Beside the string, Brady and Marc stood, waiting for us in the full moon light.
“You’re not going with us,” Landen said as we approached them.
Their resolve was apparent, and we knew their intent was 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 across his face.
“Libby told us,” Brady said, stepping closer to the string to lead us in. His overwhelming calm was unsettling.
“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.”
“Show us the way, Landen. We’re going with you,” Brady said as his eyes searched the darkness, looking for my passage.
Landen’s sorrow was immediate, but he knew that Brady would follow him one way or another, and he’d rather have him by his side.
The passage that I’d made to rescue the girls was still there. Landen gave one more pleading look to Brady before reaching to lead them in with us. When the string passed darkness surrounded us. As our eyes adjusted the moon gave light through an open ceiling. Cold, damp stones made the floor and walls. The wind was the only thing that could be heard.
The altar was in the center of the room, and three velvet red stairs led to the stage upon which it set. It was covered in a black cloth, and blood red roses were centered on the table. In front of them, the book was lying open. Along the back wall, eight planets were carved into the stonewall. Shadows from a candle lit at the bottom of each one gave definitions to the carvings.
A massive stone fireplace lined the wall to the right. Above it, a large portrait hung; it was of Perodine. On the opposite wall, a long, beautiful wood box laid, a bright light shining from the top. Marc’s curiosity took him there as Brady made his way to the wall to look more closely at Perodine’s portrait. I looked cautiously up at Landen before we stepped forward to the altar to take the page that would save my friends.
When I stepped on the first step I felt a spike of fear that caused me to hesitate. Looking to the source, Marc. I saw him standing over the long wooden box, covering his mouth and trying to hide his disbelief.
“What is it?” Landen whispered harshly.
“It’s Adonia,” Marc answered.
Landen quickly looked around the room, searching for another coffin, one that might hold Marc’s mother, Beth, wanting to shield him from such a pain. Not finding one, we slowly walked to his side. The box was sealed with a glass top, and inside laid a beautiful young woman frozen in time. Dressed in a white gown, her hair was long and dark and decorated with diamonds, and her olive skin lay against silk sheets. Marc stepped back, slowly shaking his head in disbelief as grief filled him along with the memory of his mother.
“What is this? How is this possible?” Brady said leaning closer to make sure it really was her. He was just a small child when she went missing.
“This must be preserving her somehow,” Landen said, running his hands along the coffin and examining it.
“Why would they preserve her?” I asked, not understanding why someone would hold on so tightly to someone who had left this world so long ago.
“She was Alamos’ daughter. Maybe he’s trying to bring her back somehow,” Landen said.
I remembered the story my father had told me before—Alamos was Donalt’s most powerful priest. I felt my stomach drop, my hands began to sweat, and my heart was pounding through my chest. I couldn’t help my unexplained panic. Landen glanced at me just as we heard someone laughing.
Drake had appeared out of nowhere and was now walking across the room, dressed in a black suit.
I swallowed hard and tried to control the adrenaline that was coursing through my veins.
Landen took the first protective step, pushing me behind him. Brady then stepped in front of Landen as Marc stood in front of us all. Stopping in the center of the room and looking over Marc carefully, Drake said, “Ah, you must be Marc.” Half-circling him, looking him up and down with his coal black eyes, Marc didn’t answer. Stepping closer, he dared Drake to make a move, anger coursing through him. Drake shook his head as a boyish grin spread across his face; he then turned and walked to the altar, and as he climbed the steps, he glanced in my direction. Catching me peeking around Landen, he winked then placed his hands on the book. “I’ve waited for this,” Drake said to the room.
He snapped his fingers, and the candles that lined the walls all lit, giving the room an eerie glow. Growls could be heard at once, and now standing at his feet were the demons. Drake turned in my direction and smiled through Landen at me. I felt Landen reach the point of wrath. “Hey, fair is fair, Willow. You brought your friends, so I thought I’d bring some of mine.” He stepped down and walked toward us, weaving his head and trying to pull me into a stare, ignoring Landen and Brady.
Marc held his ground.
“Willow, can you see his intent?”
“No.”
“He’s trying to get you alone. He can’t do what he wants with me this close to you.”
“I have to get the page.”
“Okay, we’re going to ease our way over there. Stay behind me.”
We took two steps sideways toward the altar. Drake then took a dominant step toward us, and Marc charged him. As he did, a demon jumped from the stairs onto Marc’s chest. Brady rushed to help defend Marc when another smaller one jumped from the stairs onto him. Marc and his demon rolled across the floor, crashing into the fireplace.
