Gatekeeper

by Patti Larsen

  The second I did, the woman came around the corner. And screamed. Not Ms. Spaft, just a librarian. A very, very lucky librarian. I released my magic, relaxed it just in time, near giggling from tension.

  “What are you doing back here?” Now that she was over her shock, she peered at me, a little angry.

  “Sorry,” I said at my most sweet. “I’m lost.”

  She hesitated before smiling. “Were you looking for the library?”

  I nodded quickly, even as my eyes drifted over a shadowy shape approaching. Galleytrot was well hidden, his form disguised to make mortals look away, but I knew he was there.

  Before I could come up with some excuse to resume my search, he came to stand at her side. The Fey hound drew a deep breath and breathed it directly in her face. She froze before her head tilted upward, a real smile emerging.

  “I have so much work to do.” She wandered off, humming softly to herself.

  “What did you do?” I stroked his ear in thanks.

  “Sent her a reminder of the homeland,” he said. “It makes one forget anything else.” He looked up at me. “I saw Spaft leave the way she came in. Empty handed I might add, and looking more than a little pissed about it.”

  “Let’s go see if we can find what she was looking for.” I pushed past him and back to the stairs. He sighed as his paws touched the top step.

  “Definitely protections here,” he said. “Right through the soil into the steps.”

  “I can’t feel it.” Shaylee tried, but there was nothing.

  “Bare feet.” He shook one paw at me. I crouched and touched my fingertips to the worn wood and gasped.

  “Got it.” The deep and insistent thrum of earth magic met my bare skin. “Let’s keep going.”

  We were in a hallway, dimly lit, some kind of old storage. Big wooden racks full of books lined the walls, a few doorways leading into workshops and a large storage space, but that was all. Galleytrot sniffed every corner of the place, I myself even sliding off my sneakers so I could feel the magic and hopefully let it guide me, but after a thorough search we both sighed in frustration.

  “I told you,” he said, glum. “We need the Gatekeeper.”

  I sat on the floor to put my socks and shoes back on, jerking on the laces in irritation. “There has to be another way. Fergus is under lock and key, thanks to Sonja. And you just know she’s having him watched.”

  “Maybe we could break him out?” Galleytrot offered his shoulder to help me stand.

  “That might be our last resort,” I said. “But it means exposing a lot of people to magic, especially considering we have to assume he’s under Unseelie guard. Probably the nurse at the front desk, maybe even those two who subdued him. And I’m sure no matter how pure my intentions, if I do something that reckless, Celeste will use it to ruin Mom.” I dusted off the seat of my jeans, at a loss. “I’ll tell Erica. Maybe if we put it to the whole coven they’ll be okay with it.”

  “After last night’s little chat?” He snorted at me. “Likely. They’re still in denial.”

  “And we have no real evidence yet.”

  “It’s coming,” he said, the vibration of his voice sliding into harmony with the hum of the Gate’s power. “But it will be far too late by then.”

  “At least I’ll get to say I told you so.” I kicked futilely at a pile of old books before heading out.

  ***

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  We went home. Nowhere else to go, really. I checked for messages, hoping maybe Quaid was over his hissy fit, but no luck. Well, that was just fine, Mr. Jealous. Be that way. I had more important things to fret over than his sensitive ego.

  Angry, I almost snapped at the voice on the other end of the phone when I answered the insistent ringing.

  “Did I get you at a bad time?” Angela’s voice quavered.

  “No, not at all.” I instantly dialed back my annoyance and focused on her. “Is everything okay?”

  “Oh, yes, I’m sorry, of course.” Her nervous laugh told me she felt guilty for letting amusement out in any form. “I was just hoping… Alison is awake, and I was thinking it would be nice…”

  “I’m on my way now.” Like I wasn’t tired enough. But when I hung up to her very grateful goodbye, I knew I made the right choice.

  I turned to go and found Meira watching me.

  “I want to come with you.” Her amber eyes faded slowly to blue, skin tinting to human tone. “Can I?”

  Um. What would Mom do? Expose her ten-year-old daughter to a barely recovering alcoholic who just tried to kill herself? Or leave her home?

