Vindicate: Web of Hearts and Souls #7 (Insight series Book 5)

Vindicate

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2010 Jamie Magee

All Rights Reserved

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the author.

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EDGE SERIES READING ORDER

Alphas Rise

Dark Lure

Sacred Betrayal 

Risen Lovers

Fall of Kings

Queens Rise

COMBINED WEB OF HEARTS AND SOULS READING ORDER:

Insight

Embody

Image

Whispers of the Damned

Witness

Vital

Vindicate

Synergy

Enflame

Redefined

Rivulet

Imperial

Blakeshire

Derive

Emanate

Exaltation*

Disavow

The Witches

Revolt

Scorched Souls

*If you are a fan of Adult Paranormal Edge can be read with the Web of Hearts, before of after Exaltation--the stories share the same characters.

INSIGHT READING ORDER:

Insight

Embody

Image

Vital

Vindicate

Enflame

Rivulet

Imperial

Blakeshire (Drake's Story)

Emanate

Exaltation

Disavow

SEE READING ORDER:

Whispers of the Damned 

Witness of a Broken Heart

Synergy of Souls

Redefined Love Affair 

Derive (Aden's Beginning)

A Lovers Revolt 

Scorched Souls

CONTEMPORARY NOVELS

Deploy

Disengaged

Impulsion

Friction

The loss of a loved one is one of the most tragic and devastating things a person could endure. Author unknown

For every soul this daydream was meant to find…

Chapter One

They say that those who walk among angels will prevail with the angels. If you never intended harm, then no harm will come to you. I find this to be BS. I walked among angels. I walked with Landen. I walked with Drake.

Harm has come to us.

Death is at our doorstep.

Two hours ago a seductive evil witch took them from me. I don’t know how she did it. What words she said. What mind games she used. All I know is that they’re gone. Their bodies may be here, but she has trapped them somewhere. For the first time in my life, I cannot feel Landen.

I’m isolated.

Marc and Brady carried them here to the palace, to a room that is several doors down from Perodine’s study. They laid their bodies on the bed. One that was large enough to sleep four grown adults.

I keep staring at the space between them. Wanting to lie there. Wanting to pull Landen’s seemingly lifeless body to me. Wanting more than anything to feel his vim, but I can’t. I can’t because my father, Alamos, August, and Perodine have not stopped working on both Landen and Drake.

Outside, a storm is raging. It’s violent and angry. Dangerous. Just like me. Furious tears have not stopped pouring from my eyes. No sound, just tears.

I gripped the post of the bed that held a massive canopy over them. Sound had stopped. Time had stopped. I couldn’t hear the calming words Beth and Rose were saying to me. I couldn’t hear the words Alamos was speaking over their bodies. I couldn’t hear my father, August, and Perodine discuss their state. I couldn’t hear the others, Brady, Marc, and Dane.

I’m not sure when Dane came here or how long he and Clarissa had been trying to get my attention.

August must’ve called Brady to his side because I saw him rush to Landen and him. Marc was right behind him. Brady took in every word August spoke. Alamos didn’t seem to agree with what was said, at least not the part that involved Marc. Brady left the room with Dane and Clarissa flanking him. They had the intent to go to Pelhan’s.

Marc paced the floor next to the bed. I felt the same entrapment he did. My gaze fell on him. Marc’s pace—his deep thought, his pure soul reminded me of Landen. His fierce eyes, broad shoulders, and determination emanated the shadow of his brother, Drake.

The windowpane behind Marc mimicked the flow of my tears. The storm was growing quieter. As if it were exhausted, as exhausted as I was.

I had to stay here.

I couldn’t chase the witch. Not without Landen. Not unless she was in this dimension. I had my doubts that she was.

The echo of the music I heard haunted me. The electrifying guitars I heard just before she vanished were the only comfort I had. The sound led me to believe there was a way to defeat her. The sound was holding me together. It was giving me the strength to stand. To hold this end post and gaze at the body of the guy I loved.

Alamos slammed the book he was reading closed and rushed from the room chasing an epiphany he had. Beth took his place at Drake’s side. I kept watching for breaths, proof of life from him, from Landen. All I saw was their skin becoming paler and paler. I ignored the blue tint that was forming around their lips.

Their beautiful faces...

I ignored it because it was the sign that told me they were really fading. Landen was really leaving me. It was the sign that said my death was only moments away. I ignored it because I was too mad to die. Rage. A craving for revenge was the air that was seething through my lungs.

It was my survival.

