by Jamie Magee
We glanced at each other, wondering if she could see us.
“Landen…I’m sorry," she said with the same connecting stare in our direction. "We both are. But, you have to understand, you’re our little boy…you’re so much like your father, ready to risk your life every day to bring someone else safely home.” She glanced down the empty road.
“Truth is, I dreamed of Willow, too. I could see you with her. I remember keeping you awake at night so you could sleep through the day, to see her longer while she slept in her time…you needed to have a childhood, so did she…that was our intent. We failed to see that you never carried the soul of a child. You were born for the task before you, and the way you feel about Willow is not only your reward but also your weapon." Her eyes grew misty. "Your father understands why you’ve built these walls; everyone does, I promise. He’ll wait for you to come to him. No more lectures. You’re a man now, and we’re all waiting for you to teach us, to tell us how to help you fill your purpose.” Aubrey looked down at her feet. I could feel her remorse.
“Please just forgive us, trust us,” Aubrey said with tears pooling in her eyes.
Landen couldn’t take another word. He woke himself up and ran down the stairs, almost tripping on the basket in the threshold. Running to her, he scooped her up, and happy tears flowed from the corners of her eyes as she squeezed him. Giving him a moment, I woke and stayed in our bed.
After a shower, I found my sketchbook. The first sketch I drew was of the room Olivia was in, struggling to call back every detail. Taking a deep breath, I faced my demons, literally, and sketched the beast sitting on my friends chests Landen came in the room, breakfast in hand; hesitating as he saw the outline of the hospital room, he didn’t stop me. He sat down and watched, his anger and defense building with each stroke, as the demons came to life in black and white.
August came mid-morning; we'd been waiting for him. He seemed surprised when Landen flung the door open as he approached. With a guarded grin, Landen led August to the kitchen table. He was carrying poster-board size papers, rolled and stuffed into a leather tube.
I was hoping those were building plans, maybe travel plans, but I knew I wasn't that lucky.
It sucks wanting to know something—but not wanting to know at the same time, I'd always felt that way about my life. I should be a walking panic-attack by this point—in serious need of meds—but, I kept focusing on the good—on how it felt to find someone who got me without me saying a word.
“Interesting night,” August commented as he sat down. We stayed on our feet. Landen leaned on the table like he was about to scout battle lines. I stood with my arms across my stomach swaying, trying not to pace. I wasn't all there; I kept seeing those demons—kept trying to plot revenge and salvation at once.
“What is this?” Landen asked nodding to the tube August was opening. The pages were thin—almost see through.
“This is your story, the first one,” August said as reverence touched each aged line in his expression. My stomach turned. Landen glanced back to me, then to the table. I was not digging how he was bracing himself to hear the worst—all his emotions were paused, waiting.
August unrolled the scroll, revealing a large circle with lions, fish, rams, scales, twins, and scorpions; other symbols lined the outer edge as well.
“Landen, this is your birth chart. Your sun is in Pisces.” Landen nodded. “Your moon is in Virgo, that’s what gives you your ability to see the truth,” August continued.
“I know this,” Landen said telling him to go on.
August rolled out the second scroll. “Willow, this is yours. Your sun is in Scorpio, and your moon is in Leo, which gives you a powerful impact on emotions, both yours and others.”
My stare was defensive. Moon…I’d never heard of a moon sign. “I don’t understand, how do you know that?”
“At your birth time and place, where the planets were is recorded, they become your natal placement. They outline characteristics in your personality as well as the atmosphere of your life—where you will have trouble, where you will have ease. The alignments are not repeated exactly for 4,320,000 years. No other another person on Earth has your exact view on life.
I noticed he still had two scrolls that he hadn’t shown us. August's excitement escalated as he unrolled the last two. They were much older than the ones he’d just shown us; they were cloth frail and faded.
He removed the vase from the table and arranged the four scrolls. The old ones were next to the new ones, and the markings were identical.
“Not possible?” Landen said through a locked jaw. His entire body stiffened. My stare rushed between him, August, and the charts.
“This is Aliyanna’s,” August said to me, pointing to the one that matched mine. “And this is Guardian’s,” he said, referring to the one that mirrored Landen’s. I still didn’t understand. I looked at Landen. Disbelief and anger were ruling his emotion.
“Who are they again?” I asked.
“They were the first," August said. "Priests attempted to contain them. They failed. Guardian and Aliyanna escaped into the string; they came here.”
My skin blushed with fear. “So, um, that’s why we can do what they could do?”
August canted his head—not an agreement.
Landen closed his eyes and said, “You think we’re them…that we’re back?”
“I do.”
Pain filled Landen's expression. I watched and felt him look at his entire life with a new perspective. "This is why...why I've never felt free—normal. It's not my sight in the string that has people watching me—it's this. Their revelation."
I knew Landen had a rocky road growing up, but I didn't think it was as grave as his emotions were saying right now. This boy wanted to run—never look back, and he planned to take me with him.
Landen wasn't built to back down. I knew if he wanted to avoid something there was a serious reason—like him not believing he was the right person, or that that the time was wrong.