  I sighed. “Sure, Meems. Al will love that.”

  I left Galleytrot and Sassy at the house with orders to figure something out to which the black dog just snorted at me. If only it could be that easy. I touched Erica’s mind, but she blocked me out with a quick apology so I let it go. Not like her knowing was going to matter.

  Not when the Gate opened and the Sidhe came through. Nothing would matter then.

  Meira paused outside the door to pluck some flowers from Mom’s favorite bed, cradling them in her arms the whole way to the hospital. I held her hand as we got out of the car, even more depressed than before. I had to force myself to walk, thankful my sister was there to pull me along.

  I had to snap out of it. The last thing Alison needed was me going all black pit of despair on her when she had her own gaping dark place eating her alive. That would be just swell. I’m sure Angela would be thrilled she called me.

  Not only that, Meira was feeling it all, looking up at me with growing grief.

  I forced myself to fake a smile, to shove my troubles behind a veneer of positive magic, if only to protect Alison. I’m glad I did. We had just entered the ward when I spotted Beth. She had that same red look to her eyes, the same pinched sorrow, but she smiled at Meira and hugged us both.

  “I just thought I’d pop in,” she said, hands wringing in front of her. Her lips smiled while the rest of her vibrated with distress.

  “I’m sure she appreciated it.” I reached out and squeezed Beth’s hand. She sobbed softly once before nodding and pulling free, fleeing from us with a little wave farewell.

  Okay then. That bad? I looked down at Meira who’d adopted a grimly resolute look. Hand in hand, we knocked gently on Alison’s door.

  Angela looked up immediately, smiling back at me, the strain of the last day or so still on her face. “Alison, sweetie. Look who’s here.”

  Alison had already seen me. No smile, just a quavering lower lip and tons of tears. I went right to her, the artificial mask I wore suddenly unnecessary as I hugged my friend and let her sob on my shoulder.

  Angela quietly left us there, dabbing at her own eyes with a tissue as she slipped out the door, but with a smile for Meira. I gestured for Meems to take Angela’s seat and she did, watching us, the flowers still in her hands.

  Alison finally let me go, gaze going to my little sister.

  “Hi, Meems,” she said in a quavering voice. “Thanks for coming.”

  Meira jumped up on the bed and handed Alison the flowers. “Mom wanted to come,” she said ever so gently, “but she’s away.” She reached out and stroked Alison’s forehead, her cheek, before leaning in and hugging her, head on Alison’s shoulder. “I hope we’ll do.”

  Alison hugged her, rocked her, cried some more. But the desperate horror I’d first seen had faded, replaced by a dull kind of sadness. “Thanks, Meems,” Alison whispered into her hair. “You’re exactly what I needed.”

  Angela slipped back inside with an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry,” she said. “They are coming to move Al to her new home away from home.” She said it lightly, but we all knew what it meant. Another hospital, probably rehab. “I didn’t know they were moving her tonight or I wouldn’t have called.”

  “It’s okay.” I looked down at Alison who held my hand, cheek still pressed to Meira’s hair. “We were happy to come and make sure you were okay.”

&nb
sp; I knew Alison wanted to say she was sorry. I shook my head before she could speak a word, squeezed her fingers. “You get better,” I said. “We have a shopping date with Beth.”

  “Come visit me at the funny farm?” Alison laughed at last, even though I remembered how much she hated it last time.

  “Naturally,” I said. “Save some of your meds for me, okay?”

  “Promise.” She let Meira go, but not before my sister kissed her gently on the cheek.

  “Love you, Al,” Meira said before sliding from the bed.

  “Me too,” I said. “I’ll see you soon, okay?”

  I turned to go, but Alison’s hand was faster, snaking out to grasp my wrist. She pulled me toward her, down until my ear was next to her lips.

  “I wouldn’t have done it,” she whispered. “Killed myself. I wouldn’t, Syd.”

  Only she had and would be dead if my demon hadn’t saved her. But I nodded as she went on.

