Crown Of Thorns [ Michael Langdon ]

11 - the fetid stench of unwashed boy - 11

{Chapter Eleven - The Fetid Stench Of Unwashed Boy}

~ When I wake up, I'm afraid,
Somebody else might take my place ~

- Afraid

"Elora, can I speak to you about something?"

The girl took out her headphones and looked up at her mother, who was standing at the doorway.

"Yeah, sure. What is it?"

"Hank proposed to me." Cordelia smiled and held out her hand so that her daughter could see the ring. Her daughter gasped and leapt to her feet to look at the giant stone on her ring finger.

"I know you don't like him, so I'm asking you if it's okay."

"Of course it's okay. As long as you're happy, I'm happy."

Cordelia smiled, tears blurring her vision, and pulled her daughter into a hug, stroking her hair. The three of them would finally be a real family, and maybe, just maybe, she might give her daughter a sibling.

✧

2 and a half years before the bombs

Elora stood next to Zoe as she explained something to the sisters. Elora wasn't paying attention, but staring out the window, lost in her thoughts.

Everyone agreed that Elora certainly was different after living in Los Angeles. She was more withdrawn and quiet. She mostly moped around and always looked like she was in her own world.

Zoe and Cordelia concluded that it was about Nathan, until Coco brought up Michael, whom they had met in LA. The three girls that had met him agreed that Elora missed him, and told Cordelia this. This caused Elora to be questioned by her mother about this boy. Elora didn't give anything away.

Elora jumped when Cordelia appeared beside her.

"Watch her." Zoe whispered to Cordelia. They were watching Mallory turn her rose another color.

"You really think she's something special?" Cordelia questioned. She always suspected that Elora would be the next supreme, because of her immense amount of power, but this girl certainly was talented.

"I'll let you be the judge."

"She has some ability, no question." Cordelia said. She didn't want to rule Mallory out.

"She claims her grandmother told her that her bloodline stretches all the way back to Salem." Zoe explained, as the three of them looked at the flying petals around them.

They all turned around at the sound of someone entering, to reveal a newly-brought-back-to-life Myrtle Snow.

"What is it?" Cordelia frowned at the red-haired witch's expression.

"The Hawthorne School for Exceptional Young Men. They called an emergency council. We're obliged to get on a plane immediately." Myrtle answered, and Elora's head snapped towards her.

"What?" She blurted, "Did you say Hawthorne?"

"Yes..." Myrtle frowned, looking at Elora strangely. Her heart soared, and she felt more alive than she had in the past year.  "Airline food for lunch when I made reservations at Galatoires. It's just too cruel." Myrtle continued, ignoring the look on Elora's face.