by Patti Larsen
I helped her to her seat and took mine, the last two leaders to arrive. Tallah looked upset, even Benita was clearly disturbed by this turn of events. Odette was pissed too, but I figured it was for another reason.
As soon as this make-believe trial was over, I was going to personally do something to the Dumont family to get me arrested.
The Council members hurried in, taking their seats as the gathered witches hovered, holding back from the horde of vampires, still glowing white, who crowded the center of the room. Sunny ignored the podium and marched right to the table where the Councilors sat. Dominic and his Enforcers tried to push them back, but Batsheva's arrival put everyone on hold.
She looked annoyed, sighed as she took her seat. Gestured imperiously at Sunny. “What are these things doing out of confinement?”
Everyone gaped at her, even Sunny. I heard the leaders around me gasp. Even Odette looked a little green.
Sunny drew herself up, her power humming around her. “Intruder,” she snarled. “You are not welcome in my house.”
“Your house?” Batsheva laughed. “Since when?”
Dominic gestured, a warning on his face, but it was too late. Sunny's fury finally found a focus.
“Let me show you,” she said, her light growing brighter, her power stretching outward, her clan's magic joining hers. The combined energy burst outward, lighting the very walls, the ceiling, setting the whole house to vibrating, singing the song of the undead.
Batsheva's eyes flickered to Dominic, her anger clear. Oops. Someone was in trouble.
When the power eased, Sunny slammed her fist into the table, cracking it down the middle. The Council members cried out in fear, backing away, their magic surging around them.
This could not turn into a fight. I jumped to my feet and threw up a barrier between my vampire friend and the rest of the assembly. Not witch magic, not surrounded by so many. Instead, I chose a combination of demon and Sidhe, the amber and green twining together, the shield creating a counter-hum to the vampire vibration.
Batsheva glared at me. “You dare?”
“I do.” No way was I backing down. “This house belongs to the Blood Clan DeWinter and we have intruded. Wrongly. They have every right to expel us.” I nodded once to Sunny. “A war between our two peoples will do nothing to forward the reason we're here. Especially an ill-conceived war over something which could have been avoided with common courtesy.”
I caught nodding around me, saw Tallah rise, Violet, Irene. Even Benita Santos. Only Odette remained in her seat.
Surprise, surprise.
“Might I suggest,” Erica spoke up, voice calm, hers the first magic to relax and ease, “the Hayle leader is correct? Such an action would not only incur the further wrath of this blood clan, but send ripples out to every clan. We have been at peace with the vampire nation for centuries. I would hate to be the Council who stood watch while our peace was broken over a misunderstanding.”
Sunny stood stiffly, still angry, but clearly pulling back her magic, the glow she'd held retreating. “Agreed,” she said. “Such a war would mean great strife for both of our peoples. And for the mortals who share this world with us. But I will not tolerate this treatment.” She snapped a whip of white magic. “My home is not free for the taking.”
Erica stepped forward. “May I extend the apology of this Council,” she said, “and ask, at our most humble, for your kind hospitality.”
Sunny hesitated, but Batsheva spoke up.
“These proceedings are keyed to this house.” She sounded like every word caused her pain. “We must remain or this trial is over. And cannot be renewed.”
Hope. A flash of it. Was it true? Could Sunny save Mom simply by kicking us out?
Too easy.
“Without a trial,” Odette snapped, “the law states the accused must be found guilty if only to protect the rest of us.”
Well, that sucked. I glanced at Violet who was frowning, but nodded slowly.
Damn it. Sunny met my eyes. This was all Batsheva needed. Mom was screwed.
She surprised me when she smiled at Sunny.
“We will leave,” Batsheva sat back, confidence clearly returning, “and will end this trial, dropping all charges, but only if the leader of your clan can assert his ownership of this house.”
Wait a second. Batsheva had an out, a way to get what she wanted. So if not just Mom’s power and death, what else was she after?
Sunny’s scowl was very unladylike.
“I am the leader of this clan,” she snarled.
