Insight (Web of Hearts and Souls #1)(94)

“I just feel like I’ve been set up. I really thought that that boy was neglected.”

“Neglected?”

“Yeah. He was dirty and sitting alone outside as his parents argued inside the building.”

“You were set up. Did you not notice how the people didn’t speak?”

“Yeah” I thought, baffled.

“They aren’t allowed to speak above a whisper. If a couple were screaming at each other, they’d have been put to death, and the child wouldn’t have been outside alone.”

“So what did Drake do? Stage it all for me?”

“Maybe he was testing your sensitivities. Were they all children that called you?” Landen asked.

“No, they were all ages, in all different places.”

Landen leaned back on his arms, judging his words before he thought them. “How crazy do you think it would be to go through that passage you made inside the palace?” I felt his anxiety and regret for saying the words.

“I’ve been waiting for you to bring it up. I thought you might be angry with me for making such a dangerous suggestion,” I thought, reassuring him that no matter how dangerous it was, we had to save the girls.

“It is dangerous, but I can’t think of a faster way to prevent Hannah and Jessica from dying.”

“I can’t lose anyone else,” I thought in a heavy tone.

Landen took in my words and held me tightly. We slept on until late in the next day, hiding from it all.

Through the kitchen window, we could see Felicity, Olivia, and Libby picking the flowers. Their sorrow was very sobering. Walking to them, it was easy to see that the once full field of flowers was growing more and more barren.

Libby smiled when she saw us coming. She then set her basket down and ran into Landen’s arms, giggling as he lifted her over his head. Olivia smiled at me; the sight of her had never been more beautiful to me. I’d known her for so many years, and yet to see her happy, at peace, all of her grief gone—she was a new person.

“Landen?” Felicity said in a solemn voice. “Brady wanted me to ask you to come and see him. He’s at Marc’s.”

“Where’s Livingston?” Landen asking already knowing the answer.

“He went back to Esterious. Marc stayed at our house last night; he left early this morning. Brady thought he was going to go to Esterious and followed him. Brady called just before we came out here and said that they were at Marc’s and to tell you if you came out.”

Landen passed a wary look to me. “What about Jason and Dad?”

“They went back to Esterious. No one has really said much since yesterday. They’re waiting for you to tell them what to do.”

Landen closed his eyes, wishing this burden away, just as any noble leader would want to do when lives were at stake.

“Landen, go. I’m going to go see the girls and check on my mom.”

“Is that safe?” Olivia asked.

“Marc’s is only a half mile away, we just can’t let the string separate us,” Landen explained. He then kissed me and hugged me tightly before he left. Even though it didn’t hurt as I watched him walk over the hill, the longing to have him close made me uneasy.

“Should I help you pick? I saw some closer to my house,” I asked Felicity.

“We have to be careful. They only work when they’re alive, so we only pick what we need. I think we have enough for now,” Felicity answered.

Walking toward my mother’s house, I could feel her. Her excitement was gone, her emotions were full of dread.

We went up to Hannah and Jessica’s room. The room was full of a beautiful floral scent. The flowers on their chests had wilted, and one by one we pulled them off and replaced them with new ones. They lay still, not moving; their beauty was remarkable. They deserved more than this. I wanted them to have the same joy Olivia had.

Feeling Olivia’s guilt, I placed my hands on her shoulder, smiling and showing her how happy she was. As I pushed the power of love through her, her face lit up as she slowly looked at me.

“Thank you, Willow.”

Felicity was watching our exchange, and her excitement filled the room.

“It’s coming easier to you now.”

“A little bit. I think I’m going to try and help my mom now. I’ve never seen her like this before.”

Felicity’s smile lessened a little. “Willow, imagine how you’d feel if you knew that your child had been chosen to fight a battle that they didn’t start, and it didn’t matter what sacrifices you made, you couldn’t prevent it from coming to pass,” she said, caressing her stomach and choking on her tears.

I hugged her tightly, showing her how happy she’d made me the first time I’d met her and how much life she’d brought to this family. The baby kicked, and I felt it through her skin. Felicity laughed, and her bliss was back.

“Looks like she already loves her Aunt Willow.”

“She?” I questioned.

“Women’s intuition,” she said, smiling. “I’ll take Libby to my house and let you spend some time with your mother.”

My mother was on her back porch, staring at a blank canvas. She was still, more still than I’d ever seen her. I put my hands on her shoulders and remembered all the energy she used to put off, how all my friends thought I had the coolest, most vibrant mother. I remembered her inspiring people to follow their dreams, not to be afraid of what they were capable of.