See How She Falls (The Chronicles of Izzy #3)(39)
“That is so not fair," I mumbled.
“Izzy, I have broken one of the gods’ directives to ensure your safety. I cannot do so again. Please do not ask this of me.” His eyes were a slow burning ember, no longer the fire they’d been moments ago.
“Meh, it probably wouldn’t help to know at any rate.” I let go then, allowing sleep to overtake me. At least I knew I wasn’t falling into the dreaming. Instead, where I was going was far worse. It was a parade of memories, of happy times over the years, before I knew what I was. Before this whole destiny business came knocking on my door. It was a cruel reminder of a life that was never real, a life covered in misdirection and deceit all for the greater good.
Chapter Twenty
We arrived back at the Council headquarters far more quickly than I would’ve liked. I felt an uneasiness sink in as we disembarked the helicopter. At least I was able to walk out on my own two feet. That seemed like a small step forward, even if it was miniscule.
We walked around the house and entered the front doors, which were currently flanked by people from Damali and Francesca’s entourage. I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Whatever was about to go down, it wasn’t going to be pleasant. Instead of heading to the office, I headed up to Molly’s room to tell her to get her and Ian’s things together.
“Molly?” I knocked on the door, trying not to draw too much attention to myself. “Are you in there?”
“Yeah, what’s up?” She opened the door, a strained smile masking her face.
“Giddy-up," I said. We’d decided we needed some sort of ‘it is time to jump ship’ code after everything that had happened back at the lab. It seemed now would be the first time we actually got to use it.
“Do I need to round up the posse?” Her overly bright smile and wide eyes set my stomach in knots.
“Yes, E and I most definitely need to be brought in. Meet us by the bird in the yard.” I looked at her solemnly before turning on my heel to face the people waiting for me in Isadora’s old office.
The moment the doors opened, everything stopped. Time seemed to stand still as I approached my desk, where Damali was making herself quite at home. I stood there staring at her. I hadn’t put in the contacts. I hadn’t masked anything that had changed about me. It was all there for them to see. No more secrets, no more lies. It was time to see the truth. Would they stand with me, or would they be too caught up in their own ascension to the throne to stop the darkness?
“Will you help stop the coming storm? The darkness approaches. Only one mark remains. Will you stand with me?” I stood, grounded in place with Aberto and Kennan just behind me.
“Will we stand with you?” Damali shouted thunderously, rising from her seat. “You who have conspired with the Order behind our backs. You who have withheld evidence from us about Isadora’s death. You are not fit to lead us. Look at you, you aren’t even a Seer. You are an Abomination.”
“So this is how it will be, then? You will turn your back on what Isadora wanted? You will turn your back on the calling to protect this world? This is a directive straight from the heavens, yet you think that you can turn your back and suffer no consequences.” The rage boiled up inside of me, causing blue sparks to ripple down my arms. These were supposed to be the people I depended upon, the people I could trust the most. Yet here they were, turning their backs on me when I needed them the most.
“You are an Abomination," Brutus shouted. It looked like I never would find out his real name, not that it mattered. If I stuck around him for too long, my ear drums would just start bleeding, and I’d never hear his name.
“So it is true?” Francesca’s small voice cut through the tension. “He did breathe his soul into yours. I’d been told, but until this moment, I did not believe it possible. You truly are no longer a Seer. Therefore, you are no longer welcome here. You will find no refuge amongst our kind. Anyone that provides you shelter will be given the same punishment - banishment.”
There they were, the same words I’d spoken to Elaine only days before, thrown right back in my face. I was being banished, exiled from the family that had taken me in and repaired me after the lab incident. The anger fluxed inside of me, causing my arms to glow an eerie blue. I wasn’t sure what would happen if I didn’t get my emotions under control.
“Know this, if you turn your back now, there will be a price. The darkness will fall. Stand with me or against me, but there is no middle ground.” My voice boomed through the office, fury churned within me.
“Then count us against you.” Damali’s snide reply caused my anger to arc out, snapping at the desk she stood behind. In an instant, the desk was no more than a pile of ashes. So that’s what the lightening did, interesting.
“Izzy, we must go.” Aberto gently touched my shoulder pulling me towards the door, as the shocked Council members stood gaping in my direction. “Let go of the anger, or it will consume you.” I tried to breathe deeply and let it go.
The Council members stood in shocked silence as we left the room. Exiting the office, angry tears began to drench my cheeks. My home had just been stripped from me, the only place I’d felt like I belonged in a long time. Like Elaine, I’d been banished, never to return again, and all for something that was wholly out of my control. I hadn’t asked for this to happen to me.