by Patti Larsen
Unhealthy, my vampire sent.
Impractical, Shaylee agreed sadly.
Let's kill her anyway, my demon snarled. Just a little.
A giggle escaped. You can kill someone just a little?
Totally, she sent. Track her down and I'll show you.
But the anger had run out of me.
What if you make a mistake? I turned away, heading for our quarters. Kill her all the way.
Now that would be a shame, wouldn't it? My demon's laugh echoed in my head.
Was it wrong we all laughed with her?
***
Chapter Fourteen
I approached the entry to my pavilion when the familiar feeling of the Hensley magic arrived at the site.
Shenka. I reached for my second, just as she barreled out of the tent and ran right into me.
“Syd.” Breathless, anxious, she hugged me in quick apology. “Tallah’s here.”
“You don’t have to join us,” I said.
“Yes,” Shenka said, pulling me along, “I really do.”
Part of me suddenly felt sorry for her sister. The look on my second’s face told me she’d come to grips with turning Tallah in and was about to tear the older Hensley apart for being such an idiot.
I didn’t bother trying to reach Mom, just followed Shenka, still tugging, right to my mother’s office. Where we both came to an abrupt halt.
Tallah turned, already scowling, to find the two of us staring back and forth between her and Mom.
When her eyes landed on Shenka, they widened a little. “You promised,” she said.
Shenka shook her head. “You asked,” she said. “But I never did.”
Rebellion crossed the older Hensley’s face and, for the first time, I understood how young she was. Only in her early twenties, older than me, sure, but untempered by the pressures I’d been under and as idealistic as they came. For the first time I felt like our roles were reversed and I was the elder of the pair of us.
Tallah turned to Mom. “Since my sister clearly gave you the impression I’ve broken law,” she said, voice barely containing her anger, “might I be permitted to state my case?”
“There have been no accusations made against you,” Mom said. Her kind tone soothed the tense air in the room. “I merely would like to hear what you have to say, Tallah. And to assure you my door is always open to you, no matter the issue.”
I don’t think Tallah was expecting Mom to be reasonable. Then again, considering the bulk of the time she’d been leader Mom was under the control of the Brotherhood, this new and improved Council Leader must have been a bit of a shock. I was used to the real Mom. Tallah and the others were just getting to know her.
The Hensley coven leader sat, stiff-backed, but her antagonistic air eased. “I was approached by a pair of Steam Union sorcerers several months ago. They claim there are branches of that order all over the world.”
“Yes,” Mom said. “So we’ve been informed by the Union members we’ve met.”
That seemed to go a long way to ease Tallah’s mind because her shoulders sagged slightly. I took the chair beside her, Shenka on my far side and listened as Tallah went on.
“It’s long been my wish,” she said, “and was the wish of my parents,” Shenka flinched, I could only guess from being left out, “that witches and normals could one day live in peace and co-exist as protectors and nurturers of power and this plane.”
Mom’s sweet smile shone in her eyes. “A wonderful dream,” she said. “But one I’m afraid may never come to pass.”
Tallah leaned forward, face eager. “We don’t know that for sure,” she said. “No one has tried.”
Um, Inquisition. Witch burnings. The deaths of the blood of the maji…
“Not recently,” Tallah amended.
Mom nodded. “Very true,” she said. “So tell me, Tallah. What would be our first step in revealing our true nature to normals?”
The Hensley leader’s smile could have lit up the room without any other assistance. “We would approach their leaders,” she said. “Offer alliance, assistance. Once they saw what we could do, surely they would be willing to open dialogue.”
She was totally deluded. “Right after they bombed us and dissected us to see what made us tick,” I said.
Should have kept my mouth shut. Just couldn’t.
She didn’t watch enough movies. Or read the news for that matter.
Tallah scowled, but didn’t respond.
“Tallah,” Mom said. “Such a move would, unfortunately, leave us vulnerable and exposed. Without knowing if we could trust such officials, we would be revealing the existence of our kind to those who have traditionally seen us as a threat.”
