Vindicate

by Jamie Magee

  I stood beside him and stared into his haunted eyes. “You believe you ’re an Escort. Darkness?” I asked quietly. His eyes told me yes. “Have you uttered the world ‘love ’ to Charlie?”

  “More times than I could count , ” h e responded with an ache in his deep velvet voice.

  “Then you ’re capable of love. Therefore , you are redeemed from any da rk past your soul has witnessed. Charlie is with you. Somewhere in the realm of time , she chose you. No one can erase the past or promise the future ; all we can do is live in this moment. Love in this moment and trust that it will lead you through the next one. Stop worrying about what could happen. Focus on now. What you say and do ri ght now will be your tomorrow. Make it a good tomorrow.”

  He smiled shyly. “Are you giving advice that you ’ve refused to take?” he asked humbly.

  “I’m not sure I like you knowing everything about me , ” I mumbled , knowing he was right ; that was advice I’d yet to grasp.

  “I don’t know everything , ” h e swore . “When you see someone , you ask a question – and that leads you to a moment in their life and more than likely will lead you to another question. I could only imagine how many questions I would have to ask to see all that you ’ve done.”

  “I would hate to think of how many you ’ve already asked to know what you do know.”

  He smiled slightly. “Oddly , not that many…I’ve never been able to see someone so easily before.”

  “Not even Charlie?”

  He smirked. “I have a very hard time seeing Charlie . Not sure if that ’s a good thing or not. I think I see you so clearly because I understand them,” he said , glancing to Drake and Landen. “I understand where they are and what they ’re fighting. I’m the only one who ’s faced that, and if I help you beat it, then I know I ’ll be one step closer to destroying that place . The place that haunts my life and threatens to take away everythi ng worth living for away .”

  “The faster we bring them back -- the fas ter I can destroy it for you.” I sat back down beside Landen and took his hand in mine. “So I know what to say. Now what?”

  Draven stepped back. “Now , ” he said , reaching for the drapes , “y ou ’re going to have to give them strength. Your energy. That will buy us time until we can teach you, or I can reach where they are.” He nodded to Drake. “I would help him first so Landen can give you back what you lost.”

  I felt myself fight with patience. “I want to go now – not make them stronger – how long is this going to take?”

  “Willow, I mean it . They’re weak . Even if we went now it may be to o late. You give them your energy , and you pull them back. The more you give , the closer they are to us – the more time we have, the less mast ered you have to be at seeing. I promise , you need to do this . Right now.” The seriousness in his emerald stare made my heart race. I had to push down my jealously, rage, and impatience at least for a moment.

  As if he could see my struggle, Draven added, “Think of what you ’ll ask them, and they ’ll look for that question in ev ery illusion they face. You stop whatever she ’s doing to them right now if you do this , ” h e then closed the drape s leaving me with Landen and Drake’s near lifeless bodies.

  I focused on Draven’s lingering words and felt his truth, his honest intent. Finding courage and determination I leaned down and let my warm lips rest on Landen’s , wishing for the simplest response from him.

  When one didn ’t come , I gently crawled over him to sit between them. I closed my eyes and took in a few deep breaths – clearing my mind and allowing my soul to leave my body.

  I appeared just before where I sat. I wanted so des perately to help Landen first. To bring him back to me. I knew I could face what was happening to Drake – to these kids I’d brought here if he was by my side, but Draven was right. I had to give my energy to Drake first because he would leave me weak – blissfully numb and weak.

  I edged forward and let my hand rest on his chest. I didn’t use my m emories of that day at the lake. I used his . The o nes I saw when I took my life. The one time I could feel him. Every part of his emotion. I focused on that memory from his perspective and let the energy of my soul seep into his chest.

  His body tensed , and his back bowed slightly. His reaction to my simple gesture gave me hope. I began to remember each time he ’d called me ‘Love .’ The dreams he ’d show n me. I forgot the heartache I’d always seen in our past lives and focused on the passion, the love that we must have h ad for one another at one time. The friendship we had now. I leaned closer , letting more of my energy fall into him. At first I didn’t feel the hum his energy always carried , but slowly , as if he w ere coming to life , I felt it. I felt it ease through my soul – then , as if I w ere the air he was breathing , I felt myself pulled into him – into his soul.