Landen reached back to ensure himself that I was still safely behind him. Drake walked without fear to Landen and stared him down.
“Get the page, Willow.”
I closed my eyes, hearing Landen’s request, not wanting to leave his shield. I hoped he was using his gift of intent and knew I would be safe. I stepped out from behind him. Drake and Landen were now
face–to-face, glaring at each other with their shoulders back, waiting for someone to make a move. I kept my eyes on Drake, ready to dash back to Landen if he even attempted to come near me.
A blood-curdling scream went out, but Landen and Drake never broke eye contact. I looked to the fireplace and saw that Marc had taken a poker and stabbed the demon in the heart. As he did, the one on Brady squealed then they both vanished. Marc was enraged and charged across the room with the intent of killing Drake, then out of nowhere a woman screamed out and threw herself at Drake’s back.
“Marc, no!” she screamed.
Marc froze as he stared at the older woman dressed in a black gown. Her hair was decorated with jewels, and tears streamed down her beautiful face. Drake turned his back to Landen and glared at Marc over the woman’s head. Landen stepped in my direction, staring in disbelief.
“That’s Beth.”
“Are you sure?”
“She looks just like her pictures, only her eyes have aged.”
I could feel the woman’s grief, and Marc’s emotions were out of control. “Why are you here?” Marc asked breathlessly, not believing his eyes.
“Where else would she be, but with her son?” Drake said as he grabbed the poker that was pressing against the woman’s heart from a stunned Marc. Now standing side by side, the resemblance between Marc and Drake was undeniable.
“What kind of game are you playing here?” Brady asked, looking at Beth, not sure if she was real.
Beth stared forward into the darkness, past the room, then gasped as tears fell from her eyes. We followed her gaze across the stone room and saw Livingston walking into the room, holding the hand of the little boy from my nightmare.
“And now let me introduce you to my father,” Drake said harshly to Marc, watching his words burn at their touch.
“What’s going on? If you knew you’re one of us then why are you still here? Why are you playing the part of the devil?” Landen said harshly, looking at Drake with absolute disgust.
Drake turned toward Landen, sinfully grinning. “Me? I would dare say that you are the devil, my friend,” he said confidently.
Brady and Marc advanced as Drake waved his hand, sending an invisible force that knocked them down. Beth screamed in terror as she saw them hit the ground.
“Drake,” Livingston said.
Drake raised his hand and pointed at Livingston. “I allow you to be here for her, not me. Your words mean nothing. Willow belongs to me, and I shall have her.” His tone was definite.
Landen’s wrath filled the room, and mine met his as we passed the point of rage. Livingston let the little boy run across the room to Beth.
“Drake, Landen was born five minutes after you…they’re only using you…this is not your place, it’s Landen’s,” Livingston said, walking slowly toward Drake.
I edged backwards, getting closer to the altar and watching everyone in the room, hoping this turn of events would serve as a distraction. My heel found the bottom step, and I began to climb the stairs backwards. I felt the little boy’s fear grow, and I looked in his direction and saw Beth holding him back from me.
Drake raised his hand to Livingston and flung his body across the room, sending him crashing into the stonewall. Then a rush of energy took the ground from me, and the poorly lit room was replaced by a white glow, much like the string. There was no current or hum, just utter silence. Every single gift that I possessed—including my most precious one, Landen—was stripped from me. I knew that Drake had seen his intent through. He stepped out of the white glow, smiling cunningly at me.
“Now then…for the first time, I have you all alone.”
“Drake, take me back!”
“But, my love, we’ve never left.” His voice was warm, alluring, calling me closer to him.
I let my anger rise to defend me. “Drake!”
“Now, now, my love, you must listen to me. If we’re ever to leave here, you are the way out, not me.” Drake gracefully walked over to where I stood frozen and stopped inches from me, staring down as I stared forward, pulsing with anger. He put his hands on my shoulders, and his touch sent an addictive, blissful, warm sensation coursing through me.
“See? I’m not so bad,” he whispered as he moved his left hand down my side and his right hand to my face, tracing my cheekbone and leaving a warm tingle where his touch once was. I let out a quiet breath, and he smiled as he saw the effect he was having on my body. “You really shouldn’t listen to all the bad things you hear people say. It’s wrong to judge someone,” he whispered into my ear.