A cold blade against the back of my neck pulled me from my thoughts. I heard sawing and defensively turned to my side to see Alamos holding a knife and a lock of my hair. His old wise eyes, full of fear, stared into me as he wrapped my hair around his hand, then wiped my face dry. Leaving my lock of hair drenched in my tears that had fallen for each of them.

Alamos took the knife and sliced the lock in two. He handed one to Perodine, who was beside Landen, then leaned over Drake. At the same time they took my locks of hair and traced Landen and Drake’s brow, their nose, and lips, whispering a chant.

Breath seeped into their bodies. The breath Landen took was deep and lasting. His chest continued to fill with air then slowly let it out. The breath Drake took was weak. He was taking in air half the amount that Landen was.

I sensed the eyes of the room on me. They questioned if my tears were strong enough to bring Landen back but not Drake. Questioned if because I didn’t love Drake as much or in the same way that I couldn’t save him, too. They question if this failure of mine meant the demise of Esterious.

The mixed questions and intent infuriated me.

OUT! I said to the room.

They gawked at me like I was insane, freezing in place. I said OUT, all of you! Just as I raised my hands to argue my point, and to block their impending points of view each of them left. I stood still until I heard the door close, until I was sure I was alone with the bodies of Landen and Drake.

I tried to think like Landen, like Drake. To ask myself what would they do if this were reversed. Cruel memories of each time they had to watch over my body taunted my thoughts. There was only one thing that gave us power. My vim.

I walked slowly to Landen’s body. Tears washed down my face. My hand rested on his chest. I smiled distantly as I felt his powerful breaths. I leaned in, closing my eyes as my lips rested on his. The lack of response, the lack of life, tore into me. I leaned back and closed my eyes as I focused on my vim. I watched my soul move from my frail, weak body and linger next to Landen.

My hand rest on his chest, then slowly fell into him.

Landen’s back bowed with the thrust of energy. A beaming light erupted between us, mimicking the lightning that aim at the palace. His skin was no longer pale. Weak. He looked as if he were sleeping. Not peacefully. He was trapped in a nightmare, one that I couldn’t pull him from. I waited for him to open his eyes. To hear his voice in my thoughts, but the silence reined on. I moved my other hand to his chest, causing another thrust of energy, another beam of light. This time, his eyes opened slightly. Only he wasn’t there, at least not all the way. I could see a glimmer, a sparkle in the center of his eyes. I could see his soul fighting.

"An angel fallen, a devil has ri—"

His thoughts faded, and my soul went numb with shock. "Landen!" I screamed in my thoughts.

The sparkle in his eye dwindled as he turned his head toward Drake and his lips shaped the words, ‘An angel fallen, a devil has risen.’ When his eyes saw Drake’s lifeless body, dread came over him along with the intent to turn back and save Drake from something ominous.

I screamed through my thoughts for him to change his intent, to stay with me, to not go back, but he didn’t listen. Instead, his eyes closed, and he slipped further away. Everything I’d given him was useless. It was useless because he was fighting something on a level that I couldn’t perceive. A level I couldn’t reach. He wasn’t letting me bring him back for a reason. He was turning back to save Drake.

To end this.

Panic came over me. It was like they were fighting the devil in Hell itself. The only way they could fight him was to stand on death’s door. Landen had refused to lead me there, to let me follow him..

I moved to Drake, knowing that if I found a way to bring him back, Landen would come. Landen would come because he knew Drake was safe. Landen had chosen to fight for Drake. Landen was fighting for him because he knew we needed him.

I placed my hands on Drake’s chest and pushed my energy through him. I felt his hypnotically addictive vim ease through my soul. He was not reacting the same way Landen had. It was like he was further away. Like the witch had had more time to blind his soul. I needed my voice if I were really going to reach him. I moved my soul to my body then climbed across the bed to Drake’s side. I cupped my hands around his face and spoke his name. His skin was humming slightly. Drake, I pleaded. Come back to me. His lips began to move. He was responding. Drake, I said louder as I moved my ear so I could hear him. Will not be our prison, he whispered.

What? I said louder.

Fate is calling…this world will not be our prison, he said faintly.

I looked into his closed eyes and waited for something, anything that would explain why he said that. An angel! I yelled. A Demon? What prison! Where are you? I shouted as I pushed against his chest then moved to try and get another response out of Landen.

I felt the intent of the others. Perodine. My father, they were coming to sedate me. They thought I was going mad with grief. Hurting Landen and Drake. When the door opened, I flung my hand behind me, throwing a wall of vim around the half of the room with the bed.

My cagey stared coldly gawked at my dad, Perodine, Alamos and August, who were pushing in behind them. The thunder roared, and the wind crashed against the palace. I crawled to the edge of the bed then to the floor, daring one of them to try and calm me down.

