See How She Awakens (The Chronicles of Izzy #4)(5)

“Why did you keep going back?” My voice came out a broken whisper as disbelief and pain warred within me.

“To find you, Izzy. She kept going back to find you. According to her, you wouldn’t have let us stay in the void alone.” Ian bored at me, and I could see anger and blame in his eyes.

“Ian, don’t,” Molly begged. “She had every right to do what she did.”

“Not at the cost of your life,” Ian swore, his jaw clenching as the fire in his eyes engulfed me.

“I didn’t know. I didn’t know they were real. He was there, and I just wanted to stay. I didn’t want to come here. Don’t you understand? I will be the death of everyone if I remain.” My head whipped back and forth as I frantically searched the faces of those I’d held so dear.

Their looks of concern and blame pressed in on me, choking the air from my lungs. They didn’t understand. How could they? Fear clawed at me as the panic began to well within; I couldn’t stay in this room. Longing for an escape, I sifted outside of the house leaving them behind.

“What in the hell were you thinking?” Conall’s voice shouted from inside the house.

Voices moved towards me, each one drowning out the others in an effort to be heard.

“I’m sorry, but what I said is the truth,” Ian growled.

“No, what you said is your truth. Izzy watched as Kennan was torn from her. She lost all she’s ever known. Furthermore, she was in the void. You’ve heard stories of what that can do to someone’s mind. Do not dishonor Kennan’s memory by allowing your pain to hurt Izzy more than she already does.” Conall opened the door, cutting off his words as he searched for me.

“Izzy.” Ian lowered his gaze.

“I didn’t know.” Tears welled in my eyes. “I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

“What do you mean, hurt anyone?” Conall’s voice softened, coaxing me to press on. He kept his distance, as if I were a scared rabbit ready to race off at the slightest movement.

“Why doesn’t anyone see it?” I begged. They all looked at me like I was mad, but I wasn’t. Was I?

“Izzy, what are you talking about?” Ian moved closer, reaching to touch me. He couldn’t touch me; no one could.

I sifted out of the way, causing his hand to brush through air.

“Please. Don’t touch me,” I whispered, turning my back on everyone and wrapping my arms around myself.

“Where the hell is Aberto?” Ian grumbled.

“I am here. I had matters to discuss with Mona.” I could feel Aberto’s stare on the back of my neck, making it all too clear the matter he’d needed to discuss was me.

Before I could sift away, his arms lifted me into the air, cradling me like child. He effectively secured me so I could no longer escape.

“DON’T!” I shouted, fear slithering through me.

“I held you in the dreaming, and no harm befell me. I believe myself to be safe from whatever you fear may come.” Aberto’s voice was calm.

“But that is the dreaming. Here it might happen. I just want down. I want everyone to stay as far away from me as they can. Why doesn’t anyone understand?” I was trying to protect them, and all they did was put themselves in danger.

They don’t believe you, Izzy. They think you went insane in the void, the darkness murmured.

“I will take you to a room where you can rest.” Aberto refused to let go, and no matter how hard I tried to sift away from him, I couldn’t.

“Not that room. I can’t go back to that room,” I pleaded, praying Aberto would understand. The memories of the time Kennan and I’d shared in this house pulsed from the room we’d shared, and mercifully Aberto led me past it, taking me further into the house.

“Of course.”

Aberto’s steps led me into a room I’d never seen. Gently, he lowered me onto the bed, tucking the blankets around me to form a tight cocoon. I stared blankly at the wall as he moved from the room, shutting the door behind him.





“What is going on?” Ian’s heated voice asked from just beyond the door.

“Keep your voice down, Guardian, she is resting,” Aberto chided.

“What happened to her in the dreaming?” Conall’s lowered voice was still audible, if just barely.

“She believes something is inside of her that will harm us. She looked at me with such pain in her eyes. She has convinced herself she will bring nothing but suffering with her.” Aberto sounded scared.

“How can she help us if she has gone bat-shit crazy?” Ian growled.

“We will bring her back. She gave all for us, sacrificed all to bring down Sonneillon. No matter the cost, we will bring her back,” Conall swore.

“What about Molly? Izzy can’t help her when she’s like this.” Ian’s voice sounded as though it came through clenched teeth.

“Which is more of an incentive to bring her back to herself, is it not? Do not mistake me, Guardian. My whole existence belongs to Izzy. If you so much as move to push her beyond her limitations, I will end you. Though I understand the pain you suffer, trying to move her before she is ready will not serve any of our purposes. I will protect your Seer.” Aberto’s steely voice sent chills down my spine.

“How? How can you possibly protect her? They said the marks wouldn’t work.” Ian’s voice was full of hope and fear.