“I still say we won’t know until we try,” she said. “Am I the only one who is tired of living life like I’ve done something wrong? In the fear I’ll have to pick up my family and run?”
“Of course not,” Mom said. “We all have that fear, those worries, are weary of our forced disguises. But for the good of all magicks and their users, for now, until we can find a way to expose ourselves without generating negative interest, we must remain cautious.”
Tallah’s face closed off, a mask of blank as she sank back into her seat. “And this is why I didn’t bring it to you,” she said. “I knew you’d say no.”
Mom’s jaw tightened. “I’m not saying no,” she said. “I’m saying it requires study and discussion. Will you allow me that?”
Tallah’s head jerked in an ungracious nod. “And now you’re going to order me to stop talking to the Steam Union.”
“No,” Mom said, eyes flickering to me and back to Tallah. “You are welcome to befriend anyone you like.” Well? Anything? Mom’s mental voice broke into my head. “As long as those friends don’t endanger witchdom or other races.” Syd? Are you paying attention?
What? I was so wrapped up in the conversation and my own incredulity it took me a moment to snap out of it.
I believe she wants to know if Tallah is tainted by Brotherhood sorcery. The wryness in my vampire’s mental voice prodded me into irritation.
Right.
Crap.
It only took a second to check, a soft flowering of my sorcery to feel for the touch of the Brotherhood. To my relief, I shook my head at Mom just a little before closing the black blossom again.
Mom stood, offering her hand and a kind smile to Tallah. “We will open this dialogue here at conclave,” she said. “If you would be kind enough to lead the discussion?”
The shock on Tallah’s face, morphing into a smile of her own, hit my gut with a fist of shock.
Are you thralled again? I threw my words at Mom as she guided the Hensley coven leader to the door.
Shenka joined her sister, held out her hand. Tallah took it, smile fading to a resigned smirk.
“Okay, kid,” she said. “You were right.”
Shenka laughed and hugged Tallah with enthusiasm. I’m going with her for a while, she sent to me as she and Tallah left, the Hensley leader waving at me, her animosity seemingly dissolved.
While I was pleased for Shenka, I was furious with Mom.
Who met my anger calmly.
“What do you think,” she said as she crossed to me, “the assembled conclave will say when Tallah broaches the subject of exposing us to normals?”
The heat of my rage froze over and cracked, shattering into glittering shards.
Oh. Wow.
“You’re turning her over to the wolves,” I said, my mercurial temper now feeling sorry for Tallah and making Mom the bad guy.
I really had to make up my mind.
“She will be shot down,” Mom said. “But in her mind, she will have had her say.”
Brilliant.
“Fine, smarty pants,” I said, grinning all of a sudden. “What about her Steam Union friends?”
“You did ask Piers about them?” How did she know I’d seen Piers?
Blushing.
“I did,” I said.
/>
“Then time will tell.” Mom sank into her chair again. “And I refuse to worry about it until he tells me otherwise. Tallah isn’t thralled. And has what she wants—her voice and permission to speak. So bomb diffused.”
This one, anyway.
***
Chapter Fifteen
I barely managed any sleep thanks to the almost constant arrival of witches from that moment on. Conclave didn't officially begin until right around lunch time the next day, but the flurry of activity prior made it impossible to ignore the excitement flowing through the gathering magicks now filling the old coven site.
By the time I dragged myself, cranky and sandy-eyed, from bed, the rest of the High Councils had arrived, with just a trickle of their connected covens disturbing the hum of activity now dominating the space. Enforcers swooped overhead, some in black robes, others in a variety of colors, including one group in what looked almost like hand-woven tapestry. Their very dark skin and rhythmic accents made me assume they came with the African contingent.
