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As I watched these memories, I stepped forward, wanting to protect my mother. I felt Nana try to hold me back, but I was too strong for her. I started to push the dark shadows away; as I did, they completely consumed me...I was cold and horrified. After countless minutes, it became quiet and I started to feel heavy - too heavy to move, then I began to drift away.

Chapter 14

Out of the silence, I heard my guitar sound…it started to grow louder and louder, then I heard Draven screaming my name. I focused on his voice – that hypnotic voice, and I felt the weight slowly leave my body. My eyes flew open, and I saw him holding me in a panic. I stayed focused on his fearful green eyes and pulled myself out of the illusion I was in. Draven wrapped his arms around me and pulled me up. I’d fallen to the floor. Aden was at our side, rubbing my back, and Nana was standing near us with the greatest sorrow in her eyes.

“
How did this happen?” Aden asked her as Draven helped me stand.

I couldn’t take my eyes off Draven. I thought if I did, I’d slip away again - and that terrified me. He kissed my forehead and pulled my head to his chest. Nana didn’t answer Aden; she just stepped forward and put her arm around me.

“
Go get her a glass of water –both of you, and take your time.”

“
No,” Draven said, holding me tighter.

“
Draven, five minutes – trust me, son.”

I looked up at him and nodded, letting my hands fall from around him. “Are you sure?” he whispered.

I nodded, knowing I had no choice but to keep this a secret from him. Grief filled his eyes as I tucked away the dark memories – hiding a part of myself from him.

“
Five minutes,” he said, quietly stepping back.

Aden nudged him to go, and I watched them whisper to each other as they left the room.

“
Never jump into a memory – you could be trapped there forever,” she warned in a tender whisper.

“
I couldn’t watch them hurt her…that was my fault.”

“
No, it wasn’t…and don’t worry about your mother…she was never in danger.”

I looked at her with questioning eyes. She looked away, hiding her thoughts from me.

“
It’s obvious that staying away from these people is the wise thing to do.”

“
I’m not running,” I said as anger coursed through me.

“
Charlie –”

“
No,” I said, stopping her. “Free will – if I tell her to leave, she has to – if I run, they have no reason to ever stop chasing me…I can’t save Britain now…I know that – he’s one of them.”

“
Are you going to tell Draven?” she asked.

“
When they’re gone…not before – I refuse to watch Bianca seduce him.”

“
Right now – you are the target…you have to see that.”

I moved my head from side to side “Draven is – his gift in music is divine.”

“
It is…but so is your gift to save the darkness…one by one, you destroy the dark energy - the energy – that’s something they must have…you are the threat.”

“
I’m keeping him safe – this is my choice.”

She let out a breath and looked down. “Remember to choose your words and thoughts carefully when you face them…hold on to the strength your father has given you.”

I nodded slightly.

“
I’m going to call Kara, you stay here tonight – where you’re safe,” she said, reaching to hug me goodnight.

I knew that she was trying to keep me close – to make sure I didn’t have a chance to face Britain, but I didn’t care. Right now, all I wanted was Draven.

I rubbed my hands across my face as if I could wipe away the stress. I took a deep breath and went to find Draven. I could hear their voices mumbling in the kitchen. When I walked in, I saw Aden sitting on the counter and Draven leaning against it, waiting for the second he could come for me.

“
You’re early,” Aden said in a teasing tone. “Nana still had one minute on the clock.”

I smiled faintly and locked eyes with Draven. He walked slowly to me, looking over every part of me. I knew he was trying to see what was wrong. The frustration and anger in his eyes told me couldn’t.

“
What happened?” he asked quietly.

“
I stepped into a memory,” I answered calmly.

“
What – why?!”

“
It was a reflex…I didn’t mean to do anything stupid,” I said quietly.

He shook his head in wonder as his eyes looked over me. I knew I was torturing him, but I couldn’t help it.

“
How did you know to come for me?” I asked, hoping that no matter how bad I messed up, he’d be able to help me.

“
She texted him,” Aden said, hopping down from the counter.

His tone made me smile. “Really?” I asked, bewildered.

“
I guess she thought it was faster than going to the studio – or maybe she just didn’t want to leave you,” Draven said, reaching for my waist and pulling me closer to him, then leaning his forehead to mine.

“
I’m fine,” I whispered, reaching up to steal a kiss.

“
I’ll guess I’ll leave you guys alone,” Aden said, walking to the door.

“
No, wait,” I said, feeling bad that he felt like he had to leave.

He turned and smiled, displaying his adorable dimples. “It’s late – I’m sure you’re going to have to leave soon – you guys should be alone.”

I smiled. “As scary as that was,” I said, nodding to the doorway, “it earned me a sleepover – I’m here all night.”

Aden raised his eyebrows, and his smile grew. “Well, why don’t you guys go play? I’m gonna take a shower. If it sounds like you want company, I’ll come up.”

“
Deal,” I said, smiling at him. He nodded, then turned to leave.

I looked back at Draven to see a surprised grin on his face, “Really? You’re staying here?”

A sly grin came across my face. “You can take me home if you want to – Nana just wanted me to feel safe.”

He blushed. “I’ll stay at your house if you wanna hear your guitar.”

I reached for his hand and pulled him to the door. “You play it for me – you promised.”

He put his arm around me as we walked up the steps. I lied to myself as I walked at his side – I told myself that the world outside of these walls didn’t exist, that there was no evil seeking him…that we could live a life of peace without the threat of losing who we are – or each other.

Once we reached the studio, I took my spot on the couch, eager to watch him play the tune that had protected me more times than I could count. Draven went to his guitar, then pulled an amp closer to the couch. He sat on the end and held his arm out, encouraging me to scoot closer. He laid the guitar across us and moved my hands so they would rest on his. He slowly began to play the chords that I always heard. I watched the way he moved his fingers, how they slid almost angelically down and up the neck.

