Vindicate (Insight #5)(24)
“And apparently you saw more , ” Madison said sharply .
Draven ignored her. “With all that you know, with all that you can do with your mind , I don ’t think that grasping this would be to o hard for you, and if it is , ” he glanced back at Charlie , “w e’ll go for you.” His voice was nothing less than mesmerizing ; it was deep , and the words he spoke were so smooth and numbing that they brought an undeserved calm to me. I found myself craving to hear more words from him, anything. It was like he was subduing my caged curse of emotions. Like he was born to do that.
Charlie’s eyes lit up with hope. “Are we leaving?”
Draven looked down at me. “Are we?”
Before I could answer him , I felt others behind me. I turned protectively to see Austin with two people walking up the steps. A young guy, tall but lanky with long jet-black hair , was with him. There was an older woman with her silver hair pulled back. When she reached the top step , she pulled a white robe she had on closed tighter.
“Austin,” Brady said , sighing with relief.
“Where’s Landen?” Austin asked , looking at me , then Brady.
Brady nodded his head , then walked to Austin , urging him to go down the steps again. The lanky boy walked over to Monroe , who was still sitting quietly on the couch , holding her stare. It was as if she w ere showing him everything that had happened over the last few moments. I felt the boy’s hope, anger -- the urge to leave with us. Odd. Very odd people.
The older woman captured my wondering gaze , and I felt a peace wash over me. She reached her arm around Madison. “You and Charlie go say your goodbyes.” She looked at Draven. “Wake your dad.”
Madison bit her bottom lip as she looked at the woman next to her. The woman offered a soothing smile , but it didn’t seem to help. I stood there as they all left. I glanced past the woman to see Brady talking quietly to Austin in the hallway below the short stone steps.
“And you, Willow,” the older woman said , walking to me. “You are going to take a hot shower while I fix you something to eat.”
I turned my head slowly from side to side in a weak protest. “There isn ’t time for that. I have to go. Austin will bring them to me.” I needed to put some space between me and Madison. I couldn’t hurt her, and I knew I could not continue to hold my emotions down. I felt like I was holding my breath.
The woman held my stare as she walked slowly to me. It wa s like she was reading my soul. Her emotions reflected mine; only they showed hope where mine had faded. “If any one of the children that call me ‘Nana ’ appeared at your mother ’s doorstep , I hope that she wouldn ’t let them leave her weakly. I hope she would make sure that they were well cared for.”
My eyes glassed over as I thought of not only my mother, but each of the s trong mother figures in my life. I thought of Rose.
“I’m out of time , ” I whispered , feeling weaker by the moment.
“It’s been at least four days since you ’ve eaten . Your mind is fighting to grasp a direction , and it cannot do that because you ’re denying the temple your soul is in the nourishment it needs . Come , ” s he said , extending her arm around me. “I’ll get you some of Charlie’s clothes. I want you to take a shower and wash those dried tears away.”
“More might come , ” I muttered as I tried to understand this ‘seeing’ thing t hey all seemed to be capable of. I t made me feel fragile, like I had no secrets I could hide.
“That they may , ” s he said as she reached for Olivia to come as well , “b ut let’s hope they are of joy because right now your tears are blinding you.”
When we reached the bottom of the short stone staircase , Brady stood up straighter – almost defensively. This woman who I assumed was called ‘Nana ’ had her arm around me, and he didn’t like that.
“Austin, take your friend to the kitchen. I’ll fix you something to eat , ” Nana s aid as she guided me to the right .
Brady ignored Nana and followed me. Nana stopped and turned to look at him. “Now,” she said , putting her hand on his chest. “I have no doubt Landen would want you to stay at her side, but I do doubt he wants you to watch her shower. Go on now, to the kitchen ; she’ll be in there soon.”
Brady stared at me with a painful mistrust. Nana patted his chest. “She’s not leaving without you . She ’s going to openly acc ept your protection and guidance.” Nana looked at me and said in a calm but firm motherly tone. “Isn’t that right, Willow?”
I nodded once , t hen looked down. I should have told him I was leaving Esterious.
“Stay with her,” Brady said to Olivia. She didn’t have to openly say that she would ; the promise was in her eyes.
As I turned to walk down the hall with her and Nana , I quickly became aware that this wasn ’t a building. It was a home, a beautiful home that held an eccentric modern style. Nana opened a bedroom door at the end of the hall. There was a double bed in the center of the room with nightstands on each side . A small dresser was by another doorway that led to wh at I assumed was the bathroom. She led me there and pulled out two large towels and soap and shampoo from beneath the counter.
“I know Charlie has clothes here. I’ll find you something to wear , ” Nana said once she was sure I had everything else I needed.