Into the Light (a Lightkeeper Novel Book 1)

by Amy Manemann

  Chapter 6

  The wind tickled my face as I tried to concentrate. We were once again in the field, only Braeden said today’s training would be about searching for my inner light. Combining the meditation techniques I learned yesterday, I'm supposed to relax my mind and find the inner light deep within me. Or something like that. Still a fish out of water, the details were a little foggy to me.

  “You’re thinking too much again.” Braeden’s amused voice broke through my thoughts, and I cracked open an eye to peer at him. He sat Indian style across from me on the flannel blanket, an amused grin curving his lips.

  I sighed. “I don’t get this exercise. How am I supposed to find my inner light when I don’t have my powers yet?”

  “You have your powers, Willa. They’re a part of who you are. You just aren’t able to use them yet. Your light is there, buried deep in your soul. I need you to close your eyes, relax and go to your light.” He made it sound so easy, as if he were asking me to pick up a quart of ice cream from the grocery store.

  I tried not to roll my eyes. “Easy for you to say. You already know how to do this stuff.”

  He chuckled. “Yes, but I had to learn, the same as you. You’re doing fine. I know your mind wants to rebel against what I’m teaching you; it’s to be expected. Let me ask you something. What is it you fear the most?”

  I pursed my lips in thought. While there were a number of things I feared―most of them involving ugly, dark creatures sucking my powers from me―there was one thing I feared the most. “Not being the person everyone is expecting me to be.” I went for honesty, knowing I could trust Braeden with the truth.

  “Do you truly think you won’t be able to do this?” he asked softly.

  “I don’t really have a choice, do I?” I snapped back, irritated that he would even ask the question. Of course, I didn’t think I could do this. Who in their right mind would think they could?

  “There are always choices to make, Willa. You can’t get anywhere in life without them. It’s how you deal with those choices that make you the person you are and the person you will become. You will be a great Lightkeeper. I have faith in your abilities, even if you don’t.”

  I averted my gaze so he wouldn’t see the sheen of tears that pricked the backs of my eyes.

  “And what if I can’t?” I whispered, my voice husky.

  A strong finger lifted my chin, bringing my gaze back to his. “Can’t isn’t an option, and you need to start by removing it from your vocabulary. There isn’t anything you can’t do, trust me. I’ve seen some impossible feats accomplished by people who thought they couldn’t do them. This isn’t any different. You’ve been taught your whole life to accept what is on the surface. Now I’m asking you to push that from your mind, to look deeper, and find the power that lies below. It’s there, Willa. You only need to grasp it.”

  I drew in a deep breath, and then blew it out, trying to calm my emotions. He was right. I could do this. I needed to do this. I’d spent my entire life standing in the background, allowing others to walk all over me without ever once taking a chance at being something more. This was my chance to be more than I ever imagined. I needed to let my old insecurities go.

  Slowly, I closed my eyes, continuing to take deep, even breaths while I felt my body slowly relaxing. The wind whispered around me, helping to quiet my thoughts as I slipped into a deeper, meditated trance. Soon, my body felt languid, like I was floating, and I inwardly smiled at the notion.

  “You’re almost there, Willa. Relax your mind, allow yourself to feel, not think.” His voice was a soft caress of words that drew me even deeper into my trance. I wasn’t sure where we were going, but I was definitely enjoying the floating feeling that had taken over my body. From afar, I first sensed, rather than saw, the fog that slowly crept in, it’s thick curtain of vapor stealing across my body and blanketing my mind. I felt a brief flash of panic as it enveloped me, and I struggled against its hold, terrified of losing all self-control by letting it take over.

  “You are well, Willa. No harm will come to you. Look for the light,” Braeden’s whisper echoed around me, piercing the fog. Through the fog, a small sliver of light shimmered, breaking through my terror filled mind and slowing my struggles.

  “I see it,” I whispered aloud, my words echoing off the walls of the surrounding fog.

  “Go closer,” Braeden urged, a comforting presence in this unknown world.

