Synergy (See #3)(40)
“I still don’t understand. Where will I follow your friend? I cannot die.”
“That will be the moment that you will know if you truly love him. If the universe perceives that love to be real, unbreakable, then the gods above wish this path for you, and you will follow him into another life.”
“So if I choose death, if I find some way to die and follow him, then that means he’s who I am meant to be with?”
“Do you not feel commanded to love Silas? Do you not feel that you are obeying by staying at his side?”
“No, I love him.”
“But if you were to ever leave him, would Isis not cross your mind?”
I looked away from her, knowing that she would.
“What I am telling you right now is that if you desire to follow my friend, and you die, then you know that you have not shamed any promise or prayer, but that your soul has followed its counterpart, and that path will be blessed.
“What about Silas? I can’t leave him alone. I could never do that to anyone, especially him. I love him.”
“Silas is a warrior. He is fearless and absolute. I know he will fight at my side in a future that is yet to be written, but I cannot see where his heart will lead him. The only reason I saw yours was because it weaves deeply into my family of souls.”
“Family of souls?”
She nodded once. “Lovers remain lovers, but fathers become sons, daughters become mothers, friends become sisters, brothers, and so on. My friend has played many roles. He has saved me and been the voice of reason time and again. Now the course of life has changed, and I will have to repay him for those acts. When we meet again we will save each other and stand as a voice of reason when our hearts and emotions tempt us to make hasty decisions.”
“Sounds like a great family,” I muttered sadly.
In the eyes of my image, I could see how I envied that, how I missed my family.
“You’re a part of that family now. Regardless of whether you fall or not, you are a part of my path, and I am a part of yours.”
“So if I don’t fall, if I just save him and we meet again, what do you want me to say to you?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Not at first. You may reassure me of who I was over time, even tell me that I found balance with my heart, but who I am now will not be the issue. Who my friend is in that life will not be. Our course will collide just as I dare to become the wave of change, just as we all dare to become that change.”
“Is there anyone else I need to watch over for you? Any more people you want to add to this family?”
“Everyone who chooses to be there will be; have no fear of that.” She put her hand on my shoulder. “Silas will be there. Even if you choose to fall, he will be with us, a part of this.”
“Then what now?”
“Now I will show how powerful you are; you have much to learn.”
At that moment, the world began to shake, and I heard a loud knock that invoked enough fear in me to wake from that memory.
Chapter Nine
Wide-eyed and startled, I found myself back in my car outside of Draven’s house. I glanced to my side and saw that Aden had knocked on the window. I ran my hands across my face, trying to bring myself into focus. I could not believe that I knew her then. That she literally predicted where I would be today. Willow knew I would love Draven. The guilt I had after leaving Silas that night intensified. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I must have ripped his soul in two when I fell, but I also knew that there was no way that the love I had for Draven was shallow or even habit; it was real, real enough to kill me.
I let out a sigh and opened my door and climbed out. Aden was leaning against the side of my car with his arm crossed, looking less than happy to see me.
“What did I do now?” I asked as I closed my door.
He tightened his jaw as the muscles in his arms flexed with frustration. “What is happening to us, Charlie?”
“Like I know,” I said as I leaned against the car beside him.
“That’s not what I mean,” he said in a forced tranquil tone. “You know I get that you and Draven are going through some stuff, that he’s changing and you’re doing your best to hold on to him, but I don’t get why you’re shutting me out. How we’ve lost our trust.”
“What are you talking about? I trust you.”
“Then why are we working against each other?”
“Why do you think we are?” I asked, angling my eyes at him, not sure where this was going.
“I told you to tell me when you talked to Silas. You’ve lied to me about him from day one. Why would you do that? Should I be worried about picking my brother’s heart up off the floor after you break it into a thousand pieces?”
Anger engulfed every part of me as I stood in front of him and glared up at him. “How dare you say that to me? You shut me out. You let him shut me out. Do you really think that I would leave him? That I have something going on with Silas?!”
“How am I supposed to know if you do?! Charlie, he appeared out of nowhere today and kissed you in front of Draven, then had the audacity to tell Draven that he was going to kill him, that if one thought crossed his mind to take your energy that death would come. Did he care that that demon had just force fed him a part of your light, that at that moment every part of Draven’s soul was at war, that he was fighting with everything he was to push that out of him to do whatever he had to do in order to love you, save you from all of this? No he didn’t, and what did you do? You woke up; you left us there with him, you left us behind. What was your plan, to just love the one that survived? Now what are you going to do, because both of them are still breathing?”