See How She Fights (The Chronicles of Izzy #2)(17)

**********

“Psst. Hey, stupid,” I heard someone whisper from the fog.

“Excuse me?” I asked, insulted that someone was being so rude in my dream.

“Come here you loon. He is going to hear me if I keep shouting,” the woman said.

“Where are you?” I whispered harshly.

“Just follow my humming,” she said before starting to hum a tune.

“Why can’t you just come to me?” I was beyond irritated. I had not slept well in ages and this little tart wanted to play games. I just wanted to dream in peace for one evening.

“I can’t, you moron. You will see why if you ever get over here,” she said before continuing to hum. I gave up and tried to find her. I finally made head way and the humming grew louder. As the fog parted around her figure I saw a woman standing with her back to me. She was clad in a white dress and had runes carved down each of her arms. I knew before she turned why she couldn’t see me.

“Who are you?” My heart was pounding in my chest as I waited for her to turn and face me. I knew what horror awaited me. I knew where her eyes should be there would be two gaping chasms.

“You should know, you held my file earlier today. It sucks knowing when you are going to die and not being able to do anything about it, by the way. So, I figured if I was going to be stuck in this stupid place bored out of my skull, I might as well do what I could to help you. You know, so you can get me unstuck,” she said, waving her hands about like it was obvious.

“Okay, but how are you… I mean, what do you…” I was so confused. This must have been just a normal dream. Surely I was not talking to an eyeless Seer that happened to also be rude.

“Would you spit it out already? They said you were supposed to be smart. I am starting to doubt my chances of getting out of this place,” she sniped.

“Okay, I think I’ve got this,” I said as much to myself as her. I took a deep breath trying to regain my balance. “Do you know who killed you?”

“Don’t you think that would have been the first thing I told you? You aren’t the sharpest tool in the shed are you?”

“If you would stop insulting me for five seconds, maybe I could catch up. Cheese on a cracker, what is your problem?”

She motioned up and down with her hands and I realized suddenly my question had been quite insensitive.

“Sorry,” I mumbled. “What do you remember? You said that you knew you were going to die, so you must have had a vision.”

“I remember seeing a foggy woman figure. She had crazy eyes. That is all I could make out. Well, before she gouged out my eyes that is. When the actual dying happened, I didn’t know what was happening. Don’t get me wrong, I felt every second of the pain. I think I was poisoned with some sort of paralytic,” she mumbled, swinging her arms back and forth.

“Was there more than one person there or just the foggy woman?” I asked hurriedly. I felt the dreaming start to fade.

“Shit, he is here. Have to run,” she said before darting off into the fog.

“More shall fall,” I heard Xavier whisper from the fog before I was ripped from the dreaming.

**********

I woke up, drenched in a cold sweat with Kennan pinning down my arms. Ian was standing off in the corner with a worried expression on his face. I looked over to find Conall standing in the other corner, looking more irritated than concerned.

“Why do we have such a crowded room?” I asked, looking skeptically at our audience.

“Because you would not come out of the dreaming and you locked out your dear Guardian. He freaked out and brought us in to try and pull you out. But, alas, you gave us the boot as well. You are a lot stronger than I gave you credit for, lass,” Conall said.

“Shut it, Eye Patch,” I threw in his direction before locking gazes with Kennan. I heard Ian snicker in the corner. “I’m fine, can we have the posse leave now please?” I pleaded with my eyes. I really didn’t like the idea of them seeing me naked. I was just grateful that Kennan had pulled the covers over my body before letting them in.

“Brother, it would seem our service is no longer needed,” Conall said toward Ian.

“Alright, let’s bounce, Eye Patch,” Ian snickered before throwing his arm over Conall’s shoulder. “See ya later, Pip Squeak,” he threw in my direction before dragging an irritated Conall from the room. I would probably pay for the new nickname later.

“What was that?” Kennan asked as the door closed.

“What, it was just a nickname. I didn’t mean to upset him.” I was confused by his tone.

“Not the damned name, Izzy. You locked me out of your head. Why did you do that? I couldn’t get in to pull you back.” He ran his hand down his face in frustration, finally getting off of me.

“I didn’t even know that I was doing it. For all I know, it wasn’t me that blocked you out. Xavier was there and the dead Seer, so it could’ve been either of them.” I didn’t like the thought of him being unable to come in and pull me back from the insanity. It scared the pants off of me. Not that I was wearing pants at the moment. Where were my pants?

“What do you mean the dead Seer was there? Which one? What did Xavier say? Is he still alive? Did you find out what is happening?” He bombarded me with questions one after another. My tired brain tried to keep up but failed miserably.