Page 19 of Forbidden Knots

Whoever fell could get hurt badly, and I didn’t want to push my luck. I grabbed the hat and climbed back to the top.

I sat at the edge, holding the hat, and realized the mistake I had made. I knew I had to take this as a peace offering to Sophie.

My whole life, I hadn’t had many friends, and Sophie was one I never wanted to lose. We were different, but both broke in the same way and sewn back together along the same lines. We might have wanted different things, but in the end, they led us in the right direction. As much as I was stubborn and always wanted to be right, I knew I had to make things right, to forgive her and have her forgive me.

I stood up and went back to the road, retracing my steps. Halfway there, I started to run. I felt lonely and was exhausted from it. I wanted to see her, to tell her what had happened. Maybe even tell her about the Shadow. Even though that secret was mine to keep, I was ready to share it with her.

Within minutes, I was at her door, banging on it with my fists. I heard footsteps behind it, and the door opened wide. My eyes met Tristan’s, and he was shirtless.

My cheeks immediately flushed, and my gaze dropped to the floor. My feet crossed, and my body shivered in front of him, feeling like a speck of dust.

He chuckled, coming closer. "Are you lost, little...?" But then he stopped, stepping back.

"Sophieee," he shouted, "you have someone here for you."

Her face peeked through the hallway on the next floor, and she shouted back, "Thalia, go away."

I lifted her hat in the air and waved it like a flag, and Sophie’s face immediately lit up. She ran downstairs, grabbed the hat from my hand, and said, "I am still mad at you."

"I found it at the cliffs," I said, trying to start a conversation, noticing Tristan in the background. My cheeks blushed even more. Sophie was silent, so I continued, "I am so sorry. Can we start again?"

"It was my fault anyway," Tristan said from behind, and Sophie rolled her eyes. "What?" he shrugged his shoulders as he climbed up the stairs.

"He explained everything," she said.

"He did?" I questioned, looking at him, afraid to ask what he might have said to her.

"We all make mistakes, and I’m sorry too," Sophie said. "I’ve been in the shadows so much lately that I forgot how much light you bring to me."

I chuckled, thinking about her words. "I may like Shadows too," I said.

As I said it, Tristan turned around. "You two need help."

"Luckily you are always around," Sophie joked, and as he turned back and walked upstairs, she moved closer to me, taking my hand and pulling me inside.

"I have so much to tell you," she chuckled, dragging me to the living room. I smiled at her, relieved that she was acting like we had never even fought the day before. As we sat down, I noticed something different about her. She seemed changed, more radiant.

She wore pink lipstick, her face was fully made up, her hair was curled and brushed back, and she wore a sweet perfume. It was clear she had done all this for someone.

As I was about to comment, she whispered, "I met someone."

I smiled, intrigued. "Tell me everything about it."

ELEVEN

Shadow

Istood silently behind the door, listening like a mouse, my face pressed close to the opening to hear if she would say anything about me, about the Shadow. But all I heard was my sister bragging about the boy I wanted to smash with my fists. She seemed happy, happier than she'd been in a long time, and as she told Thalia she felt more alive than ever, I felt a strange relief. I wanted the same thing she had, with Thalia, my little Storm.

As Thalia talked, I noticed how gentle and tired she was. I knew she hadn’t slept the whole night, just like I hadn’t. I had been watching over her, trying to protect her from Lotta. And as much as I wanted Lotta gone, I knew if we ever ended up together, Thalia would never forgive me. I couldn’t do that to her. I wanted her to be happy, but more than anything, I wanted her to be mine. In this sick possessiveness, I couldn’t let her be happier with anyone but me.

I waited for her to open up to Sophie, to hear what was troubling her so I could somehow shield her from her troubles. All she said was that her biggest trouble was me.

"Wait, you can't be serious?" Sophie said, "You have a fucking stalker?"

"Shhh," Thalia hushed her. "Please don’t tell anyone."

"Are you crazy? You should tell everyone, go to the fucking police, Thalia. We all know how stalking ends..." Sophie said, making my heart race. I knew myself, and I knew I could never harm my Storm.

---