See How She Awakens (The Chronicles of Izzy #4)(22)
If Aberto cared so much for you, he would never push you to this. Why are you letting him take advantage of you in your weakness? Kennan’s death is fresh, yet Aberto seeks to claim you.
Darkness pulsed through my veins; I could feel it rise to the surface, consuming me. Anger and betrayal pulsed within me as I looked up into Aberto’s face. Disgust for what I’d just done, and an aching sadness for disgracing the memory of my love for Kennan fought for dominance. Both fueled the darkness.
My arms sparked as I pushed outward, sending Aberto flying across the room. My voice was not my own as I began to speak. “You seek to own me, to claim me. What happened to caring enough for me to wait, to be whatever I needed you to be? Your lies, your secrets, have brought me nothing but pain. Yet you remain?” I could feel the fire as it sought an escape. The shattered windows from the night before reflected the light in jagged shards as I moved towards Aberto. I would destroy him. End his influence over my life. “This will end.” The anger pulsed through my veins as I reached down to pull Aberto to his feet. Inhuman strength consumed me as I pushed him to a wall. The fire coursed through me as my hand, engulfed in red flames, reached towards his chest. Memories of Aberto tearing Xavier’s soul away surfaced, and I wondered if I could do the same to him. Snuff out his long life in a mere instant.
“Izzy!” Aberto’s voice was defiant in its plea, but it fell on deaf ears. He’d said enough, done enough. I would be rid of him. “Fight it, remember the truth. Remember.”
My hand reached into his soul just as something clicked in my mind. Recognition, the truth. Aberto would never intentionally hurt me. Even in this way. He would wait, an eternity if that is what was required. He’d never once interfered when I was with Kennan, never sought to interject himself into my life. He could have. There was an undeniable attraction between us, one that I would never be able to ignore. But my love for Kennan was stronger than that attraction. Kennan had been my home, my life long before I’d ever known about Aberto.
The moment froze as my mind realigned itself.
As I pushed the darkness back it whispered, You are not strong enough on your own. Had he not reminded you, you would’ve ended him. Time is your enemy, Izzy. He won’t always be there to save you.
Dropping my hand to my side, I looked up into Aberto’s face. Tears streamed down my cheeks, unbidden. “I’m so sorry.”
“What did it feel like, when the darkness seized control? Were you able to discern the difference, or does it consume you completely?”
Aberto seemed unfazed by the kiss or the fact I’d just tried to destroy him. Stupid Old One and his ability to separate his emotions from his mission.
“I don’t even realize it is happening. It’s like the snap of a rubber band, in an instant I’m no longer myself. Instead, I feel powerful, capable of burning the world, should I choose.” The power was enticing, I wouldn’t lie, but it was also terrifying and would be deadly if I didn’t learn to control it. “I wouldn’t have been able to stop on my own, Aberto.”
“Then we will continue to practice.” Aberto made his way towards me, searching my face. I wasn’t sure what he hoped to find there; all I felt was confusion. “What happened to the windows? I meant to ask upon your awakening.”
“The darkness made me angry last night, and I guess I threw a tantrum.” The truth was, I wasn’t sure how I’d been able to blast the windows. All I knew was it had drained all of my strength, and I’d ended up passing out.
“No matter.” With a wave of the hand, Aberto managed to reassemble the windows.
“How did you do that?” I knew my mouth was hanging open. I’d had no clue what he was capable of, it would seem.
“Manipulation of this plane. It is the same as conjuring clothing. With practice, you will be able to do the same. Don’t lose focus.”
“Aberto, how am I supposed to do anything about this darkness? Honestly, it seizes control completely. I can’t control it.” Frustrated, I moved across the room towards the door. The shack was so small with him inside. I needed to get some space, to breathe.
“Come with me.” Aberto walked across the room and held out his hand.
“Where?” I looked at his hand as if it were a venomous viper. I wasn’t quite sure I was ready to touch him again after trying to kill him and kissing him, and well, everything.
“Trust me.” Those words echoed in my soul. A peace settled over me as I placed my hand in his.
We stepped out into the scorching sun, the light blinding in its brilliance. I had no clue where Aberto was going to take me. Any distraction from the current situation was a welcome one, so I didn’t fight it. I was sick of fighting, to be frank. With my internal battle constantly raging, I didn’t have the strength for much else.
“Hold fast.” Aberto wrapped his arms around me tightly, before he plunged us into the dreaming.
Light whizzed past as the fog parted in our wake. I had no clue what we were doing in the dreaming. I wanted to be as far from there as possible. The darkness inside of me twisted, awakening. I knew it was coming, the pressure built ever so slowly. The void was close, and the pull was undeniable.
“Aberto, I can’t stay here.” Panic welled up inside of me as the whispers began.
“You must, Izzy. The Revenants have a message. One that must be heard. Only two have seen them. You are wholly unaffected by their presence while Molly succumbs to their plight.”