Vindicate (Insight #5)(36)
Draven pulled Charlie to his chest and held her as tightly as he could. Madison locked eyes with me , then nodded once as she looked to make sure that Aden was OK. He was more than all right ; he was excited - for what reason , I don’t know . I t was like he saw something in me, some kind of saving grace.
“What just happened?” Brady said in the calmest tone he could man a ge.
“We do see the living,” Aden answered. “But we see way more of the dead. They seek us and we redeem them.”
“How ?” I asked , feeling empowered by them.
“We make them remember love,” Aden answered , staring at me. I felt the uncalled for respect and honor he had for me rise inside of him, a s well as the intent to do everything he could to help me reach my ultima te goal. “We say a word, describe something that brought that emotion to them, then they remember that they aren ’t meant to be damn ed. That at one time , the power of that emotion , love, belonged to them. They remember , so they ’re redeemed.”
“That’s what those words were?” I asked . “Words that simple?”
They all nodded. “These are the darkest souls I’ve ever seen , ” Charlie stated.
“They listen to you , ” I said humbly .
She nodded.
“If I wasn’t here – how would you have stopped that many?” I asked , fearing that I had led them into danger and they were all too eager to follow. That could not be good.
She glanced up at Draven , and I felt his heart breaking. She put her arm around him in an attempt to tell him the tension she felt coming from him was uncalled for. “At home – at home I show them my love for Draven. I tell them that if they want to feel that , then they need give me space so I can lead them to it.”
“But you didn’t do that here , ” I said , understanding why Draven must have felt the way he did. He thought she didn’t show them her love because that emotion was fading.
“I didn’t,” she said , holding Draven tighter. “I didn’t because this is your world, your darkness. I w on’t always be here, but you will. If they know you ’re on their side , they w on’t feed into the evil you ’re fighting. They ’ll protect you because you are their light, their way out.”
I smiled faintly and stepped closer to them , feeling Aden’s intent to not let me say or do anything that may upset the balance that Charlie and Draven had found.
I looked up at Draven. “When you saw me , did you see Landen teach me the insight of truth?”
Draven’s jaw tighten ed, and he nodded once.
“He would find peace around all of you , ” I said , holding his stare. “Do you want to know why?”
He just held my s tare as hope rose in his soul. “Because all of you speak the truth, there is no doubt in your words....” My eyes fell to Charlie. “Thank you for teaching me that. I know that the love I feel you have for Draven would have helped them faster because you knew what you were doing, and because that love is just as powerful and real as what I feel for Landen ...I will hold on to that lesson ; I swear .”
I felt the relief in Draven and the gratitude in Charlie.
“Is it safe enough for the others?” Brady asked , moving closer to the passage. Draven nodded as he looked down at Charlie . He couldn’t help himself ; h e pulled her lips to his , and I felt a passion run through the both of them. Feeling that emotion built my energy and gave me the determination to feel it again – to feel Landen’s lips on mine.
Aden and Madison star t ed to pick up their bags and guitar cases that they’d dropped in their battle. Brady waved his hand in the string , and cautiously Ashten stepped through , leading Winston. The second he appeared , I felt a cold wind pass me. When Grayson appeared with the other traveler , it became colder. I wasn’t the only one that felt it ; there was an instant fear in the others. When Austin stepped through with Monroe , a growl boomed around us. I knew that sound as well as I knew my own voice : it was the ghost of Donalt, or whatever demon had taken over him. Just as I went to tell them to leave , it appeared - my evil angel in all its decadence.
The flawless body took over the center of the room , and its ash wings stretched broadly to each corner. He wasn’t looking at me ; he was looking at Monroe and her brothers. They weren’t afraid, not at all. They were angry, almost hurt. The angel reached its hands toward them , and defensively I threw my energy at it and Brady followed my lead . I ts image trembled but didn ’t fade or even try to defend itself from us.
Winston and Grayson stood protectively in front of Monroe as Charlie pulled her away , hiding behind Draven. Winston smiled almost devilishly at the evil angel , and it returned the smirk. Grayson stepped forward boldly. “Give her back , ” h e said firmly.
A growling sound bellowed from the evil angel , then t he sound turned into one deep command. “Come.”
Rage rose inside of Grayson as he stepped back , looking for Monroe to ensure himself that she was safe. Seeing his defiance , the angel moved his hand , pushing him to the side. The others were surrounding Monroe as if she w ere their most precious possession. The angel waved his hand , causing Charlie, the twins , and Madison to fall a way. Charlie screamed for Monroe.
Monroe had no fear. She stood and stared at the evil angel and slowly whispered , “Pater me temptatis , ” and with her words , a fierce wind blew through the room. The evil angel’s expression turned sad , and at that moment Brady, Olivia, and I thrust all the energy we had at him and watched him fade.