Vindicate (7 page)

“I’ll go alone , ” Rose said , ending the argument.

“Is the string safe?” I asked .

Everyone seemed to nod at once. Rose hugged me , then left the room.
I hated to admit it, but I was glad to see her go. With her gone no one would know about the emotional war that was raging inside of me. I twirled my ring allowing my nail to scrape against my raw skin. If I kept my focus there I would be good.

“August,” I said to get his attention. “Have you checked on the looking glass today?”

His eyes captured mine. “Do I need to?”

“Well.
I don’t think it’s working.”

“Of course not ; it’s under water , ” Alamos argued. “At least time has not been bothered since it moved there.”

I held August ’
s stare. “Are we sure that’s a good thing?” I asked distantly . “Moving time wouldn ’
t be a bad idea right now.”

“Shame we can’t do that , ” August said , trying to ask me if I had the chance without lettin g the others in on our secret. T
he secret that we ’
d changed the purpose of that looking glass. T
hat now it was meant to lead us back to a moment we needed to change. S
omething I wanted to do right now.
I wanted to turn back time.

“Agreed. But it’s clear that ’
s not happ en ing , ” I responded .

August nodded , taking in my unspoken conformation that I hadn ’
t been given that chance. T
he universe was forcing me forward.

“Where ’
s Stella? With Marc?” August asked the room.

“She was comforting Beth in the chapel , ”
m y father answered.

I looked down as August walked by. I was sure by now mourning was something Beth had grown use d to. I glanced at my dad. “Has…has anyone told Aubr e y ? D
oes she know ?
”
I asked as I fought my tearful voice and my eyes moved to Landen. I knew his mother would be insane.
I knew I should bring her comfort, but I couldn’t ; it was all I could do to hold myself together right now.

“Preston did , ”
m y father said humbly.

“What did he say?” I asked , looking for anything. A ny insight.

“He told her that Landen had to go away to fight , but for her not to worry because he could feel that – that he needed us to be strong so we wouldn ’
t make him weak , ”
m y father said in a calm tone as he walked slowly to me. I reached my arms around his shoulders and let him rock me from side to side. I kne w then that I had to be strong.
I had to hold it together so I wouldn ’
t make Landen weak where he was. I needed to figure out how to make him stronger.

Over my father’s shoulder , I saw Alamos release the drapes along the canopy of the massive bed Landen and Drake were lying in. “What are you doing?” I asked him . I didn’t want them closed in. I had to see them.

“Giving them rest. T
hey don’t need to be stimulated by any movement we make . A ll of their senses are elevated , ”
m y father answered for Alamos.

I walked past my father and opened the drapes. N
ot all the way , just enough that I co uld see the center of the bed. See their arms. T
he sides of their strong chest s as they took in air. No one argued with me. I t was a silent compromise.

I felt Brady’s respect and gratitude grow and turned to see what had caused that spike in his emotion. Marc was in the doorway , and he took my breath away. He was wearing one of Drake’s suits. His hair was brushed back the way Drake always leaves his. His shoulders were pulled back , and the look of disdain for the position he was put in caused him to become a twin image of his brother.

“What do I have to do again?”
h e asked hoarsely as he locked eyes with Alamos.

“You have to wait for Perodine to dress.
We’ll stand at your side . That will show a unity. T
hat will show Drake embracing the present – Donalt – add to the confusion of the rumor that he ’
s dead.”

“I don’t want them to doubt that victory , ” I said in firm protest.

Alamos looked at me. “Yes , you do .
D
onalt ruled with an iron fist. T
he fear of him – the fear of his past rule will enforce the mourning. T
he silence we need.
”
He glanced at Drake’s body. “
T
he time we need.”

I didn’t bother to argue. I just walked to the edge of the be d and stared at Landen . I was lost in a vacant thought for countless moments. I kept listening…listening for Landen’s voice. I listened so closely – so deeply into my soul that I barely noticed when the bells began to ring.

What is it about the sound of a bell ? T
he sound that could cause an emotion of pure joy or absolute misery? It’s the energy…
the energy behind the person pulling the rope…when they’re happy , they pull the long rope to the bell with joy as if it were weightless…
when the y’re sad , the rope seems as if it weighs a thousand pounds…
the measured pull of the line creates a slow , long , deep sound that commands you into sadnes s. I couldn’t afford to be sad. N
ot if that meant I was making Landen weak in whatever realm he was in .
I focused on another s ound – the sound with guitars. T
he one that brought misery to that girl.

Holding that sound in my thoughts and the craving for revenge , I walked to the window to witness a ritual of the damned people that lived in this dimension. My father and Brady were standing in the shadows of the drapes. From their side , I could see the courtyard. The bells that were ringing from every corner of the palace and all throughout the city had caused people to come out of their shelters and walk slowly through the palace gates to center court. I could see no individualism, no color. It was as if they were one entity. One thought. T
he color…
everything I had given this city had been washed away in one morning.

Three stories down , there was a large balcony.
Marc was standing in the center. Perodine was to his left, Alamos was to his right.
Across the stone div ide before him was a wide black cloth , rolled tightly.
On each side o f Marc , there were large vases full of black roses.

Once the people had assembled, once there was no more room in center court , the bells stopped. Marc stepped forward and pushed the black cloth down. I could hear the pop of the cloth as it extended down ward ; at the same time , guards around the wall of the courtyard unrolled black cloths. One by one , I watch ed each section fall until the entire wall surrounding the palace was black. Then Marc reached for the roses , and one by one he tossed a rose down. O
ne for each soul they were to mourn.
I counted forty-two . I had no idea if that number was great or s mall in the minds of this world.
I didn’t even know if the number was accurate.