  Time seemed to stand stil l. I t was quiet. To o qu iet…darkness was all around me. I t was so dark that I felt blind, afraid. I thought his name and whispered it , along with a plea for him to come back to me. Just when I ’d given up hope , when I knew that he was t o o far a way for me to reach , I felt his energy intensify. It was as if he w ere holding me – not in a passionate moment – but in the blissful aftermath – in the moment where you r heart is racing , yet you’re to o numb to move. To think. Then I heard him. “You are life – you are real.” His voice was weak in my thoughts , but he was grasping who I was.

  “I am – I am , Drake,” I thought. “Come back to me. She is not real. Remember what is real , ” I thought as I let the memories, his memories of our past , race through my thoughts. I was growing weak , but I felt him gro wing stronger. I felt him waking up. I knew if I didn ’t move now – I never would. I would be too weak. I slowly pulled my energy from his body , seeing his aura reach out for me – begging me to stay.

  With the absence of his energy , my soul fell between them. I was dizzy …then I remembered what I was doing. I slowly reached for Landen’s hand , and with his touch my soul was pulled into him. It was like he was reaching out for me, he was holding me, that even in his state , he felt my weakness and only had one desire : to make me stronger.

  When every part of my energy was within him , a blinding light surrounded me. I felt alive , sure of myself. I thought for an instant that I ’d managed to fall into his thoughts on my own – that I was about to pull him back to me.

  I screamed his name in my thoughts , feeling him all around me. I walked forward , not knowing where the blinding light would lead me. Then all at once , I saw the purest color of blue. I saw his eyes before me. I ran as I fast as I could toward them . A s I came closer , the white glow subsided slowly , and I saw his face. His gorgeous face – his eyes . I reached my arms around his strong , broad shoulders. I felt the warm th of his soul hum inside of mine. His hands cradled my face as his eyes searched deeply into my soul. I almost forgot to think about our first kiss, the qui et moments we had when he told me that ‘I love you’ was a promise in his world – a gratitude to the universe for allo wing them to feel that emotion. That love was the foundation of his world – when I finally thought of those moments , his smile grew. “I should have kiss ed you long before that moment. I should have found a w ay to tell you that I was real. That I would come for you and take you to the place that exists because I love you.”

  “Come back to me , ” I thought as I pulled him closer. “We’re not done. Not yet.”

  “No. We’re not … this is the beginning. Willow, I see clearly now . This place – it is the core of what we fight. I t is what we have been fighting from our first breath. Everything in Esterious – Drake was just a distraction from this evil . This place is where our war is. This is where our victory is.”

  “Then come back for me , and we ’ll fight it together. Don’t you dare leave me here!” I argued , seeing the goodbye in his eyes.

  “I ’ll never watch you burn again.”

  “What?!” I questioned.

  Anger filled his eyes, and I could swea
r I saw flames burning there . The anger wasn’t at me ; it was focused on a memory I couldn ’t perceive.

  “I was a fool not to trust fate, we ’re losing this battle . That stops now.” His blue eyes cascaded over my face. “I love you. I love you so much.”

  He leaned slowly toward my lips , and when I felt them, I felt a hum of energy that had never belonged to him before. I closed my eyes and moved mine fiercely against his – begging him – the universe itself , not to let us be apa rt any longer – or ever again. I felt an explosion of energy between us. I t was so strong; it pushed my energy out of his body and back into mine. Thunder vibrated through the room as light n ing turned everything around me blue.

  I gasped for air as I stared wide-eyed at where he laid. His skin was no longer pale ; it was full of color , almost red with excitement. His bre aths were deep and deliberate. I thought for sure he would open his eyes at any moment.

  Chapter Nine

  Every part of my body was tingling with the electricity in the air. My eyes shifted between Landen and Drake , waiting for any movement or response. They both looked stronger but refused to open their eyes.

  I had no idea what he meant by ‘watch me burn’ or why his soul was humming. I was confused and terrified...what was she doing to my Landen ?

  Draven pulled back the drape beside Landen just as I felt the others charge into the room. Draven’s eyes turned black as they looked at Landen’s body , then Drake’s.

