Vindicate (Insight #5)(63)

My words stunned him. His eyes moved slowly across my face before he spoke. “I admire the fight he has in him. I admire that he , at one time , turned from his nature . His breed of darkness, b ut I will not let him hurt her. All I did was tell her that. Him that. Drave n and I have an understanding. We both know what he is capable of.”

“Do you both understand that who Charlie chooses to give he r energy to is her own choice? That she will despise the both of you if you hurt each other?”

“Despise. That is a strong word. One you may want t o rethink before you face this Realm.”

“Where are they?” I said coldly, knowing that he may very well be right . That I would forgive both Drake and Landen for any harm they did to the other . It would take time. Maybe thousands of years, but I would forgive them because I loved them.

Silas leaned down. “I can’t tell you that. You have to feel your way to them.”

“Where did you see them fight?”

“Everywhere is here. So right here.”

Oh, that helped. Thanks buddy. “Why are you here?”

“I’m assuri ng Draven that Charlie is safe from him. From everyone.”

“Why would she not be?” I was daring him to tell me about this energy that was made out of light thing. Because as soon as he did , I was going to argue that Draven was at my side, and he was not pulling anything from me. Meaning, Silas was holding on to a thin excuse to defend Charlie.

He slanted his head faintly . “You really don’t know your entire story, do you?”

I r aised my eyebrows, implying that he needed to enlighten me.

“You are empowered with light . Landen’s beaming light. I t is so bright, so entrancing that al l darkness is attracted to it. They want the pow er that is in your possession. They’re addicted to it. The essence of it. They need it to maintain their existence. They strive to con trol it all. Charlie is a light, so is Madison. You may be here for revenge on Bianca, but every Escort – every aware dark ness senses that you are here. They have a thirst for all that you are. One they cannot control.”

“Is that why she took them? She wants their power?”

He nodded once. “I can only assume she too k Drake for status in reality. For the fact that bil lions would bow at his command and give their energy to him. She to ok Landen because he is light. One of the strongest, bri ghtest lights I have ever seen…” he said as his eyes looked all around me.

“Drake is not dark. He will not command his kingdom into submission.”

“You,” he said as his hand reached to c up my face, “are his strength. You are the one causing him to fight his nature. Without you his core nature will rise.”

“He has me,” I said, pulling away from the hold he had on my face.

“Not completely.”

“Are you calling him an Escort? Are you placing him at Draven’s side in your mind?”

“Perhaps. I n this life, he is on the edge. The moment he concedes that you will never give yourself to him completely is the moment he falls into his nature.”

“It’s not me he is meant to love. He will never fall into any nature you assume he has.”

He smirked. “I fear for you. For your people. Donalt is seeking a new host. Without light , the only way Drake can fight him is by becoming an Escort himself.”

“How is it t hat you know so much about me? My battles?”

He glanced away as he carefully chose his words. “I’ve been around a long time.”

I may not have remembered him in a past life, but he clearly remembered me. Something told me that he blamed me for a hardship in his past or current life. I fought the urge to ask wh at I could have done to him, and I let it be. “I’ll worry about what Drake may o r may not become another time. Right now I need him to wake up. I need Landen to wake up.”

He nodded once as if to agree. “Be cautious . You may walk with darkness at your side,” he said as he glanced over my shoulder, then back at me, “but you are still very attr active in the eyes of Escorts. Tread carefully. Quickly.”

And with that statement, he vanished.

I closed my eyes and let the wall of energy behind me fall.

“Not off to a good start, are we?” Olivia said shortly.

“What did Silas have to say?” Draven asked hoarsely.

I stared at him. At his audacious innocents that was wrapped with a dark edge . I was going to protect him. He needed my voice. My word that he was pure. And I was going to give it to him. “He knows where I stand when it comes to you.”

Draven looked down, and I felt his humble gratitude for me.

All at once thousands upon thousands of shimmering white doves descended all around us. They were silent, beautiful. They took my breath away.

Brady’s shock and wea ry emotion caused me to stare at him in utter confusion. “What? What are you thinking?”

He swallowed nervously. “My thoughts didn’t bring this.” Brady’s tone was near ghostly.

“How are doves bad?” my voice trembled as I gawked at the ground. The doves were all facing me. There was a profound innocents in their dark eyes.

“There not.” Brady confirmed. “Ma n y cultures state that they represent a declaration of peace. A prophecy of a coming peace.” He glanced down. “As a traveler I can confirm that in numerous cultures this display represents a bow from a God. You have been recognized. Something you said or thought has manifested this glory.”