“He pulled it from me,” I whispered, reaching to hold his hand, to feel his touch.
Beth’s trembling hands covered her mouth, trying to hide the shock she was feeling. Everyone began to stir. Landen and Drake sat up at the same time, and a terror came over Landen as he replayed his last memories. He laid me back down gently and pulled down my shirt to assure himself that I was healed. Drake leaned over me, searching with Landen for a wound that didn’t exist; a simple white line was all that remained.
“You did it,” Drake whispered.
“We both did,” Landen said, pulling me up slowly and embracing me as tightly as he could.
Drake slid closer to me and took my hand to get my attention. “Why?” he asked in a cracked voice.
The others had surrounded us. “I’m the blood of Jayda; the children stayed, and the twins changed places,” I said, taking in a deep breath and feeling myself grow stronger.
I felt the astonishment and disbelief in the room; everyone was realizing that they weren’t as certain as they’d thought they were.
“How did you know?” Landen asked, leaning me back so he could see me.
“I saw them, Alyianna, Jayda; they stood at my side and showed me the life I lived then.”
Landen looked at Drake, who shook his head no.
“We didn’t see them,” Landen said.
“Did you see Libby and Preston?” I asked, bewildered.
They both looked blankly at each other, and I knew then that they hadn’t. The charm on my neck began to hum against my skin; it felt as light as a feather. All of a sudden, a light burst from it, then room around us was filled with images of me. Drake moved protectively closer to me and Landen as the images floated through the room. Paintings that we’d burned came from the ash and hung in their place, and the mirrors unveiled themselves, showing no sign of ever shattering. The shadows of the corners vanished, and the room instantly lost any eerie feeling it may have once held. The images of me joined as one and flowed angelically back into my charm, and in their wake beside us was a small pile of gray ash. Drake carefully reached for the pile and let the ash slide through his fingers. Marc was kneeling at Landen’s side.
“Is that all that remains?” Marc asked.
I slowly moved my head from side to side; I knew it was only a very small part of the demon I’d faced.
“The sun is setting in the West,” I heard August say.
We turned to see him at the window. Dane stood in front of me and helped me up, and Landen and Drake found their way to their feet. We made our way to August’s side. Outside, we could see the people of Delen going about their day; the workers along the wall were moving forward with their task. I felt a new emotion and turned to see the silent servant girl standing in the doorway. She bowed her head, then asked Perodine, “Shall I prepare dinner?”
Perodine looked to me, then to the girl. “What time is it now?” she asked.
“Almost seven-thirty, ma’am,” she answered.
We all seemed to sigh at once in relief.
“No. Our guest will be leaving shortly,” Perodine answered. The girl bowed her head and left.
Landen turned back and stared at the workers along the wall. He then sighed and looked at Drake. “They’re anxious,” he said, tilting his head in the direction of Drake’s followers.
Drake nodded. “I need to appear before them before the sun sets,” he answered, letting his eyes meet mine.
“Do you think the string’s open?” Marc asked.
“There’s only one way to find out,” Landen said, looking down at me.
I was overjoyed to see my family, but my heart held sympathy for Drake and for Beth; I knew they’d stay there.
I stepped cautiously to Perodine and hugged her. “I’ll be back as soon as I know they’re safe,” I said in her embrace.
She shook her head no. “Take a day to rest; enjoy the world you created so long ago.”
I nodded and passed by her. August then walked to Alamos and Perodine’s side.
“I’m going to help them escort my family home, then I’ll be back to understand what happened here - and what will happen now,” he said.
Perodine nodded. “Bring her,” she said to August. His eyes questioned who she was referring to. “The one who’s had your thoughts throughout this, your soul mate; you will be of sound mind if she is at your side,” she said, smiling slightly.
August smiled and nodded.
Alamos looked at Perodine. “I must go with him to protect him from the court. I’ll return when I’m sure they’re not threatened,” he said.
Perodine nodded as she looked at Drake. “Keep in rhythm of the man they think you are, and you will be fine.”
He nodded, took a deep breath, then looked at his mother; Beth looked down, fighting back the arguments she wanted to invoke. As he led us all to the passage in his room, Drake walked to her side and let his hand rest on her back. As we walked, he put his arm around Beth and began to whisper; I felt her fear and frustration as he spoke.
I looked up at Landen. “He wants her to go with us, to see Livingston and Preston,” he thought, pulling me as close to him as he could.
I saw Beth whispering in protest, then felt the two of them reach a resolve.
At the passage, Marc and Dane stepped in first; they weren’t going to allow me or Beth to hear the screams if they remained. A moment later, Marc reached his hand through, telling us to enter.
