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WITCH'S CURSE

When the Curse hit Bella, it was like I was trapped there inside of her body with her. I could see everything she saw. Hear everything she heard. Feel everything she felt. But, like Bella, I could control nothing.

The Monster was in control.

Bella couldn’t stop the Monster as it surged forward, as fast as lightning, drawn in by the vampires’ light magic.

She couldn’t look away as she mowed them down like weeds in the garden.

She couldn’t close her ears and silence the sound of their screams.

She couldn’t plug her nose to block out the smell of their blood.

And she would never forget the exhilarating hum of magic across her skin when she unleashed a deadly torrent of liquid flames that killed them all.

I am a monster,her mind whispered.

You’re not a monster, Bella.I took a cautious step toward her, hands raised.

Stay away, Leda! I can’t stop it!

I could feel the magic building up inside of her, preparing for the next onslaught. Preparing to attack me.

You’re not interested in her magic,Bella told the Monster.It’s not light magic. It’s light and dark.

The Monster didn’t care. It had to obliterate all light magic, even if it was mixed with dark magic. That was its nature, its sole purpose. The reason it existed.

That impulse was drawing her forward, toward me.

“Stop!” she shrieked, and I wasn’t even sure who was speaking: Bella or the Monster.

A portal opened up between me and Bella, swallowing us both. When we emerged from that portal, we were back in the big open Cell inside the Night Prince’s prison. And Bella was herself again.

“It’s night,” she sighed, collapsing against the wall. “Thank goodness it’s night.”

“It’s ok, Bella.” Tessa’s anti-magic collar was turned off. She twirled her hand in a neat circle, banishing the final remnants of her portal. “You’re going to be ok.”

The light in Tessa’s collar turned red again, silencing her magic.

“I just killed six people,” Bella muttered, wringing out her hands. “Itriedto kill Leda. And you’re comforting me? No.” She shook her head. “That’s just not right.I’mnot right.”

Tessa looked on with worried eyes as Calli hopped toward Bella on one leg. She wasn’t putting any weight on her right ankle, which meant it still hadn’t healed properly.

“I will make you another healing potion, Calli,” Bella said, her voice so high-pitched, I hardly recognized it. She fumbled with the boxes of ingredients in her potion kit. “I have to fix this. I have to.”

I caught her hands. “Bella, we know that wasn’t you. We don’t blame you.”

“But I blame myself.” She’d already reduced the ice leaf to a fine powder, but she just kept on crushing it. “I should have been strong enough to fight back the Monster.”

“Youarestrong, Bella,” I told her.

“The curse is just stronger?” she said with a shaky laugh. She abandoned her vigorous herb-crushing, then collapsed onto a nearby bench.

I sat down next to her. “The curse is terrible. I experienced that firsthand.”

She turned her head to look at me. “You did?”

“Yes. When the curse took you over, our minds were connected. I sensed everything you did. I felt how you were a prisoner in your own body. It was horrible.” I wrapped my arm around her.