Vindicate (Insight #5)(69)

Charlie looked at him like he was insane but then followed Madison’s lead. Chills spread across their shoulders. Their tank tops were not near ly enough to protect them from the harsh wind that was blowing through the open walls.

Brady glanced to his side at Olivia. Without an argument, she let her hoo d ie fall to th e ground. I did the same. I didn’t want them charging me t hinking I was someone else.

I wanted a marker. Something to write with, and instantly it appeared in my hand. Across my wrist, I wrote the word ‘love,’ then handed it to Olivia for her to do the sa me. The y understood what I was doing. That for all I knew, Bianca would mock that tattoo in their images and I would make an irreversible mistake. I dared her to write this word on her skin. Britain had proven how deadly one four letter word could be just moments ago.

Olivia threw the marker at Madison, and once that sacred word was on their skin, Brady let me go. I dove onto the floor next to Landen. As I took his face in my hands, I nodded at Madison. “Go help Drake.”

Something was wrong. Landen had next to no aura at all. Even though t his was his image, more real than the illusions we’d seen, this wasn’t all of him. A sinking feeling gripped my soul. He was gone. I knew he was gone. This Realm had claimed him. Tears of livid grief glassed over my eyes.

Brady and Draven were already bringing Drake’s body to us. “Landen! Open your eyes! Open your eyes!” I yelled in my thoughts, getting no response. I let my lips rest against his, finding him cold. Unresponsive. My soul ached.

“Why can’t I wake him?!” I yelled in frustration. I didn’t want anyone to tell me what I already knew. I wanted a solution. I wanted to turn back the clock. Save him.

“Britain said they were here, but your victory was where yo ur existence began,” Draven offered in a humble tone . I felt his grief and knew that our victory had already been stolen.

“Britain?” Madison said as her eyes locked with mine .

“I didn’t hurt him. I keep my promises.” I seethed . It was a cold response, but it wasn’t directed at her. It was directed at the universe. Karma had no right to punish me this way. No right at all.

“So do I,” Madison said as her eyes fell back to Drake. With a glance I knew he was gone, too. Where Landen held a faint hint of energy, Drake had none at all.

My thoughts w ere racing in every direction. I knew that Perodine had told me I was born in the study she now spent all of her days in, but I didn’t understand wh y I needed to be in that room. Or i f it would even help us recover this epic tragedy. I was afraid it was a trap. That Bianc a wa nted me there. But then again I was ready for a fight. One way or another I was leaving this Realm with Landen.

“The observatory,” Olivia said, gripping my shoulder, trying to fight the intense cold that was making her shiver. “That’s where my dream was.”

I looked at each of them, finding a common agreement. I reached for Landen and Drake’s arm s , hoping against all hope that if I focused on that room that we would all be there.

“Create it,” Aden said, staring at me.

Instantly, the stone floor of the observatory appeared beneath us. I looked up to find the open ceiling, then to my side to see the pool of water. My power.

I scurried to my feet and scooped up handfuls of water and took it to Landen, letting it wash over his face. I nstan tly, he took a gasping breath. Charlie and Madison started to take water to Drake, getting the same response. The breath didn’t bring their energy back, though. Their souls were gone. I just knew they were. My rage was making the room rumble fiercely. It was my call to battle. Where was that evil wench ?!

As Olivia reached in the pool to help me , her hand froze. The entire pool froze. She screamed out in agony. I focused on a ray of sun, and through the open window t he ice around her hand melted. She pulled her purple, frozen hand out, taking deep, controlling breaths.

All at once, her image – my image – Charlie’s – Madison’s – they were multiplied across the room. Brady, Aden, and Draven had vanished, along with the bodies of Landen and Drake. The only sound was the echo of Bianca’s laugh.

I took in a deep breath as my eyes glared across the ro om. I focused on the emotions. To where the real Olivia, and Charlie were. Odd ly, I could not only feel them but I could still feel Aden, Brady and Draven. I was terrified that one of these images was them. That they were masked. I reg retted instantly not having the boys mark t hemselves with the world ‘love.’

“I f any of you are real – say the word. Whisper it ! Yell it, but you bet ter say something – otherwise I can’t promise that you will not be hurt!” I yelled into the room.

In the center of the frozen pool of water, an image of me began to mock Bianca’s laugh. “Now,” the image said, putting her hand on her hip, “you wouldn’t hurt little ol’ me, now would you?”

I raised my hand, and a bolt of lightning came from the ceiling, targeting the spot she was standing – she vanished before the strike could have any effect. My anger erupted around us. The wind blew fiercely, thunder crashed and lightning struck.

My eyes moved from image to image, watching them vanish, but with e ach one that I struck anothe r appeared then began to charge me. That’s when my anger reached a new height. When the wind became so strong that I could barely stand.

I focused on the pool that had over a hundred image s on it and thought of the sun. A blazing light came throu gh the ceiling. The ice began to weaken immediately.