  He glanced at me after a second or two.

  “What did he mean?” I asked in a shaky voice.

  He grimaced “It’s hard for me to see what he’s facing, but I can tell you The Realm m akes you relive past lives . Something in his past was rev ea led to him .” Draven raised one eyebrow as he let out a deep sigh that was laced with dread. “Doesn’t look like he cared t o o much for what he saw. But then again , none of us really do.”

  That was his past? Fire? What? When did I burn in our past?

  My father, Brady , and Alamos rushed to the bed , pulling back the drapes and looking at Draven with accusing eyes.

  My father raised his hands to stop the onslaught of questions as he looked over me, Landen, then finally Drake. “I don’t know what you did , son – but good job,” he said to Draven.

  “But he’s better?” I asked Draven .

  He nodded once. “They’re closer now , ” h e said as awe and pride surfaced in him.

  “What just happened? What did you do?” Alamos asked as he checked Drake’s pulse.

  “She just let them know she was here,” Draven answered , reaching for my hand to guide me off the bed.

  “And just how did she do that?” Alamos asked curtly.

  “Does it matter?” Draven said , not really caring who Alamos or anyone else was.

  My father reached for my shoulders as I climbed out of the bed. “Can you do it again? This is the strongest they have been in this state. Can you bring them back if we left the room again?”

  I looked at Draven to question if that w ere possible. His eyes told me no.

  “We are going to have to go and get t hem. Willow took the first step to break the illusion , but the only way to wake them is to go there – show them the way home.”

  “And how do you plan to do that?” Brady asked , not breaking his stare with Landen’s body.

  “I’m going to teach her to see – if you plan to follow her there , then you might want to grasp it.” He glance d at the doorway. “I need Aden. Charlie.” He walked around to foot of the bed and pulled the drape closed . “Madison.”

  “Where are they?” I asked , wanting to learn this now.

  “With Perodine – in the study , ” Alamos answered .

  “I’ll get them,” Brady said as he turned to leave the room.

  Alamos pulled the drapes on the side of Drake’s bed closed a little more as he locked eyes with Draven. I felt Draven’s emotions range in every direction as he stared at him.

  “Are you judging me , son?” Alamos asked , looking carefully over him.

  “Not at all. Just trying to understand , ” Draven said calmly.

  “What is it that you are trying to understand?” Alamos asked in a defensive tone.

  Draven’s eyes smiled slig htly. “Over four million years. One love. Yet you fight with her.”

  Alamos was speechless of a second. “I’m not fighting with her. I’m protecting Drake. Someone has to.”

  Draven glanced at me , then Alamo s. “That role has been filled. You need to find another excuse.”

  “Has it?” Alamos said shortly. “I see two bodies lying here. Not one – he is not safe until she decides she loves him. She is the one that needs to stop fighting.”

  “She does , ” Draven said shortly. “If she didn’t , he would already be dead…as soon as you stop focusing on what you want and focus on what he really needs , your eyes will be open.”

  “Do you honestly think I am going to take advice from a mere infant? Someone who only thinks they have grasped --” Alamos stopped in mid -sentence as his eyes moved to the doorway.

  Madison was standing there. All alone. Staring at the closed drapes around the bed. I could see the curiosity in her eyes and wanted more than anyth ing to feel her emotions. To know if she felt Drake ’s soul just feet away from her.

  I felt an immediate hope rise in my father as he slowly walked to her side. “I don’t believe we have met , ” m y father said peacefully. Madison tried to smile , but her nerves would not let her. “I’m Jason, Willow’s father – and your name?”

  “Madison , ” s he said quietly , catching Alamos ’ eyes as he walked in a stunned trance to her.

  “Where does your sun lie?” Alamos asked humbly.

  “She’s a Scorpio , ” I answered for Madison.

  Madison walked toward me and stopped at the foot of the bed. She was standing in front of Drake’s body , and I was standing in front of Landen’s . Though they could not be seen , I was sure she felt something. Her olive skin blushed as she locked eyes with me. “How intensely do you feel emotions?” she asked me.

  “Very.”

  “Do you see them or feel them?” she asked , looking all around me.

