See How She Awakens (The Chronicles of Izzy #4)(35)

I turned Mona to face me, “I want to speak with Uriel.”

“I’m not sure he will return in your presence.” Mona’s honesty struck me. I knew the last time I’d spoken to the archangel, things had not gone well, but I needed to speak to him.

“Uriel, I need to talk to you. Stop hiding and show yourself,” my voice shouted toward the heavens. I hoped my jab would be enough to get him to surface. His pride had been evident in every encounter I’d had with him. I just hoped that pride would play in my favor.

“You dare summon me?” Anger dripped from every word my aunt spoke. He’d come. “Tainted one, you are no longer my concern.”

“Perhaps not, but the balance is about to be disrupted. Maybe you could stop focusing so much on how much you don’t like me now and start thinking about that? Darkness will fall unless the Council is stopped,” I pushed. I needed to know if what I was beginning to suspect was true.

“I am aware.” Uriel was unaffected by my news. “Is this why you summoned me?”

“Are you saying you will not intervene on the behalf of humanity? What of the balance?” Anger pulsed through my veins as my suspicions became truth.

“The matters of man are of no concern. It will play out as it does. We care not, either way. Our battle rages on, Tainted One. We will not stretch ourselves thin to protect humanity. The balance has ebbed and flowed throughout time. This moment will pass and another will surface. Do not summon me again.” Uriel snapped from my aunt’s eyes.

There it was. The confirmation of what I’d felt for as long as this insanity had been a part of my life. We were pawns, just players in a game to the heavens. They cared not for the outcome. There would be no protection from them, no assistance. If humanity were to be saved from the darkness, we must act. In the grand scheme of things, I understood this moment was no more than a blink of the eye to the eternal beings that had watched the world evolve.

This blink of an eye mattered to us, though, and I would be damned before I let the world fall into darkness. I knew what had to be done, but was I capable of holding my own against the darkness? Or would I be the downfall of man?





Faces stared at me, waiting for me to move, to give direction.

“I must return to the Council.” My voice came out shaky.

“You will not go alone.” Conall stepped forward, falling to a knee with a bow. “I will go into battle with you.”

“This is a journey which I must take alone.” I stared down into Conall’s good eye, the ferocious beast lurking just below. How I wished I could have him with me to watch my back.

“That is not entirely true.” Aberto spoke, as Conall rose to his feet.

“What do you mean?” I’d seen the truth. I’d been alone in the Council. Besides, there was no way they would let everyone come back. They needed me, I was useful. Everyone else would be in danger.

“We can remain nearby within the dreaming,” Aberto proposed.

“That isn’t possible. No one here is a soul-walker. Only people with that ability would be able to do what you are asking.”

“There is a way. It is excruciatingly painful, and only temporary.” Aberto looked around the room, asking with his eyes if there was anyone up to the task.

“Do it.” Ian came into view. I hadn’t noticed him standing in the corner. The shadows must have masked him.

“You should be with Molly.” I didn’t want her to be alone, to suffer by herself.

“I do her no good holding vigil beside her bed. In this I will be acting to save her. Do not deny me this, Izzy. You would do the same if it were Kennan lying in that room dying.” Ian’s jaw clenched waiting for me to respond.

“You’re right.” Relief washed over his face for a moment before I continued, “But you better not die.”

“You have my word.” Ian smiled.

“How many can you take?” Mona asked Aberto.

“The marks are etched upon the soul. I am able to mark ten and retain enough of my soul to be of use,” Aberto responded.

“Wait, what?” I sputtered. Aberto could be hurt doing this? He hadn’t mentioned that part.

“Izzy, I will be well,” Aberto promised.

“No. There has to be some other way. You said marking a soul takes a piece of your soul as payment. Marking ten is too much.” Memories of the trapped Seers played through my mind. The night Aberto had saved me by giving me a piece of his soul. I’d spent mine in payment for their freedom. Now, he was set on doing the same. “Besides, I thought you weren’t permitted to interfere, to help us. I had to do the marks the last time.”

“Things have changed.” Darkness settled in his eyes, and I knew exactly what he meant. He’d been cursed for interfering on my behalf. Cursed to wander the earth for an eternity, never being able to move on. “If I am to remain here, I will be of use.”

“What happens if you use up your entire soul doing this? You can’t move on. What happens then, Aberto?” Panic welled inside of me. I wasn’t ready to lose him. I couldn’t survive that pain again.

“Izzy, we all have our roles to play. Do not deny me mine.” Aberto gathered his implements and left the room, heading towards the large ceremonial room. “If you wish to be one of the ten, follow!” he shouted over his shoulder, never turning to face me.