“We had to find her again and again, wait for her to be born, for your visions to tell you what dimension she was in, then bargain our way there. It was never good.”
“Why?” Landen asked shortly.
“She was either possessed or taken.”
“Possessed by who?”
“Dane. I told you that. She was always with him. At first we thought it was a good thing because he was taking her away from the guy she was in love with in some form or fashion, but then we realized that guy was protecting her. The last time was the worst, bad enough for you to surrender your ashes.”
Landen leaned back, letting his gaze fall into the fire. I felt rage, heartbreak, and sorrow engulfing him. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that in some past, he’d found me in Drake’s arms.
“The third attempt to turn her into a Phoenix failed,” he finally murmured.
“Right, mate. When we burn, we burn to recreate who we are, become new. Innocents cannot burn. Her vessel had never been claimed by a man. You thought because you loved her before, because she was yours countless times in past lives, that her soul would be reborn. I agreed, but we were wrong.”
I felt a pull of energy encase my body, and the next second I found myself in Landen’s arms on his side of the couch. He’d pulled me there with a thought. In his embrace, I felt his energy begging for forgiveness.
All at once I remembered the time I dreamed of him a day or so ago. He told me he would never watch me burn again. I had no idea what he meant then, but now it was all starting to make sense.
“When she did not rise the third time, Dane, as you call him, came to you. He told you that she would never be yours because you had disrupted the flow of life, that she could not and would not feel a pull to you unless you became human. He told you he could do that, throw you back into the cycle, and that the very next life she would be in your arms.”
Landen’s arms tightened around me. “He made me make a deal first.”
“Right. He said that when your soul reached its beginning point once again that you would be tested. By each planet, you would have to prove that she was yours.”
Landen nodded once. That was nothing new to either of us, and we were not afraid of the test before us.
“You took the deal blindly and died before I could utter any sense of reason. Once you were gone, I read between the lines.” He glanced to my necklace. “I figured out that the curse was already in play, but it was simplistic in its creations. Now, with that last deal, everything is on the line.”
“How so?” Landen asked.
“You lose, in any way, shape, or form what you set out to end will rule forever more.”
“What is on the other side? More dimensions?” Landen questioned, wondering about this forgotten heritage.
“A reality that is prepared to cut this dead limb off, but if they do that, they die. Either we fix this or we figure out how to convince them to give us more time. Evil may not have manifested on that side, but it doesn’t mean that close-minded souls do not exist.”
Landen nodded once, as if he already knew that in some way. “What I don’t understand is that without some degree of balance, we will all perish, whether it be by darkness or light. Why are there souls that want that? Why is there a war in the first place?” Landen mused, sounding a lot like his grandfather at that moment.
“What you are up against is a sea of addicts, souls addicted to energy they should have never taken in. They have infected the masses, used them to feed their addiction. The time for philosophy has ended. They have to perish. This reality needs a rebirth.”
“My words,” Landen said under his breath.
“And I recite them every day because if I didn’t, I would have decided that living blindly was far more pleasurable, but you, Brother, taught me well. I’ve learned that instant gratification is for fools and eternal gratification is for sovereigns. I’m no fool, neither are you.”
“Were we alone?” Landen asked.
“Others are to come. You said they would surface when the time came, when the pieces were in place. The first was finding your counterpart. You always said she was the key. At one time we even thought that the images she was known for seeing would allow us to see our family in the bright reality, that she could get us out of hell if you will.”
“How did we come up with that idea?” Landen asked as his fingertips eased across my arm. I had pretty much stopped seeing images. More than likely because of this cage I had my soul locked in. I had to figure out how to balance, that much I knew.
“Mate, back then, The Selected let you through The Fall. You were not trained to do so but our family name gave us the weight we needed to give you the chance you wanted. You were pulled back unexpectedly. Apparently, you had found her in this reality. The two of you were fighting against Donalt. Somehow, hours later, she came through The Fall as well, she followed you home. When asked how, she said she followed your emotion, that she saw an image of you.” he let out a breath. “Both of you wanted to go back immediately—finished what you started. I convinced you to at least speak to our world with me. They wanted to close The Fall. I knew they would not care if you were trapped over there. Our plan was find you time. To ease the worries. That’s where we were when you had your vision. When we came home to find our home burning.”
Silence weighted the room.
“If she can see the other side, she can get us across if we figure out we are in over our heads.”
“Are you suggesting that I run from this?” Landen accused. “That I let over four million years wash away, billions upon billions suffer because I’m a coward?” Landen argued.
“No. We’ll work through this curse, but if we get down to the last minute, you are going to have to bail. Dane, others, have layered this curse so deep that I don’t care what witch, shaman, or spirit guide you find they cannot protect you this go-around. You’re against Escorts, Mirrors, Demons you name it, and you will fight it.”
“I have Witnesses on my side.”