  I floated through the fog, the swirling patterns enveloping me on either side as I traveled towards the light at the end. As I drew nearer, two figures slowly appeared in the light, their soothing presence beckoning me closer. I couldn’t make out their features, though I knew with certainty both were women. Were they part of the light?

  Reaching the end of the fog, I left the gray swirls behind and stepped into the light.

  “Who are you?” One woman spoke, the soft melodic sound of her voice pleasing to my ears.

  “I’m Willa. Who are you?” I returned, wishing I could make out their features better. Something told me this meeting was significant, something important. But why couldn’t I see their faces?

  “I’m Addison, and this is Riley. We don’t know how we got here, or where here is.” Though I couldn’t make out her features, the sadness in her voice twisted my heart.

  I had to help her, to help them, but how?

  “I’m don't know where we are, but I’ll help you.” I reached out to take hold of Addison’s hand…

  …and my body jerked as a blinding light exploded all around us. The sound of screaming echoed in my ears, and I tried to reach for Addison and Riley, hoping it wasn’t their screams I was hearing.

  “Willa, pull free!” Braeden’s voice roared, and with a start I realized the screaming I heard was coming from me. I came awake with a jerk, a violent shaking replacing the last of my dying screams. Braeden cursed, fear and worry piercing his brow as he gathered me in his arms. Rocking back and forth, he smoothed a hand over my hair, whispering undistinguishable words in my ear.

  “Where…where did they go?” I finally managed through chattering teeth, gratefully soaking up Braeden's warmth.

  Braeden paused his rocking. “Where did who go?”

  I leaned away from the comfort of his chest to find his golden eyes.

  “Addison and Riley. They were there with me in the light, but now they’re gone. Where did they go?” I repeated, worry twisting my stomach. Were they all right? What happened? One minute we were standing in the warmth of my light, the next I was back in my body and shaking so hard I thought for sure I’d broken all my teeth.

  Shock registered on Braeden's face, and he shifted me in his arms to peer at me closely. “Willa, are you saying you saw people in your light?”

  I bit my lower lip, nodding. “Addison and Riley. I went through the fog like you told me to, and when I reached my light, they were there. Addison said they were lost and didn’t know how they’d gotten there. I don’t understand, Braeden. What does it mean?”

  “I’m don't know what it means, Willa, but if you saw people in your light, then it’s something significant. Your light is your own energy and should never be occupied by another. I think that’s enough exercises for today. We should go back to your Aunt’s house.” His expression guarded, he shifted to help me to my feet.

  We packed up our stuff and were soon heading back to Sadie’s house in silence. Tucked into the car with a blanket around me, a million questions floated through my mind, questions I wondered if Braeden had the answer to. His reaction to Addison and Riley being in my light worried me, especially hearing they weren’t supposed to be there. But, if they weren’t supposed to be there, then how did they get there?

  We pulled up in front of Sadie’s house, a heaviness hanging between us. Braeden shifted into park and turned the car off. We listened to the engine wind down, neither of us moving. The silence stretched between us until finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. “What’s going on, Braeden?” The driv
e back to the house had renewed my energy, though a few shivers were still wracking my body, despite the warm blanket around me.

  He sighed, scrubbing a hand down his face.

  “I don’t know, but I intend to find out. After I get you settled here, I’ll call the Light Council.” He sounded weary, which wasn’t very reassuring. Did he really think I was going to just leave him at the mercy of the Light Council?

  I folded my arms under my chest, giving him a deadpan stare. “You mean after we get settled here, we will call the Light Council, right?”

  He shot me a surprised look. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  I snorted, waving a hand through the air. “This has just as much to do with me as it does you, if not more. Look, Braeden. I know you’re here to protect me and teach me what I need to know, but I’m not some little China doll who will break under pressure. This involves us both, and I need to know what we’re dealing with, just as much as you.”

  Braeden’s jaw clenched. I waited in silence, refusing to turn my gaze from his. He may not want to admit it, but I was right.