I let another quiet breath loose as I felt his lips near my skin. I was losing my sense of reality.
“I haven’t listened to anyone. I’ve seen with my own eyes,” I answered, searching for clarity.
“What have you seen?” he said, now tracing my eyes with his fingers, then letting his lips dance across my cheek. I was losing control of my body and mind, and I couldn’t find a way to grasp the sensation he gave me.
“You’re the reason Monica is dead,” I sneered, pulling myself back into reality.
Drake hesitated, leaned back then pulled his brow together, questioning my words. Now holding my face with both of his hands, he sent my head into a spin, and I struggled to stay focused.
“She followed you there…she drowned,” I said, more sure of myself.
“Ah, now, my love, that would be fate, not my fault,” he said, grinning with relief.
“You took them…why?
Drake tilted his head, and his eyes slowly moved across my face, then settled on my eyes. His brow drew together as if he’d been through a great pain. I almost felt sorry for him.
“I needed your attention. I couldn’t have you running off and hiding in that ghastly dimension, now could I?” he asked innocently.
“Chara is where I belong, and if you’re Beth and Livingston’s’ son, then you belong there. You need to find the one you’re meant to be with and leave me alone. Are you some kind of fool, playing with demons?”
Taking in my rejection, his jaw tightened, but he recovered and laughed casually, then pulled my face to his chest and pressed himself against me. As the warm vibration touched the front of my body, I closed my eyes, and for the moment my body was winning the battle with the help of my mind. I was having a difficult time remaining angry with him, but finding strength, I slowly pushed away and gasped for air.
“You are meant for me. This is not the first time we’ve loved one another,” Drake said, regaining his touch, holding my face, and sending the head-spinning vibration through me again.
“I don’t love you,” I said, astonished at his words.
He stared in my eyes, looking at someone I was sure didn’t exist. “Your memories of me may be gone, but mine are so vivid. You are the same woman I’ve always loved,” Drake said in a voice that almost trembled.
“Your memories are toying with you. I belong to Landen. I always have, and I always will.”
It was as if I could see his heart break, but I didn’t understand why. I barely knew him. It was my power, not my heart that he wanted.
“I want you to think, Willow, for one minute—how are you so sure?” he asked in a quiet, desperate tone. His eyes captured mine, and I stared back, trying to understand who he was. When I couldn’t find the answer I was looking for, clarity came back to me. Nature had proved more than once that Landen and I could not psychically be apart, meaning we were one and that no one could part us. If Drake knew this, he’d know his efforts were in vain.
As if he had read my thoughts, Drake said, “We can be together, if you choose to take another vessel.” His eyes were searching mine for understanding.
Now Adonia’s body had a purpose.
I was disgusted by his words and scowled at him. “My soul is his—not this vessel.”
I looked away from his eyes, trying to break the pull he had on me. “Willow, we have a destiny to fill. You chose this, and you have to let go of your foolish misc
onceptions.” His eyes chased mine, trying to catch my gaze.
“I will never let him go,” I said, locking stares with him.
“Never say never, my love. Tonight, you have a choice to make, and your choice will not only impact you, but the entire universe.”
Drake pulled my chin up slowly and kissed my lips tenderly. The warm sensation was so heavy, I couldn’t move. He slowly pulled away and smiled at me. “If you will be my queen, I will give you the universe as a canvas. You can bring all the flowers and color you want here, you can move their emotions to happiness.” Drake moved beside me, draping his arm around my shoulder. Before us, the solid white room opened up, and faces rushed by covered in smiles.
Color was everywhere, birds were singing, and the crowds were cheering. I saw Libby playing in a field, and my mother and father walking hand in hand, smiling. Franklin came into view, and I saw all my friends, happy. I watched as Monica waved eagerly in my direction, full of life. As the sickening grief set in, a tear streamed down my face I wanted to run to her, but I knew she was only an illusion. My eyes searched the room and saw Olivia at the theater, then I could see Dane helping his mother at her Diner. Their loneliness reached through to me as my eyes found their way back to Monica. “I can take it all back to the way it was, and I can give you the power to bring the color you crave for this world, all you have to do is say you will have me and only me.”
“Do you take me for a fool? I know that this is not the whole story. What do you get out of having me?” I said, closing my eyes and hiding from the illusions.
“This is the truth I have shown you before remember, my love,” he whispered just before kissing my neck softly.
