Vindicate (Insight #5)(35)

Ashten’s eyes grew wide as he looked at me. “Did I miss something? Since when do we commit murder in this family?”

“We don’t,” I promised. “That ’s the name of the demon that took them. I don’t think murder applies to demons.”

“And you would be correct, because you cannot kill a de mon. Only transform the energy, and that can only be done if you rise above duality. Or so I’m told , ” Ashten said , looking once more at Madison. She looked away in what looked like embarrassment for her bluntness.

“Looks like August has had your attention , ” I mumbled , wondering how lo ng August had had that notion. Why he hadn ’t pressed that point.

“My f ather has always believed that, but I can ’t help who I am. That notion is meant for souls much wiser than mine.” Ashten said humbly . His eyes left mine and moved to Monroe. “You look much younger. How do your parents feel about you being here?”

“She doesn’t speak , ” Grayson said for her. “She ’s in my care ; our home is where we are.”

“Where are your parents?” Ashten asked in a concerned fatherly tone.

“Not here,” Grayson answered , with the intent of not sharing such a private tragedy. I felt his grief for his mother and his disdain for his father. Winston had no clear emotion that would show how he felt about his parents , and Monroe reflected a serene peace that I had yet to feel her break from.

I put my hand on Ashten’s shoulder. “Will you find rooms for them, their stuff? I want to end this now , ” I said , then turned to walk to the passage that led to the palace floor that Landen and Drake were on.

Olivia was at my side at once. I felt her eagerness to see Chrispin. She felt guilty for be ing gone for the last few hours and was eager to explain why she had no choice but to make him worry. As we stepped into the passage side -by -side , I remembered what I’d seen in the looking glass with Stella, me returning with Olivia…the darkness that came right after that. I felt my heart race , and whatever confidence I had that I would beat this began to fade with that memory.

Inside the passage, the entry hall that had been created for us to come and go - there was nothing in the emotions around me that would give credit to what the looking glass had shown. Right as I reached the doorway that changed.

I felt a terror. Anger. Sadness . I heard a scream to back those emotion s up. I turned to see Charlie on her knees , holding her ears. Madison seemed stronger , but she was struggling , to o . Draven was at Charlie’s side instantly . He fumbled with her pockets , finally finding her headphones , then put them in her ears and tu rned the sound up all the way. Aden looked at Madison and yelled , “Are you ready ?” She nodded , then Aden yelled , “Show yourself!”

Then I saw it : darkness ; it was all around them. The light from the hall behind me and the small wave that led to the string was all that illuminated this room. Ashten and Austin had stepped though that passage but then quickly backed out , keeping Winston, Grayson , and Monroe in the string. Brady refused to stay in there without me ; he feared it was me that was hurt and pushed through.

My heart was racing. I was stabbing my nail in to my skin so hard that I was sure blood would soon surface.

I didn’t know what to do , w hat to push my energy at , i f I would hurt them or hinder them. Then they started to say words that made no sense. “Lavender, you are worthy, sunset – first snow – baked bread,” and other words in random languages. I thought they were insane , but the building confidence I felt in them – the calm state they now had led me to believe they knew what they were doing.

Brady reached my side just as little lights be gan to appear in the darkness. I thought they were making progress-helping souls . I couldn ’t see clearly , but I knew every time a light came , darkness covered it.

“Get them out of here!” I yelled with an immediate intent to protect them.

Just as we took a step toward them , I heard Charlie yell , “Silence !” I saw her small image move through the shadows. “You want to be redeemed?!” she yelled louder. “Why do I need to show you when you stand in the presence of that definition?!” Charlie appeared at the edge of the darkness , then the shadows began to surround me. Brady threw up a shield of energy around me , refusing to let anything hurt me. “Think of him , Willow – show them , ” Charlie said , firmly ignoring the barrier between us.

I felt her intent ; it was to show each of these souls what was taken from them, to show them what I want ed to bring back to this dimension: l ove. I held her stare and said , “Let i t fall, Brady.” He did as I said , and when he did , I could just barely hear them, whispers overlapping in a vacant plea that sounded like Charlie and Draven’s name.

“Show them,” Charlie said , pulling the headphones from her ears.

I thought of Landen. I felt him. I felt every part of his soul in mine. I saw our dreams, what this world should look like. I felt our passion for this world, our love for each other. I felt it so deeply that I let my eyes smile at them. I promised them that their ancestors wouldn ’t live in the hell they had, even if it was last thing I ever did.

At that moment , an explosion of light came to the room . It was brighter than the string, brighter tha n the sun itself . Then it faded , and the room that had always held a dreary light looked bright, brand new.