Vital (9 page)

“I think this should give you hope. What Stella said about the butterflies is also written here. They are to serve as an omen, warning her that the time when she’ll need to use this power is near. I would think that would mean that her life isn’t in any immediate danger - and whoever may be in danger, she’ll be able to save.”

A fear spread through me as the thought of losing anyone came to me. I knew I wouldn’t be able to handle it, that I’d fall apart. I was sure that my breath would leave me the moment Landen took his last. I agreed with Landen: this was no magic loophole. Our emotions would control us through our adversities.

“What else does it say?” Landen demanded, still pacing, not finding comfort in August’s excitement.

August was turning each page delicately as he read the words of the blind profit. “The beginning tells why he built the loophole, then it predicts the fall of the looking glass.”

“What?” Landen barked, stopping in front of us.

“It appears that the only way that this loophole would have worked in the first place was by the original being destroyed. This page,” August said, pointing to a place halfway through the book, “basically says that the rings will spin in place at a blind distance and that the rubble will rise. That in the new life of the glass, you will not need to stand within it for it to show its power, that the power will find Aliyanna when it’s needed. It also says that the power will teach her how to use it, meaning it will give her small moments to change. This exercise will help her prepare for what is to come - a moment that could change everything.”

I drew in a shaky breath and said, “I think we should build it. I mean, how many times have we thought, ‘If only I’d said or done something, everything would be alright’?”

Landen looked at me, questioning my words, then said, “We’ve always survived the choices we’ve made.”

I tried to smile. I wanted this chance, no matter how close or far away it may be, and I let my intent and emotion show that to him.

He tried to mask the disdain for this as he looked at August. “Do you have any reason to believe that this will hurt her?”

August shook his head no. “According to this, even if we build it, Willow will still have to choose to pass through it. Meaning that if we find a reason not to trust this loop, we don’t have to use it. I would think it’s purpose rests somewhere in Mars or beyond, not what we’re facing now; this is a precursor to what will come. Any opportunity, loophole, advantage you found – you must take it.”

Landen took in a deep breath and closed his eyes.
This is what you want?
he thought.

I felt the wall he had around him begin to fall, and I stood and went to him, then wrapped my arms around his waist.
It seems someone somewhere in time thought I’d need a way out...we should take it.

He kissed my forehead and pulled me to him. “Alright, what do we have to do?” he asked.

“Give me a minute here,” August said. As he turned the pages of the book, Landen and I sat back down on the couch. I smiled at Stella; I could feel how excited she was about helping us.

“Did Marc say when he’d be back? I think all of this may have delayed him,” I said, feeling sorry for her.

“He didn’t say. It doesn’t matter, though, because the longer he’s gone, the sweeter the reunion is,” she said, blushing.

“That’s hard for me to process. I can’t stand the idea of being separated,” I stressed, gripping Landen’s hand.

I remember how sickening I thought couples like us were when I was in school. I wasn’t like this because I was infatuated; I was like this because I had this fear that when we part, we’re saying goodbye forever. It could be the pain I’ve felt in the past, or the fear of the devil; either way, I was always anxious without Landen near.

“Everyone’s different; we have to be. Marc was born to be a traveler and a protector. He knows I’m always here. I know it makes him feel safe knowing that,” Stella assured.

I smiled, feeling envy for their love.

Landen was watching August carefully as he read the words of the blind. I felt his curiosity rise. “What wish was granted to Tyless for building the looking glass? Did he ask for his sight?” August asked Stella.

She shook her head no. “My father said that Donalt had assumed that would be his wish, but Tyless told Donalt that he’d be truly blind if his eyes could see the world around him. His wish was for his family to be taken to the other side of the world, far from the view of Delen. Donalt agreed, but on the condition that Tyless and every heir would travel by the full moon to Delen and watch over the looking glass for seven days.”

“I wonder why he wanted to go so far away, to have to endure such a long journey every few weeks? I mean, back then, by the time he made it home, it would be time for him to leave again,” I pondered.

Stella smiled. “Looking back, it would be easy to say that the devil played Tyless for a fool because at that time, Atamentous was nothing more than farmland, and it was easy to forget about the power of Donalt there. But once our family moved there, the estate was built. At one time, my family was blamed for bringing Donalt to the town’s doorstep. That blame was forgotten over time; I think I’m the only one who may understand why Tyless chose that spot.”

I raised my eyebrows, encouraging her to go on. She smiled warmly. “Because he knew I’d find you there, that you’d bring me here - that today this book would be given to you. I told you he saw everything in the path of Guardian – at least until this point,” she said, looking at August, wondering if she’d given light to what lie beyond that day.

“Wise man,” August said. “It doesn’t seem to go much past this point. It could be that I don’t see that yet or that Tyless was given a gift, that he was able to see how his purpose would weave through time. I know many wouldn’t have the patience to wait so long to be rewarded with that victory.”

“Do you understand it?” Landen asked, prepared to judge his response. I knew that if August showed any doubt, Landen would shelf this idea. He wasn’t prepared to gamble with anything or anyone.

“This seems simpler than I thought,” August answered, looking in Landen’s eyes, daring him to doubt his confidence.

“How?” Landen asked, growing more comfortable with the idea.

“Basically, the two of you hold your rings in the palm of your hand, then clear your mind and call forth the outcome to any situation you’re facing; it says the rings will call to each other and then spin. It also says that the rings must stay hidden from plain sight, like in a jewelry box. Honestly, from the way this is written, it seems that you could have stumbled on it even if we hadn’t found Stella or the book...quite genius.”

