“That was so hard...I came so close...I honestly believed that you loved another. I felt I was being punished for being with Drake, for leaving you,” I said, searching his face.
He didn’t smile. His perfect image was calm as he reached over and held my face. “You were never as close as you thought...we’ll never completely remember the paths we’ve taken before this life, but I know deep in my soul that even if you loved another, if I loved another...it couldn’t compare to what courses through us today. We have a love, a passion that will withstand everything we face.”
Landen’s words left me breathless, and in that moment I forgave myself for every mistake I’d made. We held each other silently, knowing that people around our house would understand our craving for solitude; they knew we were grateful that they’d moved the city of Delen, once ruled by Donalt. As darkness fell, we made our way to our room, finding our strength in one another once again.
In the morning, we basked in the calm we felt around us. I dressed and cooked a breakfast for two, pretending for a moment that life could be so simple as I cleaned the kitchen. I felt Stella approaching; she was not alone. Marc, Chrispin, Olivia, and Preston were with them. Landen looked at me and smiled; we could see their intent. They wanted us to take them to Pelhan’s dimension...they wanted to see Livingston.
We met them on the porch. Marc was leading them, holding Stella’s hand, and Chrispin was carrying Preston.
“Will you?” Marc asked
Landen nodded and walked off the porch with his arm around me. In the string, we found the current calm.
“Do you think the storms are over now, too?” Marc asked Landen.
“I don’t think they’ll be near as often or as strong,” Landen answered, relieved.
The looking glass was more than likely the cause, but the other dimensions weren’t blameless. Nature gives all the energy that we could ever need, but mankind has a hard time believing that a natural wonder could come so easily.
As the string turned into a stunning yellow, I felt the excitement and anxiety coming from all around us. Landen and I stepped through first. Before us, a mass of beautiful people was waiting; they smiled warmly and parted, making a path to Pelhan’s house. The beauty of this place brought tears to Olivia and Stella’s eyes. Marc and Chrispin stared in disbelief.
On the steps of the beautiful home, Pelhan and Aora were waiting. I could feel their pride as we climbed the steps and hugged them.
“You did well,” Pelhan said to Landen. He then looked down to Preston. “Teach your brothers; your father is waiting anxiously,” he instructed.
Preston smiled and pulled Marc and Chrispin into the house. Stella and Olivia followed.
Pelhan extended his hand for Landen and me to come in. We made our way to the four pillows that centered a table with burning incense, sitting under an open ceiling. They sat down across from us and beamed in our direction.
“Was it more difficult than you imagined?” Pelhan asked.
Landen looked at me, then back to Pelhan. “We knew in the end we’d be side by side, that everything that happened would fall to the shadows,” he answered, more sure of himself now than ever.
Pelhan’s smile widened. “We watched you closely; there was not a moment that we saw either of you falter. We have stood in bewilderment of your love before, but on this journey you truly moved us, this dimension.”
“You watched us?” I asked, confused.
Aora smiled. “We had to know when to send you our positive thoughts; when more than one ask for something, it reaches us faster,” she explained.
I let out a silent laugh. I wish I knew that when we left here before.
“What is left for us to do?” Landen asked.
Pelhan waved his hand, and the incense between us moved into a scene, a dark sky with one bright gleam of light in the center.
“You moved millions; there are billons who still are lost,” Pelhan explained.
“But Donalt is dead now,” I argued.
“The body he was in is dead, but the sprit within still rages on and will prove to be your greatest adversary. Now, I fear that not only will the trials come faster - they will also become harsher.”
“Where is Drake, Perodine, Alamos?” I asked
“Perodine has moved to west of the dimension, a home she has often retreated to. Drake and Alamos returned to Beth and will reside there, taking control of the rest of the dimension,” Pelhan said, lowering his hand.
“Has Livingston found more of his peace now that Marc is one with Stella?” I asked Pelhan.
He smiled widely. “He has now that you and Drake have led Chrispin, Marc, and Preston to their soulmate,” he said, finding the irony humorous.
I looked at Landen with disbelieving eyes. Pehlan was right; Drake took Olivia and had moved Stella from a dark laundry house to the docks, where she met Marc. As for Preston, he was just lucky that Drake had found me; Libby will always be close to me.
“Do not live in worry for the days to come; live now,” Pelhan said, rising.
We followed him. He placed his hand on Landen’s back and led him to the courtyard. Aora and I lingered behind, and she smiled at me.
“You are stronger than we both thought. I cried for you when I saw the illusion set before you,” she said softly.
I smiled, looking at Landen ahead of me. “All I knew was, it didn’t matter if he didn’t love me; I’d always be infatuated with him,” I answered.
“He is in agreement with you on that matter,” Aora said, laughing.
We made our way to the courtyard and watched Livingston embrace his boys, feeling their love. There was only one that remained lost: Drake; I feared he’d never find his way here.
Landen and I made our way back through the house alone. I walked him though the hallway with all the paintings of the lives we’d lived, and as we gazed at each of them, the memory still escaped us. At the end of the hallway, we walked outside to the pathway that led to the beautiful tree, then sat beneath it for hours, taking in all its beauty and energy.
Chapter Twenty One
There were so many people still lingering around our home, it was decided that we’d hold Marc and Stella’s celebration in the heart of town. At my house, Felicity, Olivia, and Clarissa took great pleasure in dressing Stella for the special night.
