“Have I been able to forgive myself in my
past lives for the mistakes I’ve made?” I asked, still angry with
myself.
Perodine grazed my cheek with her soft hand
and smiled. “Regrets are foolish; there is no point in putting
energy into something that cannot be altered.”
“What happened after I left? Is Beth OK?” I
asked, remembering how she’d risked so much to help me.
“Beth is safe. She remained at the estate,
and Drake knows that she will be protected there. He, Alamos, and
the other priest returned to the main palace and are preparing for
you and Landen to come again,” she answered.
“Do they know you’re here? Can they hurt
you?” I asked, willing to take Perodine to Chara if she would allow
me.
She looked to the night sky, sighed, and
said, “Alamos can read the stars as well as I can; he knows I’m
here, and he knows that he cannot hurt me.”
We turned and slowly made our way back to my
family. Landen and Brady were side by side, and the others were
flanked behind them, watching patiently. Perodine and I stopped a
few feet in front of them all. I watched as her eyes touched each
of them.
She smiled proudly, then looked back at me.
“Long ago, Donalt built a looking glass. It is powerful and moves
energy more fiercely than any natural wonder. You all have walked
through the force it creates,” she said loud enough for everyone to
hear, still looking in my eyes.
An understanding of the current in front of
Esterious came to us. “Once the rings were in place, he needed
energy - and it did not take him long to discover that we give our
energy away when we are afraid. Each week, he stood in front of the
masses and told them how God was angry with them and that they
should expect a vengeance like no other. Slowly, they let their
fear consume them, and as they did their energy left them and the
world around them turned gray. Across the dimension, millions hear
his words each week as billions are read what he speaks. Within
those words, there is a simple phase: ‘You are not worthy.’ Those
words were spoken over Stella, and they took all of the energy that
her soul has. If you want to return it to her, you have two
choices.” She stopped and glanced in Landen’s direction, then to me
again. “You can stand in the center of the rings and let your
intent be known – or destroy them and release the energy that was
taken to the masses.”
“What does the star have to do with any of
this?” I asked, reaching form my charm.
Perodine gazed at the charm. “The star is a
part of you – a power that should never rest in the wrong
hands.”
I looked nervously at Landen. I could feel
his solid intent of retrieving the star – and I had no idea how
dangerous that may be.
“They are expecting a gentle rain as the sun
passes tomorrow; you must bring a storm,” Perodine continued. Her
eyes moved across them, then settled on Brady. “You have a task
like no other: you must protect her; she has a calm and peace that
will move every dimension,” she said, looking directly into Brady’s
eyes.
Brady looked to Landen at his side, then
back to Perodine. “I’m Brady,” he said respectfully, willing to
stand at Landen’s side - but not to carry his burden.
Perodine smiled. “I know who you are; Allie
chose her father wisely.” Her eyes moved across the others. “She
chose you all well. Somewhere in time, you asked to be at the
threshold of change, and your request was granted.”
Her words stunned us all. As we looked at
Brady, his fear grew within an instant. Landen reached for Brady’s
arm, calming him as much as possible.
“It is time for me to go; you all need your
rest, for tomorrow the universe will be moved,” Perodine said,
hugging me.
My father and Ashten stepped forward to
escort Perodine home again. As she left, Landen walked to my side
and wrapped his arms around me.
Brady looked around at all of us. “How am I
supposed to tell Felicity this?” he asked as dread filled him.
Landen looked down at me, then to Brady. “I
would guess that she already knows,” he said.
Ashten and my father stepped back though,
and we all made our way to the string. Silently, we all sifted
through what we’d learned.
As we walked back to my home, the rest of
our family was waiting patiently on the porch. As he saw Felicity
and Allie, Brady took off in a run. Once he reached them, he
embraced them and wrapped his energy around them both. We climbed
the steps to the porch and looked on, feeling their love – and
their dread. As a tear fell down her smiling face, Felicity put her
hand on Brady’s face. “Don’t be afraid; we’ll guide her,” she
whispered to Brady.