Through the sensation, I found a way to remember the nightmare I’d had in the car: the crowds cheering, the absence of my tattoo, my gift of emotion, and Libby—all vanished.
“Together, and only together, we could rule the universe. Alone, we are but mere mortals,” he said, quietly studying my face for compliance.
I breathed in and closed my eyes, trying to find control over my own body. “It is not my place to rule over anyone, and it’s not yours either.” I stepped away from Drake, causing him to lose his touch. As he did, the numbing feeling left me, and as clarity came back, the anger rose.
“Do you not love your family?” he said, tilting his head and questioning my resolve.
“Do you not love yours?” I retorted quickly. He shook his head as he laughed at my newfound comfort with him.
“I cannot help the cards that I was dealt. If Donalt is to die, he wishes his will to live on through me, for him to have a final say in eternity. And Alamos, well, Alamos only wants to give his daughter’s body life again. They are my true fathers.”
“If you let his will live on, you are just as evil as he, all the more reason for me not to love your dark heart.” I couldn’t feel him, but I think my words hurt him. Pain was in those obscure eyes of his.
“Once we are joined, it will be our choice, not theirs. You cannot fight the way you feel about me. I know that you love me. I’ve seen it, my touch is real.”
Drake walked slowly to me and pulled me to him, kissing me softly and sending his numbing sensation through every part of my body; the high was pulling me up and away from my body. He then stopped and cradled my face with his hands.
“For you to bring back your friend and save this dimension, you must leave this body, join Adonia, and be one with me as we rule the universe.”
His eyes smiled, and his expression softened. I was so dizzy, I had to close my eyes, and when I did I saw Monica’s face, Hannah and Jessica laughing out loud, and color in the gray world that had haunted me my whole life. I felt Drake’s lips touch mine, and my balance came into question. Then, Landen’s blue eyes finally surfaced above all the images in my mind, giving me the strength I needed. I pushed Drake away, looking at him intently.
“I love Landen.”
Drake sighed deeply and wrapped his arms around my limp body. Holding me tightly, he hesitated before he spoke. “Do you love him more than Libby?”
I gasped, pushing away from him and breaking the spell he had on me again. The room opened, but this time the images were of Libby dirty, crying, and alone. The graves of my parents and all my friends slid through the room. The gray world had grown darker. I covered my mouth, stopping the scream that wanted to come out.
“Do you?” Drake said as he stepped in front of the images, blocking my view.
“How could you! How do expect me to believe that someone as cruel as you could ever love someone?”
A sardonic smile echoed on his lips. I had the strangest sense of déjà-vu; it was as if I’d seen him smile that way at me somewhere else in time.
“There you go judging me again,” he said under his breath.
“You can’t force me to love you,” I said through my teeth.
Drake’s grin lessened abruptly, and he looked down and slowly back up at me. “I shouldn’t have to, love. I never have before,” he said finally. I looked at him with utter confusion. Was he insane? He didn’t even know me.
“I am giving you the chance to not only rule a dimension, but an entire universe. Wherever you go, you will be honored, the most beautiful and powerful woman to ever take a breath. You can be as kind or as cruel to your followers as you desire,” Drake said as if he were painting a beautiful portrait.
Libby’s image danced across the room, her laughter echoing around me. Drake’s eyes followed her.
“Would you put your comfort before hers? Yours before billions?”
He’d managed to put his hands on my face again, and my clarity left me. My head fell back, and his lips touched my neck. I felt the ring on my finger burn, and the necklace responded.
“I love Landen. I always have, and I always will.”
As I said the words, the white glow vanished, and we were back in the dark room. I felt someone jerk me away, and I fell to the ground. Opening my eyes wide, I saw Landen and Drake on the ground, fighting. Beth and Marc crouched over Livingston’s body, which was lying at the base of the stonewall. I looked to see that it was Brady that was holding me, and I struggled to stand, halfway pulling him up with me.
“Landen, tell me you love me—tell Drake that’s how I got away.”
Landen stood, and Drake followed. As they glared at each other, Landen said, “I love Willow, she loves me. What you have done will be undone, today and every day that follows.”
Silence fell on the room. Beth stood and slowly walked toward Drake. The rings that we were wearing were drawn to each other, putting me in Landen’s arms. Wind turned in the room. Electricity could be felt coursing through us, and a stunning white light came from our hands then bolted toward Drake. Beth dove in front of him, screaming. Suddenly, she vanished and so did Drake.
