Synergy (See #3)(70)

“I fell, and Draven fell; I know that with certainty. Madison was told that she fell. I don’t know if Aden or the others fell or not.”

“How do you know for certain?” Perodine asked, slanting her head as she looked between me and Aden.

I looked confidently in her eyes. “Willow told me. At least she told me that if I wasn’t Julia, when we met again, that meant I’d fallen.”

“How does one fall?” Perodine asked in a tone that told me she already knew.

“Love,” I whispered as Draven instantly came to mind.

August and Perodine’s eyes were looking between me and Aden like they were trying to see some kind of bond or something. Aden must have noticed it, too, because he said, “I’m Aden, not Draven; she’s not talking about me. As far as I know, I never fell - or whatever you guys are talking about.”

Perodine raised one eyebrow. “I wouldn't be so sure about that. I have a feeling the two of you have known each other for a while.”

“Yeah, like our entire life,” Aden said as he instantly became defensive. He moved closer to me in an effort to block their confusing words.

“Existence,” Perodine corrected.

“What are you saying?” I asked as I glanced from Aden to them. It was like they could see or knew something that we were oblivious to.

“More than I have time to explain now,” Perodine answered quietly.

As his eyes grew more curious, August said, “Undead Witnesses can love. They’re known for how fierce that emotion is within them. Some even say that if they didn’t love that they would perish; it gives them the power they have. I’m intrigued simply because to fall once would be an expression of massive power; more than once...well, that would be a display that has never been openly recorded.”

I felt my face flush. Did he just tell me that if Silas didn’t love me that he would die? He would be powerless? Who fell more than once? What were they talking about?

My fearful reaction didn’t go unnoticed by Aden, who looked at me, then to August.

“What happens when they figure out they’re no longer loved?”

August looked between me and Aden. “Well, I don’t know, or I don’t remember clearly enough to tell you with certainty. I have books on your kind at my home.”

“Retrieve them,” Perodine said. She nodded to the doorway. “Say your goodbyes.”

I glanced over my shoulder and saw Monroe standing in the threshold with Austin. I rushed to her side. In the hall, I saw Olivia and Chrispin, her brothers, and others I assumed were travelers.

“Are you OK?” I asked her. She nodded. “They’re going to take you to Chara. It’s safe there.” She smiled slightly. “You agree?” She reached for my hand, and when she did, I saw The Realm again. I heard the song we’d created that was helping focus Landen and Drake. It was slightly different...at first I thought it was because it was so faint, but I knew that song too well.

In that vision, I looked down at my hands and saw them glowing slightly, felt them humming. I reached for one of the flawless men in black that was attacking me and held my hands on either side of his head; as I did, I heard the song grow louder and saw a ray of light reach from my hands to this man. He fell to his knees as black smoke escaped every part of him. I felt an empowering energy course through me, and my soul ignited with purpose. The shock of that emotion pulled me from the vision.

I glanced down at my hands, then to Monroe. “That’s definitely less gross than pulling it out. Change the song. We have to change it?” I asked, wanting to clarify that it was a different sound that I’d faintly heard.

She nodded. I pulled her to me and hugged her tightly. I nodded once at Grayson, then urged her to go to him.

August was at my side. “I’ll get her there safely and find the books I was speaking about. We’ll understand why we’re all together soon, the synergy that you’ve created.” He glanced over his shoulder at Aden, then to me. “I’m interested in diving into your past lives. I have no doubt we can help you remember them, that you hold more answers than you could imagine.”

I nodded, not really caring about what had happened; what was happening now was more of an issue for me.

I watched them all go, leaving me alone with Aden and Perodine. I glanced over my shoulder to see her at the fireplace; she was on her knees, and she reached in and gathered some ash, then placed it the chalice she had before standing and pulling a small knife out of her pocket.

“Should I care that we’re alone with you?” I asked as I swallowed nervously.

“Sit, please,” she said calmly as she made her way to the table that she was sitting on before. Aden reached for my hand and guided me toward her. I knew if he had seen something bad in this woman, we’d be gone by now; he wouldn’t let anyone hurt me.

We sat down on the couch and looked at her with wide eyes. Perodine was trying to hide the concern I could see in her eyes with a weak smile. “I don’t have time to slowly explain to you what I know or think, so I’m going to be blunt. My daughter has paved a path for this day and the ones that are to come. She had a life of illumination, one that I’m sure you met her in when you walked with the undead. My only problem is that I do not know what she knew then. The person Willow is today is deeply attached to her family, her soul mate. She does not see a greater outlook, and she will not let anyone step into a dangerous path. The fact that I saw a witness coming now, that an undead witness was mentioned, means that this war we fight is not here; it is on a larger scale.”