Landen sighed deeply and shook his head as Marc finished his explanation. “Listen, I want you to put what you just told me aside and clear your head…find that feeling and follow it. We all need someone; you aren’t meant to be alone.”
“I know that. I just have to do this first, so if you’re ready, then bring it on,” Marc said with a devilish grin.
Through the kitchen window, I saw Libby in the valley; she was picking flowers, and she had a basket almost too large for her to carry. As I focused on her, I could feel her urgency. Landen followed my stare, and so did Marc. “I wonder what she’s doing out so early,” Marc muttered.
“Something’s wrong,” I said to Landen, pushing back from the table, not losing sight of her. As Landen and Marc followed me, my quick walk turned into a sprint. “Libby, what’s wrong? Libby? What’s wrong?” I screamed. Libby jumped as she heard me, and relief filled her eyes.
“Willow, help me find the blue and green ones,” she ordered.
“What?”
“Willow, hurry—blue and green, I need lots.” Libby was now frantically searching the ground, looking at all the flowers.
“Find blue and green ones, hurry!” I yelled at Landen and Marc as they approached, and the three of us searched the ground with Libby. Once her basket was full, she took off in a sprint toward her house, and we all followed her.
As we approached the house, I counted the emotions around me; beyond us, I could only feel two. I ran past Libby up the stairs to Hannah and Jessica’s room. My stomach dropped before the door even opened. There was something wrong. The room was without emotion. Libby pushed past me and opened the door.
From the doorway, I could see the blue tint of their skin as they lay in the same place we’d seen them last night. Marc took one look, then ran down the hall, screaming my father’s name.
Libby sat the basket on the floor between the beds and began pulling the petals off the flowers and putting them on Hannah’s chest. I looked at Landen, and we both rushed to her side to help her.
“Put them everywhere, Willow,” Libby ordered.
My father and Marc came crashing into the room; just like Landen, I could feel my dad’s dread when his eyes fell on Hannah and Jessica’s bodies. We all knew that they weren’t breathing, and my father knew more. The basket was empty now, and the girls were covered in blue and green petals. Libby looked over them once, picking up a few loose petals and putting them on the girls’ chests.
“Okay, say this with me: land and will, will and land,” Libby said to Landen and me.
In a sacred trance, we did as she ordered and said, “Land and will, will and land,” in unison with Libby, repeating it over and over. Seconds later, I felt a burst of energy coming from Hannah and Jessica at the same time, and my ring and necklace warmed against my skin. I closed my eyes, and a numbing emotion swept through my body. As it passed, a dizzy feeling caused me to open my eyes, gaining balance. I looked at Landen and could see he felt it, too.
As Landen and I stood paralyzed by each other’s stare, my father rushed to the girls’ sides. We didn’t notice Libby dancing in place, my mother rushing in at the last moment, or even the overwhelming fear coming from Marc and my father as they looked back at us from the girls’ bedside.
Hannah and Jessica’s chests began to rise and fall, but their eyes never opened, and they didn’t move.
“Jason, what happened?” my mother demanded, taking into account that the girls were covered in flowers. My father kept his stunned look, staring at Landen and me.
“Jason? Willow? Somebody talk to me!” my mother shouted.
“They were sleeping too far away. The flowers helped Willow and Landen bring them back to the right sleep,” Libby answered, giggling.
“Libby, sweetie, why don’t you go and get some breakfast. I’ll be there in just one minute, okay?” my mother said, pushing Libby out of the room.
“Dad, are they okay? Look, are they okay!” I demanded, trying to get his attention away from Landen and me.
He slowly turned to look at Hannah and Jessica, shaking his head as he took a second look. “They’re fine, for now,” he said quietly.
“Were they…? Were they…?” I tried to ask if they were dead.
“Yes…for a while,” he answered in a low tone.
“What is this? Why flowers? Why did you say that?” my mother asked frantically.