To make me relax.

I had to find Landen. Go to wherever he was in his mind, and I wasn’t going to let whatever drugs they intended to give me prevent that from happening.

One by one, they left. I refused to let my wall of vim fall. I’d encased the three of us.

I stared over their bodies, watching for any sign of where their minds were. Their skin was no longer pale. It was full of color, red with anger. Their breaths would speed up then slow down. I watched as the muscles in Landen’s long, strong arms would flex then relax. Drake’s entire body tensed often. I’d seen them both make gestures like this before. I could almost visualize the moments they were fighting and the moments they were finding rest in their minds. They were living in a different word that I was blind to. I wanted to see it. I didn’t care how twisted or dark it was. I wanted to be fighting at their side.

The door to the bedroom opened again. This time it was Brady. He was alone. I still wasn’t going to let my guard down. He vigorously walked toward me, ignoring the barricade I had when he passed through it without effort. I defensively threw my arms up, but he caught them, then walked forward, pushing me against the wall—pinning my arms to my side. I glared back at him, trying to hold my rage in. Trying because he looked too much like Landen. Hurting him or anyone else was not what I wanted to do. No, I wanted to save my rage for the witch that had stolen Landen.

Calm down, Brady said through gritted teeth.

I am calm, I seethed, struggling to move my arms but finding it harder than I should.

Willow, you’re killing people. Do you understand me? His blue eyes blazed as he leaned down into my face.

"I haven’t killed anyone yet!" I screamed as I scowled.

Oh yeah? he said in a firm tone. How many people do you think died when the Estate collapsed? How many people do you think survived the storm that ripped through that town?

How many were traitors! I bellowed as rage engulfed me. Someone let that girl into Drake’s chambers. Someone betrayed him. Took him and Landen from me.

Not all of them, Willow, he said, squeezing my wrist. This town is flooding. The winds are deadly. Do you want to kill them? Do you?

Tears burned my eyes as I realized he was right. I was dangerous. My emotions were controlling the atmosphere. The people in this world were being attacked by my wrath. My grief.

I didn’t mean to, I whispered tearfully as my body went limp.

Brady’s eyes grew tender. He pulled me to his chest and held me as tight as he could. I squeezed him back, imagining for a brief second that he was Landen. Brady leaned my head back and wiped my tears away. I’m going to ask you to do something. Something that will be far more difficult than taking your life. Far greater than facing any evil angel. My eyes questioned him, eager to do anything if it would bring them back. Control. I need you to take what you’re feeling and control it—find a balance. The darkness is using your rage to murder this dimension. You don’t want that. I know you don’t.

I moved my head from side to side as I wiped away more tears.

I’ll make a deal with you, he said, as his eyes grew sincere. I’ll help you hunt her down, watch you end her life. Protect you. Bring them back to you if you just learn control.

I can’t… I said as my eyes moved to Landen.

Pelhan said you would say that, Brady taunted, calling my attention back to him.

What else did he say? I asked with a fleeting hope.

That there is an equal reaction to every action. That right now you needed someone to react to you. To help you control your new power.

Who? I asked, begging for them to come.

He only had time to teach me. I was the one that understood first.

Teach you what?

How to cause a reaction to your power. Willow, I can walk though any wall of vim you put up with one focused, clear thought. With an honest intent, but I cannot stop this weather. This destruction. Not without your help. I don’t have the mind power. None of us do.

I breathed in deeply and called a calm to me. The only way it would come was by thinking about Landen. His touch. At first, the memory was painful because it was wrapped in grief. In the idea that I would never feel it again, but I moved past that and thought of every perfect word he ever said to me. His calm vim. When I felt it ease through me I started to grasp control.

You do have the power, the power of words. Just talk to me like you would talk to Landen. Be blunt.

He knew I was fighting guilt now. He was very blunt with me before, and now I knew that I may’ve hurt or killed innocent people in the moments I lost control. I couldn’t let that happen again.

I doubt you hurt anyone that didn’t deserve it, he mumbled, finding both encouragement and grief in the fact that he had said the words that made me realize how dangerous I was.

How can you be sure? I ask with a tremble as I thought of the innocents that must have been in that city.

Because everything happens for a reason. Even this.

I knew he didn’t believe his own words, but for right now I was going to live in his lie. I had no other choice.

You sound like Landen. I could hear the rain washing down the windows in response to the stabbing pain I felt in my heart.

Brady cupped his hands around my face. Willow, I will be your air. I will help you think. Tell you when you are out of control. You have to trust me. We will bring him back, or die trying. I vow it.

