Image (Insight #3)(78)

“Come, we’ll find Beth and leave immediately. Wait for him to return before you move the wall,” Alamos said.

“You should just take Marc now,” August said.

Alamos nodded, then looked at Landen. “While you wait on their return, call on your memories. I’ll tell Drake to do the same; you need all the power you can obtain.”

Landen took my hand and led me to one of the couches. I collapsed in his arms, then through my touch I let the emotion of love that could only belong to him flow. I watched as his energy brightened, then he let his fingers run through my hair and gently pressed his lips against the side of my temple.

Chapter Nineteen
I wondered for a moment if I could gain strength from the memory of being one with Landen, like he did. I closed my eyes and leaned into him, and he pulled me closer to him. My mind drifted, and my soul brought forth the emotion of absolute bliss. Time seemed to stand still, and the world - in that moment - was perfect.

“It’s time,” Landen thought.

I opened my eyes. I could feel Brady approaching, and I turned to see the others surrounding the table. Perodine and August were showing my father and Ashten the scroll and their notes; I felt their intent of wanting to unravel the influence of Mars before it came. I sighed, not wanting to know what that planet would bring.

I searched the room for Drake, not finding him.

“He’s in the observatory,” Landen thought, answering my question.

I nodded, then he stood and gently pulled me up. The others looked up from the table.

“Brady’s back?” August asked.

Landen nodded. August walked around the table with the intent of telling Drake it was time. As he left the room, Brady came through the opposite doorway.

“Did you have any problems?” Perodine asked.

“No,” Brady answered. “This is a well thought-out plan,” he said, looking at me. I smiled back at him.

Drake and August came back into the room. “Alright, is everyone clear?” August said into the room.

My eyes moved to each of them; I felt their confidence in us and took ownership of it. They all seem to nod at once. Landen took my hand, and we crossed the room to meet Drake. His eyes found mine; he looked strong, confident, and eager to move forward with our plan. When we reached him, he turned to lead us to the rooftop. I felt the others follow behind us. As Drake led us to the observatory, on the back wall there was a wide metal door. Landen let go of my hand and helped Drake open it. When the door was opened, it revealed a stone staircase. Drake led us again, and we all followed.

At the top of the stairs, I heard the wind whistling. The stars made a beautiful backdrop to the night sky. Once on the roof, I realized just how high we were; the buildings in the city reminded me of miniature toys.

We were at the far end of the palace, and Drake led us along the roof to the weather main in the center. As we walked, I studied the sky above: above the city of Delen, the stars sparkled - but on the edge the gray clouds hid them; it was as if the city were trapped in a snow globe, a world of their own.

I could see the weather main in the distance; it was almost twenty feet high at the base. I could see the night air move, and the passage we were told about was there. Landen looked down at me to make sure it was clear. We stopped just before it, and the others surrounded us.

“Do all of you see the passage clearly?” Landen asked.

They looked at him like he was a fool, but Landen had reason to ask; there were several passages we could see that they couldn’t.

“Spread out, then,” Landen said.

They all moved across the roof. My father kept his eyes on me; I knew he feared this would hurt me.

Drake looked down at me, then to Landen. “I haven’t moved anything this big before either; all I have is Alamos’ direction,” he said.

I look past them down to the wall. Doing as Alamos had instructed me, I saw it as a cloud.

“I can’t imagine it being any more difficult than blocking the force of darkness,” Landen said to Drake.

Drake nodded. “Or holding it in, forcing it out, then finding the energy to heal,” he said to Landen.

I smiled, proud that they were encouraging one another, recognizing each other’s strength; it was a moment I never would have believed would have occurred just a few short days ago. Drake and Landen both smiled at me, and my grin grew wider. I knew the logical emotion for me to have right then was anxiety, fear - but I was calm, confident. I had them both peacefully at my side, and my family supporting me; what more could I ask for?

I stepped nearer to the edge of the roof, and they followed me closely. From there, you could clearly see that the wall was nothing more than a giant U; the workers had yet to close in the city completely.

“Willow,” Drake said, “you focus on the center; it’s the most stable. Landen and I will focus on the ends of the wall.”

The wind picked up and blew my long hair out of my face. I felt like I was standing on top of the world.

“Tell me when,” I said, not losing my focus on the innocent rain clouds my mind had created for me.

Landen and Drake moved away from me, facing their section of the wall.

“Now,” Landen said.

As I kept the wall in sight, my focus moved to the energy around me. I pushed my energy forward slowly; as it stretched out from me, I could see it joining with Landen and Drake’s. I stepped forward as they did, and our energy flowed down to the wall. When the energy met the wall, a rumble could be heard from where we stood. I heard screams below; it took everything I had to block them out. I envisioned the wall of clouds rising and urged my energy to pull it up; gracefully, the wall began to rise. Dust rained down as the workers scattered, screaming in every direction. From our height, it was hard to judge how high we’d brought it. I looked across the wall to make sure that Landen and Drake were holding the sides at the same height that I was holding the center. As I took in the wonder of this massive wall being suspended in thin air, a smile came across my face; what had caused me so much worry was now in the palm of my hand. I pushed forward and watched the wall glide through the air. I then stepped closer to the edge, wanting to be able to push it as far back as possible. I could still hear the screams of the ones below, but everyone had managed to move out of the path of the wall. As it moved away, it was growing smaller and smaller, fading into the darkness.