See How She Fights (The Chronicles of Izzy #2)(72)

“I don’t like his interest in you, Izzy. It makes no sense. He has not cared for a single person in his entire existence. He has always sworn to maintain the balance.” Kennan stood towering over me as I pulled my leggings on. “He wouldn’t help us save Cait when he could have. So why is he willing to risk banishment to save you?” The animosity between Kennan and Aberto was finally clear. Kennan blamed him for what had happened all those years ago. He hadn’t saved Cait, but he had me. I couldn’t understand it either.

“I don’t know, Kennan. I know even less than you do.” It wasn’t entirely true, I knew Aberto had feelings for me. But I also knew that Kennan didn’t need to know. Aberto had sworn not to interfere and I believed him. I swallowed deeply and reached my hand out to Kennan. “Let’s get back downstairs.”

Just as I started to walk out of the bathroom Molly came bursting into the room. She stared at me and then looked down at my leg and back up. “They are still there? They haven’t gone away?”

“You know, we could have been indisposed when you came barging in,” I said with a snicker to which she put her hands on her hips.

“Stop deflecting, Izzy. What is going on?”

“Nothing. I’m fine, really, just a few more runes popping up. But it is going to be okay. We will figure this out like we do everything. Don’t worry about me right now. You have enough on your plate. Speaking of, how are you?”

“I keep trying to go kill her, but Ian won’t let me,” Molly grumbled, moving into the room.

“Is there something else that can be done, aside from the death bit? Some form of Seer punishment?” I had an idea forming in my head and wondered if it could be done.

“No, well not in a very long time. There used to be judgments when Seers would go against their calling. Seers would be stripped of their powers. Only an Old One can do it though. And getting them to help is like pulling teeth,” Molly finished as the light bulb lit over her head. “But you have an Old One.”

“First, I don’t have an Old One. What a ridiculous thing to say. Second, I am not even sure he would help,” I mumbled.

“Help with what?” Aberto poofed back in, carrying his leather sack of tattoo pain.

“Cheese on a cracker, could you stop just appearing. Maybe ring a bell or something. Do a loud announcer voice before you appear? You scared me.” I looked over at him trying to catch my breath.

“My apologies. Perhaps I could tie a bell to my person so that you are not so easily startled,” he smiled his crooked smile and moved toward the bedroom door. “Shall we adjourn to the office?”

“Yes,” Kennan said, moving to loop his arm in mine.

“Want to come? I’m getting more tattoos,” I smiled at Molly.

“More? Sheesh, between the runes and your tattoos you will look like a circus attraction. I don’t really have anything else going on. Might as well come along. Maybe I can even get your Old One to agree to help us,” Molly whispered the last in my ear.

“He is not my Old One,” I shouted at her in my head. I knew she could hear it. Apparently so could Aberto because he turned his head back to look at me.

“Told you so,” Molly said in my head.

“What marks will you be giving her today?” Kennan asked Aberto. I hadn’t even thought to question what sort of tattoos I would be receiving. It seemed my trust in Aberto was growing.

“I will be warding her from the dreaming. She won’t be able to be pulled in without her consent.” Aberto opened the door to the office and held it for us to enter.

“Will I be able to see her in the dreaming again, or is that block still in place?” Kennan asked. I had forgotten about him being unable to come and get me out of the dreaming or my visions.

“I fear that is entirely up to Izzy. She is the one blocking you,” Aberto said, pulling his tools from his bag.

“I am not,” I yelped. I had not intentionally done it at any rate.

“Yes, you are. I believe you are subconsciously working to protect your Guardian and you are blocking him out without your knowledge. You must focus your talents, Izzy. If you do not learn to use them, they will use you,” Aberto chided. It looked like I was back to being the petulant child again.

“Well, then teach me what I am doing wrong. Don’t just tell me I am doing it. How do I lift the block?” I asked, moving toward the couch.

“Are you sure you want to?” he asked.

“Yes. Oh, and while I am irritated with you, what is going on with my eyes? Am I going to morph into some creature from the black lagoon?” I furrowed my brows at him. That would show Him of Old-manness.

“What do you mean?” Aberto asked, moving towards me.

“Oh yeah, they are kind of freaky. I didn’t want to say anything, but it is super weird,” Molly said, dropping herself into a chair in the room. I was so glad I could be a source of entertainment for her. The jerk.

Aberto stood over me and tilted my head up so that he could see my eyes.

“What is happening to her?” Kennan asked.

“I do not know,” Aberto said slowly. He stared down into my eyes as if they would reveal to him the answers he sought.

“Well, that’s just peachy,” I sniped. “You are telling me you have no idea what is happening to me? Hasn’t an Old One done the whole life-breathing thing before? I mean, surely you are not the only one.” I pulled myself to a stop when I noticed everyone staring at me. “What?”