by Jamie Magee
Cashton had relaxed now that the necklace was on me.
I smirked. “For months I’ve been trying to see the right way again, and now something has flipped the switch and my mind is flooding - but this...this is balancing me.” I locked eyes with her. “Why do you think it’s mine? What’s in it?”
She smiled wisely. “When I was young, August and I met a couple, and that couple gave us the scroll that we have been using as a guide through these trials. The girl gave me two necklaces, and the boy handed over two rings. I was told that the necklace you are wearing did not belong to them and that I would know instantly to whom it did belong when I saw her.”
I moved my head slowly from side to side, seeing the story she was telling me play out. It was Willow and Landen that had given this to her, apparently at the end of one of the many lives they had lived together. Rose asked no questions when she saw her future granddaughter. I would have asked thousands.
“So I guess we don’t know what’s in it?” My eyes glanced at Cashton, but he was not offering any answers.
She grinned. “Should it matter if it’s helping you?”
“Curiosity.”
She nodded and grinned. “Well, that’s a black diamond, a stone that is as old as the universe itself. What’s within it is as much of a mystery as what we are all going through.”
“A diamond?” I gasped. The stone was an inch long and thick. “I can’t take this,” I said, reaching for the clasp. As I did so, my fingertips were shocked.
Cashton just smirked, like he knew that was going to happen.
“Looks as if it disagrees,” Rose said with a hint of humor.
I swallowed nervously and let my hands fall.
“What did you mean before? ‘I love that story’?” I asked, nodding to where Monroe was still sitting in meditation.
“I’ve traveled far. I’m sure you have seen as much. Every culture has a story of evolution, and no matter how complicated that story is they simplify it for the sake of children, to answer their questions when they ask about their beginning.”
I nodded, telling her to go on.
“That story - or what she was chanting - reminds me of one that is told in the dimension that rests at the peak of the string. They are aware of alternate dimensions. Some citizens have even dared to travel the paths.” Her gaze moved to the open fields. “When their children ask them to explain how there could be another world, this story is told. Who came up with it is just as much a mystery. Basically, there was a couple that was so powerful, so in love, that they divided their souls so that they could live two lives at once – two worlds side by side.” She smirked. “There are other stories that link to that one, saying that at some point the couple lost themselves or were trapped apart in opposite worlds. They had to find each other, join with each other in a sacred bond - and when they did so, the paths of the string were created so everyone could travel between the worlds. There is nothing like an old myth to make the mind wonder.”
“I don’t get it,” I sighed, trying to see it - but as far as I could tell, Rose was explaining this the same way she had first understood it. I guess I was just slow when it came to mythology.
“Soul mates,” Cashton said as he threw his hands in the air. “One made of two. Divided, then joined again.”
I nodded once, still not getting it. He playfully squinted his eyes at me as if to scorn me for being closed-minded.
“Well, we are all meant to understand myths in our own way,” Rose offered.
She walked over to the railing and nodded for me to come. I looked longingly at Monroe before complying and following her.
“These were made for you and Madison for tonight. Because you are the taken one, your gown is plum with a black cover up. Your untaken friend has the ivory one.”
“Do we really have time to do this?” I asked, gently taking the garments from her.
“I’m afraid we have no choice. With all of you here now we can not only fight the core but also diminish the points of power. Olivia will be here shortly to help all of you get ready, and I have no doubt that you will do well.”
“How am I supposed to act out the role of some kind of queen when I have no knowledge of any culture in that dimension?”
She grinned slightly as her eyes fell to the necklace that had decided it would rather stay on my neck. “I have no doubt you will be able to see your answers quite clearly.”
And with that, she smiled and walked down the steps, then out into the field.
I clutched the gowns to me with one hand and pointed to the necklace with my other hand with wide, questioning eyes.
“What is it?” I mouthed.
“Mum gave it to you. It has rested on every female in our family - which means you didn’t go rogue. She gave that to you because your path had opened.”
“They still had to save us.”
“I’m sure they have been watching closely. The move they made to save you was dangerous, but they knew if they were successful that they would give both of us a fighting chance.”
“Fighting?” I said, raising my eyebrows, telling him that was not my style. I’m a peacemaker.
He let out a low whistle. “Good thing your boy has enough anger for the both of you.”
“And what is your emotion, brother?”
“Ah, now why would I tell you that right when you are starting to trust me?” he said with a wink.
I focused intently on him, but I couldn’t see it. I suppose it was an emotion that was not easily seen outwardly. Must not be too bad.
“Fine, tell me whenever.”
I turned to take the dresses in, as well as to figure out where Draven and Madison were. After draping the gowns across the banister, I followed the voices at the end of the hallway. I swear I could feel Draven down there. I could not get over how electric his energy was now. It was causing butterflies in my stomach. I felt like I was walking up to my crush for the first time.
When I reached the study I found a room with a high ceiling, which allowed even more room for the endless books and bookshelves. There was an oak table in the center, and around it were August, Draven, and Landen. Madison was nowhere in sight.
