Part 20 (1/2)

Cat believed she didn't know everything about her father about the evil he did. I wasn't so sure. Those pale blue eyes of hers seemed to contain so much that was cold and wicked. I could almost believe she knew it all.

But, like Isaac said, sometimes it's good strategy to keep your enemies close.

Just before you left, you turned to me and said, 'Have you been writing all of this down, Tessa?'

'Yes. All of it,' I said.

'Keep it hidden,' you said, your brow furrowing. 'Just for now. For now. I think that would be safer. And ...' Your eyes drifted to my wrist. 'Vinnie told me about the cuffs. About what they do. About how they let you be normal normal. Please wear it, Tess. All the time. Will you do that, for me?'

I told you I would wear the cuff always. I'm sorry for lying again, Connolly.

'Good. Good, I'm glad,' you said. 'I just want you to be normal. I want you to be happy.'

'I know,' I said. 'Thank you.'

Then you were gone. The door clicked shut behind you, and all that was left was me and silence and a head suddenly full of one hundred and sixty years of memories. It felt as though the memories were a huge jigsaw puzzle. Most of the pieces were in place now. A few more pieces and the picture would be complete.

On the morning after the battle in the clearing, Perrin came to visit me. He was dressed in his school uniform. It made him look younger.

I was in my room. I had been given a day off lessons to recover. The school did not know what I was recovering from, but they saw the bruises and gashes (which were healing quickly, as Isaac promised they would, but were still visible). They knew it was something major.

'Five minutes,' said Miss Bloom as she let him in. 'And leave the door open.'

Then she was gone, and Perrin and I were alone, with the air sparking between us.

'Have you remembered?' he asked, without saying h.e.l.lo.

'Some,' I said. 'Most '

'Have you remembered us? us?' he said, walking towards me, his voice urgent now. 'Little girl, tell me you've remembered us.'

I looked at him with wide eyes, trembling, unable to speak.