Vindicate (Insight #5)(37)

I doubted that we were the cause of him leaving. I doubted that because I felt the confidence that Grayson and Winston had for their baby sister.

Brady locked eyes with Ashten , then he looked at Austin. Travelers have a unique ability, one that I ’ve rarely used ; it ’s one that allows them to understand every language …I understood what she said. I understood it as clear as the words I’m thinking now . She said , “Father , tempt me not , ” in a dead langu ag e Infante calls Latin.

In the numbing absence of adrenaline , Grayson pulled his sister to him and rocked her from side to side. Draven pulled himself up , then helped Charlie up as Madison and Aden made it to their feet. I felt their fear, but not of this place or that demon ; they were afraid for Monroe, her brothers , the ones that they were meant to help.

“I told you I didn’t want to bring our demons to your doorstep , ” Charlie said in an attempt to apologize to me.

“And I told you they were already here , ” I said bleakly . Father tempt me not. Now that was deep. He had kids. How could that evil have kids? Kids this pure.

I looked down at Monroe, to her brothers. “We’ll talk about this when you’re ready. We ’re more than willing to help you and your family , ” I said , knowing that Alamos would have a field day with the idea that Donalt, or that ghost, could have fathered children in a different dimension within the last twenty years. This was crazy. And not in a good way.

“You don’t want to help us,” Grayson said solemnly. “You want to destroy him , and that’s fine with me.”

Winston shook his head from side to side , clearly disagreeing with his brother. The others , with the exception of Monroe , were filled with fear, as they seemed to grasp pieces of something they were trying to understand together.

“I don’t want to destroy him. I just want him out of my dimension. Out of all of them , ” I said serenely . I really felt sorry for this boy. No one should be forced to feel that much disdain for their father. It just wasn’t fair. Not when I knew how much kids needed a father figure. Mine had been a constant source of comfort in my life.

I walked over to Charlie and let my hand rest on her shoulder , filling her with peace. I reached for Aden and Draven next , then I walked to Madison . I had no way to know what emotion was soaring through her , but I knew giving her calm wouldn ’t hurt ; in fact , it may lead her to trust me.

I glanced at the others , feeling their gratitude and awe of the power I’d displayed. “They ’ll find rooms for you. Hopefully , you won’t need them long. When you’re ready to help me , I’ll be with Landen.”

I looked down and walked to the doorway that led to the hallway. Olivia and Brady were at my side.

“You still have that iPod?” I asked Olivia.

She reached in her pocket and handed it to me. I slid it in my pocket and took in a deep breath , preparing myself to see Landen’s body . My brief absence had allowed me to fall into the illu sion that it was me and not him that was lost.

“Willow, you did understand what that little girl said – right ?” Brady asked .

I nodded.

“What did we just bring here?” he asked , fearing the choices we ’d made.

“They need us, we need them . For all we k now , having them here will make the ghost of Donalt weaker. He didn’t even bother to look at us.” That or give me another reason to destroy him. Talk about worst father of the year award.

“What are you saying? That you ’re using them as a distraction?” Brady asked , not believing I would do something that desperate.

“No,” I said firmly. “I’m saying there may be a way to redeem everyone here, even the demons. I saw the way he looked at that little girl. I’ve seen that look in Alamos ’ eyes when he looks at me . I f she is his child , he loves her just as much as he fears her , and that may be what we need to banish the darkness from the energy of that evil angel.”

And no, Brady, I’m not a cold hearted, vindictive girl who would sacrifice souls for my soul mate. We would just die and move on. Simple as that. If he heard the thoughts in my head it would do nothing but cause him to trust me less. But those were the cold hard facts. No one was dying for us. When the clock runs out. It runs out. Vengeance will be ours at some point. Maybe not this life. But it would be ours.

“Willow,” Brady said calmly , “w hat if it makes it harder for you to destroy him ? What if she’s a weakness to you?”

I glanced up at him. His blue eyes were serious. He wanted to ensure that Donalt’s death warrant was still in play. And it was. For now.

“I think i t’s obvious I can’t destroy him. Not alone. Not without Landen and Drake , ” I said , reflecting on the fact that I sent everything I had at the demon , and I barely made him notice me. I moved my head from side to side , trying to hold on to the idea that there was a reason for everything, that everyone was in my life for a reason, and to trust that idea. “If she ’s a weakness , then so is Preston, Libby….and Allie. She f eels like them – peaceful, calm. Preston would have stopped us from bringing her here if that was the case , ” I finally concluded.

I felt a longing in Brady as I said his daughter ’s name , and it made me feel so guilty. “I promise I won’t do anything foolish if you want to go home and see her , ” I said quietly.