“Nothing is simple,” Landen replied.

August ignored him and looked at me. “Do you have a jewelry box that we could lock the rings in?” he asked.

At that moment, I felt Libby and Preston in the distance. Their emotion was almost placid. It had been like that for a while. I would have to really focus on them to feel a signature of an underlying emotion. I thought, but I wasn’t sure, that I felt relief and excitement. I looked at Landen, and he nodded, agreeing with me.

We’d debated on why they’d recently lost their childlike enthusiasm. We thought maybe it was because though their bodies were still small, their minds had reached a level of maturity beyond any of us.

“I’m sorry; I don’t,” I said to answer August. I then went to the door to open it for Libby and Preston. I was sure they’d reached my yard by now.

August looked at Stella. “Can you go to my house and ask Nyla to give you her grandmother’s jewelry box? Ask her to clear all the jewelry out.”

Stella nodded and followed me to the door. Once I opened it, there stood Libby and Preston. In Libby’s hands was a small, dark, wooden box. The hinges were silver and extended along the sides. In the center of the front was what looked a like a lock, but there was no place for a key. My mouth flew open, and my eyes widened as I looked from them to the box.

“Nyla’s jewelry box,” Libby said, smiling slightly.

“You did ask for it – right?” Preston said.

“Oh wow,” Stella said, beaming with an anxious excitement “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to all of your insights.”

Libby handed the box to Stella. “August asked you to bring it to him, so here you go,” she said, encouraging Stella to leave them alone with me.

Stella gently took the jewelry box from Libby’s small hands and looked warily at me as she walked back to the living room. I closed the door behind me, then walked to the front steps and took a seat. Libby came to my right, and Preston to my left. As each of them took my hand, their touch was so calming; it was like finding yourself in the middle of a perfect dream. They didn’t say anything at first; we just watched the butterflies dancing with the wind.

“I assume if you brought the jewelry box, you have no fear of the rings,” I finally said to them.

Preston smiled up at me with the most innocent, courageous blues eyes. “We have no fear of anything, for fear belongs to the darkness.”

“You’d tell me if this was wrong, wouldn’t you?” I asked, looking back and forth between them.

Libby threaded her small fingers through mine. “The only person that could hurt you is yourself, Willow; we can’t protect you from that.”

“Libby, please, I don’t understand...you’re starting to act like everyone else. Give me a straight answer.”

She looked at me, then slowly pointed to my head. “What you fight now is here.”

“Are you telling me that I’m not resting? Did you overhear Dad and Mom talking about me? Are you saying I need to dream?”

“Yes, no, and yes,” she answered, smiling at me.

I looked away from her and out at the flowing green hills in front of me. “Dreams scare me. I tried to sleep already today, and it was painful - to say the least.”

Preston squeezed my hand, calling my attention to him. “This battle will find you; don’t look for it when you close your eyes. You will find clarity if you listen.”

I wrapped my arm around him and pulled his tiny body closer to me. I reached my other arm around Libby, pulling her to me as well. “I know it’s weak, but I don’t want to be alone - and when I dream, that’s what happens. I have to face every fear, every wondering thought on my own, and that’s...well, that can be hard.”

Preston looked up at me, studying my face. I was sure he was reading every part of me. His innocent smile came to life. “If you don’t want to be alone, then you won’t be. I’ll help you,” he promised innocently.

I doubted his every word, but I smiled anyway, “I’d like that very much. I’m very lucky to have found you.”

Landen opened the front door. I looked over my shoulder and smiled at him.

“Am I interrupting?” he asked sincerely.

“No. Libby was telling me that I needed rest, and Preston was promising to be brave and protect me,” I answered.

Landen smiled at them, then reached his arms out for Libby to come to him. She crawled out of my embrace and skipped into his arms. He picked her up and swirled her around, causing her laughter to erupt. Feeling her break out of her placid emotion, Landen’s hope grew. He wanted her to be a child, to not have to see what lies in our path.

I knew that emotion was still there
, he thought as he sat her down. “I’m glad you told Willow to sleep. She’ll listen to you,” he said, winking at her.

I rolled my eyes and squeezed Preston, then let him go and stood to climb the steps.

“Dreams will come to her,” Libby promised. I could feel the truth in her words, and I hoped that because Landen felt it, too, he would stop worrying about me.

“August is ready to try this, and honestly, I don’t want to keep anyone waiting on us at the palace,” Landen said, looking at me.

“Is it gonna be hard?” I asked.

Preston shook his head no and grabbed my hand, leading me into the house. I looked at Landen as we passed by. I knew he wasn’t completely comfortable with this, but he felt that by me wanting to do this, he had no choice but to follow. I reached my hand out for him.
I don’t think this will work the way it’s meant to if you don’t want to do it; we can wait if you want to
, I thought.

He shook his head no.
I want to do this now. I can’t argue with how uncanny it is that this book is here, that Tyless saw it come to this point. It just bothers me that we need a second chance; I’d rather think that you and I would be wise enough to find our path.

I’m sure we are, but we can’t control others.

He pulled me to him and kissed my temple.
I have no idea what I ever did to deserve your heart, but I promise to never give you a reason to take it from me.

It was never mine
, I thought, sending the sensation of love and passion that he gave me through my touch.

He looked at me as he felt the emotion.
You’re getting really good at that
, he thought.

What?
I asked as we sat down beside August.

Showing people why you own an emotion. Just now, I could see every time I made you feel that way.

Really? That fast?
I thought, knowing he had to have seen almost every moment of my life.