See How She Falls (The Chronicles of Izzy #3)(20)

“Why must it be her? Surely there is some other way. Some way for me to take her place," my mother pleaded.

“Look at her, you know it must be this way. You’ve been with her since her first breath, surely you knew that her life would not be like that of any other Seer.” My aunt pointed out into the fog at a child playing. I looked more closely at the joyous figure until the truth finally settled in my bones. “She’s been jumping into the dreaming since she first began to dream. More time will pass, more memories will form. Her sanity is set on a precarious ledge. You must protect her. You must protect yourself. She must come of age.”

“Oh, stop being a mouthpiece. This is my daughter we are talking about. How can you ask me to sacrifice my only child?”

“We ask that you sacrifice so much more. You must give her a life separate from your kind. Raise her in ignorance of what she is, yet protect her. When the time comes, you must leave her. This is not a choice. If you do not do this, the world will fall to the darkness. She will either be this world’s savior or downfall. Failure to do as we ask will result in a world filled with chaos and destruction.”

“But why?” Sobs racked my mother’s body as she struggled with words that refused to sink in. Broken, my mother sobbed, unable to keep the hurt from her face, unable to be strong. I looked at her, wondering how she could’ve written me letters hoping for a good life, a life separated from this when she knew. She’d always known. Perhaps it was denial, perhaps fear, either way I resented the hope they represented and the life that might’ve been.

“Why is not for you to understand. It must be so.” My aunt shook herself as if trying to get rid of the last bit of whatever had been speaking through her. “I’m so sorry.” Her voice barely rose above a whisper.

“Promise me, promise you will protect her. If I must leave her, then you be there. You find her, and you take care of my baby for me.”

“I promise. But I don’t think that she will be friendless in this world, my dear sister.” My aunt nodded towards the little girl. There, playing ring-around-the-rosie, was Aberto. “I do believe that the Old One will guard her well.”

“But why? Why does he show such an interest? Can he be trusted?” Score one for mom, at least she wasn’t as accepting of him as everyone else seemed to be.

“I will never understand the reasons of the Old Ones. Can he be trusted? I suppose we will have to let time tell. We must go now. People mustn’t know that we are still in contact.”

“I know. I miss you. Just know that I will haunt your ass if you don’t take care of my baby when I’m gone.”

“I said I promise, now go get the Old One to wipe her memory. You know what the big chiefs said. She can’t know what she is.”

“Will I see you again?”

“I don’t know. I pray that the gods allow it.”

“As do I.” My mother hugged her sister tightly. Hesitant to let go, she finally closed her eyes and pulled away to move towards Aberto. “I need you to erase any memory she may have of the dreaming or what she is. She can’t know until she comes of age. Can you do this for me?”

“I can. She will resent what has been stolen.” Aberto’s face looked forelorn.

“It is the will of the gods, God, whoever is using my sister as a loudspeaker.”

“Then so be it.” He paused for a moment, turning to look at the happy girl skipping around the fog. “Izzy, come here for a moment.” My feet carried me closer towards the memory.

“What is it, Aberto? Can we play some more?” My child-self pleaded.

“No, Izzy. Now it is time for a different game. This is a game of memory. I am going to hide memories so that someday, when you need them, you may find them. Does that sound like a fun game?” The child’s eyes lit up as she nodded. “Izzy, the dreaming will be no more for you. You shall not remember your friend from sleep, nor shall you remember that your mother can come here as well. The dreaming is but a hazy memory locked away tightly. There is no dreaming, there are no people with special powers, and you are a normal little girl with a grand imagination. Do you understand?”

“Who are you?” the little girl asked. Aberto’s eyes clouded over with a look that I had come accustomed to. He had lost something that brought him joy, and it had been replaced with yet another burden to bear.

“It’s time to get you tucked in, my sweet.” My mother held her hand out for the child. They walked hand in hand, disappearing into the fog, leaving Aberto and I standing there.

“Not everything is always so simple, Izzy. There are times when there is no clear right or wrong, only what must be done. I beg forgiveness for what you feel I have stolen, but I cannot apologize for protecting you. I am honor bound to guard you until my last breath.” He was staring straight at me, where I stood.

“How did you know I would be here?”

“I told you, we would play a game of hide and seek. You sought out answers, and you found them. Now, you must wake up. There is much to be done.”

“But….”

“Awaken.”

I sat up in the bed, trying to catch my breath. How in the heck had I gotten into bed? I looked around the room until my eyes came to rest on the clock and my sleeping Guardian. It was only three in the morning, why in the world had Aberto wanted me to wake up?