Redefined (16 page)

“That was one of my favorite stories,” I heard someone say from behind me.

Defensively, I looked over my shoulder to find Rose standing at the top of the stairs that led to the porch. Across her arm were some kind of dress or dresses. She draped them across the railing then came to my side.

I smiled shyly when I realized that she didn’t acknowledge Cashton. I truly hoped he wasn’t about to find a way to make me look like a fool in front of this sweet lady.

“What story is that?” I mumbled as visions of this woman started to spill into my mind. I didn’t get it; one minute I had to strain to see, and the next second it was a flood I could not control. Maybe it was Chara itself that was doing it to me.

Rose walked over to Monroe, and from her pocket she pulled out a small bouquet of what looked like green weeds and placed them in Monroe’s lap before smiling slightly.

“What’s that?” I asked, squinting from the visions of her life that flashed before me. She was a gifted traveler, had seen worlds and places that only the wildest imaginations could think to create.

“Many names in many dimensions. I call it mugwort simply because that is the easiest name to remember.”

I smirked, thinking that would be a ridiculously hard word to forget.

“And what does it do?”

“Protects you on your journey into the dream world. May I?” Rose asked as she pulled a necklace out of her pocket.

One glance at the necklace that resembled an odd shaped black rock told me that it was a family heirloom.

“That’s yours,” Cashton said with a gasp.

I could tell he wanted to show himself to her just so he could grasp it from her. Every muscle in his body was tensed, and the blue in his dark eyes was flaring.

Rose unclasped the silver chain that was thicker than any jewelry I’d ever owned and reached to put it around my neck. Immediately, the intensity of the visions stopped. They were still there, but it was more like distant thoughts, ones I could call to action if needed - but now they were not controlling me anymore. I didn’t have to think to silence them.

I reached for the black rock around my neck. It was polished to the point where it looked like a glass. The musician in me saw the shape as a guitar, but I knew few others would see it that way. Inside, if I looked very closely I could see something moving within the rock, almost like green leaves...then again, it kinda looked like green stars.

“What’s this?”

“I assume it’s yours. Is it helping?” she asked in a whisper.

Cashton had relaxed now that the necklace was on me.

I smirked. “For months I’ve been trying to see the right way again, and now something has flipped the switch and my mind is flooding - but this...this is balancing me.” I locked eyes with her. “Why do you think it’s mine? What’s in it?”

She smiled wisely. “When I was young, August and I met a couple, and that couple gave us the scroll that we have been using as a guide through these trials. The girl gave me two necklaces, and the boy handed over two rings. I was told that the necklace you are wearing did not belong to them and that I would know instantly to whom it did belong when I saw her.”

I moved my head slowly from side to side, seeing the story she was telling me play out. It was Willow and Landen that had given this to her, apparently at the end of one of the many lives they had lived together. Rose asked no questions when she saw her future granddaughter. I would have asked thousands.

“So I guess we don’t know what’s in it?” My eyes glanced at Cashton, but he was not offering any answers.

She grinned. “Should it matter if it’s helping you?”

“Curiosity.”

She nodded and grinned. “Well, that’s a black diamond, a stone that is as old as the universe itself. What’s within it is as much of a mystery as what we are all going through.”

“A diamond?” I gasped. The stone was an inch long and thick. “I can’t take this,” I said, reaching for the clasp. As I did so, my fingertips were shocked.

Cashton just smirked, like he knew that was going to happen.

“Looks as if it disagrees,” Rose said with a hint of humor.

I swallowed nervously and let my hands fall.

“What did you mean before? ‘I love that story’?” I asked, nodding to where Monroe was still sitting in meditation.

“I’ve traveled far. I’m sure you have seen as much. Every culture has a story of evolution, and no matter how complicated that story is they simplify it for the sake of children, to answer their questions when they ask about their beginning.”

I nodded, telling her to go on.

“That story - or what she was chanting - reminds me of one that is told in the dimension that rests at the peak of the string. They are aware of alternate dimensions. Some citizens have even dared to travel the paths.” Her gaze moved to the open fields. “When their children ask them to explain how there could be another world, this story is told. Who came up with it is just as much a mystery. Basically, there was a couple that was so powerful, so in love, that they divided their souls so that they could live two lives at once – two worlds side by side.” She smirked. “There are other stories that link to that one, saying that at some point the couple lost themselves or were trapped apart in opposite worlds. They had to find each other, join with each other in a sacred bond - and when they did so, the paths of the string were created so everyone could travel between the worlds. There is nothing like an old myth to make the mind wonder.”

“I don’t get it,” I sighed, trying to see it - but as far as I could tell, Rose was explaining this the same way she had first understood it. I guess I was just slow when it came to mythology.

“Soul mates,” Cashton said as he threw his hands in the air. “One made of two. Divided, then joined again.”

I nodded once, still not getting it. He playfully squinted his eyes at me as if to scorn me for being closed-minded.

“Well, we are all meant to understand myths in our own way,” Rose offered.

She walked over to the railing and nodded for me to come. I looked longingly at Monroe before complying and following her.

“These were made for you and Madison for tonight. Because you are the taken one, your gown is plum with a black cover up. Your untaken friend has the ivory one.”

“Do we really have time to do this?” I asked, gently taking the garments from her.

“I’m afraid we have no choice. With all of you here now we can not only fight the core but also diminish the points of power. Olivia will be here shortly to help all of you get ready, and I have no doubt that you will do well.”

