Hydra Heart

Chapter Seventeen

ACT III

Chapter 17: Violet Iris Lavender

Molly stood still, facing her cellmate. Violet Iris Lavender had gray hair and piercing blue irises that were guarded by deep bags. Her face was incredibly expressive: furrowed eyebrows were replaced by a humorless smile in less than a second. The older woman stood up. Despite her shorter stature, she carried a presence that intimidated Molly.

Violet stared into Molly's eyes skeptically, meeting her stare with little interest. She gave a dismissive shrug.

"Here we go with this routine again," Violet sighed.

For another few seconds, Molly let her jaw hang. Then, she spoke. "You're... you're dead!"

"Yeesh," Violet replied, "I know I look rough, but that was uncalled for."

"I... I have a million questions! Are you really-"

Molly's sentence was cut off by Violet banging on her prison cell bars. "Hey! Banner! I am tired of this bit! I will not fall for it!" She stuck her head through the bars. Her tone turned sarcastic again. "I appreciate you caring about my loneliness, but sending one of your cronies is not fixing anything!"

Molly began to understand what was going on. She asked Violet, "Has Banner been sending moles to get information out of you?"

Now Molly had her interest. "Indeed he has. The fact that you'd be self-aware enough to acknowledge that means that he's stepping up his game."

"Uh," Molly paused, unsure how to proceed and prove herself. "I don't know how to prove it, but I'm the real deal. I'm... I'm friends with your daughter."

Violet glared at her. Angry eyes were undermined by twitching lips. Her composure was cracked the second Vesta was brought up. Molly was afraid of hurting her or being hurt by her.

"Prove it. Now." Violet cracked her knuckles and neck. Molly waited too long to respond, unable to put together a thought.

Violet lunged, too fast for Molly to react, and pinned her against the wall. The woman seemed surprisingly strong and agile. Anticipation filled Molly, but instead of a knife in her throat, she was met with... an ear next to her mouth.

"Tell me where the organization is located," Violet demanded.

Molly remembered how the Horizon Guard's Kit worked, and knew that something would stop her from saying where it was, unless Violet already knew.

"It's in the forest outside Nidus, a few miles from my home in Helena. I've been setting traps and stopping Alogos from finding the damn place for years."

Violet relaxed her grip, and then stepped back. Her worry-filled eyes bored into Molly with unwavering attention. "What you just told me..." Violet began. "Either you know this because we were found out, or because you are who you say you are."

"I promise you, I'm Molly of the organization. I swear on my Kit, Inquiry."

"Swearing on your Kit? Is that something people do now?" Violet sat down on her bed, but still kept focus on Molly.

"I'm trying to set the trend."

"Tell me everything you know. How is Ozzy? Bruta? Tenra and Mary? Most importantly," Violet's gaze became more intense with her next words. "Tell me about my daughter."

A fresh wave of grief came over Molly, and Violet began to look concerned. She had Molly sit down next to her on the bed. Violet was still skeptical, given the circumstances, but she couldn't stop herself from placing a motherly arm around Molly.