Vindicate (Insight #5)(12)
“He is at large . How can they fear him when they willing let him rule them for millions of years – if he is their religion?” I asked in a dismayed tone , still not seeing August’s point of view.
“Willow , t hey think he is protecting them from the devil .” Rose said. “That he is their last hope . You cannot undo millions of years with in a matter of days , ” she moved to my side as she locked eyes with August. I knew then that this notion of dualities was one t hat they had discussed before. One Rose agreed with.
“Mars represents war , ” Perodine added .
“What else ?” I asked .
“You want me to be blunt ?” s he asked.
“Yes , ” I said as calmly as I could as I looked into her eyes.
“Sex .”
“What?!” I spun my ring as fast as I could as I glanced qu ickly from Landen’s body to her . I already knew what that girl that took them was capable of. I swear if she was doing that to Landen there was no hope of me reaching any duality. I felt sick.
“You heard me . I’m not the least bit surprised that you saw a seductive girl with them . Sex . Power . War . Heat . Fire . That is Mars , ” Perodine said bluntly.
“Are you saying she’s seducing them?! That they ’re trapped in an illusion with her?!” I asked as rage crept through me. I felt Rose’s hand on my arm , and Brady resum ed his grip on my arms.
“I don’t know , ” Perodine mumbled , refusing to make me a promise she couldn ’t.
“You better find out , ” I seethed.
“Willow , they cannot be seduced by anyone but you , ” Alamos said , defending Perodine.
“Yeah, well, I would have said the same thing about Dane a few days ago – and I would have been wrong , ” I argued. My imagination was cruel to me. I could almost see what was very well happing to them at this moment.
“Not entirely , ” August commented as he ran water across Landen’s brow once m ore. “That wasn’t his actions. This devil can consume anyone, but I promise you , it cannot seduce their soul . We are preventing a war here , while they fight one in their minds . Though seduction may play a role –it’s the one thing you should not have to fear.”
“How can you be so sure?” I asked . Please. Please. Someone assure me that demon was not forcing Landen to cross a sacred line.
August looked up at me. “Because they are already in love with the most seductive sign in the zodiac : you , a Scorpio . Your sig n wrote the book on that power, and no one can top you in that manner.”
“Another Scorpio , ” I argued , trying not to blush. The last thing I wanted to do was speak about the private moments I had with Landen in this life.
August ’s eyes filled with sympathy . “No. The darkness you fight does not carry a sign. I n fact , I would venture to say that if you did find another Scorpio , they would be more of an asset than a hindrance.”
“My twin , ” I said hopelessly .
“Another Scorpio , ” August repeated .
I moved my head from side to side as m y eyes moved across the room to all of them. “If I reach this realm – if I find them – if I discover that I cannot save Drake because this illusive twin is absent , I will never forgive myself for not arguing my point more fiercely.”
“I am tirelessly searching.” Perodine said quietly to me. I heard the truth in her voice. Knowing that she believed me was enough to let me drop the subject.
“What was the deal with the twin males? We were going to find them. Landen knew something – he had found a connection , ” I said as I ached to feel the calm that Landen always had.
“They ’re looking for them , ” Brady murmured .
“Who?” I asked , looking behind me at him.
“Dane, Chrispin – Olivia and Clarissa , ” h e answered .
“Why can you not find Austin?”
He winced. Clearly feeling as trapped as I did. “We know he’s in Infante, but he leads the most people to that world. Most of them to the continent of the UK. Chrispin and Dane are searching the homes he has there, and on every continent beyond that. Olivia and Clarissa are in Franklin , trying to find that song she heard in her dreams ; she thinks it will lead to them.”
I froze in p lace. “I bet it’s the same song. I t was them. They stopped that girl.”
Chapter Three
It was clear that every one of us was overwhelmed with not only grief , but lack of direction. You never know how much you depend on someone until they ’re no longer there. The darkness ha d proven to be a worthy adversary. We we re at war – and our leaders, our soldiers that could defend us , Landen and Drake , had been imprisoned . We didn’t have the healing , calm hands of Landen . Though I could perceive both intent and truth , I’d yet to master the gifts he gave me. We didn’t have the face of the King – the fi erce ruler Drake had mocked. We couldn’t stop time and think through our troubles. We were lost without them, yet our lives were forced to move onward, to face not only the world around us , but to seek the realm they were trapped in.
“Let’s begin the mourning. That’s all we can do while we wait for the others to return , ” Perodine cautiously urged .
“How are we going to do that? There is no Estate left. No court for Marc to fool , ” I contended. In my opinion we should be sending every traveler worth their title to find Austin. Everything in my being was telling me to do that, but if I was going to be any kind of leader I had to learn the art of compromise. They sooner they figured out how to do this ceremony the better.