See How She Falls (The Chronicles of Izzy #3)(28)

“Fine, I promise.” Exasperated, she held me with her gaze. “But you better promise me that you won’t be ridiculously reckless. You take care of yourself!”

“I promise," I snickered, releasing my hold on her before turning to head down the hall. I couldn’t dwell on Molly and Ian staying behind. If what Molly had seen was true, then things were coming much faster than I’d anticipated. I didn’t feel ready.

“Are we all set to go?” Kennan’s voice pulled me from my thoughts and drew me back to the present. It was time to face the music, or in this case, whatever transportation Kennan had arranged for us.

We walked out into the front of the house, where I expected to see a car waiting. Much to my dismay, out in the open field to the right of the house, a helicopter was landing. So much worse than a plane. How was I supposed to save the world if the very thought of climbing into that thing sent me into conniptions?

“Are you well?” Aberto asked from my elbow.

“Yeah, just peachy," I squeaked as I made my way towards the flying bug. The rickety thing didn’t look equipped to carry all of us. Good thing I’d packed light.

Steeling my nerves, I climbed up into the helicopter whispering a prayer for safety as I lowered myself into the seat. No way was I going out in a helicopter crash, it just wouldn’t be right.

“Is everyone here?” the unmistakably Guardian pilot asked.

“We’re ready," Kennan replied as he climbed in behind me and secured my harness.

I turned my concentration away from my nerves and instead focused on the pilot. I’d seen him somewhere before. I had that stupid tickling sensation in the back of my mind. As his features sank in, I realized he’d been at the warehouse. Obviously, he was a member of the Division.

“It’s nice to see you again, Milady," he said.

“You as well….” I was hoping the pause would be enough to get him to supply his name, but no such luck. Secretive Guardian types, they never divulged more information than they thought was needed. Whatever, as long as he could fly the helicopter, I was a happy girl. Well, not a paralyzed with fear girl.

“We should reach the coordinates the Old One provided in about two hours or so, depending on the weather.” With that, the pilot started up the helicopter and we were on our way.

“When was the last time you ate?” Kennan, in all of his brilliance, pulled my attention away from the disappearing ground.

“Um, would it be bad if I said I don’t remember?”

“It would be normal for you, unfortunately. Which is why I always come prepared.” Kennan pulled a bag of sandwiches from below his seat and handed them out to everyone but Aberto. I looked at him but he just shook his head as if it weren’t an issue.

“Why didn’t you bring him one?” I asked around a bite of brilliant turkey and cheese. It was a good thing my Guardian was such a boy scout.

“He doesn’t eat, Izzy. At least he doesn’t need to eat to survive," Kennan said in a hushed tone.

“It is no secret, Guardian. I am not ashamed of what I am. I am no longer mortal, Izzy. It has been a very long time since I required sustenance to survive. My mortal form, or shell if you will, perished long ago. I exist in spirit form alone.”

“Wait, are you a ghost?” I asked with wide eyes. “Abe the friendly ghost.” Okay, the altitude was probably going to my head. Yep, going to blame my diarrhea of the mouth on the thin air.

“I am not a ghost, Izzy." Aberto sighed his deep “I’m irritated with you, you petulant brat” sigh.

“But, you just said you don’t have a mortal form. That sort of makes you a ghost.” I tried to be all nonchalant, knowing good and well I was driving him insane.

“Do you remember the Seers that were trapped between planes?” Aberto stared out the window of the helicopter off into the distance.

“I don’t think I will be forgetting them anytime soon, Aberto," I said as low as I could. The thrumming of the rotors was so loud, I practically had to shout most everything.

“I am similar to them. Only, I am trapped between this realm and that of the dreaming and visions. I am prevented from moving on to what lies beyond the veil.” Aberto turned toward me, a look of longing briefly danced in his eyes before disappearing altogether.

“So, not a ghost then?” I sighed, turning my sole attention to more important matters, my sandwich. I reveled in my minor victory, having finally gotten a rise out of Aberto. Lately he’d been so nice to me, I was beginning to worry. Other than his outburst calling me a self-pitying brat, he’d been super supportive. It was freaking me out.

“You shouldn’t try to get a rise out of him, Izzy," Kennan admonished, with a crooked smile that ruined any lesson I might’ve learned.

“He deserves it," I shrugged. It was nice to temporarily take my mind off of things.

I inhaled the rest of my sandwich and settled back into the uncomfortable seat of what must’ve been a decommissioned military helicopter. Slumping over so that I could use Kennan as a pillow, sleep pulled me in.

Oh great, it was this one again. Talking to Molly must have triggered it. I looked around me as the battle raged in the sky. Darkness and light collided, sending sparks shimmering in all directions. It was the never ending war of the gods, or God, I was getting tired of trying to keep up. Maybe there was a delegation? A panel of gods with a leader sort of situation. I sucked up my apprehension and moved through the clouds. I knew that my demise awaited me, there was no sense in lingering in the clouds longer than need be.