Chapter 44
Chapter Forty-Four
BELLAMY
“ I ’m telling you, she moved her finger,” Driscoll said.
“She hasn’t moved in days,” Leoni said back. “Then I visit the chamber pot, and all of a sudden, you’re telling me she moved? I think you’re tired, and I think we both need sleep.”
I blinked my eyes open, moonlight and starlight twining together and shining into the room. The fire in the hearth blazed. Sweat beaded both Driscoll’s and Leoni’s brows, their faces flushed. They must’ve been so hot in here with the fire going, but I felt cozy, my skin clammy and chilled.
I pushed myself up in bed, wincing at my hands and the pain shooting through them. Leoni and Driscoll both froze, gazes on me.
“Why are you two always arguing?” I signed.
“She’s alive,” Driscoll’s eyes were wide. “You’re alive. She’s?—”
“I think we get it,” Leoni said.
Driscoll surged forward and threw his arms around me. “I’m so happy.” His voice shook.
His reaction was flattering but also confusing. I didn’t even think he liked me that much.
I rubbed my eyes as he settled back into his chair. “What happened to me?”
“Well, it turns out using nettle weed and not treating your wounds is a very, very bad thing.” Driscoll pointed to my bandaged hands. “The poison got into your blood. You’re lucky you’re alive. Spirit Shadow or the god of shadows or whoever he is brought you back here looking like he might tear this castle to the ground if someone didn’t save you.”
I looked away, imagining how terrifying a sight Kairoth must’ve been. Terrifying and glorious.
Driscoll raised up his hands. “His shadows had created this beast with a long snout and sharp teeth and big claws. The same one that took our shadows in the prison cells. Kind of reminded me of Aron, which then reminded me all the good times we had, which then, sort of turned me on.” He shook his head. “It was very confusing.”
“Stick to the story.” Leoni poked him.
“Right. So Kairoth brought you here, and he was screaming for help. This gut-wrenching scream. Like wow. I’ve only heard that from a few people, and it was because the loves of their lives were about to die.” His eyes rolled up, and he paused. “Or were already dead.”
My heart thumped hard in my chest, the patter drumming in my ears. Kairoth had really done that? I couldn’t imagine the cool, calm, collected god losing control like that. I couldn’t imagine him screaming, and I certainly couldn’t imagine the emotion Driscoll was describing.
“That can’t be right,” I signed.
“No,” Driscoll said. “I’m pretty sure I know what I saw.”
I blinked a few times, staring down at my hands, then up at Leoni and Driscoll, realizing she hadn’t translated my message.
“Did you understand what I just said?” I asked Driscoll.
“Leoni’s been giving me lessons.” He shot me a smile. “You know, we don’t have a whole lot to do here, so I figured I might as well learn. You must get sick of having to get everything translated. Especially by her.” He jabbed a thumb at Leoni. “I mean I get sick of hearing her voice, so you must?—”
Leoni shoved him. “Will you shut up?”
“Hey.” Driscoll pointed at me. “Is that a smile? Like a real, actual smile?”
I lifted my hand to my mouth, realizing it was. These two idiots had made me smile, something I’d done very little of since I lost my brothers so long ago.
“I think this means we’re becoming friends.” Driscoll waggled his brows.
“Don’t stretch it.”
“I think you need to stop knitting these sweaters,” Leoni said with a grimace. “The healer said the chances of you surviving something like that were almost impossible. That we should expect your death any day now. Then you just woke up.”
At that, I straightened.
“It’s a miracle you survived that poison,” she said.
I shook my head vehemently. “I won’t stop.”
“Well, then we have to figure out another way,” Leoni said. “You can’t keep going the way you have. It’s too dangerous for you, and next time, you might not get so lucky.”
Driscoll frowned. “We can brainstorm.” He nudged Leoni. “Maybe there’s a library here where we can research nettle weed and its properties. I mean there could be a medicine or something that counteracts its effects.”
I frowned, Leoni’s words echoing in my mind. Stop knitting these sweaters. The words sounded so familiar. Like someone else had said them.
