See How She Fights (The Chronicles of Izzy #2)(35)

“So, you went with the mark, huh?” Ren asked, stepping toward me.

“Cheese on a cracker! Could you conjure up some bells to put on yourself or something? This ninja stealth business is for the birds,” I said, trying to settle my nerves.

“Don’t be so jumpy. How did you do that anyway?” she asked, looking at my prone form with her sightless eyes. It really creeped me out that she could do that.

“How did I do what?” I asked, staring in the same direction. Interacting with her was so much easier when I didn’t have to look at her the entire time. No matter how much I was getting used to her popping into the dreaming, I still couldn’t get over the sheer amount of gore on her.

“Split yourself like that? Your soul is here, but your body is there and you are still alive,” she said simply.

“Um, I don’t know. I am able to do all sorts of stuff I didn’t know I could. For all I know, I can conjure fireballs in my hands to toss at people. Your guess is as good as mine.”

“Well, I think it is because you are the chosen one.”

“What chosen one? This isn’t The Matrix,” I replied in a hurry.

“I am just pulling your chain, stop getting so worked up. I don’t think you should separate from your body for too long, though. Nothing good comes to a soulless body.” she said, swinging her arms back and forth.

“Any ideas how I can get back?” I asked as we moved to look over Aberto’s shoulder.

“Nope.”

Just as we began to look at my back, Aberto turned and looked me in the eyes. Not the me on the table, but the soul me floating around.

“It is time to return” he said.

“Whoa, that is freaky,” Ren said as I felt my body and soul being reunited. “See you later,” she hollered as I came back into my agony-filled body.

**********

“Aaaaahhhh!” I cried out as tears burst forth from my eyes. My body was racked with more pain than I’d ever before endured. I felt as though my limbs were being stretched in four directions and my back set on fire simultaneously. I whimpered as Aberto paused in his application.

“I am sorry that I had to draw you back, but your soul must be bound to your body for the next part,” he whispered quietly next to my ear. “We are almost finished with the worst of it.”

“How did you see me?” I needed a distraction but the words barely came out a whisper.

“Because, like you, I have many gifts. Now send your pain out into the circle, they are here to help,” he said before returning to my back.

I thought about the pain and tried to send it away from me. It pulsed from me like a shockwave, knocking everyone in the circle to the ground. The moment I released it I felt better but I immediately worried I had hurt everyone else in the process.

“We are fine,” I heard Molly say in my mind.

I heard sounds of chairs being set to right and murmurs as everyone took their place once more. I wondered if that was a normal reaction to the pain sharing thing. Perhaps I had held the pain in for too long. I felt numb now; whatever I’d just done had taken away any trace of pain and replaced it with a sense of comfort.

I lay there as the melody of Aberto working sent me into a state of deep relaxation. I didn’t feel encumbered by the tight seat or my face being trapped. I felt the safest I had felt in a very long time. I allowed that sense of safety to sink into me and merge with every part of my being. I felt well and truly shielded. Just as sleep began to beckon me, Aberto announced we were finished.

**********





CHAPTER FOURTEEN


I lay there a moment, gathering my bearings. I felt different somehow. I knew that something deep in my being had been changed. I sat up slowly, afraid that the pain from earlier would return with movement. Surprised by the lack of pain, I began moving more freely. I tried to look at my back and realized I probably looked about as ridiculous as someone trying to lick their elbow.

“Would you like to see it?” Aberto asked, amusement lacing his voice.

“Yes, please.”

The anticipation built until he handed me a mirror to angle to his own. My entire back was now encompassed by an intricately woven Celtic Shield Knot. I had expected something similar to Kennan’s tattoo. Something masculine and bulky. Instead, I was given the most beautiful piece of artwork I had ever seen. The lines were dainty as they moved in and out of one another, never beginning and never ending.

“It is beautiful,” I gasped. “From the bottom of my heart, Aberto, thank you.” I hopped off of the table and threw my arms around him. Clearly I’d startled him because he almost lost his footing. He waited a moment before placing his arms around me giving me a small squeeze.

“Now, if you feel that it needs to be strengthened you contact me. You can find me in the dreaming if you need me. Just call my name and I will appear,” Aberto said before moving away to melt into the night.

I was startled by Kennan’s approach. I looked up into his face and noticed lines of strain. I wondered if everyone else’s looked the same and as I took in each of my friend’s faces I noticed they bore the same marks.

“I’m so sorry if I hurt any of you,” I said, looking back up to Kennan.

“We’re fine. Whatever you did to knock us all back was a bit more than we had prepared for I think,” Kennan said, steering me towards the outbuilding so that we could gather our clothes from earlier in the night.