See How She Awakens (The Chronicles of Izzy #4)(21)

“I would like to attempt something, but if it is too much, too soon, we can stop and attempt it another time.” Aberto’s reluctance caused my stomach to drop. He’d never been cautious with me before, always pushing me harder and farther than I ever would’ve gone on my own.

“What?”

“I would like to draw the darkness to the surface, to see if you can knowingly resist the pull.”

“I don’t understand.” He wanted to draw the darkness? I thought we were trying to repress it, not throw it a welcome party.

“Each situation you have been successful in resisting the pull, it has been by sheer accident. Nothing more than a serendipitous aligning of your memories and emotions. It would behoove us to see if you are able to resist it with intent.” Aberto closed the space between our bodies, placing his hands on my shoulders to hold me in place. My fearful eyes shone back at me in the reflection of his own. “If you are not ready, we will wait. Only yesterday, the darkness held sway over you.”

“There’s no time like the present.” My voice cracked as the nerves took hold. Steadying myself, I asked what I truly feared, “What are you going to do to draw out the darkness?”

“Whatever I must.” Reluctance played across his face. He would have to hurt me, to twist my emotions in order for the darkness to surface. “Izzy,” his hand lifted to cup my cheek as his voice lowered, “it is never my desire to harm you.”

“I know.” Stepping away from him, I swallowed deeply. Whatever was about to happen, I wouldn’t like it, and neither would he. I just hoped the darkness didn’t take me over completely.

“Let us begin.” Aberto’s tone shifted, taking on the same tone he’d had when he pushed me to learn how to soul walk. There was no kindness, only ruthless efficiency.

“I’m ready.” I lied, knowing I would never be ready to surrender to the darkness inside of me.





Aberto stood across the room, staring at me. I wondered why he waited. Minutes ticked by as he stood. Assessing me, searching for a weakness to exploit.

“You are not strong enough to save Molly. If you were, we would not be here now. Your weakness is a disgrace to the memory of Kennan.” Aberto’s words were like a punch to the stomach. They sucked the air from my lungs as they hit home, the truth a painful reminder of all I feared.

I could feel the darkness stretching, waking up as the fears took hold, but it remained silent. I looked into Aberto’s questioning face and shook my head. It hadn’t worked, not yet.

“More,” I whispered.

“Did you really think it would end so easily? That you, one person, would be able to destroy the darkness forever? What sort of arrogance must you possess to believe yourself to be so important?”

Anger replaced the fears, sparking the darkness. It moved within me, absorbing my emotions as it grew.

He was the one that convinced you, that told you you were strong enough. He never believed it, Izzy.

I knew it was a lie. Aberto’s belief in me was unquestionable. Though the darkness had been roused, it held no sway.

“More,” I spoke through gritted teeth as Aberto continued his assault.

“Kennan never believed you were capable of fulfilling the prophecy. He kept you hidden away, never revealing the truth because he found you lacking. The man that loved you the most, never believed in you. What does that say of your talents, Seer?” He’d thrown off the gloves, no more was I Izzy to him. I was just ‘Seer.’ His face etched in anger as he continued to say the words that may harm me the most. “Did you believe your love was infallible? Did you believe he did all he did to protect you? He did it because he lacked faith in you. He didn’t believe you capable of carrying the burden of the world, and he was right. You failed.”

Kennan never believed you were capable. Why should you? Give up now, Izzy. Stop fighting the darkness. You were never strong enough, and you never will be.

The darkness pushed at me, testing my boundaries, but the last day had taught me to be stronger, to distinguish between my fears and the truth. Though Aberto’s words hurt, and brought about fears I’d done my best to repress, it still wasn’t enough. I knew Kennan loved me, that he would’ve done anything to protect me, even from myself. But he believed in me, he’d thought me capable. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have died.

“It isn’t enough, you aren’t pushing me.” His reluctance to hurt me was interfering with progress. “Try something else.”

Aberto paused in his assault, the darkness fading into the background once more. Aberto’s eyes trapped me in their gaze. Heat filled them, where they’d been so detached moments before. Something had changed, and I wasn’t sure what.

Faster than my brain could account for, he was in front of me, grabbing my shoulders almost painfully as he held me in front of him.

“If you had loved Kennan as much as you claimed to love him, you would not want this.” Aberto’s words faded as his mouth crashed down on mine. Sparks burst in my periphery as I surrendered to the sensation of his hard mouth devouring my own. Months of ignoring the attraction between us had built, culminating in the most terrifying and electric kiss I’d ever experienced. Aberto pulled away, his chest heaving as he stared down into my face. Anger and lust warring with one another.