See How She Fights

by Michelle Graves

  “Seer, my memories are not for you.” He stood, and moved back to unloading his tools. I looked over to Kennan to find him looking at me quizzically. I shook my head in his direction hoping that he would let it go. “As to your question, no, it will not hurt as bad as last time. It will hurt though. No soul walking this time either. Your soul is what needs to be reinforced.”

  “Can’t you just tattoo my soul? Is that possible?” It seemed like a completely valid question to me.

  “No, the ink must seep into your skin and bond with your soul. It must be placed on both parts of you to maintain the balance.”

  “But the runes are just being burned into my soul aren’t they?” I was not getting them on my physical body until I woke up from wherever I had been.

  “You surprise me,” Aberto said, barely above a whisper.

  “Why?”

  “You grasp things far beyond your years and knowledge stores.”

  “You didn’t answer my question and you are still talking like you are from a bazillion years ago,” I mumbled into the pillow. Maybe if I kept talking I could distract myself from the pain.

  “No, and I will not answer. Now I must concentrate on the task at hand. No more words,” he said before placing the cold metal of the tattooing implement on my back. I winced as the first wave of pain burned through my body. “Remember, embers,” he said calmly.

  I tried to remember the last markings I had received. I pulled myself inward and sought out the place that I felt most at home. I surrounded myself in an imaginary version of our Alabama home. Kennan was in the kitchen cooking as I attempted to plant yet another patch of garden. I allowed the imaginary scene carry me through the pain. My life as it could be. Perhaps my life as it should be. I swallowed that thought back. If I allowed it to seep in it would sow seeds of bitterness in me.

  I wouldn’t choose a life of what ifs. This was the life I chose. I pulled myself back from the farm house and to the present. I would take the pain because I needed it at the moment. I could no longer think back on my life in Alabama. That future was no longer a possibility for me. The sooner I let it go, the sooner I could move forward and fulfill whatever purpose God had for me. The memories would hold me back if I allowed them to. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I said goodbye to the life I longed for. I mourned its loss in the throes of my pain. I didn’t want Kennan to know that I had let go of that future. I knew somewhere inside of him, he held onto the hope that it was still possible. It was enough for me to have him here.

  “It is done,” Aberto said. I wasn’t sure if he was referring to the tattoo or my new resolve. The way he spoke in hidden messages, I could never be sure.

  “What now?” Kennan asked from the corner. He looked at my face and his expression grew concerned. “Are you alright, Red?”

  “Yeah, it just hurt. I’m fine,” I lied. I had learned earlier in the night that giving into my personal whims could be destructive. Kennan and I were fine and I knew we would survive whatever came our way. I just hoped he could adapt to our new future. I was going to have a hard enough time adapting myself.

  “You must get dressed and eat something, then we will prepare you for the ritual. Guardian, I need you to get this Eleanor woman. Izzy said she knew the steps necessary to sever the connection. I would like to look over her notes to ensure that she is correct in her assessments,” Aberto commanded. I stared at Kennan as he clenched his jaw before moving to follow Aberto’s orders. As soon as Kennan left the room, Aberto turned toward me. “Are you sure this is the future you seek?”

  “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. O
r 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.”

  “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.

  “See you soon.” Kennan bent over me and placed a kiss on my forehead. I lay back against the pillows and split myself apart. Aberto was right, it was time.

  **********

  CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

  I stood, looking down at my still body. I looked up to find Kennan kneeling down next to my prone form with my hand tightly clasped in his. I could see the fear in his eyes more clearly than I had before. It did nothing to calm my already unsteady heart. I turned to find Aberto watching Kennan as well.

  “We must go,” Aberto said, reaching for my hand.

  “Before we go anywhere, I need to know what we are doing. No more vague explanations about this. No more secrets. I need everything. Now.” I would not back down from this. I refused to walk into this thing blind.

  “You are going to brand the souls. You asked me before if it was possible to apply a mark just to someone’s soul. The answer is yes. Before you question why I did not do this to you, you must understand that this is a dark magic. It requires the person inflicting the marks to sacrifice a portion of their spirit. You are right in wanting to know what is coming. We are asking a great deal of you. If you go through with this, there will be unfixable damage done to your soul.”

  Aberto eyed me steadily waiting for me to freak out.

  “What kind of damage are we talking about? Will I end up in hell if I do this?” I could not see the God I loved so much punishing me for trying to save these girls.

  “Nothing quite so dramatic. Your soul will be weakened. Part of the energy that creates you must be used to break this bond. T
herefore, your soul is left open to more attacks. I strengthened your protection mark so you should not be in any immediate danger. I will also be there to make sure no harm comes to you.”

  “Why can’t you do this? You seem to know everything that needs to be done. I don’t understand what you need me for.” It was something that had been bugging me since he said he would help.

  “I am not like you Izzy. I have no ties to the mortal world.” He paused for a moment looking at me steadily, “That is not entirely true. I have not had ties to the mortal world for hundreds of years. Now, it seems, things are shifting.” He moved towards me slowly and put his body as close to mine as space would allow. He reached his hand up to my cheek slowly and looked down into my eyes. “If I could do this for you I would. If I could protect you from your fate, I would. The most I am permitted to do is guard you and keep you so that you may live on to fulfill your purpose. Now, we must hurry, Izzy. Take my hand.”

  I was left speechless. Whatever Aberto was, he wasn’t quite human. I had known it for a long time, but hearing it confirmed from his mouth was a bit unnerving. Even though I was unsure of his motives, I knew he spoke the truth. I could count on him to keep me safe. I reached my hand out and grabbed the hand that was not still cradling my face.

  “Okay,” I sighed. It was time. I glanced back to Kennan as we tunneled away into the dreaming.

  The pressure built up inside my soul, causing me to feel as though I was being ripped in half. By the time we came to a stop, I fell to my knees. I had never been nauseous in the dreaming before. This was a new one for me.

  “It gets easier,” Aberto promised before pulling me back to my feet. “We must find Ren and the other Seers. Once they have been marked, we can move on to Xavier.”

  “Is Isadora already here? Have they gotten to her already?” I needed to prepare myself. It would be hard enough to see her looking like Ren, but to see it and not be expecting it would be unbearable.