I guess I was under the illusion that Landen was missing or off with Silas somewhere. My eyes grew wide when I saw him leaned across the table. His dark, wavy hair was waywardly tossed to the side, and his skin was tanner than the last time I saw him. His rather tight black T-shirt amplified that, along with his lean muscles, and his blue eyes seemed like they were on fire as they studied the black book Draven had given him days ago.
Landen’s eyes rose to meet mine when I stepped across the threshold. There was not a smile in them, which was odd. From every perspective I’d seen, this family saw him as a peacemaker. Adventurous and stubborn as hell, but definitely a peacemaker.
“You didn’t tell me he was a Phoenix,” Cashton said from behind me. “We really need to work on our communication. A flaming bird is something that you would think would come up in common conversation.”
Draven smirked, but it was clear that no one else could see Cashton.
There was a sting in the air, kinda like what I felt next to Madison before. I wasn’t sure where it was coming from, so I lowered my eyes from Landen and eased my way to Draven’s side. August looked up when I reached him.
“You look well,” August noted. He glanced at my necklace and winked at me. “Balanced, too, it seems.”
Draven reached his arm around me, taking the sting in the air away. He turned me with little effort and reached for the diamond necklace on my chest. When his eyes met mine, I let him see where I got it from. He glanced at Cashton, who was looking over everything that was on the desk. He even moved a sheet of paper, but no one seemed to notice.
“What are you guys doing?” I asked, noticing the block of wooden box my mother had left.
“What we always do,” Landen commented dryly. “Sifting through half-truths and myths to find a direction.”
“This one is getting his head right,” Cashton said with a nod to Landen. “I like him.”
Landen’s words pierced the blanket of energy that Draven was giving me. I squinted at the pain of it.
Landen’s eyes grew curious as Draven casually pulled me closer.
“They were trying to figure out how to put the wall up in Aden’s head. It appears that this is probably a box. They just can’t open it to see what is in it,” Draven answered.
My eyes met Cashton’s, looking for answer. “It’s a binding box. It will connect two that have been unnaturally divided - painfully.”
For some reason, his words made Draven tense.
“Your biggest problem is that Aden is going to have to agree to this,” Landen said, apparently picking up the conversation they were having before I walked in the room.
His words stung once again, and unconsciously I stepped back, finding myself against Draven. I must have moved suddenly because now both Landen and August were staring at me.
Cashton dropped the corner of the paper he was reading as his eyes moved between Landen and me. Landen slowly rose from his leaning position and walked past August to where I was standing. With each step he took, the pain increased. It wasn’t the seething anger I’d felt when I stood beside Madison before. There was something else laced in it that was making it unbearable...grief, maybe?
I leaned against Draven as I felt his arm go around my waist. If I focused on him, his energy, it would numb what Landen was putting off, but it was like standing between two magnets. I felt both a repelling sensation and a pulling one.
Landen stopped just feet from me. His blue eyes looked all around me, then into my eyes.
“Am I bothering you?” he asked solemnly.
“Are you still a fast learner, little one?” Cashton asked.
I warily glanced at him to ask why.
“You are about to get a harsh lesson,” he said with a chuckle.
I swallowed nervously. “Not at all,” I muttered to Landen, trying to be the peacemaker that I always was.
“Charlie,” Landen said, raising one eyebrow, “remember what my insights are.”
I thought I heard a threat in his voice, but I couldn't be sure. Did he want me to say yes? Was he looking for a fight?
I didn’t answer.
“Push it away,” Landen said firmly.
I moved my head once to the side, trying to say no but not finding the will. I could feel Draven’s energy changing - it was becoming defensive. I never realized how much we said without words until now.
“I didn’t ask you to,” Landen said firmly, clearly telling me that that was a command. When I made no effort to move or think his energy - that painful burning - intensified to the point where it felt like knives were cutting into me.
“Push. It. A. Way,” he said again through a locked jaw.
“I like his teaching style. He must know the only way to get through to you is to throw you in the deep end and watch you learn to swim,” Cashton taunted.
I felt Draven begin to pull me behind him, and I knew a fight or argument was about to break out. I had half a second to do something - so I pushed. I don’t know if it was with my mind, energy, or soul, but I pushed that painful energy away as hard and as fast as I could - and when I did Landen’s body slammed against the wall that was five feet behind him, causing books to crash to the floor beneath him.
Before I could comprehend what I’d done, he was on his feet, pushing that burning energy right back at me. I put up a defense - call it a glass wall if you want; all I knew was that I didn’t want to feel that again. My energy pushed his away and somehow placed a barrier between Landen and Draven. I wanted that barrier in place because I could sense Draven’s rage, his protectiveness.
All the while, Cashton was laughing so hard he was holding his sides.
I heard the crash and squinted my eyes closed with my hands slightly extended in each of their directions. A second later I heard laughter from everyone and felt no pain. Cautiously, I opened my eyes to see Landen on one wall and Draven on the other. Hundreds of books were across the floor. Landen and Draven were laughing so hard that tears were glassing over their eyes. August was doing his best to look serious. I glanced behind me, feeling a new source of energy, one that was not all that amused. In the doorway, I saw Nyla with her arms crossed.
