five - I'm Not A Banshee, But I Could Predict Death

As Brandi turns, a horrified feeling clenches her stomach as the pounding sounds of her heart beat bangs against her ear drums.

She swallows the lump in her throat, experiencing a whole separate anxiety different compared to the night she was with Cage against her will.

''They're changing the terms because of Mount Weather?''

''They're changing it because of the Ice Nation. They want Lexa dead to take over the coalition.''

The brunette had a brow arch and her jaw clench, keeping her lost gaze focused on the wall behind Kane as her mind race.

'They not only have one, but two reasons as to destroying Trikru and Skaikru. They won't stop until every single one of us is dead.'

''That's Lexa's concern, not ours.''

''No, Abby. If Lexa falls, the coalition shatters and there's no way we avoid that war'' He counters with logical reasoning. He turns back to Clarke. ''You said there were new terms.''

''We become the Thirteenth Clan.''

It killed Brandi to stand by and not utter even a single word that can benefit her and her people.

'The thing is, is that these people have no idea what they're fighting against. They have no idea what we will be fighting against and if Clarke has her people become the thirteenth clan, they wouldn't even last a second out on the battlefield. Either way, all of our people will die. I can just no longer see a way out of this.'

She needed to talk to Indra and it had to be now. A minute longer and she'd feel like she'd just about explode.

''Thirteenth Clan? What does that mean, that we follow Lexa?''

Clarke nods. ''Yes.''

''We came here to negotiate a treaty'' Her mother prompts.

''This is our Unity Day, mom. You can be the thirteenth station or you can be the Thirteenth Clan.''

She felt like she couldn't she couldn't breathe. She couldn't speak, she couldn't object, she couldn't hint, she couldn't do anything.

''Marcus?''

''Clarke's right'' He praises. ''I've seen the Ice Nation army and we don't stand a chance against them. We need to do this.''

'These people have no clue of the type of danger they're getting themselves in. Everyone's lives are at risk and if I could just say something.'

''So we become the Thirteenth Clan. Then what? What's gonna stop the Ice Nation?''

Clarke raises her head when proclaiming the title ''Wanheda.''

'Clarke won't make it. Not this time. They don't have top knot security that could be hacked by a Monty or stolen from by Millers. This requires skills of a hunter, who knows how the woods operate. Who can plan loop holes through every trip wire hidden within the roots of the ground. They need someone like me.'

× × ×

''Hail, Warriors of the Twelve Clan.''

''Hail, Commander of the blood'' Brandi chanted along with others bowed to one knee in the honor hall.

''Rise.''

Brandi stands up to review the sight of Clarke standing in front of Lexa, dressed in metallic armer layered over fabrics of cloth suited for a dress.

''We welcome Skaikru to our halls in the spirit of friendship and harmony. We welcome Clarke kom Skaikru, legendary Wanheda, Mountain slayer. The reason for this summit has changed. We are not here to negotiate a treaty with the Skaikru, but rather to initiate them into the coalition.''

Delegates around started to murmur at the consideration. It was one thing to become allies, but now it has turned into this?

Though Lexa ignores them and continues on with her speech. ''To symbolize this union, the leader of Skaikru must bear our mark.''

Brandi watches Abby from the corner of her eye's as she turns to Kane. ''The honor should be yours.''

He nods at Abby before mimicking so with Lexa. ''Present your arm.''

Turning to the back to see one of Lexa's men carry a red and hot makeshift branding iron held high in his grip.

'Did Abby do this on purpose or something?'

The intensified groans and grunts that erupted from Kane brought Brandi out of her short thoughts, the heat blazing against his skin.

Brandi whips around when the doors abruptly burst through, leading with Bellamy holding someone captive in his arms.

''Bellamy, what the hell are you doing?'' Brandi exclaims bitterly.

''What is the meaning of this?'' Titus ask, speaking for Lexa who was currently at a lost for words.

''The summits a trap.''

He removes the gun from the random man's head, throwing him to the ground when making contact with Brandi. ''We need to get you out of here, all of you.''

''What the hell is going on?'' Clarke ask only this was motioned towards Lexa.

''I don't know.''

''It's the Ice Nation'' Bellamy clarifies, which has Brandi in the state of bewilderment.

''These allegations are an outrage! The Ice Nation never stormed this summit with weapons, breaking our laws. That was the Skaikru!''

''Oh would you hop off, you're irrelevant to this conversation'' Brandi snaps growing agitated as the seconds go by.

''Brandi-'' Bellamy starts to scold when a short chuckle comes out of Pike.

''Oh, I like her.''

Bellamy turns to him with furrow brows, waving his gun around. ''Pike?''

He connects contact with Bellamy and gathers himself into the serious position he was once in. ''My bad. But we are right about this. The two guards you left behind are dead already. We need to go now.''

''How did you come by this information?'' Lexa asks, her voice bouncing within the walls of the room.

Bellamy turns around, looking around his backside furiously.

Octavia senses the silence and turns, asking the one question that was pondering they're small group. ''Where the hell is Echo?''

He runs a hand through his locks before wiping his face. ''What the hell is going on? Where is she?''

''Bellamy, maybe we were wrong about this'' Octavia whispers, dropping her aim.