The sound I’d heard would always change as if it had mood swings, but what Draven was playing was the heart of it, the baseline of what I could hear.

His lips rested on my temple, as if to encourage me to take control. Then he moved his hands over mine.

I gently let my fingertips touch the strings; as I played the chords, I was flooded with emotion. I felt the power – the sacrifice behind the sound. I closed my eyes and just listened. I felt myself coming back - all of the lost memories of playing this beautiful instrument belonged to me again. I remembered mastering it - embracing each sound I created as if it were a part of my soul.

My fingers slowly began to move as I searched for more memories. I looked up at Draven. “Have we ever seen the dead when it isn’t sad – have we…have we…” I wanted to ask if I’d ever seen my father, but I couldn’t find the words.

He pulled me closer to him. “Yes,” he whispered.

My body tensed. I pulled slightly away and stared disbelievingly in his eyes.

“
It makes it all worth it…when we help the darkness…our goal is to bring them to the peace we see in their eyes.”

“
I can’t do this…not yet,” I said breathlessly as my heart began to race.

“
This is the only memory you’re missing….and you need this to make you whole…I don’t know why, but I know you need your dad – he can be there when I can’t.”

I just stared at him. My emotions were out of control. I was furious that Bianca could have taken something so precious from me – afraid of what I’d see – and empowered by the idea that I was watched over.

“
I’ll show you mom first,” he whispered as he tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Close your eyes,” he said quietly.

I held my breath and listened intently to everything around me.

“
Feel the calm of the room, the warm sensation that tells you that you’re safe…watched over.”

I cleared my thoughts and only listened to my breath.

“
See it within first – let her come to life in your mind….she’s beautiful, simply angelic; the worries of life are nowhere in her image. Her eyes smile adoringly. Her hair and body seem to float on a wave of energy. Everything around her is white and seems to glow,” he said tenderly in the addictive tone of his voice.

I held an image in my mind of this beautiful woman – as he said the words, I remembered her – I remembered that she was always here – silently watching.

“
Open your eyes, baby,” Draven whispered.

I let them open slowly, and before us she was there. My heart began to pound, and fear came through every part of me. Draven put his arm around me and leaned us forward. The image of his mother stepped closer - she didn’t look at Draven; she smiled at me – like I was the most precious thing she’d ever seen. Draven had described her perfectly: her skin was almost ivory, and her hair flowed in the still of the room. Her image knelt before us, and I began to tremble.

Draven moved his hand across my back as if to calm me. “She loves you,” he said quietly.

“
How can this be real?” I asked breathlessly.

The image of his mother let her hands rest on mine, and the fear I had just washed away. It was as if I could clearly see that all of the worries in life were pointless if this was the peace you feel in the end.

She slowly let go of my hand, then reached for Draven. She cupped her hand around his flawless image and leaned her forehead to his. He smiled at her and pulled me closer. She let go of him and stood before us again. Her eyes seemed to reflect a relief. I furrowed my eyebrows, questioning her calm, then she began to fade against the wave of energy she was on. Even though her image had vanished, I could still feel her.

I held my breath and looked up at Draven. He smiled tenderly. “ She didn’t leave us –she’s not trapped between this place and another; she’s simply free – watching over me until I don’t need her to anymore.”

I just stared at him. I couldn’t move because in the room I felt someone else - the presence of my father. I felt a wave of beautiful, unconditional love absorb every part of me, and tears glassed over my eyes…how could I forget such a beautiful emotion?

Draven reached his hand to cradle my face. “He’s strong, but gentle. You can see the passion for the life he had in his dark eyes. There’s a pull to him…it may be the signature of his gift in music – the one that called so many to hear him, or…simply the love he has for you - it’s powerful – beautiful….”

I started to tremble uncontrollably – the only thing worse than forgetting Draven was forgetting that I was never alone. Draven let his hand fall and tilted his head, encouraging me to look. I held his stare as a lonely tear streamed down my face.

I felt a warm hum on my hand and slowly looked down. I saw a strong hand and the image of a silver wedding band. I turned my hand to hold it and tried to understand how real this was. I could feel the warm hum of life; it was so real, silent tears began to flood from my eyes. I slowly let my eyes move from his hand, then up his arm. I hesitated, looking at his strong shoulders – images of his guitar that I’d seen in pictures flashed through my memory.

Draven moved the guitar that was across us, taking the security of his embrace away from me. I felt Draven’s hand on my back, encouraging me to look. I let my eyes rise to stare into the wonderful image of my father. His dark eyes sparkled warmly, and he smiled angelically at me. The silent tears continued to wash down my face.

His image gently pulled me forward and wrapped his arms around me. I reached my numb arms up to hold him, and my father pulled me closer. I felt life, not breaths or the sounds that a body would make – just life, a beautiful life that loved me – loved me more than I could ever imagine. My tears fell, but they weren’t of grief; they were of happiness – I felt so complete. I heard the sound of the guitar begin. I couldn’t tell if it was Draven playing or just the haunting sound, but I didn’t care either way. My father swayed me back and forth with the rhythm I heard.

As we moved to this rhythm, I saw every part of my life with him at my side. I felt my confidence build…the old Charlie coming back to life.

The music began to slow, and he let his embrace loosen. I sat back and stared at him for countless moments, trying to read his eyes. His eyes moved to Draven. He smiled slightly and nodded at his guitar. Draven slowly placed it across us again, then nodded respectfully at this image of my dad. My dad reached for my hands and placed them on Draven’s across the strings, then he leaned forward and kissed my forehead; I felt the warm sensation of love flow through me and closed my eyes. I didn’t open them until I felt it fade. He was gone – his image, but I could still feel him all around me.