by Patti Larsen
I went to them, hugging first Gram and then her tall friend.
“Whatever you two are planning,” I said, “just be careful.”
Gram grinned suddenly and planted a wet kiss on my cheek. “Don't wait up.”
The two vanished out the front door while I added another layer of worry to my list.
I was about to reach for Shenka, to fill her in on my latest failure, when another mind touched mine. One I knew so well he was part of me, no matter what happened between us.
Quaid. I sank into my chair, letting the sun from the kitchen window wash over me, warm me. A chill had settled around my soul, fed by my frustration. But his touch helped push it back. Just like always. Even when I was mad at him, even when he was being a major jerkasaurus, Quaid's steady presence and power gave me strength and warmed me to my core.
While I asked myself if I missed Liam's friendship or his heart, I never had to ask that question when it came to Quaid.
No crying. Too much to do.
Sassafras leaped up on the table next to me and I stroked his fur as I spoke with the handsome Enforcer trainee.
Syd. Quaid's power hugged me much as Liam's had, but different. So different. Solid like the earth, sweet like the water, fresh as the air and hot as fire, his spirit magic followed last, whispering his love for me even as my alter egos all reached back.
I guess I wasn't the only one who took strength from being together.
I would have sat there forever, wrapped up in him and he in me, and had we the time, I know the feeling was mutual. But he sighed, pulled back just enough we were apart, but stayed close so I could still feel him with me.
I take it this isn't a social call? I wished. Like my life ever went so smoothly.
Something weird is going on, he sent. Strange orders coming in for the Enforcer ranks. We're to start patrolling our territory border and not allow foreign witches access.
So it was a new law, was it, Mom? Talk about fresh. Like, at that second.
Still stank, though.
There's a reason, I sent before telling him everything. Quaid listened, as always, hissing in the appropriate places, his power supporting me even as he fumed. Quaid, I don't know what to do. My desperation rose, reached for him, needing him to tell me what next. But his power gently detached from my grasping as he mentally kissed me.
You don't need me, he sent, heart beating with mine, power linked in perfect proportion and without a trace of bitterness. You don't need anyone. But I'm here for you, I've told you that before. How could he say such things to me, be exactly who I needed him to be and yet be the one person I could never have? Syd, you know what you have to do next. And you're the only person I know brave enough to act and do what's necessary, even though it might mean putting yourself in danger.
Tears trickled down my cheeks. Sometimes I worry I won't be strong enough. So amazing to have someone to tell. To confess my deepest fear. I couldn't think of anyone else I would turn to with such fear. That I'll fail them, Quaid. What if I fail them?
You won't, he sent with so much conviction I laughed and wiped at my tears while Sassafras purred and rubbed against me. You can't. That's just not your nature. And if you do fall, Syd, it won't be a failure. Not yours. It will be theirs.
Okay then.
Quaid, Sassafras's mental voice gently interjected. I assume you contacted us for more than just a pep talk and a warning about weird orders?
The Enforcer trainee shuddered, power tightening around me again. I'm an idiot, he sent. Yes. You have to be careful. Miriam has ordered you are to be watched and guarded at all times.
Um, what? Just our coven? Not the others? She'd pulled a similar tactic when the Brotherhood attacked in the spring, ordering two pairs of Enforcers to guard over the covens, an order she rescinded once the machine the Brotherhood used to steal the Dumont magic was destroyed and taken into Enforcer custody.
No, Syd, he sent. Not other covens. Not other leaders. You. Specifically.
Oh no, she did not.
I volunteered for duty, he sent, but she refused to accept me. Sorrow and anger tinged his thoughts. Three sets of two Enforcers just received their orders. They'll be arriving shortly. And Syd, they've been told to keep you from leaving the property.
She'd placed me under house arrest, had she? We'd just see about that.
For someone who insists on upholding law, Sassafras snarled, she seems intent on breaking as many as she can.
Agreed, Quaid sent. But she's Council Leader.