I wasn't surprised, as I wound my way through the chattering mass of witches now crowding the passages between pavilions, to find Europe's stood empty and unoccupied. Mom had naturally sent invites to Margaret Applegate, but we both assumed the Council Leader would either ignore us or find a way to create some kind of disturbance. And yes, I realized it wasn't her in control. Liander Belaisle and his vile sect ran her particular show. Still, I'd met the woman when she wasn't under thrall, or was at least partially herself, and hadn't liked her much then, either.
The fact she'd allowed me to be devoured by a vampire queen didn't endear her much.
I marveled at the sound of so many languages spoken, of the different races and faces, mostly women, though a few men wandered the grounds outside the Enforcer ranks. It wasn't long before my idle wandering was noticed and I was corralled into something more productive.
My mother pulled me to her side and took me on a whirlwind tour of the witching world.
“Council Leader Ife Maalouf.” Mom bowed her head graciously to a large black woman with gorgeous blue eyes and hair shorn tight to her scalp. The African Leader extended her hand to me when Mom introduced us, her warm, smooth skin soft on mine.
“Coven Leader,” she said in a thick accent, white teeth vivid against the darkness of her complexion. “It is a great honor to meet you at last.”
I shared a little magic with her even as her brilliant eyes widened. “Council Leader Maalouf,” I said.
With a rich laugh of delight, she sent back a fraction of her own magic, thrumming with powerful earth energy and the heat of the sun.
Mom led me away a moment later to the sound of the African witches chattering at each other like excited, exotic birds, shaking her head though her smile remained fixed.
“What was that?”
Crap. I'd screwed up already. “What was what?”
Mom poked me with her power. “You just told her you were equals,” she said. “And Ife accepted.”
Oh, damn it. “Was that bad?” Images of insulted packs of witches swooping down to hail fire and fury on me flashed before my eyes.
“Considering she is a Council Leader and you a lowly Coven Leader, normally, yes.” Mom’s blue eyes glittered. With what? Anger? Irritation?
I sucked at this so much. “I was trying to be nice,” I said.
“Try harder,” Mom said. And laughed.
Teasing me. Amusement, then.
Relax, Syd. No witch apocalypse.
Yet.
I couldn't let Ife think she was the only special one, could I? My offer of power to the Asian Council Leader, Sumiko Himura, was met with a gasp of shock and a deep bow. She rapid-fired something in her native tongue before bowing to me again.
“Our honor, megami,” she said in perfect English.
I bowed back as best I could, really wishing I understood what her people said during the introduction.
Finding out when Mom led me away.
“That was interesting,” Mom said. “They think you're some kind of goddess.”
Choke. “Sorry?”
Mom flicked her fingers at me. “Let them,” she said. “It may prove useful.”
Oh. My. Swearword.
“I am not going to pretend to be something I'm not,” I spluttered.
“Yes, dear,” Mom said, patting my hand. “Ah, look who's next.”
Yamini Dhavan, the Indian Council Leader, blinked like I'd hit her when I shared magic, the small red dot between her brows pulsing with magic. The lovely sari she wore quivered around her feet. It took her a long moment to respond, and I began to wonder if I'd overstepped with her.
But when she finally did act, it was to grip my hand in both of hers and kiss the back of it.
“Maji,” she said in a lilting voice. “I am touched by your blessing. Please accept mine in return.” Her power, soft and sweet, segmented and joined my family magic.
Mom practically hummed with happiness as we continued the circuit.
“Oh, stop that,” I snapped at her.
She just winked at me.
We'd reached the front end of the site, back where I'd started near my own pavilion and the entrance to the South American tent. Mom led me forward, smiling broadly at a small, round woman with dark gray hair and deep brown eyes who took Mom's hand and squeezed it in welcome.
“Ana Maria Diaz,” Mom said. “May I present Coven Leader Sydlynn Hayle.”
The South American Leader repeated her greeting with me, offering me energy before I could do so.
“Maji,” she said with a slow wink. “Thank you for hosting us.”
