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  “Many – not millions , ” Nana said , raising one eyebrow. “Listen…I don’t think seei ng is going to be hard for you. You are very aware of energy and the emotions behind them . Listen to what they say to you, and when you step into The Realm , do not fear what you see…it is only time you must endure.”

  Now that was a warning that got my attention. “What will I see?”

  “Everything you don’t want to , ” s he promised .

  I heard the wind crash against the house as my jealousy rose in me. In my minds eye I could see that seductive whench with her hands all over Landen. I held my breath. Stabbed my nail into my skin and demanded my soul to find control.

  “It ’s temporary. Its just time. What happens in this moment will end , and the next will come and end – what happens in those moments will end. Do not let the demons you fight deep in your soul , blind you there.”

  “Wise words. I’ve been told time is nothing more than an illusion.”

  “An illusion that you will have to pass through.” She looked down , then up at me. “I’m entrusting you with the children I love more than the air in this old lad y’s lungs – they will help you and expect nothing in return because that is how I raised them . But I’m asking you, begging you to help Charlie ; help her save Draven from his demons.”

  “I will,” I promised quietly. “Anything I need to know about the others?” I asked , looking to the doorway that led to the den.

  Nana smiled slightly. “If you can handle Brady , you can handle Aden. He has a pure soul that wants nothing more than to end this darkness and protect his brother. Monroe…she is a gifted , innocent soul who sees beyond any of us. She doesn’t speak, at lea st not to anyone beyond Charlie. Her brothers Grayson and Winston are like night a nd day. You’ve see n Grayson already, he’s the oldest. He has helped Dra ven fight the addiction to The Realm. His younger brother Winston – well, we are concerned that he enjoys that place to o much and that when his test to dwell there or fight comes , he will not fare as well as Draven.”

  “How are they in your care?” I asked , knowing that she did love them but not as intently as she loved her boys, Charlie and Madison.

  “Orphans, victims of The Realm. You have more to worry about than their past right now. They are now a part of this family, this fate.”

  “Can you not teach me to see now, before I go back? Is that what I need to know to survive?”

  “You already knew what you needed to know to survive – his energy – yours , how it makes all of you stronger. The only problem was that it was a secret between the three of you , so no one from your family could have helped you remember that.”

  “True , ” I said , blushing slightly.

  “You have already begun the l essons you need to know to see. Your father taught you the first one. He told you to listen. To see , you must listen.”

  “Still working on that lesson,” I said under my breath.

  She held in a laugh. “Beyond that , you have to ask the soul what yo u want to know – just a thought, and if it ’s focused enough, if the intent to help is right , you will see your answer. I n fact , ” s he said as her eyes moved all around me. “This , in part , has already come to you . That last morning at your home , you saw my boys ; you saw their image. You had to have thought so mething that opened that vision. Before that , Preston showed you a memory of Charlie in your world – that is seeing in its earliest phases. Flashes of memories that pull you in so deeply that you feel like you are there.”

  “What are the later stages of seeing?” I asked , remembering each moment she mentioned clearly.

  “Later , you don’t see it. You ’r e there . A nd once you ’r e there , you can go back at any moment. I t’s a passage through time ; not something I care for any of you to toy with.”

  “And how does this lead to The Realm?”

  “The Realm called Draven . The others used their gift of seeing to follow him into his thoughts…. but it’s not Drav en’s thoughts you need to see. I t ’s Landen’s.”

  “Right, but how?”

  “You know his soul better than anyone. If I had to guess , you know what is going on in his mind at all times . You react to him on a level that no one can perceive – just feel him – absorb him , and if you do it correctly , you will be there.”

  I let out a desperate breath. “Alright,” I said , pushing my chair ba ck. “I’ll take care of them, and I will repay them , even if it’s my last deed.”

  “It won’t be,” Nana promised as she stood.

