Full Circle

by Patti Larsen

  Gram sighed and let me go, I guess unwilling to push me too hard. Bless her. I really wasn't in the state of mind to argue.

  I sagged back into my seat, hand lifting to stroke Sassy's soft fur. Time to look up, to take notice of the world around me. How the sunlight warmed my bare, dirty feet. The fact Meira was gone, her soft footfalls retreating up the stairs to her room. How Charlotte just stood there and watched me like she was certain I needed to be guarded.

  Maybe I did.

  “Thank you,” I whispered to her, one hand sliding over Sassafras, the other warmed by the heat of the teacup. “For getting me home.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss.” There was sympathy in her voice, but a strength I needed to hear. A hint of something wild and lost, of open grasslands and hunting prey. I looked up and met her eyes.

  Wolf eyes. She let the were in her slide away, human gaze returning. “My pack mourns with yours.”

  I couldn’t speak. But I didn’t need to. Her quiet was as welcome as her support.

  A spark of electricity jumped between my hand and the silver fur I caressed. The moment it did I felt the fog of the last hour or so lift as someone's power dove into my head, the familiar feeling of Martin Vega's magic barreling into me.

  SYD!

  I was on my feet, running, out the door, down the street, bare feet slapping on the pavement, chest heaving for air.

  SYD!

  They were both there, Martin and Louisa, in my mind, screaming for me, begging me to come. While around them fire raged.

  SYD!

  Flames crackled and roared, their pain reaching me through their mental connection, my throat burning with spent tears and the taste of smoke, though I yet ran in clear air. I felt their magic battling the fire, felt its heart rage at their touch and climb higher, hungrier, enveloping everything.

  My whole body seared with heat as I pounded around the corner, the climbing column of black smoke over the row of houses ahead turning to a full-on blaze as the Vega's house came into view. It was engulfed, swallowed whole by crackling death.

  Syd. Only a whisper now. Barely a touch, though they writhed in agony, holding each other, falling, falling. Dying from the smoke in their lungs and the flames consuming them.

  I held onto them, panting in great, wheezing gasps, throwing my magic at the house, at the flames, fighting to douse the devouring fire. But everything I did only made it worse, fed it. I felt the fire laugh as though it were alive, churning, eating up everything it touched with savage joy.

  The Vegas died, held tightly to me, their spirits pulling free, fleeing from the flames. I let them go, for the second time that day sinking to my knees and sobbing.

  But I wasn't alone. The family had come, all of them, hurrying to meet me. Strong hands found me, pulled me up. Quaid hugged me tight, his whole body shaking, tears of his own pouring down his handsome face, dark eyes amber from the reflected fire.

  The heat was unbearable, but I refused to back away. We all did what we could, our power fighting to put out the flames, but there was nothing we could do.

  Nothing.

  The fire continued to burn, devouring everything, and we could only stand and watch it burn.

  ***

  Chapter Twenty Seven

  We didn't move, not one of us, not even when the alarms drew close, when the firefighters arrived, the police. Usually the intrusion of normals would make us flee. But we couldn’t leave them, not one of us.

  We were finally forced back by normals who thought this was some ordinary fire. But I knew better. Had felt a fire like this one before, knew it was fed by magic outside my own, by sorcery.

  Someone set it to kill the Vegas. For what they knew. I screamed inside my head at myself. They wanted to talk to me. I knew it was important. And I let them down. Would they be alive now if I'd found the time, made the time, stopped for one moment and gave them the attention they'd asked for?

  How much guilt could one girl survive, exactly? Because it appeared I'd signed up to find out.

  Who has done this? The twins found my mind, their rage making their mental voices quiver.

  I don't know. I let the whole coven feel my shame. But Martin and Louisa were silenced, I have no doubt of that.

  Quaid's arms tightened around me. He knew it too.

  This cannot be allowed. Voices joined the twins, angry minds.

