Vindicate

by Jamie Magee

  Draven stepped forward angrily, but then halted and balled his fist. “I’m fighting to not become that. Why can’t you see th at?! Why do you have to push me?! Why do you have to tempt me?! If I touch you, if I even think about it, Silas will kill me – is that what you want ?! You want to see us fight to the death?!”

  “Who is Silas?” Landen thought as he gripped my hand and pushed me behind him.

  “Their Drake, ” I thought as I tried to figure out what to do or say. I knew this fight wasn’t sta rted by him not consoling her. I knew it started long before today and that this was the last straw. That the stress of this had caused Charlie to snap.

  “Seriously?!” Charlie said coldly. “Since when does h e tell you when to touch me? How to touch me? Since when would you let any man have that kind of control over me?”

  “It’s not control, Charlie – it’s protection,” Draven seethed. “You can’t even conceive the amount of self-control I have to have around you in this Realm, in our world. I crave your light, and the temptation is too much!”

  Draven’s eyes moved to us, then back to her. “I led you to your Chara. Your Willow. I helped just like I promised you I would.”

  “What was your motive behind that?” Charl ie seethed .

  “To mak e sure you were with your kind. That you were safe. That you have people with no alternative motives to guide you.”

  “So you plan to just dro p us off in another dimension? Your brother –Madison ? You’re just going to leave us? Walk away like nothing ever mattered?!”

  “Ev erything matters!” Draven bellowed as he stepped forward. With that step, Silas appeared between them.

  “That’s Silas,” I said quietly as I moved forward, but both Drake an d Landen moved me behind them. Prepared to t ake sides. To take Draven’s. Landen felt that way because he felt my em otion – my gratitude for Draven. I f I had to guess, I would say that Drake found a familiar agony in Draven, one he recognized in himself.

  Draven slanted his head and slyly said, “Show yourself.”

  Instantly, the room turned near dark as shadows surrounded Silas. Draven dodged around Silas and grabbed Charlie, and in that moment they vanished.

  I was furious at Silas. I blew wind from my lips; watching the shadows scatter like ash, then thrust my energy at him as I pushed my way between Drake an d Landen. “You son of a bitch. I told you to stay away. I told you if you hurt him, there would be hell to pay!” I roared as I watched my energy have little to no effect on him.

  Drake and Landen were at my side, taking every step with me. “Did he threaten you, Love?” Drake asked in his familiar magnetic tone.

  “You threaten one of my own – you threaten me,” I said coldly.

  Silas’ eyes shimmered as he g lanced at Landen. “He is your light,” his eyes mov ed to Drake, “but he is not. He’s a poison. Like Draven.”

  Drake’s energy raged out at Silas, but Silas reflected it. When I saw it coming back at Drake with more force than he had given it I dove in front him . Taking the blow. As I fell to the ground, Silas vanished.

  Chapter Fifteen

  I could swear that every bone in my body was broken – shattered. I closed my eyes and pulled myself into a ball. I heard the others yell directions at each other. If felt Drake’s hypnotic touch on my head, moving down to my shoulders, then I felt Landen’s hand s moving over every inch of me. I felt his energy inside of me. I nstant relief. We had to get out of here. We were already on borrowed time. I just knew that we were.

  I let out a deep breath as my eyes flew open. “I’m going to kill him,” I said as I pulled myself up.

  “Stand in line. He’s mine ,” Drake said through gritted teeth.

  Landen was breathless and fell from his knees at my side. He looked up at Brady. “Where the hell are we? Where is everyone else? Why are they not here?”

  “This isn’t Esterious, man, it’s a wicked Realm that girl took you into,” Brady explained.

  “What girl?” Drake asked.

  I pulled my self up between them. “Bianca. A rather poorly seductive girl that wanted your status in reality. Wanted Landen’s energy and by all observations, me dead.” I felt a chill rush through my core as I said that last part.

  Landen’s rage was instant.

  “We need to go back,” Ol ivia ordered . “We need to wake up. Like now.”

  Good to know I wasn’t the only one that felt that threat in the air.

