by Patti Larsen
***
Chapter Thirty Two
Demitrius turned to his white-robed companion as the vampires, with Nicholas among them, retreated to the edge of the circle.
“Shall we begin?”
Annick nodded, motioning for the other three. Two men and a slender woman, all dressed in the same white, came forward. The dark haired woman carried a bundle. She offered it to Demitrius with a bowed head. He took it from her, shook it out. Within a moment he was dressed as they were.
“Your power is valuable,” he said to us. “You are fulfilling a destiny charged to my order over five hundred years ago. The creators of the Chosen of the Light understood the evil of magic. They saw sorcery was the purest form of power, beyond the silly Sidhe and their games, the demons and their distant plane, their overbearing superiority. Far greater than the vampires with their disease. And the masters of witches whose only cares were for their own struggles.
“The Chosen’s mandate is to cleanse the world of your taint. And for five centuries we have labored to make that dream come true.” He practically vibrated with joy, his whole body filled with it. “And now I, Demitrius Strong, am finally able to bring that to pass.”
“Just how, exactly?” I tried for sarcasm. I had to cut through his freaking cherub ass happiness somehow.
Oddly, my tone worked. He shot me a glare.
“I wasn’t done,” he said.
I shrugged and gave him my best cheer squad smile. “My mistake.”
“Your mother has every power within her,” he said. “Your father’s demon energy and yours is very strong. And both you and Miriam are solidly linked to witchcraft.”
“So?” I snorted. “You’re boring me here. Just a little.”
Hmmm. So that was how to trigger his fury. While I spent a moment congratulating myself for pissing him off, I also felt my fear notch up a little higher. He’d just shown me how close to the deep end he really was.
“So,” he snapped, finally losing his happy smile, “I have a rare and powerful gift, one that allows me to channel power.” His lips quirked as he regained his good humor. “You wonder why you didn’t feel me, why you never knew it was me when I was Benjamin? I used your own power against you.” He actually giggled. “What fun.” Demitrius smoothed the front of his white robe with his left hand while his right turned the crystal around and around. “I wish you could have seen your face.”
“Shut it,” I snapped. “You have a point, I’m assuming?”
“Of course.” His smile faded again. “Once I’ve drained all of your power into me,” his fingers tightened on the crystal, “I can use it to continue the drain. There will be enough of each to summon the rest, to create a suction force of energy so vast it will be like nothing the world has ever seen.” Mad, truly mad. “I shall then absorb it all and use it to reach into the very heart of this planet and destroy all traces of magic from it, cleansing the world for all time.”
He wanted to screw with the Earth? With the balance of elements? Was he nuts?
Yeah, stupid question.
“Um, so after that,” I said, cutting off his glorious oration, “are you planning on hopping a space ship or something?”
He scowled at me.
“You don’t know the natural elements like we do,” I said. “You’ll tear the planet apart.”
His eyes burned with fanatical fire. “The Earth shall be purged and those who are guilty will burn in eternal flames.”
“What’s the good of a clean planet if everyone is dead?” He had to listen to me. Had to. The balance of earth, air, fire, water and spirit was so delicate that even a minor disruption could cause chaos. Massive storms, droughts, flooding. Half the stuff we did as a family was to fix what mess the rest of humanity was making of that balance. If Demitrius started screwing with the very forces that created our world, we were so screwed.
He wasn’t hearing me. I could see it in his face. But his people were. The woman looked uncomfortable and a little wild around the eyes. “Grand Master,” she said. “Are you sure—“
He spun and gestured at her, the crystal sparking to life. She choked once then solidified, her entire body forming into a clear statue. Another gesture from him shattered it into a million glittering pieces. I threw up a shield just in time, protecting Mom and I from the blast of shards.
“Never question me,” Demitrius said.
The other three just stood there, silent and trembling, the hems of their white robes stirring the grass as they shook.
The insane leader of the Chosen of the Light turned back to me, but looked at my father. “I will begin with you,” he said. “But first I must ensure you have no escape to your own plane before I begin.”
There was a soft flutter as two shadows formed. They dropped my dad’s statue on the grass and flickered away. Demitrius held up his hand. “Thus do I end your reign of terror on this world, demon.”
First of all, Dad wasn’t that kind of demon. Obviously the Chosen were working on a highly generalized platform here. Clearly an issue for their whole order. Then it hit me. Oh. My. God. How did they find Dad’s statue? Were Meira and Sassy and Gram…? My mind stuttered over fear after fear. I was too late. Way too late. I tried so hard, but my shield was still up around Mom and I. By the time I dropped it to reach for the statue Demitrius’s crystal flickered with power.
My father’s stone effigy, his gateway to and from our world and his only way home, shimmered for a moment before crumbling to dust.
I saw a flicker as the bubble around Dad flashed and disappeared.
“Miriam!”
My heart broke with that one cry. Mom’s desperation and Dad’s undying love met for a brief, shining moment. But only for a moment. Even as he reached for her, Dad cried out and fell to his knees. His tall, strong body bent in half, agony written all over him. Demitrius stepped up to my father and held out the crystal.
“And now,” the evil little man with the cherub smile said, “it begins.”
