Redemption walks a different path.
I close my eyes as Willow’s words echo around my mind.
“Which of the others are worthy of redemption? Truly?”
“That will depend entirely on the path they choose to take in the end.”
In the end.
I nod as I think about that. Where does it end?
“Obliteration and Seduction are going to see this through their way until the end. They both are too consumed with power now to change.”
“I’m afraid that is the truth.”
The clearing of my throat shatters the silence around the temple and I push myself up, dusting my knees off before wiping my nose.
“Then we figure out a way for the Valorian Veil to function without them. Until then, though, I need to get my men back and set them free. Starshoot Derivius to our couch, please. I’d hate for his drunk ass to fall out of that chair and crack his head open on the new floor I made him.”
“You have a plan?”
“Yeah. I do.”
Well…I’m going to have one.
“Call for me if you need me.”
The bright flash of white light blazes through the temple as he starshoots himself and Derivius to the house. My whisper of ‘I will’ echoes through the air as I step forward until I’m standing under the beam of moonlight.
My body is still trembling and my soul’s thrashing from side to side with absolutely nowhere to go. As the adrenaline fades and the silent loneliness creeps in, my chest pulls tight with all thoughts of them that run through my mind. It’s impossible to shake them enough from my system to even breathe properly.
“I can’t do this,” I mutter to myself as I place my hands on my hips. “How the hell do I get them out of my head for five seconds?”
No answer is whispered to me. I didn’t expect it to, but…I also didn’t expect my spine to start tingling. My power of Boundaries crawls through my body until it’s wrapped around my heart. A shuddering breath escapes me.
“No. I definitely can’t do that.”
I shake my head as if my power will speak back to me. In a way, it does. It tightens its hold around my heart.
Give me a moment to think, will you?
Think…
It doesn’t actually take me much thought. Maybe what truly comes over me is an excuse. An easy out to escape the overwhelming emotions that I can’t process or control.
It isn’t an escape if you don’t plan on keeping it up forever.
Just long enough to save the people you love most in this realm.
Then…it can go back to normal.
Plus, it’s obvious your power of Boundaries is trying to protect you.
At least this time it’s giving you a heads-up.
Right…
With a long, deep exhale, I allow my power to do what it’s pushing for.