  “It’s just, when I’m drinking… it’s like I’m another person. A crazy person.” She choked out a laugh as I pulled away.

  “It’s okay, Al,” I said. “You’re going to be okay.”

  She nodded, quick, jerking movements of her head, fingers now gathering large clumps of sheet and gripping them tight, a way to hang on.

  Meira took my hand as we left, waving to Alison who bravely waved back.

  ***

  Chapter Thirty

  The sun was just starting to set when Meira and I arrived home. The moment we passed through the wards, I felt Dad was home, but was startled to find him in the kitchen. Not that he wasn’t allowed upstairs. It was just such a rarity to see him there.

  “Hey, Dad,” I said, feeling my annoyance with him take a sharp notch upward. I could have used his help, if only for moral support but, as usual, he was either out or locked in the basement. I didn’t mean to make him a target, but this was the first chance I had to confront him. “Where’ve you been?”

  He heard it in my tone if not in the oh-so-casual words I chose. Hard to miss that much sarcasm.

  “Watch the attitude, Syd,” he snapped.

  Um, hello? “Do you have any idea what’s going on around here?” No way was he taking a Mom stance with me. “I could use your help, you know. Or do you even give a crap?”

  Dad’s scowl made him look demonic, a tough thing considering he was mortal now. “I asked you to mind your own business,” he said. “Besides, you have Erica to help you. I’m in the middle of something, Syd.”

  He turned his back on me. No. Way. I’d been cutting him a ton of slack, we all had, knowing what he was going through, but I was about out of patience with him. Attitude? I wasn’t the only one.

  “Don’t walk away from me.” I strode forward and grabbed his shoulder, turning him around. He actually jerked free from my touch. The father I knew and loved didn’t live in his eyes anymore.

  “Dad?” Meira. I forgot she was there. She stepped up beside me, reached out to touch his hand. “It’s going to be okay.”

  “No!” He pulled away from her, too. “Stop staying that! It’s not, it never will be. And don’t even think about telling me you understand because you don’t!”

  Meira started to cry, short, gasping sobs. She clung to me for a moment before running past us and up to her room.

  His casual disregard for her feelings, after the crappy experience she’d been through, just fed my fury, my demon joining in. “Oh, that was just brilliant,” I snapped. “Like she doesn’t have enough to worry about with Mom and Gram being gone. You’re all she has left and you have to go and be a total jerk.”

  He flinched, my dad coming back a little before his own helpless anger took him over again.

  “I didn’t ask for this,” he shouted at me. “And don’t you dare talk to me like that. Go to your room!”

  I laughed in his face. Totally the worst thing I could have done, but my back was up and I’d been through too much to listen to him. He saw it, felt it, and it ruined him.

  Dad deflated, anger gone like a popped balloon, only the horrible despair left behind. My own was gone as fast, guilt and compassion returning in a rush, but it was too late. He already turned away, shoulders slumped, feet carrying him to the basement door, closing it softly behind him.

  I sighed deeply, tossing my hands up in the air. I didn’t have time for one more problem. Dad’s would have to wait. Besides, it didn’t seem like I was helping things any so it was probably best I left it to Mom.

  I found Meira under her covers, crying like her heart was shattered. Sassy and I took turns comforting her and I was actually glad when she finally fell asleep, exhausted from so much expended energy. As much as my sister was a powerful demon and witch, she was still a little girl.

  “I’ll have a talk with Harry,” Sassy said in a tone that told me the talk would include some very serious language.

  I shrugged. Whatever. My energy was already being sapped by lack of sleep, worry and anger. If Sassy wanted to give it a go, that was his prerogative.

  I left him with my sister and retreated to my room, automatically checking my computer. No Quaid. The part of me still miffed with him about the whole jealously thing was crushed by sudden worry. What if he couldn’t reach me? The connection between us was still there, no question. But what if the Dumonts figured out he wasn’t really one of them and were holding him captive?

  It took a lot of what remained of my strength to force the thought out of my mind. I couldn’t worry about Quaid, I just couldn’t. He chose his road, decided revenge against the Moromonds was his priority and let himself become embedded in the lion’s den. That was his life. I had my own to handle.

