Strings of Fate

188- Backrests and basements

I consider this new information for a few minutes while Bellamy eats another serving of eggs on toast. Actually, he seems really hungry. Did he wait for me to eat?

“Cheryl being able to avoid your commands is… inconvenient. But I suppose if you’re going to go around killing and kidnapping, it makes sense that you would practise something like that. Plus obviously she taught Tristain some weird tricks too.” I think aloud.

“What do you mean by that?” He pauses eating. I tell Bellamy how everyone was frozen in place at Megan’s wedding. Much like Cheryl was, at least they were until I interrupted. Bellamy looks fascinated and pleased.

“Well, people did report being frozen in place, but I didn’t realise that you were the one who freed them, although it does make sense. You should be able to order them around the same way I do, we are equally dominant after all. It just might take a little practice.” He considers. I scrunch.

up my face.

“I’m not sure I want to be able to boss people around.” I admit. He shrugs.

“You don’t have to. It’s up to you to use it or not. I generally will try not to force people to do things, but situations like Cheryl are different. Dominant Shifters, and apparently you, have the ability but it’s mostly intended so that we don’t have to fight weaker individuals. The dominance thing is sort of like skipping the argument or physical fight that might result from it and getting to the end result which is the dominant Shifter winning.” He says I roll my eyes at him.

That doesn’t make sense at all. I couldn’t win a fight against anyone.” I point out. He shrugs.

the one fighting. You tend to collect friends and loyalties. That’s a different form of strength.” He reasons. The more I hear about the Shifter dominance stuff the more sketchy it seems. Do they just make up the rules as they go along? I’m starting to think they do. But whatever. It is what it is. It would be interesting to see how some of my other non–Shifter friends fit into the hierarchy. Harry for example. He loves challenging people, particularly those who come across as authority figures. I should get him to test it sometime. Actually, I should update him and Amber on what happened last night. Although I suspect Amber already knows. Maybe I should tell Cam too since we’ve kind of dragged her into it all. I just wish we had better news. I know we caught Cheryl, but Kiara is still missing

a second Bellamy is at my side. He cups his hand

a deep breath and tell me what’s wrong.” He says gently, coaxing it out of

is upset or retaliates. Taking Kiara was Cheryl’s idea, what if the partner doesn’t want her anymore or gets angry and hurts her.” The more I think about it the worse it gets. The more awful the outcome gets. I think I’m shaking, I’m just so scared for Kiara. She’s so small and she’s been through so much already.

What if she’s already dead.” I whisper in horror. He immediately

don’t think she is. I think you would know. You have a connection to

1/2

and

keeps his expression calm but I can see that he’s paled a

you did dream. I literally carried you to bed. I’m sure that when you try again you’ll be

think about anything else until I know she’s alive. That we didn’t make things worse for her.” I declare. Bellamy nods his acceptance and gets me a glass of water which he encourages

on the floor next to it. One to sit on, and one to use as a backrest up against the side of the bed. I am really anxious, so getting myself calm enough for this to work is going to be difficult, but I’m determined to do it. I NEED to know that Kiara is still waiting for me to come find her. That she hasn’t been hurt. I need her to know that I’m still looking for her. I can’t make myself less stressed, so I start with the things that I can control. First my breathing. Taking deep measured breaths until my lungs no longer feel like they’re closing up. Next I work on relaxing my b*dy. Resting my head back against the bed, focusing on each b*dy part in turn. until I feel the tension bleeding away. Only then, do I turn my thoughts to Kiara. I try not to think about my worries for her. Just the things I know for sure. How her hair and eyes look. Her mark, her magic and connection to me. The soft sound of her small voice. As I focus, other things start

you’re here again. I’m not sure though… I- I think something happened. One of the mean ladies has been yelling a lot. She came down here and she broke a bunch of things. It was scary, but she didn’t hurt me

towards her and she