Insight (Web of Hearts and Souls #1)(61)

“He’s such a good man. We couldn’t have dreamed of another so perfect for you,” she said as she watched with me. Libby laid her head on Landen’s shoulder, fighting heavy eyelids.

“I still have a hard time thinking that he’s real. For so long, he was lost in my dreams,” I said, smiling at her.

Rose folded her hands under her chin and stared at me. Her green eyes were outlined in silver, reminding me of what the string did to the eyes of its passengers.

“I can remember the first time Ashten told me about Landen’s dreams,” she said. “He was so worried about him. I knew then that Landen was going to stand out from the rest.”

“I didn’t realize how close our families are until today,” I confessed, remembering the story Landen had told me on the way to the celebration.

“It seems that we always have been, at least since before my great grandmother’s time, anyway.”

She began surveying the crowd around us. Her eyes settled on Livingston and Marc, who were lingering by the side of the dance floor. Marc was talking to Livingston, but it was clear that Livingston wasn’t listening.

“Do you find it odd that, in the midst of this celebration, you feel a deep sorrow?” she asked. I looked at her quickly, then in the direction of Livingston and Marc. “Is your insight strong enough to tell me whom it is coming from?” she continued, glancing back at me.

“Livingston,” I whispered. Rose nodded. “Do you have the same insight?” I asked.

Rose smiled to answer my question.

For the first time, I felt normal. Others having a gift was not the same as knowing someone who knew exactly how it worked. My peace started to fade when I realized that this was the first time I’d heard of anyone being like me, let alone my grandmother. Why did my father not tell me when he knew what mine was, even when he told me who we were?

“He doesn’t know,” Rose answered the unasked question. “Your feeling of betrayal isn’t called for. You, August, and Karsten are the only ones alive that know.”

“Why? Is it a bad thing? Is that why you keep it a secret?” I asked as the feeling of being a fluke came back over me.

“No…it’s a beautiful gift,” Rose said, reaching for my shoulder. “My father believed that for me to truly understand my gift, I should keep it to myself,” Rose said, smiling.

“I don’t understand,” I said, leaning closer, hanging on her every word.

“If people guard themselves around me, I can’t help them. The beauty of the gift of emotion is that you truly walk in another’s footsteps for a moment.”

I watched Livingston walk over to my father and Ashten. They glanced nervously in my direction, and I could feel a building anxiety coming from the three of them. I looked back at Rose. “What is my father not telling me?” I asked.

Rose caught my father’s gaze, and I could feel his emotion through her. She sighed and looked in my direction. “That you are the one who will bring color to Esterious,” she said quietly, beaming with pride.

“What?” I asked, bewildered.

“You have a power inside you that will move both of our dimensions,” Rose said.

My mother walked over to Rose and me and took a seat, ending our conversation.

“Are you two getting acquainted?” my mother asked, putting her arm around me and smiling at Rose.

I looked nervously for Landen. I found him across the floor, handing Libby’s sleeping body to my father. He caught my gaze, almost as if he could sense that I needed him.

“Are you okay?” he thought as he began to walk toward me. “I just have no idea what she just told me, but it doesn’t sound good.”

“What did she say?”

“That I would bring color to Esterious.”

I could feel confusion and fear come over Landen. Reaching me, he took a seat next to me and stared at Rose, who nodded in his direction.

“Well, it looks like it’s time for me to go,” my mother said, noticing that Libby had fallen asleep.

“You’re going home?” I asked, surprised.

She nodded. “I’m going to take Libby home and lay her down.”

“Are you okay, Mom?” I asked, realizing this had to be a lot for her to take in as well. She nodded and tried to smile.

“I’m sorry about the house,” I said, my voice echoing the guilt that I felt.

She heard it and tried to make me feel better. “Those are just things. You, Landen, and Libby are safe and sound,” she said, smiling first at me, then at Landen. “That’s all I could ask for.”

Landen and I hugged her goodbye, then my father waved goodbye in our direction as my mother approached him. Landen looked slowly back at Rose, who smiled.

“Would the two of you care to follow me to the living room for a more private conversation?” she asked, sliding her chair back.

Landen and I followed her without hesitation. As we passed by Livingston and Ashten, I felt their anxiety rise. Once inside the house, Landen closed the door behind him. We were both nervous. We watched as Rose walked to the center of the room, then hesitated before turning around, an overwhelming sense of relief coming over her. Slowly, she reached her hand into her pocket and pulled out a silver chain.

“I wanted to wait until August came home to give you this,” Rose said as she looked at the necklace in her hand, “but I think it may help you bring your friends home.”