“I’ve never seen a color so beautiful,” Stella said, looking down at the array of colors Felicity had made in the beautiful dress that she was wearing. “Will you teach me how to do this?” she asked Felicity
“We will teach you everything we know, then you can choose what truly makes you happy,” Felicity said proudly.
We all took one more glance at ourselves before we left my room. Downstairs, Dane, Marc, Chrispin, Brady, and Landen were waiting. Aubrey had taken the opportunity to spend time with Allie, taking her ahead of us to the celebration.
We sent Stella down first, and I smiled as I felt the admiration coming from the guys; Marc’s was stronger than them all. Olivia and Felicity followed close behind, receiving the same response. I then motioned for Clarissa to go next, but she hesitated and smiled at me.
“You know I grew up around all these tough, adventurous boys, having to prove to myself everyday that I was as strong as them. I secretly waited for the day that all my sisters would be brought home, thinking I’d be strong enough to teach each of you to run with them. It didn’t take long for Felicity to prove to me that she was as strong as me. Olivia had to find her confidence, just as Stella will...but...the first time I saw you that day at the cabin...even though you were in the middle of you own personal hell, I said to myself, ‘Now there’s someone who doesn’t need anyone to show her how to be strong.’ I could feel the strength of your soul when you were at your weakest point, and I knew then that you were the thread that would tie so many souls to one another.”
We hugged each other tightly, feeling the bond of sisterhood. Clarissa passed down the stairs. I hesitated, letting her have
her moment, then slowly walked down the stairs. My eyes danced across the people who made me who I was, ultimately landing on the one that completed me, Landen. He was smiling a perfect boyish grin and welcomed me with open arms.
We had to take three jeeps. Landen I rode alone behind the others. As we passed through the beautiful land where we lived, he let his hand rest on my lap, dreaming of the day that the gray dimension would be as beautiful as our dreams.
The town was set beautifully with strings of light stretching from building to building, and flowers were everywhere. I watched Stella pass through the streets in Marc’s arms, meeting so many friendly faces. Landen and I laughed as we felt her child-like enthusiasm. In the center of town, there was an open dance floor and a stage. Ashten stood in front of us all and played the role of Marc’s father, introducing the much-awaited couple.
I swayed alongside Landen as I watched Marc twirl Stella around the floor. After the first song, Marc waved for everyone to join them - and Libby quickly staked her claim on Landen, pulling him to the dance floor. He looked back at me, feeling guilty.
“Take her; I’ll wait for you,” I thought, laughing at his demeanor.
As I stood there and watched them, I felt the peace of August come up behind me. I turned and smiled at him.
“Am I lucky enough to have the first dance tonight?” he asked.
I laughed. “Where’s Nyla?” I asked, looking around.
“Fighting for a chance to hold Allie,” he said, looking to one of the tables.
Rose was holding Allie while my mother, Aubrey, and Nyla stood around her. I shook my head, then took August’s hand and let him lead me to the dance floor. I saw Landen watching me, and I winked at him as I placed my other hand in August’s. I looked up into his clever eyes, thankful that Landen and I had so many wise people to lead us.
“August, that night on my porch before all of this happened, you said, ‘It would be amazing if they were all right.’ Who is ‘they?’ What are they right about?” I asked.
August’s eyes drifted over the crowd, then back to me. “Daydream with me for a moment...remember Infante, the dimension you were raised in...imagine what would happen if you took every leader of every religious group, every leader of people, doctors, astrologers, specialties in every field, and had them walk into a room, take their titles, and place them on a table. They just talked and didn’t push their views on one another; just listened and combined the knowledge they have.” My eyes widened as I took in his daydream; it was so beautiful. “You see, across the universe there are people who are speaking, and their words are valuable - but they don’t take the time to listen. If they did, they’d see that we all have the same problem, and if we combined our knowledge, the universe would have peace. Imagine that one day we all realized that we’re right, at least in part,” he said staring into my eyes.
It was easy to see that he’d daydreamed that scenario over and over again - and who could blame him? It was perfect. The only flaw was that mankind would have to learn to overcome their pride before it could ever come true.
“That’s beautiful,” I said, smiling up at August.
“One day, it will come true; I see us getting closer every day. You and Landen may have only managed to graze the skin of a vast giant, but it was enough to make everyone see that peace is possible everywhere,” he said as the song ended.
Landen set Libby down, then crossed the dance floor to take his place in my arms. August kissed my cheek before he handed me to Landen, and I looked into Landen’s eyes and let August’s daydream run through my mind, wondering for a moment how we’d all lost our way.
“See, I should have danced with you first; August has taken your thoughts away from this moment,” Landen joked.
I pulled myself back into my present reality and felt the harmony of my entire family, as well as the love from a man who – at times – I didn’t think I deserved. As I put my hands on his face, pulled him to me, and kissed him, I felt the eyes of the world on us. Landen’s arms pulled me tighter.
“I love you,” I said, laying my head on his shoulder.
“I love you, now, then, and always,” he thought, and I felt my body hum as I heard his words.
Acknowledgements:
Gratitude is an emotion I’ve always felt simply because I have a wonderful family that loves and supports each of my crazy ambitions. I never realized that emotion could amplify as much as it has over the past few years of my life. I am still eternally grateful for each person that encouraged me to bring Insight to life. Today, I must thank so many more. Embody would not be here today without the support and acknowledgement from countless book reviews, bloggers, and most importantly the readers who took a chance on a debut author. I thank each of you from the bottom of my heart.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty One
Jamie Magee, Embody
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