Vital (36 page)

Landen nodded, then stood, leaned down, and gently kissed my pale lips as he whispered, “I’ll come for you, my love.”

My heart broke as I heard his words. He made his way to the doorway with Brady following him. I crawled across the bank, not wanting to lose sight of him. Once he was gone, I looked at Aella and said, “I have to go!”

“No, not yet,” She looked at Nathaniel. “Can you see him?”

Nathaniel’s eyes studied the water. He shook his head no. “I think I’ll be able to hear him, though.” Aella and I stared at him, impatiently waiting for him to speak.

He leaned forward and focused on the water. “When this began,” he repeated what he was hearing, “the priests we’re fighting were told that wretches and kings will come. That prophesy has proved to be false.” Nathaniel looked at me, surprised by the words he was repeating. “A wretch is someone who is distressed, pitied...I see no wretches before me; I only see kings, souls made of love who understand that love cannot be taken if they don’t release it. I see kings that understand that the darkness would not have taken the ones we love unless it knew its defeat was determined. Tonight, my soul will fight for you. I can’t tell you that I will return – that any of us will. I want all of you to make a promise to me, to the ones you love, the ones you’re fighting to hold on to: I want you to not let our lives be in vain. Continue to feel the love we gave you, and don’t let the darkness feed on your hatred. Celebrate that we met in this life. This isn’t the end, and it’s not the beginning; it’s a vital step we must take together. We need your strength. Hold the memories of us in your hearts...the time has come.”

“I have to go now. You have to come,” I said, gripping Aella’s hand. “He’s leaving now.”

“He’s not leaving yet. The captains have to get to their boats,” Aella said.

“Why is your intent to wait to the last possible moment? He needs to know I’m gonna be there. I should have returned before Drake left.”

“If you show yourself before Dane’s image, this will be over before it begins. The last possible moment is the only moment that’s safe.” As she placed her hand on mine, I looked to my side to see her eyes reflecting a haunting blue. “This is your life, Willow – not mine. I’m only here at this moment because you needed to find peace with the night of the looking glass, with the guilt you have for loving Drake. This will all end well if you simply have faith that it will.”

“We could die...I need you to come with me,” I pleaded. I didn’t understand what she was saying; I just knew that if she came back with me, at least one of my problems would be solved. Rain began to crash against the mountain, and thunder rumbled in the distance.

I closed my eyes, feeling the defeat that was consuming me. “Willow,” she whispered, “I’m going to give you everything you need for this moment, and every moment that will come.”

I felt her forehead against mine. Her hands fell to my shoulders, and in that moment silence came. I couldn’t feel anything; with the absence of emotion, calm consumed me. Her hands tightened against my skin, then I felt her energy push through me. At that moment, an intensity that I’d never felt before - passion, love, anger, and determination - poured through me. The force was so strong, it pushed me back and took my breath away. Nathaniel caught me before I hit the ground. I struggled to catch my breath, feeling more powerful now than I ever had. Aella was on her knees; I could feel her calm. She slowly looked up at me, and for the first time I saw my image within her.

She smiled. “Now go,” she said breathlessly.

A confident grin spread across my face. Nathaniel helped me rise to my feet. “Landen and Drake are there; you must go now,” he said, urging me closer to the water for the first time. I took ownership of the power I felt, then stood up straight and stepped closer to the water’s edge.

“How do I do this?” I asked him, finally staring at the moment I’d long to come.

“Look at me and slide gently in the water. Keep your eyes open, and the water will take you back to your life,” Nathaniel said.

