Vindicate (Insight #5)(56)

I noticed something else. There was a large painting a few feet from them. I thought I saw it move and focused my eyes on it and walked faster – almost ran to where they were. Just as I did that, the painting fell forward and two men pushed through. Before Charlie or Madison could react, one of the men had came up behind Madison. With one arm he held her mouth closed, and with the other he held a knife to her rib cage. The other man was holding Charlie’s mouth closed, muffling her screams as he held her against the wall.

Charlie kneed him in the groin, then screamed, “Show yourself!” On demand, shadows from every corner rose and mocked the images of the men – all chanting Charlie’s name. The man grabbed her shoulders once more and threw Charlie against the wall and yelled, “Call your demons off!”

With one thought, my energy soared down the hall. I focused on the one that was holding Mad ison. I was too careless . When he was knocked away, the blade of his knife sliced through her side and she screamed in agony.

I looked at the man holding Charlie, and with a thought he was pulled away from her and pinned against the wall. I reached my hand out, sending energy to hold down the one that hurt Madison.

Olivia ran to Madison, who had pulled herself into a fetal position as blood pooled on the floor around her. Ch arlie was saying random words. Not English. They almost sound demonic, but the shadows were responding; they were fading into the light with her words, then all at once a blinding light filled the hall, taking whatever ghost s Charlie had called away.

I sauntered over to the man that had cut Madison. With my e nergy, I picked him up and slammed him against the wall next to the other . With that force, the wall trembled and the music a few doors down stopped abruptly .

I was full of rage. I knew without a doubt that blade was meant for me . That these bastard s were sent to kill me. “Wrong. Girl!” I seethed through gritted teeth. My energy was suffocating them, and I could see the fear in their eyes. It brought pure, dark, joy to my soul.

“Who are you?! Who sent you?! Who co ndemned you to death?!” I bellowed .

I felt Draven, Ade n, Brady, and my father rush into the hall, but I ignored them.

“Answer me!” I demanded as I my energy thrashed out at them once more .

“We do not address evil,” said the man that hurt Madison.

“I’ll show you evil,” I said as I pushed harder with my energy. I could swear I could hear their bones cracking, and I wasn’t sorry. Not . A t . A ll.

I felt strong arms come around me, holding me back. “Breathe,” Brady whis pered. “You are not this girl. You do not kill.”

I tried to push him back. To gain my focus again on the men, but I couldn’t. “Willow . I f Landen were standing here, would he let you kill them?”

I turned in his arms abruptly hearing the bodies of the men behind me fall to the floor. “If someone had just tried to kill me, he would not be calm,” I argued, looking into Brady’s peaceful eyes.

He glared. “He would n ot kill. He would ask why. He would try to understand where they came from.” Brady argued.

“Well, maybe I’m channeling Drake . Maybe I see why execution is neede d if you rule a kingdom,” I mocked with heavy sarcasm.

“That’s B.S., and you know it. Drake would never kill without reason.”

“I had reason!”

“Do you?! How do you know they are not brainwashed? How do you know that these people are not already victims? You’re not asking why. Drake would ask why! Landen would ask why!”

“I’m Willow! I did ask why, and that piece of crap called me evil!”

“Are you?!” he said, losing his calm. “Who is my brother coming home to? Is it the innocent girl he found by a river crying ? One that only wanted ever yone to feel the good emotions? Or has she become someone else ? Someone that she doesn’t even recognize?!”

I swallowed hard, feeling the truth in his words. “I wo uldn’t have killed them,” I muttered under my breath. I vigorously twirled my ring as I listened for a raging storm. There wasn’t one. Those men took the blunt of my wrath.

Brady pulled me against him and rocked me from side to side. “Until you understand how strong you are you going to have to be careful. You are going to have to find control.” He looked down, then pulled my chin up so I would have to look into hi s eyes. “I know you’re in there. I know that innocent soul who wants peace is in there . Don’t lose her . Swear .”

“Promise,” I said as I swallowed the tears that were encasing my throat.

I stepped back from Brady. Draven was holding Ch arlie back from Madison’s side and it was taking everything he had to do that. Aden was on the floor next to Madison, and my father was at her side.

Men were filling the hall, ones I knew from Chara, ones I was sure Stella had sent here. My father was telling them what he needed. Olivia had pushed through the crowd . She had the intent to find Alamos. Perodine.

“How bad is it?” I asked my dad as I fell to my knees by Madison. Sweat was pouring off her. My father had ripped her shirt back and was holding her wound closed with his hands. It was at least four inches long and ra n across the base of her ribs. I hated to think of how deep it was . How painful it was.

“Bad,” my father said without looking up at me. I felt his fear for her. “The blade punctured her lung. She needs surgery.”