See How She Falls (The Chronicles of Izzy #3)(48)

“It has been my pleasure.” Aberto slowly released my hand and headed out to get Kennan.

“Well, you didn’t get all sparky. I think you should consider this a success," Sena beamed.

“Yay!” I choked out.

“Izzy?” Kennan asked as he entered the room. The strain on his face broke me. I knew that he hated anything that caused me pain, but he knew that we had to try whatever we could to stop the coming darkness.

“I’m okay. I need some help back up to the room though. I feel like I need to lie still for a bit.” I didn’t even get a chance to finish before he carefully scooped me up in his arms, avoiding all of my runes. “Oh, but Eleanor, I have some questions!” I shouted as we left the room.

“I’ll come with you, then. You need to rest, so it is probably best that we just discuss whatever this is where you will be comfortable.”

Kennan carried me into our room, gently placing me on the bed. We were followed in by a whole herd of Guardians, much to my chagrin.

“Can’t they wait outside? I promise to announce the demon’s arrival when it happens.” I looked to Kennan wide-eyed. There was no way I could get through the next few days with twenty Guardians following me everywhere. I would go insane before the demon could even show up.

“Gentlemen, she would like some privacy," Kennan snickered.

“How would you like it if you had to have everyone following you around?” I grumbled to an amused Kennan.

“Well cared for?” Kennan ventured.

I responded with a glare, effectively shutting him up. I wondered if I was getting better at my mean face. Or maybe my eyes were glowing again. Glowing eyes seemed to shut everyone up.

“What did you wish to discuss, Izzy?” Eleanor asked, wiping the sweat from her brow. She looked like she’d just run a marathon through the depths of hell.

“The demon, Sonneillon. I know that you have been doing some research, and I want to know everything I can about him. If I learned anything from 80’s cartoons, it’s ‘Knowledge is Power’.”

“Well, not much is known of him. He is the demon of hatred and is fourth in line for the throne of hell," Eleanor supplied.

“Yeah, but what is his deal. All demons have something they do to twist the world, what does he do?” I longed to understand what I was up against. I just hoped that Eleanor would have more information than what I already knew.

“He turns men against one another, whispers in their ears things that will incite violence. Friend will turn against friend, brother against brother, until the world is covered in blood. His thirst for hate is unquenchable.” Eleanor’s fear shone brightly in her eyes.

“But why this demon? I don’t understand why they didn’t choose another one to come and wreak havoc. There must be something about this one that makes it more appealing.” I settled back against the pillows, mulling over the possible implications of the choice.

“If what you’ve said is true, then the Old One that seeks to bring justice to the world intends to turn those he feels undeserving against one another. Sonneillon only has power over the weak. Those that have broken spirits to begin with will fall prey to him more easily. If it is a cleansing they seek, then this is the demon that will provide.”

“What is the demon’s weakness?” Surely he had to have one. Everything had a weakness.

“In Catholicism, he is believed to be the adversary of St. Stephen. St. Stephen is considered the first Christian martyr.” Eleanor seemed to be regaining her composure as she slipped into what I’d dubbed her professorial role.

“So, in a nut shell, dying for something bigger than myself is the demon’s weakness. Which is why Cait’s sacrifice was its undoing. So this really is my only option, isn’t it?” I looked up into Eleanor’s face, reality finally crashing in on me. I couldn’t breathe.

“Izzy, there has to be some other way," Kennan promised, rushing to my side.

“But there isn’t. I see that now more clearly than I ever have before. This is the prophecy. This is my destiny. No matter how much we might want to change it, we can’t.” My resolve was hardening. I knew that I would do what it took, no matter the cost.

“But we must," Kennan pleaded.

“Eleanor, I need to talk to Kennan alone.” I never took my eyes off of him, I knew that I needed him, and in that moment, he was the most important thing in the world to me.

“Of course, Izzy.” Eleanor got up and exited the room quietly as Kennan and I stayed locked in one another’s eyes.

“We can’t let them win.” Kennan’s eyes misted over.

“If I don’t do this, we will be letting them win. Kennan, the gods, God, whoever the heck is running this madhouse, have spoken. I’ve been told countless times that the answer lies within me, that I must be willing to give of myself to end this. I’m running on borrowed time as it is, my love. I should’ve died months ago, when I freed the Seers. This time is not my own, and now I must pay the price for the time I have taken.”

“I can’t, Izzy. I can’t just let you go. I have to fight, I have to do something.”

“Then fight, help me hold the demon back long enough to do what must be done.” I pulled him down next to me on the bed, longing to be close to him. “Just promise me something.”