Synergy (See #3)(53)

“I don’t,” she said, looking at me. “Britain doesn’t open doors for me the way Silas does for you. I just now figured out that that was the only way I could have died, through what Silas told you.”

“Why would he not tell you, Madison?”

“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.”

We rode in silence the rest of the way to the park. Right when I pulled into a parking spot, my phone began to ring. I searched in my bag to find it, and when I pulled it out and saw that it was Kara, my heart sank immediately. I answered on the fourth ring and tried to sound as happy as possible.

“Hey.”

“Charlie, are you alright?”

“Yeah, why?” I asked, finding it hard to hide the lie in my voice.

She was quiet for a second. “Just a feeling, I guess,” she finally said. “Robert told me you already knew about my surprise trip.”

“Mom told me. I’m really happy for you. You guys need to spend some time together.”

“Charlie, we’re going to come home to you. I don’t want to lose a minute of time that I could spend with you.”

Tears swelled in my eyes. “Kara, you aren’t going to lose a minute. When you board that plane, I’ll be stepping into the string.”

She was quiet for what seemed like forever. “I knew you were going to say that.”

“I was going to call you. I really thought you would have called me by now, the way Mom was talking.”

“When did you talk to her?”

“A few hours ago. Why?”

“She wasn’t at the apartment, and her assistant said she headed out early.”

Early for my mom was before eight. “You know how she is. For all I know, she’s on her way here, but she already told me goodbye.”

“I have a bad feeling, Charlie.”

“Kara, I’m going to be fine. I promise.”

“I’m going to hold you to that,” she said weakly.

“Do. I love you.”

“I love you.” I heard her start to cry, but before I could say anything she hung up.

“Are you alright?” Madison asked.

“Goodbyes suck,” I said as I tried to call my mom. When I pulled up her name, there was a text from her: I know you’re leaving. Even though I’ve already told you goodbye, I wanted to tell you I love you one more time. My phone will be out of service, so I’ll see you later, baby. Stay safe, be the woman I raised you to be.

My mom was never good at anything emotional like goodbyes, so this didn’t surprise me at all. I texted back ‘I love you’ right as Britain pulled up next to us.

“Looks like he passed that test,” I mumbled as I got out of the car. I nodded once at Britain, then walked out into the field thinking Silas’ name over and over. When I reached the pond, I saw a glowing butterfly and knew he was close.

“Sorry,” I said quietly.

He appeared instantly in front of me. “I have got to find a way not to get angry with you,” he whispered in a husky tone marked by a swarm of emotions.

“I seem to have that effect on people.”

“Did he do something to you?” Silas asked as the glow in his eyes grew brighter.

“No,” I said, stepping back slightly, seeing my fear dimmed the glow in his eyes. “They’re here. Willow is here.”

“I know,” he said quietly.

“Do you need to talk to her? What did she tell you to say to them in this life?”

“I’m not supposed to tell her anything.”

“Who then? Landen?”

He nodded.

“Then tell him. You know where he is in The Realm; tell him and wake him up.”

“No,” he said, crossing his arms.

“Why?” I asked in a frustrated tone.

“Because this is not the time.”

“When is going to be the time? Are you assuring me that he’ll live through this, that we all will?”

Silas looked to the water, then back at me. “The wind can blow in any direction.”

“Don’t say something that lame. You’re here, alive and well. Make a difference.”

“I’m not alive.”

“Whatever,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“Are we going to fight again?” he asked.

“Are we? I don’t get it; undead or not, you know enough to stop this, and you’re not.”

“Charlie, you have to trust that things will happen the way they’re meant to.”

I wanted to throw his words back in his face, to tell him that was exactly what happened when I left before, that I was meant to love Draven now, but I couldn't do that. “Fine. If you won’t help me with them, will you help me with Monroe? Where is her mom? How can I stop her dad from coming after her?”

“You can’t.”

“Can I do anything?” I asked sarcastically.

He put his hands on my shoulders. “Charlie, he’ll never stop looking for her. She’s his. Other children like her have been born, but never to darkness. He sees her as a weapon, as a gift; he believes that she validates his power.”

“What kind of weapon is she? She’s a child, an innocent child.”