See How She Fights (The Chronicles of Izzy #2)(58)

“Well, it is for purely selfish reasons, you know? I need your help figuring all of this stuff out.” I smiled at her causing her to break into the first smile I had seen light her face. She may have been quite old but she was still stunningly beautiful.

“Food,” Kennan said, pulling me down the stairs behind him.

“It appears your Guardian is hungry,” Aberto said from my side.

“He is always hungry,” I snickered.

We moved down the stairs to the dining room and sat down to the promised biscuits and gravy. I knew that he’d probably made them for me. Everyone seemed aware of my likes and dislikes. Things seemed to be shifting to suit my needs since Isadora’s departure. It weirded me out, having all of these people working so hard to make me happy. I sat there eating and trying not to think of the people counting on me to lead them. I felt queasy as the weight of the responsibility fully settled on my shoulders.

“You shall endure,” Aberto said. I glared at him. “It is written on your face. I did not pry,” he said calmly.

“Still prying. If I don’t say it out loud it is off-limits. Understood?” I asked, taking an angry bite of my gravy soaked biscuit. This was the second breakfast I had eaten angrily. Poor breakfast, it didn’t deserve such a fate.

“What’s going on, Izzy?” Kennan looked between Aberto and I trying to figure out what sort of secrets we shared. Which were honestly none.

“I’m freaking out over the whole leading the Council thing. Totally normal. I will be fine in a minute.” I shoveled another bite in my mouth and glowered at Aberto.

“You still have a choice, you know?” Kennan asked. Right then I knew for sure he was still holding on to our future in Alabama. The future that could never be.

“I know,” I replied. Now was not the time to confront him about it. I needed to get back on task and stop what was happening now.

**********

We finished eating and made our way to the office. It seemed a much better meeting place than our room. There was more space at least. As Aberto entered, he shut the door behind him and motioned for me to take up residence on the couch once more.

“I will be coming onto the other plane with you this time. Eleanor will make sure no harm comes to your body.” Aberto looked to Eleanor and Kennan to make sure they were in agreement with his plan.

“Are you positive she is ready for this? If any harm comes to her, I will hold you responsible. Any oath I swore will be broken.” Kennan’s hackles were up and I couldn’t begin to understand what sort of oath he was talking about.

“Do not toss your words around so lightly, Guardian. That oath cannot be broken. You know she is ready. She was created for this.” Aberto’s tone was filled with reproach.

“So be it,” Kennan said, moving towards me. He lowered himself down and kissed my forehead lightly. “Be safe, Red. Don’t do anything reckless.”

“Wait, this is just the practice, right?” I looked up at Kennan, my eyes filled with fear.

“Tell her,” Kennan said, moving to stand.

“No, you will only have one shot at doing what must be done. If you go in more than once, you will be discovered. So, this is it,” Aberto said.

“But, I thought this was just a practice. You people led me to believe we were just doing a dry run.” I was starting to freak out.

“Calm yourself, Seer,” Aberto scolded, causing me to get angry.

“You calm yourself, Old Man. I don’t even know what I’m supposed to be doing. What if I mess this up?” I sat up and dropped my head between my bent knees.

“I will be with you every step of the way,” Aberto promised.

“I thought I had to do this on my own,” I mumbled from between my legs.

“You must be the one to perform the ritual, it does not follow that you must do so alone,” Aberto said as he knelt down beside the couch. “I will not leave you, I swear it.”

I looked up at Kennan. The concern on his face did nothing to ease my unsteady nerves. I looked to Eleanor and she looked equally as terrified. Hadn’t someone given them a pamphlet on pep talks or preparing Seers for soul espionage? I was pretty sure they should look calmer. The only person in the room that had a semblance of ease about them was Aberto. I looked back at him and breathed deeply.

“Alright, then. Better get it over with. If something goes wrong, just know I love you, Kennan,” I said before lying back against the pillows once more.

“Nothing better go wrong,” Kennan said in Aberto’s direction.

“I will protect her, Guardian. I swear it.” Aberto bowed his head toward Kennan before turning back to me. “It is time.”

“Wait, what about raiding the factory? Shouldn’t we be doing that at the same time?”

I was not sure that this half-cocked plan would succeed if we didn’t hit from all fronts simultaneously.

“No. We must first ensure the Seers have been separated from Xavier. If you do not succeed in this first, then all else will be for naught. Once we are sure that the ritual has produced results, we will return. They will have a more precise area to target once we have finished,” Aberto said calmly. “Now, no more delays. It is time,” he said as he faded from my eyes.

“See you soon?” I looked at Kennan and my stomach dropped. I was terrified to do this without him. I didn’t even know what it was I was supposed to do. When this was done I was having a long chat with everyone about keeping things from me. I wanted answers and I would not take no for an answer. Kennan, Conall, and Aberto all had some explaining to do.