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  When the sunlight peered through our window, we brought ourselves back to our bodies. I pulled myself to the warmth of Landen’s body, and he turned to his side and pulled me closer to him. We stared at each other for a moment; I couldn’t understand how it was possible to love one person as much as I loved him.

  I could feel Landen’s emotions drifting through the last few days; overall, he felt victorious - yet he feared what was still to come.

  “Do I get the pleasure of telling you that we have nothing to fear?” I thought. He was always the one who never showed any fear.

  “Maybe so,” he thought, bringing his dimples to life.

  “What are you afraid of?” I asked.

  He raised his hand to trace my eyes. “When I was talking to Drake yesterday, he told me that he’d seen Dane in a lot of your lives,” he thought.

  “I really don’t want to think about that; it’s just too weird,” I thought, making a face.

  Landen didn’t smile, and I felt a dread build in him.

  “Why are you upset? Are you still upset with him about yesterday? He was just being protective,” I thought, pulling myself up on one arm and searching through his emotions and intent.

  Landen sighed and rolled to his back. “I’m sure I’m overreacting,” he thought.

  “I don’t understand,” I thought, turning his chin so he’d have to look at me.

  “Drake said that in the life of Jayda and Oba he didn’t choose to fight for Jayda’s children because their father, Dane, practiced dark magic; he was known for controlling the elements of the land, and Jayda feared that a drought would kill them all if they took the children by force,” Landen thought.

  “He must have his memories crossed, or he’s just seeing it from his point of view. Dane couldn’t be dark; he doesn’t know how,” I thought, finding the idea farfetched.

  “He remembers him being dark several times. Drake spoke the truth when he told me,” Landen said.

  I didn’t say anything; I just sat up and pulled my knees to my body. I didn’t like seeing Dane in a dark light.

  Landen moved his hand slowly across my back. “Drake fears that because Dane’s soul is old and that it’s practiced with the devil before that he could become possessed. He wanted me to watch him closely. He wants me to watch everyone closely. He said you’re the only one that he and I could trust completely.”

  “Dane loves Clarissa; you know that, and I know that. Our family would never hurt us,” I thought.

  “I’m not saying he’ll fight for your heart; I’m saying that if he were possessed, he could manipulate you into thinking or doing something you wouldn’t normally do,” Landen thought.

  “He didn’t change my point of view yesterday. I think both of you are overreacting,” I argued.

  “If it’s possible for Drake and I to be over taken by the darkness, then it’s possible for our family as well,” Landen thought.

  I looked back at him; his blue eyes reflected the concern in his thoughts. “Are you going to say something to them?” I asked.

  “No. They’re already upset with the alliance we’ve formed with Drake; they feel that I’m letting my guard down around him and that it’s too dangerous right now to do so. They’d say that Drake is trying to divide us,” Landen thought.

  “I don’t think anyone in our family is capable of bringing harm to us - possessed or not,” I thought.

  “I never thought Dane would use force against you either,” Landen thought, raising his eyebrows.

  “He didn’t think we were thinking clearly.”

  “I know that. But when I was alone with them the entire time you were with Drake, he didn’t say one thing to me. I felt how neverous they were, but he hid his intent – and that action brought validation to Drake’s fears.”

  I tried to remember if I’d overlooked their intent when I walked into the room; I remembered their emotions, but Dane’s intent escaped me.

  “See what I mean?” Landen thought as he felt the betrayal come through me.

  “I still don’t think he meant any harm,” I said, looking down at him.

  “You may be right, but when they make decisions like that, they’re endangering both our lives. If Dane had made it to the string, it would have hurt you. They thought of you being in pain; even if only for a moment, it’s just too much to bear,” Landen thought.

  He pulled me to him and reached for the scar on my chest. I placed my hand above his heart and nestled by his side.

  “From this point on, if we find a power or a new insight – we’re keeping it to ourselves; not only to protect us, but to protect them. Whatever they know, the devil would know the moment he took over,” he thought.

  My eyes met his. “You never told me what it was like when the darkness entered you,” I thought.

  He sighed, and his eyes searched every part of my face. “I felt the contentment Drake spoke of, but I fought against it – and when I fought it, it felt like my body was tearing apart. Horrible images came to my mind. At first, I thought the blade in your heart was an illusion; it wasn’t until I saw Drake’s panic that I knew it was real. I just wanted someone to hold you to take your pain away,” Landen said.

  I pulled him closer. “I’m sorry I put you through that. I would have found another way if could have,” I said.

