Chapter 4 (Incomplete)

Look straight ahead, there's nothing left to see.

What's done is done, this life has got its hold on me.
Just let it go, what now can never be.

- Beautiful Things, Andain

“Oh. My. Gosh.” I look up into the trees as a massive figure emerges from the forest depths.

“Who are you, and what do you want with me?” The figure’s voice echoes, sending birds flying and squirrels scattering, not to mention my heart racing.

I back up as far as I can go until I’m cornered into a cluster of thorny bushes and trees.

I rush into the hut, my heart beating wildly in my chest, my hair in my face. I push my hair back and shut the door, locking it and sinking to my knees, back against the wall. I sigh and run my fingers through my hair, thinking. My thoughts are interrupted by a stifled sob. I look up and see Belinda, her face buried in her knees, arms folded across her chest.

“Belinda…”

“I couldn’t do it Cordelia!” She looks up, tears shining on her face. “I couldn’t give him the poison.”

I crawl over to her on my hands and knees, taking her in my arms and rocking her back and forth.

“It’s okay.” I rub her back. “It’s okay. We’ll just have to find another way. You just couldn’t do it. I understand.”

“No.” Belinda gets up abruptly, pushing me away. “You don’t understand. I couldn’t kill him because… I love him.”

The air gets colder and my head starts spinning even more than it was originally. There has to be some sort of mistake. I must have misheard her. Because there is no way she could ever…

“What?” I get up, placing myself on the bed, holding my head in my hands.

“He wants to marry me, Cor.” Belinda sits down beside me, her tone changed, brighter, happier. I take my head out of my hands to stare at her. A small smile is on her face. I didn’t mishear. She’s completely serious.

 “He loves me too.” She takes my hands in hers. “Do you have any idea what this means?”

“Yes.” I say angrily, shaking my hands from hers and standing up. “It means you love a murderer!”

“I was afraid you would disapprove.” Belinda sighs, disappointed.

“Disapprove?” I round on her. “I’m shocked, bewildered! How can you love a man who killed your parents, who’s trying to kill you?”

Belinda backs up as I corner her, fear on her face. “Cor, be reasonable!”

“How can I be reasonable?!” I turn away, clutching my head. “You’re claiming to be in love with the man who killed my parents! I’ve hated him- you’ve hated him your whole life, and I’m supposed to be reasonable? You’re completely out of line, Belinda!”

“No, you are!” she screeches, grabbing my arm and pulling my hands away from my head. “You won’t even listen to what I’m trying to tell you!”

“And I have a damn good reason not to listen to you!” I retaliate, breaking free from her hold. “I’m not obligated to listen to a single word you s-”

Before I can finish, I feel a sharp pain on my cheek as my cousin slaps me across the face. I stumble, falling down to the ground in shock, touching my aching cheek.

“I’m sorry it’s come to this, but if this is the only way to get you to respect me, so be it.” She holds her head up high and takes a breath. I have half a mind to stand up and punch her in the gut, but I stay where I am, still in utter disbelief of what she did to me. “Donnell promised me that if I married him, he would spare my life. Don’t you understand, Cordelia? I’m not going to be executed anymore! I’m free!” She smiles, soaking up the wonderful news.

“Well that’s all very well and good, but what about me?” I ask in a huff, my face contorted in a horrible grimace as the pain from her gesture seeps into my skin. “I suppose he isn’t willing to spare my life, even if I am your cousin.”

She hesitates a second before replying. “Well, he didn’t mention anything about you… But I’m sure I can persuade him not to harm you. I will be married to him in a month’s time, and your eighteenth birthday is in two months, so I have plenty of time to convince him-”

“And how do you know you can trust that he’ll keep his promise?” I interject, and her face falls.

“I can tell his intentions are true.” She argues. “You wouldn’t understand, Cordelia. You won’t, until you fall in love.”

“You really think you can trust a murderer?” I laugh cynically, unable to comprehend the thoughts that are running through her mind. “You really think you can induce him not to kill me, or you for that matter?”

“He was young when he made up those rules!” she protests. “He was naive, and scared.”

“He was fifteen, Belinda! That’s practically the same age as you and me!”

“And we’re plotting a murder, just as he did!”

“It’s not the same thing, and you know it.” I whisper harshly, in utter disbelief that she could even begin to compare the murder of our parents- the murder of us at the young age of eighteen- to what we were plotting against the king now.

She pauses for a moment, and I can tell she’s trying to think of a clever rebuttal. “Can’t you be happy for me, once in your life?” she finally yells, throwing back her golden hair and glaring at me. “I’m trying to help you!”

“The only person that’s going to help me now is myself.” I stand up, my fists clenched. “I suppose I’ll just have to find a way around the king and you now.” I brush past her and head to the door but she stops me before I can leave.

“I won’t let you kill him.” she says firmly, her nostril’s flaring.

“I’d like to see you try and stop me.” I push her away. “I love you, but you’re a fool, Belinda. He’s got you under his spell and has somehow convinced you that he’s on your side. And he’s going to turn around and stab you in back when you’re not looking. I want to trust you, but I don’t think I can anymore.” A tear slips down her face as I open the door and step outside.