by speaking out and standing up for not just girls they know but for those who are exploited and trafficked. Do you believe silence in the face of evil is evil itself?

  Serenity references how the minimum age for “sex work” was lowered after legalization and how fake ID’s are used for children. Discuss other avenues where this is the case. Consider the ramifications of legalizing/decriminalizing “sex work” in full. Will this protect children or enable traffickers to funnel them into brothels easier?

  Discuss the scene where Serenity encountered Forget-Me-Not. Did Forget-Me-Not have a choice? Research the link between trafficking/rape and abortion. Can abortions from pressure/coercion/force while “in the life” be truly counted as choice? Research the demand for pregnant women and girls in the sex trade and discuss how this is related to abortion.

  Serenity ends up involved in two related exp
eriences with Forget-Me-Not and Chocolate Cosmos. Discuss her reactions. Were they negative? Positive? Would you have done anything different? Why or why not?

  Magnolia addresses how buyers enjoy the fight and how shutting down can be the only method of control for a rape victim. Discuss this survival strategy and the negative perception of why some people accuse rape victims and those in prostitution of “asking for it”, “taking it”, or “enjoying it” simply because they didn’t struggle or fight back.

  By now, I’ve touched on dissociation, Stockholm Syndrome, drugs, etc. Another survival strategy is the illusion of choice. Serenity recognizes that “to do anything else would be to reckon with the pain and the horror of their existence.” Rachel Moran delves into this in her book, Paid For and how industry girls use this as a survival strategy. Discuss how it has influenced perception of girls “choosing the life” and this current trend of “sex work”? In light of this, can consent be fully recognized or even known?

  Serenity makes her choice at the end of this book. Discuss why. Compare Luc and Sky. Why is Serenity’s choice the better of the two? Do you believe Luc can be redeemed?

  Thank you for reading The Garden; I hope you enjoyed my book!

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  If you loved The Garden, please tell your friends about my book and consider leaving a review. Reviews are like potato chips; you can't ever have enough of them. Thanks for reading my book!" ~Emily Shore