"And since you are lucky enough to have my interest, you must stay alive. A piece of advice from an experienced person, only help people when it benefits you."
Phew!
His cockiness was annoying, annoying enough to change whatever heart skip that had just happened.
Or maybe it was the rage that clouded it.
Whatever it was, at least she wasn't feeling it anymore.
Thanks Ignas, that was a good thing.
"Helping people is what got me into this situation. Stuck in this place for more than two hundred years."
Belladonna gave into a burst of sarcastic laughter, the price a hefty one.
The headache almost seized her breath, but the rage she felt towards Alaris' words kept her going.
"Helping people? You gave a boy a curse in disguise of a gift."
"So you believe me, you believe my story." He still sounded close, in fact, he sounded a little happy and that made Belladonna angrier.
She looked up at the sky.
The stars were gone now and the dark clouds seemed to be clearing out slowly.
"Believe you?" She found herself standing up.
Her anger toward the Bride Thief gave her strength to step away and create the distance she felt she needed between them.
"I don't believe your sick story. I don't know how you got stuck here but I'm sure you are not as innocent as you are trying to make it."
"Who said I was innocent?"
"I'm right then."
She clapped.
"You probably deserve this. You deserve this bondage you are stuck in."
Alaris didn't take that so nicely.
"Who are you to make such accusations about me? You don't even know me."
"I don't have to."
There was a pause. Belladonna could hear birds from a distance, and water rushing from somewhere far away.
"You must believe your dear King is a saint."
The underlying mockery that laced his voice annoyed her. He spoke like someone who knew something she didn't and that was the most infuriating.
"No one is a saint."
"Of course, King Eli has done some very bad things."
"Don't try to manipulate me."
"Facts! I only speak the truth. Sometimes. Like now."
Belladonna stepped back, moving closer to the edge.
"Careful. I like you alive, also I'm taking a break from my hero duties."
Belladonna moved away from the edge she had been unknowingly heading towards.
"Eli would never ride his brother around and call him a dragon. Pamela?"
"The name sucks, yes. Believe me, his brother hates it."
"Will you stop this insanity? Eli would have helped him if this was true. He is not selfish like you!"
Her voice echoed slightly from the cave she had now moved closer to.
"Despite what has happened tonight, is that what you think about me."
Belladonna stiffened, when she heard him whisper behind her.
He was too close.
She turned to him, a sick smile on her face, determination shone in her electric blue eyes.
She wouldn't fall for his stupid tricks!
"We both know you saved me because of my importance to you. Besides, if you hadn't been desperate for a break night, this wouldn't have happened in the first place."
"Nightshade, I already apologized and---"
"I'm proving a point." She pointed at him for emphasis - at least, at where she believed he was. "Eli is nothing like you."
"You are right about that. He is nothing like me. He will never be. I don't put on a facade like he does, I don't go behind a mask and I don't tell lies the way he does."
He dragged in a breath.
This must be frustrating him.
"If you knew your Eli, you would hate him."
This fool!
"I know my Eli and I love him."
Belladonna folded her as across her, feeling a need to protect what she believed in.
"Oh, do you? Are you really sure you do?"
The memories of the coffins flooded into her mind and as she felt the wind blow past her hair, she was reminded of the reason she started needing a scarf.
It didn't help that Alaris had been the one to hint to her about her losing her memory.
This was too much.
She mustn't allow him to get to her like this.
"Well, you do know him? To make such accusations about him?"
"I wish I didn't."
She laughed.
This bastard was really trying to get into her head and mess up her thoughts.
This was insane.
"Why am I even talking to you? I'm only here to use you."
"As I am using you." His reply was quiet, she held her breath when she felt him slipping her dagger back into her hand.
Her eyes went wide.
Wait.
He could hold her dagger?
Hold her?
She could feel him?
Her puzzlement clashed with the other emotions that rushed through her veins. He was close, she could feel it.
So it wasn't just the crazy wind before.
It was Alaris.
She gulped, refusing to be affected by whatever thing he was doing to her. This must be another form of manipulation, this must all be just in her head.
She had to be strong against it.
Against him.
"Yes," she nodded. "that is what we are doing. Using each other. Don't forget that."
___
____
Waking up had been abrupt. Like a jolt. It felt like she had been yanked out of the dream by a compelling force.
Belladonna's body ached as she moved away from the sofa she had fallen asleep on. The sunlight almost blinding as it seeped in from the tipped curtain.
It was difficult to stand up, her dress still damp from her near-death experience, her body sore from the stoning.
There was a knock on the door and Belladonna stiffened.
Eli?
By Ignas, what---
"My Lady?"
That wasn't Eli.
"Seb?"
Belladonna looked around, grabbing a full blanket and rushing to the door, only to open it slightly.
Seb had said the King was expecting her at the breakfast table, she had thanked him and he had left.
Belladonna breathed a sigh of relief and closed the door firmly behind her, locking it.
Thank Ignas, that hadn't been Eli.
What would he say if he were to see her in this state?
Walking back to the sofa, she limped a little, and that reminded her of her ankle. It wasn't fully healed yet.
She looked through the drawers, and grabbed a mirror to inspect her forehead.
Yes, it was swollen.
Taku, you fool!
He had almost killed her.
She would have to attend to the rest of the many cuts that littered her body and do it fast so she wouldn't be late for breakfast.
Ah, how was she going to do this?
She was so tired and in pain. Maybe she would be able to rush to the physician before rushing to breakfast.
These stupid customs must really be done away with.
She was in so much pain.
Belladonna smiled in wonderment at how many things Alaris would set ablaze if she were to be put in harm's way again.
Then her smile turned into a frown.
What was she doing?
She clenched her fists by her sides.
Alaris must have done something to her when he saved her.
That was the only explanation for this insanity.
Stupid!
The existence of feelings might be uncontrollable but acting upon them was, and he was stupid to think that she would foolishly act upon whatever manipulative tactic this was.
She would never do his bidding.
She was his control and that would never change.
Also, Eli was the only one she was in love with.
Compared to her love for Eli, this manipulative fleeting feeling was insignificant.