Brady nodded and slowly reached for Allie,
cradling her in his arms, wanting her to stay his little girl - to
protect her from what we’ve all seen.
August, who was standing at Nyla’s side,
looked at Landen and me. “So...do we have a plan?” he asked.
Landen looked down at me, then across at
everyone we loved. His eyes settled on Libby, who was sitting in my
mother’s lap, then to Preston, who was sitting between Rose and
Karsten.
“We do...tomorrow, we bring the storm,” he
said as he smiled slightly.
Preston and Libby both clapped their hands
and cheered. The others looked at them, then to us - understanding
that we were all going.
“Whoever is ready to help needs to be at the
gate in the morning,” Landen said, looking at Rose and August, then
back to Dane and Chrispin.
“I’ll spread the word,” August said, pulling
Nyla to his side as they walked off the porch. One-by-one, the rest
of our family left.
Anticipation was consuming us all, and rest
would be a challenge we’d all battle tonight.
Chapter Nineteen
Lying side-by-side in our bed, we stared
into each other, lost in our own thoughts. Occasionally, we’d smile
slightly in response to an emotion we’d feel. It would be hard to
calm our minds tonight; it seemed we could feel the hope coming
from the world around us as news spread that we’d all move the
universe tomorrow.
I reached my hand slowly to trace his eyes
and let my fingertips glide over his perfect profile. As my fingers
danced across his face, he smiled, bringing to life the shallow
dimples I loved so much. I knew I was blessed to have this moment
with him – as well as every moment that we’d ever lived together;
everyone deserves to feel as whole as I do in his arms.
“
Do you want to go to our place?”
he
thought as he reached to trace my eyes.
I smiled, letting him know that that was
exactly what I wanted. We breathed in deeply and closed our eyes,
letting our minds carry us to the mystery we loved so much. Slowly,
we settled in the field and gazed at the gentle river that flowed
in the distance. I leaned back into Landen’s arms and felt the sun
on my face, taking in the energy it beamed down.
“
Tomorrow, are you going to look through
the looking glass?”
I thought.
As he answered me, Landen was staring into
the distance.
“When you were gone, as the hours ticked by I
thought of going to the looking glass; I thought if I looked
through it, I’d be able to see where you were. August seemed to
have read my thoughts. I was standing on our balcony looking out at
the passage, and he came up behind me, placed his hand on my
shoulder, and stared forward. He said in his familiar calm tone,
‘How would you be any different from Drake if you used the power of
the looking glass to serve your own heart?’ I knew he meant no
harm, but I took offense to his words; I thought my intent was more
important than anyone else’s.”
Landen looked down at me, then
continued,
“My sole intent is to love you through eternity. It
took a moment for me to understand that August was simply trying to
tell me that no man should see for another; we all have a purpose
that only we can feel. I decided then that I would never look into
the power that that glass holds.”
I smiled, feeling that Landen was telling
the truth. He didn’t seek any power; he only wanted the universe to
be at peace, to love me.
“
You said Delen was the last place to
begin to help the people in Esterious; you realize that’s where we
must go tomorrow,”
I thought, doubting our decision.
“
Delen knows we exist. More people come
to Chara from that city than any other; we are mere rumors in the
rest of the world. I was wrong before: we must strike the heart of
the dimension if we’re going to make a lasting impression,”
Landen thought. I felt his confidence and hid behind it.
“
Did you ever look at the scrolls that
August was talking about? I mean, are we even sure that the orbit
is when I’ll choose? When this will all pass for good?”
I
thought.
He nodded.
“We studied them when you were
gone, hoping we’d find an answer. I couldn’t make sense of them;
it’s a series of drawings and text. We won’t know if it’s the orbit
until tomorrow. August plans to mark the moment he feels the trail
is over and compare it to the scroll. He feels if he finds a
connection, he’ll be able to unravel the mystery,”
he
answered.
