See How She Fights (The Chronicles of Izzy #2)(8)

“We’ll find her, Molly. Kennan said that several members of the council have been out looking for her for quite some time. Right now, let’s worry about your hair. I am thinking a deep chestnut brown. What do you think?” I asked as we made our way to the store down the street.

“I think I still want to kill him, slowly,” Molly griped.

“I think that our dear, sweet Ian is like that boy on the playground, pulling your pigtails,” I said with an arched brow.

“You do realize I have no idea what you are talking about, right? I was raised in the Corporation.”

“Right, well in elementary school, when a boy likes you, he pulls your hair. Or he is just generally mean to you,” I said, like a well-informed documentarian.

“Not funny, Izzy. I am leaving the romantic entanglements to you and Kennan. I don’t have time for that. Besides, I hate him. Like, hate him, hate him. The Corporation, or Ian, if forced to choose, I may just go back to the Corporation. I honestly don’t know which of the two is worse,” she grumbled.

“You know which one is worse. Don’t lump Ian in with them. I love you Molly, but he deserves better than that. Even if he did turn you into a rainbow cheetah.”

“I know. I am just so stressed with everything. He doesn’t understand that I don’t operate like you. I need calm and space, not hijinks and pandemonium. He thinks that he can pull me out of my depression by making me laugh. I just need to be sad for a while. I don’t really think there is anything wrong with that. She is my mom. She might have been a horrible one, but she is the only one I have,” Molly said as tears started to gather in her eyes.

I could feel her loss keenly. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her into a hug. I realized how foolish I had been. I should have been there for her instead of being wrapped up in my romantic bliss. I felt like someone had punched me in the gut.

“I should have been here for you more. I am sorry for abandoning you to Ian. But you have to know that he cares and that is the only reason he is doing the stupid stuff he is. I’ll talk to him. Maybe I can get him straightened out.”

We walked into the drug store and made our way to the meager hair dye selection. I held up multiple boxes to her face until we decided on a brownish red color. It was dark enough to cover the colorful disaster without turning her into a Goth wannabe. We walked up to the counter and made our purchase. As we headed out the door Molly started in on the questions. I knew I couldn’t fool her.

“So, what is really going on, Izzy? You didn’t come all this way for a social visit. Spill it,” Molly said, sounding more like herself.

“I’ve been having dreams again. They are becoming more frequent. When I told Kennan he freaked and made me call Isadora. I can’t explain it. I feel like there is something bad coming though. Something worse than what happened before.” As the words left my mouth I realized it would be worse than before. Whatever was coming our way carried with it a darkness the likes of which I had never seen before.

Just as the words finished leaving my mouth I was sucked into a vision. Molly moved us to a bench knowing exactly what was about to happen. I was grateful she had not let me face-plant on the sidewalk. With that, my awareness slipped away completely.

**********

I was looking over a barren landscape. I had seen this place before. This was the Badlands. Why in the world was I standing in the middle of the Badlands? I looked around and saw a man standing off in the distance as if he were waiting for someone. Slowly I made my way over to where he stood. I hid myself behind one of the rock formations, trying to be as silent as possible. I wasn’t sure if he could see me or not. I wouldn’t risk it.

When I finally got a closer look, my breath caught in my throat and my legs threatened to give way. My heart beat quickly as I looked upon the man that had haunted my nightmares for so long. My eyes refused to believe what they were seeing. Xavier was there, in absolute perfect health. Was this the past? Was it the future? Why didn’t these stupid visions come with a date and time stamp?

A hazy figure appeared and moved towards Xavier. I could tell it was a woman, but beyond that I could not see anything. It was as if she was shielded from me. I could hear her and I could tell where she was, but beyond that, all of my senses were dulled. She approached Xavier and began talking in a voice that was somehow familiar to me. I couldn’t place it.

“Hello again, Xavier. How are our plans coming?” she purred.

“Everything is coming together nicely. The Chicago base is almost completely set up. Are you keeping up your end of the bargain?” he asked, unaffected by her tone.

“Oh, of course I am. I wouldn’t want to disappoint you. You have given me everything I could ever want. My only desire is to please you,” she said with the same syrupy tone.

“Excellent, then make sure everything is set to bring in the other Seers. I expect you to be there and act as my right hand. Do you understand?” Xavier’s tone brooked no opposition.

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” she said as she rubbed a blurred hand down his chest. He stood as still as a statue. The look on his face spoke of tolerance without a trace of pleasure. He did not enjoy her attentions, whoever she was.

The figures disappeared into thin air as I was ripped back to the present.

**********

“Izzy, what the hell? Are you okay? What happened?” Molly’s barrage of questions was giving me a headache.