He shakes his head vigorously. ''I don't understand.''

Brandi's gaze shift across the room to where Indra was, standing by Lexa who was just as anxious for answers as she was.

The discrete contact shows that the two need to talk. They need a plan.

''Stand down'' Kane instructs, the guards following him, Abby and Brandi taking they're weapons.

A static from someone's walki-talkie drift on to a new topic. One that worsens the thickening air of tension in the room.

''Bellamy. Bellamy, the grounders attacked Mount Weather.''

He grabs ahold of the contraption, lifting it up to his lips. ''What are you talking about?''

''It's gone. It's all gone. They're all gone. Sinclair and I are the only ones left. Even Gina didn't-''

Ravens words were cut short with a sob that was overwhelming her.

''I'm so sorry'' She whispers before her line went dead.

Although Brandi didn't like Gina, a sinking feeling was dropping in her chest. She didn't deserve to die.

No matter what or who it was.

''You should have never moved your people back into Mount Weather. The Ice Nation did what Lexa was too weak to do'' Ivon exclaims.

''Like Brandi said, you're irrelevant to this conversation. Because this is an act of war'' Lexa seethes, taking a step down from her throne. ''Sentries, Arrest The Ice Nation Delegation, Including The Prince!''

''We need to get home'' Abby prompts to Kane but Brandi slips past the two to dash over to Indra.

Halfway there, a hand pulls her and spins her around to make her face Bellamy. ''Where you going?''

She jerks her arm from his touch with her brows furrowed and her eyes narrowed to slits.

Her resentful stare lingered onto his contorted features in silence before presuming her way over to Indra.

''It's only a matter of time'' She mumbles, loud enough for only the two to hear.

''Don't you think, I know that?'' She hissed. ''I tried talking to Lexa of not including the sky people into the coalition. But she wouldn't listen-''

''Well try harder'' She snaps. ''These people will willingly accept this offer, putting they're own lives at risk for something they can't even begin to comprehend.''

''I will do what I can, but what you need to do is go home and avoid any attention from this. The last thing we need is an execution'' Indra orders.

With a simple nod of her head, Brandi follows after the rest of her people with Indra following as well to escort them to they're vehicles safely.

× × ×

Brandi kept her eyelids closed, resting her chin between her propped knees that had her arms wrapped around them.

'Today was a day that turned out from we had least expected. Struck of fears, strikes of death, a start of war. We gained warriors and lost what we called survivors. Now the ones who are still left to breath are left aside, bearing the overwhelming emotions that overtake one another.

I don't know what to think and I don't know what to feel. I hated that.

I hate when I feel numb. Blank to everything outer mind so I don't have to process any of it. Something I can't control.'

Bellamy returned to the room, changed into his sleep wear that both knew were more comfortable than his outer wear which he's had a habit of sleeping in lately.

He stops at the walkway from the space provided within the door, staring down at the girl who was lost in her thoughts to notice anything else around her.

He knew Brandi was hiding something. Of course he was doubtful at first, but after tonight, he knew for sure there's something going on.

He just need to pick his words carefully before performing such cases. One slip up and that's when everything will fall apart.

The concept was so simple but the girl was so fragile. It kills him every night knowing that he was a reason out of many to become this broken.

''Hey.''

Her soft brown orbs flicker up to meet his sincere ones. She smiles softly at him before letting go of her knees and letting them drop against the mattress. ''Hi.''

''You okay?''

She let's out a breath before sliding off of the bed and walking across the room to where they're dresser was.

On top of it was a mythology book Gina had gotten Bellamy on a supply run.

''Can you read to me tonight?'' She ask softly, almost sheepishly as she flips through the pages.

A chuckle slips past his curled lips as he walks up behind Brandi, resting a hand on her waist. ''Since when were you into Greek mythology?''

She couldn't help but roll her eyes at him. ''Since when have I ever said it was a bad thing?''

He shrugs his shoulders and lets her continue. ''Besides, if you're into it, I should find out at least why, right?''

Her eye's, her lips, and her spirit all at once smiled up at him that only had to mirror in admiration.

Today might not have been the best of days, but what mattered most to him was having her in his arms at the end of the day.

''Fine. Pick one.''

He seems to melt within her more her smile reaches her eye's before whipping around towards to book of myths.

She immediately skipped to the last couple of sections until she reached one that would help her to her benefits.

She lifts the open book closer for him to see what she had picked out.

''Patricide'' He reads out loud. He then nods his head. ''Okay.''

The two necessarily didn't cuddle. Instead, they sat Indian style across from each other but Bellamy made sure to hold a hand of hers.

''Cronus, a leader and youngest of the first generation of the Titans. He overthrew his own father and killed him-'' He stops halfway through with a sudden chuckle. ''Cronus was also overthrown by his son Zues.''

Brandi gapes at him with a glint of humor as he starts to laugh. ''Bellamy, that's not funny.''

''No, karma is'' He says through laughter. Her lips curve again, joining him with his laughing fest.

'It was like the world was slipping by us. Because in this moment, it's Bellamy and Brandi. The Bellamy and Brandi that laugh over the little things or get themselves caught up in a dispute because of how equally stubborn they both can be. I wouldn't want it any other way.'