“Libby told us to. We saw her picking flowers; she only wanted blue and green. Is that myth true? Did we hurt them by bringing them here?” I asked, feeling sick to my stomach.
“I don’t know if it’s our world, or if it’s something that was spoken over them. They’re fine now,” my father said, looking over Landen and me again.
“Are you sure?” I asked, looking at Hannah and Jessica.
“Their hearts are weak. Somehow they started to beat again, but they aren’t beating the way they’re meant to; it’s like they’re on life support.”
“The flowers,” Landen whispered. My father looked at Landen and nodded.
“So we have two choices? We take them home and let demons dance across their chests, or we leave them here barely alive?” I said through my teeth.
“They are very alive, and they shouldn’t be—you brought them back,” my mother said calmly.
“Did you know you could do that?” Marc asked.
“We have no idea what we can do,” Landen answered, pulling me to him.
News travels fast with an energetic little girl proud of her morning’s accomplishments. Rose and August came to my mother’s house first. My mother was frantically fixing breakfast, trying to keep her mind busy. The only sound in the kitchen was the clanging of pans and plates
Brady, not hearing the news of the morning’s events, strolled in the back door, beaming with excitement and slapping Marc on the back as he smiled proudly at him. “You guys aren’t going to believe what happened,” he announced to the room, but his words fell on deaf ears, so to speak.
His frustration grew with our blank expressions. “Did you guys hear me? I have good news, not just good news, amazing news.” While he spoke, Felicity slid in behind him, giving way to Chrispin and Olivia.
When Olivia came in the room, her eyes met each of ours for the first time, and we knew she had her sight back. She then ran to me and hugged me tightly, laughing out loud.
“Oh my God—how—what happened?” I stuttered.
“It’s amazing…This whole place is so beautiful,” Olivia said, not hearing my questions. We all stared in shock, looking at a grinning Chrispin, waiting for an explanation.
“You told her, didn’t you?” Landen asked.
Chrispin grinned, then walked over and pulled a stunned Landen into a bear hug. “You were right. I was stupid for waiting. I told her as soon as we got back, and this morning when she woke up, her sight was back…it’s amazing.”
“What did you say to him?”
“That he was an idiot,” Landen thought, with a smirk.
“Well, this is certainly uplifting compared to the morning that’s transpired,” August commented.
“What happened?” Brady said as his smile fell.
The room fell silent. Felicity eased over out of Brady’s way and started helping my mother cook breakfast. Chrispin and Olivia stared with the shell of a smile on their faces.
“The girls are sick,” my father said finally.
“What do you mean?” Chrispin asked.
“We don’t know if it’s Chara or something that was said over them in Esterious, but right now they’re on the edge of life,” my father said.
“So we take them back,” Chrispin said blankly. As the words left his lips, the demons flashed before my eyes, and fear suddenly filled me. Landen and Rose looked at me simultaneously.
“You don’t know what we saw. If you did, those words would’ve never left your lips,” Landen said kindly, looking at me with all the compassion his body possessed. Chrispin’s regret was immediate. Olivia??
?s emotion fell, and her tears followed.
“After breakfast, I’m going to call Ashten, and we’re going to look for Livingston. Whoever wants to come is more than welcome,” my father said, looking at Landen and me.
At the gates of the string, we all stood dressed in black. The only traveler to stay behind was Rose. The string was calm by our home, but as we walked on the current changed to the point that you had to push forward with each step. The hum was so deep; you could feel it in your soul. Just before the passage, Clarissa whispered instructions to Dane. Landen used our gift to prepare me.
“You can’t smile, not even your eyes, and we can’t touch. You and Clarissa must lead. It’s illegal for a man to walk before a woman, it’s the only respect the women in this world have.”
I wanted to ask why, but I was too busy burning his simple instructions into my memory.
“Keep your left hand in your pocket—rings are forbidden here.”
“Then I’ll take it off.”