“How am I supposed to act out the role of some kind of queen when I have no knowledge of any culture in that dimension?”

She grinned slightly as her eyes fell to the necklace that had decided it would rather stay on my neck. “I have no doubt you will be able to see your answers quite clearly.”

And with that, she smiled and walked down the steps, then out into the field.

I clutched the gowns to me with one hand and pointed to the necklace with my other hand with wide, questioning eyes.

“What is it?” I mouthed.

“Mum gave it to you. It has rested on every female in our family - which means you didn’t go rogue. She gave that to you because your path had opened.”

“They still had to save us.”

“I’m sure they have been watching closely. The move they made to save you was dangerous, but they knew if they were successful that they would give both of us a fighting chance.”

“Fighting?” I said, raising my eyebrows, telling him that was not my style. I’m a peacemaker.

He let out a low whistle. “Good thing your boy has enough anger for the both of you.”

“And what is your emotion, brother?”

“Ah, now why would I tell you that right when you are starting to trust me?” he said with a wink.

I focused intently on him, but I couldn’t see it. I suppose it was an emotion that was not easily seen outwardly. Must not be too bad.

“Fine, tell me whenever.”

I turned to take the dresses in, as well as to figure out where Draven and Madison were. After draping the gowns across the banister, I followed the voices at the end of the hallway. I swear I could feel Draven down there. I could not get over how electric his energy was now. It was causing butterflies in my stomach. I felt like I was walking up to my crush for the first time.

When I reached the study I found a room with a high ceiling, which allowed even more room for the endless books and bookshelves. There was an oak table in the center, and around it were August, Draven, and Landen. Madison was nowhere in sight.

I guess I was under the illusion that Landen was missing or off with Silas somewhere. My eyes grew wide when I saw him leaned across the table. His dark, wavy hair was waywardly tossed to the side, and his skin was tanner than the last time I saw him. His rather tight black T-shirt amplified that, along with his lean muscles, and his blue eyes seemed like they were on fire as they studied the black book Draven had given him days ago.

Landen’s eyes rose to meet mine when I stepped across the threshold. There was not a smile in them, which was odd. From every perspective I’d seen, this family saw him as a peacemaker. Adventurous and stubborn as hell, but definitely a peacemaker.

“You didn’t tell me he was a Phoenix,” Cashton said from behind me. “We really need to work on our communication. A flaming bird is something that you would think would come up in common conversation.”

Draven smirked, but it was clear that no one else could see Cashton.

There was a sting in the air, kinda like what I felt next to Madison before. I wasn’t sure where it was coming from, so I lowered my eyes from Landen and eased my way to Draven’s side. August looked up when I reached him.

“You look well,” August noted. He glanced at my necklace and winked at me. “Balanced, too, it seems.”

Draven reached his arm around me, taking the sting in the air away. He turned me with little effort and reached for the diamond necklace on my chest. When his eyes met mine, I let him see where I got it from. He glanced at Cashton, who was looking over everything that was on the desk. He even moved a sheet of paper, but no one seemed to notice.

“What are you guys doing?” I asked, noticing the block of wooden box my mother had left.

“What we always do,” Landen commented dryly. “Sifting through half-truths and myths to find a direction.”

“This one is getting his head right,” Cashton said with a nod to Landen. “I like him.”

Landen’s words pierced the blanket of energy that Draven was giving me. I squinted at the pain of it.

Landen’s eyes grew curious as Draven casually pulled me closer.

“They were trying to figure out how to put the wall up in Aden’s head. It appears that this is probably a box. They just can’t open it to see what is in it,” Draven answered.

My eyes met Cashton’s, looking for answer. “It’s a binding box. It will connect two that have been unnaturally divided - painfully.”

For some reason, his words made Draven tense.

“Your biggest problem is that Aden is going to have to agree to this,” Landen said, apparently picking up the conversation they were having before I walked in the room.

His words stung once again, and unconsciously I stepped back, finding myself against Draven. I must have moved suddenly because now both Landen and August were staring at me.

Cashton dropped the corner of the paper he was reading as his eyes moved between Landen and me. Landen slowly rose from his leaning position and walked past August to where I was standing. With each step he took, the pain increased. It wasn’t the seething anger I’d felt when I stood beside Madison before. There was something else laced in it that was making it unbearable...grief, maybe?

I leaned against Draven as I felt his arm go around my waist. If I focused on him, his energy, it would numb what Landen was putting off, but it was like standing between two magnets. I felt both a repelling sensation and a pulling one.

Landen stopped just feet from me. His blue eyes looked all around me, then into my eyes.

“Am I bothering you?” he asked solemnly.

“Are you still a fast learner, little one?” Cashton asked.

I warily glanced at him to ask why.

“You are about to get a harsh lesson,” he said with a chuckle.

I swallowed nervously. “Not at all,” I muttered to Landen, trying to be the peacemaker that I always was.

“Charlie,” Landen said, raising one eyebrow, “remember what my insights are.”

I thought I heard a threat in his voice, but I couldn't be sure. Did he want me to say yes? Was he looking for a fight?

I didn’t answer.

“Push it away,” Landen said firmly.

I moved my head once to the side, trying to say no but not finding the will. I could feel Draven’s energy changing - it was becoming defensive. I never realized how much we said without words until now.

“I didn’t ask you to,” Landen said firmly, clearly telling me that that was a command. When I made no effort to move or think his energy - that painful burning - intensified to the point where it felt like knives were cutting into me.