Vindicate

  “So if one of us dies , we all die , ” I clarified.

  “I don’t think you ’re going to die. Every planet has the thr ee of your signatures on them. I do think that this is a turning point. That none of you will be the same after this trial.”

  “If the re was no fear of death before that would have saved a lot of worry.”

  “What is death, Willow ? Nothing but a doorway to another form of energy . One way or another , the energy of the three of you will be together until the end.”

  “Only three.” I stated bleakly . It wasn’t fair for Drake to be lying there alone. I cared about him. I did. But not having Landen with me right now was agonizing. He was my balance. I knew deep down this was test. The universe was telling me that I had to find my own strength. But right now I was too stubborn and dizzy to own up to that challenge.

  “There are others. They are waiting on you. Your paths will weave together. Your fates are complex an d incomplete without each other, but like I said before – the three of you began this and will end this in one form or another.”

  “What are you saying? We’re going to be ghost at the end of this?” I asked , not caring one way o r another.

  “I hope with all hope that is not the case. Child , your path is complicated. Never take anything I , or anyone else , says to o seriously…or to o lightly.”

  “Never have,” I mumbled a s I pushed back my chair.

  “Where are you going?” she asked .

  “On a walk , ” I said , trying to hide how lightheaded I felt. How weak I felt.

  “Stay in this wing , child. We are not alone in the palace anymore , ” s he warned me.

  I nodded once as I glanced at Landen and Drake’s bodies and turned to leave the room.

  Chapter Four

  I wanted to find Stella and August , t o figure out this looking glass. I planned to stay on the h allways I knew in this palace. I wasn’t sure how I would know when one wing of the palace began and another ended , and I didn’t want to cross paths with anyone outside of Perodine’s trust.

  I’d yet to explore every corner of this palace ; in fact , the hall I was on and the front entryway were all I’d seen. In truth , I doubted the rest of the place looked much different. The hallways were wide. Oil paintings lined the walls, with narrow couches and tables here and there. Some rooms opened to luxurious settings , others vast bedrooms.

  I didn’t let the emotion of fear come over me when I stepped into the last room I’d seen Donalt alive in. When I saw his wheelchair still sitting in the same place as before. When I walked down the tunnel that led to the looking glass , I didn’t let the images of that girl that had tempted Landen haunt me. I’d passed that point. I had bigger issues.

  When I reached the stone room with pool of water and the looking glass , I saw Stella standing in front of it. The water was glowing. I t brought more light than I’d ever seen in this room. There were other doorways; one s that I doubte d had bookcases blocking them. One was to the right of the pool; the other was to the left. I could feel August close by , but he was not in sight. Wherever he was, he was asleep. There were other souls close by , too. A ll carrying the signature peace the citizens of Chara had in their soul.

  Stella , from the back , almost looked like a priest. She had a long black robe with a deep hood on. Her hair was pulled tightly back into a French twist. She didn’t turn to me as I walked to her side.

  “Well , ” I said , gazing at her. I couldn ’t help but notice how the innocen ce had vanished from her image. She looked sure of herself. Like someone who had commanded this looking glass for centuries.

  She broke her stare with the glowing water and looked at me. “You look weak.”

  “Do I?” I asked hoarsely , knowing I felt that way.

  She nodded once , then looked back to the water. “Do you see what I see?”

  I followed her gaze , and in the pool, in the center of the moving rings , I saw images . I t was like watching a movie through water. There was what looked like a chapel , and men in black cloaks filed in the room , swinging incense lanterns. On the alt a r , there were candles , and who I hoped was Drake , but knew was Marc , was standing there , wearing a black cloak lined with gold. The hood was pulled down so low that you could barely see his strong jawline.

  “Where is this ? Marc was sleeping a moment ago .”

  “This will happen. I n a few hours , I assume. I t is the ceremony that brings silence to the priest. I t ’s meant to rel ease the dead into another form. Marc will fill his role perfectly. Fool them once again , ” s he said with a hint of pride in her emotion.

  “This is the future? How far can you look?” I asked , focusing my eyes on the water.

  “Not far enough,” she said as she moved her hands across the water.

  The rings began to tilt , and when they did I could see other parts of the palace. I could see priest - men who I didn’t know or could feel were roaming the halls silently. I could see guards blocking this wing. I saw Chrispin and men that I knew were travelers from Chara , along with Ashten , stopping a nyone from coming in our wing. I saw them capturing those who were attempting to use secret passages to reach Perodine’s quarters . I couldn’t feel their intent in this reflection , but I had no doubt they were won dering what Perodine was hiding . They knew. The y knew that their King was lost. A t least for now.

  “At least we can see them coming , ” I mumbled , fighting a wave of wooziness that swept through me.

  “I can see. You can see, but so far no one else can see these reflections , ” s he said , raising her hand as if she w ere calling someone to her.

  At that moment , a young man, one I recognized from Chara , stepped out of the shadowed doorway to the right of the room. When he reached Stella’s side , she said , “West wing – second floor – behind the large painting , there is a passage. Two men.”

  The traveler nodded , then left, and another young man came to the shadow of the doorway a second later with the intent of waiting on another message Stella would need delivered.

