The Garden of Shadows

I was back at the antique shop, browsing the selection of books on the shelves for anything that would offer a solution to my current set of problems. First, a method of permanently suppressing Leslie’s memory of me at the bell tower. Second, information on either Mr. Crowe or on Elliot’s condition. One after another, I pulled out relevant books until I had a small pile.

A copy of Love at Bloomfield Manor was sitting on the shelf staring back at me. It was then when I had to decide whether to give in to my curiosity and see what the fuss was all about or to just completely dismiss it as a waste of time. I must have spent several minutes staring at it when I took a deep breath and grabbed the copy. My curiosity won the battle.

Alistair stared at the single romance novel that stood out among the books piled on top of the shop counter. He noticed how I awkwardly looked away. “Don’t worry. I don’t judge,” he assured me before completing the transaction.

“What does the shop’s name mean anyway?” I asked as I received my newly purchased books.

“It’s actually the title of a famous poem by the Romanian poet, Mihai Eminescu, published in 1883. Luceafărul in folklore usually refers to the brightest star in the evening, which at that time was either the planet Venus or Jupiter. Eminescu loved astronomy and even took courses in it when he was a university student, so his poems had plenty of astronomical symbolism.”

“What’s it about?”

“It narrates a story about a celestial being who falls in love with a mortal.”

“Does it have a happy ending?”

He shook his head. “Unfortunately, not. The celestial being’s lover ends up getting seduced by another mortal in the end.”

“Alistair, you seem very knowledgeable about poetry and symbolism. Do you have any idea what this couplet could mean?” I showed him a piece of paper where I jotted down Ophelia’s couplet. After Salamander viewed my memory, I was able to easily recall the two lines and immediately wrote it down when we returned to the hotel.

“Let me have a look…” Alistair read the couplet carefully. “I see a few patterns.”

“Could you please elaborate?” I leaned on the counter.

“Tossing the ring into the sea must be referring to the story of Polycrates, the tyrant of Samos. The historian Herodotus wrote that Polycrates was thought to be too successful, so the tyrant was advised to throw what he valued most in order to avoid a reversal of fortune. Polycrates threw a ring into the sea, a fish ate the ring, the fish was caught by a fisherman, and then it was given to Polycrates. In the end, he got his ring back.”

He read the lines again and placed a hand under his chin. “I’m wondering if the serpent’s platter is referring to the German fairytale The White Snake, where a snake was served on a platter and its flesh gave a servant the ability to talk to animals.”

I tried to put the two concepts and the couplet together. “It still makes no sense.”

Alistair shrugged. “Jabberwocky was a nonsensical poem full of gibberish.”

“That’s true, but Jabberwocky still makes sense somehow? We understand that it’s about killing a creature called the Jabberwock. There has to be some meaning behind the couplet.”

“Perhaps you’re missing some context?”

I nodded. “Maybe that’s it.”

The shop entrance door suddenly opened, startling us both. Salamander’s older sister, Cornelia, walked gracefully to the counter and asked Alistair, “Do you have a copy of Love in Bloomfield Manor?”

“Sorry. The last copy just sold,” replied Alistair calmly.

I awkwardly hid my copy of the book inside my bag before she noticed me standing there.

Cornelia smiled excitedly. “Remina! I didn’t expect to run into you here. What a surprise!”

“Hello, Cornelia,” I greeted her.

“Is my brother here too?” She looked around the shop.

“No, he has his apprenticeship elsewhere.”

“That’s a shame. I wanted to invite him to a dinner party. It wasn’t easy requesting extra guests on their list.” She waved an invitation card, then her face lit up. “I know! Why don’t you come along too? And please bring my brother along. Drag him if you must.”

“Drag him?” I repeated.

“Literally of course. Not figuratively. He’s a bit slippery, so you might have to tie him down with a rope.”

“Tie him down?” I repeated her words again in disbelief.

“Yes. Blackmail him if you must. Here. Use these photos of him.” She gladly gave me some photos of him looking annoyed while wearing pink ribbons in his hair.

I was speechless. I know I may come across as annoying and morally dubious at times, but this girl was on a different level. I pocketed the photos anyway in case they’d come in handy.

“Do you have a dress?” she asked.

I shook my head.

“You can borrow mine. I’ll have it dropped off at the hotel along with clothes for my brother,” she said excitedly as she handed me the invitation. “Oh, this is going to be so much fun. Don’t worry. I’ll talk to your professors for permission. I’ll see you later, Remina!”

I stood in place for about a minute after she left. Everything happened so quickly that I was still letting it all sink in. I carefully opened the elegant-looking invitation. The words in bold caught my eye:

The Museum of Magical History, Sponsors’ Dinner

Alistair curiously peered over my shoulder. “That’s a rather high-profile event.”

How am I supposed to bring this up with Salamander? He isn’t going to like this.

I was deep in thought on my way back to the hotel when I noticed Emma standing outside a confectionery store, browsing its window displays. It seemed as if she was having an internal battle.

“Craving for chocolate?” I asked after stopping beside her.

Emma smiled at me, slightly embarrassed. “We don’t have chocolates like these at the academy.”

“Why not buy some then?”

“I can’t seem to choose.”

