See How She Fights (12 page)

I began to flip through the papers
in the folder devouring each and every word as I went. I sat there for hours
reading everything I could. I was startled out of my concentration by a hand
resting on my shoulder.

“You have been in here for hours,
Izzy. Let’s get you fed.” Kennan moved around the couch to crouch in front of
me. As soon as he was eye level he pulled me towards him and placed a fiery kiss
on my lips.

“What was that for?” He left me
breathless.

“I needed to get your attention. I
know you, Izzy. If it were up to you, you would stay in here all day until each
and every bit of what is in that folder is inside your head. You have to take
care of yourself or you will be useless to Isadora and everyone else involved
in this thing,” Kennan said, brushing his thumb down my cheek. I knew he was
right, but I also knew I needed to know everything I could about what was
happening if I was to stop it.

“Can food be brought in here?” I
looked back at the pile of papers I had strewn about me. I had not even
realized I was doing it until now. I looked down and saw a pattern in the
papers. Something that I had not noticed before. The runes were carved in a different
order on each of the Seers arms. They rotated the order for each one. Four
Seers had been found dead with runes carved on them thus far. If my hunch was
right there would be two more Seers and Isadora making a seventh. I gasped.

“What is it, Izzy?” Kennan’s voice
raised an octave as though preparing himself for some sort of attack.

“I think I know what is happening.
What they are using this sacrifice for. I need to see Eleanor.” I got up and
started to make my way to the door before Kennan pulled me to a stop. His large
body grazed the contours of my back causing me to pull in a breath.

“I will get her. You stay here
where I know you are safe. I am sending in Ian and Conall as well. I will not
take the risk of you being lost to us. To me,” he said as he moved past me and
out the door.

I moved back to the couch and tried
to arrange everything that had happened in my head. According to Eleanor’s
research, the runes all had a meaning. There were six carved on the arms and
one on the chest. I knew that the vision I’d had of Xavier earlier was a clue.
Whatever was being done, he wanted it done more quickly. If we wanted to stop
whatever was happening we had to act soon. Looking back over the photos of the
other Seers I knew I was right. Two more would be taken and Isadora would be
sacrificed as the vessel. The symbol on the center of each chest linked them to
one another as vessels. As my thoughts swirled in my head, I heard a commotion
out in the hall by the office. I arose as Molly came bursting through the
doors.

“He told me I couldn’t come, but I
told him to shove it,” Molly snapped towards Ian.

“I don’t want you involved if you
don’t have to be, Molly. You are about to turn twenty-five. You do realize that
every Seer that has been taken has just come of age, don’t you? So please, for
once, help to keep me sane,” Ian pleaded with her.

“I have something that needs to be
said, something that I have avoided telling you because I don’t want my
suspicions to be founded. I don’t want to be right. I can teach you how to
break through the fog on the woman. If she is who I suspect she is, well I
just…,” Molly approached me slowly. She reached out and handed me a piece of
paper that had symbols written on it with instructions of how to break through
a veil.

“Who do you think it is, Molly?” I
wondered if she suspected the same thing I had earlier. The thing I had not
allowed myself to even dwell on.

“If it is her, then I will tell you
all I know,” she said before turning to leave. I breathed in heavily as Eleanor
was brought into the room with Conall and Kennan.

**********

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“Eleanor, you said you believe that
the sacrifice was of Druid origins. Do you still believe that?” I asked, hoping
that the answer would be yes.

“Yes, and I have found which
sacrifice I think it may be. If all of the elements are correct then this is a
health sacrifice.” She lowered herself into the chair across from me as I
digested the information she had just given me.

“So these sacrifices are being used
to bring health to someone else, is that what you are telling me? Could this
someone be near the point of death? Could these sacrifices bring that someone
back?” I leaned forward, staring intently at Eleanor. I needed to know. I
longed to finally have my suspicions confirmed.

“Yes,” Eleanor met my eyes and
confirmed everything I had feared.

“So, he isn’t dead then?” Kennan
said, startling me. I had forgotten that Eleanor and I were not alone.

“No. I knew, but was not positive.
Wherever he is, he can only communicate in the dreaming. I’ve been thinking
about the symbols on the arms and the one on the torso. After going through
Isadora’s notes, I have found some information on each of the symbols being
used. Do you mind confirming my findings, Eleanor? You have more experience
with this sort of thing than I do.” I flipped through the scattered papers
until I found the list of symbols I’d given to Eleanor days before. Except
these were in Isadora’s handwriting with her notes. “So the Fehu is the rune of
wealth, Uruz the symbol of health and life force, Kenaz is the symbol of
knowledge, Gebo that of sacrifice, Hagalaz symbolizes destruction in order for
rebirth, and lastly Laguz forms a psychic link. Is that all correct?”

“You have forgotten the Perthro
symbol on the chests,” Conall said as he made his way around the couch to look
at the paper in my hands.

“No, I haven’t I just want to
confirm the others first. Is that what they all mean Eleanor?”

