Witness: See Series (Volume 1)(91)
When we got to his studio, Madison was sitting on the brown leather couch with her sketch book in her lap – her hand moving at the speed of light across the page. It took her a second to realize that we were there.
“You OK?” I asked.
Her head jolted up. “Yeah, sorry – is everybody leaving?”
“No, they’re coming up here. The guys are gonna play some more.”
“I have Aden’s favorite sticks in your car. I’ll go get them,” she said as she laid her sketch book down and got up to leave.
I looked over her as she walked by…she wasn’t there; her thoughts had stolen her away from the moment.
As Draven started setting up basic equipment, I went to the couch to push it back and make more room for the chairs. I glanced at the sketch Madison was working on. It almost perfectly captured the moment I first saw Draven in that world: the snake, the ball of purple fire, and six of us in a circle. I was sure by the time she was done with it that it would be an exact image. It took all I had not to tear it up; I wanted to forget that moment, not let it be captured by any art.
Instead, I picked up the pad, wanting to have another image on top. When I saw the sketch behind the one she was working on, my heart stopped.
“Draven,” I said breathlessly.
He was at my side in an instant, and we both stared at the image she had created. It was of that young King, the one I saw with Preston – Preston’s brother. The dark eyes she’d been sketching now had a face - a face I’d seen in the world of the living damned. Fear for my best friend soared through me...why was this guy in her dreams? How are our worlds going to collide? Is she ready for this? For him? What does that mean for what’s beginning between her and Britain? Is this guy good or bad? The questions in my mind were endless, causing my heart to race out of control.
“That’s the same guy, right? Is it?” I asked Draven.
Draven pulled me against him and looked down at me. “Looks like our worlds are going to collide sooner than we expected.”
“Should we tell her?” I whispered.
His eyes fell deeper into mine. “She knows,” he whispered. “I saw the fear in her eyes when you were in Chara…I saw that little boy distract her so you could go to Esterious without her…her fate is calling….no matter what, we’ll be there to protect her – I promise.”
I stared into the alluring color of green in his eyes and felt my anxieties fade. I knew that I’d be able to help Madison, that none of us would let anyone or anything hurt her.
“I don’t care what world we’re in – as long as we’re together,” I whispered.
He smiled tenderly as he leaned down and let his lips touch mine. “Love you,” he whispered as his lips moved against mine.
Acknowledgement
I’m still eternally grateful for every soul that encouraged me to write/publish my debut novel Insight....thank you once again.
I also want to thank my husband, Lem, for listening to my random thoughts and ideas as each of these stories came to life, he is not only the love of my life, but the man who keeps me sane on this insane adventure. I want to thank my children who inspire me to become more than I am today with a simple glance, and the echo of laughter and joy that surrounds me constantly.
Cynthia Garcia has been a constant source of encouragement, with a detailed eye that helped shape the final drafts, and for being a fantastic writing ally. One of the greatest gifts of writing was that it led to our friendship!
Music is the back bone to this story, though I have never played a single instrument in my life I was able to give that gift to Charlie and Draven with the knowledge of John Reaves, I doubt I barely grazed the passion this musician has for this mesmerizing field, but I know every callous, chord, string, and amp was carefully brought to life in my imagination by John and his band Bradbury.
In this novel you read the lyrics: ‘I know that time will only make me question everything
My mind is a battlefield
where the winner is my enemy…
So in my disposition I find myself missing the person I wish to be
But as long as there's hope left in this hole that's in my chest
I will continue to bleed’
Those lyrics belong to Bradbury, and were written by John Reaves - and I am very grateful that he loaned them to Draven!
I want to thank Jan Galloway for being a fantastic friend, and for being the first Beta, for her valuable input and edits, your blunt humor pushes me to become more than I am today! I adore each insight you give me.
Marek Purzycki has got to be the most patient, talented graphic artist I have ever met, thank you for giving my series a face, and for not throwing in the towel when I asked you to change little details a thousand times.
I love my betas! Christy Alley, Jennifer Helmerick, and Samantha McGarth you guys ROCK.
These acknowledgements would not be complete without thanking every musician in every genre....you truly can change emotions at a distance, which gives you the power to change the world.
Lastly, but definitely not least I want to thank all of the readers, and bloggers that are following me on this journey, your emails and posts light up my day, and encourage me to write faster! Sharing this daydream with all of you is simply breathtaking.
About the Author
Jamie Magee has always believed that each of us have a defining gift that sets us apart from the rest of the world, she has always envied those who have known from their first breath what their gift was. Not knowing hers, she began a career in the fast paced world of business. Raising a young family, and competing to rise higher in that field would drive some to the point of insanity, but she always found a moment of escape in a passing daydream. Her imagination would take her to places she'd never been, introduce her to people she's never known. Insight, her debuting novel, is a result of that powerful imagination. Today, she is grateful that not knowing what defined her, led her on a path of discovery that would always be a part of her.