“You could get one of those assorted boxes with all the flavours included.”

She liked the idea. “You’re right. I think I’ll do that. We can eat them together with Leslie in our room.”

We stepped inside the shop, which was stocked with various sweets and chocolates. Although I wasn’t a huge fan of confectionery or sweet things in general, I was still fascinated by all the creative ways sugar and chocolate could be shaped.

“Emma?”

The smile on Emma’s face faded quickly when she saw the girl in front of her. It took me a few seconds to realise that it was her half-sister, now much older than the version of her I saw in Emma’s memories.

Suddenly, Emma was slapped on the face before she could even say anything.

Rage and pain were present on her half-sister’s face. “I know you killed him. They may have believed your stupid cover story, but I know it was really you who took him from us. As long as I live, I will do everything I can to make sure you get what you deserve.”

Then, things took an unexpected turn. Emma’s face turned dark like I’d never seen it before. “I took him from you? My life was perfect before you and your whore of a mother came along!” Her words cut deep like arrows, stunning the girl.

I noticed that we were starting to draw unwanted attention. It would be bad if things escalated, so I pulled Emma aside. “Let’s go.”

I didn’t stop and went straight towards the hotel where I got Emma a cup of tea to calm her down.

“I’m sorry, Remina. I… I didn’t think she’d be here too.” She covered her face out of shame and distress. “I wish you didn’t have to see me like that.”

“It’s alright, Emma. I won’t think badly of you.”

“Thanks.” She took a very deep breath. “I deserve it though. I deserve everything.”

“You’re being too hard on yourself.”

She remained silent for a moment before standing up. “I think I’m going to rest early for today.”

I watched as she walked away and went up the stairs. After she was out of sight, I went to work on my assignments at the café while being watched by a curious little raven outside the window.

The café felt like a different place early in the morning when there was nobody else around but me and the barista. It was much too early for breakfast, so I had a cup of coffee and two garlic breadsticks in the meantime. I took the chance to begin reading the suspiciously popular Love in Bloomfield Manor.

After half an hour passed, I noticed somebody taking the empty seat at my table. When I lowered the book, I saw Salamander in front of me tilting his head a little to see the book title.

“Is that… a romance book?” He started laughing uncontrollably.

His unrestrained bout of violent laughter went on for quite some time, so I had to interrupt him in an annoyed tone, “Are you done?”

He finally calmed himself. “I never thought I’d see you, Remina Ravenfire, touching a romance novel. Now you’ve piqued my curiosity. Let me see that.” He reached for the book to examine it.

I frowned. “Emma and Leslie really like it. It’s all they talk about at night.”

He started reading it, nodding every time he flipped a page. I left him to it and continued to enjoy my cup of coffee. Some time passed and he was still not done reading.

“Salamander?”

“Hm?”

“My book?”

“Hold on. Just let me read this for a bit. You can read Tolstoy in the meantime.” He pushed his thick War and Peace book towards my side of the table.

I sighed and picked up his book to read. We just passed the time reading each other’s books.

“Surprisingly, it’s not that bad,” he admitted and shamelessly inserted his own bookmark in between the pages.

“You actually like it?” I was surprised.

“I mean, it did a good job of capturing the writing style and customs of that century. Mr. Audley is also a very likeable character.”

I was still weirded out about how he just straight up read the romance novel. “I can’t say I’m a huge fan of Mr. Audley.”

He was shocked. “What? How can you not like Mr. Audley? He sounds like the epitome of a gentleman, the pinnacle of chivalry.”

“He is, but he’s awkward as hell.”

“So what type of men do you actually like, Remina?” He placed his hands together.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it. I know what I don’t like though.”

“And what’s that? Besides Mr. Audley, of course.”

“Those that run away from a fight.”

He smirked, knowing exactly who I was referring to. “Are you speaking from experience?”

“Maybe.”

“Indulge my curiosity for a bit. How much of Mr. Audley’s qualities do you think I have?”

“You’re no Mr. Audley. That’s for sure.”

He shrugged. “I suppose that’s fitting. You’re no Ms. Bloomfield either.”

As soon as he saw that students were starting to arrive at the café, he quickly closed the book and slid it to me. He made no more attempts to borrow the book again, but told me specifically not to remove his bookmark.

I decided it was the right time to mention the dinner invitation. “I have to tell you something.”

“Is it about disappearing snakes again?” he guessed.

“No, your sister invited us to a dinner party.” I passed him the invitation card.

His jaw dropped. “Please tell me you said no.”

“Your sister didn’t even ask for my opinion, so we can assume that it’s a forced yes.”

He leaned forward. “My sister is up to something. It’s either she’s just out to torment me or we’re pawns in whatever game she’s playing. If we have to attend this party, we might as well find out what she’s up to.” He looked a little worried as he stared at the invitation card. “This is no ordinary party either. Everyone important in the city is probably going to be there. I sure hope she’s not involved in the museum theft case.”

“Museum theft case?”

“Remember that rumour I told you about a planned theft? It’s no longer a rumour. It’s now a full blown investigation at the department.” He paused and sighed. “Did you bring your grenades? Bring them.”

I looked at him in disbelief. “To a dinner party? Really?”

“With my sister involved, it’s no longer just a party. It’s war.”