  As his arms tightened around me, I felt his fear and grief as the memory played out in his mind.

  “When I was in that state, I felt our love more intensely; I knew that we’d never be apart, that this body would end where it began and my soul would rise.”

  “Dust to dust,” Landen whispered.

  As we lay in silence, I understood why Landen condoned me to empower Drake; I knew at that moment that he trusted his insight and planned to use Drake’s dreams as navigation through what lie before us. Both Drake and Landen trusted me, only me; the irony was that I didn’t trust myself.

  “I trust the children,” I thought as Libby, Preston, and Allie came to my mind.

  “They deserve our trust; they’ve never once told us what to do. They do as Alamos said: they guide us through the choices we make.”

  Realizing that Landen was right, I felt confidence come back to me. My only concern now was how I’d protect our family from the darkness that could threaten their soul.

  Feeling my father and Rose approaching the house, I pulled myself up and began to dress for the day. Landen got up as well, then pulled the curtains back and looked out the passage into the field.

  “Everyone’s gone except for your dad, Rose, Felicity, and the children,” he said once he’d stretched out his insights.

  The screams from the night before came to my memory, and I wondered if our world had managed to calm Delen, if Drake had managed to convince the court that he was a fierce leader.

  We were dressed and waiting by the door when my father and Rose reached the porch. As my father surveyed us, his hazel eyes turned to green. “Once again, you’re restored,” he said to us.

  “What happened after we left?” Landed asked them.

  “Delen was scared for a few hours. Once they saw all of us, though, they calmed down and went to their homes and slept. Everything on the other side of the wall has been silent,” my father said.

  I looked past them and saw Libby and Preston running in our direction. Felicity was walking behind them, carrying Allie.

  “I brought food here last night,” Rose said. “I want to feed the two of you before you go into the string again.”

  We led them into the kitchen, and Rose began to unload the refrigerator while my father pulled out plates. Libby and Preston crashed through front door and ran to me and Landen. I picked up Preston, Landen picked up Libby, and we spun them around, absorbing their innocent laughter.

  “So, did they leave you in charge, little man?” I asked Preston.

  “No. Felicity said she’s the boss,” Preston said.

  Felicity came into the kitchen, a little breathless from keeping up with
them. “Easier said than done,” she said, smiling at me.

  I let Preston fall, then reached out for Allie. She smiled at me and reached her tiny hands in my direction. After Rose and my father set the table, I sat down, nestling Allie in my lap.

  “So, everyone’s in Delen?” Landen asked.

  They all nodded.

  “The travelers are going to meet you in the string. Your mothers, Olivia, Stella, along with others who can’t travel, will be waiting by the passage in Patrick’s home; they want to make sure they see a friendly face when the darkness in the string passes,” Rose said.

  I looked at Landen. We both knew that right then there were people who thought their lives would end soon; it made me angry that - no matter what - they’d have to live through something like that. I pushed my plate away. My stomach was turning; anticipation was eating me alive.

  “This is a good day,” Libby said, pushing the plate back to me.

  I reached my arm out for her to come to my side.

  “Are you happy with all that we’ve done?” I asked her, looking for validation.

  A smile came across her face as she looked across the table at Preston.

  “We’ve just begun,” Preston said, looking at me.

  I tried to smile, but I couldn’t; my mind was trying to imagine how much harder it could be.

  “Well, I’m happy,” Rose said, standing to clear away the plates.

  “I couldn’t be more proud of either of you,” my father said, smiling at me.

  I took in a deep breath, then hugged Libby and stood. I gently handed Allie to Felicity and said, “I wish you could come.”

  “My place is with them. Trust me, they paint a beautiful picture with their words; I see it all as if I were there,” Felicity said just before she kissed Allie’s head.

  “Are you staying, too?” I asked Rose.

  “I am. I know in my heart I’m helping you by protecting the children,” she said, walking to my side. I reached up and hugged her.

  “We should go; it’s almost mid-day there,” my father said.

  Preston hugged me goodbye as Libby hugged Landen goodbye. We then climbed into the Jeep with my father and drove to the passage in the distant field. When we stepped out, I took Landen’s hand.

  “How many people do you think will come through?” I asked him.

  “Even if it’s only one soul, it’ll be a victory,” he said, smiling down at me.

  “Knowing how fond Esterious is of executions, I’m sure it’s more than one,” my father answered.

  “There will be enough food and shelter, right?” I asked them.

