Glow (23 page)

73.

Lukas

“After you left, Lukas, no one realized you were gone until later that evening. By the time the service for you and Perfection was set to begin, everything became chaotic. The Councilmen realized you were gone, as though vanished into thin air.

They sent out a group to look for you, but they had no weapons so a real fight would have proved pointless.” Integrity continues, “Without real weapons they weren’t foolish enough to go find Lukas on land. And we knew he was since Perfection came back telling us as much. She seemed eager to cooperate, and I really thought all our plans were lost at that point, but then she became terrified of them once they started threatening her. She closed up. Thankfully, for us … regrettably for her.”

“Because once the riot started and the Council left, you took her to Refuge One,” I finish for him. I understand what he says. There wasn’t much of a choice for him in any of it. I just hate that so many Vessels suffered for it.

“Well, the Councilmen lost control at that point. There was no choice but flee. I was forced to follow, knowing the Energy Room had already been ransacked. The hope of continuing The Light there was destroyed in one fell swoop.”

“Because we need to fuel the Refuge with our energy, right?” Lukas asks.

“Well, of course, Lukas. You are the prophet. It’s time the fold sees you in your full glory.” Integrity raises his hands in the air, making an impact with his words.

“And the fire?” I ask, wanting to know everything, so we can be done with this.

“The Council announced Lukas’s death, to save face. They wanted to round up whatever energy they could and run. Head Councilman Conviction ordered us all to leave to gather the last of the energy panels here. Perfection was locked up at that point. And then it was over, as fast as it started.”

“And once you came here you just … Tased the Councilmen and blacked them out on your own? Yesterday?” Lucy asks.

“Luckily there were some members of the original Light here, waiting. Humblemen and Vessels who followed my command the moment I stepped foot on the island. The Councilmen were so frenzied, and out of sorts they didn’t realize what was happening until it was too late.” Integrity moves his hands in front of him with a flourish, as though his final move was triumphant.

“And now we can decide how we want to finish them off,” I say before draining the rest of my wine.

Lucy looks at me, like she’s annoyed.

“And now you’ll tell us how we play into this new world order, right?” she asks.

“Of course.” Integrity claps his hands, and a Vessel-helper returns through the door before behind the banquet table. “This book will explain it all.”

  She bows her head lowly, terrified. “Head Councilmen … it seems … I am so sorry … the folder is gone.”

74.

Charlie

Holy Crap, that was way too close.

“Junie, I don’t know why you’re so into covert undercover missions, but I’m not. I think we need to get Lukas and Lucy, right now. I know we were gonna get Duke to help first, but let’s go to the source.”

“Stop it. We need to figure it out. It’s our life here. Lukas is obsessed with his new title, and Lucy is just following his every move with bated breath.”

I grimace at her harsh words.

“Okay, I didn’t mean it like that. I know Lucy is strong. I just wonder why they’re so willing to forfeit themselves over and over.”

“Faith is about believing the things you can’t see. And they are about ten steps ahead of that. We can actually
see
their power, Junie. It isn’t just something to throw out with the bathwater as much as you want to. If you don’t believe, you need a reason.”

“That’s what this,” she holds up the book, “is here for! Let’s get Duke, and the rest of our crew and meet in … um … where do people meet here?”

“Follow me.”

I take Junie down the hall to the common meal room and take the book from her hands so she can go inside and get the crew.

I look around nervously as I stand with completely incriminating evidence in my hands. A giant metal box and some sort of folder crammed with papers. Out in the open. I shudder to think about the punishment that the Councilmen have undergone. Not that Lukas and Lucy would let that happen to me. Still.

The hallway’s empty. There aren’t many Humblemen eating, as I glance in room. This Refuge has about three hundred people living here. And about twenty are men. I look at the faces of the women sitting and eating, and it’s impossible not to feel relief that this won’t be Perfection.

I sure hope Lukas and Lucy have a plan on how to get rid of this old system of Binding.

Junie runs out, a huge smile spread across her face.

“Oh my gosh, Duke found his sister. She’s here!”

Duke walks out with his arm around a Vessel, she looks stunned, with tears freely falling down her face.

“Charlie, this my sister I told you about. She’s alive. Agreement, meet Charlie. He’s Lukas, err the Nobleman’s, brother.”

“It is so good to meet you. Perfection’s said wonderful things about you, for years. I wish you could have seen her again, before the fire killed her.” Agreement bows her head, and I understand her tears better. She thinks Perfection is dead.

“Perfection’s alive, Agreement. She’s here, safe on the ferry outside the Refuge.”

An incredulous smile sweep her face.

“How did you know her?” I ask.

“I have always been her helper.”

I shake my head in disbelief, over Duke, and his reunion, over the fact that they all think Perfection died in a fire, when the Councilmen left her for dead in a dark room. I don’t understand what the Council has been saying, but I intend to find out.