I looked down at Aella one last time; her eyes were now a breathtaking green. She nodded, encouraging me to go. I turned to Nathaniel, and he held my hands as I did as he told me to and stared into his innocent blue eyes. I began to ease back into the water; as it touched my skin, I felt the raw, powerful energy of the universe. As I fell deeper into the water, a tingling sensation absorbed me. I held my eyes open, staring into Nathaniel’s eyes as the water rose over my head. Once I was beneath the surface, the water turned frigid and paralyzed my body from any movement. I felt like I was drowning in ice water. Fighting the urge to panic, I relaxed my mind. From beneath me, a force pulled me down. When I couldn’t hold my breath another second, I breathed out and found air, and above me was the open ceiling of the observatory.

Standing at my side, looking into my wide eyes was Preston. He smiled adoringly as my eyes rushed over his innocent face and I finally began to realize who Nathaniel was in my life now. I remembered what he told me: that when I descended, my path would be clear. The confidence I felt from this understanding was humbling.

“Bring me Brady and Chrispin,” I whispered to him, careful not to move my body from the way it was laid.

He smiled, and I closed my eyes. I didn’t let my soul rise. I could feel everyone behind me; I imagined they were watching Landen as he sat in meditation. I felt Preston and Chrispin coming closer to me. Preston whispered, “Lean in...stay calm.” I felt Chrispin’s anticipation rise, and when I felt the heat of his skin near mine, I slowly opened my eyes and stared into his. He was just inches away from my face.

“Let them think you’re gone...I’ll bring her back to you,” I whispered to him.

Relief swept through him as he leaned in closer and kissed my forehead. I closed my eyes again. I could feel him moving to lie on the table next to me. I knew Beth was watching him, and I could feel her agony as she moved closer to us, wanting to comfort her baby boy. Preston had moved away, and I could feel Brady’s confusion as he was casually pulled away from watching Landen by Preston. I felt Brady lean in to me. “Stay calm,” Preston whispered to him.

I could feel hope rise inside of Brady as he leaned closer to me. When I felt the heat of his body, I opened my eyes. Staring into his face made me feel so much closer to Landen; excitement beamed from my soul. “Protect our bodies from Dane...I need a distraction to leave,” I whispered.

I felt astonishment come from Beth and knew that she was watching me. Brady’s face held the solemn expression that it had carried, but his eyes were elated. As he leaned over and kissed my forehead, I closed my eyes and waited for my distraction.

I felt a confidence and determination rise inside of Beth. It was all I could do not to smile as I felt her intent not only to distract Dane, but also help Brady protect us from any harm he may intend to do to us.

“This is insane!” she screamed, walking away from where Chrispin and I were lying.

“Beth, calm down,” Brady said, playing into the drama she was portraying.

“No! I’m not going to calm down!” she screamed louder. “Willow is dead – can all of you not see that?! And now look – Drake and Landen are so heartbroken, they’ve launched themselves into a suicide mission. You want me to stay calm, knowing that I’ll lose two of my son’s within the next hour? None of you even tried to stop Chrispin!”

“He wouldn’t have listened. He would have gone regardless!” Brady yelled back.

“I can’t believe how blinded you all are. The devil has you playing into his hands, leading us one by one to slaughter!” Beth yelled.

“Really? Blind?!” Dane yelled. “That’s not what it looks like to me; it looks like they’re gonna save Olivia – do you not care about her?”

Anger engulfed Beth. “Me? You were the last one seen with her! You did this!”

She was the only one beyond Drake to openly accuse Dane of placing Olivia in harm’s way. Panic swept through the room, and my father and Ashten both had the immediate intent to defuse the turmoil.

Their intent was in vain, though, because at that moment arguments erupted from every direction. Brady’s emotion was screaming at me to go now, so I cleared my mind and rose from my body.

Behind me, I could see Dane’s back to me and the others. Marc, Ashten, and my dad were trying to hold Beth off him. Brady saw my soul, and as I moved behind him, he shadowed me, casually allowing me to move through the open doorway that led to the study. I grinned, knowing that I had them all fooled. I passed through the study, knowing I needed to see where I wanted to move. Suddenly, I halted. At the window was Alamos; he was leaning into the pane of the last window – the only one I hadn’t broken before - and I could hear him crying. I stepped closer to him, understanding that he did love us all deeply. When I reached his side, he looked up, and elation was in his eyes. I raised my fingers to my lips and told him to remain quiet. I then looked to the window to the distant edge of the city.