“No,” Batsheva said, tone sickly sweet, “you’re not. Sebastian DeWinter is. And where exactly has he run off to I wonder?”
I glanced at Sunny while my mind churned. This was one of those times making the compassionate choice came back to bite her in the butt. Sunny had never officially taken over the clan leadership. Doing so would mean she’d abandoned hope Sebastian would ever return. And even though I agreed with her sentiment, the timing sucked.
More importantly, though, was the fact Batsheva knew. How, I had no idea, but it didn’t matter. And yet, hope surged anew within me. I finally had options.
Well, one. Desperate, at that.
“You are unwelcome here,” Sunny said through clenched fangs, “but I will tolerate your presence. The moment this trial is ended, you will leave my house.” She stressed the possessive before she spun on Batsheva, “and you will never return. For if you do, your life is forfeit.”
“Agreed.” Erica sounded relieved. I watched Sunny turn and storm out, flickering into shadow before she reached the doorway, her clan mimicking her. Within the time it took to draw a breath they were gone, the room suddenly feeling empty and very quiet.
***
Chapter Eighteen
This time I didn't wait for everyone else to file out. I needed to talk to Sunny right away. For once, I really believed Batsheva was right, though for totally different reasons. Sebastian was important in all this. If we could find him, free him, bring him here…
If he fulfilled Batsheva’s promise, showed up and ordered the witches out, this could all be over very quickly.
I reached out to the beautiful blonde vampire as gently as I could and felt her latch onto me. Her anger was still turned to HIGH but she was doing a better job hiding it. I rushed out into the main hall and found her there, waiting for me, surrounded by jittery, pissed off vampires. But there were only two faces in her particular group I cared about.
Uncle Frank held himself rigid next to Sunny and I made no attempt to hug him or show any kind of personal attachment. Not while we were being watched by Enforcers and other witches who seemed uncertain as to what to do now, milling about with uncomfortable looks on their faces.
At least Gram finally let him off the hook like I asked and called him back.
I was glad the gathered group of witches seemed embarrassed by the whole situation. They should. I wasn't as furious as the vampires, but such disrespect still made me mad. The only bright point in this particular mess was the fact Batsheva had been caught in a lie of sorts—or at least proven she'd misled the Council. Her slip had to count for something.
Only trouble was, the Moromond witch wasn't on trial.
Yet. Though, if I had my way, she'd never stand trial. Ever.
“Is everyone all right?” I kept my tone low and calm as my energy reached out to both vampires, drawing them in. Sunny nodded brusquely while Uncle Frank's mouth pulled down, the damaged side of his face distorting further.
“We are.” She allowed a flicker of white power to race over her, a sign of her unhappiness. “For now. Syd, how did this happen?” She held herself as stiffly as Uncle Frank, but her distress was more obvious than his. “We went to our rest without a sign of their arrival and woke to our house full of witches.”
“We have a lot to talk about.” I fed them both my feelings of caution. “But not here.”
Uncle Frank finally reacted, nodding himself. “We'll meet you at the house.”
>
Sunny seemed to want to protest. “I can't leave our clan exposed like this,” she whispered to him. “What if the witches decide to evict them on some groundless charge?”
“They wouldn't dare.” Uncle Frank's handsome side looked about as scary as his damaged half.
“They would,” I said, “if Batsheva thought she could get away with it. Sunny,” I focused on her, “I know it's risky, but you need to hear what I have to say. Both of you.”
Anastasia, one of the vampires I at least knew by name, joined us. “I'll watch the clan,” she said. Her eyes met mine, the coldness I remembered from her nowhere to be seen. “I trust the Hayles,” she said, her words aimed at me. “They've only ever done right by us. Unusual for witches.”
Wow. A compliment. Cool. I just hoped this wouldn't be one of those times she wished she hadn't spoken.
Sunny finally relented. “Do nothing until I return,” she said. “Keep the others from instigating anything.” Her power flared and I was suddenly surrounded by glowing vampires. The flash lasted only a moment, but when it was over they felt more relaxed. “If anyone in the clan acts without provocation, I'll deal with them personally.”