“We need to go somewhere quiet. Agreement, do you have any suggestions?” I ask as Dad, Jax, Colton, and Basil come out to meet us.

“I have a place we can go.” Agreement leads us down the hall to a bedroom. “This was Perfection’s room, before she left with the Nobleman to be bound.”

“Okay, can you stand outside and keep watch?” I ask her.

“No way, dude. I’m not letting her out of my sight, like, ever again,” Duke scoffs at me. I see his point.

“Okay. Let’s just be fast about this then, okay? Listen, Junie and I found this box in a tunnel hidden in the Councilmen’s Chamber. I know you guys had a Heavenly experience at the Haven today with the Rainbow Light, but Junie and I….” I stop and look at the skeptical faces around me.

“We aren’t so sure,” Junie finishes for me. “And we need to open this box that’s locked, and we need some super power energy to do it. Any volunteers?”

“Why not ask Lukas?” Basil asks.

“We need to do it ourselves, to see what the facts are, firsthand.” Junie’s determined. “Duke, can you give me a hand?” she sucks in her cheeks, trying to be nonchalant. Duke shoots daggers at me.

“Dude, sorry. I had to tell her.”

“Tell her what?” Agreement asks.

“Well, um … see how Junie is kind of purple-y? Well, I am kind of blue. And Perfections kind of silver and basically we’re all over the place.”

“You could have told me,” Junie says, quietly.

“I didn’t want to assume I had some fancy light like you guys.” Duke looks at his feet.

“Duke, you are the most ridiculously wonderful cowboy I’ve ever met. I guess I just
assumed
you knew that,” Junie says, and then puts her arms around his neck, pulling him down for a kiss. A long-awkward-to-watch-kiss. She steps away, “So now that you know what I assume about you, let’s see if you have the magic touch, too.”

“Let’s do it together.” Duke takes her hand, and an exponential amount of light pours out of them as they set their palms against the locked metal box.

Miraculously, it opens.

A woot-woot from Colton makes us laugh, and causes Dad to poke his head out of the door. Inside the box is a single book, hardbound, and worn. On the cover it reads,
Sacred Texts of The Light.

“Coast’s still clear. The Vessels don’t know what’s what with the cowboys and there are still plenty of guys in there representing us. Their guns are kind of keeping everyone in check.”

“Holy shit,” I say. “Dad, it’s the original text.” Dad’s eyes lock with mine, understanding the importance of the book.

“Okay, since we know what that is, let’s look at this folder first. It was next to the box,” Junie says. “It might have clues.

“It’s a bunch of papers, like copies of a book,” I say as she hands them to me after scanning them herself.

Agreement looks over my shoulder. “These are parts of the Sacred Texts. I recognize some of these words.”

I realize Agreement can read because she spent lots of years outside The Light with Duke and his family must have taught her.

“Do you mind?” Dad asks, and he picks up the book from the box. “I’ve never seen the original text. They say it was found on the island when The Light was formed. Not copies like you have there.”  He points to the papers the rest of us are passing around.

“I know this handwriting,” Basil says immediately when the original book is opened. “I’ve seen it before. It’s Integrity’s, the same as from the journal he gave Lukas. Shit.”

“Shit what.”

“Shit, like we need to get Lukas and Lucy away from him.”

And it dawns on us all at once.

We run, Dad carrying the book, to the great room.

75.

Lukas

“What do you mean,
gone
? I explicitly told you to wait behind the door, and bring the folder when I called for you.” Integrity’s brows furrow as he questions the Vessel.

“I’m so sorry, Head Councilman.” Her voice falters. “I went through the door after you dismissed me, and I thought I heard a noise, but didn’t see anyone. The file you wanted me to bring out when you called me in, is not there.”

“Let me see.” He stands and pushes his way through the door.

Lucy leans over to whisper, “Why is he called Head Councilman? I thought that was the system we’re avoiding?” Her face is knit with concern.

I shake my head not understanding either.

“Integrity,” I call for him, “is everything okay? Where does that room lead? I’ve never seen it before.”

He comes back out, looking as though a cloud of fog surrounds him.

“Are you okay? You look … ill.” Lucy stands, going to him.

“I’m….” he stops and looks at us. “Someone is here and they want to hurt us, we must run!”

“Run, where?” I ask.

“Away. To another place. It isn’t safe here.” His voice is full of terror and he takes Lucy arms, shaking her.

“Let her go!” I try to pry his fingers off of her. His hands are like icicles, frozen in place.

“Stop, calm down, both of you,” Lucy says, trying to remain calm, but her eyes reveal her fear. Integrity’s hands grip her tight.

I don’t understand why the file has put him in a tailspin. Before I can figure it out, the main door to the great room swings open and in runs Charles, Father, Basil, Jax, Colton, Junie, Duke and Agreement. Confusion washes over me.

“What’s going on here?” I shout.

“Let go of Lucy, now!” Charles screams, and surprisingly Integrity listens. Maybe it is the guns in his holsters, maybe it’s the lack of men on his side, but he releases Lucy’s shoulders from his grip.