  “The land in Delen is producing faster because of the sun, so we’ll have plenty for now; but, this is only a tempory solution,” my father answered.

  Landen stepped in, pulling me behind him. My father followed us. Inside the string, we could feel the emotions of hundreds of people; they were excited and eager. Travelers from Chara were lined between Partick’s passage and the passage that led to Drake’s estate. We smiled and let our hands run across them as we passed, wanting them to feel the gratitude flow through us.

  At the end of the line was our family. Marc’s grin grew as we walked closer.

  “Was he back before they noticed?” Landen asked him.

  “When we first got there, Alamos wanted me to walk through the hall. Only one person tried to approach me, and I just raised my arm with the tattoo on it and turned my head; they left us alone after that. Drake was back a few minutes later,” Marc said.

  Landen smiled and put his arm around me.

  “Chrispin said you were really weak - but Drake...when I saw him, he looked strong. How come it didn’t affect you the way it affected him?” Marc asked.

  August stepped forward. “Landen suspended time, allowing Drake to return; I’m sure that’s why he lost his strength,” he said.

  Marc nodded, and August looked at us and smiled slightly; it was as if he knew I’d helped Drake.

  My eyes searched for Dane and Clarissa, but they weren’t there. I felt my heart sink as the division in our family made itself known.

  “We told them to take a break, and that’s what they’re doing,” Landen thought as he felt my grief.

  When Landen approached Chrispin, he reached out his hand and placed it on his shoulder.

  “I’m glad you were there for me last night,” Landen said to Chrispin.

  “Always here for you, man,” Chrispin said, grinning.

  We moved past him and saw Ashten and Brady next to the passage.

  “You look good,” Brady said to Landen.

  “Thank you for carrying her home,” Landen said to him.

  While Ashten began to tell Landen about the preparations that they’d made in Delen, I focused on the wall. Through the excitement of the ones in the string, I felt a horror; behind the wall of the string, I knew there were people living in a nightmare. I felt Landen’s hand on my back, as well as the calm he was giving me, but it couldn’t hinder the desire to step inside and bring them peace.

  When the others saw that our attention was focused on the gray haze, they fell silent. Everyone stepped behind us and lined the wall, prepared to lead the lost through the passage. From the haze, an arm stretched through: Drake’s arm; I’d never been so happy to see that tattoo. As I reached out and held his hand, I felt his rush. He knew I was there waiting.

  He let go of my hand, then I stepped closer the haze, just inches from moving through it. My eyes searched, wanting to touch whoever was to come first and give them peace. In that second, I saw a small figure begin to emerge, and I reached my hand out, finding Drake’s hand on their shoulder. I gently pulled them through, and as the haze fell a beautiful little girl no more than four years old was standing in front of me. I leaned down and hugged her, sending joy through her soul. I then brushed her long dark hair out of her eyes – only to find them searching blindly.

  “There’s more coming; give her to Brady,” Landen said in a tone that was pure joy.

  I handed the little girl to Brady and turned to see Landen holding a little boy. Before he could hand him to his father, another little girl came through. I was so happy, I started to cry. Travelers carried the children to Patrick’s passage; there must have been more than a hundred of them. The women began to come next, and Landen and I stood on either side of the passage and calmed them before passing them to the other travelers. Once the women had passed, the men came; they were more full of sorrow and defeat than the women and children.

  Landen said over and over again, “Your family is safe, you’re safe.” With the sound of his voice - and the emotion we were sending them - they found peace. When the flow of people stopped, our family and the travelers escorted the last of them into Patrick’s passage. Landen and I waited, hoping that Drake would emerge so we could thank him.

  A moment later, he stretched his arm through; once again, Landen gripped it and showed him his gratitude. Landen look at me, then smiled and stepped away. I reached for Drake’s hand and smiled as I felt his rush of energy. I pulled his hand to my face and let him feel my smile. Every joyful emotion I could call forth, I gave to him. I gently kissed his hand and let him go, then stepped out of the haze and smiled up at Landen.

  “He felt your emotion; you made him happy,” Landen said, grinning at me. “He wants us to return tomorrow; he’s expecting just as many - if not more.”

  My grin grew, and I reached my arms around his shoulders and pulled him to me. He smiled and slowly leaned in to kiss me.

  “I want you to always be this happy, “he thought.

  Through my embrace, I let the love I felt for only him flow. I felt him push his undying love through me; I felt strong, victorious - and I knew that with him at my side, there was nothing I couldn’t do.

  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 & Image 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.