Page 101 of Beasts of Briar
Finally, her eyes popped open as she gasped.
“What?” I asked, straightening in my chair. “Are you okay? Do you know who set the fire?”
Her mouth opened, then closed, then opened again until she finally signed,“I did. I was the one who started the fire.”
I feltlike my body was being plunged into an icy lake.
“Why would I do that?”Bellamy signed.“Why don’t I remember doing it?”
“What did you look like? Your eyes.” I waved. “Your body.”
She stared into the space in front of us, signing slowly.“It was like I was in a trance. I felt it as I dug through my memories. I couldn’t see myself. Not when I was in my own mind, but I could feel that there was an emptiness in that memory. It was deep, tucked away and buried.”Her eyes widened.“Like it was hidden.”
This was what I was afraid of. “Bellamy, you didn’tgo back and speak to that prisoner, did you?” I couldn’t wait any longer. The risk was too great. I had to tell Bellamy who she was. “Because she’s dangerous. I haven’t told you her identity yet because I had more information about her that I wanted to give you. Information that I needed to confirm.” I steeled myself to tell her the truth. “That prisoner is Khalasa. Who you might know as Spirit Star. There’s more, though...”
I trailed off as Bellamy’s hand floated to her mouth. Her face had lost all color, and her other hand clutched her stomach.
“What?” I turned my body toward her. “What’s wrong?”
She looked at me with wide, terrified eyes.“I made a terrible, terrible mistake. Blood and stars. Kairoth, I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”Her hands shook as she signed.“I thought she was from the shadow court. She’d never said where she was from. But everyone from the star court is gone. And I bargained with her.”
I could barely breathe, afraid of where this was going, dreading hearing what Bellamy was about to tell me. What I was going to have to tell her.
“She said she could help me find nettle weed. You’d disappeared, and I was desperate to help my brothers.”
“What did she ask for in return? Please tell me you didn’t help her escape.”
Bellamy shook her head.“No. I’d never betray you like that. I knew she must’ve been your prisoner for a reason. Even though she made it seem like you’re the villain I wanted to give you a chance to tell your side of the story. She preyed on my weakness. I don’t know how, but she did. Somehow she knew I’d been trapped. That my brothers were trapped. That I’d feel sorry for her.”
“If you didn’t help her escape, what did you do?”
“I cut away some of the weeds and brush outside her window. I moved away a stone.”She squeezed her eyes shut.“So she could see the stars.”
I went completely still. Not the stone.
“I’m so sorry. I should never have done that. I just wanted her to be able to see the sky.”
Khalasa had always been manipulative. “It’s my fault too. I should’ve told you sooner. Who she was. Why she was trapped. That stone has special powers somehow. Powers that trap our magic. It’s part of the original stone where Khalasa pulled her scythe from.”
I’d taken a piece of it when I knew I’d have to trap Khalasa once more.
“So you think she’s the one who started the fire?”Bellamy asked.“That when I moved that stone, she gained access to her powers again and used them on me. But why would she do that?”
I hesitated. “Bellamy, I don’t think your powers are just connected to the Wilds. I don’t think they’re connected to the Wilds or what happened there at all.”
She stilled, mouth open as she took in my words.“Then where do you think my powers came from?”
“I don’t know yet. But the things you survived... that poison. The fire.” I gestured to her arms and hands, the burns mending far faster than normal. “The way you just went into your own mind. How you’ve gone into my mind. That shouldn’t be possible.”
“I know that.”Bellamy’s movements were abrupt, her cheeks reddened.“But that’s what my father always told me and my brothers. That our powers were different because of what had happened to the Wilds.”
“I’m not saying he lied to you.” I hated the frustration and confusion I saw in her face. The pain.
“What does this have to do with Khalasa?”
“I don’t know exactly.” I shook my head slowly. “Maybe she sensed your power, somehow drew you to her in that prison.” My shadows hissed and lashed out. “Fuck. I don’t know. She should’ve been powerless. Maybe it wasn’t until you came to her that she sensed you, and maybe she viewed you as a threat, so she decided to manipulate you. I wish I had more answers, but it’s clear this wasn’t a mistake. If Khalasa targeted you, there’s a reason. It’s not random.” I raised a hand to her cheek. “For now, why don’t you rest? Even if you’ve healed extraordinarily fast, you’ve been through a great ordeal.”
“Where am I going to sleep?”She gestured to the charred, burnt remains of her room.“Have you got another guest room?”
