See How She Falls (The Chronicles of Izzy #3)(52)

“Izzy, there is something I feel I should tell you.” Aberto looked pained, as if the words were stuck.

“Nothing you can say will make this any different. This is the end, and I’ve accepted that. There is no sense in dwelling on it. So promise me, promise you will help them.”

“I will do your bidding until the end of my days, Izzy.” Aberto pulled me closely against his skin. It was the first time he’d embraced me when I wasn’t in the process of trying to die. It was strangely comforting.

“We need to get moving. We don’t have much more time.” I pulled away from him and moved the rest of the way towards the sitting room where everyone was waiting.

I walked in and everyone’s eyes shifted toward me. I knew it was time to put on my leader pants and be strong. If I failed now, everyone in this room would eventually fall. Personally, I felt that one person’s fall was more than enough.

“We need to find a place to make a stand. Somewhere in the open that will be easy to defend. I will need help getting close to the demon, which means that any of you Guardians with extra talents will have to transform, morph, suit-up, whatever you call it. In my vision, it always happens somewhere near an abandoned church. It is crumbling in the background and the gravestones are worn from years of exposure. Do any of you know where this might be?”

“The church, on the edge of the swamp. No one has been there in years. It’s super creepy," Sena supplied. Everyone turned toward her at her last remark. “What? It is," she huffed.

“Okay, well that is where we need to be. So, what can we do to make that happen? Do y’all have a pontoon boat hanging around somewhere? Is there a trail we can take? How long will it take to get there?” I needed to keep moving, it was working. No stopping now.

“Slow down, Izzy. We will figure this all out. First, we must prepare the Guardians.” My aunt reached for my hand.

“I don’t have time to slow down and neither do any of you. It is coming, I can feel it move closer with every breath I take. If we do nothing, if we do not act soon, all of this struggle will be for nothing. Don’t make everything I’ve gone through over the past few years be for nothing. Y’all have an hour to get marked and then we are moving. I’m tired of waiting for my destiny to catch up with me. I would rather go out and face it head on.”

“I will do the markings," Aberto said, slipping out of existence only to pop back in moments later with his tattooing implements.

“Izzy, can I talk to you for a moment?” Kennan pulled me to the side of the room, away from everyone’s prying eyes.

“What is it?” I asked, afraid to truly look him in the eyes.

“When this change comes, I won’t be myself. I don’t remember who I truly am. The rage takes over, and all I can see is destruction. I don’t want your last memories of me to be that.” Kennan looked pained. I knew how much he hated turning into the beasty, but I also knew that we needed him.

“We need you, Kennan. I know who you are. I know what you really are. In all of your many forms, I know that you love me. I know that you will do what needs to be done to help stop this. So, please, for me, do this," I begged.

“Just remember, this is not who I truly am.”

“I know, Kennan. Just like Conall isn’t really a wolf.” I looked up into his eyes, trying to convey that I understood.

“Well, he is kind of like a wild animal.” Kennan smiled in Conall’s direction. Aberto was working on his mark as we watched.

“It’s time, Kennan. We can’t keep delaying. I’m ready. You have to let me go," I whispered so that only Kennan could hear.

“I will never be able to let you go, but I will let you do what you feel you must. I’m not going to hold you back, not anymore," Kennan promised, pulling me close.

“I love you, big guy.” I breathed in the smell of him, letting it soothe my anxious soul.

“Love you more, Red," he muttered, hugging me tightly. He placed a gentle kiss on the top of my head, bringing back a thousand memories in the process.

I pulled away, turning my back toward Kennan as I moved out of the room. Staying there would weaken my resolve. They didn’t need me for the markings, so I sought the comfort of the swamp. I walked towards the doors, thinking back on the past few years and wondering at how much my life had changed. The dense swamp air greeted me like a wet blanket as I moved outside. I walked to the edge of the water and stared down, wondering at how easy it would be to end everything now. I wouldn’t have to suffer any longer.

“Do not let the darkness win.” My aunt’s voice drew me from my thoughts. “You are too strong to let that happen.”

“I’m not strong at all," I replied honestly.

“You were chosen for a reason.” I turned toward my aunt, and I realized she was channeling someone else.

“Uriel?”

“You are quite astute. The time is coming. You must be there," the angel’s voice called out.

“How will I know what to do?” I was terrified that I wouldn’t be enough. That when the time came, I would fail.

“Things will unfold as they must, and you will react. Do not think about what you must do, for you will know when the time comes. Be brave, Izzy. The world needs you in these coming hours.” Uriel seemed to believe in me, which made me all the more nervous.