The Belladonna

Chapter 46

Isabella's POV:

We were so close to the shore that I could smell it. The smell of the ocean changed from pure salt water to the smoke of industrial buildings on land. My heart was hammering in my chest with anticipation of getting off of this ship.

Last night, sleeping by Harry felt off. He let me sleep with him still, which I thought was a good sign, but once I laid down I felt strange. He was distant even when he laid beside me and I felt like I was a foreigner to him, the way he barely even touched me. Usually he'd eagerly wrap his arms around me, but this time, he put one arm over my body before removing it an hour or so later.

I felt cold all night, but it wasn't because of the lack of warmth in the air.

Shaking my head, I let out a sigh to get rid of last night's sad depravity, but it didn't work out all that well. The docks were now in view, and I could see small dots of where people were bustling around, doing their daily work. 

Harry walked up beside me, nearly making me drop the blanket I was holding around my body. "H-Harry?" I ask but he ignores me, looking at the shore with a stony face. "We shouldn't stay here long. We'll have to keep moving." he says and I frown. 

"What's the rush?" I ask timidly and he rolls his eyes before turning away from me. "Because I really want to stay in the place my brother was killed. Yeah, that makes sense." he says sarcastically and I frown. "Harry you should know something about what happened." I say, remembering what Harry's father and I discussed.

"What?" he snaps, seeming irritated, but this was the most I've talked to him for weeks, so this was my only chance. "It wasn't your father who killed Edward. It wasn't the Vitriol at all." I whisper and Harry gets rigid, slowly turning towards me with a look of slight shock in his eyes. "What?" he asks, this time not irritated, but his green eyes blazing with anger.

"Your...father told me, because I had accused him of killing his son. Before you arrived, he told me a lot of things. He said there was an organization that had a grudge against him and must've figured out what was happening, so they tried to set him up." I murmur and Harry's eyes widen in shock.

He stays quiet for a moment and I swallow hard, anxious to know how he was going to react to this. 

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" he asks me, his voice quivering with anger and my eyes widen. "We were going through a lot, I didn't think it was the right time to-" "The right time?!" he exclaims, cutting me off and I frown.

"You could've told me the instant I got into that cave!" he shouts and I look at him with disbelief. "I was tied up with a gag over my mouth! I couldn't have said anything!" I defend and he huffs, turning away from me with anger in his eyes and I let out a sigh, not knowing why I was expecting him to be grateful for the news I gave him.

"Prepare for landing!" Harry shouts and I look back out, seeing the docks only feet away from us now. The crew scrambled around on the ship and for a moment I didn't realize Harry was staring at me. "Who are they?" he asks me and I feel my shoulders sag.

"I don't know. He didn't tell me a name." I says shyly and he scoffs. "Of course not. Because that would actually be helpful." he snaps and I frown. "I'm sorry I didn't get every single piece of information. But at least you know the truth now." I say defensively and he rolls his eyes. "And it's helped me so much." he growls and I sink down.

"There's something else I need to tell you." I say but he shakes his head. "I've heard just about enough." he snaps and I huff. "Harry it's important!" I say but he starts walking away from me. "Dock the ship!" he yells and I feel tears spring to my eyes, but I blink them away quickly and take a deep breath.