Page 34 of Brambles and Bellflowers
Me
Sorry to bother you, but can I ask for a favor?
His response was almost instantaneous.
Brayden
Of course! What do you need?
I bit my lip, leaning against the doorway as I considered my words.
Me
Are there any books about me in my past lives?
There was no response this time—instead, my screen lit up, and Brayden’s name flashed across the space. I almost dropped my phone. It’d been awkward enough to text him, but now we were supposed to talk?
I hated talking on the phone. But it wasn’t like I could ignore him.
I put the phone on speaker and, stifling my groan, slipped back into my room. “Hello?”
Brayden cut right to the chase. “There’s a lot of books. Where do you want to start?”
I bit my lip and pulled at a lock of my hair.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “Maybe… something only I should know?”
“You mean Mu’s private diaries?” Brayden asked. “That doesn’t narrow it down much—he liked to keep records. What are you trying to find?”
“I don’t know…”
“Okay…” Brayden paused for only a moment. Then, the eagerness returned to his voice. “Let’s talk it through. What made you decide to ask?”
I pressed my cheek to the door and closed my eyes. “Dr. Kohler told me that everyone studied us. It makes me feel weird, especially since I know nothing about Mu.” Brayden made a sound of understanding, but I wasn’t done. “She told me that Miles… that leaving isn’t unusual for Tu. But I don’t remember anything.”
“So you want information on your personalities?” he asked.
“I guess?” I twisted the curl between my fingers. “I mean, I don’t know. What else is there?”
“Court history, politics, the ability classes, the reincarnation cycle, family trees.” The answers rapidly rolled off his tongue. “That’s only what’s public. Then you have private archives. They’re usually reserved for official use: your Officers, the Council, and yourselves. Some letters get passed between generations, and the prophecies—”
“That one,” I said. I didn’t even feel bad for interrupting. The man was showing no signs of slowing down. Who knew how long this list could continue?
“Prophecies?” Brayden clarified.
“Yes.” I nodded even though he couldn’t see me.
“Okay. So which ones.”
I pressed my forehead to the door. “How many are there?”
“Over five hundred.”
What the heck? How was anyone supposed to learn all this?
“But that’s only what’s officially recorded,” he responded. “But, if I could suggest something to help narrow it down for you…” he added, tone slightly more hesitant.
“Please,” I replied, latching on to this reprieve.