“No, it’s protecting you. That and the necklace are the only reason you are not feeling my anxiety about having you here.”
I did as he said, not wanting for one instant to feel his pain; it was almost as bad as being separated from him.
“Keep pace with Clarissa. She’s going to lead us to the courtyard. Today is the day that Donalt speaks to the people of Esterious. If Livingston is here, he’ll be in that crowd. We have to leave after that. It’ll be too easy for them to see us as out of place.”
Before stepping into the passage, I turned to Landen.
“I love you,” I thought.
“You’re mine, Willow. I will always love you.”
Chapter Seventeen
“There are 2 kinds of fighters: those who fight because they hate, and those who fight because they love.”
- Criss Jami
I warily grinned up at Landen then took my place at Clarissa’s side as we stepped through after my father. The passage led into a large building. I could smell oil burning, and the room was sweltering. My dad led us up a metal staircase encased in rust. Once at the top, he knocked twice quickly, hesitated then knocked again. A moment later, you could hear someone unlocking chains on the other side, then the thick metal door opened.
Standing in front of us was a man. His age was near my father’s, but his brown eyes were older. He was dressed in a long black cloak shambled with dust and holes. He looked down the stairs at the large group my father had brought with him. I could feel his fear as he stared at Landen then me.
“Jason, I do believe that you’re premature. The moon is not yet full,” the man said.
Ashten and my father gave each other a cautious look then slowly shook their head ‘no’ to the man. Landen looked crossly at our parents, then to August for an explanation. The only response he received was smiling eyes and an emotion of pride.
“We’re only searching for Livingston. Have you seen him?” my father asked.
“Yes, he was mistaken for another and was assigned duties in the fields. His time is over today. He should, like everyone else, be in the courtyard.”
The man’s eyes never left mine as he spoke to my father.
“Am I allowed a formal introduction?” the man asked.
“My apologies,” my father said.
“This is my daughter, Willow. Willow, this is Patrick, a friend.”
Patrick smiled at me and bowed his head slightly. He then extended his arm, inviting us through the doorway. The room was dark. You could see a simple table, bed, and desk aligned on one wall and a fireplace on another. The floor was made of wood, and there was no color to the walls. At one time, they may have been white, but now they were a dull gray. Patrick pulled the long thick gray curtains shut and lit a row of candles that lined the mantel over the fireplace.
“And who might this young man be?” Patrick asked as he glanced over his shoulder at Dane.
“This is Dane. He and Clarissa are one now,” Ashten answered.
“Ah, and he’s here because…?” Patrick asked.
“Dane has a gift as well. The string is visible to him,” Ashten replied.
Patrick was either unaware of how sensitive my gift was or simply didn’t care if he was revealing. He was astonished as his eyes danced across each of us. The uneasy feeling coming from Ashten and my father was making itself known.
Patrick walked by us one by one, looking up and down. As he reached Landen, and me he stopped and stared into my eyes. A smile then came across his aged face, and his eyes seemed to lose a few years.
“Have you brought something to cover the color in your eyes? Especially Willow’s? I would dare say even an old man like Donalt could see them in a crowd,” Patrick stated humbly.
I took a shaky breath and leaned back into Landen, too afraid not show my fear. Landen put his hands on my shoulders and kissed my head softly, taking my fears away and filling my soul with calming warmth.
“People here only have brown eyes. We have to wear a film over our eyes to change the color,” Landen explained.
“Like a contact lens?” I asked.
“Yeah, just like that. It doesn’t hurt.”
My father pulled a box out of his pocket and passed out the lens to change our natural color to a stone black. Patrick walked over to a small closet and pulled out a long black scarf.
“You’ll want to cover that sovereign gem upon your neck unless you’re seeking attention I’m not aware of,” Patrick said to me.
“Should I put it in my pocket? Isn’t it hot? I’ll stand out in a long coat and scarf.”