“Boys,” she said in a forced calm tome, “take your lessons outside, please.” She glanced at me. “Charlie, let them down so they can do as I said.”
Numbly, I let my hands fall - and when I did Draven and Landen were released from their positions. They didn’t crash, though; they seemed to float down effortlessly.
Landen nodded to the room, and all at once every single book across the floor rose and swiftly found its place on the shelf.
“Yeah,” Cashton said through his laugh. “You two can stick with him for a bit. He knows how to use his power.” He gave Landen a dominant thumbs up that he could not see.
“You, Charlie, are a fast learner,” Landen said with a proud grin threatening to invade his lips and bring out those dimples.
He put his arm around me, nodding once in Draven’s direction for him to follow us. Nyla stepped out of the doorway, letting us pass. Landen reached over and kissed her cheek, and she smiled at him against her will.
Landen didn’t lead me through the front door where Monroe was meditating. Instead, he led me through the kitchen, then out the back door, all the while with his long arm around me.
Outside, I nervously looked around for where Willow may be. I knew she had a jealous streak and I didn't want her to see his arm around me and get the wrong idea. It was bad enough that I could sense jealousy coming from Draven in the slightest way.
We walked down the steps and into the field, then turned. Draven was a few feet behind us. He had stopped to take off his black dress shirt and now he was wearing nothing but black slacks and a white tank top. His image left me breathless, craving home and privacy now more than ever.
“Show me what a good teacher Drake is. Take her from me,” Landen said to Draven as his arm tightened around me.
Cashton appeared beside Draven. “You know how to do this, right?” he asked Draven.
All at once, I felt a pull and a push - that feeling of being between two magnets was back, and I didn’t like it at all. I pushed away from both of them with a thought. Landen fell to the ground. So did Draven. Both of them began to laugh again, but I didn’t find it very funny. What was this? How was I doing this?
“Never mind. She does,” Cashton taunted through his bellowing laugh. I could swear the blue in his dark eyes was beaming for a second.
“Get serious, man,” Landen said, trying to stifle a laugh. “Try again.”
I didn’t want anyone to try anything again. I didn’t like it. I wanted to get away - like now.
I felt my body jolt up, then to the side, away from their path. It happened so fast, I barely had time to blink. And because I wasn’t where I was a second ago, both Draven and Landen’s energy collided and knocked them down.
“I could watch this all day,” Cashton said as he grinned profusely.
I began to breathe deeply, thinking this must be a dream. I’m really at home, and my ghost of a father is playing his music around me. My best friend and Monroe are asleep one floor below, Kara is writing in the kitchen and my mom is off making a huge business deal in her office. I was not in an alternate dimension, learning how to push grown men down with a thought or fly - is that what I did? How did I get over here?
Before my second deep breath left me, I felt myself being pulled again. Before I could stop it I was in Draven’s arms. Realizing I was there, I let my defenses down and grasped him for dear life.
“I want to wake up now,” I said into his chest.
I heard a playful laugh as his hands clasped either side of my face and pulled me up so I would have no choice but to look in his eyes. There, I saw the green I loved laced with
desire and excitement - and without a doubt, pride. He leaned in and let his lips press against mine. At first his kiss was like the old Draven, greedy. But when my knees grew weak he slowed his touch and the hum of his energy encased me. When he pulled away, he smiled gently.
“You’re awake - really awake, Charlie.”
“How?”
“I think it’s scaring her because she can’t see it,” I heard Landen say.
“Ya think?” Cashton added in.
I turned to see him and Landen just behind me, holding that same proud gaze that Draven had.
“The first time I moved energy, it was a reflex,” Landen began. “A protective one. Even after doing it I had to tell myself to focus to do it again. It wasn’t until I had the next instinct, one that was protective over Willow, that I got it. But you’re different. At that point, I’d seen auras, energy. You haven't, and you did not act out of instinct to protect. You acted out of self-preservation.”
“So what does that make me - selfish?” I asked, somewhat appalled.
“Peacemaker,” Cashton said with a wink.
“No,” Landen said, smiling down at me. “It makes you a realist. You know that if you die or get hurt, you can’t protect anyone. If there is one lesson my family needs to learn, it’s self-preservation.” His eyes rose to meet Draven’s. “Sacrifice is pointless, a one-time deal, and the ones we love need us beyond that point.”
I felt like I wasn’t the only one getting a lesson here, and I wasn’t that fond of what Landen was saying. It was almost like he was telling Draven not to sacrifice himself. What did he mean by that?
The energy around me felt almost disdainful. But before I could push it away Landen’s hand was on my arm and peace eased through me. He grinned slightly as I let out a breath.
“Let’s work on you seeing what you’re doing, and your tolerance. You can’t go around flinging people against walls when they have negative energy.”
“What was that you said about self-preservation?” I asked, smirking slightly.
I was always the smallest in my group of friends, or even in my class at school. Even though I had an ‘I don't care’ attitude, it always did make me feel weak. Knowing I could do this now was a bit reassuring. Frightening, but reassuring.