“You will prevail,” he whispered to me.

I smiled and focused on where I wanted to go: a rooftop a mile away. Within that breath, I was there. From that point, I could see the docks that lined the outer edge of the city. I focused myself there and moved my soul. From that point, I could see the ships in the distance. They were strategically spaced in battle formation around the small rock island, and the crews were lowering small rafts into the water. I saw the boat that carried my followers, the one that was soon to be destroyed by the priests.

I thought of Aella, the power she had with the atmosphere, the power she showed me how to use. My eyes focused on the boat, and I breathed in, imagining a wind coming to me. The boat began to drift sideways through the water. I diligently focused on the boat I was moving, not wanting the battleships to be moved; I knew we may need them. The boat drifted on its side to the shore of Delen.

I felt the dazed emotions of the passengers as they rushed to the shore. I then saw people from Delen charge onto the boat with the intent to release whoever may be shackled below.

The lead ship fired a cannon, as if to warn the island that they were under attack. I focused on its helm and moved my soul there.

From that point, I could see the light pouring out from the mountain’s peak; I could even hear chants from the devil’s followers. I focused on the jagged edges that encased the people below, then moved there; from that point, I could see inside. There was an altar in the center of the room, and men in red robes were lining the walls; there were well over a thousand of them. Their chants were in unison, sounding like one deep voice calling its master. I saw five small children standing in front of the altar; they were terrified, yet certain that I’d save them. I looked at the distant ships, then to them again. At first I wanted just to raise the children above the robed men and push them to the ship – but I feared I would cause more harm than good. I needed someone to help me get them to the boats – home to Delen.

As I noticed the lead ship moving closer to the island, I took in a deep breath; wind then came and drew the boat closer to the island. Once the boat was near the island, rafts were lowered and men began to row to shore. I didn’t have time to wait for them, so once again I took in a breath and pulled them to shore. As I watched them scale the side of the mountain, I knew I could lift the small children to safety.

All at once, the chants below turned into a slow hum. Drake had appeared at the center of the altar, and four men in black robes came to his side. As I focused on him, I could feel utter devotion coming from within. I knew then that Landen was inside him and that they’d joined, hoping that together they’d be powerful enough to save Olivia and the children in front of them.

As Drake extended his arm toward the crowd, the room grew silent, then one of the men in black began to beat slowly on the metal plate. Everyone in the room turned to look at an opening just behind them. I followed their stare and saw Olivia standing all alone. I could feel her terror; her tiny body trembled, not wanting to move another inch. I was out of time to save the children. From where I was, I knew I’d have to move directly into Olivia – to show them my power from there. A sly grin spread across my face as I felt the victory that was sure to come.

I needed Olivia to be composed, to let me take immediate control. I focused on the numbing sensation of calm, knowing she’d need to feel that, then I moved to her body.

I closed her eyes as I entered and took a deep breath with her lungs. “I’m here. Let me have control, and I’ll save you,” I let my soul say to hers. I felt her release and fall back.

I let her eyes fly open, then stared confidently to the other side of the room, where Drake stood. It was all I could do to hold a straight face. From where I stood, I could feel the energy and love that I lived for - I could feel Landen. I began to step confidently forward as the hums from the crowd began again. With each step, they grew deeper and more intense.

When I was close enough to see Drake’s eyes clearly - to see the sparkle of Landen’s soul in the core of him - I thought,
I’m here, I’ve always been with you
. Drake’s body stood at attention as my thoughts reached Landen. His face held the look of a king, a man prepared for anything - including death - but his eyes beamed an undying love and gratitude.

I love you
, Landen thought.

I stepped closer and thought,
I’ll love you forever.