Truth.

I wanted to tell him to leave me alone, to take care of his daughter. To take our family from this dimension and never look back, but I’d learned my lesson just a few days ago. It took much energy to argue with anyone about where they should or should not be.

I breathed in and wiped my last tear from my eyes, then began to pace as I took in calm, slow breaths. I focused on every time I’d laughed, every positive emotion I could. I heard echoes of each time Landen had told me he loved me. My lips turned into a vague smile.

When I first met him, he told me that his world believed those words to be a promise, a symbol of gratitude toward the universe for allowing them to feel that emotion. We had used them as if they were a common goodbye, or words to fill an empty moment. I regretted not putting more emotion behind those three precious words. I regretted saying them out of habit, even though I didn’t feel that way, my lack of intensity—how freely I said them made me feel as if they had lost their meaning.

Thunder crashed with the anger I had with myself.

Brady gripped my arm, causing my pace to stop. I told you I would be your air. When you feel those emotions, you look into my eyes. You find peace, calm, and determination there. Do you hear me! he yelled over the rumbling thunder.

You’re not him! I bellowed as lightning collided against the palace.

"Right now I’m all you’ve got. Like it or not. I’m the only one not afraid of you. The only one who knows you will not break. I know you have no choice but to be strong. And you will be."

I let out a jagged breath and stared into him. He was telling the truth. They feared me. My family thought this was our end. I gritted my teeth as I swallowed the emotions that told me they were right, Brady was wrong. Then I vowed to prove them all wrong. I would be damned if I let one evil wench stop me from my fate.

Once I took ownership of that determination, the rain stopped, the thunder grew silent, and the dark room became brighter. The skies behind the window were not bright; they were gray, but gray was better than a storm. Better than the destruction I’d already brought.

You got this, he said quietly as he pulled me to him and hugged me as tightly as he could. I could hear his pounding heart. Feel his rage. Understood that his intent was set. He was going to stand at my side and bring back his baby brother one way or another.

Who was she?

His arms fell from me. I don’t know. I’m more interested in figuring out that sound. Where it came from. Why it was able to bring her pain. Stop her.

I tried to clear my mind. To think of the conversations Landen and I had just hours ago. He knew something. He’d grasped something from what I showed him. Those girls Preston had met in the field outside my house. I recognized the look in his eyes. That uncanny certainty, but he didn’t have time to tell me what it was. Right now he was more than likely holding the missing piece to this puzzle in his thoughts.

You have to find Austin. Those twins.

I sat on the edge of the bed. The weight of my body the way the bed moved caused both Landen and Drake to flinch. Brady pulled me up. I don’t think we need to disturb them. Not their bodies.

Where are they? I asked, as a wave of dizziness came over me.

We’ll figure it out, he promised. Come to the study so we can talk this out as a family.

I shook my head. Tell them to come in here, I said, glancing at the sitting area that the bedroom had on the other side. There were three couches outlining a massive coffee table that sat in front of the fireplace, even more chairs in front of the window. This room was as large as my entire downstairs at my home in Chara. A home I doubted I would ever see again.

The door opened slowly at that moment. It was Marc. Are you all right? he asked, looking between me and Brady and the bodies of Landen and Drake.

If they want to talk, tell them to come in here, Brady said to Marc..

Brady put his hand on the small of my back and led me to the couch that faced the window. I felt his intent. He wanted me to see the weather. He wanted me to see the effect I was having on the world outside this palace. He didn’t sit down by me; instead, he sat in front of me so I would have no choice but to look into his blue eyes when my emotions fought to take control.

Rose was the first one that came in. She sat on the arm of the couch beside me and wrapped her arms around me, trying to emanate as much calm as she possibly could. I needed more than she could give me. I needed Preston.

Where are Preston and Libby? I said as my eyes moved to Brady.

Home, he said calmly. Do you want them here?

The question is, do they want to be here? If they did, they would be, I said.

My father had come in the room and walked to the bed so he could look over Landen and Drake. I tried to ignore him, to pretend they were just in another part of palace, talking about me. Finding a way to protect me. I felt my father’s astonishment and looked to him before I could stop myself. When he felt my stare, he looked over his shoulder at me; his eyes were hazel, full of the worry I felt in him. I don’t know what you did, baby. But it helped. Their lungs are taking in air. Their hearts are beating. Their souls are on fire.

But they’re not here, I replied as I stared at my father with pleading eyes. He left Landen’s side and came to mine, studying every part of me, looking for damage.

Don’t be mad at me about before,