And being controlled by that power. I couldn't blame Mom.
But I could blame the centuries of witches who came before her.
I'm not sure how this is supposed to keep us safer, Quaid sent with some sarcasm, but you're a threat, Coven Leader Hayle. Officially enemy number one.
Nice to know.
Too bad she was aiming her big guns at the wrong target.
Thanks for the heads up, I sent. Why was I suddenly feeling more confident instead of less? Almost giddy with anticipation?
Because, my vampire sent, by forcing your hand, Miriam has freed you to act, given you the motivation you needed to do what you must. And while the coming Enforcers can try, there is no way they can stop you and they know it.
I felt them arrive at the same moment, the rush of their power heralding their appearance and stood, walking to the door. Still linked with Quaid, I stormed out into my driveway while six Enforcers in plain clothes—suits and sunglasses for goodness sakes—approached the front door.
A wall of magic stopped them in their tracks, the tall Enforcer in the lead bouncing back from it so hard he stumbled and almost fell. I glared, arms crossed over my chest, Sassafras curled around my feet as Charlotte chuffed and snarled beside me.
The lead Enforcer looked like a brick wall, dark hair shaved to a buzz cut, eyes lost behind his mirrored glasses. He looked so much like one of the Brotherhood's sorcerer bullies I reached for him and tested his power as he spoke, just to be safe.
Yup, witch. And arrogant. Hell yeah.
“Coven Leader Hayle,” he said, voice rumbling deep. “We've been ordered to contain you in your home until further notice.”
“And you are?” I'd dealt with bullies of all races and he, frankly, wasn't impressing me.
“Enforcer Howermall,” he said.
He's powerful, Quaid sent in a warning. And very good. He and his team are sent in for the toughest cases. Watch yourself around him.
I think that warning needed to be the other way around.
“First name, jackass.” I wasn't taking crap. None.
He hesitated, jaw grinding. “Thomas.”
“Okay, Tommy boy,” I said while Quaid winced in my head before laughing and commenting quietly on the size of my balls, “listen up. You and your little friends here? You're breaking the law.” They all twitched, but didn't move. “You are unwelcome on Hayle property, in Hayle territory, and I'm ordering you to leave. Now.”
Howermall shuddered, but shook his head. “We're under our own orders,” he said. “The Council Leader's.”
Nice one, Quaid sent. Keep pushing him. It might work.
Oh, I had every intention of pushing. Hard.
All the way to the edge of my territory.
“Considering covens are autonomous,” I said, “her orders have no merit.”
Sassafras hissed happily in my mind. When did you become so clever?
I was thinking the same thing, Quaid sent.
Great teachers, I sent back.
The Enforcers all twitched again. I could tell they weren't happy about their assignment. And I was right. The law was the law.
“We have an impasse,” Howermall said, voice softening. “But we must remain, coven leader.”
Okay, I'm impressed, Quaid sent. Now, kick him where it hurts.
Snort. But I couldn't be complacent. I'd won the fight if not the war. “Tell you what,” I said. “You can stay. But you're not allowed inside my territory. So, get
your Enforcer behinds past the borders of Wilding Springs. And stay there. If you cross into my territory again uninvited, I'll be forced to have you charged with trespassing on a coven's property without due cause.” I paused. “Unless you have due cause to contain me, Enforcer?”
He shook his head. “No cause was given,” he said.
Mom must have been desperate to go this far.
“Time for you all to leave.” I shoved against him with my magic. “Three.” Foot tap. “Two.” Glare with power flaring. “One—”
He turned, gestured to his people. And they left.
But they didn't go far. I could feel them, as they reappeared outside Wilding Springs, doing their duty while I fought down the surge of rage burning inside me.
I'll do what I can from my end to keep you posted, Quaid sent. I'm sorry, Syd. I wish I could be there. His mind clenched in frustration and indecision before his power relaxed and engulfed mine. I could be. So soft. So tentative.
