“Is everyone here?” I thought.
“What’s wrong with Willow?” Marc asked.
“We’re all here.”
“I'm all right,” I said aloud, defusing the concern I felt coming from everyone.
I looked behind me and saw Livingston pass through the passage; he frantically looked at us, anger engulfing him. “Why did you do that?” he yelled. “You should have never brought them there! Do you have any idea what could have happened?” He halted when his eyes found August.
“You shouldn’t have stayed that long not with all that’s going on!” yelled Marc.
“That’s exactly why I needed to be there because of what’s going on!”
“Let’s just calm down,” Chrispin said, stepping into squash his father and brother’s feud.
“Let’s go. I’m done,” Landen thought as he pulled my hand toward him.
We walked away from them, still feeling their frustration and hearing their arguments. I don’t think our absence was noticed until we’d already reached our house. Once inside, Landen pulled the drapes and pushed a chair against the door that had no locks. He then led me back into the den and fell into one of the large chairs, pulling me with him.
Landen held me tightly, frustrated and angry. Not forcing thoughts or words from me as I laid with him, I listened to his heartbeat rising and falling with his chest. Time passed, and the sun that had glowed behind the drapes faded into night.
As my eyes grew heavy, I thought, “Can we go to our place?” Landen stood with me in his arms and carried me to our bed. Lying side by side with him, I stared into his eyes, losing myself somewhere inside him. He kissed me just as softly as he had the first time, only now warmth accompanied the love that rushed from him. This was the only place where what I was made sense, and it was easy to feel that my feelings weren’t alone.
Now the rush that had become so addictive was called again, and we were immersed in a feeling of love that was incomparable to anything on earth. We’d both missed our place, the place where we’d met each night in our dreams throughout our childhood; it was even more beautiful than Chara. Everything was bright, full of life. The only element it needed was sound. Though we could see the birds, their song was absent to our ears, and the water that flowed through the gentle stream did so in silence.
We glided hand in hand as we’d done since we were children. I watched Landen’s eyes search each new horizon that came into view. We both felt safe there but had our bodies on high alert as they lay in our bed.
“Do you know where this is?” I thought, wanting to assure myself that now that he stood there again, he’d only been there with me.
“I’m sure,” Landen thought, pulling me to him and kissing me tenderly.
Our path led us to a place we’d always loved to go: a small waterfall. Beneath the fall was an indentation that wasn’t affected by the light mist that surrounded it. Inside, as we nestled, we looked through the water at the soft, warm sun.
“How many did you see today?” Landen thought, drawing me against him.
I called the memories forward. “It was like they all were there.”
His eyes closed as he pushed his rage down.
“Landen, something is…something is off about that little boy.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I helped him, he was dirty, and he was in the town like the others. How do you think he got to be in the palace?”
“Are you sure it was the same one?”
"He looked right at me and smiled like he knew me. Why were there children in there?”
“Donalt has a court—it’s suppose to be a whole other world inside.”
“I just feel like I’ve been set up. I thought that that boy was neglected.”
“Neglected?”
“Yeah. He was dirty and sitting alone outside as his parents argued inside the building.”
“You were set up. Did you not notice how the people didn’t speak?”
“Yeah,” I thought, baffled.
“They aren’t allowed to speak above a whisper. If a couple were screaming at each other, they’d be put to death. The child wouldn’t have been outside alone.”
“So what did Drake do? Stage it all for me?”
“Maybe he was testing your sensitivities. Were they all children that called you?” Landen asked.
“No, they were all ages, in all different places.”
Landen leaned back on his arms, judging his words before he thought them. “How crazy do you think it would be to go through that passage you made inside the palace?” I felt his anxiety and regret saying the words.
“I’ve been waiting for you to bring it up. I thought you might be angry with me for making such a dangerous suggestion,” I thought, reassuring him that no matter how dangerous it was, we had to save the girls.
“It is dangerous, but I can’t think of a faster way to prevent Hannah and Jessica from dying.”
“I can’t lose anyone else..."
Landen took in my words and held me tightly. We slept on until late in the next day, hiding from it all.
Through the kitchen window, we could see Felicity, Olivia, and Libby picking the flowers. Their sorrow was very sobering. The once full field of flowers was growing more and more barren.
Libby smiled when she saw us coming. She then set her basket down and ran into Landen’s arms, giggling as he lifted her over his head. Olivia smiled at me; the sight of her had never been more beautiful.
“Landen?” Felicity said in a solemn voice. “Brady wanted me to ask you to come and see him. He’s at Marc’s.”
“Where’s Livingston?” Landen asked already knowing the answer.
“He went back to Esterious. Marc stayed at our house last night; he left early this morning. Brady thought he was going to go to Esterious and followed him. Brady called just before we came out here and said that they were at Marc’s and to tell you if you came out.”
Landen passed a wary look to me. “What about Jason and Dad?”
