Vindicate (Insight #5)(57)

I locked eyes with Madison. I saw the reflection of fear. The fading grasp of consciousness. I felt guilt; this was meant for me. If I had been more careful, I could have prevented this. I sho uld have focused on the knife. I should have thought before I acted. I put my hands on her face and closed my eyes. I knew if I was going to think of any emotion that would help her that I had to block out what I’d done . The result of it. The heavy aroma of blood was making me dizzy.

I took in deep breaths and called Landen to my memory. I blocked out the sound . The emotions full of fear and intensity, and found silence. In my thoughts, I stared into his blues eyes, ones that were always calm, even in the heat of adversity, the ones that embraced the insights given to him with awe and respect.

In my thoughts, I watched him heal. I replayed the lesson Pelhan had given him . The Roses. The thorns. The exp lanation that in order to heal you must want to giv e all that you are to another. You must have no regard for your own well being . Your intent – your energy must be pure. I watched the blood drip from the thorns in my memory. I watched him heal Drake, the wound on his neck , and the one in his side. I watched him heal me. I watched him save my life.

I felt a hum in my soul. I heard hi m say my name. I heard him tell me that I could do this. That he believed in me. His voice – his eyes t ook me away from that moment. They took me deep inside of myself. I barely noticed my father reach for my hands. Even when I felt Madison’s warm blood beneath my skin, I didn’t move from that thought. That peace, that for giveness that Landen always had.

Then all at once, the blue eyes I was staring into grew serious and the lips I ached to kiss said, “Heal.” A force of energy jolted my eyes open. My father’s hands were on mine, holding the wound that was becoming s maller with each second.

I set my intent to heal her, to take it all away. In that moment, my hands began to glow . The ring on my finger began to spin, her skin began to glow, and I could see my energy, who I was, seep into her skin, into her soul. The wound vanished. I had healed and had no idea how I did it.

I raised my hands and stared at them as fast, deep breaths escaped me. I had never once been this taken by an insight. The insight to emotion was just as painful as it was blissful . Truth and intent were the same. Moving your energy was some thing done in defense. Having Mother Nature reflect your emotions in the atmosphere was more dangerous than b eneficial. But healing…healing was on another level. I t was a level that could bring no harm. A level that was mind numbing. Every single part of me – ever y cell in my body was on fire. I felt immortal. I felt as if there was nothing I could not do.

Landen had made it seem so simple, effortless, something that gave no reward, only drained energy, but I wasn’t drained; I had more energy now than any memory of La nden could give me. I felt him. I felt him inside of me.

The tension in the hall washed away, and serenity took over, complementing the silence. No one kne w what to say. Madison rose slowly, holding the place on her stomach that had been healed. She looked up at me – she didn’t have to say th ank you. I saw it in her eyes. I swear I could feel the gratitude from her. She reached her arms around me and swayed back and forth, taking in the moment; we were bonded. We were not two girls trying to understand the other. I t didn’t matter that the opinions and views we had may differ . That what I wanted and what she wanted were not the same. I knew in the moment I healed her that she understood me. She felt the power of what any one soul could become.

“I felt everything,” she whispered. I pulled away slightly and looked into her emerald green eyes that were fightin g back tears. “I felt your soul. I felt your h eart. Your passion.”

“And yet you still seem happy,” I said, trying to hold on to the fearless person I needed to be. That I had to be.

“I see Drake ,” she said in a voice I could only hear. “I see him the way you do.”

I moved my head from side to side as shock came over me. I never understood this energy thing. This emotion thing. I knew in theory that my energy was now combined with Landen and Drake’s, that we were bonded. I didn’t care that a little piec e of that was given to Madison. That it healed he r. I did care that she saw either of them the way I did because the way I felt a bout both of them was private. The emotions between the three of us were ours to bear and no one else’s.

“Forget that. See him through your eyes.”

“I can’t.”

Those two words, that selfless look in her eyes, told me that she was holding on to my energy so she could save them. That before this moment she’d felt guilty for being here, for leaving others, Britain, behind. But now, after seeing life through my eyes she felt vindicated. She knew she could fight to save them without regret because she was in my debt.

Before I could argue with her, Charlie had broken free from Draven’s arms and was squeezing Madison for dear life.

Brady held his hand out to help me up. As I stood, he pulled me to his chest and held me as tightly as he could. My father had crawled across the floor and was giving aid to the men I’d hurt. Others had brought stretchers and were moving them onto them. Just as they were moved away, Perodine and Alamos came running down the hall.

Aden and Draven were whispering to each other as they stared at me.

“Something you want to share with the class?” I asked as I pulled away from Brady.

Draven smiled sardonical ly as his eyes grew sad. “Your energy . I t’s so bright. A beautiful power.”