Vindicate (Insight #5)(5)

“No . Tell me what you know first , ” I said firmly.

Alamos and August came in behind them , both pushing water basins. I assumed it was the water from the observatory. Alamos took his to Drake’s side , and August took his to Landen’s. I watched as the y dipped their fingertips into the water , then traced the brow, nose , and lips of both Landen and Drake.

They both took in a breath . One that was deep and powerful. All at once they balled their hands into a fist as if they had found a new source of energy to fight whatever they were facing.

Once Ashten had se t the table beside the couches , he walked slowly to edge of the bed. He hadn’t said a word the en tire time Landen had been gone. He didn’t scream in agony. He didn’t argue or de mand that we all hide in Chara. Not one wor d. His grief had silenced him. His grief was echoing in my soul. As I felt that emotion start to take control , I looked back to Brady’s waiting eyes and found an undeserved calm.

Perodine stood at end of the couches as Alamos an d August came to her side. “Now. I need each of you to tell us what happened. What you saw . Heard . What was said to them .”

I held Brady’s stare , too afraid to remember. I not only needed his calm , but I needed his voice.





Chapter Two


Brady held my stare as I felt his emotions roam through those few moments. The catastrophic moments that forevermore changed our life.

“I knew something was wrong before we eve n stepped one foot in that room.” Brady began. “I could feel the evil in the a ir. The anger on Willow’s face, Landen’s , told me I was right , ” Brady bit out in a forced calm tone.

“What did you see?” Perodine asked calmly.

Brady held my stare and edge d closer to me in his seat , prepared to grasp my hands if I lost control. “A girl.”

“A demon , ” I corrected.

The room grew tense as they prepared for some kind of reaction in the weather outside , but one did not come. I t did not come because I was determined to prove them wrong. I was not weak. I would not fail.

“Tell me about the girl , ” Perodine said calmly .

I looked to my side at my dad. “It was her. The one that was with Dane. I should have killed her then.”

My father looked down at his folded hands. I felt his regret , too. He felt guilty for not seeing more into that moment that had happened just a few days ago.

“Dane?” August questioned.

I nodded. “A seductive whore. I found her in an alley with him a few days ago. She was the one in his head. Controlling him.”

“Are we sure that w as even Dane?” Rose asked bleakly as she pulled me closer to her. I just turned my head from side to side.

Ashten didn’t say a word ; he left the roo m with the intent to find Dane. He was going to Infante. I wanted to ask how he knew Dane was there , but it was taking everything I had to hold one thought in front of the other.

“Willow…” Perodine said as she sat down on the table in front of me. Brady moved slightly to the side , assuring himself that he could still see my eyes. “Did you feel her?”

My eyes grew docile as I tried to find th e words to explain what I felt. How I felt it. I didn’t feel that girl whe n she was with Dane that night, so I ha d no idea what I was feeling. How I felt the one emotion I would die to forget.

“Not before . Maybe not even then, but I felt the seduction. The lust.”

Perodine’s eyes moved to Alamos as dread came to her. Brady captured my stare. “She had Drake under some kind of spell. His back was to the wall , and she was wrapped around him. His eyes were barely open. Only open enough for me to see that he was gone. Lost inside himself , ” Brady said steadily .

“Broken h eart,” I mumbled , staring at him.

He nodded , then answered the questioning eyes of the room. “She has a birthmark on the back of her neck . I t mocks a broken heart . Her eyes were blue . A color that could easily mock innocents , but they were full of deceit at that moment.”

“What did you say to her?” August asked , looking between me and Brady.

“Willow told her to step back. The girl closed Drake’s eyes as he fell to the floor , then she focused on Landen. I t was like me and Willow weren ’t there.”

“What did Landen do?” August pressed .

I shook my head. “Nothing. There wasn’t time. We threw our wall of energy between her and us. She blew a kiss at him.” I shuttered . “Then he fell.” I held my breath after those last words; trying everything in my power to find control as the haunting memories of the strong man I loved falling to the ground troubled my mind . I felt an ache in my core as I thrust those emotions down. Outwardly no one could tell I was falling apart. Well, maybe Rose could, but she was letting me do what I had to do with the emotions that were now my enemy.

“How did you make her leave? How did you get their bodies away?” Perodine questioned .

Brady’s jaw tightened. “We didn’t , ” he said firmly. “Someone else did.”

“Who ?” Perodine said , mystified.

Brady furrowed his brow. “I don’t know who was playing the music, but it was clear that it was poison to that girl.”

“Music , ” Alamos muttered as his worried eyes caught Perodine’s .

“Loud guitars . Drums. The music was powerful , commanding , ” Brady said. “Nothing like what has ev er been heard in this dimension. I t was something you would hear in Infante.”