See How She Awakens (The Chronicles of Izzy #4)(49)
“For the record, I think what you did to Damali was perfect, but that could be the darkness in me talking.” I smiled, hoping he would let go of some of the pain he’d been holding in. “Hey, seriously, I don’t think ill of you. You held your shit together better than I did when Kennan died. I went supernova; you just cursed a chick to be demon crack. If anything, I think you could’ve been a little meaner to her. She did shank me, after all.”
A laugh rumbled in Aberto’s chest as he finally looked down at me.
“This world would be far too dark without you, Izzy.” Aberto’s eyes held mine for a moment before he released me. “We should rejoin the others. Plans must be made.”
“This talk isn’t over. I see more questions in those eyes.”
“They will keep.” Aberto the demanding had returned.
I wish there was an Aberto mood chart, sort of like the pain chart at the doctor’s office with the smiley face to pain face scale. The many moods of the Old One. My least favorite was probably teacher Aberto. He was ruthless.
The door opened, breaking the tension that filled the room. Standing in the opening was my aunt, but I could tell something was off.
“Izzy, someone would like to have a word with you in private,” Mona gritted through clenched teeth.
“Is everything okay?” I hadn’t the faintest idea who would want to talk to me. Everyone I knew was already in the house.
“It’s him.” Mona was visibly fighting against the angel trying to take her over.
“It’s fine, Mona. I’ll hear whatever it is he has to say.” I sat back down on the couch.
“I will remain.” Aberto stood his ground, the impassable mountain that he was.
“He is demanding that this be done in private. I’m sorry.” Mona motioned for Aberto to leave.
“I’ll be fine.” It was written all over his face, he didn’t want me out of his sight, but I needed to know whatever it was Uriel had to say. The angel wasn’t exactly a huge fan of me, so I wasn’t quite sure what the message would be. I just hoped there wasn’t more to this damned prophecy. If there was another sub-clause, I was tapping out. Someone else could take on the next part. Early retirement was calling my name.
“I will remain just beyond the door.” Aberto’s jaw clenched as he left the room.
“What do you want, Uriel?” I asked as the door shut, cutting Aberto off from our conversation.
My aunt’s face shifted, the internal struggle for control over. Uriel now stood in her place.
“Seer, I’ve come with a message.” Uriel’s voice made it seem as though he were annoyed.
“What is it?”
“The heavens will maintain the balance. The laws will be obeyed.”
“Let me ask you something, Uriel. You say the heavens will maintain the balance, but at what cost to humanity? You have set rules before the Seers and Guardians, rules that inhibit them. If ever the balance is to truly be maintained, must they not be allowed to do more? There is a war out there, constantly raging. While you fight your own battles, humanity is left to destruction. We were made for a reason, so why is it y’all don’t seem to want us to actively fight?” I was so tired of the bullshit, the lies, and the rules. I wanted to hear it, from Uriel’s own lips, I wanted the truth.
“If the Chosen should prevail in eradicating the darkness from the world, humanity would never know what it meant to hurt, to struggle. Without the pain, how would humans know to be grateful for the peace? There is a fine line that must be walked.” Uriel face pulled into a snarl as he looked upon me. “Not that you would understand. You are tainted by the darkness.”
“I think I understand more than you will ever be capable of understanding. The darkness doesn’t care about the balance, about humanity. It cares only for the destruction it can reign down upon the world. As far as humanity, people hurt one another without external influence all the time. The darkness doesn’t have to be present for that. There is plenty of pain in this world without it. So don’t try and tell me you allow this to go on for their own good.” I stood inches away from my aunt’s body, anger bubbling beneath my skin.
“You will do as you are bid,” Uriel spat.
“I will not.” I replied simply. If I were cursed to be immortal, never allowed to move beyond the world, then I would do all I could to protect it.
“If you set yourself on this course, you will endure great agony the duration of your existence. Why would you do this to yourself?” The disdain in his voice was replaced swiftly by confusion.
“If you saw what I’ve seen these past years—the pain, the fear the darkness brings—you would not ask me that. You may be an archangel, and you may be fighting the same battle, but you don’t feel what they feel. The people you’re fighting for, the people the Chosen were made to protect, you’re cut off from them.”
“That may be, but there are rules. Rules that were created for a reason.”
“Rules that were created at the beginning of time. Rules the darkness has changed. While you are all playing by those old rules, following the same path that was set out, the darkness has found loopholes. They are fighting an entirely different game, by a whole different set of rules. If things continue, darkness will fall upon the earth. How long do you think the heavens will stand once the earth has fallen? Change is upon us. I just hope you are willing to see the truth of it before it’s too late.” I sighed, stepping away.