“They went back to Esterious. No one has said much since yesterday. They’re waiting for you to tell them what to do.”
Landen closed his eyes, wishing this burden away, just as any noble leader would want to do when lives were at stake.
“Landen, go. I’m going to go see the girls and check on my mom.”
“Is that safe?” Olivia asked.
“Marc’s is only a half mile away, we just can’t let the string separate us,” Landen explained. He then kissed me and hugged me tightly before he left. Even though it didn’t hurt as I watched him walk over the hill, the longing to have him close made me uneasy.
“Should I help you pick? I saw some closer to my house,” I asked Felicity.
“We have to be careful. They only work when they’re alive, so we only pick what we need. I think we have enough for now,” Felicity answered.
Walking toward my mother’s house, I could feel her. Her excitement was gone; her emotions were full of dread.
We went up to Hannah and Jessica’s room. The room was full of a beautiful floral scent. The flowers on their chests had wilted, and one by one we pulled them off and replaced them with new ones. They lay still, not moving; their beauty was remarkable. They deserved more than this. I wanted them to have the same joy Olivia had.
Feeling Olivia’s guilt, I placed my hands on her shoulders, smiling and showing her how happy she was. As I pushed the power of love through her, her face lit up as she slowly looked at me.
“Thanks, Willow.”
Felicity was watching our exchange, and her excitement filled the room.
“It’s coming easier to you now.”
“A little bit. I think I’m going to try and help my mom now. I’ve never seen her like this before.”
Felicity’s smile lessened a little. “Willow, imagine how you’d feel if you knew that your child had been chosen to fight a battle that they didn’t start, and it didn’t matter what sacrifices you made, you
couldn’t prevent it from coming to pass,” she said, caressing her stomach and choking on her tears.
I hugged her tightly, showing her how happy she’d made me the first time I’d met her and how much life she’d brought to this family. The baby kicked, and I felt it through her skin. Felicity laughed, and her bliss was back.
“Looks like she already loves her Aunt Willow.”
“She?” I questioned.
“Women’s intuition,” she said, smiling. “I’ll take Libby to my house and let you spend some time with your mother.”
My mother was on her back porch, staring at a blank canvas. She was still, more still than I’d ever seen her. I put my hands on her shoulders and remembered all the energy she used to put off, how all my friends thought I had the coolest mom.
She sighed. “I told so many to follow their dreams, and yet I kept my daughter hidden from hers.”
“Mom, did you know?”
“We never knew for sure. Your father had a fear, an instinct…he never really told me why he wanted to stay there, but I know he had the best intentions.”
She looked into my eyes for a few seconds before standing and putting her hands on my shoulders. “Willow, I just need you to promise me that you’ll be the daughter I raised you to be and listen to your heart in every battle you face. Don’t let anyone tell you your truth. Every story has many sides.”
I smiled, promising her I would.
My father shuffled his feet across the floor; his sorrow was heavy, and when I turned to look at him, his now brown eyes made me sigh deeply.
“Where have you been?” I asked him.
“We went to look for Livingston. We can’t find him anywhere.”
“He went back to get the star, didn’t he?”
“I don’t know...”
“Has he told you anything that I need to know, Dad?”
“You know what we know. He kept Landen from going into that world and just wants more than anything to keep the two of you out of anything that has to do with that star, those rings, the whole deal. He thinks it’s all his fault, and for the life of me, I can’t figure out why.”
“Dad, don’t worry about it. We’ll figure this out.”
“I should be the one telling you that. Listen, we’re going to have to think of something quick. When we run out of blue and green flowers, we’re going to have to act fast. They may need to go home until they grow back or we figure something else out.”
“Dad, you just don’t know what those things look like, how painful it is.”
“Willow, we’re going to have to choose them. To live, they’re going to have to be in pain.”
I closed my eyes, feeling the burden on my shoulders, knowing that regardless of what choice I made, Jessica and Hannah would pay the price.
“I think I’m going to go home. Landen should be back soon.”
“Willow, don’t do anything foolish. The two of you can’t face this on your own.”
I smiled warily at my father then walked past him.
Landen was waiting for me on the front porch; when he saw me coming, he walked toward me. The sun was setting, and the sky was a dark orange. Landen’s silhouette was breathtaking; his broad shoulders gave way to his long, muscular arms. My breath left me as he gathered me in his arms and kissed me. We’d only been apart for a few hours, yet the reunion seemed so much sweeter. I could not get over how the sight of him would make my heart pound.
“Did you bring peace?” I asked.
“Did you?”
“A little. Is Marc okay?”
“He’s just mad at Livingston.”
“He’s not going after him, is he?”
“I made him promise to wait for us, and he said he would.”
Landen’s eyes were staring past me as he saw someone. Suddenly, I felt Libby’s excitement and turned to see her standing on the hill between our homes, waving her little arms, trying wildly to get our attention. We smiled at each other and started walking toward her, sure that she was happy and at peace. Libby danced in place as she waited for us to get closer.