“But if we're provoked?” Anastasia's beautiful face was as cold as a glacier.
“You do what you must to protect this family.” Sunny gripped her arm firmly before dropping her hand.
“Consider it done.” Anastasia nodded to me before turning. She flickered into shadow, the large group of vampires doing the same, for the second time leaving me feeling chilled and empty at their passing.
“See you at home.” Uncle Frank and Sunny did their own disappearing act.
It was a lonely walk to the exit with all of those eyes staring at my back.
My mind grappled with what I needed to do in the next few hours, attention lost to the future. I was on autopilot, my hand reaching for my keys, the soft bee-boop of Minnie's alarm disarming a peripheral fact. I ignored the crunch of gravel under my sore feet, even the fact my toes ached from Mom's stupid shoes. A plan was forming and I gave it my full attention.
I didn't have time to react when I heard the shout. It seemed the exact moment someone called my name I was being carried to the ground by a tackle from the side, landing with a thud and a whoosh of expelled air as whoever hit me landed on top of me and smothered me with their body.
I had just enough of a view to watch as my sweet blue Mini Cooper exploded outward in a ball of fire.
***
Chapter Nineteen
The shockwave hit like a freight train, rocking both myself and the person pinning me to the ground, the wash of intense heat making my lungs ache, my skin tight. I blinked against the dust blown behind the explosion, choking on it, trying to draw breath into compressed lungs.
“Off,” I managed around my gasping. The body on top of me rolled free, landed next to me. I locked eyes with Charlotte, the werewolf Galleytrot freed long ago. Her eyes were a wolf's eyes, but the rest of her was still human.
“You're well?” She asked in her softly accented voice. The thrum of sound the concussion left behind made it hard to hear.
I nodded, gasping for breath, staring at the burning wreck that had been Minnie.
Damn it. I loved that car.
Charlotte found her feet, springing up like she'd been on the ground by choice, her hands reaching for mine, pulling me up.
“Smelled the bomb components,” she said.
“Thank you.” I felt my hands clenching into fists. Why wasn't I scared? My demon snarled her rage.
Oh. Right. Gotcha.
Mad was so much better.
My hearing cleared at last, enough I heard shouting, running feet, turning in time to see a gathering of witches, a few vampires among them.
Syd, Uncle Frank reached for me, a tinge of panic in his voice. What was that?
I'm fine. I firmly walled up my stirrings of fear. The plan hasn't changed.
And the fireball we saw? He seemed to be picking up more sarcasm. I took that as a good sign of his slow recovery.
Just playing. See you soon.
I cut him off as the crowd parted to allow the Council members and coven leaders through. They all stared, open mouthed. Erica's eyes found mine, her fear for me clear on her face. I had just enough time to feel grateful Quaid had gone ahead with Meira.
Dominic swaggered forward, heading for the decimated car, gesturing for a couple of Enforcers to join him. I ignored him. Ignored all of them. I couldn't care less about anyone at the moment. Not while Jean Marc and Kristophe Dumont hung around the edge of the crowd, smirking.
Oh no they did not.
“Yes,” Charlotte whispered in my ear. “Exactly.”
My mind flashed to the gas cans outside our home, the night someone tried to burn our house down.
If their attempt failed, why were they smiling?
“Sydlynn, are you all right?” Violet's eyes were huge in her face, a pink dressing gown hemmed in rabbit fur hanging to the gravel at her feet, clutched to the front of her thin chest like a life line.
“I'm fine.” I smiled at her, even as my demon paced and snarled and swore slow, painful deaths for both Dumont brothers. “I'm sure the Enforcers will uncover who did this.”
That was aimed at them, but neither changed their expression.
Why wasn't I surprised?
“Was this some kind of attack?” Benita Santos looked very pale in the light of the dying fire. “Against a coven leader?” She suddenly seemed less sure of herself. Maybe now she'd realize who she was so friendly with and what her association with Odette meant.