  It cannot. I threw it back at them, fed their outrage with my own. Someone killed two of our family members on purpose. With purpose. And we will find out who. When we do, nothing and no one will keep us from our revenge.

  The family surged with fury, their magic eager, giving over their power to me as I plunged into the house with my mind, hunting for something, anything, a clue, a hint. I suspected the Dumonts immediately, but where had they found a sorcerer to do their dirty work?

  There was nothing. Not a whisper. The fire consumed it all, left not a single trace.

  Our disappointment was bitter, felt collectively. I was forced to back off, to turn and face them all at last, to study each person while my expression settled into a grim, dark mask.

  “Go home,” I said and sent, reaching them on both levels. “There is nothing left to do here. But mark me, we will find out who did this. And we will act.”

  “What about the rest of us?” Celeste was among them. She dared break a direct order? But she sounded as afraid as everyone else, so I let her have her moment of terror. Locked eyes with her, let her feel how very little I cared for her fate, how I wished, oh I wished, the body in ashes buried under the Vega's house was hers. She flinched, moved back, hands falling from the desperate tugging she'd been doing on her thick braid.

  No one looked at her. I'd done nothing to shield them from my feelings. And from the way they cut her out they shared them.

  “The Vegas had information for me,” I said. “I have no doubt that is why this happened. And I failed them. Their deaths are mine to bear.”

  I pulled away from Quaid, my heart hardening, forming a crust of anger around the fresh agony inside me, knowing I had to block it off before it consumed me utterly. There would be time to grieve, to process this guilt. But for now I had a responsibility to my coven, to the two brave witches now dead on my watch.

  “I'm watching you now,” I said. “And no one, no one, will dare come near my family.” I glared directly at Celeste.

  She turned and fled. I guess she got the message.

  Good for her.

  I sent the family away with more confidence in my presence then I really felt, knowing they needed it. They were still with me, trusting me despite the fact I doubted myself in the secret place behind the wall of rage I sustained. They must never feel it.

  Not until it didn't matter anymore.

  Revenge is coming, Gram sent, voice quiet and full of her own cold fury. Right now we have a job to do.

  I looked up into the sun and nodded, only then taking Quaid's hand and walking away.

  ***

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  The shower was hot, the steam filling the entire room by the time I stepped out. My skin was tight, but I at least felt clean at last.

  On the outside.

  Mom's clothes were a shroud, wrapping me in her protection, as though I could don her skin and shed my own. Her reflection stared back at me, the scent of her all around me, keeping my head straight, my priorities in order.

  My mother. She was the only one who mattered today.

  The rest would have to wait.

  Meira's eyes were red-rimmed, her skin deeper crimson than usual. I sat with her for a bit, more guilt joining the pain I already felt that I'd left my sister out. I'd let Sassy deal with her when we arrived home, stumbled off to the shower and the retreat from reality it offered, the quiet and stillness of Mom's room, Mom's memory.

  But now I needed to be with my sister, if only for a few minutes.

  “I'm sorry about Alison.” Meira sniffled, wiping her nose with the corner of her sleeve in
the warm sunlight of the kitchen. I handed her a tissue.

  “Me too.” I kissed her gently. “Are you okay, Meems?”

  She nodded, sat up straighter. “I'm a Hayle,” she said. “We're just fine.”

  I sighed and let my chin sink to my hand, elbow on the table, slumping just for a moment. “That we are.”

  Meira shoved her plate aside, toast untouched. “I'll go get changed.” Her amber eyes met mine, full of conviction, as though she expected me to argue. “I'm coming with you.”

  “Of course you are,” I said. “I want you there. And I know Mom would too.”

  Meira nodded quickly, more tears welling, her face crumpling as she hugged me quickly before dashing off to her room.

  I picked at her toast, trying a bite tasting of ashes before sending the plate across the kitchen to the sink with a flick of power.

  “Me too.” Sassy jumped up onto the table and glared at me.

