Vindicate (Insight #5)(61)

I could see the stunning white glow around Landen, t he one that connected me to him. A glow around Drake that seemed to be hig hlighted in ash. The different colors around the others . Ones that told me they were all on different levels of awareness. The violent around Madi son and Olivia made me nervous. I knew they had both, in some way, dreamed of the path before us.

“Now pull it to you,” Alamos said. “Imagine it is a sphere right here, one that I can hold.”

I did as he said, and almost instantly I saw all of o ur energy moving to one place. I t was hard for me to tell if it was my imagination or not. I focused anyway.

Perodine tur ned from the altar and nodded. On cue Brady, Olivia and Draven came to my side. Aden and Charlie went to Madison’s.

“See,” Perodine said Draven.

I looked up at him and watched his eyes turn from green to black as he stared at Landen’s body. Then green when he moved to Drake’s – turning black once more.

Alamos stepped back to Perodine’s side, holding the energy I had envisioned. He and Perodine began to mumble words in a dark whisper. I was so focused on the display; I barely caught all the words that were to o complicated for me to repeat. What I did hear, understand was “sun, moon, mother of all.”

“Clear your mind, child,” Alamos said as their chant ended.

I did as he said and prepared to move my soul at any given second.

Perodine tipped the bowl of blood as Alamos let th e energy I had given him fall. The blood was captured by the energy and swirled in a ball of li ght that reflected every color. Then it fell to the floor. As it reached the powder that I was sure was salt around the bed, the energy from all of us reached out. Landen and Drake’s reached for us. Fire erupted from that circle. Before I could panic, it turned blue – as if it were a wall of water before us – and on that water a vision – a world opened up for me.

I could see two places . One looked like an old town, like , medieval old; that one was in front of Madison. Before me was a field. Wide-open spaces, the sky was dark. A storm was threatening.

I felt Draven and Brady take my hand s. Olivia’s small hands on my waist.

I took in a deep breath then I moved my soul into this unknown, unpredictable realm.





Chapter Thirteen


I’ve felt pain before. Pain on every level, but I had never felt pain like this. The pull of energy that took me into this vision felt as if it had ripped my so ul in two. Gasping for breath I fell to my knees on the damp, long blades of orange grass. Thunder exploded above, vibrating my soul, and lighting struck the ground around me. I had to get control of my emotions or we were going to die before we ever began this war.

I felt strong arms around me, pulling me up. I felt Draven. His skin had a hum, a calming vibration to it. I breathed that in to my core. Demanded my caged emotions to stop rattling their prison. Draven pulled my limp body to him, then reached for my chin, forcing me to look at him. His eyes were inches from mine. “Focus!” he yelled over the growling thunder. I felt his warm breath. Heard the hypnotic rhythm of his voice, and took in a deep, lasting breath. The atmosphere settled with my calming emotions.

“Why did it hurt?” I asked breathlessly.

“Because she wanted it to hurt . Because right now you are letting her control you . Take control. You’re not in pain. You’re angry. You’re determined. You’re a fearless, calm warrior.”

“Damn right.” I said as my breath became even. That made him smile. I knew one thing. Charlie was one lucky girl. Draven was a gift. A weapon. And I was grateful to call him my friend.

His rhythmic voice echoed in my mind, and I held on to each wor d as if they were my thoughts. My decla ration. The pain was a distant memory now. I pushed away from him, looking for Brady and Olivia, wanting to lead them t hrough what I just conquered.

They were right at my side. Painless and calm.

“You alright?” I asked reaching for Brady .

He nodded. “I guess she didn’t see us coming,” he said with a smirk.

I looked all a round me. Everything was so real. I felt a warm breeze with a hint of chill that the distant storm was promising to bring. I could see black birds flying in perfect formation in the distance.

“What now? Where are the others?” I asked, not seeing any direction in front of me.

I felt rage. A deep jealousy ris e in Draven and looked up to find him staring in the distance. I followed his sta re, and in the field I saw a boy. He was tall, stro ng. His eyes glowed like honey, and they were staring coldly at Draven, shimmering in the ominous dusk that was emerging.

“Charlie is that way,” Draven mumbled.

“How do you know?” I asked, unable to take my eyes off this stranger. It was so – odd. I felt a deep peace inside of him . A determination. One that mirrored Landen, but at the same time I felt the jealousy and rage that Draven was feeling. It didn’t make sense. This guy seemed too angelic to have those emotions.

“That’s Silas. He’s telling me to keep my distance, or he will do that for me,” Draven said as the painful agony of love rose in him. I knew Draven didn’t understand. He didn’t understand wh y his nature was turning him in to someone that could hurt the girl he was madly in love with. He didn’t want to be dark. He was fighting to be pure, and this guy was a reminder - an insult that was telling him he was not good enough for Charlie.