American Horror Story: A New Chapter

Chapter Four: Black Rose

CHAPTER FOUR

~ BLACK ROSE ~

Violet had accepted the fact that the chances of her nails ever encountering nail polish again were very unlikely, but here she was, sitting on her old bedroom floor on Saturday morning while Artemis rifled through a large black box filled with little bottles of nail polish. Violet had only ever seen so much nail polish in one place at drug stores and supermarkets; she could only imagine what Artemis's closet and makeup box looked like.

Artemis extracted about fifteen bottles and arranged them in a perfect line from darkest to lightest on the wooden floor. "Pick a colour, any colour," she said, sounding like a magician instructing a volunteer in a card trick. She shoved the box under her bed.

Violet had intended to see Isaac, but he was out, so she was content to spend time with a female friend. Eternity with Hayden, Nora and her mother became quite tiresome, and Maria could be kind of depressing. Violet selected the only nail polish colour that would ever touch her nails – black. Artemis nodded in approval.

"Black, the colour of my soul," said Artemis mystically. "Ooh, I've got this really nice red. Would you like me to do little roses on them?"

Roses. The simple word reminded Violet of Tate, of the rose he had painted black for her. "No thank you," said Violet quickly, shaking her head.

"Okay," said Artemis. She grabbed Violet's hand and put in on her knee and began to brush the black paint onto her nails. Artemis steadied Violet's fingers with her own, and took great care in not smudging her work.

Violet wondered what her skin felt like to Artemis. When she had been with Tate, his skin hadn't exactly been cold, but it had seemed to have no temperature. Since she had died Violet had always felt a lot colder than she had as a human, and she knew she was paler – though the Hassinger twins were still paler than her. Artemis had told her that they were literally albino. As Artemis finished Violet's right hand and started on her left, she wondered how Isaac would react to Violet's skin.

"You have great nails," Artemis complimented. Violet worried that her long-sleeved shirt would hike up and reveal her scars. She didn't want her new friend to judge her.

"Thank you," replied Violet. "So, Artemis. Where did your name come from?"

"Ah, the question I have so excitedly anticipated," said Artemis, smiling. "Well, I assure you, my name is much more glamourous than my brother's. Isaac Jonathan – Isaac was my mom's twin who died when they were ten, and Jonathan is my dad's father. Artemis, however, is the Greek goddess of hunting, and the moon. My parents love Greek mythology."

"Wow," Violet said in awe. "And here I am, named after a flower."

"Hey, don't diss flower names. My middle name is Rosalie." Artemis finished Violet's nails. Violet raised them to her face and blew on them while Artemis selected a royal blue colour for herself. "And violet is a nice colour too."

The bedroom door opened, and Artemis's mother, who Violet had watched make dinner once, came in carrying a white porcelain plate. "Arty, I picked up these gorgeous macaroons from the bakery – oh!" she exclaimed when she saw Violet. "Oh, hello, dear. Artemis didn't tell me she'd already made a friend at school."

"Because I haven't," said Artemis. "This is Violet Harmon, she lives in the neighbourhood. Violet, this is my mom, Madeleine."

Violet smiled at Madeleine. "It's nice to meet you. I would shake your hand, but –" She held up her hands, showing Madeleine her still-wet nails.