  “You too, Sass.” I stroked his fur. “All of us.” My power drifted downward into the basement. “They have one day to present their case. I want you there to listen in and pay attention. Maybe there's something you can come up with from what you see.”

  He dipped his head, tension easing, fur settling down. “I'll do my best.”

  The kitchen door opened and Charlotte entered. Her expression was calm, mild, as if she'd not witnessed two tragedies in one terrible morning. Then again, she'd not known my friend or my two witches, so it was possible she simply didn't care.

  The steady look in her eyes told me otherwise.

  “We must go. I've prepared a car.” She gestured at the door. “The Enforcers are returned, but I refused to allow them to drive you. I hope my decision meets your approval.”

  It did. Right down to the ground. “Well done, Charlotte.” I found my lips quirking in a smile. “I'm sure they were thrilled.”

  She beamed at me. “It was most delightful.”

  I found I was still able to laugh.

  I ignored the Enforcers who glared at us as we left the house. Meira was disguised, though she dropped it once safely inside the large black limousine Charlotte procured for us.

  Sassafras made himself comfortable on his own cushion, Galleytrot heaving his huge body inside, taking up most of the front. Charlotte didn't enter until Quaid did, the last of our group to slide across the leather seat and settle beside me.

  I'd almost forgotten him in my need to get under hot water. My hand found his and he squeezed.

  Quaid. I reached for him with my mind, wanting to share what he was feeling. After all, the Vegas had taken him in, showed him probably the first love from parental figures he'd ever known. But he shut me out, hand pulling free.

  I'm fine. Let's focus.

  Damn him. Okay then. Be all tough and jerkish.

  Whatever.

  Girl, Gram’s voice broke my mind churning. Use this time wisely. Be a leader.

  Right. A leader. Yeah, I was all over that.

  And yet, she was right. I reached out to the coven, felt them come to me immediately, watched Sassy’s ears perk, Galleytrot’s great head lift from the polished leather seat.

  My coven, I sent. I know we are grieving. My heart is broken for the loss of ones we loved so much. I felt like I was channeling Mom and for a moment wondered if Gram was interfering again. But nope. Just years and years of being forced to listen to my mother talk to the family this way.

  For the first time, I was grateful for all of those boring coven rituals.

  As much as we would all like to run off and find those responsible for the deaths of Martin and Louisa, I had to pause a moment to shove down my grief at even thinking their names, we must focus as a family. Our first priority is freeing Mom. When that is done, with her guidance, we will hunt down the murderer and ensure that person or persons never again are able to harm our family.

  They hung on my every word and, when I was through, their power reinforced mine.

  Well done, demon child, Gram sent. You play leader very well.

  I almost smiled at the whip-crack sound of her laughter.

  While I’d pumped up everyone else again, the very air in the back of the limo humming with passion from the others around me, when we finally pulled up the long driveway I found myself breathing a sigh of relief.

  At last. We'd hear what the Dumonts and the Moromonds had for ammunition.

  The waiting was over.

  As the car came to a halt, I reached out to everyone in the car.

  Time to show them what we're made of. Meira's chin came up. Sassafras fluffed his fur, amber eyes glowing. Even Quaid's shoulders went back, face grim as he nodded.

  Charlotte shoved the door open and stood aside so I could exit.

  Game on.

  They all stared, the gathered witches. Whispered. I ignored them all as I strode with absolute confidence and purpose through the doors, my entourage marching behind me, through the foyer and down the hall to the Council chamber.

  The little secretary tried to stop me.

  “You can't bring those beasts inside.” He stood right in front of me, nose in the air, arrogance oozing from him, as though absolutely certain he would get his way.

  He'd never tried to stare down a Hayle, apparently. I didn't bother to say a word, just kept moving, the family magic forming a battering ram before me, like the pointed blade of an icebreaker, shoving him firmly aside and leaving him to stare and splutter.

  “How dare you?”