You'd be kicked out of training, I sent. That would mean the end of your chance to be an Enforcer.
I know. His hesitation didn't last long, but it was long enough.
I'll be fine, I sent, purposely brusque, giving him the out he needed. Knowing I could have had him. But for how long? And at what cost?
I wouldn't be the source of his unhappiness. He'd had way too much of that in his life already.
Quaid left me gently, sadly, but he left. I felt Sassafras's magic hug me in sympathy before sparking in rage as he joined me in reaching for Mom.
Normally she blocked me out. This time, I used maji power to make sure she couldn't, slamming into her, forcing her to hear me.
You've broken the law, Council Leader, I sent. Careful, or I won't be the one on the stake.
I shut down our communication, sealing it with sorcery as her power battered furiously against me, trying to get in. Forget it. My vampire was right.
Mom just gave me the motivation I needed to tell the whole world to screw it.
***
Chapter Thirteen
I monitored the location of the Enforcers for the rest of the day, keeping a close eye on them just in case. Anything to gather ammunition against Mom so I could have them removed completely.
“Just go to the Council,” Shenka said as I paced the kitchen while she fixed lunch. “They have to listen when their own laws are being broken.”
“Except they aren't now,” Sassafras said. “And with them outside the border, we can work around them while Miriam feels secure Syd is being watched. It's a win-win.”
I wished I agreed with him, though, from the sharpness of his tone, I knew he wasn't as happy about the situation as he made out. Still, eggs and omelets—and I'd broken enough eggs in my lifetime I was sick of them for breakfast.
It wasn't until night darkened the sky again, while I struggled with worry for the Sidhe and my own denial of what I had to do to make things right for them, that I felt the Enforcers stir. The moment I reached out to see what happened to trigger their attention, my rage returned and, with a snarl, I dove out the front door, hitting the street with a jerk on the veil, flashing out in a blaze of power.
The gathered Enforcers spun at the sight of me when I leaped from the other end, magic flaring, as I let all of my alter egos show what they had to offer. The dark flower of my sorcery bloomed as my vampire, Sidhe princess and demon joined my family magic and the iridescent power of the maji.
An old, rust-spotted RV was pulled over to the side of the road, a tall, dark-haired girl's furious expression turning to smug anticipation as I stomped to the edge of my territory.
“Hi, Syd,” Trill said. “Are we too late for dinner?”
“Not at all.” I copied her casual manner despite the power hovering around me. “Hope chicken casserole is okay.”
“Perfect.” Trill turned to Howermall who glared back and forth between us. “If you'll step aside,” she said. “I don't want to keep the coven leader waiting.”
His hesitation told me Mom ordered him not to let anyone with magic come near me. He was lucky a string of three normal's cars drove by at just that moment or he would have found out in intimate detail just what I thought of his pause to reflect on what my mother wanted.
The moment the tail lights of the last car vanished over the hill toward town, I let my anger out, though at least tempered by the moment to contemplate my next action. A show of force was obviously necessary, however, and I felt absolutely within my rights to use it. My snap of power over the edge of the family territory lit up the local patch of sky like the northern lights on steroids. Hopefully the show told him he'd better watch his step.
He got the message loud and clear. Howermall backed down, bowing his head to me. “Coven Leader,” he said.
“If you ever,” I slashed at the border again, sending waves of magic in a rainbow of colors cascading across it, sparks escaping to hiss on the grass by the side of the road, “ever,” this time I sent a rumble of earth magic through the ground under his feet, making him stumble, “ever,” a tornado of power whirled around him and his people, jerking on their hair and precious suits, stirring enough dust to make them choke, “try something like this again,” the sky darkened overhead as the heavy clouds answered my call, a rumble of thunder echoing in the night, “I promise you, it will be the last time.”
He didn't say anything. Just stared, holding my gaze as Trill climbed behind the wheel of the RV and drove it over the border, still staring as I waved her on.
Held his eyes. Until he finally looked away.
Hell yeah.
