Marked

"You need to help us!"

"What are you talking about?"

"We found Izzy."

"Isadora is dead," I said. Who were these people?'

"We found her, she is alive."

"Who are you?"

Before I could say anything, the dream went foggy and suddenly I was transported to a warehouse where I saw someone hanging by their hands; they were strung up from the ceiling and dangling, her face was lacerated, her throat had a burn around it indicating that she was tortured by hanging, her fingernails were raw, her eyes and face were sunken, her hair was saturated with something that looked like water, but definitely did not smell like it. Suddenly someone burst into the room, sped toward me, grabbed my arm, and said, "We've been waiting for you."

I woke up, drenched in sweat, and breathing heavily; Jon woke up next to me looking at me concerned. "Are you alright?"

"I just had the strangest dream," I said as Jon rubbed his eyes.

"Don't you always have strange dreams?" he asked as he sat up exposing his bare chest.

"Yeah, but this was different." I got up and headed to the closet where my robe was.

"You're clothes definitely look better on the floor," Jon said as I changed.

"So do yours," I said walking over to him and kissing him.

"Then come back to bed," he said pulling me on top of him and started kissing my neck.

"I need to research this," I said as I kissed him back and reached my hand downward to his hard erection. "But rest assured I will be back for this." I kissed him again, leaving him begging for more and left for the library.


Something about that dream seemed familiar and I needed to find out what it was; I had researched for what seemed like hours until I heard someone come into the library. As far I knew, everyone was asleep, so I grabbed the dagger that was taped underneath the table; I hid behind the bookcase until I heard the footsteps get closer, I lunged forward, ready to stab whomever it was, until the hand stopped me and I looked into the eyes of Harry.

"Were you expecting someone dangerous?" he asked me as I lowered my hand.

"No, I didn't know anyone was awake," I answered as I sat down. Harry came over to me and handed me a cup of strong coffee, which I almost gulped down if it were not scolding hot; I sipped it and sat back in my chair.

"Jon told me you had an odd dream," Harry said as I scoffed; Jon never keeps his mouth closed, but I wasn't mad. "Tell me about the dream."

"Two people told me they needed my help in finding mom," I told Harry.

"Your mother is dead," Harry said with a weird tone in his voice. I ignored it and continued the discussion.

"I know that, but my dream became odd when I entered this warehouse and saw a woman hanging there that looked exactly like mom," I continued, "someone, then, came in, grabbed my arm, and said 'we have been waiting for you' and then I woke up."

Harry stood there in silence, as if letting all the information sink in. After a moment, he asked, "did you see any of these people?"

"No I only heard their voices," I said as my arm suddenly started to burn. I gripped it in pain, revealing a searing handprint that seemed to be burned into my skin.

"You've been marked," Harry said as he went over to the books and started frantically searching for a book. He found it, flipped through the pages like his life depended on it, and threw the book in front of me.

"Saran? Sounds like plastic wrap," I said as Harry became serious.

"He is an ancient God who steals souls."

"Like Valkyries and Valhalla," I mentioned and Harry nodded his head.

"He will take the one person you love most first," Harry said. "He takes souls of people you hold dear and then he comes after you. So who is the one person you love the most? Jon?"

"Her mom," Jon said from the row behind me. I turned around and he was staring at us as if he was listening the entire time. "Yes I was listening and no she doesn't love me the most. I'm not even sure if she loves me period."

Awkward silence filled the library; did I love him? I had never been in love before so how would I know what that feels like? All I know is that I like being around him, if he ever slept with another girl I would freak out, and he is an amazing lover in bed; is that what love is?

"But my mother is dead," I said as I saw Harry give me a face he gave me earlier, "is there something you're not telling me?"

"There is a slight possibility that she is alive," Harry said as I gradually went from calm to angry.

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" I yelled at him. "You have denied her existence since all this shit began. How would you know if he is alive or dead?" A few seconds went by and Harry handed me a handwritten note:

If you are reading this, that means I am gone, but be assured that I will return to you and my family. I am in the midst of finding all my children and for once and all defeating The Dictator; I do not know where I will or where I will end up, but do not contact me for I am trying to keep you safe. Send everyone my warmest regards and do not ever forget that I love you. Your dearest daughter, Izzy.

I looked at Harry and sudden rage came over me; I cocked my fist and slugged Harry across the jaw, instantly breaking it. Harry fell to the ground and Jon assisted him on the ground; "Are you out of your mind?"

"Can you explain to me why you never told me that Izzy was my mother?" I asked as Harry spit out blood and Jon looked at him sideways.

"She's her mother?" Jon asked confused.

"Yes," Harry said wiping blood from his mouth, "She was trying to keep us all safe and that meant also keeping her secret. I didn't know she would actually be alive, but there was a possibility of her being alive."

"So what other secrets are you hiding from me?" I asked threateningly.

"Hermione and I were once married," Harry said, "after Ginny and Ron had died, we got together and had a family of our own. Izzy was our first daughter."

"You're my grandfather?" I was shocked. I felt so close to Harry and Hermione, but now I felt so far away from everyone.

"Yes," Harry said. "Hermione and I are your grandparents."