  “Feel. Sometimes I see them in someone’s energy . You?”

  With my question , I felt the astonishment rise in the room.

  “I see it first , ” s he said quietly , looking at the drape to her left.

  “What do you see right now?” I asked .

  “Love,” she said with a hint of jealousy in her voice.

  “We are meant to love everyone. You should see that , ” I said , trying to apologize for what she may or may not be feeling from Drake’s direction.

  “True…yet sometimes we love someone so much that we cannot see anyone else , ” s he replied , obviously getting more comfortable with me.

  “I thi nk we do that to fill the void. Until the person we are meant to be with comes into our life…at that moment , that love is shifted – we feel it for everything – gratitude for having felt it at all.”

  She moved her head from side to side , holding in a smirk. “I don’t see it that way.”

  Alamos stepped in front of me to see Madison more clearly. “When is your birthday ? How old are you?”

  She looked at him like he was insane as she tried to figure out why that would matter. “I’ll be nineteen on the nineteenth of this month , ” s he answered.

  “Of November?” I asked bleakly.

  She nodded to confirm.

  “What day is it at your home?” Alamos asked with wide eyes.

  Madison looked at Draven. He pulled his phone out of his pocket. “The twelfth.”

  Alamos looked down and moved his head from side to side , trying to hold in his frustration.

  “So.” I said quietly. “How does that help our timeline?”

  “It doesn’t , ” Alamos said shortly. “At this point , the sky we are studying is an illusion – it will be different no m atter
what dimension you go in. What was once a be acon of hope is now an illusion. I can’t predict anything anymore.”

  “I guess that means you didn’t see us coming , ” Madison said , slightly amused.

  Alamos didn’t take it as a humorous statement. “I didn’t. But she did , ” h e said , looking at me.

  On the inside I was grinning. On the verge of making up some little taunting song with the lyrics ‘I told you so.’ Now, Alamos, tell me I’m meant to love Drake. Tell me it’s my fault his life is in jeopardy. Tell me that I was wrong. Dare ya.

  “And how did you do that?” Draven asked with the slightest bit of hope that it would be easier to teach me to see than he thought.

  “Gut feeling,” I mumbled , to o anxious to point out that Madison was the next Queen of Esterious.

  Madison had caught my father’s stare. At first I thought he was looking over her to see how healthy she was, or to convince himself that I was right this entire time.

  “You know my family,” Madison said warmly as a sense of recognition and relief washed over her face. “I’ve seen photos of you at my house with my parents.”

  “Do I?” m y father asked. “What is their name?”

  “Blair , ” Madison answered .

  “John Blair?” my father asked as what I thought was panic rushed through him. Madison must have felt it , to o, because she furrowed her eyebrows to question him.

  “That’s right , ” Madison said as she focused her eyes. I assumed to see him more clearly. A second later , she stepped back in what looked like shock.

  “What is it , Jason?” Alamos asked quickly.

  My father was speechless as she looked from me to Madison.

  “Somebody say something , ” I said , looking from him to Madison.

  “Your father delivered Madison , ” Draven answered with a confidence that could not be argued with.

  “You did?” I asked with wide eyes.

  He nodded. “And her father delivered you. A lmost simultaneously.”

  “What?!” Alamos and I said at the same time.

  My father cleared his throat. “We , um…there was a medical convention in Washington– I didn’t want to go that close to your mother ’s due date , but she insisted that she wanted to travel – she knew no matter what , I would protect her health.” He paused taking in the memory. “There was a snowstorm. The worst one in years…and as luck would have it , your mother went into labor…and Bla ir followed a few hours later. There was no way for us to make it to a hospital…so John and I , along with the other doctors there , prepar ed to deliver our first child. None of us there practiced this field. I was the one with the most understanding of it, so I shifted back and forth between Mrs. Blair and Grace. Neither of them were due at that time, both weeks away. Willow had turned almost instantly , but – Madison was breach. I could see that. I knew which way I needed to turn her. I knew if I didn’t , the cord would suffocate her.” My father locked eyes with me , and I felt his bliss. “The moment I turned Madison – I heard you cry – it was – it was the sweetest sound I’d ever heard.”