  I turned my head from side to side. “Cha rlie and Draven are still here and it doesn’t feel like they are having a good time,” I muttered as I took in th e emotions of anger, sorrow , and fear that I felt coming from them. I couldn’t leave them here. Not after everything they’d clearly sacrificed for us.

  “You’re weak, Willow. They are, too . Let’s go back and get Aden and Madison. They will know where they are. We’ll co me back, I promise,” Olivia pleaded , reaching for my hand.

  I refused to take it. “There isn’t enough time.”

  “I agree with her, Willow. A ll of you are weak,” Brady argued .

  “This is like a dream. This is our soul, not our body?” Landen clarified .

  I nodded, holding my defiant stare with Olivia.

  “Turn around,” Landen said firmly to Brady and Olivia.

  “What?!” Brady said.

  “Turn. A round,” Landen said in a harsher tone than was needed. I knew how weak he felt was fueling that hostility.

  Brady and Olivia did as they were told.

  Landen glanced across me to Drake, then took my ha nd. His energy melted into mine causing pure rapture in my soul. His energy was intensified; it was like it was on fire with life, passion. I held in a moan that would have been humiliating if I let it out.

  I reached out for Drake, but he refused to take my hand . “We don’t have time for this argument,” I whispered harshly as I felt Landen’s energy wave through me again and again.

  Hesitating slightly, Drake took my hand and the connection between us was complete.

  I felt my e nergy empowering both of them. Each time Drake would pull mine, Landen’s would replace it –escalating my soul ’s core . The room illuminated into a bright glow. When I knew I was strong – when I felt invincible, I let my hand fall from Drake’s. Landen leaned closer to me and let his lips rest on my temple, sending even more energy through me. His lips were blazing. I leaned into him craving more of all that he was.

  Regretfully, Landen slowly moved away. There was no time for the reunion we were both hungry for.

  The glow faded, and all around us there were shadows mocking the images of man whispering pleas in every language you could imagine.

  “Landen,” Brady said, stepping back defensively, guarding us.

  The three of us were on our feet immediately.

  “This is w hy we needed Aden and Madison. We can’t help them!” Olivia yelled, steppi ng back to us as terror came over her. The fear was a justifiable emotion. We were staring into the faces of the damned.

  I gripped Landen’s hand and reached for Drake’s. “Think of how much you love me,” I whispered as I remembered Char lie demanding th at I show the dead that emotion . A s I remembered their first moments in Esterious.

  The whispers of the shadows stopped, and they focused on the three of us. “You want to feel this?” I asked.

  The whispers began again as the shadows moved forward.

  “Remember it. Remember it in a song. In a sunset. In a scent. Remember!” I yelled at them.

  At first nothing happened, then I saw a light , then another – then another. With e ach light, a shadow disappeared. Within minutes, they were all gone.

  Brady turned to look at me. “What now?”

  I glanced down as I tried to focus on the emotions I felt from Charlie and Draven. “Do you feel them?” I asked Landen.

  He nodded to confirm, then reached for Brady’s arm as Drake reached for Olivia’s hand.

  “Focus on that,” I said quietly as
I closed my eyes.

  When I opened them again I saw a forest all around us. A head just a few hundred yards, there was an opening. Shadows were surrounding the opening, but I could see a light gleaming from the center. I took off in a sprint , feeling Landen at my side.

  When I reached the shadows, I pushed through them. I saw Silas and Draven fighting each other with weapons that would change from swords to daggers. Every imaginable dangerous tool. The ligh t was coming from butterflies. They were surrounding Charlie.

  Charlie was screami ng their names, circling them. Dark shadows were pouring into Draven, and as they did, his rage grew, his thirst grew. Silas aimed a dagger at Draven’s heart as Charlie dove between them. Si las almost didn’t stop in time. The blad e cut into her back – not deep, but deep enough to draw blood.

  Draven’s eyes, full of thirst, locked with Charlie’s. She was crying. I had no idea what she was saying to him but it didn’t seem to be helping. At. All.

