A hushed silence filled the room, giving Lilith the false hope that perhaps her parents felt something. They didn't, and just looked at their daughter with worry. Muttering an excuse to Ed, she grabbed her clothes and disappeared into the bathroom. It was her last clean outfit, a red shift dress, matching cardigan, and flats, intended for the pompous good-bye dinner. Lilith dried her hair and dressed reluctantly, studying herself in the mirror. She didn't approve of formal dresses; they restricted her movement.

"Bloody perfect dress to die in, isn't it?" she asked her reflection, thinking that if by some miracle she survived, she would adopt Rosehead as her new nickname, out of spite. She stood like this for another minute, thinking about life, death, and love—three big things she had so little time to grasp.

"It is what it is." She shrugged. "There is no death without life, like there is no life without love. Does that mean there is no love without death? Do I have to die to know what love means?" She fixed her new beret, contemplating. "Do I have to lose everything, before I can gain anything?" It seemed true to her in the moment. Her thoughts turned to her mother, to her awkward attempts at teaching her how to knit. Lilith always commented that knitting was certainly not an activity suited for sick people, lest she managed to poke out an eye with a needle. Gabby would typically balk and ask Lilith if she took her pills.

Deciding that she ought to stop dwelling and enjoy her last day, Lilith emerged to the day's first sunrays coloring the room gold.

Ed was gone, perfectly in line with his annoying habit of disappearing. Panther snored on a pillow. Gabby and Daniel rushed to their daughter. Her father asked about her wellbeing. Her mother announced that today it would be okay to skip her medicine.

"You look great!" said Daniel.

"A traveling circus is coming tonight, with trained elephants. Your friends Gina and Daisy asked me if they could sit next to you, such sweet girls," said Gabby.

Lilith's stomach churned. "Gwen and Daphne, Mom."

"We're leaving tomorrow, pup. Aren't you happy about that? We'll be home in no time," chimed in her father.

Lilith suddenly swayed. Not enough sleep, not enough food, and plenty of exhaustion finally took its toll. Her parents exchanged a glance and led her to bed, sitting on either side. This is worth dying for, thought Lilith, this moment, this golden sunrise, this view of a stunning rose garden, Panther wheezing on a pillow, mom and dad hugging me, no lectures, no annoying questions.

She leaned on her mother's shoulder and closed her eyes. Gabby asked something. Daniel answered something. Lilith couldn't detect their words. I'll just sit like this for a bit. It's so cozy, it's like sitting in a pile of sleeping whippets, it's like... She struggled to think and then wasn't thinking anything anymore, drifting off.

When she opened her eyes, hours later, her head was propped on a pillow, she was covered with a blanket, and the sun hung low over the horizon.

"What?" Lilith bolted upright. "I fell asleep!"

The evening colored the sky lavender. A sweet fragrance drifted in on a light breeze. The serene atmosphere would've fooled anyone but Lilith. She felt the throbbing in the very walls of the mansion, in the ground of the garden. It hummed with anticipation like a hungry predator.

"How long did I sleep?" Her heart hammered.

"I may have mentioned that I don't happen to own a watch. Nor do I know how to read." Panther yawned, sitting up.

"Panther!" Lilith covered her mouth in horror. "We slept through the day!"

The whippet jumped, looked out the window, looked at Lilith, and barked wretchedly.

"Gabby! She's up." Daniel cracked the door open, his wife behind him. "That was a long nap. You slept like one happy puppy. Hungry?"

"Dinner is soon." Gabby felt her daughter's forehead. "Our last dinner here."

Lilith's stomach shrunk at these words. The recollection of past events rushed into her head. "Why did you let me sleep for so long? What time is it? When does the carnival start? Where is Ed? I need to get up!" She made to move.

"Hang on, we'd like a word with you." Daniel squeezed her shoulder. "If you don't mind?"

Her parents exchanged a conspiratorial glance.

"What about?" asked Lilith suspiciously.

"We know it might be difficult for you to talk about this," started Daniel.

"We understand that it might take you some time to open up to us," said Gabby, pushing up her glasses.

"But we really need to know—"

"Where you were all night—"

"And if anyone, even if it's anyone we know, was with you or maybe wouldn't let you come back—"

"You two think I was held hostage? By grandfather?" said Lilith, breaking into laughter.

Her parents were taken aback, consulting each other wordlessly on how to continue.

"Let me assure you, it was nothing of the sort. My grandfather had nothing to do with it, but he also had everything to do with it. In a way," said Lilith, flustered. "The problem is, if I were to tell you what happened, neither of you would believe me, so there is really no point in telling." Plus, I have things to do, and there isn't much time left, she wanted to add.