  I spun on him, finally stopping, turned to face him as he squeaked a little cry, clutching his clip board to his chest.

  “You said something?” I gave him time to decide if he really wanted to go there.

  Watched as he decided cowardice was the best course of action.

  Pathetic.

  I swept into the Council chamber like it was my private home, all of my pent up rage and grief contained behind the family magic. The other leaders took one look before jerking their eyes away, gazes straight ahead.

  I can only imagine my expression. I'm sure amber fire burned in my eyes. But I took my seat, arranged Mom's skirt around me, this one the deepest blue and embroidered with stars, and settled.

  Celeste sat in the gallery across from me and for a moment my anger clenched. Again she’d disobeyed me. Until I remembered she had to be here, wasn’t given a choice. Her magic was as tied up in this trial as mine.

  Fine. But if she stepped one ugly shoed foot out of line, I was crushing her like a bug.

  We didn’t have long to wait. It seemed I'd just clenched my hands together in my lap, eyes locked on the far door when it opened and the Council entered. I glared at them, one at a time, seeing their gazes flicker to me and away again. Only Erica held mine, a momentary touch of sympathy the only weakness she showed.

  Just before she took her seat, Erica turned directly to me and bowed forward, both hands over her heart. The entire room, already quiet, fell to perfect stillness. I nodded back. Only then did she sit.

  Batsheva was entering when it happened, her grand appearance ignored in favor of Erica's show of support for her coven leader. I found myself grimly smiling a little at the portly witch as she scowled at everyone before slumping into her seat.

  “Seal the doors.” Cranky. Good. Her eyes met mine. I let her see my smile, not a trace of humor in it.

  No. Just a promise.

  She looked away first.

  Of course she did.

  “Before we begin,” Odette stood, voice throbbing with fake emotion, “I would like to know what the Hayle Coven leader is doing to protect her family after such a horrible and clearly malicious attack.”

  She. Did. Not.

  Just go there.

  Did. Not.

  Batsheva grunted as though she wished Odette hadn't spoken while the other witches gasped in horror at such audacity. Talk about a witch poking her nose in where it was not welcome. I couldn’t believe Odette had just stepped in such a massive breach of etiquette. “What are you
doing to find the attackers, Coven leader?”

  I stood slowly, power escaping to swirl around me. I couldn't help it, couldn't contain it. It was a barrier, all that kept me from leaping on Odette and tearing out her ugly throat with my teeth. A few gasps from the watching witches told me I'd broken some rule but too bad. Odette started it.

  Either that or I just scared the crap out of them. I personally didn't care even a little.

  “While it is none of your business, Dumont Leader,” I said, able to speak, a wonder, though a rumble of power rolled in my words, “I assure you I will find the foul murderers of my two family members and I will deal with them. Personally.”

  Even Odette blanched. Batsheva looked like I made her swallow something she found distasteful.

  “When I do,” I went on, all of my focus on the so-called Council leader, “I will make sure that person or persons suffer the same fate as Martin and Louisa Vega. After I've inflicted some pain of my own.”

  A collective shudder raced through the air and power of the room. They were definitely afraid now.

  Nice to know I had their attention.

  “Pushing coven laws again, are you?” I was amazed Odette had the courage to speak up. “Will the Hayle coven leader be allowed to threaten to murder other witches in a public forum and get away with it?”

  Tallah stood next to me. “I heard no such threats,” she said. “And considering the Dumont Leader has no place questioning the actions of another, Sydlynn has my full support,” she growled. “And if it is discovered another witch has done this, one from a foreign coven,” Tallah was staring right at Odette while I did my best to keep from grinning, “I will also stand with her in her decision to punish whoever is responsible.” Tallah almost sat before adding, “As is within her rights.”

  Violet was on her feet next. “There is precedent,” she said. “This coven is clearly under attack. And while our laws do not condone war between covens, neither do they punish the leader who defends her family.”