“Right, mate, and shadowed souls, but the problem is, they are bound by your words from past lives. You’re going to have to remember what you said if you want to speed this up, either that or hope you knew what you were doing back then, that The Selected endowed you with some sacred secrets or something.”
At that moment they both glanced behind them. The smell of sage filled the room as my heart began to beat out of control.
Chapter Five
Landen rose to his feet, pulling me with him. Phoenix followed. I felt an emotion full of grief and anger and fearless intent to set us on the right path coming right at me. A moment later, Saige opened the front door. Her heavy footsteps slowly made their way to the room in which we were standing.
Her eyes met Landen’s first. She nodded once as if to confirm she had completed some task, then scornfully moved her gaze to Phoenix.
He smirked in response. “Thanks for giving me a ring. It would have been nice if you stuck around and provided a little insight.”
“What insight do you need? Did you not recognize her?” Saige said with disdain.
“Recognize her? No. She’s abundantly healthier than I’ve ever seen her. Once I did piece it all together, I almost took off with her. We both know that would have been tragic.”
Landen’s glare confirmed that point.
“How’s the reunion. Are we any closer to freeing my daughter?” Saige asked in an exhausted tone.
“Not at all. He’s still blind.”
Saige slowly made her way to Landen, letting her eyes look all around him. “Not completely.”
“Who’s your daughter?” Landen asked sympathetically, as if he owed a debt to this woman.
“Skylynn. The last witch that dared to help you on your quest.”
“The last that you know of,” was Landen’s honest reply.
“Do you remember her?” she asked hopefully.
“She performed the spell that allowed me to die.”
She nodded in response. “She can’t return until your path is aligned again. Or until her lover grieves for her.”
“Why would he not grieve for her?” I blurted.
Saige cast a wayward glance in my direction. “Because he didn’t meet her in that life. My daughter’s eagerness led her to chase visions that were not ready for her see them.” The silence pressed her to say more. “He’s with you. The core of what you need for change is nearly in place now. You have no choice but to carefully unweave this web of spells. For I fear you are all connected. One death brings all. Then no one is bringing down any master Escort.”
“What spell?” Landen pressed.
“There are countless spells chaining you. ”
“Can you not undo the spell?” Landen asked, looking for a simple solution.
“No. Only the creator can.”
“Your daughter.”
“No. You. You either created it or had someone else do so on your behalf. I know my child, she would have not helped you unless she was sure that your battle plan was solid. She fought for balance before that notion was ever considered to be an option.”
“Let me open your eyes, mate, so we can unweave this,” Phoenix said as he appeared beside Landen.
Landen nodded once to agree.
“Are we not going to talk about this?”
“They can open my eyes, Willow, let me see how we got here, what we have to do to find peace.”
“We have Draven, the others, that can see for you.”
“They can see my actions, not my thoughts or reasoning. I feel them. There is no negative intent. He wants balance, she wants her daughter back, and those goals only come if victory is reached on this side of reality.”
“I can only feel Saige...and the truth in your thoughts...if it’s best, it’s best.”
He gazed into my eyes for what seemed like forever as he carefully weighed his decision.
“It’s best,” he thought finally.
I nodded once and let out a nervous gasp of air.
“Open them. Let’s finish this,” Landen said as he let me go.
Saige walked to her table and pulled a drawer out beneath it. A small broom was retrieved, then waved across the table. New candles were then added, and she pulled out another chalice and filled it with something I could not see. She then stepped back and moved her hands across the room, and instantly a sphere of energy surrounded us all, locking us in some protective bubble. Once the circle was complete, she closed her eyes and let words whisper across her lips.
Phoenix moved in front of Landen, locking gazes, fire to ice.
I wanted to feel fear or uncertainty in Landen, anything that would give me a reason to stop this. My heart was pounding out of control, but the sphere of energy was not letting the weather reflect that emotion.
“Brother,” Phoenix said as he beckoned the fire from the candles to his hands. “All that you were, all that you are, I call to thee. I call it from the fire that birthed your soul. I call it from the ocean that guides your spirit. I call it from the wind that carries your thoughts. I call it from the earth that claims your ashes...”
At that moment, images of Landen appeared all around us. I counted sixteen, noticing the different eras of time they reflected, the way he wore his hair, the clothes he wore, the attitude in the blue I loved so much.
“Remember,” Phoenix demanded as the fire bolted from his hands and encased Landen.
Each of the images of him stepped into that fire, and one by one they disappeared into his body. When the last one was gone, Landen’s knees buckled beneath him. Instinctively, my energy grasped him, but Phoenix was already there, holding him up.
“What did you do to him!” I screamed as Landen’s eyes rolled back and his head fell forward.
“It’s a process,” he half-heartedly answered me. “Darkest room,” he said to Saige.
“Down the hall, under the stairs.”
“Break the circle,” he demanded.
The energy sphere in which we were standing vanished, and in that second Phoenix vanished with Landen in his arms.