"Why don't you try?" said Daniel at last.

"We'll listen," added Gabby.

"No interruptions?"

"No interruptions," they chimed back as one.

"No lectures? No scolding? No calling me sick and a danger to society? No threats to have me examined by a doctor or be locked up in some kind of an institution where they'll chain me to a bed and force-feed me cold soup through a tube?"

"No, nothing of the sort!" Gabby said, mortified.

"Okay." Lilith took a deep breath and, with a rush of relief, let her story flow—from ordering the room to kill the doctor (both Gabby and Daniel gasped), to facing her grandfather, to asking the mansion to not let anyone follow her, to being pursued by Alfred and Gustav, to Panther making Bär bite his master (Gabby's mouth opened and closed).

Lilith took a shuddering inhale and continued weaving her tale about Ed's tree house, Rosehead attacking Petra (Gabby covered her mouth, Daniel rubbed his face), their fight, Rosehead giving birth to dozens of carnivorous rosebushes with Alfred's help (by now both parents just stared), her face-off with grandfather, their escape, her plea for the mansion's help, her conversation with the heads, and meeting Eugenia and Rose Bloom.

Lilith left out only one tiny detail, namely, her promise to give herself up to the mansion.

"...and then you came in," she finished with glittering eyes, looking from one parent to another, trying to read their expressions. They seemed to be wearing immobile masks in place of real faces.

"Well, what do you think?"

"We think it's quite a story. Isn't it time for dinner?" said Gabby quickly.

"I think we need to talk to dad," added Daniel.

Lilith swallowed. "Why? Because I'm young? Is that why you don't believe me?"

"No-no, it has nothing to do with age," began Daniel.

"For a second I thought maybe...never mind. Doesn't matter now. I'm starving." Bitter regret filled Lilith. Angry tears threatened to roll down her cheeks. She held them back, swiftly slid down the bed, and marched out of the room, before anyone could stop her.

Panther trotted at her heels.

"You could've backed me up, you know. Could've said something. Partner." Without giving her pet a chance to answer, Lilith ran down the steps and into the dinner hall. It was empty except for Agatha carrying in steaming trays of roast and potatoes, positioning them carefully between bouquets of freshly cut roses. Lilith wanted to grab every vase and smash it on the floor, then stomp on it until it turned to paste.

"Can I please have breakfast for dinner?" she said to the housekeeper. "I'd like an omelet with cheese, American style, with bacon, sausage, and blueberry pancakes on the side. Oh, and a bowl of steak for Panther."

To her astonishment, Agatha nodded. "Az little miss wishes," she said, and scurried toward the kitchen.

Lilith pulled out a chair and plopped onto it, smiling. If this was going to be her last dinner, she was going to pig out on her favorite foods. She looked forward to seeing her grandfather, preparing an entire speech in her head that she thought would, if not scare him, then at least embarrass him in front of his guests. Despite the fact that she averted the massacre, she badly wanted to show everyone she was right all along.

Panther curled by her feet, mumbling something about working up the courage to speak in front of her parents. Lilith remained silent, restraining herself from asking him about Ed's whereabouts and jumping at every noise.

Slowly the hall filled with people. First came Trude, then Hanna with her blind mother, and then the Rosenthals with Patrick and Petra, who tried to dart to Lilith but was stopped by her mother. Lilith automatically answered everyone's greetings, her eyes on the doorway.

Preempted by the whiff of sour milk, the Schlitzberger twins, in tow with their mother, sauntered in and slumped across.

Daphne, her round face shiny, leaned over and hissed, "Hallo, Lily."

"Lilith."

"Did you find more human bones in ze garden to munch on? Were zey tasty?"

Gwen joined her sister. "Nein, she met a bear in ze woods, but it wouldn't eat her becauze she stinks. It only scratched her, see?"

"Or maybe it was a scratch of love?" sing sang Daphne.

The sisters burst into giggles.

Before Lilith could answer, Ed—breathless from running— dropped into a chair next to her, evidently having heard the last bit of the conversation. He purposefully pecked Lilith on the cheek, making her face turn scarlet.

"You disappeared," she whispered.

"You. Look. Great," he said, and then added in a casual matter-of-fact tone to the twins, "Sorry. A boy. Never. Kissed you." He took a breath. "Don't fret. There will be. An elephant. Tonight. He loves kissing. Fat girls." The tirade exhausted him, but the stung look on Daphne's face was worth it.

