See How She Fights (The Chronicles of Izzy #2)(57)

“Please do me the courtesy of staying the heck out of my head. You don’t like it when I try and tromp around in yours. What makes you think you have the right to know any of what I just thought?” I looked at him heatedly as I gathered the blanket around me. I wrapped myself up and moved to my suitcase, grabbing clothes on my way to the bathroom.

“My apologies. You are right to be angry. It will not happen again,” Aberto said as his blue eyes clouded over with a mixture of anger and helplessness. It was a strange thing to see such a strong man look so defeated but I would not waver in my resolve. I didn’t know what his motives were. Why he held such a vested interest in me was a complete mystery. Even more so, I was unsure what made me want to confess everything to the man. Deep down, I was always fighting to keep myself from him. It scared the pants right off of me.

“See that it doesn’t,” I said, slamming the bathroom door. I knew that anger was the only way to keep myself in check.

My back felt completely fine by the time I got into the bathroom. I looked at it in the mirror trying to see if it looked any different and noticed a few extra lines swirling within my tattoo. It looked as though it were almost a living thing. I blinked my eyes, trying to focus and realized that it was actually moving. I was eternally grateful that I couldn’t feel the movement. That would have seriously skeeved me out.

I got dressed slowly, trying to wait until Kennan returned before making my exit. I didn’t want to be alone with Aberto. There were too many unanswered questions where he was concerned and the fact that Kennan didn’t like him set me on edge. Kennan liked everyone. I realized I was being a coward and left the confines of the bathroom.

**********





CHAPTER TWENTY ONE


I walked out to find Aberto sitting in a chair. His bag was nowhere to be seen. I walked past him and was pulled to an abrupt stop as he ensnared my hand.

“I am sorry, Izzy.” He looked up at me with those stormy-sea eyes and I swallowed back my angry remark. I could see the remorse written in his eyes.

“Please, just don’t anymore. Respect that some things are not meant for you to see and I will do the same for you.” I pulled my hand from his grasp and moved to sit down as the door opened.

Kennan walked in with a worn Eleanor close behind. She looked over at Aberto for a moment before turning her head back to me.

“Is there any hope?” she asked me. I knew she wanted to know if I had figured out how to make myself soul walk. I hadn’t seen her since the previous morning.

“She will be able to do what you ask of her. May I see your findings?” Aberto stood, towering over Eleanor. She held out an old piece of parchment with a shaking hand.

“This is all I have been able to find. I believe it will work.” she looked to me and back to Aberto. “So, it is her.”

“We don’t know that,” Kennan said quickly. I stared at the three of them and knew that they were referring to the prophecy I had yet to find. There really wasn’t enough time in my day. If people could stop trying to take over the world, or maybe other people could stop revealing cryptic possible prophecies, or maybe if one would just happen singularly, that would be super.

“Ritual, breaking the bond ceremony, focus people,” I said. As much as I wanted to know what in the heck everyone was going on about, I wanted to put a stop to Xavier and Molly’s mom even more.

“You are absolutely right, I am so sorry dear,” Eleanor said, patting my hand as she sat next to me.

“It appears you have the right ritual. I will walk you through the steps, Izzy. In this you will find the answer to your question from earlier.” Aberto leveled me with his gaze. Gone were the warring emotions from earlier. Now a warrior looked back at me. I inwardly cowered at the resolve shining in his eyes.

“Yea,” I squeaked. I really did not do well in stressful situations. I thought back to last year when I had been kidnapped. I had kind of snapped then as well. Maybe my reactionary system was off-line. I should get that checked. Maybe that head-shrinker from last year was still around somewhere.

“We should eat first. If we don’t, she won’t have the strength to do anything.” Kennan reached out and grabbed my hand pulling me up from the bed. As I stood the bandage on my leg pulled causing me to wince. Everyone paused staring at me.

“I’m fine. Really. Totally and completely good. Did someone mention food?” All of the serious stares were starting to give me a migraine. Or was it the lack of sleep? Maybe it was the tattoo currently doing a jive on my back.

“I hear the chef is making biscuits and gravy this morning,” Eleanor said a little too cheerfully. Seemed she didn’t do well with stress either. I entwined my other hand in hers. I wondered at her strength.

“How are you doing, Eleanor?” I asked. She looked taken aback by my question.

“Fine, why do you ask?” She seemed genuinely confused by my interest.

“Well, you’ve been through a lot with your daughter and then Isadora. Then there is the whole you tirelessly researching old documents thing. I just want to make sure you’re okay.” She was the only Seer I had left to help guide me through whatever the future may hold. Well, the only Seer with any experience that I knew I could trust.

“I am managing,” she said squeezing my hand. “Thank you.”