  I looked over my shoulder , feeling Charlie’s emotions getting closer. She was sad, excited, and s ca red all at once. A moment later , she opened the back door , with Madison f ollowing her. She caught my gaze , then looked over what I was wearing. “Looks like Nana took care of you.”

  I look down at her clothes. “Yeah…thanks for letting me borrow these.”

  She smiled vaguely as her cheeks blushed. “Are we ready?”

  I looked past her at Madison. She was avoiding my eyes , but I could see how nervous she was to be near me - how determined she was to kill this demon I was fighting.

  “Are we , Madison?” I asked .

  She looked up at me and smiled faintly . She was a stunning girl…her soul had so much depth , and though I couldn ’t feel her , I could see that her energy was strong, that she was strong, someone I could call a friend, family. “Not at all, but that ’s beside the point. We have a demon to kill , ” s he answered.

  I glanced down at her wrist , then to Charlie. “I want to apologize for anything irrational I may do. Sometimes my emotions outweigh thought , and right now for some unknown , complicated reason , my emotions are reflected around me. I don’t mean any harm.”

  They both looked at each other , and I felt a foreboding rise in Charlie ; it was like she knew how dangerous I could be.

  The worst feeling in the world was knowing that no one really trusted you. Including you. I sighed. “The place we are going might seem fright en ing at first . I t’s a palace ; very old, very elegant. There is a lot of energy there , and I hate to say that none of it is good. My family is there. We all have a common goal to redeem those people one way or another. I beg you just to endure it long enough for me to figure out how to get in The Realm, and once I do , I will bring you home, or anywhere else you want to go. I promise.”

  “I ’ve see n it. We’ll be fine , ” Charlie said , not believing her own words. I saw the frustration in Madison’s eyes as she looked over me , then Charlie.

  “OK, let’s go ,” I said , nodding to Nana to tell her thank you once more. Charlie and Madison went to her. I left the room , letting them say their goodbyes.

  I found Brady and Olivia lingering in the entry hall. They both looked over me with wide eyes. “How did she do that?” Brady asked .

  “What?” I said in a confused tone.

  “Bring your energy back . I f I didn’t know any better , I would think Landen was here.”

  “He is,” I said , moving my hand to my chest. “Is everyone up there?” I asked , looking up the stairs.

  “Yeah, their dad was saying goodbye , ” Olivia said as she fought the anguish of those words.

  “Is he OK?” I asked , willing to give him peace , even though that was a small exchange for his sons.

  “Hard to say,” Brady said. “Austin said they have been expecting it, but that doesn’t mean the moment is any less harsh.”

  I nodded; agreeing with him , then went to the stairs. I followed the emotions , mixed in anguish, excitement, and foreboding , to the stone steps that led to the studio I’d appeared in.

  When I got there , I saw Monroe and her brothers sitting on the couch . Austin was sitting in the chair. In the center of the room , there was Aden and Draven , and a tall man was standing in front of them. I walked quietly to the man’s side , then reached for his arm. He started to pull away at first , but then as he felt my calm emotion - the one that I remembered from my dad, from
August, the protective instinct I always felt from Ashten . The man hesitated and smiled down at me as his green eyes rapidly moved across mine – as he took in what I was showing him.

  “Looks like men I could trust,” he said humbly to me.

  My eyes sparkled as I relished in the fact that with my touch , I could share my memories, that I could show someone why I felt the way I did. “They are, and right now they ’re more than likely very upset with me , so I need to go ; we need to go.”

  The man nodded once at me , then pulled both Aden and Draven to him. They hugged him back , and the emotion between those three nearly made me cry. I’d seen my parents tell me goodbye more times than I cared to remember .

  Charlie and Madison came in the room behind me, and the others stood.

  “Alright , there are four of us and seven of them – we should be able to guide them fairly easily , ” Brady said.

  Austin sho ok his head no. “They can see. Clearly.”

  Brady raised his eyebrows in r espectful shock. “Alright, let ’s go,” he said , looking back at me.