August guided Alamos in the passage. Drake looked at Landen and me. “Guide her to your family and bring her back to me by day’s end tomorrow. If she’s missing too long, it’ll cause a conflict in the court. I’ll meet you at the palace; it’s not safe for you to appear at my estate,” he said to Landen.
I watched as Beth’s shoulders relaxed; she was overwhelmed with relief. She hugged Drake, then came to my side and took my hand. Drake’s eyes looked over me, then settled on my charm and slowly fell to where my wound was. He sighed and stepped in the passage. I gripped Beth’s hand and forced a smile, then led her into the string. Drake had disappeared into the glow. When we reached the place where the wall had stood, we found Marc, Dane, and August waiting for us. When he saw Beth, Marc’s elation was immediate; he immediately took possession of her and led the way. Landen pulled me closer and kissed my forehead.
“Are you OK? Did it hurt as badly as it seemed?” I asked.
We stopped and let the others walk on. He then turned to me and held my face in his hand. I stared into the beautiful blue that led to his soul.
“The only pain I remember is seeing you raise that knife to your chest. When I began to fight the darkness, I lost every insight I owned. Without them...not knowing what you were seeing...feeling...I assumed that you’d found a love for him and couldn’t bear to choose, that you were laying down your life instead,” he thought.
As he said them, I felt the pain in his words - and every part of me ached.
“There’s no choice; you’re the only one...I saw that when I stood at death’s doorstep,” I thought, reaching for his face to pull it closer to mine.
“I think that’s how I lost you before: I let my eyes tell me a story that was untrue, and I let you go to him,” Landen thought.
I moved my head from side to side, disagreeing with his thoughts. “I refuse to give his memories life – and so should you,” I thought.
He stared into me as he leaned in and kissed me so tenderly that I barely felt his warmth. I pulled him closer and let the love and passion I felt for him flow through me.
When we reached Palhen’s, the others had already passed through. I smiled up at Landen before we stepped in. Before us, only Pelhan and Aora stood. In the distance, we could feel the elation and excitement of our return. Pelhan smiled warmly and bowed his head; we bowed in return.
Pelhan’s eyes moved to me. “You look well,” he said, moving his eyes to where my wound was.
Landen reached his arms around me, pulling me to him and suppressing
his anger. “Did you know? Were you trying to make us learn a lesson?” he asked as respectfully as he could.
Pelhan’s eyes moved to Landen. “I cannot read the stars or the choices you make – we simply interrupted Olivia’s dreams,” he answered.
Landen released the anger he was feeling and nodded in Pelhan’s direction. “We should have taken her,” he said, regretting his decision.
Pelhan pursed his lips, and I felt him carefully choosing his words. “Nothing was harmed by leaving her here. We sent the dream to you; I know that August received it,” he answered.
Landen and I looked at each other, then back to Pelhan.
“I knew that the two of you would not dream, and Marc and Dane would not rest deeply enough to. August was the only passage we had.”
“That was Olivia’s dream?” I asked, remembering the one August spoke of, the images of me, the children and the color of blood.
Pelhan nodded. “Your family feared this dream, but I knew it meant that the power of that charm was surfacing, that the spirit of Willow’s soul would be a guiding light in the moment of choice,” he answered.
“Her choice was death,” Landen said, holding me tighter.
Pelhan looked at Aora. They smiled at each other, then looked at me. “Her choice was life,” Aora said. “She could have submitted, ending this battle with the darkness - but she made a choice: allowing you to heal her, to finish what you have begun.”
Landen looked at me. My choice had escaped him; we’d debated that the gift of emotion was pointless unless the person we were helping wanted our help. The same is true when you’re being healed: you make your own choices. Others may guide you, but they can never live for you.
I broke my stare with Landen and looked back to Pelhan. “Did you know that I’m not Donalt’s daughter? That Alamos and Perodine were my first parents?” I asked.
He smiled. “Only because you’ve told me before,” he said, tilting his head. “You have brought a scroll here, seeking help. In your last life, you told me that you feared the day that all of the truths would come - for it would show you how clever the devil really was,” Pelhan answered.
“They’ve been played as fools,” I said, thinking of Alamos and Perodine.
“Living in one form for so long is their punishment and reward. The darkness knew the battles their heart fought. Your love story evokes emotions they have forgotten, clouding their guidance,” Pelhan answered.
“Did you read the scroll?” Landen asked, filling with hope.
Pelhan shook his head from side to side.
“It's all foolishness to me. I know the stars may bring influence, but the soul leads the life. The answers you find there may prepare you for a possibility – but as you saw today, that possibility will cause you undue stress. A calm mind would have allowed you to see the likelihood of Willow being the descendant.”
“Drake and I never would have put the blade through her; the stress would be the same - just a different degree,” Landen said in a shaky voice. “I want to know the influence, the battles that have been fought already.”