I sealed the edge of the border with sorcery, much as I had with my power against Mom, tapping against it as Howermall scowled. “I warned you,” I said. “Don't push me.”
It had to suck, being left there, impotent. Just wasn't feeling the sympathy.
I arrived home after Trill and her family pulled into the driveway with their big camper, partly because I took extra time to examine the four points of power anchoring our family territory. North was already covered, thanks to the Enforcers and their little attempt to control me. East was as strong as ever, even better now that my sorcery fed it. Any magical attempt to break through would draw on the user's own power. I kicked myself as I rode the veil to the west. I should have thought of this ages ago, wondering to myself as I landed in the dark quiet night if it would even work against the Brotherhood.
Not likely. But I still felt better. My eyes settled on the entrance to the cave, the place where I'd first met the vampire essence when she was still trapped in the body of the Firbolg magician, Cesard. Where Ameline fell. Where Sebastian had come to die.
And, on impulse, not sure why I did it, I sealed it, too. Completely this time, with sorcery and maji power. The air around it shuddered, the view of the cavern entrance, a large rock covering it, wavering and vanishing.
Safe. For what? I had no idea.
But I had a terrible feeling I'd be needing a safe haven at some point. And this was the only one around.
A quick trip to the south and I was on my way home. The soft grass of the park gave way under my feet as I crossed into the back yard. And froze.
Charlotte glared at me where she stood near the door. Oh, crap. I'd left her behind in my anger. At least she didn't shake or look like I'd damaged her, not physically. But the hurt on her face, the stern resentment, twisted me up inside far worse than anything else.
“I'm sorry.” I reached out for her hand, but she remained rigid, fingers cold in mine. “I really am. I didn't think.”
“No,” she said. “You didn't.” And turned her back on me, going inside.
Sigh.
Temperamental bodywere's with phenomenal guilt skills weren't for the faint of heart.
I followed Charlotte into the kitchen, spotting Shenka's wince first before she hugged me.
She's not happy, Shenka sent.
No kidding.
But my pissed-off bodywere would have to wait, now that my kitchen
was packed with Zornovs. I grinned and went to Trill, hugging her tight before turning and squeezing Owen. He'd grown some, the top of his head now level with my nose, but he was as sweet faced and cheery as ever, brilliant eyes always giving me shivers.
The final Zornov opened his arms, winking broadly. “Hey, baby,” Trill's older brother Apollo said. “Miss me?”
Made me laugh even while I considered doing something painful and permanent to him.
“Really, Apollo,” Trill snapped. “You're such an idiot.” She rolled her eyes at me. “I should have left him back at the park with Nona, but we kind of need him.”
Two sides of the coin and a center for balance made three. I didn't blame her.
At least she'd figured her stuff out. Came to peace with her need.
Now, if only I could do the same. But just the thought of Ameline gave me an ulcer.
Dinner felt weird, but happy, despite everything. Relief washed through me, having the Zornovs here. At least they understood, had the combined power to stand against the Brotherhood.
Hang on.
“Trill,” I said, feeling my heartbeat increase as the excitement of my idea grew. “I need your help.” She nodded instantly, Owen perking while Apollo shoveled food into his mouth. But when I finished telling her about the Sidhe and what happened when I tried to cut off the Brotherhood, Trill sadly sighed and sat back from her own dinner.
“I know what you want,” she said. “But there are three problems.” She held up one slim hand, pulling down her standing index finger. “One, none of us are Sidhe or have Sidhe souls to carry us in safety through the realm.” I considered that, knew I could recruit some souls to find homes with them if it was necessary. “Two, if we take on Sidhe souls,” okay, she was way ahead of me, “we have no idea how they will affect our power. If they will interfere.” True. But only one way to find out. “And three,” she dropped her hand, “it won't work.”
Grumble, mumble. “Why not?” They were both, weren't they? Light and shadow? That was their purpose, Trill on the side of light, Owen the shadow and their irritating brother between them, the channel.