See How She Awakens (The Chronicles of Izzy #4)(6)

“I can put her in a sort of stasis.” Aberto moved away from the door, his voice fading toward where I’d left the broken Molly.

“Like a coma?” Ian shouted, his voice following behind Aberto’s.

“Rest well, Izzy. We need you.” Conall’s voice flitted softly through the door before his footsteps led him away.

They want you to give more. Haven’t you done enough? came the darkness.

“I will give them my all before I see her dead.” I promised before sleep pulled me under.



The cemetery loomed before me, the gathering clouds overhead dark and ominous. The moment had come. It was time to face the prophecy, to move forward and save everyone I loved. I’d seen this moment for months, known how it would play out. Just as I’d known a battle raged overhead, a never-ending war that could have no victor.

Uriel had told me what would come if I didn’t fulfill my destiny. I’d seen the vision of Sonneillon as he lay waste to the world around me. Brother turning against brother, their hatred set aflame from within. I knew I had to act, to stop it.

Guardians amassed, preparing to fight the demon as it broke through to our plane. Their forms shifting and changing as they took on the aspect of their lineage. Kennan grew to towering heights, seemingly invincible, a gargantuan creature bent on destruction—a berserker. Surely he would be protected.

The earth shook, pulling my attention to what was coming. The world would never survive if I didn’t fulfill my call. Through the darkness the demon came, surging onto our plane of existence; where it was never meant to roam. I became stone, powerless to move as the darkness washed over me.

Everything moved slowly as the demon made its way in my direction. Still, I couldn’t move. My mind frozen, unable to break the hold the demon had over me. The hatred swirled through my soul. Whispering to me, calling me to bend to its will.

Kennan moved towards the demon, struggling to intercept it. Then it happened. The moment time would never be able to undo. As the demon lifted Kennan from the ground, it ripped outward, pulling Kennan apart.

Kennan was gone. He couldn’t be gone. It couldn’t happen that quickly. Why did he do that? Why did he get in the demon’s way? I was supposed to fall. I was supposed to die, not him.

A fissure ripped through my soul, exposing all I’d been holding back. A power so forceful, it ripped through my corporeal form, shifting me and molding me into something no Seer was ever meant to be. The fire coursed through me as I grew closer to Sonneillon. Everything I’d loved had been taken from me. I had nothing left; the prophecy would be fulfilled. My existence swirled in a maelstrom of blue flames burning ever brighter. As my arms made contact with the demon, it happened. The moment that was spoken of when time began.

But then it stopped. Nothing, no sound, no movement—the moment froze in time. I looked up at the demon and saw something, a skittering cross its eyes, almost a smile. I burned, the flames engulfing us both, but made worse by the darkness that had begun to snake itself around my legs. Surely it would disappear with the demon.

“You cannot defeat me without becoming mine,” Sonneillon’s voice slowly grated through my mind.

“I don’t understand.” Confusion whipped through my mind. I would never allow myself to belong to a demon; especially not one hell bent on hatred and the destruction of all I held dear. My home was decimated, scattered pieces on the ground because of this creature.

“My darkness will consume you. Time is your enemy.” Sonneillon’s grinding laugh ripped through my mind as pain welled within me. My soul felt stretched to the brink before the apex of the implosion ripped all I’d been away.

“NOOOO! NOOO! NO! Come back. It isn’t over. No! What did you mean?” Violent shaking pulled me from the dream. As reality seeped back in, I found Aberto standing over me.

“Don’t touch me. Please.” I skirted away from him, towards the head of the bed, pulling my knees to my chest.

“Izzy, no harm will come to me from your touch. Rest easy.” Aberto’s eyes pleaded with me as he reached a hand toward my face.

“I SAID NO!” Shouting, I sifted myself across the room, away from his reach.

“Why will you not let me touch you?” Aberto’s sorrow cut through me.

He wants to take advantage of you while you are vulnerable. Remember, he just wanted you to himself. He is happy that Kennan is gone. The darkness murmured.

“It isn’t his fault. He would never do that. No, you are wrong!” I murmured, turning to face the wall. The voice was growing stronger with every passing moment.

Something from my dream came rushing forward. The darkness would consume me, time was my enemy.

They never should’ve taken me from the void.

They won’t rest until they’ve taken all you have to give.

“No, you’re wrong. They care about me. You’re wrong.” My voice rose in panic.

Ian doesn’t care about you. He blames you. If Molly dies, he will never forgive you. It will be your fault.

“STOP IT!” Throwing my hands up to clasp my head, I struggled to push the voice away. My fingers tangled in my hair as I gripped tightly, reality beginning to blur. The truth becoming harder and harder to decipher.

“What is this?” Aberto looked at me as though I were a feral animal, ready to attack. His wary glance did nothing to dissuade the panic rising up within me.