Image (Insight #3)(25)

“I fear your trail will begin when they return,” she said.

She handed me a change of clothes; I’d forgotten that I still had Drake’s blood all over my shirt. She then walked past us to the table and began searching over her notes. Landen walked to her side, studying her, and she looked up at him as he reached the table.

“Is it Alamos or Drake that’s concerning you?” he asked.

Suddenly realizing that there was something odd about Perodine, August walked to Landen’s side.

“Before retrieving Willow a few days ago, I hadn’t been in a room with Alamos for close to four million years,” Perodine answered quietly. Landen and August looked at one another, questioning the words she’d said. I knew she was telling the truth; I just didn’t understand how it was possible.

Seeing our questioning eyes, she said, “Alamos was suspended with me and Donalt.”

“But you both lived here, right?” August questioned.

“It’s a big palace,” Perodine said, looking down at her notes again.

“Why was he suspended?” Landen asked.

Perodine looked up at Landen, then across the room at me before looking down at her notes.

“I’m sure he’ll be more than eager to tell you himself,” she answered.

Patrick cleared his throat. “I’m going to get more people to help us with the mirrors and paintings. Do you need anything?” he asked, looking at me.

I shook my head no; I was still stunned, trying to figure out what Perodine was saying. I looked up at Dane, then down to my clothes; if changing them meant I’d have to leave his side, I’d rather wear the bloodstains I had on.

“Come on; I can turn my back,” Dane said, tilting his head to the hallway.

Landen looked back at us, and Dane waved, telling him to come. Landen looked at Perodine once more, then walked over to us. Dane briskly crossed the hall to open the door for me. The room lacked the elegance of the palace; there was only a bed and a table consuming the small space. I assumed it had been a servant’s room as well.

Dane closed the door and stared at it. I quickly began to change while Landen paced in front of the bed, tossing mixed emotions and intent back and forth inside him.

“I don’t know about you guys, but I’m thinking this is all about to get real interesting,” Dane said in a low tone.

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Landen said, almost to himself.

I pulled my shirt over my head, then Landen reached back and touched Dane’s shoulder, letting him know that it was safe to turn around.

“How was that guy suspended? I thought this had to do with your first parents or something?” Dane asked.

“It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve been told half-truths,” Landen said through his teeth, trying to suppress unwanted anger.

“No one ever said why they were suspended; August just said that the power Perodine found in the stars suspended her and Donalt’s life. Alamos can read them just as well as she can; she said so herself...maybe he found power, too,” I argued, defending our family.

Landen shook his head from side to side, staring at the floor.

“I’m with Landen; there’s more to it than that...she’s too nervous,” Dane said.

I raised my eyebrows, questioning Dane. “Getting a new insight?” I asked.

“No; common sense. Ten minutes ago, her hair was down, she was in pants, and she looked exhausted; now, she’s dressed like she’s going to a ball – and she won’t give a straight answer,” Dane whispered harshly.

“You’ve met him; do you think he has a bigger part in this?” Landen asked me.

I let my eyes search over the time Alamos cared for me. “I don’t remember. I mean, Drake seemed to be the one in control of the situation,” I answered.

Dane looked back and forth between me and Landen. “I don’t trust any of them,” he said under his breath. “I just have a really bad feeling,”

I could feel Dane’s placid clam cracking, and it was making me uneasy; so far, he and Landen had been the very thin string holding me together.

“Just stay calm,” Landen said, looking between me and Dane.

In the distance, I could feel Beth; she was near panic. Landen pushed past Dane and opened the door. I rushed out behind him, and Dane followed us in a confused rush. On the other end of the hallway, we saw her running to us - and Alamos was walking casually behind her. We began to run in her direction, and when we reached her, we saw tears pouring out of her eyes. She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed me as tight as she could.

“What happened?” I yelled over her sobs.

“The string...something’s wrong...you can hear them screaming,” she said between broken sobs.

“Who’s screaming?” Landen asked, pulling Beth away from me so he could see her face.

“All of them...our family...Marc and Drake pushed us through here and went to find out why,” Beth said, trembling.

Landen grabbed my hand, and we ran down the hall with Dane right at our side; we almost knocked Alamos down as we ran by. Once at the passage, we pushed through – and we heard the screams immediately; they were blood curdling. I could hear Allie crying and Preston and Libby screaming our names. We ran in the direction of Pelhan’s world. As the passages of Esterious ended, we saw Drake and Marc. The string was blocked by what looked like a gray wall, Olivia’s dream was coming to life in front of me - and Brady’s fears were confirmed. I looked at Landen; his face was engulfed with the panic I felt coming from him.