  I was doing that so very well, wasn’t I?

  The feeling of someone in the backyard drove all thoughts away. As was always the case I found myself pounding down the stairs to the door, flinging it wide, though I knew as I set foot on the grass the guy I ran to meet wasn’t Quaid.

  Liam stood on the edge of the walk, hands deep in his pockets. The last of the sun tinted his hair red and the green of his hazel eyes sparkled as he met my gaze.

  He shifted his feet, looked about ready to run, but when he spoke his voice was at least reasonably calm. “My mom. There’s something not right with her, isn’t there? She knows all about this and always has.”

  I nodded slowly, not moving, afraid to spook him. I couldn’t afford to have him take off again, amazed he managed to escape at all. He had no idea how much danger he was in. We simply didn’t have time.

  “Can you tell me what’s going on?” He trembled slightly, shoulders twitching before he stilled again.

  “I don’t know for sure,” I said, “but I think your mother is on the wrong side of this. Her people, the Unseelie, want the Gate to open.”

  “Why?” Liam’s hands slid out of his pockets to run through his hair.

  “I can only guess,” I said as Galleytrot emerged to stand next to me.

  “It is in their nature,” he rumbled, the ground under my feet trembling as he put power behind it, the power reaching Liam, making him sway like a tall tree in the wind. “To cause havoc, bring Chaos. Though I am certain their agenda, their lord’s, includes taking over the Sidhe realm before this one.”

  “Venner.” Liam sighed before nodding slowly, looking away. I held my breath as he went on. “He’s not here to take over as archivist, is he? Or an old friend of Mom and Dad’s.” We both glanced up at the same time, eyes finding the fat, heavy moon just clearing the horizon.

  “Liam,” I said, “how did you get away?”

  He frowned at me. “From who? Mom? Just left.” His shoulders twitched, a ripple of green magic passing over him. I reached out and blocked it immediately, but Liam didn’t seem concerned or even to notice. “I wanted to leave so I did.”

  The Gate. It had to be protecting him. But the power that touched him, it wasn’t his. Shaylee recognized it immediately. Venner searched for him, and he was very angry.

  Time
to move. Only Liam was still out of the loop, clearly, still talking.

  “My dad told me,” he said, “just before he died. That I had a destiny. A great obligation to my family. I forgot about it, until now.” He straightened, face grim, the growing shadows masking his face, making him appear eerie and otherworldly. “The only way to find the Gate is to get Daddo out of that place.”

  I wrapped my shields around him, cocooning him from Venner’s touch. The green magic rippled over my wards, finding nothing, moving on. I felt the Unseelie lord’s frustration and knew we had little time. “I’ve thought of that,” I said, refocusing on Liam. “But I’m not sure we can do it without alerting your mother and the other Unseelie mortals who are watching him. Not to mention Venner.”

  Liam shuddered. “He asked me so many questions. About Daddo and when I was a kid.” Liam’s whole body sagged. “I told him everything I could remember. I felt like I could trust him, because Mom was there and she didn’t argue or say don't, like she usually does.” His face settled into so much guilt I worried he might crack. “Did I ruin everything?”

  “No,” I said with as much conviction as I could. Even if he had, I needed him to stay with me. “If you had, he’d be at the Gate by now.” Unless he was there after all. But no, I didn’t believe that. Not with him searching for Liam still. I grimaced. “We need to figure out how to break Fergus from the hospital without fireworks. Showing magic to normals isn’t permitted, Liam.” Damn Erica. I’d just have to act without her.

  “I can get him out,” Liam said, “without any hassle.”

  “How?” Galleytrot shook his great head, mane swinging.

  “Simple,” Liam grinned, but with a harsh edge to it. “I just walk in and get him.” He shrugged. “They want me to go to the Gate, right? I need Daddo to do that.”

  I hesitated. “It could work.” But it meant facing Venner, more than likely. Shaylee’s fear response was instant, but I shoved her aside and let her hide again. “Galleytrot, can you disguise the two of us?”