Imperial (Insight #8)(29)

Vade had no need to ask his reign to do the same. Because the other kings were invoking fear, shock, grief, joy, and obsession, his emotion of anger lingered within each, meaning that nourishment for his line was in abundance in perpetuity.

The gathering of lines was not needed simply because each Escort could sense not only each other, but also their sovereign. We were one without assembly.

Each time an occasion like this would occur, anxiety that I should not have would claim me. I was not one to stand on a center stage or to hold a spotlight. I did not care to roam this priceless mansion while my line carried out our charge. I wanted to be next to them, and often I was, which is more than likely why Mazing was so lethal. She knew she was not only guarding the solitary queen, but that she was the only female that was a First. I was honored to have her at my side each time we followed the path our Creator had given us.

Vade held out his arm, urging me to claim it like the queen I was. Whatever emotions he was fighting had subsided, and right now I saw pride and relief in his eyes. “This time has been long awaited,” he said sweetly to me.

I breathed in deeply, feeling the diamonds of the Leo necklace gently clenching my chest.

Within that thought, Vade moved us. Now before us was a vast stairway. Each step was black, but there was a crimson path down the center, one that we would ascend side by side.

Silence was the only sound. Though I could sense his line, the priceless souls in mine—they were still. I clenched his arm, my soundless retreat. I couldn’t face them, not now. I had to make everything right, I had to bring them vindication and proof that my time away from them had been avenged before I faced each of them.

Vade gently leaned to his side. With one arm embracing my waist, his humming lips met my temple. A rushing calm absorbed my being. He had taken my anger, and in the absence of that emotion I found a calming bliss.

I nodded once nervously as his hand clenched my waist then slowly moved across my back before claiming my hand, connecting our rings, our symbol of eternity.

Gracefully, we began our descent. With each step, I could see their images in my mind. Rapidly, yet utterly slowly, I remembered each one, each call, each time I claimed them. Though I felt bliss with those memories, I also felt agony. They were not all here. I was missing exquisite souls; ones that have never known me, ones that I did not answer when they called. I swore to my soul that one day very soon they would all be here, and that day we would celebrate the fall of the kings that had wronged so many.

I had closed my eyes and was fully trusting Vade to guide me as I remembered each. When he stopped, when the silence reigned on, I carefully opened my eyes to a wonder that was nothing less than extraordinary.

Before us now were countless souls. One half of the room was adorned in the deep crimson that matched my dress, the other in black; only the hint of crimson and white was in their attire.

Mazing was to my right, and Rasp was to Vade’s left. The second my eyes opened, not only did my line silently bow to one knee, but so did every soul before me. In every direction, as far as I could see there were souls, my line, Vade’s, side by side; there had to be millions of them. I would dare say they were infinite, yet I knew their names. I knew each face, each past.

I could not comprehend how powerful my line looked. I had no doubt the nourishment that Vade had given me, that beautiful place where creative beings met and shared that gift, was afforded to them as well. The vitality and power lingering within their souls and vessels capitalized on the beauty that they were in my eyes.

I felt the power of them vibrate the room. I thought to myself that if one soul could create an everlasting change…this many souls working for one cause could not fail.

That was when I realized, like always, that Vade had more than one purpose in each action he took. He wanted me to see them, feel them. He wanted the same for them. He knew that the risk of loss would be clear to me, but also by the same measure I would feel the power of all of us. He knew if I witnessed this that no matter what course was before me, what horrid things that he along with the Reaper and the Creator were shielding me from, I would know that I could withstand them.

“Rise. Your queen has returned,” Vade stated boldly.

My line along with Mazing rose gracefully. His line remained bowed, waiting for his command.

“Rise. Your king has found his rush once more.”

Crimson was the color of my ivory skin at that moment. Openly calling me his rush was something Vade had never done. I can’t recall if there was ever an opportunity that he missed in the past. I just knew that when he called me such, we were always alone, embracing each other. I felt claimed, validated when his line not only rose, but roared with happiness.

I gave a simple nod to my line, and they joined in the celebration as Vade tenderly pulled me to him and let his lips sweetly frame mine. He pulled away slightly so his eyes could see mine. “I swear to you that in time, this room will celebrate the return of all that is ours.”

I could not hold the young girl deep inside at bay; she reached up for him and offered a deeper kiss that made both of our lines’ roars of happiness explode in the air. You could feel the energy dance across your skin, a warm, tingling sensation that made you feel as if we were all truly one.

When our kiss ended, Vade looked deeply into my eyes before he raised his hand and silence came.

He turned to face them and began his speech using his all-powerful, deep, velvet voice. “Each of us is aware that anger is a gift. That within that emotion great change can be accomplished…” His eyes seemed to meet each of theirs as he paused. “A great tragedy fell upon each of these lines, and in turn we endured the emotions that my fellow kings rule…I felt the pleas of each of your souls. I felt the bliss of each of you as Glory’s line was restored. As we became one once again. Today, we end one tragedy and embrace another.” Silence echoed through the air. “We are at war.”