I was still in the dark about how serious this was, but my instinct was to stand with Landen, deny it.
“Wait, four million years…were dinosaurs even around then?" Okay, so that was a lame rebuttal, but it took some of the tension away, not much.
Landen shifted his stare to August in a 'told you so way.'
What the hell? I thought. I don't get this, but I don't need you looking at him like I'm the one that makes you incapable of doing whatever they want you to do.
Landen dropped his head then pushed off the table and turned to me; he never met my eyes as he pulled me into his arms. I stayed stiff ready to fight this out. His lips touched my temples as he thought, They think we're young gods...its dangerous for anyone to think their gods have returned.
I thought this was about Esterious. My body was humming as adrenaline rushed through me. I didn't like where my imagination was taking me—a revelation in my world hung around with words like apocalyptic.
If their first life—our first life—was in Esterious, it connects them to this phase of Chara's dimension. His hands reached to frame my face; they trembled as he thought, We've prepared to fight them for a long time--but it was a battle that would come someday, not today.
You're afraid because you think this world believes we are a sign of war—that thinking it will attract it.
His lips touched my forehead as he thought, One of many scenarios.
He moved from my side then braced his arms on the table again, glaring at the charts.
"Time, Willow," August said like the chill out moment Landen and I just had never happened, "Is irrelevant. Higher dimensions do not have such things. Infante is young, created long after Esterious maybe even Chara. Your history, what populates your dimension is vastly different from the others.”
Landen's arms flexed, I swear I felt the energy in the room crackle with his defensive emotion. “How do Drake and Perodine play into this?” Landen asked.
August’s eyes narrowed in
question the instant Landen said Perodine’s name.
“Willow dreamed of her, too,” Landen offered.
August sighed. “Understandable. She is, or was, her mother.”
Landen's jaw clenched, raged flashed in his eyes. For a split second, I felt like I was on the wrong side of the county line or something. Like Landen doubted the way him and I clicked together. Before my mind could run away with that thought his eyes met mine, they softened. The slight shake of his head said it all—he doubted nothing between us and everything in this f-up world.
August went on, “Perodine planned her only child's birth by the planets—for the baby to be stronger than Donalt, the immortal ruler of the damned dimension. She remains in the same life she had then—forever immortal. I'd imagine she would be a powerful ally.”
August’s eyes fell to the jewel around my neck. “Perodine had a medallion made—a sun filled with black glass to represent the darkness of the world. The crescent moon in the center represents the rebirth of life—empathy for humanity. The star was placed on the back to show that the supremacy of man would always fall behind the universe—God." He lifted a brow. "A jewel present then will carry the residual energy of that time and all the days since, it too, is a weapon."
I fingered the necklace. "Did Perodine send Alyianna to Chara with Guardian?" I wasn't about to use the first person when talking about those ancients. I wasn't even sure what I was trying to get out of my question. I guess it made sense to me that if the woman didn't like her world, had power, then planting an Adam and Eve in a new dimension made sense—it's what I would do. Well, it's what I would do after I demolished everyone who jacked up the broken world I knew.
August cleared his throat. “Not exactly," he glanced at us. "Aliyanna was betrothed to a man her father had chosen for her, but she loved another: Guardian, a man of the common people." He pursed his lips as he gathered his thoughts. "There many accounts of the final conflict, the summary of most is that Aliyanna rebelled, Donalt ordered her death as well as her lovers. When they were attacked, in the high tower of the palace, the medallion acted like a shield, the collision of the priests’ magic and the emblem ripped time and space--made a portal to the string. They escaped.
“So, let me get this straight. You think that we’re those people? That this whole scenario is playing out again? Are you saying that Drake is chosen for me by Donalt?” I clarified.
Landen reached the point of rage; jealousy chased the emotion. He pushed off the table and crossed his arms.
August put his hand on his shoulder. “I know lore can never be counted on to speak the entire truth, only the flavor of such.”
My eyes raced back and forth looking for a way to call BS on all of this. “Perodine, she told me she couldn’t undo what was done. What did she mean? Is that true, or can I fix this?”
Landen's stare shot to me; I shifted uneasily on my feet. I guess it would've helped if I'd told him more details about that woman and what she said.
“Once a spell begins," August said, "it must find a resolution. I assume she was warning you that a spell or curse is still in play." He stared into thin air, shifting through his knowledge. "The only prediction I know beyond your births is that ‘the innocent will lead you, and you will lead the righteous,’” He slanted his head. "I'll search for any mention of spells left open."
Libby’s face flashed through my mind. The intent to protect her and the fear I couldn't caused Landen to pass me a 'we'll figure it out' glance.
“What happened after Guardian and Aliyanna landed in the string?” I asked, hoping that we’d done something kick Esterious' ass.
August looked down and traced the grain in the wood table. "This, too, is debated. Some say they should've returned then, fought their battles. Others say they needed to build warriors first." He met each of our stares. "You didn't return to Esterious; I can't say why."
Landen cursed under his breath. "You realize you are saying that two dimensions, billions of people, are going to war all because a guy met a girl and they fell for each other?"