  The passage that we had entered into was in front of a wall of amps and speakers – someone who was not looking for the string would have easily looked it over more than once. At first it was hard for me to see , but then I saw the wave of energy a nd felt the pull of the string – then our path opened a little wider as if it w ere inviting us in.

  I felt the nervousness of the others behind me. I reached back for Charlie , knowing her emotions w ere strongest , and felt her gratitude as my calm emotions swarmed through her.

  Draven was at her side , but I felt a distance between them . Neither of them wanted to look at each other , but i t wasn’t that they were fighting. I felt Charlie’s intent not to show Draven something and Draven’s intent not to ask . They had a simple reason for that act : i t would be painful for the both of them.

  Austin led , and I walked slowly , urging Charlie to do the same. The others walked ahead , leaving her in the back with me. I nodded for Brady to go ahead. I wanted to talk to Charlie before we stepped into Esterious. I wanted her and I to come to an understanding. We needed to figure out how both of our fates were entwined, w hat each of us could give to the other to save the souls we were fighting for.

  Chapter Seven

  Olivia took the opportunity to talk to Madison. She was curious abou t her, almost as much as I was. Draven glanced over his shoulder , noticing that I had managed to discreetly pull Charlie from his side. He looked at me and tried to smile , then caught up to Aden and the brothers Grayson and Winston.

  “So,” I said quietly , “I met Draven’s mom.”

  Instant shock came through Charlie as she regarded me with wide , dark eyes.

  “How did that go ?” she asked slyly , clearly trying to sound braver than she was feeling.

  “Well…seems you ’re the leader of this group. The one who saw reason in the madness that surrounded you.”

  “I don’t know if I would say that,” she said under her breath.

  “Listen,” I said , putting my hand on her back , pushing calm through her. “You and I have a lot in common. I’m not really clear on what you’re fighting outside of this darkness or how closely that dilemma weave s through this one, but I will tell you this,” I said , nodding towar d Draven. “That boy loves you, and if I had to guess , I would say that he thinks he’s too dangerous for you.” The calm I was giving her was overpowered by anger and sadness that vibrated through the energy of the string. I focused on how I felt when I was one with Landen and managed to bring those emotions to a h alt. “You know when this began, my hell , I had a fight with Landen . He thought that by us be ing together that others were suff ering, that if we loved each other , that would be a selfish choice. He was willing to put others before us.”

  Charlie looked at me with wide eyes as disbelief coursed through her.

  “That idea didn’t last long , ” I promised her. “And later we learned that together we were stronger. That somewhere before this life , we made choices that led us here. I’m the one that creates any and all turmoil between us. I do that b ecause I hide things from him. Things he can feel. We ignore the obvious … if I had any advice for you , I would tell you not to hide. Face it, especially if Draven can see the way all of you say tha t you can. It will be painful. I can’t say that it won’t be , but that sharp , instant , fading pain is better than dwelling in the numbing pain of denial day after day.”

  “I see now why you ’re so respected in your home , ” Charlie muttered , looking down.

  “I’m just like you : a girl who ’s dealing with some really weird crap – at least trying to .” I looked down , hearing the lie in my own words , h earing the echoes of the advice August, Perodine , and countless others had spoken to me over the last few months, hearing them tell me that facing th is fate was my only real choice. That I could not hide from who I was.

  I glanced to my side to see Charlie studying every part of me, reading me. I felt her sympathy. I felt her understand the image I was trying to portray to her.

  “Ok…maybe that ’s just how I want you to see me. The truth is that our path is only troubled because our calling his high. Just like yours.”

  I felt her compassion as h er eyes continued to look over me. I noticed how wide her pupils were ; it made her eyes even darker. I wondered if that was the physical reaction when they ‘saw’ someone. “Go us. The overachievers.” She said with a humorous sarcastic disdain.

  I smirked. I liked this girl. A lot. “So when you saw me before, my past , did you see those butterflies. Ones I saw a few days ago?” I asked , quietly remembering how they had led me to a path that allowed me to undo my arguments with Clarissa and Olivia.

