See How She Falls (The Chronicles of Izzy #3)(59)

Ian stared down at me, shocked for a moment, before pulling me close to his chest. Things had not been easy for us. We’d been playing the hot then cold game for longer than I could remember, but lately, with the world falling apart, things had changed. With my mom, the traitorous bitch, and his sketchy past, we’d found some sort of bridge. Plus, he’d finally started dressing in a socially acceptable manner. That one still surprised me.

“I just can’t believe he’s gone. Izzy! Where is she?” Ian pulled back, concern etched across his face setting off my lingering handprint nicely.

“Aberto is coming. He said he would explain.” I just hoped he would get there quickly.

“Well, he needs to hurry it up and get here. I need to know, Molly. I have to know what happened to him.” Ian’s voice threatened to break.

“He’s coming, just try and stay calm. Freaking out isn’t going to bring him back. Right now we need to try and keep ourselves together and find out what in the hell is going on first.” I was ever the sensible one in our duo. Really, I’d never had the luxury of allowing my emotions to come out and play. I’d always had to repress everything in order to maintain the status quo.

Just like that Aberto appeared in the room. Instead of the normal withdrawn, cocky expression he tended to wear, there was fear. He looked broken, still covered in the blood from the battle.

“What’s happened?” Ian rushed toward Aberto.

“They’re gone.” Aberto swayed before falling to his knees. “I didn’t protect her.”

“You’re not making any sense. Tell us what’s happened!” I yelled. Hoping to pull him out of his misery long enough to find out what had transpired.

“The battle, I knew he would die. I’ve always known. I told him, and he did what I’d seen him do over and over. He stepped in when Izzy could not move. His death drew her out and then, something happened. I’m not sure. There was a blinding blue light that burned. It ripped through the surroundings, scorching everything in its path. She clung to the demon as the blue light ripped through them both. She was gone.”

“You said she didn’t die. What do you mean she’s gone?” I was getting ready to haul off and slap Aberto. It seemed to be a slapping sort of day. If he didn’t start making some sense I was gonna lose my shit.

“She was gone, but as the light faded, she reappeared. She stood in the center of the scorched field, changed. She isn’t mortal now. She’s something different, and it is my fault.”

“What happened? You aren’t telling us anything!” I shouted, hoping to pull Aberto from his thoughts.

“Kennan, he stepped in to save Izzy and the demon ripped him to pieces as if he were made of mere parchment. Sonneillon threw him to the side like refuse. Something in her changed. She broke when she saw him die. After the demon was gone, she tried to piece Kennan back together. I had to make her sleep. When she finally awoke back at the Order, she was gone. She isn’t Izzy any longer. She cares not what becomes of this world. I’ve taken everything from her, and given her nothing but an accursed existence in return.”

“Where is she?” Ian wrapped a hand in Aberto’s shirt, pulling him to his feet.

“I know not.” Aberto had been broken right along with Izzy. Nothing would ever be the same again if we didn’t find her and bring her home.

“Right, well then, we need to have a talk, you and me," I said to Ian. “And you, stop being a sad sack of suckage and go find our girl. I don’t care how long it takes you. Something isn’t right, and if Izzy needs help, then we are going to help her. She has lost everything to this world, we can’t let her spend the rest of her eternity alone. So go, get moving, find her!” I shooed Aberto, hoping to scoot him off to the plane of the dreaming.

“I do not know where to find her.” Aberto seemed wholly broken.

“You know her. Probably better than anyone else does. Try to think like her, where she might go, who she might reach out to. Get the Old Man gang together if you have to, but you find her. Don’t come back until you’ve at least figured out where she might be. She needs you now, more than ever. She might not know it yet, but it is true. Stop standing here getting your sad all over the place and go.” I gave his shoulder a nudge causing him to nod in ascent.

As he faded from the room I turned my attention toward Ian. The next bit wasn’t going to be easy.

“I know," he said before I could even get the words out of my mouth.

“You know what?” I asked, annoyed at his tone.

“We have to go to the Order. Just so you know, things are different there," Ian sighed, running a hand over his head.

“Ian, I grew up inside of the Corporation, my mother is completely psychotic, and I’ve just been bounced from the Council. I am in no position to judge. Besides, I’ve been in your closet. That much plaid could not have come from anywhere normal," I smiled, hoping to pull Ian from his misery.

“How are you so upbeat right now? Kennan’s dead and Izzy is missing.” Ian seemed perplexed by my attitude. I’d be the first to admit, optimism wasn’t typically my jig.

“I’m channeling Izzy, okay? She wouldn’t let the circumstances stop her, and neither will I. Not until we get her back and she can take over being Suzie Optimist again. Until then, I’m going to keep plowing ahead. If I stop and let the sadness take me down I won’t be any good to her. I’m not letting that girl down! Do you understand me?” I leveled Ian with a steady, unrelenting gaze. It was time we got cracking.