See How She Falls (The Chronicles of Izzy #3)(35)

“Why did you not tell us this when it was Cait’s life on the line?” Conall was growing angrier as the moments passed. I’d wondered when this would come up for some time and I was surprised that it had taken so long.

“Her destiny was sealed.” Aberto’s answer did nothing to subdue Conall.

“As is Izzy’s, yet you consistently intercede on her behalf.”

“Would you rather I let her die?” Aberto asked calmly.

“That isn’t what I mean. I want to know what makes now different than then? What about her makes you step in when it is meant to be forbidden?” Conall got dangerously close to Aberto, staring up into his face defiantly.

“When the gods speak, I listen. I was given an order to protect Izzy at all costs.” Aberto stood to his towering height and looked down at Conall. “Cait knew her destiny was sealed. She had a choice, as does Izzy, to allow the darkness to reign or put an end to it. Do not let her sacrifice be in vain. Do not allow your petty resentment to cloud your judgment and distract you from today’s goal. Yesterday is gone and can never be repeated. Things lost cannot be returned," Aberto said the last looking at me. I wasn’t sure if he was just looking at me or trying to deliver another one of his infamous cryptic messages. I’d given up long ago trying to decipher his hidden messages. Until he gave me the secret decoder ring, I was done.

“But why now? Just answer that, satisfy our curiosity. I’m not the only one that questions your motives. In a time of treachery, such as this, it is best to know everyone’s intentions.” Conall wouldn’t let it go.

“Why now? Because Izzy is important, not just to this world, but to me. She saved me from a darkness none of you will ever know and I cannot let that kind of a gift go ignored. Why her? She is bigger than all of us, bigger than anything any of us will ever be able to imagine. Her destiny has been written in the stars since the dawn of time. Why her? She is the light that shines brightest when nothing else but darkness exists. Her light matters, and I will do all in my power to ensure that it never gets extinguished.” Aberto faded in a cloud of anger, leaving us all staring at where he’d been moments before. I was pretty sure I was the only one that Aberto gave long speeches to, and mostly they were to yell at me to stop being a baby. He’d just laid down some serious stuff at everyone’s feet and vanished without so much as a goodbye.

“Well, looks like you pissed Abe off," Sena supplied.

“Thanks Captain Obvious," Conall huffed, turning to leave the room. I was so proud, it looked like I’d rubbed off on him after all. Even if it was just one phrase, I would get him there eventually.

“What? What did I do this time?” Sena threw her hands up and fell into the chair that Aberto had occupied earlier. “I really should get some sort of filter installed up here. Do you think Abe has a marking for that?”

“I have no idea.” I smiled at Sena, wondering how I could find someone so socially inept so likeable. Oh, that’s right, she reminded me of myself.

“Well now you know why I called him dog boy.”

“How did you know that he could do that? I’ve known these guys for a while now and I had no clue.” I looked at her in wonder, there was something so familiar about her.

“Cait was my, wait for it, great aunt. The stories have been passed down through our family about that day. It is really something I need to ask you about, when you have some private time.” Sena looked down at her hands, mumbling the last part.

“Well, it seems that this meeting has gone awry, and I can’t really get up and leave. So, now works if you’ve got the time.”

“Do you think we may be able to speak privately?” Sena looked around the room at everyone that still lingered.

“You aren’t planning to shank me or anything are you?”

“No, if I’d wanted to do that, I already would have.”

“Well, that’s a comfort.” I paused looking over to where Kennan and my aunt were in a deep discussion. He looked up to catch my eyes and moved towards me.

“What is it, Red?” Kennan’s eyes were filled with concern, as if I would reject him now that I knew he turned into a big hulking beast.

“Sena needs to talk to me, and she doesn’t want to have an audience. Do you think that maybe I can talk to her alone? She promised not to shank me," I provided.

“Sure, I’ll be right outside talking with Mona if you need me.”

“I love you, big guy. Nothing will ever change that.” I reached up and grabbed his hand before he left. Even with the world at stake, he was still the most important thing to me.





Chapter Eighteen


As everyone left the room, I turned my attention back to Sena. She seemed so young, somehow, sitting there in front of me.

“What did you want to talk about?”

“The stories of you.”

“Oh, don’t believe anything anyone has told you. Or, you know, if it is good then believe that part. Listen, I’m just getting the hang of this whole Seer thing. I don’t really know what I’m doing.” I was starting to do my whole nervous rambling thing, and I knew it.

“Would you put a sock in it, already? This isn’t about the fact that you are fumbling through being a Seer like some sort of drunk person playing pin the tail on the donkey. This is about the stories, the stories of Cait and the message she sent through our family for generations to make sure it got to you.”