Insight (Web of Hearts and Souls #1)(81)

My eyes raced back and forth as I tried to understand why any of this mattered. I wanted to take it all away, to undo what had been done then, but then I remembered my dream with Perodine. “When I dreamed of Perodine, she told me she couldn’t undo what was done. What did she mean? Is that true, or can I fix this?” I asked.

Landen looked at me quickly. I had never told him the details of the dream.

August glanced in my direction. I could feel a deep respect inside of him. “Once a spell is spoken, it cannot be undone…it has to be resolved. I would say that she meant that whatever was said over you then still holds true today. The only prediction I know beyond your births is that ‘the innocent will lead you, and you will lead the innocent,’” August answered.

My emotion moved to fear as Libby’s face flashed before me, and Landen felt the same way. We had no way to protect her; we both felt helpless and lost.

“What happened after Guardian and Aliyanna landed in the string?” I asked, hoping that we’d done something to help Esterious.

August looked down and traced the grain in the wooded table. He sighed, regretting his words as he spoke them. “Aliyanna had the power to go back, but…” August looked into my eyes. “You chose to stay, which left Esterious in the state it’s in today.” His tone was sympathetic. Landen’s anger grew as August spoke. He looked at August and said, “If Aliyanna had never met Guardian, would the people in Esterious be at peace now? Would the threat of war be the only way to bring them peace?”

I looked sharply at Landen. What was he saying—that he wished we’d never met? I felt my insides fall, and all the color left my face.

August leaned forward and put his hand on Landen’s shoulder. “Both Aliyanna and Guardian were wise people. They never would have hurt anyone intentionally. You were made for each other, don’t let this story cause you to forget that,” he said with deep concern in his voice. “You were there, we were not, the stories shifted over time, they always do. What you began then will be completed now, not a doubt in my mind, son.”

Landen broke his gaze with August and stared at the table. “I need to know how to heal her friends and stop those demons,” he said, standing, not wanting to look at the charts. “That’s my problem now, not old myths and superstitions.”

August didn’t seem surprised by Landen’s obvious rebellion to what he was hearing. “The only difference between black magic and white magic is the intent. You’re going to have to find the counterpart to what was spoken over them.”

“Will these rings help, or the medallion?” Landen asked, staring out the window.

“Only you truly know the power of those rings; they belonged to you then.”

“How serious is it that they have the star?” Landen asked.

“Willow is the power—the star has part of her energy from the past. Any part of Willow gives them a source of power that is undeserved.”

I could feel people coming, our family, and so could Landen. Our time alone with August was coming to an end, and we still had so many questions.

“You will find your way and finish what you left undone. I’m sure of it,” August said.

August saw Ashten through the window walking toward our home. He was across the field, and he wasn’t alone; my father, Marc, Chrispin, Brady, Dane, and Clarissa were all with him. August smiled at Landen and bowed his head. We knew that this conversation was over, at least for now. August gathered the scrolls and moved the vase back to the table.

Landen walked over to where I sat, pulled me up, and wrapped his arms around my waist. He then leaned his head against mine. His eyes were closed; he was blocking them all out, putting us in our own world. August walked outside to meet the others, giving us our privacy.

“What do you want me to do?” he asked me.

“All I can see are the demons.”

“Do you want me to bring your friends here for now?” he thought quietly.

I didn’t answer Landen’s thoughts. He kissed my forehead and pulled my hand toward the door.

“Let’s go get them,” he said under his breath.

We walked out to the porch where they were all waiting, and the quiet whispers stopped when they saw us. Landen looked at his dad first, then at each of them in the eye, one by one.

“We need to bring those girls back here until we can stop the demons. Does anyone have any objections to that?” Landen asked.

Ashten glanced at August, then they looked at my father. My father cleared his throat. “We’ve brought family here before. Olivia seems to be fine,” he answered, looking up at Landen.

“What is he talking about?” I asked Landen.

“There’s an old myth that you must be loved by someone who lives here to survive in Chara.”

“You tell us what you need us to do,” Ashten said, beaming with pride as he looked at Landen.

“What’s your plan?” Marc asked.

Landen looked down then out to the others. Their anticipation and excitement frightened him. He didn’t want them involved in this at all. “Jason, we heard the mothers talk about you last night. They respect your medical opinion. Do you think you could convince them to let the girls come with you?”

“I’m sure I could think of something,” my father said, certain of himself.