  “You’re right,” he sighed, jaw tight, “and I’m sorry. It’s just I haven’t exactly spoken with the Council yet.”

  I frowned, confused. “I don’t understand. I thought you called the Council last night to ask their guidance about the vision I had in the scarves.”

  “I called them last night, only―” his voice trailed off uncomfortably. “I left a message detailing your vision. And I haven’t exactly informed the Council we aren’t returning to London just yet.”

  I grinned, a laugh popping out. “Wow, Braeden, you ditched out on the Council? I’m impressed. You’re starting to turn into a real badass here.”

  Braeden chuckled, reaching over to tug the end of my braid. “Don’t let it go to your head. I was merely abiding by your wishes while hoping to avoid the Council a bit longer. Looks like we’ll get to face their wrath together.”

  “Gee, a comforting thought,” I remarked dryly, trying to hide my anxiety.

  “It’ll be fine, Willa. Just let me do the talking,” he assured me.

  “Right, because I do so well with letting others speak for me,” I grumbled, tugging on the door handle and swinging the door open.

  Climbing the front porch, we entered the house. Sadie’s magic hummed in the air, easing the worry that clawed at me. The Council might get ticked at us for not doing what they wanted, but at least Sadie’s comforting magic could keep us at ease.

  Sadie poked her head out of the kitchen, eyeing us in surprise. “Wow, that was fast. You’re done already?”

  “We’ve had a slight hiccup in our training.”

  I rolled my eyes at Braeden’s cryptic answer.

  “I saw people in my inner light, and now we have to call the Light Council,” I added, tugging the blanket tighter across my shoulders when it shifted.

  Sadie stepped out of the kitchen and into the living room, a dish towel in one hand, and a frown on her face. “That’s not possible. Are you certain of this, Willa?”

  I scowled. Why did everyone feel it necessary to question me at every turn?

  “Look, I know it sounds crazy, and Braeden said it wasn’t supposed to happen either, but I know what I saw. Their names are Addison and Riley, and they seemed just as confused at being there as I did.” I stomped further into the living room and flopped onto the couch.

  Sadie took the spot next to me, running a comforting hand over my head. “Willa, it’s not that we don’t believe you. It’s just that…something like this has never happened before.”

  My eyes widened in disbelief. “I don’t understand. Are you saying I’m some sort of Lightkeeper anomaly?”

  “That’s what we’re going to find out," Braeden said. “To my knowledge, nothing like this has ever happened before in the history of Lightkeeper’s.”

  Wait, what? “If it’s never happened then how will the Council be able to help?”

  “The Council has access to the entire history of the Lightkeeper line from the very beginning. If there’s something even remotely similar to what you’ve experienced, they'll find it,” Braeden explained.

  My stomach churned, an unsettling thought occurring. “And if they find nothing?”

  Braeden turned his golden gaze towards mine, a serious look in the golden depths. Why did I not like the look on his face?

  “Then it looks like we’ll be in uncharted territory,” he stated grimly.

  Oh yeah. That would be why.

  Chapter 7

  We'll be in unchartered territory.

  I anxiously watched as Braeden dialed the unlisted number of the Light Council. His words on replay in my mind, I tried to tamp down on my turbulent emotions. How was I supposed to take that? I didn’t know how to control the powers I was about to inherit. How the heck was I supposed to deal with this too?

  Sadie sat next to me on the couch, a silent observer. I was glad for her comforting presence, especially since we didn't know how this would go down. Braeden pushed a button on the phone and the sound of the phone ringing filled the room. Speaker-phone, great. Normally I hated dealing with being on speaker-phone, but the thought of listening to a one sided conversation about me didn’t set well either.

  “Lord Lancaster’s residence,” a thickly accented, feminine voice answered, and I stiffened in my seat. This was it, no turning back now.

  “Sir Braeden Mathieson for Lord Lancaster, please.”

  My mouth dropped open in surprise. Sir Braeden Mathieson? Was this some British thing I didn’t know about? I thought Lord’s and Sirs were from a different time period. Who knew they were still in effect?