  “Can you move it forward? Even a day or so ? How long wi ll this last?”

  “After the ceremony of silence Marc will give in the morning – a few hours after that – everything turns dark.”

  I swallowed hard. Fearin g the end in just a few hours. Fearing the death of Landen and Drake. That would be dar kness. Complete darkness. “I thought this was going to help me turn back time ?” I whispered.

  She reached her hand for mine and squeezed it so tightly that for an instant I qu estioned her strength. “It will. When the time is right.”

  “It’s right now , ” I said , gripping my sides and feeling a sharp pain, and a sick , dizzy feeling.

  She hesitated before she spoke. “I don’t think it is.”

  “Show me the darkness you see. I s it that demon?”

  Her eyes told me no as she raised her hands and the rings moved agai n. I saw the passage I use to come and go to the string. Olivia and I appeared in the passage , then all at once everything turned murky .

  “That didn’t help,” I mumbled.

  “I’ll let you know when I can see past that point. That darkness , ” s he promised , t elling me in her own way that that wouldn ’t be the end.

  “Where’s August?”

  She nodded her head toward a dark doorway to the left. “I made him sleep.”

  “Could you not have found a nicer room?” I said with a hint of disdain.

  “I tried , but that is a s far as he would go.”

  “Do you need anything?” I asked .

  She moved her head from side to side , then moved her hands over the water once more. She saw something there and called the traveler over to her. I put my hand on her back, offering a silent thank you just before I left the room.

  I wandered aimlessly through the open halls , fighting a shaky feeling as I gazed at the paintings , trying to clear my mind – find the answers I needed – hold a thought and find a direc
tion.

  When I felt Olivia I broke my stare with the painting of an angel wrapped in black silk I’d found outside the doorway to the room where the passage to th e string was. I saw her speed walking toward me with the intent not to rest until she found me.

  “I’ve been looking everywhere for you , ” s he said when she reached my side.

  “Found , ” I said with little enthusiasm.

  She was wearing jeans and a black ho o die and combat boots that were untied. “You look like hom e. Well , our old home , ” I said as flashes of a time when my life was simple came to me.

  “Yeah . Been trying to fit in . This is from home , to o, ” s he said as she reached in her pocket and pulled out an iPod with headphones wrapped around it.

  “Did you find the song you were looking for?” I asked , peeking with hope.

  She raised one eyebrow. “I hope it’s the song we ’re both looking for.”

  I took the headphones from her , and as I put them in my ears , she turned the volume all the way up. I knew in stantly it was the right song. The guitars – the drums were identical. I started to say something , but she raised her finger , telling me to listen. When the voice began , I recognized it. It was the one from my dream. I t was strong, commanding, yet poetic at the same time. I started to say something again , b ut she held her finger up , telling me to listen. That’s when I heard it for the first time : ‘an angel fallen , a devil risen , our fate is calling , this world will not be our prison.’

  My eyes grew wide , and every part of me froze. This song. Landen and Drake weren ’t telling me some twisted myth ; they were telling me the lyrics to this song. I pulled the headphones out as I swallowed hard.

  “Where did you find this? Who are they ? A re they bad people?”

  She handed me the iPod so I could see the image on the screen. There was a shadowed image of a boy. A ball of fire was around him. A massive snake that was half -woman circled him – on the woman’s neck , I saw the birthmark I’d grown to hate : a broken heart.

  I pulled the image closer , taking in all the details . I t was clear that no a mateur had created this . Behind the fire , I saw images of others ; they were ci rcling the boy. They seemed frozen in place. Terrified and furious at the same time. There was an image of another girl . She was crouched down , preparing to pull the snake away from the boy. The artwork was full of every emotion and literally caused you to stand still. I didn’t think the artist was twisted or demonic. I t was more like they were reflecting – coping with something they’d faced , s omething I ’d done more times than I could remember.

  “Where did you get this?” I asked breathlessly.

  “It took me forever. I found it on the Web. The song and artwork were free. I t s had over two million downloads in the past two weeks.”

  “Who ’s the band?’

  “Anonymous.”

  “They have that many downloads , and they’re anonymous?”

  “Yes and no . That ’s the name of the band , ‘Anonymous , ’ but at the same time there are n’t any photos of them . I think th ey’re indie. I found a few forums talking about how they have pop up concerts in the UK and in the north of the US.”

  “That ’s a lot of ground to cover , ” I murmured , thinking that without Austin , we would never find these twins. I f this was even them . Either way , I needed to find the people who created this song . I knew now without a doubt they were linked to me. Linked to that demon.

  “Right . Dane and Clarissa are searching for th em. Others are across the north. We’ll find them.” She vowed.

  As she spoke , m y dream flashed before my eyes. Preston. The passage he led me to. “I know where they are , ” I whispered as I turned to walk to the passage of the string.

  I ’d reached the wave of energy before Olivia put her hand on my shoulder to stop me. “Willow , tell me where , and we’ll go . You can’t. You have to stay. I t will hurt , ” s he assumed , looking down to my chest.

