Truth and Light

Chapter 22

We reached the gate of Illumination and Gabe shook me and Vanessa awake before we went in.

"I want to do this fast. Jace needs to see Doc Rob, he's not breathing well," Gabe glanced back to the Jeep where Jace just lay there, his large head on his paws, his eyes closed. I knew he didn't need to see the doctor, he just needed to be with Callie. I said nothing about it, and tried to keep my mind on something else, because I didn't want to tell Gabe about their soul bond. That had to be something Callie told her brother, on her own.

"Why did we stop here?" What if he wouldn't let me come back? I knew he had to still be mad that I left today. I just hoped he'd understood.

Gabe brushed his lips over my forehead, "Me and you are going to have a conversation about your little field trip later. Right now, I need to talk to Vanessa."

Vanessa just looked at him sleepily, after all Gabe had offered to bring her back here. Why was he making a big deal about it now?

"After Alina left, The Light came to me," Gabe said, not looking at me. I gasped.

"Alina's father?" Vanessa asked.

Gabe looked shocked, "You told her?"

"I see memories, remember? I saw Alina meet her father. I know who he is," Vanessa explained.

"I hadn't thought about that." Gabe glanced back at me. I was kind of jealous. Not only did he have a dad who had loved him, he knew more about my father, than I did. I just shrugged. He took a deep breath and intertwined our fingers, and spoke to me, "He knows about our baby, his granddaughter. He knows that you left because you thought Josh was in danger."

Turning to Vanessa, he took a big breath, "He couldn't protect her when she was younger because of the attention it would have brought her, but now the Dark knows about Alina and our baby, he can protect her as long as she stays here at Illumination. Yesterday after she left, he put a shield around Illumination. If anyone from the Pitch tries to come inside the shield it will kill them, an immediate death."

I was shocked, my father had done this for me and my baby? Then it hit me, "If there's a shield, the Dark can't hurt us! He can't get to Callie, or Greta or anyone here! He can't hurt you!" My mind was spinning with the possibilities. We were safe!

Gabe turned to me, and tucked me under his arm, "Next time before you run, talk to me. I would rather be dead than to be without you!" He lips crashed into mine in a passionate kiss which caused our teeth to bump. I could feel the claim of his mouth throughout my whole body. I slid my arms around his neck to pull him closer, but then remembered Vanessa.

"Why are we waiting?! We aren't safe out here. We need to go in now!" I started to get upset thinking of the risks we were taking, risks to our baby.

"Calm down, Sunshine. We're only a few feet from the shield, but Vanessa needs to make sure this is where she wants to be." Gabe looked back to Vanessa. "I have to protect these people. This shield is the only way I have to do that. I appreciate what you did for Alina, but if you are Pitch and you come through the shield, you'll die."

"Of course, she's not part of the Pitch," I had never heard of anything so preposterous. This was Vanessa, and even though I hadn't known her for very long, it felt like there was a connection there. She had stayed to protect me even at the risk of her own life. Just like I felt a connection with the people of Illumination and Gabe, I also felt one with Vanessa.

"If I go through now, will I be stuck here forever?" Vanessa asked looking at Illumination like it was something she wanted, but also unsure if it was where she was meant to be.