See How She Awakens (The Chronicles of Izzy #4)(37)
“Thank you.” I looked around the room, feeling an overwhelming sense of love. I wasn’t alone. These people were going to face the darkness by my side. Whether to help me, or for their own reasons, it didn’t matter. I didn’t have to face the Council by myself. I knew they would all be waiting to come to my aid.
“I know you are all doing this for your own reasons, but know that you being here, knowing I don’t have to go at this alone,” emotions weighed heavy on my chest making it hard to continue, “I can’t ever thank you enough.”
I took a steadying breath as I took in the ten Seers and Guardians that would stand with me against the Council if I needed them. Eleanor had joined their ranks, her promise to end me if I turned echoed through my mind. I was glad of it, of her.
“I can’t promise what the outcome will be. I can only tell you there are two ways in which this might play out. I will either fall to the darkness, allowing it to take over and use me to do its bidding, or I will end them once and for all. This will not be pleasant, there is no happy ending. We have no support other than ourselves. What happens there will determine the future of humanity. Do not waiver, do not hesitate. If I fall, end me any way you can.” I leveled Eleanor with my gaze. She nodded once, letting me know she was prepared to do what she must.
“What do we need to do next? How do we separate our souls to walk in the dreaming?” Cristie’s voice pulled my attention away from my silent discussion with Eleanor.
“For that, we must practice.” Aberto looked worn, but his strength seemed to be returning now that he’d finished. “Izzy can lead you through what to expect as I prepare a room.”
“Suckage.” I looked around the room as everyone stared back perplexed. Crap, I’d said that aloud. “What I meant to say is that the practice is taxing.” This is why I would’ve failed as the Council leader. I had absolutely no finesse.
“What will we be doing?” Eleanor prompted, saving me from myself.
“You will be learning to separate your soul from your body. The easiest way to do this is to envision you are made up of two parts, the body and the soul. What worked for me was imagining them to be two sides of a jacket with a zipper in between. Just unzip the zipper and they become two instead of one. Find something you’re comfortable with, whatever visualization works for you. Oh, and don’t fight it. It is harder when you fight.”
Aberto reappeared in the room, motioning for all those that had been marked to follow. I started to leave with the group, but Mona’s hand on my shoulder stopped me.
“May I have a moment?” Her non-question question reminded me so much of Isadora. One day I would perfect that art.
“Sure.”
“I want to apologize.” My confusion must’ve been written all over my face because she laughed before continuing. “I should’ve pressed your mother harder, or been there when she was taken. You should’ve been prepared for this, for what your destiny was meant to be.”
“Aberto asked me not too long ago if I would’ve really wanted to know what he knew about Kennan dying. Since then, I’ve made peace with a lot of what upset me in the past. I don’t blame my mother for her decision to protect me from this, to keep me in the dark. I wouldn’t have walked the path I did if it had played out any other way.” Now Mona looked confused. “They say ignorance is bliss, and I believe it. Just like with Kennan, if I’d known this was coming, that this was my destiny, I would’ve spent my entire life worrying and trying to prepare for something I’d never truly be ready for. I’m thankful for the years I got to spend living a normal life, for the years I’ve had since finding out I was a Seer. You have nothing to apologize for.”
“Are you ready?” Mona asked, tilting her head to the side.
A laugh ripped from me as the absurdity of it all came rushing in. “Ready? No, I’m not, but I never will be. I don’t know if I’m strong enough to fight the darkness yet. Heck, I’m not even sure how I am going to sneak myself into the Council.”
“I have an idea for that, if you would like to hear it.” Mona lowered herself down to the floor, bending her legs to the side. She patted the ground beside her, waiting for me to follow her lead.
“Okay,” I said, lowering myself down to the spot she’d been patting.
“Perhaps you should appear at the Council in need. Say you blame the Order for Kennan’s death. Use it to your advantage. The grief is real, so it is not a lie. They won’t be able to see through to the truth.” Mona’s finger traced shapes on the floor as she went through each step that would lead to me meeting with the Council. Her plan was simple, but brilliant. All I needed to do was find a way in, and the rest would play out, one way or another.
The marked ten went through grueling hours of practice for days as Mona and I focused our efforts on the plan. Each day the group would leave the room Aberto had arranged for practice looking worn. I remembered all too clearly how hard it was to do what was being asked of them. I’d been born with the ability. I couldn’t begin to imagine how much more difficult it must’ve been for them.
“They are ready.” Aberto entered the room where Mona and I sat, looking exhausted himself.
“So it’s time?” I asked.
“Tomorrow.” Aberto lowered himself to sit beside me. “Are you ready?”