He staggered back, shielding his head and taking the hit.
There were stones from every direction, even children who certainly didn't have full understanding of what was going on were throwing stones!
How did people gather around them so fast?!
The scene before Belladonna rose her anger through the roof.
These stupid people!
"Stop it! Stop stoning him!" She yelled stepping forward. "Do you think he willingly did this? Do you think if he hadn't been lied to, just like the rest of us, he would have done this?!" She was looking around sharply, her eyes desperately trying to command everyone's attention just like her words were.
"He loses his mind with regret over this day and night, and now seeks to make amends, even though he is also a victim here too. Just like all of us!"
There was silence in the street when she spoke. It felt like the whole world had stopped and now was listening to her.
Eli's heart pounded in his chest with each word she spoke, his body was tensed and rigid in readiness for another attack, while at the same time, he was shocked that Belladonna was standing up for him.
It lit hope in his heart.
It was a stupid thing to hope despite everything that had happened between them. This would lead to nothing and only end up hurting him even more than he was already hurt in the end. Despite this knowledge, the feeling grew as well as conflict.
When it came to her, sometimes, he was unreasonable.
Did she really mean all the words she was saying or was she only saying them so that they could help Kami, and finish their task together as soon as possible so she could get rid of him?
She hated him now, so it was probably that.
...or probably not?
No matter what the reason was, however, it felt amazing to watch her stand against everyone to support him. It made all his burdens feel a... little lighter.
Ah, By Ignas, he had missed her.
"The witch had assured him of the safety of every bride, and promised their safe return. He never wanted to hurt his people, he put us first and she used that against him. Eli is not evil, she knew this and used his good intentions to trick him. The witch has played us all. If you want to stone someone, stone her instead!" She yelled.
"Well, she is dead, so---" someone started to say when the voice of another overshadowed his.
"How would you know?!"
Belladonna's heart skipped a beat at the stranger's question, whose face was shrouded with the darkness of the street.
"That she is dead?" Belladonna raised an eyebrow, trying to make it seem like she perceived the question to be the most absurd thing ever. Although, she had earlier today had doubts about Kestra's eternal disappearance, she could justify that based on what she had experienced yesterday.
However, these people haven't had that experience.
So what could make them don't think that?
"No one resurrects from a dragon flames." She recounted the words that had been said to her with as much conviction as she could infuse in them.
The witches had brought in their report and they had nothing about it had pointed hands at Kestra.
It was silly to still be conflicted about that but she was. It was probably because of how Kestra had traumatized her. However, Belladonna planned to stay prepared no matter what. She didn't want her sanity to be doubted which would result in serious limitations for her movement.
"Of course, she is dead. I saw the flames..."
"...we heard of it!" Another added.
Well, that was it then. They must be asking her to prove the credibility of her words regarding Kestra's manipulation of Eli.
"Many words fly around, we don't know which is true.
"Mine is the truth. Believe my words."
"Why?"
How many questions would she entertain tonight? Yet she couldn't blame them for asking for clarification.
"I am the last Bride, I know what happened in the Castle. I share a connection with all the brides before, and they speak to me." She wasn't going to go into the gory details of that. Instead, she turned to Kami's father who was still standing at the door, not allowing them into his home. "Your daughter has sent us here, to find rest and freedom for her soul." She paused, then added. "Let us come in and do this for Kami."
His eyes softened at the mention of his daughter's name, and she stepped closer to him, stopping only when she was about three steps from the door.
"Please give us a chance to make amends for her sake."
His tensed shoulders visibly dropped slowly, and his gaze fixed on the ground, the wheels of thoughts turning in his head.
"Is there a way to bring her back? Can the witches help?" He looked up at her. "The soil of her grave is still loose, I can dog up the coffin---"
Watching him desperately find a way made tears form in Belladonna's throat, restraining her from speaking as her eyes welled up with sad waters, forcing Eli to speak instead the words that burnt his tongue with regret.
"If there was a way, I would have done it. Please forgive me---"
Swoosh!
Someone had thrown a stone and this time, and although Eli had heard it coming way before it even hit him, he didn't move and he just let it happen.
Yes, he must suffer. They were right to be angry and he must receive their punishment.
Just like that, it was a quest of who could cast the most stones as they started stoning him again.
Belladonna turned back, furious.
These stupid people! They just never listen, it was annoying.
"Stop it! The next person who throws a stone will be stoned to death."
"And who are you for us to fear?" Someone had yelled from the window neighbouring house.
Yes, they had been stoning from the neighbouring houses too. Which was crazy, did they have a pile of stones in their rooms prepared for this moment?
These people infuriated her, they made anger boil in her veins like hot coal and soon enough, all she could see was red.
Her blue glowing bracelet on her wrist burnt against her skin but her mind was too shrouded in anger for her to realize.
"Tell that to the King when I summon him here!"
Red sparks danced around her fingers, and the voices in her head began their loud cries, amongst them was Kami's pleading for her to stop, but who could hear that singular cry over a hundred more in this fit of rage?
"Go on. Throw a stone." The people stepped back slowly and whosoever she laid her gaze upon withdrew in fear. "I dare you."
This one was here to cause, havoc that might lead to a death or two... or maybe even more.