  I felt Draven fighting the darkness t hat he had absorbed inside of him, but he wasn’t strong enough. The rage he had for Silas was fueling that weakness , and he was losing control. He was submitting to his desires. Becoming what he feared most, the darkness inside of him reached out and began to take Charlie’s light into him. The butterflies started to f ade. Disappearing almost instantly into his chest. Charlie ’s knees began to buckle, but Draven held her against him. The look in h is eyes did not belong to him. I t was near demonic.

  I knew I had to give him energy. Light. I had to . I f I didn’t, he would take all of Ch arlie’s. He would kill her. Landen squeezed my hand when he felt my intent, and with one thought I was at Draven’s side and Landen was at his o ther. We touched his shoulders. Held the intent to help him. To pull this darkness from him. To give him what he needed to stay the man I knew he was.

  The pull he had on Charlie stopped instantly , and her light was returned to her. Butterflies were glowing even more brightly as they flew from his chest. Silas pulled her away, but as he did, Drake charged him to the ground.

  “Breathe,” I said in the sweetest voice I had to Draven. “You’re pure. You’re beautiful. You love this girl. You love her more than the thirst for power.”

  With my words, Landen and I focused on him. Draven’s skin began to glow as our energy poured into him. As he took in a deep breath of euphoria calm a bsorbed every part of his being . His soul returned to his eyes.

  Charlie’s tears stopped. “Draven,” she said as she reached for his face.

  His gaze was wide, but he found a way to focus on her to pull her to his lips.

  It was a beautiful moment, but it wasn’t one I could give all of my attention to. In front of us, Drake and Si las were in a fearless battle. Not with weapons, but with energy. They were thrustin g each other from side to side. I felt Brady’s intent to stand between them, but Landen and I both knew that would be near fatal.

  Landen’s energy reached out for Silas, raising him, then letting him fall. Silas caught himself, but not bef ore Drake landed on top of him holding him down.

  Charlie became aware of what was happening and ran to Silas. With all of her strength, she tried to pull Drake off him. “Stop! Don’t hurt him! I saved you! I brought Willow here!” Charlie screamed.

  “And he tried to kill her!” Drake said as his eyes glared down at Silas.

  “Drake , ” I said calmly as I walked toward to him. Charl ie’s frantic eyes peered into mine . I felt her emotion begging me for mercy. For understanding. The thing was that I did understand. I had stood between two m en more times than I cared to. I knew exactly how she felt.

  Drake froze at the sound of my voice. “I have no doubt that if you spare him, he will leave. He will not hurt anyone,” I said steadily , moving my eyes from Charlie to Silas.

  Drake glared down at Silas. “Is that true?”

  Silas looked behind Drake at Draven. “If you have him under control, I will not hurt him.”

  Charlie’s guilt was immediate. For the first time, she fel t the betrayed stare of Draven. She realized he was watching her plea for the life of man that a moment ago was willing to take his.

  “They do. They do !” Charlie yelled. “Let him go. It’s over. Everything is over.”

  “Drake,” Landen said as Brady and Olivia came to his side, blocking Draven’s view on purpose.

  Drake stood and looked down at Silas as he climbed to his feet. When they were face to face, Drake stepped forward. “Think twice before you call someone ‘poison’ again.”

  Silas threw some nasty comment back at him but I couldn’t hear it. I was distracted. The shadows that were surrounding us began to shift uneasily . Troubled. One by one they began to vanish. As if a predator was silently approaching.

  “We got to get out of here.” I thought.

  Landen looked over his shoulder at Draven. “Now would be the time to console her,” he said quietly. Draven didn’t move; he couldn ’t. His emotion of betrayal and guilt was paralyzing him.

  I guess Drake had convinced Silas to leave. Now Charlie was standing alone, crying. Landen knew Draven was our way out. We also knew his intent was to stay right here. He was to traumatized to make a move.

  Landen turned and walked to his side, and quietly in Draven’s ear he whispered something. Draven’s eyes grew wide as he looked at Landen, then swallo wed hard and walked to Charlie. He spun her around and kissed her passionately. She wrapped her arms around him as he picked her up.

  “What did you say?” I thought. Realizing that most of the shadows had vanished at this point, and a howling wind was creeping through the trees.

