Opal wiped at her face again, while Ez’s lip began to quiver. “That’s why I didn’t want to go to the Villain’s Ball. Everyone made me out to be this huge slut who’d slept with a bunch of guys and got pregnant at prom, a whore who didn’t even know who her father’s daughter was. But that wasn’t true. I never slept with any of those guys. They just threw my name out there so they could act like big shots. I didn’t want that to happen again.”
“What happened then?” Ez asked.
“My dad left me alone when I was pregnant. Didn’t want to draw attention to himself,” Opal said. “Then I had Marina, and she was just my whole world… I looked at her the second the nurse placed her on my chest and promised myself that no one would ever hurt her like they’d hurt me. I thought I had the chance to be happy.”
Opal put a hand in front of her eyes. “After she was born, my dad came for me again, and I couldn’t take it. I refused to allow him to hurt me one more time. This siren scream just burst out of me… his head exploded.”
Charlie’s jaw dropped, but Ez remained in control, thank the ancestors. He nodded along like Opal had said the most normal thing in the world. Opal shuddered. “I panicked. I tried calling Ivy, so we could clean up the mess and hide the body, but he was still so far away. He told me to wait, but I was so afraid that I tried hiding the evidence myself… and I got caught.”
Opal hung her head. “They took Marina from me and put me on trial. My family has a bad reputation in the Atlantean court system, so I knew I wasn’t getting off easy. They talked about executing me, or sending me to the Atlantean prison on a life sentence, but I was lucky enough to have a good criminal defense lawyer. She saved my life. She argued that I had a clean record before the incident and that I’d probably lost control of my powers by accident. She suggested the Institute… and the judge agreed.”
“So what happened to Marina?” Ez asked solemnly.
“A stroke of good luck. She was placed with a good foster family, a nice couple with money. I know my child is being taken care of, at least, and that gives me peace of mind. Nobody in my family wanted to take her, and thank Atlantis for it, because I’d be losing my mind if I knew she was with any of them.”
“The court system didn’t find out about what your dad did?” Ez asked.
Opal shook her head. “The judge had heard the rumors about me at prom, and assumed that’s where Marina came from. He didn’t order a paternity test, and I didn’t request one, because I didn’t want people to know who Marina’s father was and shame her for it. I did my best to save my daughter’s respect, in the eyes of our people. I’d rather everyone think I was trash than know my child was a product of in— in—”
“You don’t have to say it,” Ez said, and he stroked his thumb along the back of her hand. “It’s okay.”
Opal took a heavy breath. “Getting my daughter back is dependent on the conditions of my release. If I graduate from the Institute, I’ll get full custody. So Ihaveto be good here, and leave the Institute with a clean record. So I can see my daughter again, and she can finally be back in my arms.”
Opal wiped at her face. “I’m already losing so much time. I already have to explain to her where she came from, one day, and I don’t know how to do that. Telling her I had to go to prison was hard enough. She didn’t understand why I had to leave.”
“She will one day,” Ez said. “And she won’t hold it against you.”
“How can you be so sure?” Opal raised her eyes.
“Because I’m willing to bet that Marina is just like you, and you’re the sweetest, kindest girl. You couldn’t hate anyone, no matter what they did,” Ez said. “And I know the way you talk about her that you love her. She knows it, too.”
“I haven’t even talked about this in group therapy.” Opal ran a hand through her blue hair. “Though word has gotten around, somehow. Mad Dog knows. He’s been torturing me about it ever since I got here. Thank Atlantis for Ivy, though. He drives him away.”
“You don’t have to worry about anyone bothering you ever again. If someone wants to hurt you, they’re gonna have to go through me,” Ez vowed.
Opal smiled for the first time. “You’re adorable, but you can’t fight off everyone.”
“Why not?” Ez said lowly, like he wanted to try.
“I haven’t seen my daughter since I’ve been sent here. I barely get to talk with her on the phone,” Opal said. “That’s why I need the blanket fixed. It’s the only thing I have of hers the Institute allowed me to bring.”
“And here it is,” I said, tying off the last stitch. I handed it back to Opal. “Good as new, like I promised.”
“Ava, it’s perfect. I can barely tell it was torn,” Opal said, peering at my neat stitches.
“See? There’s nothing I can’t fix,” I said proudly. I stood up and tugged on Charlie’s arm. It already felt like we were infringing on a very private moment, one that was meant for these two. “I’m really sorry to hear about everything that happened to you, Opal. I hope you can get your daughter back.”
“I will, someday,” Opal said. “Thanks for sticking up for me. And for fixing Marina’s blanket.”
“You’re welcome. See you guys later.”
Charlie and I left the Arts & Crafts room. As I took a glance back, I saw Opal and Ez curled up together on the floor cushions, cuddling and looking adorable as all fuck. Professor Celosia was acting like she hadn’t seen them, ignoring the “no touching” rule so they could have a moment.
Well, good for them. I hoped Ez could help Opal heal.
We were quiet. By this time, it was around lunch, so Charlie and I naturally headed toward the cafeteria. I’d been hungry earlier, but now my appetite was depleted. Hearing about Opal’s tragic life was traumatizing enough. I couldn’t imagine living through it. Oberi followed behind us, unusually quiet.
“Do you think she’ll be okay?” I asked Charlie as we approached the cafeteria.