“No,” Landen and the others said in unison. It was easy to feel that they all thought it was protecting me. August took the scarf from Patrick, walked over to me and explained, “It is always cool here. The sun doesn’t shine. The sky, like everything, is gray.”
A loud chime sounded outside Patrick’s home. Anxiety filled the room. The only one who still had his peace was August.
“Ah, it is time. Shall we?” Patrick said as he blew out the candles.
Clarissa and I left first. I didn’t look to see who followed behind us. I only concentrated on Landen's vibe--making sure it was close--and walked forward. There was no grass, plants, or trees. The silence was screaming at all of us.
I kept my pace shoulder to shoulder with Clarissa. Several others, all dressed in black, were walking in the same direction that we were. From most, I could feel the sorrow they had, and from others a void that was as real as it was when Drake was at my side.
Like in my dreams, the buildings were all the same. On the street level, there were what looked like food and clothing stations, and above them, the rest of the buildings were tall with gray, perfectly spaced windows. As a river would flow, the people streamed toward the palace. My eyes were held straight, not touching anyone but Clarissa.
To my right, I saw Ashten and my father flank off, and to my left, Brady and Marc did the same, leaving Dane, Landen, and August behind us. At the end of the alley, there was a large wall. Men dressed in black cloaks lined the top of it, facing a much higher structure.
This structure was indeed the palace. It was over a mile wide, eight stories high, and solid gray. Windows were sporadic. Wide diamond-shaped balconies were on every level.
Along the rooftop, a line of men stood, staring out into the crowd with daring composure. We halted just past the gate. As we stared forward, I couldn’t imagine how we’d find Livingston in this crowd of solid black. I could sense my father and Ashten widening their path further away from us. Brady and Marc mirrored them.
The air filled with the chime of a large bell that rang three times, and the crowd grew still. On the fourth balcony, the doors opened. From the darkness emerged two figures. One was undeniably Drake; dressed in a black suit. It was easy to feel that the females in the crowd were attracted to him. He smiled, and I heard a few breaths let loose from the women. I wondered if they even cared how dark he was. He brought new meaning to fatal attraction.
r /> Beside him, a much older man stood. I was sure it was Donalt. He was smaller than Drake and had long white hair. His face held no expression; neither of them held any emotion that I could feel. The bells chimed again as they stepped closer to the edge. I had expected the crowd to roar at their approach, but the silence rained on. It was then that I felt someone staring at me. They were in the palace, and my eyes searched from window to window, balcony-to-balcony.
In the window above the fourth balcony, I saw a small figure. Squinting my eyes, I saw the boy smile at me. He was the little guy with blue eyes in my nightmare, the one that only needed to be loved. He smiled and waved his little hand. Air wheezed through my lips as the dream came rushing back to me. My emotion didn’t go unnoticed.
“What is it, Willow?”
“I’ve seen that boy before. He’s called me, and I helped him.”
“What boy?”
“The one on the fifth floor.”
As I thought the words, the boy stepped back into the darkness. Donalt had been speaking the entire time, and for the first time As Donalt’s speech ended, the crowd turned, and the faces before me all seemed familiar.
Dream by dream, my eyes landed on each. My mouth fell open; my body froze as each nightmare came back to me. The fear within me was uncontrollable, so intense that even Clarissa could sense it. She hooked her shoulder behind me and urged me to turn. Wide-eyed and in a trance, my body was led by Clarissa out of the courtyard. Keeping a fast pace, we reached Patrick’s house, where she went to lead me in. Before I took the step off the street, I hesitated, looking for Landen’s emotion behind me.
“I’m here.”
Taking my last step in the door, Clarissa briskly opened the metal door that led to the passage. Clarissa grabbed my hand and pulled me down the stairs. At the bottom, I felt my feet leave the ground as Landen picked me up and carried me through the passages. The only ones that I knew were safe were Landen and Clarissa.
As Landen all but ran to our home, the string’s passages flew past me. As the green fields came into view, I found my clarity.