Haeven (47 page)

Herrik nodded, "I do, but not without your
consent and not without approval from the council first."

"Hmm," Artur seemed to be weighing the
possibilities.

"It will never work!" Avery confidently
stated.

"I don't think it can either," Colin shook
his head.

Merry looked optimistic, though, and as I
looked around I felt very optimistic, too. I found myself standing
up and studying each of the people in the room one by one and
became entranced by what I saw.

Merry smiled oddly but the others were just
frowning as they stared back at me completely puzzled. It wasn't
quite the same but I felt a little fuzzy, like when Herrik swept me
away into the utopic worlds he was so good at creating.

They were just the right combination that
Haeven needed to bring it back into balance; wise Artur, strong
Avery, free-spirited Colin, and empathetic Merry. Then there was
Herrik who embodied all those attributes and understood the value
of each. He was the weight, the pendulum that could swing in
whichever direction mattered most.

Everything was very clear for a long, drawn
out moment. After the shock and mourning I pictured the people of
Haeven coming together and restoring it to its original splendor.
When they were done and Herrik's new hierarchy was in place Haeven
began to grow once more. Those that were lucky enough to find it or
the many who were invited to see it for themselves often stayed.
Some went, though when they left they were compelled by Artur, who
was often assisted by Merry, to forget that any such place
existed.

Penny lived with Daemon in the apartment we
once shared and stayed for as long as they were needed. Eventually
they had done all that they could do and said their farewells.
After living nearly her entire life in Haeven I knew that Penny
longed to see the world. Once she and Daemon finally had a chance
to share the experience together nothing would convince her to
change her mind.

Though he became a member of the council
Colin did not stay either. He and Ares had been through a great
deal together and they simply would not be parted. Haeven was no
place for a dog though, so instead they lived within driving
distance and came as often as they could to help rebuild and to
ensure that Haeven would have a future.

Merry timidly accepted her role and though it
was a long, gradual transition for her we all did our part to make
her feel welcome. She seemed to know she was essential, not only to
help Haeven reclaim all that was lost but her heart was naturally
drawn to people in need. Other than myself she may have been the
only other person who knew about Avery's feelings for Penny and the
daily heartbreak he faced seeing Penny and Daemon always
together.

Whenever she sensed his anguish, Merry would
happen to run into him and somehow manage to restore his spirits.
He never seemed to notice how much she cared though and it wasn't
until after Penny and Daemon left that he began to recognize her
feelings as well as his own for what they truly were.

"Emily?" Herrik's voice brought me back to
the present.

He was looking at me very concernedly while
Artur and the others just watched and waited. They were completely
puzzled especially when they saw me wipe away a few happy
tears.

I smiled and at first wasn't able to find the
words. Then I remembered something Herrik had once said when I
asked him about his dreams.

"Well, it's not like I never dream. I just
dream when I'm awake." 
he had said.

"What is it Emily? What did you see?"

I took Herrik's hand in mine and gazed up at
him then softly replied, "Peace."

• Sanctity: holiness of life or character
  

• Vivienne: Le Perdu et Retrouve (The Lost and
  Found)