Synergy (See #3)(85)

“Britain?” Madison said with an echo of agony, as she stared at Willow.

“I didn’t hurt him. I keep my promises,” Willow replied still to distracted to think rationally.

“So do I,” Madison said as her eyes fell to Drake’s unresponsive body.

“The observatory,” Olivia said. “That’s where my dream was.”

Olivia and Madison were both remorsefully staring at each other. I knew they both agreed that their nightmare was about to begin.

“Create it,” Aden ordered, knowing we couldn't.

Instantly, the broken room disappeared and we were on a stone floor. The room had an open ceiling, and a massive pool of water was in the center of it.

Willow rushed to the water and dipped her hands in it, then took the water to Landen. The second it reached his skin he took in a gasping breathe. Holy crap. I guess she did know what she was doing. He wasn’t out of the woods yet. Not by a long shot. How were we ever going to find the rest of his soul?

Madison and I followed her lead and managed to get a few handfuls of water on Drake before we heard Olivia scream out in agony. I turned to see that the pool of water had frozen with Olivia’s hands still inside of it.

I don’t know how Willow did it, but she focused her eyes on the water, and a beaming ray of sun came through the ceiling, melting the ice around Olivia’s hands, releasing her. I ran to her to see how damaged her hand was, but before I could get to her, hundreds of images of us appeared in the room. Everywhere I looked, I saw Willow and Madison and Olivia’s image. Mine wasn’t multiplied as much, but it was still eerie to see yourself, to know that an image of you was now programmed to kill you.

I heard Willow yell out, “If any of you are real - say the word. Whisper it, yell it, but you better say something; otherwise, I can’t promise that you will not be hurt!”

I felt my stomach tying itself in knots. This was it: live or die, fight or run. I chose to live, to fight. I knew an easy target would be myself; I knew I wouldn't hurt anyone that way. I found the images of me and pushed the light, the music at them. Black smoke didn’t come from them; instead, they flashed a few times, then faded. I was starting to believe that I’d never really fought Bianca, only an illusion.

I was running out of images of me, and even though I could hear Bianca taunting Willow, I couldn’t understand them clearly. The whispers had begun, and they were telling me to run. They were saying my name and Draven’s name over and over.

Water rushed over my feet. There had been eruptions of thunder and flashes of lightning, and now the sun had not only melted the water in this massive pool, it was causing it to boil over. I knew that those bodies were on the floor, and if this water got any deeper, if the others weren’t near them they would drown because there was no one to wake them.

I kept my focus on the images. I had a feeling that this shield thing that Clarissa had taught Aden was second nature to this family, that more than likely Willow was behind one. I started to look for the glow, and if an image didn’t have one, I sent light and music at it, hoping against all hope that it wasn’t Madison or Olivia.

I stopped abruptly. So did everything and everyone else. Someone had altered the illusion. They had to have, because now all the images were faint. Like they were background music or something. Silence. Warm. Inviting. Silence. I was all alone. The others had vanished. Not good.

The stillness broke and something caused me to gaze up. Now, majestically flying through the open ceiling was a bird. Massive. Elegant. It was made of flames. Powerful swaying flames.

I watched its regal decent with absolute awe. I moved through the empty images of us so I could see where it was landing. One step forward and I saw this imperial phoenix land perfectly on the very solid body of Landen. Angelically it fanned its wings over him. No response came from Landen’s lifeless body. None at all. I could almost swear that flaming phoenix was grieving for him.

I kept glancing up wondering if one would come for Drake. If maybe this is what happens when royalty dies. If this is how the heavens bring them home.

The phoenix arched its wings above Landen. I could see every flaming detail of its majestic body. Breathtaking.

All at once a wave of electricity rippled through the room, across both Landen and Drake. Images of them soared past me diving into their bodies. It was their souls. Their souls were rushing back to them. How in the hell were they doing that?!

The phoenix fluttered upwards as if it did not expect that force. Good to know I was not the only one in shock.

Landen moaned, as did Drake.

The phoenix soared through the air squawking in obvious rejoice. After it circled the room once it aimed its body at Landen’s and fiercely flew into him. Literally. Flames rippled across Landen. Instantly absorbing into him.

Before I could rush to him to ensure that he was unharmed. Alive. The images around me became solid. It was like someone had hit the play button and the war had resumed.

A war I was going to win.

I started to look for that glow around Willow. She had to survive this. Something godly had just brought Landen and Drake back from the veil of death. I would be dammed if they came back only to find her dead.

Finally. I found Willow in this mass of illusions.

I put my hand on her shoulder, and she turned defensively. I held my arm up for her to see the world ‘love’ with the ankh, then yelled, “Show yourself!”