“Yes. The symbols are being used in
the negative though. They are being carved so that the positive properties of
each are being taken from the person being sacrificed. The last, the Perthro
symbol is the symbol of the vessel.”

With that every doubt I’d had
dissipated.

“So these Seers are being linked to
one another psychically and physically? They intend to use Isadora to unite the
others, don’t they?” I stood up and began to pace the space between the
furniture. I had to find a way to stop them before he came back. The world did
not need him in it. I intended to make sure he stayed gone this time. I just
had to find out where they were first.

I had a feeling I’d caught a
glimpse of it in my vision earlier. That factory was important. If I could
force myself into the vision, perhaps I would be able to figure out where it
was. I paced as everyone around me began chattering about what they thought we
should do. I looked down at my arm, still bandaged from the rune, and wondered
if it would disappear when this all ended. More importantly, I wondered if Ren
and the other Seers would be released from the dreaming plane.

“What is your plan, Milady? What
would you have us do?” Conall bowed deeply.

“Would you stop with the bowing
already?”

“Yeah, Eye Patch. Remember what she
said earlier?” Ian elbowed him in the ribs as he passed. “But really, what do
you want us to do, Shorty?”

“Molly gave me a way to see through
the woman’s veil. I think the first thing I need to do is get into the dreaming
and call on the Symbol-smith. He should be able to help me with the ceremony I
need to break through her blocks. Then I am going on a mission to find out
where they are. Your mom may have said this is what needs to happen, but I am
not going to bow down and let it just transpire. In everything there is a
choice. I choose to kill Xavier again. I choose to end this once and for all
before another Seer suffers. I will not allow this to continue. The fates be
with me or against me, this is the course I am set on.” I headed for the door.
I needed food and I needed to get myself in the dreaming as quickly as
possible.

“Where are you going, Red?” Kennan
ran after me, trying to keep up.

“I am going to eat and then I am
going to get started on this. Eleanor, can you go and see if you can find any
information about breaking the bond being formed in the sacrifices? Surely
there is some way to undo the damage. I will not have those girls being stuck
on that plane for the rest of eternity if it can be helped.”

“I will do everything I can.
Conall, would you like to assist me?” She reached up and grabbed his hand. I
was grateful she had thought to give him a task. I just hoped it would prove to
be enough of a distraction from today’s horrific revelations. I nodded at them
and made my way to the dining facility with Ian and Kennan flanking each side.

“When did she get so bossy?” Ian
stage whispered to Kennan.

“She got bossy when she had to take
over the Council,” I replied, moving quickly towards the food. I longed for a
cup of coffee but knew that it would make getting to the dreaming difficult.
When I awoke, I was going to drink a whole durn pot of the stuff. We ate
quickly as Kennan and Ian discussed what they thought our plan of attack ought
to be. My only concern was finding the Symbol-smith and getting that woman’s
veil down. I needed to know and I had a feeling Molly did as well. I got tired
of listening to the two of them yap and headed for the room. I knew that they
would follow, probably arguing the entire way.

**********

We made it back to the room and I
asked Kennan and Ian to wait outside. I knew that falling asleep on command was
going to be difficult and I didn’t need their debate keeping me awake. I wanted
to solve this as quickly as possible. Okay, if I was being completely honest
with myself, I wanted to kill Xavier as quickly as possible. For real this
time.

I sat down on the edge of the bed,
moving my head back and forth, trying to work the stiffness out. I needed to
find a place that I was comfortable. The few times I’d actually been in control
of entering the dreaming, I’d done so under duress. I hoped going into it this
way would yield better results. I lay back onto the pillows and allowed my mind
to clear. I glanced at the paper Molly had given me once more. I hoped that I
would be able to burn the image in my mind so that I could tell Aberto what I
needed. As soon as his name crossed my mind, I was ripped into the dreaming. So
much for relaxing.

**********

“You are in need of me so soon,
Milady?” Aberto moved towards me through the fog. He really was like an Italian
Samurai.  

“I wonder if you can help me
with the symbols required to lift a veil. Is that something you are familiar
with?” I wondered how old Aberto really was. There was something about him that
was not quite Seer, not quite Guardian. He was something entirely different all
together. Moreover, I somehow knew him. I wanted to get to the bottom of it,
but I knew there were more important things at hand.

“It is. I will come with you
now. As you awaken, pull me with you.” Aberto brushed his hand down the side of
my face causing my blood to burn hot. I was suddenly spinning back to reality
and the present with something in tow.

**********

I sat up on the bed and screamed.
Standing in the room with me was Aberto almost exactly as he had been during my
ceremony. Ian and Kennan burst into the room, seeking out the danger. Kennan
moved to stand between us.

“What in the hell are you?” I
peeked around Kennan.

“I am the Symbol-smith, Milady.” He
bowed deeply as if that explained everything.

“That isn’t what I mean and you
know it.” I stood up and moved around Kennan. Peeking around him was ruining my
intimidation techniques. Okay, so they probably weren’t that great to begin
with, but he wasn’t helping. Mister
I-must-protect-my-woman-from-everything-even-if-it-is-just-a-gnat.