“What did you do!” I bellowed with the thunder that erupted outside.
Saige glanced at me, then walked to her altar and whispered something before extinguishing the candles there.
“Listen to me,” she said bleakly. “I don’t know where you have been or what you have been doing, but playtime is over. Too many souls are not at rest.”
“Yeah, I can name a few billion. And if you think we have been having some kind of party, you’ve lost your mind. We’re trying to save a dimension, and we’ve already paid for whatever curse this is—dearly.”
“Dearly?” her tone was sharp as she swiftly turned to face me. “Your vessel is intact, so is his. Your souls are strong. Others—they have paid dearly. I can only hope that you have somehow managed to bring us closer and there is not more for us to undo now. The Witnesses give me hope.”
I only halfway heard her. My insights were searching for Landen. He was only feet away, and his emotions were in balance at this moment, but I felt them intensifying with each second that passed.
“Where are my friends? What happened with Silas?”
“Nothing.”
“What do you mean, ‘nothing’?”
“I mean nothing. They convinced Guardian that the rising was done to save them, not hurt them.”
“You were gone a long time. What else?”
“They were concerned with the actions Silas planned to take against allies of yours.”
“Draven?”
“It seems Silas has found a new way to kill him and it was strongly suggested that he not attempt to do so.”
I grunted, ready to take Silas down myself, but I knew if Landen let him be, then the risk was low to nil for Draven at the moment.
“Where is Clarissa? Dane?”
“In The Realm. They will be back soon. Reality takes a lot out of them.”
As I judged her every word, my gaze eased across her. She spoke the truth.
“I’ve called a friend. She will be here soon. I’m walking down that hall, and if I figure out that you have hurt Landen or anyone else I care about there will be hell to pay.”
“Look around you. This is hell. Wait. Never mind. You’ve closed that channel. You see nothing now but your heart and your personal battle.”
“What is that disdain? I did nothing to you,” I said with a glare that should have humbled the bravest soul.
“You took him from us. You were foolishly grieving for a false love, and because you were weak, you were manipulated—possessed—when he chose to save you and then failed he left. So excuse me if I have disdain. I don’t care to hear of your troubles. They are nothing compared to the dead that walk with me daily.”
“I can’t answer for who I was. Frankly, I’m tired of trying to. I’m looking forward. No soul under my watch will ever fall.”
A gleam of hope scattered across her gray eyes. “Some need to fall.” She looked away from me. “He followed you to death’s door, not only because he loved you, but because he loved his followers. I know the man that is adored and feared across time would not choose his counterpart easily. I respect you. Please don’t take my harsh words personally. I have…I’ve waiting a very long time for my daughter to have a chance at a normal life once again…I fear for everyone of you. All that are called to the war of light and dark.”
I put my hand on her shoulder and calmly into her eyes. I felt her emotions, the grief and the fear. I felt her intent to help us. Her disdain for the life plan we were all fighting. “I like bluntness. I don’t do well with round about answers. You tell me what you know and we’ll figure this out.”
She smiled vaguely. “I’ll let you know when your guests arrive.”
I glanced over her once, offering a weak nod, then went to follow Landen’s emotion. It led me down the hall, where under the stairs there was a door. I opened the door cautiously, not sure what
to expect.
Oddly, from what I could make out in the darkness, it was a rather large bedroom. Landen was lying across the bed. I felt the stare of Phoenix and found him to my right.
“You might want to close that. The light will be painful to him if he opens his eyes.”
I stepped in, then held the door open for him to leave. He didn't move. Instead, he just nodded his head, and the power to the house went out, leaving only the weak moonlight peering in from the windows around the front door to light the way.
“What are you staring at?” I murmured, not wanting to disturb Landen.
“Is my stare bothering you?”
“No. I just asked for kicks and giggles,” I mocked dryly.
He smirked in response. “I’ve been chasing your image for longer than I can recall. Forgive me if I try to figure you out.”
“Nothing special here,” I breathed as I assured myself that Landen’s chest was rising and falling peacefully.
“Doubtful.”
My gaze moved to the silhouette of Phoenix.
“He is fearless, dangerous, lethal...and you broke him. You managed to turn a warrior into a hopeless fool in love.”
“Love is supposed to make us stronger.” I was getting really sick of saying that to everyone.
“It is. But when it’s taken for no reason, when it’s dangled before someone, then ripped away, when the one that is loved looks blindly at you, that doesn’t make you stronger. It cripples you.”
I fought the urge to cry as I realized how horrible I could have been to Landen in the past. I was only aware of the peaceful lives. I wanted to run at that moment, find the furthest darkest corner, and hide there.
The moment that absurd daydream crossed my mind, Phoenix tensed and leaned toward me. “Tell me you’re thinking of running, and I throw you into the fire at this moment. You’re bound to have given him your innocence by now. This time, you will be a Phoenix. I won’t let you hurt him again.”