“We'll see.” Batsheva was in her own robe, though the full fur gown did nothing for her sallow complexion. “Perhaps it was just a malfunction. Who knows with these normal devices.”
My demon snorted and I almost laughed out loud. But the other witches, the older ones at least, were nodding a little, clearly desperate for a more mundane explanation.
Cowards. What had the great families come to that they were too afraid to face what they all knew in their hearts? Any awe I'd held over for any of them was gone. They were just a bunch of fearful old biddies terrified of ever having to consider their little world wasn't perfect.
When Dominic returned, his expression wasn't as grim as it should have been. He actually seemed a little gleeful, a fact not lost on the gathering. “There is no evidence left behind of who has done this,” he said, “but there is proof of some kind of device. Which means it was an attack.”
Batsheva didn't seem annoyed by his announcement, so I knew they 'd colluded to throw as much doubt on the matter as they could, first with her laying the false normal excuse trail, followed by him hiding who'd done it.
Because I knew who'd done it. And I didn't need a trial to find them guilty.
“There must be some trace.” Tallah would have looked a little more commanding if she hadn’t been wearing pajama bottoms with cute little broom-riding witches on them. Sashenka stood at her side, huge eyes locked on the still smoldering car. “The fire hasn't even died out yet.”
“Fire is notorious for destroying evidence,” Batsheva said, waving off the young leader. “For now, without a means to discover who attacked the Hayle coven leader,” her voice wavered slightly, as though it pained her to call me that, “we have no choice.” She spun to face me, smiling gently. At least, I think that was how her expression was intended to look. All I saw was the toothy grin of a circling shark. “Until whoever it is can be discovered and apprehended, we must insist on an Enforcer guard for Sydlynn.” Her smile widened. “For your own protection, my dear.”
Oh, the bitch. Gram's voice grated in my head. That's what she's been after.
Gram, what? I turned away from the crowd as the gathered witches sighed and nodded, some even smiling a little. Whatever. They were just happy to retreat to their little fantasy worlds. Let them.
She's been looking for a way to watch you, Gram sent. And now she has a legitimate rea
son to keep you under guard for as long as she wants.
Made total sense and what I'd arrived at myself. And so she knows exactly where I am at all times.
So she can try again. Gram's mental nodding was subtle, but I felt it. She sighed. We'll have to deal with this tomorrow. The moment Council is in session, reject Enforcer protection. She can't force you to accept them.
I began to turn around, noticing the crowd had dispersed, most of the Council and leaders already walking back toward the mansion. I need to do it now. I have plans and I don't want her knowing what I'm up to tonight.
You won't get them to convene again. Gram's power hugged me. You'll think of something.
Lovely. But she was right. Not like I didn't have options.
I looked up into Charlotte's eyes. “I mean it,” I said. “Thank you. I owe you one.”
“You owe me nothing.” Shapes appeared behind her, moving forward from around the burnt out remains of my car. Her pack was coming. “I'm happy to do what I can, after everything you've done for us. But I must know, Sydlynn—where is my father?”
Right. Raoul. “Gone,” I said, trying not to put my anger into that one word. “This morning.”
She flinched. “He abandoned you.” Her head dropped, nodding heavily. “We only heard of his freedom, that of the rest of our pack. We've been searching, tracking, but the Dumonts have kept them out of our reach. It was only through a chance meeting with one of the DeWinter vampires we were told of his freedom.” Charlotte looked up again. “Your doing?”
“Galleytrot's.” The big dog's howl had done for Raoul and the others what it did for Charlotte and the rest of the pack, cutting the magical control the Dumonts had over them and setting them free.
Again the heavy nod. “I understand,” she said, as though his name answered everything. She straightened suddenly, a look of conviction on her face. She turned to her pack and growled something in a language I didn't recognize. One of the men argued with her, but she barked at him followed by a deep rumbling growl. He bowed his head, backing away. Most of the pack spun and left, loping off into the night, still in human form, but moving more like wolves than humans.