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“
Are you sure you’re OK?”
Landen thought.

“
I think Donalt is more powerful than we’ve imagined,”
I answered.

“
He can’t hurt us, Willow. You have to believe that; I won’t let anything happen to you,”
he promised, believing his every word.

We all but ran in through the long hallways that led to the study. When we reached it, Landen stopped in the doorway and pulled me close to him so I’d have to look him in his eyes. Dane leaned against the wall, waiting for Landen to say to me whatever he needed to say.

“
Listen to me: everyone may think that our love is tested with these planets, but I know that -like all soulmates - our love is tested every minute. With every breath we take, we make a choice, a choice to love one another; we endure because we know that love is the most powerful thing in the universe - the air our soul breathes,”
he thought, cradling my face.

“
Landen, I don’t care who or what tests me; I’ll only love you,”
I thought, furrowing my eyebrows so he would see how serious I was.

“
I can see...I can feel how his words cut through you...you haven’t betrayed anyone; we’ll release them.”

“
I know we will.”
I tilted my head, questioning how he’d heard what Drake had said.

“
I don’t think he can stop time for either of us...an odd flaw, I suppose,”
Landen thought, trying to hold back an impish grin.

“
You stood frozen,”
I thought.

“
Your intent was to speak to him alone; I learned the hard way to let you do what you want to do,”
he thought in a more serious tone.

“
I really do wish we could help him forget,”
I thought. Landen smiled and moved his head from side to side. “
What?”
I thought.

“
It’s just ironic that we want this whole world to remember - and one man to forget,”
he thought.

“
I love you,”
I thought. Landen pulled me closer. I closed my eyes as I felt his tender lips on mine as our lips gently moved against each other I felt an undeniable passion, and I pulled him as close as I could. In our embrace, I could feel the panic from the ones around us drift into a peaceful victory, and I knew that on the other side of the world, Drake was standing before them, telling them that he was fine and to back away from the wall that surrounded Delen. Within that second, the palace vibrated all around us and an angry roar rumbled through the hallways. Landen wrapped his arms as tight as he could around me, looking in every direction, and Dane stepped closer to me and Landen; the fear between the three of us was irrefutable.

Silence came, and the stillness seemed just as eerie. I stretched out my senses; the emotions around us were still of victory and peace. Landen looked down at me and smiled.

“Looks like we hit a nerve,” Dane said, looking from shadow to shadow.

Chapter Six

August and Patrick came to the doorway. I could feel their abundant relief; they were unshaken. August smiled at Landen and patted his shoulder.

“Is everyone OK?” Landen asked, intending to heal whoever needed it.

“No one’s hurt. In fact, the ones that did come over the wall are staying here - almost a thousand more,” Patrick answered, grinning from ear to ear.

“Amazing,” I whispered. Landen looked down at me and smiled.

“We’re going to get through this now that we’re all working together,” August said, sighing and feeling relieved. He was proud of Landen. His relief did bring us some comfort, but it couldn’t hinder our anxieties of having Drake there.

Dane shook his head from side to side in disapproval; I knew he wasn’t looking forward to being in the same room with Drake for any length of time.

August sensed the tension between us and reached for Dane’s shoulder, then looked back at Landen. “I know there’s a lot to be resentful about. Forgiveness - or even a simple truce - is too much to ask of any of you, but you have to understand that Donalt is counting on that. We need to pull together to beat this monster, and when this is over...well...then maybe we can find a way to resolve the past.”

His tone was fully of sympathy and left me and Landen with a surge of guilt. Dane, however, held a different emotion. “I respect what you’re saying, August,” he said, leaning closer to me, “but I want you to see this through my eyes. When I was six, I saw terror in my best friend’s eyes; it was so strong, I felt it. It went on, happening once a month like clockwork, and she endured a fear that no one should have to. I couldn’t protect her - no one could. It’s going to take more than an angry ghost to get me to forgive Drake Blakeshire.” Dane looked at Landen and said, “I know you have even more than me to disagree with – so if you tell me you want me to let it go for now, then I will.”

August stared at Landen while holding the emotion of pride and confidence; in his subtle way, he demanded a peaceful compliance from us. Landen let his eyes fall to the floor. I could feel his emotions turning inside of him; he wasn’t ready to forgive Drake either, but his desire to protect and help the people of Esterious outweighed the anger that wanted to surface.

“We’ll treat Drake with as much respect as he gives us,” he said, looking up at August.

August nodded. “That’s all I need to hear,” he said with a sigh.

Perodine approached the doorway. Oddly, she’d changed her clothes; she was now in a black formal gown, and her hair was set perfectly on her head. Jewels decorated her neck and wrist, and she looked the same as she did the first time I saw her: like royalty. On the surface, she was calm and reserved, but inside I could still feel her emotions swarming in every direction.

“I fear your trail will begin when they return,” she said.

