Free Image by Jamie Magee Page B

all of this, he wasn’t even the bad guy. Landen’s reasoning was that everything that he’d done to us - the nightmares, taking my friends, Livingston’s life, and me just a few days ago - was done for Drake’s own selfish reasons, for him to have the power of my heart – the power to rule.
     
    “Promise me if he comes to you, you’ll listen and work together; both of you loving Willow may be the one thing that saves all of your lives,” August said, looking at Landen.
     
    Landen kissed the top of my head and wrapped his arms as tight as he could around me. I felt an anger rise inside of Marc and Dane; they couldn’t believe August’s request.
     
    “I will not seek him – and I can’t tell you what I’ll do if he comes to us. I can only promise you that I’ll make the decisions that I feel will keep Willow safe,” Landen said.
     
    August looked down at the table and nodded. He then tore the drawing that he’d made into shreds and began to arrange the birth charts and the books of Jayda and Samilya so he could study them for a deeper understanding.
     
    Perodine moved her chair closer to August. “I would die in peace if we could just find a way for me to kill the evil bastard for you,” she said under her breath.
     
    Suddenly, a violent force pushed through the room, moving the couch in front of the fireplace, then plowing into Perodine – knocking her into the wall behind her; I screamed as I watched her body fly across the room. Marc and Dane ran to the large painting of Perodine that hung over the fireplace and pulled it down - breaking it into pieces and throwing it into the fire. Landen, August, and I then rushed to Perodine. The force had caused her to lose consciousness, and blood was pouring from the back of her head; I could feel a terror inside of her as she fought against submitting to the pain.
     
    “Do something, Landen!”I screamed, pulling her body onto my lap.
     
    Landen’s hands were already on the back of her head, and I watched as he focused his energy. A white glow came from beneath his hands, and the blood vanished instantly. Perodine’s eyes opened, and she looked up at me and reached to wipe away the tears that were washing down my face. Landen focused his energy around me and Perodine, shielding us from another blow. Marc and Dane were pulling every painting off the walls and throwing them into the fire. Suddenly, a roar filled the room, and the glass windows shook from the sheer force.
     
    “That’s right, you bastard!” Perodine said, sitting up. “Waste your energy – we will send you back to hell where you belong!” she yelled into the room.
     
    The table where the scrolls and books were sitting began to burn. As August rushed to protect them, he stopped when he reached the table.
     
    “Grab them!” yelled Landen, helping me pull Perodine up.
     
    “They’re not burning - only the table,” August said in an astonished tone.
     
    The fire on the table dwindled and the smoke faded, taking the evidence of rage with it.
     
    “I protected those scrolls long ago, and last night I protected the books of Jayda and Samilya; he cannot destroy them,” Perodine said, moving out of the shield that Landen had put around her.
     
    “I don’t think it’s wise to mock him – it – whatever it is,” Dane said as he walked over to me, satisfied that they’d burned every painting. Marc was starting to throw pillows that had artwork stitched into them; he was determined to burn anything that even resembled an image.
     
    “I’m not mocking him; I was just making sure we were right. He would be out causing torment and breeding anger, but instead he is lingering here. We are getting closer to the truth that will defeat him,” Perodine said as she adjusted her ponytail and rolled her sleeves up further.
     
    “Landen, I think we need to start on this floor; we need to cover whatever passage he might have,” Marc said, walking to Landen’s side.
     
    Landen