Page 89 of Rising Out of the Darkness
Declan’s stoic mask melted as he pushed away from the door and paced in the street behind.
Liam walked over towards him, placed a hand behind his neck and brought their temples together. Whatever he whispered seemed to release the stress from Declan’s body.
I made my way towards the door. “It takes a great amount of courage to try to change and admit your mistakes. Sometimes it can be expressed within words, and other times it’s shown through action, like we’re doing tonight. The question is, do you all have the courage to forgive?”
Silence loomed over the space, and when it appeared the door would remain shut, Declan told us all to leave the baskets by the door so we could return to the castle.
As we turned to leave, a frail woman appeared in the doorway. Redness lined her swollen eyes. I let my newly constructed ward down and was rushed with the despair in her soul. She opened the door a little wider, extending her arm, ushering all of us inside.
Once inside, I observed other families huddled in the middle of the living room. There was not one dry eye in the room. Faces were pale and sadness hovered above the room like heavy rain clouds. Nayla grabbed the basket out of my hand and joined Declan and Killian as they handed them to the parents of each of the lost children.
I felt outside of my body as I watched them hug and console the families. Declan’s glossy eyes met my own, and he extended his hand for me to join him.
I hugged, cried, and consoled each person inside the house. Tears saturated my cheeks as we sat and listened to stories and memories the families had of their children. I had known letting my ward down when I entered would be overwhelming, but Iwantedto feel. It made me experience everything right alongwith them. It helped me to find the right words to say and know when to be silent.
Everyone shared stories well into the evening until the others started to yawn and eyelids began to droop. We gave them all one last embrace before leaving, and as the door closed behind us, I could feel that some of the weight of their sorrow had lifted.
Our hearts were heavy, yet full, as we walked down the cobblestone street back to the castle. Tonight was a reminder of the strength that was still left in this kingdom. Even after such a tragedy, these people’s resilience was truly admirable. Even with all the darkness surrounding them, they had chosen to let the light in.
Declan slowed his pace, falling into step beside me. Fingertips brushed against my own as if silently asking for permission. I folded my hand into his and he gave it a squeeze.
Pausing, I took in the group of people around me. Even in the silence of the night, you could see the strong bond that they all shared with each other. I wanted to be a part of that bond. I was beginning to let myself believe that this was truly all in the gods’ plans. My fate had set me on this path to a dynamis that could help so many, meeting this amazing group of people, and finding this inner strength in myself that I’d never believed I could obtain.
Declan turned my chin up to face him, eyes wide with concern. I met his gaze.
“Thank you for taking me with you all tonight. Being around those families…comforting them in their times of need”—I swallowed back my emotions— “it made me feel like I had a purpose again. Helping others has always made me feel whole.”
Declan brushed the back of his fingers along the side of my chin. His touch always elicited delicious shivers throughout my body, but something felt more alive tonight. As his touchcascaded down my arm, my dynamis thrummed against my skin, trailing a fiery path where his flesh touched my own.
His hand whipped back, like my skin had bitten him. I’d only felt my dynamis react to him a few times before, but he had never once reacted to it until tonight. My dynamis seemed to have been calling out to him, and he had finally answered.
“Did you feel that?” I whispered.
He nodded. “Every time I’ve touched you tonight, it’s as though your dynamis is trying to reach out to touch mine. I can feel my shadows rippling against my skin as well.”
He lifted my hand so that my palm was now flat against his. He nodded towards my left hand to do the same. We stood close together in the dimly lit street as goosebumps rippled over my skin. The other three had strolled a few yards away, giving the two of us some space.
“Can we try something?” His voice was low and soothing.
“Dec—”
“I know you’re worried about your dynamis, but something inside me is telling me that we won’t hurt each other.”
I dug my heels in to maintain my newfound courage. “I trust you.”
Declan intertwined our fingers. Already, I could feel my dynamis rippling up and down my arms and crashing like waves into my palms. A shiver ran down my back.
“Breathe, Wildfire,” he whispered.
I nodded, exhaling the breath I’d been holding.
“I’m going to count to three, and then we slowly push out our power, alright?”
My nerves twisted like thorny vines inside my stomach.
“Reach down deep, Elena, find the light within you, and call to it. Remember, our dynamis bends to our will. If you don’t want it to hurt someone it’ll listen.” He squeezed my hands. “You are in control. You are its captain, it just awaits your command.”
Biting my lip, I stared into his eyes. They glistened with hope and wonderment.
