Image (Insight #3)(35)
“Did you read somewhere that I was a killer?” Landen asked bleakly.
“I can’t see everything in your chart. I also can’t put limits on a man who’s defending the woman he loves.” Alamos looked across the room at Drake. “I find it hard to believe that you’re both still standing.”
As he heard those words, Drake closed his eyes. I imagined that Alamos had encouraged him to make a final division between Landen and me, and Drake had declined. The new respect for Drake that I felt inside Landen told me that, more than likely, I was right.
“Where is it?” Landen asked, looking back at Alamos.
Alamos nodded his head in the direction of the observatory. “In the center of the pool, you will find a stone that is set deeper than the others. Beneath it, you will find a stone box; the knife is inside there.
Drake looked across to Landen. “Let’s go,” he said, standing.
Landen nodded and looked at me, and I stood to follow them. Beth stood and went to the doorway that led in the other direction; I felt her intent of finding them dry clothes. Landen and Drake walked side-by-side. Standing behind them, I felt divided; I loved Landen with every ounce of energy that I possessed, but I couldn’t help feeling a deep sympathy for Drake.
I could feel how uneasy Marc was. Dane let his hand rest on the small of my back. As we entered the observatory, I felt the chill of a November night in the air; I could only imagine how cold that water must be.
Alamos came in behind us and walked to the edge of the pool, then pointed to the center that was over fifteen feet away. “The water will get deeper; that’s how you’ll know you’re close,” he said, looking at Drake.
Landen and Drake slid out of their shoes and pulled their shirts over their heads; chills ran across both of their perfect bodies. As Drake rubbed his arms together to stay warm, I saw his tattoo. In my nightmares, it was of a dragon - but now it had been altered; the dragon now curled around a majestic willow tree. It didn’t matter that it shielded the dragon - I knew it was there. It was a grim reminder of the horror I’d always felt.
I moved my hand to cover my tattoo, my ankh, which Drake had marked with a star. My fear caused Landen to look in my direction, and when he saw me covering my wrist, he looked to Drake’s arm. Landen’s attention didn’t go unnoticed; everyone - including Drake - was watching me. Drake moved his hand to cover his arm from my view, then walked to edge of the pool and moved his legs over to wade in.
Chapter Nine
Landen walked to Drake’s side and moved his legs over the edge. As they waded forward, the water grew deeper; it was just over their waist when they reached the middle. I saw them look at the water as they moved their feet across the bottom of the pool.
“The water will get deeper than that when you get to it,” Alamos said across the pool. Drake waded to his left, and the water rose to midway on his chest. “Here,” he said to get Landen’s attention.
Landen waded in Drake’s direction. When he reached him, Landen nodded, and the two of them merged in the water. Seconds moved by, and the water suddenly grew still; I felt my heart begin to race. I could feel Landen’s frustration and anger. They both emerged at the same time.
“Move it to the left, and I’ll pick it up from the bottom,” Landen said to Drake.
Drake nodded, and they fell into the water again. In that instant, the water turned white; it was glowing, lighting the entire room. Landen and Drake came from the water at the same time, and Landen was holding the box. They were both taken aback by the glow around them. The water began to dim, and images of our family appeared on the surface; you could hear their cries as watery images of hands stretched out of the water. The room began to roar. Dane wrapped his arms as tight as he could around me, and Marc dove into the water to Landen’s side. A dark shadow appeared over them. Drake raised his hand and pushed a force at it. When his energy reached the darkness, the sound was as it was before: as loud as thunder. It vanished into the night sky, and the water returned to darkness. The cries of our family echoed along the stone walls.
I went limp in Dane’s arms; the fear had knocked the wind out of me, and the voices had torn my soul in half. Drake, Marc, and Landen waded carefully in our direction. When Landen reached the side of the pool, he handed the box to August, who’s hands trembled as he took it from him.
Landen walked over to me, and Dane slowly let go of me as Landen’s cold, wet arms surrounded me. In his embrace, I felt a calm come over me. He kissed my forehead. “They’re only illusions,” he thought, moving my chin up so I’d have to look at him.
“It still hurts,” I thought back.
“Don’t let them make you weak – I need you to be strong for me now. This is almost over, he thought.”
I nodded, then reached up and moved one of his dark locks out of his eyes. “Let’s get you warm,” I said, letting my hand fall into his.
We led the others back to the study, where Beth had summoned the silent girl that had followed Perodine since her return. They had towels and changes of clothes laid out on the back of the couch, and the girl was pouring steaming tea into cups. August, Alamos, and Perodine walked to the table. August set the box gently in the center of the table. Landen, Drake, and Marc began to dry themselves off before they changed, and I turned my back, giving them privacy. When the young girl had filled all the cups, she handed me and Dane one, then smiled at me and turned and left the room.