The closer I got to him, the louder the whispers grew - and for the first time, it made me smile. When I reached his side, he took my hand.
“Is this where you want to be?” he asked, holding my stare.
“This is my place: with you.”
A smile came across his face, enhancing his flawless features, taking my breath away. He put his arm around me as he glanced to the field. I didn’t look up to see the look in his eyes or look over my shoulder to see the look Silas was surely giving him; instead, I kept my head down and let him lead me to his passenger side door. My car pulled up behind him, with Madison driving and Monroe in the front seat.
“Where are we going?” I asked when he got in.
“My house. Nana has cake and stuff ready.”
I made a face, which made him laugh. “What?” he asked.
“I don’t care for the attention.”
“You looked beautiful in the spotlight tonight,” he said as he held out his arm for me to come closer.
We drove in silence, both reflecting on what the night had brought. I couldn’t believe how powerful he looked on that stage – how powerful I was in that world. Even though I was sure my time there would haunt my nightmares for months, I smiled.
We were the last ones to get to his house; Madison had passed us a few miles back. I recognized most of the cars around his house, except for one. As Draven let me out, he saw that the out of place car had caught my attention, and he said, “Wesley and Erica…I felt bad when I saw him tell you that he didn’t know anyone beyond her friends here. I told Austin I’d look out for him, and I’ve done a horrible job of it... so, I invited him over. Is that OK?”
“Yeah,” I said with a wide smile. “I’m eager to dance in his memories of Chara...it was so beautiful there.”
“Agreed” he said as he led me in.
When we opened the back door, the lights went out and a chorus of “Happy Birthdays” began as a huge birthday cake in the center of the counter glowed with eighteen candles across it. The one voice that touched my soul - the sweetest voice in the room - was singing in my ear as Draven swayed me back and forth. As the song ended, he gently urged me forward to blow out my candles.
My mother was at my side and pulled me into a deep hug. “You were brave tonight, baby. Stay that way for me.”
I squeezed her to tell her I would.
Then I hugged Kara and Nana. Evan cut the cake and helped pass it out to everyone. When I handed Wesley his piece, he smiled at me. “You remind me of a traveler I met once...you’re fearless, just like her.”
“I can’t wait to meet her,” I said as I hugged him. “I’m ready to leave the second you see Austin.”
“I’ll tell him,” he promised.
I went back for more cake, then handed Winston his piece. “Thanks for helping me tonight.”
He smirked. “I’ll do anything you need me to in that world. It’s wicked - and I like wicked.”
I shook my head, slightly worried that he may like it too much – that when his time comes, he may not be strong enough.
Madison walked by me with her plate. “Hey, I need to sketch. I’m too wired; I have to get those images out of my head.”
“Are you leaving?”
“No, I’m just going to find a quiet spot upstairs – is that OK?”
I nodded to tell her yes.
Draven came to my side and took my hand. “Sit down. It’s your cake; you don’t need to pass it out.”
I sat down at the bar next to Monroe and ate my cake as I listened to my mom and Evan talk about the day I was born. In the middle of their story, an image of my father appeared behind my mom and one of Autumn, Draven’s mom, appeared next to Evan.
I smirked, thinking that to anyone else this may be odd, maybe terrifying - but not us; everyone here knew that life was eternal and that darkness was real, just as real as the light.
I noticed that Monroe was still, staring at her cake. When my mom finished her story and the laugher grew quiet,and random conversations started up, I leaned closer to Monroe.
“I love that purple lipstick.”
She smiled slightly.
“I love the color purple, too.” I said. “But I have to admit, you kind of confused me because I saw that color twice tonight.” The thought of seeing both Draven and Silas in that shade, how she always seemed to lead me to Silas – it bothered me a bit, but I didn’t know what she was trying to say, what she was hearing when she ‘listened’.
She looked up at me, and the room grew quiet, but I barely noticed; I was too focused on her. “Love,” she said in a whisper. “Love is meant to be felt for all souls - not just one. It is an emotion that is in the core of everything we are – both good and bad. It cannot be stronger or weaker from one to another for those who are truly at peace with who they are.”
The room was still. While I was paralyzed by the depths of her words, the others were astonished to hear her speak.
Grayson came to her side as Nana began a slow clap; the others soon joined in, which made Monroe blush.
“Brilliant...my baby sister is brilliant,” Grayson said over the clapping.
I halfway smiled to agree, still not quite understanding what she meant.
Wesley came over to me and Draven as the room grew quiet again. “Man, I would love to hear that song again. I mean, it’s already viral – but it can’t compare to how it sounds in person.”
Draven put his arm around me. “I’ll play for you, man, but not that song; that one needs lights and a crowd for impact.” He looked around the room. “Wesley wants us to play you guys up for that?!”
I heard roars and beating hands, and I took that as a yes.
“We’ll get set up. Give us a few minutes,” Draven said as he pushed back from the bar.
“Winston, Grayson, Aden - help me get chairs from the garage,” Evan said.
Draven took my hand and pulled me to the stairs that led to his studio.
“I guess we need another song…,” I said quietly when we reached the hall.
He pulled me closer to him. “We’ll find the right words – right when we’re meant to.”
