Vindicate (Insight #5)(31)

Now that was a warning that got my attention. “What will I see?”

“Everything you don’t want to , ” s he promised .

I heard the wind crash against the house as my jealousy rose in me. In my minds eye I could see that seductive whench with her hands all over Landen. I held my breath. Stabbed my nail into my skin and demanded my soul to find control.

“It ’s temporary. Its just time. What happens in this moment will end , and the next will come and end – what happens in those moments will end. Do not let the demons you fight deep in your soul , blind you there.”

“Wise words. I’ve been told time is nothing more than an illusion.”

“An illusion that you will have to pass through.” She looked down , then up at me. “I’m entrusting you with the children I love more than the air in this old lad y’s lungs – they will help you and expect nothing in return because that is how I raised them . But I’m asking you, begging you to help Charlie ; help her save Draven from his demons.”

“I will,” I promised quietly. “Anything I need to know about the others?” I asked , looking to the doorway that led to the den.

Nana smiled slightly. “If you can handle Brady , you can handle Aden. He has a pure soul that wants nothing more than to end this darkness and protect his brother. Monroe…she is a gifted , innocent soul who sees beyond any of us. She doesn’t speak, at lea st not to anyone beyond Charlie. Her brothers Grayson and Winston are like night a nd day. You’ve see n Grayson already, he’s the oldest. He has helped Dra ven fight the addiction to The Realm. His younger brother Winston – well, we are concerned that he enjoys that place to o much and that when his test to dwell there or fight comes , he will not fare as well as Draven.”

“How are they in your care?” I asked , knowing that she did love them but not as intently as she loved her boys, Charlie and Madison.

“Orphans, victims of The Realm. You have more to worry about than their past right now. They are now a part of this family, this fate.”

“Can you not teach me to see now, before I go back? Is that what I need to know to survive?”

“You already knew what you needed to know to survive – his energy – yours , how it makes all of you stronger. The only problem was that it was a secret between the three of you , so no one from your family could have helped you remember that.”

“True , ” I said , blushing slightly.

“You have already begun the l essons you need to know to see. Your father taught you the first one. He told you to listen. To see , you must listen.”

“Still working on that lesson,” I said under my breath.

She held in a laugh. “Beyond that , you have to ask the soul what yo u want to know – just a thought, and if it ’s focused enough, if the intent to help is right , you will see your answer. I n fact , ” s he said as her eyes moved all around me. “This , in part , has already come to you . That last morning at your home , you saw my boys ; you saw their image. You had to have thought so mething that opened that vision. Before that , Preston showed you a memory of Charlie in your world – that is seeing in its earliest phases. Flashes of memories that pull you in so deeply that you feel like you are there.”

“What are the later stages of seeing?” I asked , remembering each moment she mentioned clearly.

“Later , you don’t see it. You ’r e there . A nd once you ’r e there , you can go back at any moment. I t’s a passage through time ; not something I care for any of you to toy with.”

“And how does this lead to The Realm?”

“The Realm called Draven . The others used their gift of seeing to follow him into his thoughts…. but it’s not Drav en’s thoughts you need to see. I t ’s Landen’s.”

“Right, but how?”

“You know his soul better than anyone. If I had to guess , you know what is going on in his mind at all times . You react to him on a level that no one can perceive – just feel him – absorb him , and if you do it correctly , you will be there.”

I let out a desperate breath. “Alright,” I said , pushing my chair ba ck. “I’ll take care of them, and I will repay them , even if it’s my last deed.”

“It won’t be,” Nana promised as she stood.

I looked over my shoulder , feeling Charlie’s emotions getting closer. She was sad, excited, and s ca red all at once. A moment later , she opened the back door , with Madison f ollowing her. She caught my gaze , then looked over what I was wearing. “Looks like Nana took care of you.”

I look down at her clothes. “Yeah…thanks for letting me borrow these.”

She smiled vaguely as her cheeks blushed. “Are we ready?”

I looked past her at Madison. She was avoiding my eyes , but I could see how nervous she was to be near me - how determined she was to kill this demon I was fighting.

“Are we , Madison?” I asked .

She looked up at me and smiled faintly . She was a stunning girl…her soul had so much depth , and though I couldn ’t feel her , I could see that her energy was strong, that she was strong, someone I could call a friend, family. “Not at all, but that ’s beside the point. We have a demon to kill , ” s he answered.

I glanced down at her wrist , then to Charlie. “I want to apologize for anything irrational I may do. Sometimes my emotions outweigh thought , and right now for some unknown , complicated reason , my emotions are reflected around me. I don’t mean any harm.”