Pelhan’s smile grew, and his Aura seemed to brighten. “You always have. Seek what you wish - just remember to see every adversity through not only your eyes, but also the one you face,” he answered.
Landen’s eyes carefully gauged Pelhan; he was trying to read his intent, his emotion, and his energy all at once. I could feel Landen’s frustration; like always, Pelhan revealed nothing beyond his vague words. Both of us felt unsatisfied with the resolution of that day’s battle: a pile of ash, that was all. Perodine and Alamos were still trapped in this life, forced to watch the battles I faced, Drake was still lost in the illusion that I belonged to him, and the city of Delen remained demented in the eyes of Esterious. To us, it seemed the trails grew more difficult - and the rewards seemed smaller.
Pelhan stepped closer and hugged Landen, then me. “I’ve asked your family to come one by one to the passage; I know that, in your moment of death, you saw life through their eyes.”
Landen looked at me, and I felt a grief and anger surface in him; he hated that I’d been alone and unprepared for what came. I took his hand and sent a calm to him. I wasn’t alone; everyone was with me, and I let my memories of their perspective flow through me - and Landen found a peace and determination as he if he could see them.
“You were given a gift, a marker in your life. You now know what you have done and what is left to be done,” Aora said, stepping forward to hug me.
They turned to leave, and in the distance I saw my mother and father approaching. I wanted to cry, but too many tears had already left me that day. As I saw them begin to walk faster to me, a smile filled my face. My father’s eyes were green, and his peace was relaxing. My mother was so beautiful, innocent, and vibrant in her emotions. I let go of Landen’s hand and ran into their embrace. As she squeezed me as tight as she could, tears of joy came from my mother’s eyes. My father wrapped his arms around us and held us as close as he could.
“I never thought I could be happier than the day you were born,” my mother said, “but I was wrong.”
Landen had slowly approached us, and my mother released me and hugged him. My father’s eyes searched over me carefully; he had Landen’s full attention as he released my mother and caught my father’s gaze.
“Is she healed all the way through?” Landen asked, afraid of my father’s answer.
My father nodded and smiled at me. “I can see where you healed her. In time, I can imagine that the scar on the inside of her body will fade,” he answered. “Both of you are showing signs of stress in your bodies. Rest; I can see shock is setting.”
“Shock?” I repeated, not understanding what he was saying.
He let his hands rest on my shoulders, then looked carefully at me; I could feel an immense amount of pride and grief his emotion. I knew he was deeply concerned about the experience that I’d had that day.
“Right now, your minds cannot complete conceive everything you’ve been through. You need to calm your body, understand what you’ve experienced. If you don’t rest, you’ll jeopardize your judgment,” he said .
I didn’t want to understand; understanding meant remembering - and I didn’t want to relive my agony in thought. I’d stared in the devil’s eyes, met my past, and taken my own life. I wanted the forgotten details to remain forgotten. My moment of judgment came to me.
My eyes shifted between my parents. I’d always found it difficult to say how I felt. In my mind, I thought that the ones around me knew, but my new perspective had taught me that I was wrong.
“I don’t want you to fear for my life,” I said, looking at my father. “I don’t want you to ever doubt the decisions you made for me. I always had Landen.” My eyes moved to my mother. “I’m sorry I didn’t smile or laugh when I was young,” I said to her.
She reached for my face and pushed my hair back so she could see my eyes more clearly. She then smiled and said, “You did smile. When you woke from a peaceful night of dreams, when you helped an image, and when you painted. We wanted to help you understand, but we couldn’t teach you what was a part of you.”
My father stepped closer to me and looked into my eyes. “Smile,” he said. I submitted to his request and let a smile come across my face. “Now, don’t stop. You’re a source of inspiration; if you want to help the people in Esterious, this world - then teach them to smile,” he said, looking from me to Landen.
Landen let a smile come across his face, bringing to life his perfect dimples.
“The two of you guide Libby home; your mother is eager to get home and bake a cake,” my father said, putting his hand in my mother’s.
I hugged them goodbye and watched them pass into the string. Landen’s parents, Ashten and Aubrey, were beside us when we turned. Aubrey reached for Landen and pulled him down to her. Ashten held his arms out for me to hug him. I smiled and reached my arms around his neck. “Don’t fear that you’ll lose anyone; we’r
e a family that can’t be divided,” I whispered into his ear.
Ashten extended his arms and looked into my eyes. He nodded and smiled, and I felt a relief overtake him. He released me and reached for Landen, and Aubrey let go of Landen and wrapped her arms around me. “So beautiful...so brave,” she whispered as she squeezed me.
I smiled at her. “So are you,” I said, letting her go.