Vindicate (Insight #5)(15)
Three stories down , there was a large balcony. Marc was standing in the center. Perodine was to his left, Alamos was to his right. Across the stone div ide before him was a wide black cloth , rolled tightly. On each side o f Marc , there were large vases full of black roses.
Once the people had assembled, once there was no more room in center court , the bells stopped. Marc stepped forward and pushed the black cloth down. I could hear the pop of the cloth as it extended down ward ; at the same time , guards around the wall of the courtyard unrolled black cloths. One by one , I watch ed each section fall until the entire wall surrounding the palace was black. Then Marc reached for the roses , and one by one he tossed a rose down. One for each soul they were to mourn. I counted forty-two . I had no idea if that number was great or s mall in the minds of this world. I didn’t even know if the number was accurate.
When the last rose had fallen , I felt the placid state of grief come over this dimension. It was cold , and with the shiver that ran down my spine , snow began to fall on the ma sses below. It fell so quickly, s o silently that the back roses, the cloths hanging from the balcony , and wall were now white. It was my way of telling them that the death of Donalt - the death of any of the traitors that ha d the nerve to call themselves priest was a necessary step in bringing them peace. I doubt my message was read clearly by the people, but Marc had understood me . He gazed up at the sky , then bowed his head just before he turned to leave.
The silence had begun. Our time had been bought.
I grew tired, so tired that I could barely stand. In a daze , I walked to the bed. I carefully crawled between Landen and Dra ke. I laid against Landen. I felt his breaths against my back. I heard his heartbeat. I closed my eyes as I reached across the bed for Drake ’s hand. His skin still hummed , but just barely. I felt him slipping away.
I began to drift immediately. I fell so deeply in to sleep that the thought to let my soul rise – to stand watch over them even while my body slept , never had the chance to come.
In my dreams , I heard echo e s. Echoes of laughter. Of passion. Of anger. Some were Landen’s voice , others were Drake’s…the n others came. Flashes of light. Memories came. I remembered the pain I had a few days ago, those moments I was in the desert , then on the stone floor. The women. The flower that drifted to my chest. I remember ed Nathaniel telling me it was feeding my heart the illusion that my soul mate was near. I remember ed Landen’s eyes when he saw the mark. How peaceful they were as he tried to unravel how a dream could have left that mark on me. What it meant.
I li ngered in that moment with him, staring into his eyes, feeling his energy , for what felt like an eternity. Then something cruel happened.
The skies in my dream burned with fire. Flames highlighted Landen’s beautiful face. Terror was the only emotion I could f eel. It wasn’t coming from him. It was the air. The air was suf focated with terror. Whispers. Dark whispers swarmed around us , then shadows came. I heard the seductive laugh of a woman and jump to my feet , looking for her.
In the distance , I saw the silhouette of Drake on a b alcony that mocked the palace. A woman was circling h im. I t was her. Though she was what seemed like miles away , the birthmark on the back of her neck was glowing like fire. “I can’t save him alone , ” Landen said to me.
I turned swiftly to see his eyes full of determination. I ntent on not giving in to this place. “Come back to me , ” I pleaded in a firm tone.
He moved his head from s ide to side. “His death is ours. Find them , Willow ; they see everything.”
“Who?” I yelled , but a fierce wind came and blew his image away. I screamed his name over and over , but my voice was gone . I turned to where Drake was. The woman had stepped back. Now feet from him , she raised her hand , and shadowed images appeared and began to surround him. Consume him. I ran to where he was, she was. I was going to kill her. Force her to give them back, but the world around me changed ; it turned into the glow of the string. In front of me , I saw a small image. I ran faster until I saw the blond curls of Preston ; he was running – laughing – laughing as if he w ere the field of flowers playing with Libby.
“This way , Willow,” he giggled over his sh oulder. Then I heard it again. That sound. The guitars. The drums. I knew where I was in the string. I was within the passages of Infante. Preston stopped at a gray haze. On both sides of it , there were violet hazes leading to different parts of Infante. I heard a guitar scream out a commanding sound , and just as I stepped in I heard a voice, a hypnotic voice. One I had heard before from the boy that was holding Charlie . I pushed forward , wan ting to confirm my thoughts. To see them. To make them come with me, but my anxiety caused me to lose my focus in this dream. I woke without warning.
My entire body tensed as I tried to conceive the idea that all of that was just a dream. I slowly rose , finding myself in the nightmare of my life. Neither Landen nor Drake had moved. Both of them looked as i f they were peacefully dreaming. I squeezed Drake ’s hand as I let it go. I turned and kissed Landen’s soft lips tenderly before I crawled out of the bed.
It was dark now. The only light in the room was coming from the dying fire in the fireplace and the lamp on the center of the table Perodine was working at. My father was asleep on the couch that faced the fireplace. Marc and Brady were stretched out on the parallel couches.
I tiptoed to Perodine’s side. She had changed clothes again. She was no longer dressed as the Queen that stood on the balcony before ; she was in pants and a button up black shirt , and her long silver hair was pulled back into a ponytail. I like d it when she dressed like this. I t always ma de her seem more approachable. Willing to do more than give wise words . I t made her look like she was willing to fight in whatever way she needed to on my behalf. “Where is everyone?” I whispered.