She handed me a change of clothes; I’d forgotten that I still had Drake’s blood all over my shirt. She then walked past us to the table and began searching over her notes. Landen walked to her side, studying her, and she looked up at him as he reached the table.

“Is it Alamos or Drake that’s concerning you?” he asked.

Suddenly realizing that there was something odd about Perodine, August walked to Landen’s side.

“Before retrieving Willow a few days ago, I hadn’t been in a room with Alamos for close to four million years,” Perodine answered quietly. Landen and August looked at one another, questioning the words she’d said. I knew she was telling the truth; I just didn’t understand how it was possible.

Patrick cleared his throat. “I’m going to get more people to help us with the mirrors and paintings. Do you need anything?” he asked, looking at me.

I shook my head no; I was still stunned, trying to figure out what Perodine was saying. I looked up at Dane, then down to my clothes; if changing them meant I’d have to leave his side, I’d rather wear the bloodstains I had on.

“Come on; I can turn my back,” Dane said, tilting his head to the hallway.

Landen looked back at us, and Dane waved, telling him to come. Landen looked at Perodine once more, then walked over to us. Dane briskly crossed the hall to open the door for me. The room lacked the elegance of the palace; there was only a bed and a table consuming the small space. I assumed it had been a servant’s room as well.

Dane closed the door and stared at it. I quickly began to change while Landen paced in front of the bed, tossing mixed emotions and intent back and forth inside him.

“I don’t know about you guys, but I’m thinking this is all about to get real interesting,” Dane said in a low tone.

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Landen said, almost to himself.

I pulled my shirt over my head, then Landen reached back and touched Dane’s shoulder, letting him know that it was safe to turn around.

“How was that guy suspended? I thought this had to do with your first parents or something?” Dane asked.

“It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve been told half-truths,” Landen said through his teeth, trying to suppress unwanted anger.

“No one ever said why they were suspended; August just said that the power Perodine found in the stars suspended her and Donalt’s life. Alamos can read them just as well as she can; she said so herself...maybe he found power, too,” I argued, defending our family.

“No; common sense. Ten minutes ago, her hair was down, she was in pants, and she looked exhausted; now, she’s dressed like she’s going to a ball – and she won’t give a straight answer,” Dane whispered harshly.

“You’ve met him; do you think he has a bigger part in this?” Landen asked me.

I let my eyes search over the time Alamos cared for me. “I don’t remember. I mean, Drake seemed to be the one in control of the situation,” I answered.

Dane looked back and forth between me and Landen. “I don’t trust any of them,” he said under his breath. “I just have a really bad feeling,”

I could feel Dane’s placid clam cracking, and it was making me uneasy; so far, he and Landen had been the very thin string holding me together.

“Just stay calm,” Landen said, looking between me and Dane.

In the distance, I could feel Beth; she was near panic. Landen pushed past Dane and opened the door. I rushed out behind him, and Dane followed us in a confused rush. On the other end of the hallway, we saw her running to us - and Alamos was walking casually behind her. We began to run in her direction, and when we reached her, we saw tears pouring out of her eyes. She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed me as tight as she could.

Landen grabbed my hand, and we ran down the hall with Dane right at our side; we almost knocked Alamos down as we ran by. Once at the passage, we pushed through – and we heard the screams immediately; they were blood curdling. I could hear Allie crying and Preston and Libby screaming our names. We ran in the direction of Pelhan’s world. As the passages of Esterious ended, we saw Drake and Marc. The string was blocked by what looked like a gray wall, Olivia’s dream was coming to life in front of me - and Brady’s fears were confirmed. I looked at Landen; his face was engulfed with the panic I felt coming from him.

“We can’t push through, Landen,” Marc said as Stella’s voice yelled his name. “Do something, Landen!” he yelled as he pushed against the wall - only to get burned.

“Stop hurting yourself!” Landen yelled, pulling Marc back.

I paced in front of the wall, trying to read the emotions, to see what was hurting them; I couldn’t tell one from another.

“
I think it’s an illusion,”
I thought. Landen looked at me for an explanation. “
I’ve felt Stella’s terror before, and that’s not it,”
I thought, cringing at the sound of her voice echoing in the string.

“
Are you sure?”
Landen thought.

I nodded and swallowed. As I focused on the emotions of the string, I was very sure; they didn’t have the soul of the people I knew beneath them. I’d taught myself when I was only a girl that there’s a signature in all of our emotions, something that can’t be mocked or completely covered by another dominate emotion. I’d tried to teach this to Landen, but it was harder for him to perceive; his gift of intent seemed to overshadow the one of emotion.

As Landen’s eyes moved back and forth from one emotion to the next, he realized I was right. “It’s an illusion Marc; she’s not hurt,” Landen said, grasping Marc’s hands before he burned himself again.

“This wall is not an illusion,” Drake said as Preston yelled his name.