See How She Fights (The Chronicles of Izzy #2)(65)

I closed my eyes and let my thoughts drift me away to the dreaming. I hoped it would no longer feel unsafe. I needed the rest.

**********

“Izzy?” I heard Ren’s voice. It was far more timid than I’d ever heard her before.

I turned and wanted to cry. She was whole once more. No more runes, no more gore, and no empty eye sockets. She shouldn’t have been here though. She should have been freed. Had I done something wrong?

“Izzy, calm down,” Ren said, more her old self.

“Why aren’t you gone?” I asked, wide-eyed.

“I was permitted to linger so that I could deliver a message. Well, two really. The first one is thank you. I didn’t think you had it in you, but I am pleasantly surprised. You came through for us, Izzy. I, well, I know I was kind of horrid to you, but well…you understand,” Ren looked down at her feet for a moment before throwing herself at me. She wrapped her arms tightly around my shoulders and I squeezed her back.

“What was the second part of this message, Ren?” I pulled back to look in her eyes. She had beautiful brown eyes that were filled with tears.

“It is too horrible. I don’t want to tell you,” she said, looking away.

“Tell me, Ren.”

“The darkness is coming and if you don’t stop it, all will be lost. This is your purpose, this is your command,” she said as she was pulled away toward a blinding light.

“What is coming?” I yelled at her fleeting form.

“That’s all I can say,” Ren yelled back through tears. “Be well, sister,” I heard her say before she disappeared and the light faded leaving me alone.

I wandered the fog for a moment and let it swirl around my legs. I wanted to disappear into it. I wanted to fade away and not be called to some higher purpose. I felt something staring at me and stopped. I turned and looked into the fog where I felt the eyes. Standing there was a man dressed in a crimson robe. All I could make out was his mouth which was twisted in an eerie smile.

“Who are you?” I yelled.

“You shall soon see,” he replied before fading into the fog. I ran to where he had been standing moments before. I felt like I was blindly searching.

“What do you want from me?” I screamed through tears.

“All,” I heard echoing around the fog. I pulled myself from the dreaming.

**********

“Did you sleep well?” Kennan asked against my hair.

“Yeah.” I breathed slowly trying to calm myself.

“You okay?” Kennan pulled back to look into my face.

“Really, I promise, I’m fine. I just had a bad dream is all,” I lied. I didn’t want him to be afraid for me. More than anything, I wanted to be back at the Council building. I felt a sharp pain coming from my side and I knew that when I got back, there would be a rune there. I wondered if I could get Conall to patch me up without Kennan knowing.

“Conall?” I sounded a little shaky even to my own ears.

“Yes, Milady?” Freaking Milady. One Guardian I don’t know in the car and he is all “Milady” again.

“I need to speak with you in private when we get back. I have a message from your mother.” At least it was the truth. She had asked me to pass along a message for her.

“Is all well, Milady?” he asked slowly.

“Yes,” I said, looking up to find Kennan eyeing me steadily. I knew he wasn’t completely buying it, but for once he was not going to push.

“I will wait for you in our room,” Kennan said evenly as we pulled up the driveway.

“I won’t be long. Promise,” I smiled up at him and unbuckled myself trying not to wince in the process.

“See that you aren’t,” he said, full of promises. Too bad I would be busy hiding runes all night and wouldn’t be able to take him up on any of those promises.

“Shall we, Milady?” Conall bowed, holding open my door for me.

“I suppose,” I winced as I stood up and moved toward the house.

“Are you okay, Iz?” Kennan rushed over to stand next to me.

“Fine, just tired. Promise,” I smiled up into his eyes.

“Don’t keep her long,” Kennan said to Conall before heading toward the stairs.

“I won’t,” Conall looked at me like he wasn’t buying it. He would find out the truth soon enough.

“Can we get this over with?” I moved toward the office and away from the ruckus in the rest of the house.

As we went I saw a bloodied Elaine being pulled downstairs by Ian. His face was etched in anger as he dragged her along. Molly stood at the top of the stairs looking down at her mother with no hint of emotion. I wanted to go to her, I wanted to be the friend she needed right now. The pain in my side burned hotter. I looked back to Elaine to find her smiling wickedly at me before she disappeared down the stairs.

I moved into the office and toward the couch. I lowered myself down slowly as Conall came in and shut the door.

“What are you hiding from him, Izzy?” Conall moved towards me with determination.

“I need your help and I need you to swear secrecy to me until tomorrow. I promise I will tell him everything tomorrow.” I gazed into Conall’s face, hoping that he would do this for me.

“Why not tonight, Izzy?”