  She nodded to confirm as her eyes questioned me.

  “Are the y the same as yours?” I asked .

  Charlie nodded toward Monroe , who was hovering close to Grayson, the older brother. “She told me they were a guide, a reflection of my power. Suppos ed l y, they lead you to what you want, bu t what sucks about that is they don’t override the challen ges you have to face to get there . The y cause everything to come faster.”

  “You use them in The Realm , ” I confirmed .

  She moved her head from side to side. “I don’t use them ; they appear , and that ’s not always a good thing.”

  Her grief and heartbreak that appeared when she said that led me to believe that there was another, someone just as powerful as Draven seemed to be. It almost felt like she had found balance with all that was going on in her life, but the slight guilt I felt lingering around her led me to believe that in the back of her mind , there was someone toying with her thoughts, her heart. I had no doubt that by helping me she was finding a distraction from whatever love triangle she was in. I knew that once this was over, that triangle would still be there, and I wanted to take ever y chance I had to tell her what I had learned the hard way.

  I glanced at her , then ahead at Draven , who was growing more anxious the further we walked. “I’m going to give you advice that I have yet to take myself. Love them both. Love them both because we ’re meant to feel love for everythin g and everyone in this universe. Your soul knows where it belongs , and it will never let yo u stray too far from that point. Trust your heart and doubt the thoughts that bring logic – be cause there is no logic in love. Never has been.”

  “Are you seeing me?” she assumed .

  I moved my head from side to side. “Just taking in what I know about you , your emotions and your intent. The truth I see in you.”

  “That ’s seeing . Well , the first part of it. Now you just have to open your eyes and let your imagination take you there , ” Charlie said with the intent to help me grasp this.

  “Let’s hope I can do that.” I found myself staring at Madison. “If I can’t…i f I can’t , what kind of impact will Madison make there ?” My eyes moved to Charlie at my side. “Will anyone there recognize her?” I needed to know if my in
stinct was right. If Madison was battling an internal war with her fate or whatever dreams Nana mentioned her having. If that war would bring more harm than good.

  Sadne ss filled Charlie. “Hard to say. She said sometimes…sometimes he sees her, but most of the time he ’s looking at someone else.”

  “Drake?” I confirmed .

  Her eyes told me yes. “Listen,” Charlie said , almost completely stopping in the string. “I know Madison. I know that she ’ll shut the world away and run. I’ve seen her do it. I’ve seen her make every excuse when someone comes for her heart. If you push her , she ’ll run. For all I know , she ’ll run anyway , but pushing her isn ’t the way to go about this.”

  “I won’t.” Didn’t really have time to do that. “Does she trust me? Does she hate me?” I asked , knowing I would if I were in her shoes.

  “Honestly, she hasn’t conceived the idea that he’s real. She blocks her dreams from us. The only way Draven and I figured it out was because she sketched his image and Preston showed me who he was when I came looking for you. I haven’t found the nerve to tell her that he ’s real. None of us have.”

  Oh this was going to be a rude awaking for Madison. “She’s an artist?” I clarified , raising my eyebrows.

  “She can sketch better than I can play.” Charlie smirked. “That’s a compl i ment. I promise.”

  I thought of the time I was trapped in Evelyn’s body. The room full of canvas Drake had given me. How he told how much he loved the gift or art. I glanced at Madison. She was going to spoiled head-to-toe. Adored by her people. Adored by her lover. That almost made the hell I was going through worth it. Almost.

  “And just so you know. There is someone else in her life , ” Charlie whispered.

  “Who?” I asked , looking at the brothers Winston and Grayson , knowing I didn’t feel anything between them.

  “Britain.”

  “The one that was addicted to you?” I asked , not sure I was keeping up with everything I ’d learned in last few hours about these people. It was like there was a depth that I couldn ’t see but needed to if I was going to understand where they were coming from, how we could help each other.