“My pleasure,” I said, returning power to her. Her eyes widened, mouth opening in a small 'O' as she slowly released my hand.
“Marvelous,” she said.
Okay, they were seriously creeping me out.
Before I could find an awkward response to her greeting, I felt emptiness form behind me and turned with a gasp of my own, my sorcery surging in answer.
But it wasn't the Brotherhood coming to attack as my over-anxious mind feared. Instead, Eva Southway stepped through the gaping hole of blackness, a tall, dark-haired man beside her. And, behind them, strode Piers, and his little sister, Clover, along with a handful of other Steam Union members I'd met before. Mom hadn’t specified to me how many each of the magic races were bringing, but from the two dozen or so sorcerers who stood around talking, I could guess.
Ellis Lowsley grinned and waved at me, red hair catching the morning sun as his round glasses threw back the light. He'd served as Piers's second in command during the werewolf fiasco.
I was kind of surprised to see the rest of Piers's ill-fated posse among the Steam Union, and could only assume Eva either wanted them with her because they'd proven brave and cunning or to keep an eye on them.
I was voting for the second option.
Eva and her group weren't alone. In a second surge of sorcery, a line of werewolves marched into the light. Yup, two dozen burly and/or sinewy werewolves. They felt so few compared to the witches piling up on each other to have a peek at the new arrivals. I left the South American Council Leader and went right to Charlotte, hugging her first before sharing a bowed head and kissed cheeks with Oleksander.
And felt the pressure of witch displeasure on me the entire time.
“Miriam,” Ana Maria Diaz spoke, voice heavy with indignation. “What is the meaning of this?”
Wait a second. Mom didn’t tell the other Council Leaders what she was up to? Wow. That took a cast iron pair. Then again, this was my mother we were talking about.
She was a Hayle, after all.
Mom simply smiled and gestured as the gaping black holes collapsed in on themselves.
“Our compatriots of other magicks have come to join conclave,” Mom said at her most diplomatic with power behind her voice. “Under my invitation.”
A ripple of anger ran through the watching witches, descending over us from above as the visitin
g Enforcers joined their territory leaders in their silent protest.
Syd, Mom sent. Now is the perfect time for you to say something.
Me? Okay, now I knew she’d lost it. The very last thing she needed was me screwing up everything my opening my big mouth.
She sighed in my head. Why do you think I’ve just led your introductions? That I was so pleased they adored and respected you from your reputation?
Choke.
Just do it, sweetheart. Trust me.
Gulp.
Must you be so stubborn? My vampire sighed as a further poke from Mom’s magic, a tiny needle spiking into my mind, forced my mouth open. And my vampire took over.
“I, for one, am thrilled the Steam Union,” my vampire moved my arm, gesturing to Eva who bowed her head , hoping no one would see the little tremor in my hand as I fought to take back control, “and the newly formed werewolf nation,” Oleksander saluted, “were kind enough to join us.”
Very nicely done, Syd, Mom sent as the tension eased. Perfect.
Why, thank you, Miriam, my vampire sent. Delighted to assist. She retreated with a smug snort while I batted at her in irritation. What was that all about? I felt the anger around me lift, at least a little.
Where has your head been all morning? Mom's exasperation was tinged with amusement. The maji has spoken, Sydlynn. They will not stand against you.
Ah. Um. Wow.
There were still mumblings of rebellion, but the gathering of unhappy witches broke and went their own ways as Mom's Enforcers guided the two new races to their pavilions, leaving me standing there with her while she smiled and waved.
I seriously thought I was going to throw up.
While that was fun, my vampire sent, you really need to take charge of things.
Piss her off first, my demon chuckled. That always does the trick.
Unfortunately, Shaylee sent with a hint of disappointment.
Oh shut up, I sent back.
Mom was suddenly swarmed with her people and I took the opportunity to leave, dodging smiling witches who pointed and stared. I barely made it to the entry of my pavilion when someone caught my arm, turned me around.