Enflame (Insight #6)(28)

Now that my energy was not spilling all around me, all of my senses seemed to be on high alert. I could feel ghostly stares and could almost swear I heard them talking about me, their doubts mixed with their excitement at my willingness to gain control.

“That is your seal,” she said to call my attention back to her. “Let me play devil’s advocate and use your fear to hold this in place. If that gold breaks, the red will return. It will take you twice as long to pull it into you, and when you do, it will be even more painful.”

I swallowed nervously, assuring myself that I could still taste the sweetness.

I heard truth in her words, and that made me all the more humble to this powerful sleeping beast inside of me.

“If my energy is locked inside of me, how...how...how can I use it as a weapon? You know...you know that I share energy with Landen. That is how we empower ourselves.”

“Your shyness is absurd,” she said with a meek grin. “It’s not locked, it’s under control. That power should never be stifled.” She began to fan herself. “I could use a breeze.”

“You’re joking.”

“No.”

“I just stopped the leak. I’m not doing that.”

“I didn’t take you for a coward,” she teased.

I didn’t want to give her a breeze; I wanted the wind to carry her away. As if she could read my thoughts, she laughed at me.

“Fine,” I murmured.

I had no idea how I could control this, but I remembered in my dream, or coma—whatever that was when I first found this insight—that I was told to direct what I wanted with a thought. I focused on a gentle breeze, and with that thought, it came.

I sat up straighter, focusing on my aura, prepared for it to break, but it didn’t.

“Bigger now. Make the moss on the trees dance.”

I held her stare and sent the thought toward the trees that lingered around the home. The moss danced as if it were under my command.

“How hard was that?’ she asked, looking all around me.

“It’s just a thought.”

“Okay, push that gate open,” she said, glancing behind her at the doublewide rod iron gate doors that were slightly ajar. “And don’t push too hard; I would not want Saige to be ill with you.”

I held in the sarcastic remark I wanted to blurt out and held Nana’s stare. At that second, I heard the iron screech in protest.

“Close it,” Nana said.

“I’m not going to sit here and do parlor tricks for your amusement.”

“I’m not amused,” she countered. At that second, the gate closed, a bit violently. “Listen to me. You don’t need me to learn any of this. I know that. You have moved forward so quickly that you have not played with these powers. Everyone learns best at play.”

“They are not meant to be played with.”

“No, but they are meant to be used humbly as an extension of your being.”

I let out a sigh, then preceded to follow her directions, moving random items, the wind. Lifting her, letting her fall, you name it. It went on for hours on end. Before long, we were both laughing so hard at her absurd requests that my sides hurt.

God, it feels good to laugh.

“I don’t know what possessed you to fly all the way here, but I’m glad you did,” I said as the sun began to fall.

The smile in her eyes faded. “Just pay it forward one day.”

I knew she was thinking of her grandsons, Charlie and Madison.

“You think they are going to get these insights?” I asked with a wide gaze. I would not wish this on anyone.

“Not these. But their lives are changing fast, and they will forget just the way you did. None of you have time to do that.”

“I didn’t put them in danger by coming for them, did I?” I asked, analyzing her emotions.

“Danger found them long ago. The whispers tell me their path is troubled.”

“What else are they saying?” I whispered.

“That you are close. The doors will open for you soon.”

“I’m trying not to focus on myself. What do they need?”

“Nothing. If that changes, they will ask you. They will ask your family.”

We sat in silence, both lost in thought. The ring of her cell phone made us both jump. She answered on the second ring. I gathered it was Evan from her nods and simple answers.

“He’s out front. I’ll let you be now,” she said to me.

“Are you flying back?”

“Not yet. I never miss a chance to watch the boys play.”

“When is that again, and why?”

“You’ll tell us. Saige has my number. I’m sure I’ll see you before long,” she said as she stood.

I followed her to the gate and hugged her goodbye. I then turned back to the now dark garden. My insights told me Saige had left long ago. Only Landen and I were in here now. I was determined to wake him up one way or another.

I made my way into the house, to the dark room under the stairs. He had moved. It looked like at some point he had gotten up and gotten something to drink. On the nightstand was a gallon of water that was nearly empty. The jug was still glistening with condensation, so I knew it wasn’t long ago. I shifted out of my shoes and the hoodie that had been keeping me warm while I was outside.