I raised my eyebrows as we reached the stone steps that led to his studio. “You sound like that little boy…Preston.”
Draven’s eyes stared into his memories for a moment as he smiled. “He made quite an impact, that’s for sure…just like Monroe.”
“Yeah,” I said, trying to understand the hidden messages around those two’s words.
When we got to his studio, Madison was sitting on the brown leather couch with her sketch book in her lap – her hand moving at the speed of light across the page. It took her a second to realize that we were there.
“You OK?” I asked.
Her head jolted up. “Yeah, sorry – is everybody leaving?”
“No, they’re coming up here. The guys are gonna play some more.”
“I have Aden’s favorite sticks in your car. I’ll go get them,” she said as she laid her sketch book down and got up to leave.
I looked over her as she walked by…she wasn’t there; her thoughts had stolen her away from the moment.
As Draven started setting up basic equipment, I went to the couch to push it back and make more room for the chairs. I glanced at the sketch Madison was working on. It almost perfectly captured the moment I first saw Draven in that world: the snake, the ball of purple fire, and six of us in a circle. I was sure by the time she was done with it that it would be an exact image. It took all I had not to tear it up; I wanted to forget that moment, not let it be captured by any art.
Instead, I picked up the pad, wanting to have another image on top. When I saw the sketch behind the one she was working on, my heart stopped.
“Draven,” I said breathlessly.
He was at my side in an instant, and we both stared at the image she had created. It was of that young King, the one I saw with Preston – Preston’s brother. The dark eyes she’d been sketching now had a face - a face I’d seen in the world of the living damned. Fear for my best friend soared through me...why was this guy in her dreams? How are our worlds going to collide? Is she ready for this? For him? What does that mean for what’s beginning between her and Britain? Is this guy good or bad? The questions in my mind were endless, causing my heart to race out of control.
“That’s the same guy, right? Is it?” I asked Draven.
Draven pulled me against him and looked down at me. “Looks like our worlds are going to collide sooner than we expected.”
“Should we tell her?” I whispered.
His eyes fell deeper into mine. “She knows,” he whispered. “I saw the fear in her eyes when you were in Chara…I saw that little boy distract her so you could go to Esterious without her…her fate is calling….no matter what, we’ll be there to protect her – I promise.”
I stared into the alluring color of green in his eyes and felt my anxieties fade. I knew that I’d be able to help Madison, that none of us would let anyone or anything hurt her.
“I don’t care what world we’re in – as long as we’re together,” I whispered.
He smiled tenderly as he leaned down and let his lips touch mine. “Love you,” he whispered as his lips moved against mine.
Acknowledgement
I’m still eternally grateful for every soul that encouraged me to write/publish my debut novel Insight....thank you once again.
I also want to thank my husband, Lem, for listening to my random thoughts and ideas as each of these stories came to life, he is not only the love of my life, but the man who keeps me sane on this insane adventure. I want to thank my children who inspire me to become more than I am today with a simple glance, and the echo of laughter and joy that surrounds me constantly.
Cynthia Garcia has been a constant source of encouragement, with a detailed eye that helped shape the final drafts, and for being a fantastic writing ally. One of the greatest gifts of writing was that it led to our friendship!
Music is the back bone to this story, though I have never played a single instrument in my life I was able to give that gift to Charlie and Draven with the knowledge of John Reaves, I doubt I barely grazed the passion this musician has for this mesmerizing field, but I know every callous, chord, string, and amp was carefully brought to life in my imagination by John and his band Bradbury.
In this novel you read the lyrics:
‘
I
know that time will only make me question everything
My mind is a battlefield
where the winner is my enemy…
So in my disposition I find myself missing the person I wish to be
But as long as there's hope left in this hole that's in my chest
I will continue to bleed’
Those lyrics belong to Bradbury, and were written by John Reaves - and I am very grateful that he loaned them to Draven!
I want to thank Jan Galloway for being a fantastic friend, and for being the first Beta, for her valuable input and edits, your blunt humor pushes me to become more than I am today! I adore each insight you give me.
Marek Purzycki has got to be the most patient, talented graphic artist I have ever met, thank you for giving my series a face, and for not throwing in the towel when I asked you to change little details a thousand times.
I love my betas! Christy Alley, Jennifer Helmerick, and Samantha McGarth you guys ROCK.
These acknowledgements would not be complete without thanking every musician in every genre....you truly can change emotions at a distance, which gives you the power to change the world.
Lastly, but definitely not least I want to thank all of the readers, and bloggers that are following me on this journey, your emails and posts light up my day, and encourage me to write faster! Sharing this daydream with all of you is simply breathtaking.
About the Author
Jamie Magee has always believed that each of us have a defining gift that sets us apart from the rest of the world, she has always envied those who have known from their first breath what their gift was. Not knowing hers, she began a career in the fast paced world of business. Raising a young family, and competing to rise higher in that field would drive some to the point of insanity, but she always found a moment of escape in a passing daydream. Her imagination would take her to places she'd never been, introduce her to people she's never known. Insight, her debuting novel, is a result of that powerful imagination. Today, she is grateful that not knowing what defined her, led her on a path of discovery that would always be a part of her.
http://authorjamiemagee.blogspot.com
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