Image (Insight #3)(69)

Alamos cleared his throat. “Well then...what shall we discuss first? The end of Venus? The impending influence of Mars? The proclamation of war? Or Drake’s awaiting assassination?” Alamos said to the room.

His last words reached inside of me and ripped my soul in two. I couldn’t hide the grief I felt for Drake. I looked to see him resting peacefully. Landen reached his arm around me and pulled me as close to him as he could. He wanted to move my emotion, but it was too strong; my sorrow remained.

“Is it that serious over there?” August asked Alamos.

“The only way he survived the night was by executing those proven to plot his overturn,” Alamos said.

I closed my eyes and thought of the innocents that had lost their lives last night as they tried to cross the wall. If Drake had taken their life, there would be no way for me to forgive him. Landen’s eyes moved to the wall.

Alamos must have known what we were thinking. “We had no part in that; they all were all priest,” he said to Landen. “They were shared enemies of yours, I assure you.”

I looked at Drake, and he opened his eyes slightly, just as I did. I’m sure he was judging my response, and I let the sorrow I was feeling reflect itself in my eyes. He sighed before he gently closed his eyes again.

Beth stood and walked behind the couch he was sitting on, then ran her fingers through his hair; her only desire was to calm him. Her eyes found mine, but I couldn’t look at her long; it hurt too bad.

“We just need to look over the math for Venus. If we’re right, then we can move on to more pressing matters,” Perodine said as she gently pulled Alamos’s arm to the table.

“More pressing matters than Drake’s death?” Alamos said in a disgusted tone, refusing to look at the equation.

“That is not what I meant,” Perodine said defensively. “I would like to know that there is not a demon pulling the strings, causing him the turmoil he is living through.”

“Trust me, ‘it’ will pull the strings until Willow stands at his side,” Alamos said.

Unable to take another word, Beth leaned down and kissed Drake’s forehead, then left the room. Nyla looked at me, then stood to follow her. August stood and went to the table to help Brady look at the equation. Landen kissed the side of my head, then followed August. I leaned a little closer to Clarissa, then looked up at her she was watching Drake as he seemed to drift to sleep.

“Willow,” she whispered, “you’re stronger than I’d imagined.”

Chrispin rolled his eyes at Clarissa, then stood to follow Landen. As Olivia studied Drake’s sleeping body, her eyes seemed to go to another time; I felt a sea of emotions, varying from happiness to grief. I wanted to pull her aside and make her tell me even the vaguest dreams she’s had, but I knew right now my past wasn’t the issue - it was my future.

“I’m not,” I whispered back, trying to make myself look away from Drake. I wanted to make him feel better, to give him a peace I was sure was escaping him. I stood abruptly, wanting to hide at Landen’s side. As I turned, I caught Landen’s gaze.

“You’re fine,” Landen thought, reaching his arm out for me to come to his side.

August was checking over what Brady had already reviewed while Mark and Dane sat at the table, watching patiently. Perodine and Alamos were locked in a daring stare.

“I feel the trail...the moment Willow’s heart was pierced occurred at the moment the scroll indicated, but the influence of the Venus in retrograde is still in the air. We must be careful with the decisions we make right now,” August said as he checked the last part of the equation.

Alamos broke his stare with Perodine and looked at August. “I think we should take advantage of the influence of the retrograde. We must stop making selfish choices of our own hearts and use logic to save lives,” he said, walking to August’s side.

“And what do you mean by that?” Perodine said coldly, following Alamos to the table.

He turned abruptly to find Perodine inches from his face. “I mean, he will die if she doesn’t stand at his side. I’m not asking that she gives her heart to him; I just want her to stand next to him in front of the court, in front of the world,” Alamos said as he pulled his shoulders back.

Marc and Dane both stood abruptly, and Clarissa turned and caught my stare. She then stood slowly and walked to my side; she was screaming at me with her emotions, her panic, fear, and determination not to let me take that path. Olivia and Chrispin were the only ones that remained calm. I knew then that Aora had predicted what choice I’d be forced to make next.

“You are a fool. You may deceive the world - but you will never fool the devil,” Perodine said, pushing against Alamo’s chest.

He caught her hands and held them tightly. “You may hate me right now,” Alamos said, “but you loved me at one time. You know I’m not an evil man; I’m trying to save his life, the lives of innocent bystanders. How many people must die before you see that I’m right?” Alamos said.

Perodine looked away from him and pulled her hands from him. As her eyes caught mine, the tension in the room began to rise.

“I’m sorry,” Perodine said, looking at me.

A single tear fell from my eye. Landen pulled me closer to him, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at him. I could feel his solid intent of saving lives, of putting the world’s needs in front of his.