Vindicate (Insight #5)(55)
I raised my eyes to her and locked my jaw, refusing to answer her. I knew when she tapped into this level of thought that there was no convincing her that she may be wrong . A t the very least, a little to o eager to find reason in the unexplainable.
Seeing that I was going to let her get it out of her system, she conti nued. “Look what you have done. I magine some little girl thousands of years from now hearing a story that was ever so slightly altered with time. Let’s start at the beginning,” she said, holding out one finger.
“A poor girl was given true love, and then she was tempted with fame and power . The girl chose love, knowi ng that love is above all fame. That it’s power.” She raised another finger.
“A girl strives to help all, to force others to change, and one day she fell into a soul that was not hers. A life that was not hers . A nd all the while, her soul was whispering to her – telling her who she was – to come home – that if one does not want to be saved, they cannot. The girl learned that by helping you see all sides of a story . That you are protected from all harm . That those who are ready to be helped will be, and those who are not should be given that right.” She raised another finger.
“A girl was asked to take the life of the man she loved . Promised that if she did so t hat her kingdom would be saved, but she chose her life. Not because she was selfish, but because she understood that all things are not what they seem . That there are no absolutes . That if you listen to your heart – follow your gut feeling, you find the answers that have yet to be written.” She raised her fourth finger .
“A girl is lost i n the worries of everyday life, consumed by all that does not matter . So, the heavens put her to sleep. I nto a dream world that allowed h er to fight the hardest battle. The battle with one’s own mind, and when she awoke, she could see clearly . Clearly enoug h to save all that needed her. She found acceptance with her weakness, powers that have always been within. She found salvation in her flaws by embracing them.” Olivia raised her thumb.
“Now, Willow, what will this story say? That a girl was robbed of the one she loved – and in retaliation, she committed murder ? She invoked war? Or could it say that she found strength in her broken heart ? That her eyes were opened once more to a wor ld that was always around her. That she looked out her window and realized that she was nothing more than a small piece of a very large puzzle, and that piece must exist for the world to feel complete. That somehow she not only saved the one she loved but found a way back to the innocence she once w as? This is your story, Willow. Your myth .” She paused as she looked carefully over every inch of my face. “ I want you to be the good guy… but I could want that all day, and it would not make a difference unless you wanted it for yourself.”
“Are you done?” I asked.
She crossed her arms and nodded once.
“The thi ng about myths is that they are myths. They take the highlights and le ave out what was truly endured. Thought s. Emotions. Things that can never be confessed because there are no words to describe them. I’m human . I feel deeply. I love and hate on a level that I cannot express in any painting.” I glanced around the room trying to find an escape from my best friends all knowing gaze. “I can’t tell you what story will come out of this . Because I don’t know . A ll I can tell you is that I will them back. Even if that means that I have to embrace the evil side of my soul . Because I’m selfish. I’m human.”
“You know, Willow, they never tell myths about perfect people; they tell myths about imperfect people who were the least likely to overcome a challenge before them. You are a Scorpio, the one sign that embraces revenge, even rage. If a Scorpio can over come the irony of forgiveness anyone can.”
I let a sardonic grin come to me. “We are going to have to agree to disagree. I don’t have time for the philosophy that you, August or even Madison has to give me. I have a Realm that I need to invade. Are you coming or not?”
“Death is calling,” she mumbled.
“I’m not going to kill you, and if you belie ve I am because of that dream don’t come. Don’t make me worry about that. I love you too much.”
“I don’t believe you are going to kill me. I believe you may try. I meant that the Realm is death. I’m ready when you are.”
Chapter Twelve
Olivia held out her arm and bowed her head in an attempt to overly mock that I was leading her. I let out a frustrated sigh as I walked past her. When I reached the threshold of the hallway, I heard music. I t was ele ctrifying . I felt my co nfidence build as I heard it. It was like a call to battle, and I was ready for battle.
I saw Madison and Charlie a few doors down from the room Landen was in, from where the music was coming from. Charlie’s arms were crossed as she listened to Madison. Without even noticing Charlie’s frustrated, guilty emotion, I knew they were fighting, at the very least disagreeing on something. I imagined it was the secrets Charlie had kept from Madison. I felt bad for Charlie. I could only imagine how hard it was for her to know that the one Madison dreamed of was r eal. How hard it was for her to know that if she didn’t say something soon that the other boy – Brit ain, would have won her heart. Their friendship reminded me of Olivia’s and mine. I could sense a deep bond, one that stated they had overcome too much tog ether to ever say goodbye. To ever really be mad at each other.