A loud yelp came from under the table. Either Gwen or Daphne kicked Panther, who bit Daphne, who cried out, prompting her mother to pick up the thrashing whippet by the tail, which in turn caused Lilith to spring to her beloved pet's rescue, together with Ed. The commotion would've escalated, if not for Alfred. He strolled into the hall, Agatha on his heels with Lilith's specially made breakfast and a bowl of steak.

"Put him down, Irma, today is a special day," he said authoritatively.

"But Alfred, zis hund bit my daughter! Iz not supposed to be in ze dinner hall." She reluctantly lowered the dog into Lilith's hands, who put him on her lap for safe keeping.

Gabby and Daniel walked in, engrossed in conversation.

"Please, sit down. Let us eat," said Alfred.

Guests obediently dug in, gossiping and throwing baffled glances at the girl who inherited Bloom & Co.

Lilith didn't pay them much attention. Ravenous, she swallowed her omelet in minutes and had to suppress a belch. Ed delicately picked at his food next to her. The twins chewed with fierce determination.

Alfred struck his glass with a spoon.

"My dear guests! Today is the last day we get to spend together," he said, making Lilith's bones chill. "I must tell you, it has been my tremendous pleasure seeing you all at my mansion. I dare to think that I've been able to provide you with enough entertainment"—he glanced at Lilith accusingly—"but it's not over yet. As you are all aware, tonight there will be a good-bye carnival, in memory of my late wife Eugenia Bloom, and to celebrate the legacy of the Bloom family. I have invited a traveling circus that will perform in front of the mansion."

"Alfred, what happened yesterday? I say, you locked us up on purpose!" said Norman, brandishing his wine glass.

"We couldn't go shopping!" complained Irma.

Other guests added commentary in German.

"Why did you leave?" Lilith whispered to Ed.

"Sorry. Had to. Have plan."

"You do? I have a plan, too. Watch." Eager to showcase her idea, Lilith disregarded Ed shaking his head no and focused on her grandfather. It didn't matter anymore what he said or did, but she wanted to repair her reputation.

"Ah, yes. I apologize for doing that to you, my dearies," Alfred droned. "It was a necessary precaution to get the garden ready. You see, there will be a surprise ceremony tonight."

He gazed at Lilith, whose heart fluttered like a dying animal. She just now realized that he planned on disposing of his own son as well as the other guests. This knowledge made her want to puke.

"As is our tradition, we will have the crowning of the new Bloom heir, to make it official, if you will. I'm sure all of you were wondering where our heir disappeared to yesterday. Well, we needed to keep it a secret. Lilith was helping me. In fact, she demonstrated an incredible willingness to learn all about the art of growing roses, choosing to spend almost an entire night in the garden as part of our preparation for the carnival."

"What? You never said she was helping you," said Daniel sharply.

"Why didn't you just tell us?" Gabby added. "You put us through a horrible ordeal."

"Please, let me finish." A muscle on Alfred's face twitched. "I apologize for not telling you earlier. It was our secret to keep, mine and Lilith's. She couldn't hold to it and acted out part of her performance yesterday. Didn't you, my dear girl?"

Speechless, Lilith struggled to process the audacity her grandfather had to lie like this in front of his own family.

"Wait. I don't understand," said Daniel.

Alfred spoke over him, his voice turning silky. "I'll explain later. You see, we got carried away. As much as I advised Lilith to take a break, she continued pruning, which is hard and unforgiving work. You may have noticed the scrapes she has suffered from the thorns. But we still had fun, didn't we? We're sorry we had to fool you all." His eyes sparkled with a delirious glee that bordered on madness.

Lilith exchanged a terrified glance with Ed.

A collective sigh of relief rippled over the table as the information sunk into people's minds. Gabby and Daniel, however, were engaged in a heated argument, her holding him back as he tried to get up.

Lilith had to act. She gently put Panther on the floor and stood, looking directly into Alfred's eyes.

"No. Don't." Ed yanked on her sleeve. Panther bit her ankle lightly, to no effect.

"You're absolutely correct, Grandfather," she said clearly, her voice ringing across the hall.

"Correct about what, my dear?" Alfred frowned. A shadow of surprise passed his face.

It gave Lilith a boost of confidence. "About the fact that we had tremendous fun. In fact, we're about to have some more." As if by accident, she struck a whole pitcher of water. It fell and broke, splashing water all over the floor. "Oh, no! I'm terribly sorry," she cried out in theatrical horror. "Look, everyone! The floor drank the water!" She now had the attention of the guests, but as she looked down, her face fell. The water behaved as spilled water usually behaves, collecting itself into a puddle. Lilith stared.

"Oops!" said Alfred, wearing a triumphant smile.

Just then Gustav stumbled in, announcing loudly, "Herr? Zirkus ist da."