When the last rose had fallen , I felt the placid state of grief come over this dimension. It was cold , and with the shiver that ran down my spine , snow began to fall on the ma sses below. It fell so quickly, s o silently that the back roses, the cloths hanging from the balcony , and wall were now white. It was my way of telling them that the death of Donalt - the death of any of the traitors that ha d the nerve to call themselves priest was a necessary step in bringing them peace. I doubt my message was read clearly by the people, but Marc had understood me . H
e gazed up at the sky , then bowed his head just before he turned to leave.

The silence had begun. O
ur time had been bought.

I grew tired, so tired that I could barely stand. In a daze , I walked to the bed. I carefully crawled between Landen and Dra ke. I laid against Landen.
I felt his breaths against my back. I heard his heartbeat. I closed my eyes as I reached across the bed for Drake ’
s hand. His skin still hummed , but just barely.
I felt him slipping away.

I began to drift immediately. I fell so deeply in to sleep that the thought to let my soul rise – to stand watch over them even while my body slept , never had the chance to come.

In my dreams , I heard echo e s.
Echoes of laughter. O
f passion. O
f anger. Some were Landen’s voice , others were Drake’s…
the n others came. Flashes of light. M
emories came. I remembered the pain I had a few days ago, those moments I was in the desert , then on the stone floor. The women. T
he flower that drifted to my chest.
I remember ed Nathaniel telling me it was feeding my heart the illusion that my soul mate was near.
I remember ed Landen’s eyes when he saw the mark. H
ow peaceful they were as he tried to unravel how a dream could have left that mark on me. W
hat it meant.

I li ngered in that moment with him, staring into his eyes, feeling his energy , for what felt like an eternity. Then something cruel happened.

The skies in my dream burned with fire. Flames highlighted Landen’s beautiful face. Terror was the only emotion I could f eel. It wasn’t coming from him. It was the air. T
he air was suf focated with terror. Whispers. D
ark whispers swarmed around us , then shadows came. I heard the seductive laugh of a woman and jump to my feet , looking for her.

In the distance , I saw the silhouette of Drake on a b alcony that mocked the palace. A woman was circling h im. I t was her. T
hough she was what seemed like miles away , the birthmark on the back of her neck was glowing like fire. “I can’t save him alone , ” Landen said to me.

I turned swiftly to see his eyes full of determination. I ntent on not giving in to this place. “Come back to me , ” I pleaded in a firm tone.

He moved his head from s ide to side. “His death is ours. F
ind them , Willow ; they see everything.”

“Who?”
I yelled , but a fierce wind came and blew his image away. I screamed his name over and over , but my voice was gone . I turned to where Drake was. T
he woman had stepped back. Now feet from him , she raised her hand , and shadowed images appeared and began to surround him. C
onsume him.
I ran to where he was, she was. I was going to kill her. F
orce her to give them back, but the world around me changed ; it turned into the glow of the string. In front of me , I saw a small image. I ran faster until I saw the blond curls of Preston ; he was running – laughing – laughing as if he w ere the field of flowers playing with Libby.

“This way , Willow,” he giggled over his sh oulder. Then I heard it again. That sound. The guitars. The drums.
I knew where I was in the string. I was within the passages of Infante. Preston stopped at a gray haze. On both sides of it , there were violet hazes leading to different parts of Infante. I heard a guitar scream out a commanding sound , and just as I stepped in I heard a voice, a hypnotic voice. O
ne I had heard before from the boy that was holding Charlie .
I pushed forward , wan ting to confirm my thoughts. To see them. T
o make them come with me, but my anxiety caused me to lose my focus in this dream.
I woke without warning.

My entire body tensed as I tried to conceive the idea that all of that was just a dream. I slowly rose , finding myself in the nightmare of my life. Neither Landen nor Drake had moved. Both of them looked as i f they were peacefully dreaming. I squeezed Drake ’
s hand as I let it go. I turned and kissed Landen’s soft lips tenderly before I crawled out of the bed.

It was dark now. The only light in the room was coming from the dying fire in the fireplace and the lamp on the center of the table Perodine was working at. My father was asleep on the couch that faced the fireplace. Marc and Brady were stretched out on the parallel couches.

I tiptoed to Perodine’s side.
She had changed clothes again. She was no longer dressed as the Queen that stood on the balcony before ; she was in pants and a button up black shirt , and her long silver hair was pulled back into a ponytail. I like d it when she dressed like this. I t always ma de her seem more approachable. W
illing to do more than give wise words . I t made her look like she was willing to fight in whatever way she needed to on my behalf.
“Where is everyone?” I whispered.

She laid her pencil down and pulled out the chai r beside her for me to sit down, t hen she nodded to where Marc was sleeping. “Alamos is trying to see how convincing Marc was…
” She tilted her head down and raised her eyes. “To see if anyone read his and your promise as clearly as we did.”

I furrowed my eyebrows to question her, still groggy from my dream.

“You masked the color that was meant to bring grief in a beautiful blanket of snow…
Marc nodded to the heavens as if he u nderstood the unspoken message. F
or some , that may mean that Drake is ruling with God in his heart. F
or others.
” She sighed. “
F
or others , it could be seen as a slap in the face. A s a man who will prevail over his past successors by undoing what is in place.”