“We’ll figure it out,” Driscoll said. “It’s what we’re good at. I mean we’re mostly good at figuring stuff out. Sometimes it takes a while. And we make mistakes along the way. Like a lot of mistakes. We also tend to almost die a lot. But we get there eventually.” He patted my hand.
“You’re truly the worst,” Leoni mumbled.
“That was rude.” Driscoll raised his nose. “You’re like the annoying older sister I never had.”
“I’m not older than you,” Leoni said. “I’m more like a little sister.”
Driscoll gave me a look with raised brows. “Her forehead wrinkles tell a different story,” he said out the side of his mouth.
Little sister. I jolted upright. My brothers. I’d seen them. In my dreams? Or a different reality?
“Don’t worry,” Driscoll said. “You have barely any wrinkles.” He peered closer at me. “I actually don’t think you have a single one, which is truly amazing.”
“What’s wrong, Bellamy?” Leoni leaned forward, concern shining bright in her blue eyes.
“I dreamt of my brothers while I was ill.” I stared at both of them. “How long have I been asleep?”
Driscoll stroked his chin. “Three days, I would guess?”
I scrambled out of bed, almost collapsing as soon as my feet hit the floor. Driscoll and Leoni caught me as I stumbled.
“What are you doing? You’re not in any condition to get out of bed,” Leoni said.
I pushed out of their arms, grabbing onto one of the wooden posters and using it to steady myself. Then I leaned against it, catching my breath, my ankle pulsing. I forgot I’d injured it.
“You need to get back in bed.” Leoni patted it, wariness replacing the concern on her face.
“You don’t understand. My brothers. They made a decision. They’re going to end it.”
“End what?” Driscoll asked slowly.
“Their lives.”
Leoni sat on the edge of the bed, staring at me in disbelief.
Driscoll stroked his chin. “How do you even know that was real? You were really sick. It was probably a fever dream or something.”
He was right. It could’ve been just a dream, but I had a feeling it was more than that. I had a feeling I’d somehow found my brothers, gotten into their heads, brought us all together in a dream. It was impossible. No star elemental had that kind of power. I’d always been different. I’d always been able to enter multiple dreams at once, but I’d never merged dreams before, never brought multiple subconsciouses into the same space. It was impossible, and yet...
“It was all your brothers? In one dream with you?” Leoni asked.
I nodded.
She bit her lip. “That’s powerful magic. Impossible magic. What did they say, exactly?”
I thought back to the dream, how worried all my brothers were. They were upset. Angry. “They don’t want me to try to save them anymore.” Tears gathered in the corners of my eyes. “They don’t want me risking my life for them, and they’re afraid if they don’t do something, then I won’t stop. So they want to sacrifice themselves. And then I won’t have any reason to knit these sweaters.”
Leoni’s eyes shone with tears, and Driscoll frowned.
“You two are right. It might not have been real, but I can’t take that risk. I have to find them. I have to make sure they don’t do anything stupid.”
“There’s no way you can venture back out into the jungle.” Driscoll started pacing. “Not in your condition. Plus, there’s no way Kairoth would allow it.” His eyes brightened. “Wait a minute. You don’t have to go to them. Not with your body, at least.”
Leoni snapped her fingers. “He’s right. If you could bring them all together while you were sick, then maybe you can do it now.”
That wasn’t a bad idea. Even if I had no idea how I’d done it.
I sank down onto the edge of the bed.
“Oh, thank the spirits.” Driscoll let out a long breath. “I think Spirit Shadow would have our heads if we let you go back into that jungle.”
“Where is he?” I signed.
“Gone,” Leoni said. “He visited you a few times, but we saw him leave at dusk yesterday. He flew off. No idea where he went or when he’ll be back.”
Driscoll wrinkled his nose. “Which is confusing since we were under the impression that he can’t leave.”
“Well, that’s good for us.” I ignored the sinking feeling in my stomach and gestured to the wardrobe against the wall. “Grab my boots. I’m not going to the jungle, but I do need to be outside.”