Vindicate (Insight #5)(76)

At first nothing happened, then I saw a light , then another – then another. With e ach light, a shadow disappeared. Within minutes, they were all gone.

Brady turned to look at me. “What now?”

I glanced down as I tried to focus on the emotions I felt from Charlie and Draven. “Do you feel them?” I asked Landen.

He nodded to confirm, then reached for Brady’s arm as Drake reached for Olivia’s hand.

“Focus on that,” I said quietly as I closed my eyes.

When I opened them again I saw a forest all around us. A head just a few hundred yards, there was an opening. Shadows were surrounding the opening, but I could see a light gleaming from the center. I took off in a sprint , feeling Landen at my side.

When I reached the shadows, I pushed through them. I saw Silas and Draven fighting each other with weapons that would change from swords to daggers. Every imaginable dangerous tool. The ligh t was coming from butterflies. They were surrounding Charlie.

Charlie was screami ng their names, circling them. Dark shadows were pouring into Draven, and as they did, his rage grew, his thirst grew. Silas aimed a dagger at Draven’s heart as Charlie dove between them. Si las almost didn’t stop in time. The blad e cut into her back – not deep, but deep enough to draw blood.

Draven’s eyes, full of thirst, locked with Charlie’s. She was crying. I had no idea what she was saying to him but it didn’t seem to be helping. At. All.

I felt Draven fighting the darkness t hat he had absorbed inside of him, but he wasn’t strong enough. The rage he had for Silas was fueling that weakness , and he was losing control. He was submitting to his desires. Becoming what he feared most, the darkness inside of him reached out and began to take Charlie’s light into him. The butterflies started to f ade. Disappearing almost instantly into his chest. Charlie ’s knees began to buckle, but Draven held her against him. The look in h is eyes did not belong to him. I t was near demonic.

I knew I had to give him energy. Light. I had to . I f I didn’t, he would take all of Ch arlie’s. He would kill her. Landen squeezed my hand when he felt my intent, and with one thought I was at Draven’s side and Landen was at his o ther. We touched his shoulders. Held the intent to help him. To pull this darkness from him. To give him what he needed to stay the man I knew he was.

The pull he had on Charlie stopped instantly , and her light was returned to her. Butterflies were glowing even more brightly as they flew from his chest. Silas pulled her away, but as he did, Drake charged him to the ground.

“Breathe,” I said in the sweetest voice I had to Draven. “You’re pure. You’re beautiful. You love this girl. You love her more than the thirst for power.”

With my words, Landen and I focused on him. Draven’s skin began to glow as our energy poured into him. As he took in a deep breath of euphoria calm a bsorbed every part of his being . His soul returned to his eyes.

Charlie’s tears stopped. “Draven,” she said as she reached for his face.

His gaze was wide, but he found a way to focus on her to pull her to his lips.

It was a beautiful moment, but it wasn’t one I could give all of my attention to. In front of us, Drake and Si las were in a fearless battle. Not with weapons, but with energy. They were thrustin g each other from side to side. I felt Brady’s intent to stand between them, but Landen and I both knew that would be near fatal.

Landen’s energy reached out for Silas, raising him, then letting him fall. Silas caught himself, but not bef ore Drake landed on top of him holding him down.

Charlie became aware of what was happening and ran to Silas. With all of her strength, she tried to pull Drake off him. “Stop! Don’t hurt him! I saved you! I brought Willow here!” Charlie screamed.

“And he tried to kill her!” Drake said as his eyes glared down at Silas.

“Drake , ” I said calmly as I walked toward to him. Charl ie’s frantic eyes peered into mine . I felt her emotion begging me for mercy. For understanding. The thing was that I did understand. I had stood between two m en more times than I cared to. I knew exactly how she felt.

Drake froze at the sound of my voice. “I have no doubt that if you spare him, he will leave. He will not hurt anyone,” I said steadily , moving my eyes from Charlie to Silas.

Drake glared down at Silas. “Is that true?”

Silas looked behind Drake at Draven. “If you have him under control, I will not hurt him.”

Charlie’s guilt was immediate. For the first time, she fel t the betrayed stare of Draven. She realized he was watching her plea for the life of man that a moment ago was willing to take his.

“They do. They do !” Charlie yelled. “Let him go. It’s over. Everything is over.”

“Drake,” Landen said as Brady and Olivia came to his side, blocking Draven’s view on purpose.

Drake stood and looked down at Silas as he climbed to his feet. When they were face to face, Drake stepped forward. “Think twice before you call someone ‘poison’ again.”

Silas threw some nasty comment back at him but I couldn’t hear it. I was distracted. The shadows that were surrounding us began to shift uneasily . Troubled. One by one they began to vanish. As if a predator was silently approaching.

“We got to get out of here.” I thought.

Landen looked over his shoulder at Draven. “Now would be the time to console her,” he said quietly. Draven didn’t move; he couldn ’t. His emotion of betrayal and guilt was paralyzing him.