August's expression hardened. "You were raised knowing nothing comes before a soul finding its twin-divided part. Raised to know that to find ascension, a soul's rightful home, this must occur." He lifted his chin. "Wars have been fought for shallow reasons. This is not one—this is the darkness in this universe fighting to keep the souls its feeds on from ascending to their true glory."
August leaned forward, silently commanding Landen to look him in the eye. “You are one with her—never forget that. The answers rest in you. Do not rely on the stories written by those who were not there.”
Landen broke his gaze with August and stared at the table. “I need to know how to heal her friends and stop those demons. That’s my problem now, not old myths and superstitions... of any world or plane.”
August didn’t seem surprised by Landen’s open rebellion. “The only difference between black magic and white magic is the intent. You’re going to have to find the counterpart to the spell--amend it with good intent.”
“Will these rings help, or the medallion?” Landen asked as he glanced out the window.
“Only you truly know the power of those rings; they belonged to you then.”
Landen's expression hardened. “How serious is it that they have the star?”
August ticked his head toward me. “The star has part of her energy from the past. Any part of Willow gives them a source of power that is undeserved.”
I could feel people coming, our family, and so could Landen. Our time alone with August was up.
“You will find your way and finish what you left undone. I’m sure of it,” August said seeing Ashten through the window walking toward our home.
Ashten was across the field, and he wasn’t alone; my father, Marc, Chrispin, Brady, Dane, and Clarissa were all with him. August bowed his head then gathered the scrolls and moved the vase back to the table then went outside, leaving us alone.
Landen pulled me against him and wrapped his arms around my waist.
"We have to stay focused," I said. "These extra variables explain nothing—they are fogging up our path."
He smirked to agree, but the smile was short-lived. “What do you want me to do?”
It was a heavy question considering how willful and one-tracked I was with most things in life. I couldn't help the way I was. Emotions ruled me; everything I did was based off how I could change them.
“All I can see are the demons.”
He was quiet as he stared out the window at the others approaching.
“Do you want me to bring your friends here for now?”
I didn’t answer Landen’s thoughts. I needed him to see past what I was feeling, to navigate a path between what I wanted and what needed to happen.
He kissed my forehead and pulled my hand toward the door.
“Let’s go get them,” he said.
We walked out to the porch where they were all waiting, and the quiet whispers stopped when they saw us. Landen looked at his dad first, then at each of them in the eye.
“We need to bring those girls back here until we can stop the demons. Does anyone have any objections?” Landen asked.
Ashten glanced at August; then they looked at my father. My dad cleared his throat. “Olivia seems to be fine,” he answered, looking up at Landen.
“What is he talking about?” I asked Landen.
“There’s an old myth that you must be loved by someone who lives here to survive in Chara.”
“You tell us what you need us to do,” Ashten said.
“What’s your plan?” Marc asked.
Landen looked down then out to the others. Their anticipation and excitement frightened him. He didn’t want them involved in this at all. “Jason, we heard the mothers talk about you last night. They respect your medical opinion. Do you think you could convince them to let the girls take a vacation with you or something--anything to give us time?”
“I’m sure I c
ould think of something,” my father said.
“Dane, your mother is expecting you any day now. I say we go to Franklin with Dane. Jason, you can run into one of the parents and convince them that you have to take them away somewhere,” Landen planned out. The others nodded in agreement.
“All right then. We need to go, it’s almost night time there,” my dad said.
August decided to stay behind. I reasoned he didn’t want to place himself between Ashten, and Landen. We waited as Ashten and my father called home. Brady and Chrispin didn’t have to go far to say goodbye to Felicity and Olivia. They were in the field by our house, picking flowers. Olivia’s emotion elevated as she heard Chrispin’s voice…the emotion was undeniable. “Has he told her yet?” I asked, knowing how they both felt about each other and that Olivia would never have the nerve to say it first.
Landen sheepishly grinned as he watched them. “He’s waiting. He thinks she needs to see his face.”
In the string, I lingered near the back with Clarissa. I thought Landen needed space. I didn’t feel comfortable with the way he was acting…he had changed since he’d seen the charts. He was aloof and trying desperately not to seem that way to me. Brady and Marc took the time to show Dane the passages. He was able to feel them, but the colors escaped him.
“So, do you think I am going to like Franklin?” Clarissa asked me.
Like any other time I’d seen Clarissa, she resembled a runway model: a unique beauty that could capture anyone’s attention.
“I think Franklin is going to like you,” I muttered, smiling faintly.
Clarissa grinned, staring at Dane. “He never talks about anyone from there, except you and his family.”
I lifted a brow, remembering how oddly Dane and I fit into Franklin. “For us, it was like a waiting room. We’ve always known that we were meant to be somewhere else,” I offered as I realized that my soul seemed to know way more than my mind.
As Infante came into view, green passages illuminated the walls. Landen glanced back in my direction, smiled slightly, and then walked on. A moment later, the walls seemed to turn completely green, and you couldn’t see one passage from another. Landen stopped and looked at the wall cautiously. The others watched. To them, it was solid white.