“I do not think this is the time
for such a conversation. Instead we should turn our eye to the matter at hand.
You wish to lift a veil?” He lowered himself in the chair as he asked.

“Man, I thought you Guardians were
evasive. But, you are right, I do need your help in lifting a veil. I’ve been
blocked by the woman orchestrating the sacrifices. If I’m going to stop it, and
possibly rescue Isadora, her identity must be clear.”

“This is impossible,” Aberto said,
staring down at his palms. I was struck once more by how inordinately handsome
he was. I looked over to Kennan and blushed scarlet. I knew that I did not want
anyone but him, but in the past few days we had not had any quality alone time.
I must’ve been going through withdrawals. I shook myself out of my wanderings
and focused back on what Aberto had just said.

“What do you mean it is impossible?
You said you could help with lifting the veil,” I practically shouted. Why had
I teleported his useless self here if not to do this?

“I can. I am merely stating that
saving Isadora is impossible. That is a fixed point which may not be altered.
Surely you know this.” He captured my gaze with his own intense blue one. There
was something burning beneath the surface of those eyes, something
unaccountably old and uncomfortably familiar.

“Yes, okay fine. I know that it is
her time. But maybe we can save the other two Seers before they are sacrificed.
Do you have any objections to that?” I wondered when I’d become so snippy. It
had been building over the last few days. Maybe it was the lack of sleep
catching up with me. Or perhaps I wasn’t cut out for all of this pressure.

“Swear an oath not to interfere in
Isadora’s death.” Aberto had me locked in his gaze. I knew that if I swore this
I would not be able to go against my word, even should I wish to. There was
something binding in the way he spoke.

“I swear an oath that I won’t
interfere, no matter how much I may wish to. Now, can we move on with this veil
lifting thing?”

“Izzy, you should be more patient
with him,” Kennan admonished in my ear, barely above a whisper.

“I don’t have that luxury when
people may be dying.” I was beginning to feel as if I was the only one that had
this sense of urgency. I had this building apprehension. I knew that if we did
not act soon the scales would be tipped and I wasn’t sure I would ever be able
to rebalance them.

“She is correct, she must act
quickly.” Aberto got up and moved towards me. He lifted his ink stained hand to
my face and held my cheek looking down into my eyes. I needed to distance
myself from this man, or whatever he was. “Are you sure you wish to do this so
close to your marking ceremony? These symbols will fade from your person over
time but they will last for weeks to come. In this, the pain will be your own.
You cannot separate yourself. Do you understand what you seek?” I swallowed,
stepping out of his hand in the process.

“I do.”

“Then we shall proceed. I will
return in a moment.” He vanished before my very eyes.

“Seriously, what is he?” I asked
Kennan who looked incredibly ragey at the moment.

“He is overstepping his bounds is
what he is.”

Oh great, I was about to get peed
on. Just what I needed to add to the glory that was this day.

“Um, Babe, nothing to worry about,
okay? So could we keep on task here? Like maybe by telling me if that dude is a
ghost. That disappearing stuff is just creepy.”

“He is an Old One,” Ian said by way
of explanation.

Yeah, crystal clear now. I was
writing that damned handbook. Now that I was the leader of the Council, it was
going to happen.

“Yep, totally got it now. Thanks,”
I said as Aberto suddenly reappeared, carrying a pack on his shoulder. He was
also dressed in jeans and a sweater now. I wondered if his clothes magically
appeared like he did. Wouldn’t that be a cool trick? I would have to see if I
could magic up myself a new wardrobe. That was totally going in the handbook if
it worked under the section “Perks for Seers.”

“Are you ready?” Aberto asked.

“I suppose now is as good a time as
any. What do you need me to do?”

“I need you to get into something
without sleeves and lie down on the bed. We can do this here if your Guardian
has no objections.” Aberto locked gazes with Kennan and it seemed they had a
momentary silent conversation.

“I have none. We will wait
outside,” Kennan said through gritted teeth.

“Wait, you are leaving?” I became
panicked. I thought that I would at least have the comfort of their presence.

“This must be done by you alone,”
Aberto and Kennan said simultaneously. So they really had just had a telepathic
conversation. I watched as Ian and Kennan slipped out of the room. Kennan
leveled me with a steady gaze as he left. I felt his encouragement seep into me
as the door shut.

“What are you? More importantly,
why do I feel like I know you?” I turned to Aberto, hoping that he might give
me a more defined answer.

“I am an Old One,” he said, pulling
out the same instruments he’d used to mark my back. “Now I need you to go and
change into something without sleeves.” He never once looked at me as he placed
his tools out on the table next to the bed. It felt strange to be in such
closed quarters with him. I did not even know what he was. Moreover, it had not
escaped my notice that he’d completely ignored my second question.

“Fine, but could you explain it
once I get back? I didn’t grow up in all of this so I am a bit lost in the
sauce.” I headed to the bathroom and changed into a sleeveless dress. It was
all I had without sleeves. I moved back into the room and Aberto gave me an
assessing gaze before motioning to the bed.