Insight (Web of Hearts and Souls #1)(55)

I looked out at the field, but I didn’t see him. Landen then nodded his head toward the front door.

“He’s coming to see how we’re feeling after yesterday,” Landen said, smiling slightly.





Chapter Ten




I stood and followed Landen. As I stepped into the kitchen, I was sure I felt my father’s peace approaching. I looked at Landen and shook my head in disbelief, hoping my insight would eventually grow as strong as his. We passed through the kitchen into the entry hall. Landen reached for the door just as my father knocked. Landen then pulled the door wide open, and my father was standing there with a bright smile on his face.

“Good morning, Jason,” Landen said, extending his arm as an invitation.

“I was just coming to see how the two of you were fee-” my father stopped in mid-sentence. He was staring at Landen’s arm, then his eyes quickly looked over Landen’s entire body, then over mine. I could feel his absolute disbelief.

“Come in, Jason,” Landen said, putting his arm around my father.

Landen led my father into the living room, which was beside the front door. My father quickly looked us over again while reaching for Landen’s arm and inspecting it closer.

“How did you heal so fast?” my father asked Landen.

“I don’t know,” Landen said glancing at me with a near sinful smirk hanging on the edge of his lips. “I took off the bandage this morning so I could take a shower and the burn was gone.” Landen took a seat on the large tan couch in the center of the room.

My father walked over to one of the matching chairs that faced the couch and sat down, still completely astonished.

“His shoulder is healed, too,” I said as I went to Landen’s side.

“Both of you are healed, but last night I could see pulls deep in your muscle tissue. I’ve been up all night trying to figure out how it was possible for the two of you to have that much damage inside your body,” my father said as he slowly looked us over once more.

“Have you seen my dad and Livingston today?” Landen asked, trying to change the subject.

My father nodded. “Livingston went to Esterious to see if he could find a way to the girls, and Ashten is helping Aubrey get ready for tonight.”

“Is mom okay?” I asked.

“She’s fine. Trying to stay busy and positive. She’s worried about your friends,” my father said quietly.

I swallowed hard. I knew my mother would grieve deeply over Monica. She always saw my friends as her extended family. My eyes fell as I felt the heavy burden of blame.

“It was an accident, Willow. Josh and Chase said that a storm came, and Olivia and Monica were knocked out of the boat. In fact, they said that Olivia would have drowned if Drake hadn’t pulled her out of the water,” my father said.

“What are you going to tell Sharon?” I asked.

“Sharon knows there was an accident. The Coast Guard told her that Monica was on a boat with Chase and Josh and that they couldn’t find her. Right now, she wants to believe that Monica is just missing. She’ll say goodbye when she’s ready,” my father said to me in a gentle tone.

“Where do they think Olivia, Hannah, and Jessica are?” I asked, bewildered.

“They don’t know. I altered a manifest for a cruise ship that showed the three of them docking in the Florida Keys. It was all I could think to do at that moment. That’ll buy us some time to get them home safely, though,” my father answered.

“I thought you said Chase and Josh saw Drake take the girls. Wouldn’t they have told everyone? Did they see the string?” I asked, looking first at Landen, then to my father.

“There is an herb that grows in Chara called Realm. It erases recent memory. I gave them the herb to help them with their misery. Both of them blamed themselves for not reaching Monica.” I could feel grief from my dad. “Now, the last memory they have is of arriving in Florida. The doctors will assume that their memory loss is due to shock.”

“We have to go and get them,” I said, standing.

Landen stood and reached his arm around me. He knew I intended to leave right then and go to Esterious. My father also stood, blocking my path.

“Willow, they aren’t in danger now,” Landen whispered as he pulled me close to him.

I buried my head in his chest and fought against a rush of angry tears that wanted to come out.

“Landen’s right, Willow,” my father said, putting his hand on my back. “Drake wants you, and he knows that if he hurts them you’ll never come to him.”

I looked up from Landen’s chest at my father. “Why does he want me?” I asked, staring at him through a film of tears.

The color left his face. He glanced up at Landen, then back down to me, then he sighed and turned. “I’m hoping that one of the girls will appear as an image to you,” he said, changing the subject.

“Now he’s being silent,” I thought.

Landen held me a little tighter, trying to fight his anger.

“Will you show Brady and Marc how you travel? If they appear as an image, it would be good to have them at our side,” Landen thought.

“I’ll show whoever you want me to. I just want them back,” I thought, still staring at my father, feelings of betrayal welling up inside.