Vindicate (Insight #5)(58)

“Trust me, it was a first . I don’t even think that was my energy,” I mumbled as I watched others carry away the men on the stretchers.

“Not the healing,” Draven said to get my attention, “the memories. You used them as power. You pulled from them . The energy inside of you is endless.”

“I guess I did,” I said, furrowing my eyebrows at him and Aden, trying to understand how that was important, why he had mentioned how bright my energy was. It was like that was all he could see.

I glanced down at Charlie then back to Draven wondering if there was more to the Escort light thing that I did not understand . I knew Charlie was nervous about Draven being her e , but I thought it was because of the darkness. Could it be the light?

“That’s what we do,” Aden explained before I could ponder that point further. “Well, kind of. We walk t hrough memories to help others, but it was different for you because you sense emotions, you pulled from that energy. We only pull from words.”

“I don’t know what I did,” I said, trying not blush , or look as uncertain as I was.

My father walked over to me. As soon as his eyes met mine, they turned from hazel to green. “I’m proud of you, little one.” I went to speak, but he raised his finger. “But not nearly as proud as Landen will be of you.”

A smile came across my f ace as I imagined that moment. I heard Perodine tell everyone to step away from the walls and looked to her to see what she was doing.

She and Alamos were side by side, walk ing down the hall away from us. Speaking words I could not make out clearly. They joined hands, then stretched their other hand out toward the walls of the hallway. At that moment, a light blue wave of e nergy rippled along the walls , over every painting, reaching into every room. They were sealin g off this floor. Placing us under some kind of field of protection.

“And that’s why they call her the Great Witch,” Madison mumbled.

I smiled at the absurdity. “It’s not magic . It’s a focused thought. Her willpower is creating that. She has lived a lon g life. Lot of willpower,” I explained.

“Where I come from, they call that a Witch,” Madison said, raising one eyebrow. “I’m going to change, then I’ll be ready . A re you?”

I nodded once as I watched her and Charlie turn to walk down the hallway.

“Did you figure out how to see?” I asked Brady.

He tried to hold in a smile as he looked at Aden.

“What?” I asked them.

“He figured out he loved to play . That he hasn’t played nearly enough recently,” Aden said.

“You play the guitar?” I asked, looking up at Brady.

He blushed slightly. “Among other things.”

“You need to play more often, man . I t helps, believe me,” Aden said to Brady.

I hesitated, then let my guilty eyes fall to the floor. It always escaped m e what my family went through. The emotions they must feel when they face the darkness that haunts me. “Good advice, Brady,” I mumbled as I walked into the room Landen was in.

Immediately, my eyes moved to where Landen was laying. At th at moment, he looked peaceful. I swear I could almost see a smile on his face. I looked down at my hands and saw Madison’s blood all over me. I wanted to clean up before I touched him. There was a doorway to the left of the bed. I made my way there, feeling numb from everything that had happened to me.

Once the steaming water had washed away the stains on my hands and arms, I splashed water over my face, then stared into my reflection. It bothered me that ev eryone thought I was changing. That I was not as innocent as I was . I felt the same deep inside, but I also felt more m ature. More aware. I wasn’t stuck on one thought. I was angry, and in my opinion, I needed to be if I was going to win this. Fight fire with fire, is that not what they say? But if it’s been said before, then it cannot be the way to change. I needed to find my own way of thinking about this. I needed to find a way to feel mercy for those who tried to hurt me. I needed to learn to think before I acted.

I opened the door to the bathroom to find myself all alone with Landen and Drake. The others were lingering in the hallway. I walked to Landen’s side and gently leaned down and let my lips rest on his. “I healed but you know that. You were there. A nd now I’m coming for you, ” I thought.

I felt his lips move beneath mine and pulled away slightly. I heard him whisper, “Danger.”

“I know . I know, baby, but I have help. You’re both coming home to a new world.”

His body took in a deep breath. I waited for a protest for some sign that I s hould just let him fight this. Wait for him to wake. When one did not come, I kissed his lips once more, then walked around the b ed to Drake’s side. He was hot. His body was on fire, and sweat glistened of his perfect profile. The moment I let my hand rest on his face, he took in a deep, lasting breath.

“I have a surprise for you,” I whispered. “I’m bringing her to you.”

I smiled as I imagined the first time he would lay eyes on Madison. I was hungry to witness the look, the energy I would see between them. I had no doubt it would be beyond anything I’d ever witnessed.

Alamos came in the room at that moment, holding a silver basin. His eyes asked me to step away from the bed. I moved back toward the couches that had guitars lying across them. As I watched, Alamos circle d the floor around the bed with white powder that looked like salt. Draven, Aden, and Brady came in and lingered by my side.