“We know what you are, Integrity. We know your secret,” Junie snarls at him.

“What secret?” I ask, stepping towards her.

“Duke, Jax, guard him,” she directs.

“The secret of who Integrity really is, and what he wants with you and Lucy,” Basil says. If anyone here has bought my trust it’s her. She believed in me, when everyone else was just trying to understand. “Lukas, do you still have your journal?”

My eyes flick to Lucy, my heart caving in. If something bad is about to happen, a big part of me wants to run away, like Integrity suggested. I want to ensure Lucy can avoid pain, hurt, and the disintegration of everything we’ve fought for.

“Don’t, Lukas. It’s a trap. They want your power!” Integrity shouts to me.

“Son, do you have the journal?” Father asks. I see how asking hurts him, it’s written across his face.

“It’s right here, in my pocket.” I pull the leather bound book from my coat. It fits in my hand, and has been bent to my body. The words in the journal gave me the courage to come back here with Lucy. Gave us a reason, foretold of our destiny.

“Can we show you something, Lukas and Lucy?” Basil asks, walking toward us with an ancient looking tome in her hand.

“No! Don’t let her come closer! It will be the end of you both!” Integrity continues to shout.

“Shut it, old man.” Duke jabs him in the side with the butt of his gun.

Lucy walks towards me taking my hand in hers. She’s shaking, and I can see how much now that she is so close to me. We are covered in our light and that grounds me. “It’s okay, Lucy. Whatever comes next, we’re together.”

She looks up at me with her emerald eyes, “I know, Lukas. I just don’t want things to change.”

Basil hands Lucy the book and she flips it open, reading aloud the first page,

The Sacred Text

of

The Light

The ones who will remain after the world dissolves.

The ones who will remain, standing in

Truth and Love and Light.

“Why are we looking at this now?” she asks me confused.

“It’s not what it says….” I stop, suffocating in the truth as I see it laid out before me. “This is Integrity’s journal,” I flip open his letters to me, convincing me to return here with Lucy. “And this is the original book, the one found on this Island, supposedly planted here by a higher power,” I explain to Lucy.

“The handwriting….” She stops and lets go of me, letting our colorful light fall, “You,” she says evenly, pointing her finger at Integrity. “You wrote this. Both of these books. That would be impossible unless….”

“Unless you are the reason The Light was formed. Unless you are the one who invented this cult, raised it up, for your own desires,” I unleash my words; relieved the fire inside me is gone, because this whole room would be up in flames.

“Did you? Did you?” Lucy runs to him and grabs his arms; this time her grip is the firm one. “Tell me!” Her sobs fill the room. “I
trusted
you!”

“Trust is a funny word isn’t it, dear?” Integrity looks at her with pity in his eyes. “I remember you telling me once that trust was worthless, that faith was everything. Looks like you forgot your own truth.”

“So help me God,” Charles says in disgust, as he pulls out his gun, ready to shoot a bullet in Integrity’s heart.

“Why? Why bring us back here?” I ask him, coming towards him.

“Because I was ready to reign again, like I did for forty years before you were born, Lukas. You ruined everything I worked for. And then she came.” He points to Lucy. “And I realized this power wasn’t worth letting the Council harness. I could do greater things with it myself!”

His cloudy grey color chokes us, it’s as though a foul energy is being released into the air.

“Greater things like what?” I ask.

“You know what. Make the light greater by using the energy you possess. You won’t die, as you almost did before Lucy showed us what she was capable of. Bringing you back to life. I could keep this place running until after my death as long I had you both in my grip.”

“So it was all lies?” Lucy shakes her head, stepping away from him.

Integrity cackles, and with each breath his chest caves in more, as though letting the truth out causes him to expel the disease he was consumed with. Pride and greed. I’ve learned what these illnesses can do to a body. I almost lost my life when I let myself be consumed with lies.

“Get away, Duke, Jax. Seriously,” Junie screams.

“No, not unless he’s cold and dead, I don’t trust him to move an inch,” Duke yells.

“Trust me!” Junie yells.

Jax and Duke let go, stepping back with me. Integrity is free, for a moment.

“What’s the plan here, Junie?” Colton asks.

“The plan is Integrity is on his way out. See all the muddy grey? It means his body is already consumed with illness, disease, death. He’s going to tell us his secrets and with his guard down he’ll no longer stand, no longer breathe. His heart will fail him, like he failed us.”

“I won’t say another word,” Integrity spits out.

“Yes you will.” Lucy walks towards him, her green light burning and she puts her hand on his chest, the place his color is muddled the most.

“Don’t get near him,” Jax yells to her.

“No, I think it’s okay,” Junie says, nodding her head solemnly. “Duke and Jax could be affected by his energy, but she’s protected by her connection with Lukas, and the power inside her. Watch.” Junie points to Lucy. “This is what she’s here for.”