Vindicate (Insight #5)(64)

I swallowed tensely as I continued my stare at the ground before me. I wasn’t sure honoring and God in The Realm was a good idea, but I meant what I thought. I would speak for Draven. I would vow that he was not evil. He was simply existing. And if there were others like him I would speak for them, too.

With that thought, the angelic doves took silent flight, and stillness absorbed The Realm.

“What now?” Olivia asked with a trembling tone.

“Water,” Brady said, and with that word, a lake appeared next to us. “Feel powerful?” he asked me.

“Not as powerful as you, apparently,” I mumbled.

The sky grew darker, and with that darkness, tiny lights flashed around us. A t first I thought they were fireflies, but when I focused my eyes on them, I saw that th ey were butterflies. Glowing butterflies.

“Now they show up,” I said with a frustrated sigh, not knowing what to do now.

“They are a reflection of your power. A t least that is what they are for, Charlie,” Draven said as he hungrily gazed at the multiplying number of them.

In the lake, I could see the reflection of stars that were spinning. I looked up to see the sky turning faster than nature would allow. “What does that represent?” I asked in an unsteady voice.

“If I had to guess,” Draven said, looking at me, “a clock. How fast time was moving here.”

At that moment, the ground began to tremble all around us. Olivia reached for my hand. I grasped hers, unsure of what was coming at us. Brady and Draven circle d around us, their backs to us facing whatever may appear.

Then acro ss the water, I saw something. Horses. More than twenty; pulling a carria ge that was from another time. They glided across the water as if it were solid. The butterflies parted from their way as if a predator was in their presence.

They were charging right at us. When the horses reached us, they circled around where we stood. Once in place, they stomped their hooves and breathed out heavily. I think I was the last to s ee the driver of the carriage. I broke my stare with these majestic animals and followed the shocked emotions I felt from everyone.

Standing pro udly on the carriage was Drake in all of his decadence . His eyes were cold and dark. The light of the stars highlighted his perfect profile . I felt my heart race as he stepped down and slowly walked to us.

“Illusion,” I said under my breath.

Olivia squeezed my hand. I had no idea if that was to tell me yes or no. Her fear was no help either. She had never been completely comfortable in Drake’s presence.

I kne w it would not be this easy. That he would just walk up to me. I told myself he wasn’t real, and prepared for the worst.

This image of Drake held my stare an d walked ever so slowly to me. His eyes were thirsty. Filled with an alluring passion. Draven and Brady stood like soldiers before me. He ignored them as he stopped just in front of them.

“My Queen, your carriage awaits,” the image said, mocking Drake’s voice perfectly.

“Wrong girl,” I said firmly.

He tilted his head somewhat and smiled. I t was a perfect smile, one that I craved to see. “I would know you in any form. I bow to you.”

As he said those words, Draven erupted with rage and charged forward, knocking the uns uspecting image to the ground. Out of nowhere, a long silver sword appeared in Draven’s hand, and he held it against this image. The mome nt the blade reached his neck the image of Drake vanished and another young man appea red. His eyes were stee l blue. Hi s strong jawline was faultless . He had a solid built, like an at hlete. Brady held his arms out, telling me and Olivia to stay behind him.

“Good to see you, Draven,” the boy said.

“Britain,” Draven said through gritted teeth and an evil smirk.

“Now, how did you know so easily?” Britain said in a slightly amused tone.

“I bow to you. Seriously? You need a new line. Didn’t work on Charlie . Didn’t work on Madison. I t’s not going to work on her,” Draven said coldly.

“I beg to differ. Madison likes it when I bow at her feet,” Britain said cleverly .

“I have no idea why she has mercy for you,” Draven said, leaning the blade of the sword into Britain.

“The same reason Charlie has mercy for you . They like the bad boys,” Britain said as he chuckled. “What is it about you ? How have you managed to get so many of them to flock to you? You must share this allure you have.”

I saw Draven push harder, and I immediately wished it was a dull edge sword tha t could not cut into that boy. I di dn’t care how dangerous he was. I wasn’t going to let Draven commit murder in my defense. With that thought, the sword became a board. Even without a blade in his hand, Draven looked threatening . Dangerous enough that Britain didn’t try to fight.

“It’s right there,” Britain sai d, nodding at me. “Her energy. If you take from her it will be more than you could ever cra ve. So much that you could never hurt Charlie. You could live side —by --side with her without tho se nasty little reservations you have. Best of both worlds, brother.”

At that moment, images of Charlie and Draven appeared around us. Darkness was reaching out o f his body pulling every part of Charlie into him as she screamed in agony.

Draven pushed the board harder against Britain. “Get out of my head!” Draven yelled at him, and instantly the images wer e gone. “I am not your brother. I am not one of you!”