  I raised my hand to where I’d seen that flower in my dream. “If it hurts , I’ll turn back – if not , then I know I’m suppose d to go . I should have already gone. The second I woke up from that dream , ” I said , hating myself for not be ing able to hold one thought long enough to have seen that before . I should ha ve woke from that dream and ran. Ran like hell until I found them.

  “What dream?”

  I didn’t answer her until I ’d tucked my shirt into my jeans and straightened my hair with my fingers. “It was Landen . He knows I’m safe. Preston told me where to go. Who we needed . I’ve seen visions of these people ; I’m sure of it.”

  Her eyes grew wide. “OK – OK - l et’s get Chrispin. Brady.”

  “You get them , ” I said as I stepped into the string. Once there , I hesitated , waiting for the pain to come. I t didn’t , and when it didn’t , I found a reason to smile. Not because I was no long er attached by force to Landen, but because I wasn ’t helpless – defenseless without them. It was an empowering moment that nearly took my breath away. I could swear I co uld feel Landen smiling at me. I c ould feel him pushing me to go. To walk. Feel him guiding me.

  Oliv ia had followed me in. “Willow. Willow. Look at me , ” s he said , trying to get my attention. “How bad does it hurt?”

  “It doesn’t , ” I swore. I pulled down the collar of my long sleeve black shirt. “Do you see anything here?” I asked.

  Her awe and the astonished look in her glowing green eye s told me she did. “How? When? Where did that come from ?” she stuttered.

  “I don’t know . When I was in that coma , I dreamed about it. This mark took my pain away in that dream . Landen saw it , to o. I t ’s there , so I can fight for them. So I won’t be trapped in Esterious.”

  “Good –g ood,” she said nervously . “Let’s get Chrispin.”

  I ignored her as I began to speed walk toward Infante. Other travelers were walking toward me, two young men. I felt their confusion as they passed by me and nodded. I also felt their intent to ask someone if I should be in there . I knew I didn’t have much time before someone would come looking for us. I didn’t care if anyone caught up with me ; I just didn’t have the time to turn back for them. I’d already wasted precious hours talking to Perodine and Stella – roaming the halls.

  “Willow?” Olivia said , keeping pace with me. “Seriously , do you know where you ’re going?”

  “I do.”

  “Good . Let’s go get Chrispin . We don’t know these people. We don’t need to go there alone.”

  “Are you serious?!” I said , halting to glare at her. “You think I’m scared of them? Do you really think they could hurt me? Go get Chrispin if you want to. I’m going now . For all I know , every second counts. I have to help them. I have to get them away from that girl.” Then I began to walk forward at a brisk pace again.

  “So much for altering your future,” she mumbled as she kept pace with me.

  “What’s that suppose d to mean?” I asked sarcastically . I mean what did they expect? For me to sit at Landen’s side and cry endlessly? No, I was going to fix this. If they were looking for a damsel in distressed they had another thing coming. I twirled my ring, slicing my skin with my nail just as the caged anger in my core started to grumble.

  “I don’t get why I dream things if I can’t change them.” Olivia hastily stated.

  “You dreamed this?”

  “I knew we ’d be alone when we met them , ” s he said shortly.

  “Did you see them?”

  “Not clearly. Don’t worry , though, Brady will be right behind us.”

  I glanced back in the direction of the travelers that had passed us. “Yeah . They were going to tell them we were in here.”

  “He’s going to be mad . Ju st saying.”

  “Do you think I care?” I asked , glancing at her.

  “Yes and no . When they come for us , don’t be mad . It will scare these people. Maybe we can at least avoid that.”

  I felt the s
lightest bit guilty , but that passed w hen my determination to save Landen and Drake came over me. “Dream anything else?”

  “Only you trying to kill me . No big deal , ” s he said in her familiar witty tone.

  I glanced down at her wrist , then elbowed her. “You have the tattoo . You’re safe.”

  “One could hope. Felicity dreamed about the tattoo, too . Did you know that ?”

  “I think I remember Brady mentioning it yesterday . He said there wer e two other girls that had it. What’s up with that?”

  “I don’t know…but it can’t be good.”

  “For us or them?” I asked , having my doubts about charging into unknown territory.

  “From my dreams. You’re the danger , not them.”

  Well that made me feel like a rock star. Not. I t was really irritating me that they were afraid of me. I was still Willow. A very tired and stressed out Willow. “I would never hurt you. A nyone.” I winced. “On purpose.”

  “No. Not on purpose,” she mumbled , looking behind us.

  I gritted my teeth and promised myself that when Olivia or anyone else was around me with that tattoo , I would think twice before I reacted. “The y’re not in here yet,” I promised , knowing I didn’t feel the anger Brady was sure to have. I halfway hoped my father would be th e one that came looking for me. Even though I knew I wasn’t that lucky.

  I slowed down as we approached Infante. I gazed forward as flashes of my dream came to me , Preston running though the passages. I remembered the hazes he passed and found my bearings . A few steps later , I saw a purple haze , and I knew I was close . With my next step , I saw the gray one with another purple passage a few feet away.

  “Is this it?” Olivia asked as she looked behind us again.