Image (Insight #3)(10)

“Landen,” my father said in a low tone, “you take care of my little girl.” He pulled me to him, and I wrapped my arms around my parents and thought of how much I loved them. The emotion didn’t comfort them as I intended; instead, it only brought them more grief. They didn’t want me to go.

Landen felt their emotion and placed his hand on my father’s shoulder. “I will,” Landen answered in a low tone.

My father slowly let me go and passed by us, taking my mother with him. Aubrey shielded herself behind Ashten and followed my parents. Nyla put her hand on Aubrey’s back and walked with them; she was becoming a source of strength that August had served as before.

Rose stared at me, then moved her eyes to Landen. “I wish I had wise words to give the two of you,” she said, looking back at me. “Just know that there’s no sacrifice worth the two of you being apart – for any amount of time.” She kissed my cheek, then hugged Landen. With Karsten at her side, she followed our parents.

Landen looked at Dane, who was holding tightly to Clarissa, then at Marc, who was holding Stella. “You can stay; we’ll be fine,” Landen said in the most confident tone he could manage.

They both shook their heads no, then pulled Stella and Clarissa away to say their private goodbyes. We could feel the intent of Brady and Chrispin; they were trying to think of a way to convince us to allow them to come.

“I need the two of you to protect them. Don’t allow anyone in the string until we return,” Landen said, looking from Brady to Chrispin. They nodded, clearly not in agreement with Landen.

Olivia was standing to my left. Feeling her sorrow intensify, I slowly turned to see her. All around her, I could see the shade of light pink, a shade that meant high dream activity. Her dreams had forecasted Delen’s redemption in the trail of Mercury, and I knew then that she’d already seen my future in her mind’s eye. I let out a jagged breath and asked, “Are the dreams bad or good?”

“I don’t know,” she said, stepping closer to me. She grasped my arm and pulled me away from the others. “Willow, you have to let me go with you,” she whispered with pleading eyes.

“No way. I don’t even want Dane and Marc to go,” I answered, bewildered by her request.

“Why Dane?” she asked, looking in his direction.

“Perodine said to return with the Cancers that we’ve always known,” I answered.

Olivia patted her hands quietly on her chest. “I’m a Cancer, and you’ve known me your whole life – longer than you’ve known Dane,” she said, pushing us father away from the crowd.

I hesitated, recalling Perodine’s emotion and intent when she told us to return with the Cancers; she was thinking of someone strong. Olivia was brave, but I wouldn’t call her strong. “Olivia, I’m sure she meant Dane. You’ve been through so much; stay here, where you’re safe.”

“Willow, you don’t understand. Every part of me is telling me that I need to be with you. If you don’t take me, no one else will.”

“Tell me what the dream is,” I said, knowing she was horrified.

“A wall” she said, crossing her arms.

“What do you mean ‘wall?’ The one they’re building in Delen?”

“I don’t know. I’ve seen a stone wall. I’ve seen a massive gray cloud that screams. I’ve seen what look like rain clouds gliding feet above the ground. I don’t understand it - which is all the more reason I need to be near you.”

“If you stay here, Pelhan will help you unlock your dreams. If you find an answer, tell Chrispin to bring you to me.”

“He won’t,” she argued. “He’ll go and leave me behind.”

“You’ll still be helping me,” I argued, agreeing that Chrispin would choose to keep her safe there.

“Willow, please,” she said, hugging me.

She was grieving for me, and I couldn’t understand why. I heard truth in everything she said. She believed she should be with me; it broke my heart to tell her no. I slowly let go of her. “I’ll see you in a few days – K?” I said, looking away and catching a stray tear that had escaped my eye.

Olivia let her head fall, and I walked away before my guilt would allow me to change my mind.

Felicity was waiting for me to say goodbye to her. Allie was in her arms, and Libby and Preston were at her side. “Is Olivia OK?” she whispered.

“She wanted to go, but I told her no.”

“Really?” Felicity said, bewildered. “I wonder why?”

Preston and Libby looked at each other, then up at me. I could feel their confusion.

“What?” I asked, looking back and forth between them.

They hesitated. Preston’s eyes found Landen, and he looked him over carefully, then back to me. “It doesn’t matter,” Preston said.

Before I could question him, he and Libby ran to Olivia’s side. It didn’t take Chrispin long to realize Olivia was upset. He said his goodbye to Landen, then went to meet her and the children.

“Don’t worry, Willow,” Felicity said to get my attention. “It’s just a few days.” She hugged me, then walked past me to catch up with Olivia.

I looked over my shoulder and saw Brady and Landen whispering to one another. I then stepped closer to the passage. Stella and Clarissa blew a kiss in my direction and followed the others. Dane then came to my side, carrying the books with which we were to return. Marc had joined Landen and Brady’s private conversation. I looked up at Dane and shook my head; his calm was too out of place.