  “Delightful to hear from you, Sir Braeden. From which number have you dialed?” Though still pleasant, her voice guarded as Braeden quickly rattled off a ten-digit number that had me shaking my head. Talk about cloak and dagger. I wouldn't be surprised if he had to answer a complicated riddle next.

  “Thank you, sir. One moment, please.”

  There was a click as she put us on hold, and soft classical music filled the line, lessening my anxiety level a bit. I was just beginning to get into Mozart’s Canon in D when an abrupt voice picked up the call.

  “Braeden, my boy! Got your message last evening, though I must say it’s good to hear from you. I trust your trip back went well?” the boisterous voice of who I could only assume was Lord Lancaster filled the room, causing Sadie and I to jump in our seats.

  “That’s why I’m calling, my lord." Braeden paused to clear his throat. "You see, Willa and I are still in Salem.”

  Silence greeted us, and I swear you could have almost heard a pin drop in the room. Finally, Lord Lancaster cleared his throat. “I hope this has more to do with flight availability rather than the desire of the Lightkeeper to remain in the States.” The grating sound of his voice set my teeth on edge, and my hands clenched in my lap. How dare he talk about me like that!

  As if sensing my anger, Braeden held up a hand, shaking his head. It probably wouldn't do us any good to go off half-cocked, though it was tempting. Sadie laid a comforting hand on my arm, giving it a squeeze. Her touch soothed my anger a bit, bringing it down from a boil to a low simmer.

  “Willa desires to remain in Salem for the time being, yes, and I have agreed with her wishes, my Lord,” Braeden reported, tight-lipped.

  Lord Lancaster heaved a sigh. “Braeden, I had thought you to have better judgment than this. Have you forgotten your assignment?”

  Braeden’s jaw flexed, whether it was from the reminder of his job duties or the disappointment in Lancaster’s voice was unknown. “My assignment is to train and protect Willa at all costs. It made little sense for her to travel when the darkness is so restless, my Lord.”

  The low murmur of voices suddenly filled the phone line, and my eyes narrowed. Did Lancaster just put us on speaker too? Great.

  “The Council does not approve of such a decision, Sir Mathiesen. You were to bring the Lightkeeper
back to London within the sanctity of our walls. You have failed your mission,” an unfamiliar voice said, confirming my suspicions that we now had an audience for our conversation.

  Anger spurred me to my feet.

  “You have no right to treat people like this, telling them when and where to go. Braeden hasn’t failed at anything here. He was only doing as I asked,” I snapped hotly. Council or not, there was only so much a girl would take before she was forced to stand up for herself. Them bashing on Braeden for agreeing to my wishes just plain sucked.

  Braeden closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose.

  “You are the Lightkeeper, I presume?” The soft melodious voice of a woman spoke, a welcome change from Lancaster’s bluster.

  “My name is Willa,” I managed through gritted teeth.

  “Of course, our apologies, Willa. Surely you understand the danger you are in by staying in such an acclimated area? Salem is a hot-bed for attracting dark entities, and with you coming into your powers soon, they will know you are there,” she continued gently.

  My anger calmed a bit, probably since I was talking to someone who actually seemed to care.

  “Braeden and my Aunt Sadie have made me more than aware of the dangers posed by me staying here, and I’m not leaving. This is my home. If anyone wants to come in and try to take me on, then they can fight me on my own ground,” I said with as much bravado as I could muster. Normally, I avoided confrontations, but the thought of sitting idly by while they pushed me around left a bad taste in my mouth. Braeden may not have had a choice when he went to the Light Council, but I sure as heck did.

  “This is preposterous. Lightkeepers are subject to doing as their Guardians instruct them. Braeden, you know your role,” Lancaster blustered, spiking my irritation level again.

  “And you must have pudding for a brain if you think I’m going to just do whatever Braeden tells me to do. It's not the thirteenth century anymore, Lord Lancaster. These days, women prefer to think for themselves,” I retorted.