“Willow, hurry! Mom is going to call my name.”
“What is it, baby?”
“Willow, you need a page.”
“A page?”
“It’s on a long table with red flowers.”
“Where’s the table?”
“You know, Willow.”
Landen and I looked at each other quickly then back at Libby.
“Why do I need it?”
“Because it has words to make Hannah and Jessica all better.”
“Libby, do we need the star, too?” Landen asked.
“I don’t know. My friend said that you only needed the page.”
“Who is your friend?” I asked. Libby shrugged her shoulders.
“Where did you see your friend?” Landen asked.
“I see him when I sleep.”
“Libby, does he scare you?”
“No. He showed me the flowers. They’re so pretty.”
The front door to my mother’s house opened, and she stepped out. “Libby, it’s time to eat say goodnight to Willow.” Libby dropped her little shoulders, then shuffled toward us and hugged us.
“Love you, Willow.”
“Love you, too.”
We strolled to our house. Not turning on any lights, we passed into the living room and settled into the couch, watching the last light fall into the horizon.
“Do you think the passage is still there, the one that leads to the altar?” I asked.
We both knew Libby was talking about the room where we’d found the girls, the one that the priests and Drake were in.
“I don’t know why it wouldn’t be.”
“What do you think we should do?”
“I think that place was a temple. During the day it will be full of people.”
“What about at night?”
“I don’t know.”
“Should we go?”
“I like the idea of finding a cure without having to get the star back,” he muttered.
“Are we going to let him keep it?”
“I didn’t say that. I just don’t want to play games with Drake while those girls are clinging to life.”
“Dad said when we run out of flowers, we have to take them back if we want them to live,” my voice cracked as I reached for my chest, remembering the pain of the nightmares.
Landen closed his eyes and sighed deeply. “We should go tonight,” he said after a moment.
“Awake or asleep?” I asked.
“Awake. I don’t want our souls trapped there.”
“We’re going alone, aren’t we?” I said under my breath.
Landen nodded. Neither of us wanted anyone there with us; we knew we’d be walking into the heart of Donalt’s palace. We agreed to wait until the night so no one would know that we’d left.
Chapter Eighteen
“There are 2 kinds of fighters: those who fight because they hate, and those who fight because they love.”
- Criss Jami
Just before opening the door, we hesitated, staring at each other, both pushing the fear as far away from us as possible. Landen cradled my face with his hand, his blue eyes searching deep into mine.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
I nodded.
He leaned in; let his lips brush against mine, I sighed on contact and leaned up so our lips would meld together. “We’ve already won,” I whispered as our kiss broke.
Near the string, Brady and Marc stood, waiting for us in the full moonlight.
“You’re not going with us,” Landen said as we approached them.
Their resolve was apparent, and we knew they intended to leave with us no matter what we said to discourage them.
“We’re supposed to go,” Marc said, crossing his arms with a stubborn expression on his face.
“Libby told us,” Brady said, stepping closer to the string to lead us in. His overwhelming calm was unsettling.
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“Libby told you what?” I asked, wondering what part we were all about to play.
“She came to me, and then Marc, and said we needed to go to the string and wait for you,” Brady explained as he put his hand on my shoulder. “She seemed calm. I think we’ll all be okay.”
Landen reached for my waist and pulled me to him, and Brady lost his touch. He stared at Landen as if he had no choice but to go with us, but Landen looked at Brady and shook his head no.
“This has nothing to do with you, Brady. Go home. Felicity needs you.” Landen moved his attention to Marc, and I could feel him becoming consumed with gratitude and sympathy. “Marc, you’re wrong. You need to find the one made for you.”
“We are going with you,” Brady said calmly.
Landen looked at the ground. “Where does Felicity think you are?”
“She thinks I’m helping someone, now can we please go?” Brady bit out.
“No one else knows, you’re sure?” Landen clarified, looking at Brady.
“We didn’t tell anyone,” Brady assured Landen by letting him hear the truth in his words.
Brady made his way to the string opening, and Marc followed. Landen sighed deeply as his eyes made their way to the full moon that seemed to engulf the sky. I gently pulled his hand, and we stepped in the string.
Landen took the lead, turning into the passage with the waterfall, hoping that when they saw that we were walking directly into the palace, they’d hear our pleas to go home. Once past the waterfall, we stepped cautiously into the dark forest. Brady and Marc kept their resolve, and no fear came from them.
Landen turned and looked at them. “Listen, I don’t know what’s in there or who could be waiting. Our purpose is to pull the page from the book on the altar, which has the words that will heal Hannah and Jessica,” Landen explained.
“How are you going to know what page? Why not take the whole book?” Marc protested.
“Libby said the page. If we can take the book, we will,” Landen said.
“What about the star?” Marc asked.
“For another day. Tonight, we need to find the cure for the girls,” Landen said, looking at both of them. “This is your last chance to turn around; this is not your fight.”