Synergy (See #3)(66)

“No one is getting hurt,” Chrispin promised, reaching to close one of the study doors. “Willow would kill anyone who thought of it.”

“Why does Willow care about me if I’m not a sacrifice?” Madison asked.

“Because,” Olivia said slowly. I stared at her with pleading eyes. If she were going to say it, she needed to be quick about it. She must have noticed how drastically my demeanor changed because she hesitated before she said, “Um...Willow has always been certain that there was more to this curse we’re fighting, that there was a missing piece...all of you are that missing piece. She isn’t a Goddess; she’s a normal girl who can do extraordinary things.”

“What about the Witch?” Madison asked, trying to remain as calm as she could while still hugging the wall behind her.

Chrispin let out a laugh. “Perodine is not a witch.”

“She might be,” Olivia countered.

“What?!” I said, not finding any of this funny.

Olivia looked over my confused expression and went on to explain. “She’s Willow’s mom, but not from this life.”

Ok, what? What the hell had I gotten myself into? “What do you mean?” I probed.

“She means Perodine never died. She’s Willow’s mother from her first life. She’s over four million years old,” Chrispin explained.

“She ages well,” Madison said, sliding down against the wall.

“Trust me, she’s an ally. She won’t hurt you,” Olivia promised.

“Easy for you to say. She wasn’t seeking you,” Madison bit out, breathing in and out slowly.

“I’m sure she was trying to help Willow,” Olivia assured, kneeling down and touching Madison’s arm in an effort to comfort her.

“Help her with what?” I questioned.

Olivia and Chrispin looked at each other, then to me. Olivia hesitated before she said, “Willow is known for her one-track mind. She wanted all members of this family to be accounted for. Until we were all here, she wasn’t going to move forward.”

That kinda made sense. Wait, no. It didn’t. Not with this much dark energy around you. “You know about the family of souls?” I asked, trying to see my answers.

“The family of what?” Chrispin asked.

“Never mind,” I said, sighing. “Is August here?”

“You know August?” Chrispin muttered in disbelief.

“Not yet,” Madison said, rising to her feet. Olivia cautiously stood with her like she was waiting for Madison to faint or something. Smart girl.

“Take me to him,” I demanded.

“We may have to pass the Great Witch to get there,” Chrispin said.

“Are you mocking me?” I asked, not really caring if he were.

“Not at all,” he said, smiling slightly. “I like you; you get to the point.”

Before I could say another word, a man walked into the room from the doorway on the other side of the study, and I was almost positive he was August. He was older, his skin was darker than the others, and I saw wisdom in his eyes. Felt peace all around him.

“August,” Madison said breathlessly.

His wise eyes were captivated by her image as a calm smile spread across his face. “I’m at a disadvantage,” he said as he slowly approached us.

“Her name is Madison,” I said. “I’m Charlie, and I need your help.”

“Anything,” he said as he beamed with gratitude.

Madison smiled slightly as the tension left her body. “You believe in rising above dualities. You believe that we don’t all perceive life the same way. That we create it as we go and that one way or another we’re all right. We’re a part of something that our minds aren’t prepared to perceive as real.”

“Are you sure you don’t know him?” Chrispin asked as shock consumed his innocent expression.

“We see,” I mumbled, seeing what Madison had already discovered. I saw him with the children. I saw the respect he had for their power, how he had no fear where others did. “How true is the myth that you have to be loved to be taken to Chara?”

“Sadly, very, but have no fear; we love you, you’re family now,” August said humbly, almost bowing to Madison, which made her tense again.

“Not us,” I said to get his attention. “There’s a fifteen-year-old girl with us. She’s just like Preston, Libby, and Allie. Well, almost like them. I have to get her out of here. Her father haunts this palace. He ruled it at one time - and if he traps her, this will be over. I mean really over.”

“I heard,” August said.

“Heard?” I questioned.

“I saw what happened when you arrived.”

I had no idea what he meant by that and didn’t have time to figure it out. “Can you help me? I promise I’ll help your grandson no matter what, but when she’s safe, we can all focus.”

His sardonic smile managed to hold a peaceful calm as he spoke. “I’m confident that you’ll help both my grandsons,” August said as his eyes fell into mine. That’s when I saw it, when I understood: both Drake and Landen were his grandsons. Willow’s love triangle centered around this family. I felt even more sorry for her; at least I never had to worry about Silas and Draven sitting around the same Thanksgiving table.