The Whispering Flowers

Hide and Seek

I push Cornelia onto a wooden stool into the center of the greenhouse. The glass windows were covered in vines, and we grew many herbs and flowers, including the ones we were named after. We are all standing around Cornelia in a half-circle, Primrose in the front sitting with her legs crossed and picking at the grass, and Rosemary, Magnolia, and I were leaning against the glass. Tears roll down Cornelia's cheeks and her eyes are red and puffy. Her dark green dress is ripped and dirty, and her hair is messy and down. She is choking up every time she tries to speak and Dahlia is holding her hand trying to calm her down.

"Maybe we should leave this for another day, Cornelia doesn't seem to be in the best state right now," sighs Dahlia running her fingers through Cornelia's hair.

"NO!" moans Cornelia, her head in her hands. Dahlia looks up in concern looking for backup but nobody answers, we are just as worried as her, but we want to know what happened. The only one missing was Alexander, who they wanted to join them, but Cornelia had told them not to grab.

"Why are we in the greenhouse Cornelia, are you crying over the plants?" snaps Rosemary who is getting very annoyed. Nobody answers so she rolls her eyes and brushes her shoulder-length hair back. She picks a magnolia and starts to pluck the petals off to distract herself. Magnolia gives her a stare and Rosemary drops the half-destroyed flower.

Rain is starting to fall as the sun goes down and some of the open panels in the greenhouse start to let in water. Magnolia and Rosemary rush to them and close them shut before the rain picks up, while Primrose just stares at Cornelia while she cries and Dahlia comforts her.

"Alright," says Cornelia, as she wipes away her tears, and all the girls come back to their original positions, "I was playing hide and seek with Dahlia and Magnolia cause they weren't doing anything..."

"I was going to go gardening!" interrupts Magnolia. Everyone looks at her with irritation and Dahlia gives her the death stare and pats Cornelia to tell her to continue.

As I said, they weren't doing anything, (Magnolia grunted) and I wanted to do something other than throw sticks at Alex's tutor with Primrose, ("What, it was fun!" whispered Primrose) so I went to Dahlia and Magnolia, and they agreed ("Didn't," whispered Magnolia) and so Dahlia was counting and said that we were gonna play in the east side of the house. *Sniffle* Well, I knew exactly where to go, my usual secret spot, where I go to get away from you guys. (Everyone rolled their eyes,) WHAT! You're all super annoying. So technically it's a secret room off of Dad's *sniffle* study that's underneath his desk. It used to be blocked off because someone sealed it with plaster but I had one of the butlers break it open, cause they can't refuse. So we put a little door and made it all comfy with some blankets and pillows. So *sniffle* I went there and I was waiting for Dahlia to come in, but I knew she wasn't going to find me because she didn't know about the secret door. I knew I was going to win the game but then Dad came in with Juliet and they were talking *sniffle* about Dahlia's marriage or something. Then Juliet started yelling at Dad to tell her about something, and he kept refusing but finally, he gave in.

Then Cornelia bursts into tears once more and hides her face in her knees. The rain picks up and the sun's light is almost completely gone. Magnolia takes out a matchbox from her pocket and goes around lighting all of the wall lights. Cornelia continues to cry and hide her face from us. Dahlia keeps rubbing her back and looking worried.

"Cornelia, what did Dad tell Juliet," I say slowly, trying very hard to think of something that would make Cornelia this distraught, "Is father ill?"

Cornelia's head shoots up from her knees and she bolts up from her chair and starts marching towards me with her finger up.

"NO! He murdered all our mums cause they wouldn't give him a son, and Juliet got all scared and ran off, and I would understand why, CAUSE HE'S A BLOODY MURDERER!" she screams, tears soaking her dress. She looks around at us, and I can almost see the steam coming from her red ears. Her long white hair whips around to look at us. I look at Dahlia who was just as confused and worried as I was, and all my other sisters start to mumble under their breath.

"Are you sure Cornelia, because if this is true..." I start not looking into her bloodshot eyes.

"Why would I be lying!" she shouts looking between us, "Sorry that you couldn't be there with me, hearing about how he beheaded them, and how Juliet started to cry! He isn't a good person and we have to do something about IT!" she shouts, and just then the greenhouse door swings open with a bang and there standing in the rain is the king's advisor, his hair soaking wet and his clothes covered in mud. He's holding a lantern and wearing a dark heavy cloak. His face stretches into a smile.

Note: 

Hey everyone! We are so excited about all the crazy stuff that will come soon. This chapter was a bit longer because of all the backstory, but we just want to know if you all want longer chapters less often or stay the same routine? 

- S & S