“
Did the scrolls look familiar to you,
the way my necklace did?”
I asked
“
It’s hard to say; I was too focused on
finding answers,”
he answered
“
I can’t get used to the idea of living
before...it seems too unreal,”
I thought, flustered.
“
I said the same thing. August took the
scrolls to his study; he thought I’d destroy them in my
frustration
,” Landen thought, smiling at the idea.
“
I don’t want to see them. I don’t think
I want to know anymore about my past,”
I thought.
“
I agree. August is just trying to help
us. I’m going to let him try to unravel the mystery behind them,
and I’ll look at them again if I think I need an answer,”
Landen thought.
“
I’m sure they don’t tell the whole
story,”
I thought.
“
We’ll never really know,”
Landen
thought.
We rose and walked through the open fields
and gazed at the soundless birds. After time had passed, we made
our way back to our room; it was near dawn, and we knew we needed
our strength. We let our energy move into one another, taking every
ounce of strength it could offer.
We woke late in the morning and could see
the bright sun behind our closed curtains. The hope and
anticipation we felt the previous night had shifted into calm; it
was so numbing. We moved slowly through our room, dressing for the
day that awaited us.
Downstairs, we checked in on Marc and
Stella. It was easy to see that sometime in the night Marc had
woken and meditated again; he’d changed his clothes, and a
half-full glass of water sat beside him. I looked at the clock on
the side table and saw that it was just before noon; I wondered how
many were ready to go with us. I looked to the door, then to
Landen.
“It’s time,” I said, smiling nervously.
He leaned down and pulled me to him and
kissed me, then pulled me gently to the door, opening it slowly. As
we stepped out into the bright sun, a sight like never before was
all around us: across the fields for as far as we could see,
thousands of people were sitting just inches apart. They were of
every race and age, and each of their bodies was sitting in
meditation as their souls lingered behind them. There were so many
children, and the innocence of their love danced in twinkles around
them. I realized that beneath the tone of our skin, we’re all the
same; just souls made of love.
As we slowly made our way down the steps,
everyone’s soul turned in our direction, and the peace they felt
intensified. Weaving carefully through the mass of people, we made
our way to the passage. In front of it was our entire family, each
in meditation. Allie lie sleeping, nestled in her carrier between
Brady and Felicity. Preston and Libby’s soul stepped forward and
took our hands, and we led them all through the string.
As we passed through, the others followed,
and the white glow that the string always had, intensified, filling
with the energy of pure love. It wasn’t long before the current
began to flow aggressively around us; we were almost there. I took
a deep breath as the passage to Patrick’s home came into view.
Landen looked me dead in my soul before we
stepped through the gate to Esterious. “Are you ready for this?” he
asked, taking a deep breath.
“I’m ready to follow you into the pages of
history,” I said, smiling slightly as I stared inside of him.
His eyes softened, and he tilted his head,
realizing that this life would live on in the memories of millions.
I hugged him, burying my face in his chest and taking his energy in
before we stepped through the passage beneath Patrick’s home.
A loud clap of thunder rumbled through the
room, shaking the rusty staircase. The door at the top of the
stairs opened slowly, and Patrick stepped through it, then extended
his arm for us to come. I held Landen and Libby’s hands, then
followed Preston up the stairs. The other souls, with our families
in the lead, followed behind us. Patrick walked to the center of
his gray room and smiled back at us, and I let Libby’s hand fall
and walked with Landen over to him. We placed our hand on him,
rushing joy through him, and as he smiled at us his eyes seemed to
brighten. We stepped aside and watched as Preston, then Libby,
passed through Patrick; instantly, his Aura shifted from a dull
gray into a beautiful yellow that filled the room. As we felt a
rush of excitement run through us, Landen and I looked at each
other. We then opened Patrick’s door and stepped out on the gray
streets. As the lightening flashed above us, we realized that fate
had found us both.