On the stonewall, the candle under the moon ignited into a flame that burned the entire wall. Brady raced to the altar, fearing that the book would be next. “I’ve got the page. Do you want to look for the star?” Brady yelled, running to us and handing Landen the page.
“It’s gone,” Landen said in a whisper.
“What?”
“I’m sure that’s where his power came from, it’s still with him,” Landen said, stunned.
“Is he dead?” Marc asked, not looking up from Livingston’s body.
“We don’t know where he is,” Landen said, looking at Marc with remorse.
Sorrow and grief hit Landen and me with a force that wiped our energy away. I looked to my side and saw Livingston. The absence of emotion told us he was gone. I walked slowly to Marc, pulling every single happy memory that I’d ever had forward. He saw me coming and stood and opened his arms. I hugged him tightly and thought the words ‘everything happens for a reason’ over and over, and I finally felt Marc’s emotion break. He was at peace, at least for the moment.
“We should go,” Brady said with a heavy heart. He leaned down and picked up Livingston’s body and carried it to
the string. I turned and went for the book on the altar. When I went to pick it up, a force repelled my hands. Landen then reached for the book, only to be repelled as well.
“You have the page. Let’s go,” Brady said.
We looked at each other, knowing that this was not over, and walked toward the passage. I then remembered the little boy and searched for him in the darkness. Landen and I felt his grief and followed it to one of the dark corners, where he was huddled in a small ball. Landen reached down and picked him up, checking to see if he’d been hurt.
“What’s your name?” I asked softly.
“Preston”
“Preston, are you okay?”
“Where did my mommy go?”
We looked quickly to Marc to see the blank, fearful expression on his face.
“She had to leave for now. Where’s your father?” Landen asked.
Preston reached his arm out and pointed at Brady holding Livingston.
“He’s sleeping now,” Preston said in an innocent voice.
Brady stepped through the passage, taking Livingston out of sight. Marc walked over to Landen and reached his arms out for Preston.
“We’re going to take you home now. You’re safe,” Marc promised the little boy.
Marc walked to the opening in the string, shielding Preston. Landen and I followed. Just as we reached the string, I heard, “Aliyanna—Guardian,” in a comfortingly familiar voice.
I turned to see Perodine walking from the shadows toward us. Marc’s fear spiked, but Landen reached his hand back to tell him that we were safe. She had the intent of helping us, we could feel love coming from her.
“It’s not over, is it?” I asked her.
Perodine closed her green eyes and shook her head no. She then walked closer, stopping just before us. Landen wrapped his arms around my waist. Perodine smiled kindly at him, bowed her head, and said, “Your task has only just begun. There are eight beyond the sun and the moon, and they will all test your love.”
“Is Drake gone now?” I asked with an ache in my voice.
“Alamos will bring Drake back. Alamos has given Drake a power unique to himself, but for any man to see the universe the way he desires it to be, he must have your heart.”
“I will always choose Landen.”
“It was my wish then, as it is now.”
“You aren’t angry with me, for what I did, for not coming back?”
Perodine smiled warmly at both of us. “It was impossible for you to return then.” Perodine waved her arm, and the smoke from candles on the altar began to take the shapes of images—images of me, of a life I could not remember. Landen and I were in this room, and men in cloaks pushed a light toward us, then we vanished. The scene changed to a beautiful field of wildflowers, and my body changed, too—I was carrying a baby. Time then shifted forward, and Landen and I were playing in a field with Libby.
“She was ours,” Landen thought as I felt a deep compassion rise inside of him.
Perodine smiled as she saw me and Landen take in our past. The guilt we had for not returning was washed away. Libby was our reason.
“Today, everything has moved. You can be the souls I dreamed you to be.”
I felt Perodine and Landen’s fear rise and heard footsteps coming closer. Perodine leaned in and kissed my cheek, then smiled up at Landen and said, “Go. Quickly.”
Hastily I hugged her, then Landen pulled me into the string. Marc was holding Preston, and when he was sure that we were okay, he led us home. Landen and I followed. We had it all wrong: we weren’t selfish. We had no choice. Knowing that lightened our hearts and brought us closer. We stared forward, wide-eyed, trying to conceive how Preston was Livingston’s son. In the string, it was clear that little Preston had no problem seeing. He looked over Marc’s shoulder at me and smiled. “Do I get to play with Libby now that I’m going home?”
I smiled and nodded, too stunned to ask how he knew her name.
Chapter Nineteen