Vindicate (Insight #5)(27)

I focused on the emotions and intent of this house. I heard muffled voices and looked to the den that opened up beside the stairs. I saw Aden, Monroe , an older man, and two other boys in there . One of the boys was the one I saw upstairs , and t he other I could only assume was his brother ; he was just as lanky and seemed like a younger version of the other. I felt Aden’s intent on explaining to them where they were going – why they were going. I knew he didn’t need to convince them to go ; they already had the intent to go. The smaller boy seemed fearless to me , and I felt a concern from the others about him. I knew they loved him , but they were worried about him, how daring he was. The older man , who could only be Aden’s dad , seemed to carry the biggest concern for all of them. I felt h is desire to go, but he was holding himself back, fighting with the idea of someone else taking care of his family. I didn’t want to get into the middle of a topic that was obviously sensitive.

I led Olivia past the den , knowing Brady was just ahead. At the end of the entry hall , there was a kitchen. The walls were stone , so were the counter tops ; it was a very modern , edgy look that I found myself admiring.

Brady, Austin , and Draven were sitting by a bay window at a table in the nook of the kitchen. Nana was at the stove , stirring a big pot of what looked like soup. She looked over her shoulder when we walked in. She smiled slightly. “I see my daughter brought you up to speed.”

I raised my eyebrows , questioning these people, how they could see darkness, live with a ghost , and not be the slightest bit bothered by it, but then I realized that was nothing compared to what I’d witnessed in the last few months. Crazy attracts Crazy. No doubt.

Brady looked up at the sound of her voice , and I felt his relief. Austin and Draven both stared at me as if I were some kind of royalty that had just graced their presen ce . Brady stood and helped Olivia guide me to the table. I felt foolish letting them do that , but I was so weak that fainting was only a breath away.

I sat down , and Brady and Olivia sat protectively on each side of me.

“Feel better?” Brady asked quietly.

“Not yet,” Nana said , bringing a bowl over to me. “She will.” She placed a spoon next to my bowl. “Eat slowly. I don’t want you to get sick.”

My trembling hand reached for the spoon and brought a small taste of the steaming vegetable soup to my lips. As I swallowed it , I savored each seasoning as if it w ere the first time I’d tasted such bliss. I eagerly took another spoonful, feeling my stomach cramp at the anticipation of be ing feed.

“I should have made sure you had eaten , ” Brady said in a disappointed tone.

I smirked , feeling energy seep through me. “I think that saving Delen from Mother Nature was a good priority for you to have.”

“How did you do that?” Austin asked curiously .

Brady looked at him as he moved his head from side to side. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

I felt Draven’s eyes on me , and I looked up at him to see him reading me like I was some kind of epic novel.

“It doesn’t scare you, what you see in me?” I asked , noticing his calm emotion as I dared to take another sip of the soup.

He tilted his head , and his soft lips turned into a sardonic smile. His eyes seemed to turn darker for an instant. “Not as much as it scares you.” The truth in his words forced me to realize how scared of myself I really was. I had no idea what I was capable of.

I f elt Austin’s regret as he glanced between me and Draven. “I should have tried ha rder – made Landen listen to me. Maybe then. Maybe then--”

Brady raised his hand to stop him. “You did more than I would have. It wouldn’t have stopped this. We’ve become so focused on fighting what’s in front of us that we don’t look ahead . Even if you had told us before , more than likely we would have been forced to wait until this hell came to listen to you.”

Nana brought toasted bread and a glass of water to me. I looked at Austin – remembering that morning he came to our house a few days ago – sending Landen to talk to him again. I was glad I went with my gut , that Landen learned what he did then, but I regretted not insisting that we come here or least sent someone here for them.

I’d finished my soup and was giving my stomach a rest before I attempted to eat the bread. “Who is this Bianca ? How is she in both our lives ? What does she want with them?” I asked Draven.

His strong jawline tighten ed as he stared at me. “She’s an Escort. Dark energy that is seeking power, she is in my life simpl y to destroy Charlie. She is in yours because she seeks powe r, enough power to dominate The Realm, to dominate the energy of this one.”

“Why , Charlie? Why does she want to hurt her?” I asked , realizing that from the point of view of those images the ghost of his mother had showed me , he was the one in danger ; y et, he believed every word he spoke as if it were the truth.

“Because the first one she wanted to rule with – partner with, was addicted to Charlie . When that failed , she came after me , and I turned her down. Bianca lusts after revenge just as much as she does men.”

“Who was addicted to her? How can you be addicted to someone?” Brady asked.

Draven leaned forward and looked down as his fingers moved rapidly against the table. It was like he wanted to speak through music, like if he had a guitar in his hand , we would f eel his words through the sound. I didn’t need a sound to feel the undeniable love he had for Charlie, the passion he had for the essence th at she was. “Charlie is the sun. She is wa rmth. She is…she is very addicting, and this other person knew her from before . She saved him then , and he wanted her to save him again.”