Page 69 of Beacon

What might have gone wrong? Had it been due to my uncle’s negligence? Or perhaps the beacon had been low on the kerosene needed to keep the flame burning, or perhaps it hadn’t been tended properly, or heaven forbid, it hadn’t been lit at all. There’d been no storm the night before, which meant something else had caused the shipwreck. If I wanted any semblance of peace, I needed to discover it.

I needed to return to the lighthouse.

The sudden decision yanked me to my feet. Owen called after me as I headed towards the door. “Where are you going?”

I ignored him, but he only followed me as I stepped into the hallway, easily keeping up with my brisk strides. I glanced back to firmly shake my head. This was something I had to do alone. While I had brought him to the lighthouse once before, this was different. I couldn’t risk Owen discovering any of my dark secrets, certain his doing so would cause me to lose his good favor, something I became more desperate to keep the longer I knew him.

But he was nothing if not stubborn, so eventually, I was forced to give up the fight and reluctantly allow him to accompany me. He did so silently, knowing me well enough to know I was currently determined not to communicate. But though he’d stopped asking what was bothering me, he still brought the slate I’d tossed aside earlier should I change my mind.

The trek to the lighthouse had never felt so short. Though I hoped my investigation would solve the mystery behind the sailors’ deaths, I still dreaded what I’d discover, unable to bear the burden of responsibility should I learn that the tragedy could have been prevented if I’d but been there.

Owen seemed unsurprised by our destination, but his worry still lingered. Our footsteps echoed through the empty lighthouse as he silently followed me up the twisting stairs. Dread tightened my heart the higher we ascended, and even after we reached the top, it took me several moments to gather enough courage to step into the room.

Desperate to reassure myself, I pushed these feelings aside to focus on my purpose. I checked the trim, the flame, the fuel, the windows…everything, working painstakingly slow so as not to miss even the smallest detail.

When my examination concluded, I was left stunned. No, it couldn’t be…heart pounding, I immediately checked everything again, only to achieve the same results.

Shock warred with my relief as I sank to the ground. Nothing seemed to be amiss. But then…how? I didn’t understand how a shipwreck could have occurred when the lighthouse was in proper working order. Where, then, did blame for the accident lie?

Owen had silently watched my careful examination, his expression concentrated as he tried to piece together the mystery behind my mood. The moment I sank to the floor he knelt by my side.

“Marisa?” His hand gently grazed my back.

I couldn’t answer, still too confounded by my findings to explain the source of my distress.

“Is this about last night’s shipwreck?”

I hesitated in answering, but he’d waited so patiently for me to confide in him, which only showed the extent of his desperation to understand what was troubling me. This thought gave me the strength to share my burden.

I managed a slow nod, which he returned, as if to say,I thought so. He glanced around the room I’d just spent the past half hour examining every surface of. “You were checking to see whether something had gone wrong with the lighthouse. Did you discover anything?”

With a sigh I shook my head. His brow furrowed.

“Then why do you look so disheartened? That’s good, isn’t it?”

I accepted the slate to scratch out the question burning my lips:Then why shipwreck?

He frowned. “I’m not sure. But though the event was tragic, the lighthouse is currently under your uncle’s charge. At least you don’t have to live with the thought that you were responsible.”

His answer wasn’t enough to quell the anxiety pressing against my chest so heavily that I could scarcely breathe. I underlined the wordsthen whythree times and tapped them for emphasis.

He considered. “Perhaps the problem didn’t lie with the lighthouse but the ship itself, which meant it had nothing to do with you; it would have wrecked regardless.”

I stilled. In all the shipwrecks that had occurred over the years, I’d never once considered such a possibility. Instead I’d assumed they’d all been the result of our failure as lighthouse keepers. To think there could have been other reasons…and if that was true in this instance, then perhaps it was also true for Mother’s ship.

I gave my head a rigid shake. No, Mother’s shipwreck had been the result of the rough seas I’d inadvertently caused when I’d lost control over my powers. I’d believed that for too long to think otherwise now.

Owen rested his hands on my shoulders, compelling me to meet his earnest gaze. “You’re not to blame, Marisa…though I know my words are likely not strong enough to overcome the guilt you’re undoubtedly feeling. I understand all too well how easy it is to cast blame on yourself.”

His gaze took on a faraway look even as deep sadness overcame his expression. I recognized the guilt haunting him, an emotion I’d borne every day for ten years that I’d do anything to alleviate. I brushed his arm, a feeble form of comfort as well as a silent inquiry as to what was troubling him.

He reluctantly met my eyes, suddenly nervous. “You see, something happened…years ago…but I never speak of it; it’s too painful.” He seemed reluctant to continue, so I brushed his arm in hopes of encouraging him. He sighed. “I don’t want to burden you with my problems when you’re the one who currently needs my support.”

Owen was always supporting me, and I was eager to do the same for him. I pressed my hands to my heart for my sign forhelpand followed it with my sign formore, prompting him to share his story.

Luckily, he needed little encouragement before he relinquished the fight with a heavy sigh. “Perhaps part of me wants to believe my silence will change the fact it happened at all, despite being forced to live with the reminder everyday…yet for the first time I want to share the burden I’ve carried alone for so long, though I’m not sure Icanexplain.”

My heart swelled with the desire to help him. I picked up my slate.There’s a way. Magic can show memory.

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