  He reached his arm out for me and pulled me to his burning lips. When he slowly pulled away, he looked into my eyes. “I told him to love her fearlessly, for that is how she loves him.” He laced his hand through mine, focusing on the raw skin under and around my ring. He healed me as he glanced around at the trees, picking up on the silent warning of danger . His skin hummed . I furrowed my eyebrows to question what this Realm had done to us. Finally convincing myself it was just because he was healing my meaningless wound.

  Even with imminent danger I could not stop staring at his mesmerizing blue eyes. There I saw the passion, love and devotion. I felt those beautiful emotions in my core, and told myself my mind was playing tricks on me. Landen was whole. The Realm had not taken or altered anything within him. If anything it amplified all that he was. And he was mine.

  “Um – I don’t mean to ruin the moment, but can we wake up now?” Olivia asked.

  I broke my stare with Landen and looked at Draven, who was still locked in a passionate embrace with Charlie.

  Drake tapped on his shoulder. “I get it, man. I do, but I d on’t know where the hell I am. Help us get back.”

  Draven took in one last deep kiss from Charlie, then set her down. Blushing slightly, he turned to face us. “Alright,” he said, letting out a breath. “This is not like meditation. I t’s a dream.”

  With those words, the room we left our bodies in appeared around us. Drake and Landen looked at each other in utter surprise.

  “This is where we are at. We’re in a bed together?” Drake asked, looking down at me .

  “Yep,” I said smugly.

  “The place Bianca took you from was destroyed,” Draven explained.

  “How?” Landen asked.

  Brady elbo wed Landen. “Word to the wise. Don’t make her mad. Mother Nature is on her side.”

  Geez can we please give Willow a hard time after we get out of here.

  Landen’s eyes grew wide as he looked down at me . “You destroyed it?” he asked.

  I shrugged my shoulders weakly . “I was mad – wouldn’t you be?”

  Drake laughed out loud. “I love it!” Then reason c ame to him. “Wait, where’s mom? Alamos?”

  “I pulled them out before I ever w ent in to save you,” Landen replied still staring at me . I could see the wheels in his mind turning. He knew he was my balance. He knew what I was
capable of. He was furious and terrified that some unknown force and pushed us into this hell.

  “I didn’t hurt anyone on purpose.” I thought with an ache.

  He pulled me c loser and swayed me ever so slightly. “Did someone hurt you? Was my family disrespectful to you? Was anyone?” His thoughts were meant to be tender but I knew that there was fury behind them.

  “They just don’t get me the way you do. I didn’t make it easy on them either.” That was as honest as I could be.

  Brady was staring at us. Landen looked over at him in an arbitrary way .

  “You should be proud, Brother. It was an honor to stand with her in your absence.” Brady said so quietly that I doubted anyone else heard him. Landen nodded once in response then pulled me against his humming body.

  “Save me?” Drake said, crossing his arms, trying to call back any memories.

  “You don’t remember her? Long, dark hair ? Her blue eyes?” I asked.

  “That should have been the first clue I didn’t let her in. Blue eyes are not my style,” Drake said, looking into my eyes.

  “Can we focus, please?” Olivia said, noticing how tense Landen grew with his words. I could not have agreed more.

  “Right,” Draven said. “This is where you are – asleep. This is a shared dream by all of us, and now,” he said as he walked over to Drake and Landen and put his hands on their shoulders, “it’s time to wake up.” And in that instant, they vanished. The wickedly eerie forest returned.

  Draven reached back for Charlie’s hand, then looked at me, Brady, and Olivia. “Step back. This vision is closed. You’re standing before an altar. Before the waking bodies of Drake and Landen.”

  “Nothing is over,” I heard Bianca say.

  She had appeared behind Draven and Charlie.

  “I thought I killed you,” I said through gritted teeth as I stepped forward. Charlie was at my side – pushing Draven behind her.

  “Killed me?” Bianca said as she smiled devilish ly. “Dark shadows won’t hurt me. They are nourishment to me. What were you trying to do ? Choke me or something?”