Synergy (See #3)(92)

“You were fooled,” Madison said as her cheeks blushed, “and because you were fooled, you’ve lost every chance you could have ever had with me. The man who has my heart will love my soul, not what I look like, not for what I can do...he will love every imperfection just as much, if not more than, my perfections -- and I’ll be damned if he ever mistakes me for someone else.”

Drake boldly stepped forward, reached for the back of her neck, and pulled her to his lips. Seeing that her emotions were in full play, that she was facing this, I quickly walked away - but when I reached the doorway, Aden and Draven were walking in. Their wide eyes dared me to look over my shoulder. I saw Madison raise her hand in defense but then fall weakly as Drake kissed her. A second later, she found her protest and pushed him back.

“You have your answer,” Madison said quietly, refusing to look him in his eyes, which were full of disbelief. “Now go stand at her side - and every time you look at her, you think of that dream, you think of how blind you are. What you’ll never have.”

I pushed against Aden and Draven to move, to leave them alone, but they were too protective of Madison to leave; they weren’t going anywhere until they knew she wanted them to.

“And will you think of me when you stand at Britain’s side?” Drake asked as his eyes moved rapidly across Madison’s furious face.

She looked up at him as guilt washed over her angry expression. “How do you know about him?” she asked.

He furrowed his eyebrows, which intensified the pull of his magnetic dark eyes. “Another life, Madison, another dream - and perhaps we’ll both exercise patience.” His eyes glanced over her once more. “You deserve everything you want in a lover. I can’t change anything. I can’t understand why fate is so cruel, why it chooses to toy with my heart.” He turned to leave but hesitated and glanced back at her. “Thank you...for everything.” He glanced down before he walked confidently toward us.

He hesitated as he passed Draven. “Why do I feel like I know you?” he asked him.

Draven carefully looked over him. Seeing them stand side-by-side was empowering. Even though they were the same age in this life, I could feel the age in Drake’s soul, the craving for a mentor in Draven’s. If I had one wish at that moment, it would be that Drake could see like we could, that Draven could open a door and show Drake all that he’d been through in his existence, every fall, every victory. I knew Drake would find understanding, or even compassion for Draven.

The first time I’d found Draven, he was a King of a dark dimension, one that was entirely too much like Esterious.

“Another life, another time,” Draven finally said.

Drake glanced at me, then to him. “If you need anything, anything at all, come to me. I’ll teach you everything I know. I’ll teach you control.”

Draven nodded once.

Drake stepped forward, and as he looked down the hall he said, “I’d really like for you to teach me to see. I think that would clear up a lot of misguided thoughts.” Longingly he glanced at Madison.

Draven didn’t have a chance to respond. Drake walked away, holding his head high, holding the image of a powerful leader.

My attention turned to Madison. The second Drake was out of sight, she leaned forward and braced herself on her knees. I slowly walked toward her as Aden and Draven entered the room and closed the door behind them, giving us the privacy we needed to help our best friend, to reflect on what had happened to all of us.

“This is my fault,” I said to her.

She quickly looked up at me like I was crazy.

“This has nothing to do with you, Charlie,” Madison said with a sigh, standing up.

“It has everything to do with me,” I argued as Draven and Aden came to our side. “I was an idiot. I thought I could handle Britain and Bianca on my own, that I could stop them. I admit, I thought I was protecting all of you,” I said as I glanced at Draven. “But I was still an idiot. I lost my memory in that battle, Madison. And even when all of you came together in my darkest hour and helped me find myself - I was still too close-minded to come here.”

“Coming here was a mistake,” Madison bit out, looking away from me. She was still blushing from Drake’s kiss. Who could blame her for that? I was surprised she was able to stand. I could still feel his energy in this room.

“No,” I said firmly. “This is my fault. Draven begged me to leave for Chara the night of my accident,” I said as I glanced at him, “but I refused. That was the first of June, Madison. Willow and Landen didn’t find each other until August. If we’d left when I was begged to, they would have known from day one that there were two green-eyed Scorpios. Drake wouldn’t have had the chance to be fooled.”

“He was, though -- and you can’t recover from that,” Madison said, crossing her arms.

“Listen,” Aden said. “I’m not taking sides here, but from what I’ve seen, I have no idea how Drake can think straight. Madison, they forced dreams on him, that Alamos guy did, that evil angel - when he was alive - was his mentor. I’m sorry to say this, but I think he should have a little slack. The fact that he hasn’t flipped his dark switch tells me that he wants to make things right. For everyone.”

“How deep did you look into him?!” Madison asked coldly as her eyes pierced through Aden.