***
Chapter Thirty Three
I couldn’t watch. I turned my eyes away, held Mom as she tried in her weakened physical state to reach Dad. Held her tight and forced myself to block out the howl of pain my father released when Demitrius’s crystal started to drain him of his power, glowing brighter as it drew his energy from him.
It wasn’t long before Demitrius scowled. He shook the crystal as Dad screamed his agony into the night. The Chosen leader snarled and gestured again as my dad fell to his knees. The crystal’s light sputtered and went out.
“What is this!” Demitrius spun on Nicholas. “I demanded you bring me the demon!”
“I did.” The vampire hissed and spit, looking less like his brother by the moment. “Exactly as you ordered.”
“Something is wrong.” Demitrius turned to me, fury in his face and a murderous rage at the ready. More than ever I knew he planned to kill us all.
“You know,” he said, cherub face now showing hints of his evil. “Tell me.”
I shrugged, reaching for my sarcasm, wrapping it around me like a comforting blanket. “Maybe you should have read the demon owner’s manual.”
“What?” Spit flew from his lips, eyes alight with rage.
“He’s not a demon when he’s in mortal form, you idiot.” I wanted to use stronger language but that was what came out. “That’s what mortal form means.”
Demitrius shook with his fury, eyes huge and bulging, face deep red. I had a hopeful moment his head might explode.
No such luck.
“No!” He spun on Dad and gestured with his stupid crystal again. Dad moaned and writhed, his cries weaker than before.
If you let him continue, our father will die. My demon had been so quiet I almost forgot she was there. It doesn’t have to be like this. Before I could act, she dragged me to my feet and faced Demitrius.
“Why take him,” she said through my lips, “when you could have the real thing?”
Demitrius actually pa
used. The crystal darkened and Dad fell to his side, panting. “Syd,” he called out to me. “What are you doing?”
My demon went on. “You may not be aware of this,” she said, “but your vampire buddies have screwed you over.” She pointed down at Mom. “She’s already been drained.”
Demitrius’s eyes narrowed. He went to Mom in a rush, pointed the crystal at her. It barely flickered. His face went very white, a thick vein pulsing in his temple. I could only pray he would explode. I'd pay to see that, actually.
No such luck. He spun in a fury on Nicholas.
“Where is her power?” No more the cheerful cherub, Demitrius rippled with sorcery and his own brand of insane rage.
Nicholas just snarled at him.
I was sure Demitrius was about to have a fit. “It won’t work without her,” he roared at the vampire. “I need all forms of magic. And while I’d be happy to drain you,” he raised the crystal at Nicholas, “that still leaves me short.” He was shaking in his rage. “You will pay for this, you traitorous dog.”
Demitrius moved to attack Nicholas who held up one hand.
“I don’t have it,” he said. “But I know who does.”
That stopped the Chosen leader from killing him then and there.
“Give it to me.” Demitrius’s smile returned. “All will be forgiven.”
Before Nicholas could say anything, my demon spoke up again.
“You don’t need it.” What the hell was she doing? Whatever it was, she blocked me so I couldn’t find out.
He turned to face her again. “What are you saying, Sydlynn?” His eyes widened. “No, not Sydlynn. So the demon has a voice.”
“And a life, thank you.” She was so far from me, on the other side of the chasm. The family magic, for whatever reason, had driven a deeper wedge between us, feeding whatever kept us apart, spreading the gaping hole wider and wider. And as much as I wanted to keep her, it felt like the thing in my head that kept her separate was more than willing to slice us apart. “I’m making you an offer.”
I knew exactly what she was going to say and the terror it created in me almost made me sob. No, I sent to her, desperate. Please, don’t.
She ignored me.
“Let’s hear it.” Demitrius pointed the crystal at me now.
“You let them go,” she scowled at my parents like they were filthy, “and I come with you.”
“Sydlynn, you can’t.” That was Mom.
“Syd, honey, no. No!” Dad.
I felt Quaid try to reach me, remembered he was stuck protecting the others, felt fleetingly his fear that mirrored mine before she cut ties with my family and took control again.
“That’s my offer,” she said. “But not Syd. Me. The demon. Why would you want a mortal version of that power when you could have the real thing?”
He looked confused. “You can do that?”
I didn’t even know if she could do that. But the rift was so wide now, she did feel farther from me, as if with a push we could be two where one once was.
“Yes,” she said.
Wasn’t this what I always wanted? To be free of magic, to be rid of my demon side and just be ordinary? If that was true, why did the very thought tear me apart inside and break my heart into tiny little pieces?
Please don’t leave me. I sobbed inside if she wouldn’t let me on the outside.
You have to trust me, she sent and cut me off.
Demitrius looked like someone offered to hand him the sun on a silver platter.
Mom’s hands clutched at my legs while Dad said my name over and over again.
“Agreed,” Demitrius said. He looked suddenly hungry.
I felt her fighting against the chasm inside me, forcing her energy inside it. With a jerk it ripped wider.
I tried to stop her, to grab her but she was too far and too determined.
This could kill us both, I said, my last attempt to keep her even as she wrenched my heart from my chest and tossed it at me.
We’ll see, she said. And severed our connection.
I collapsed to my knees, gasping for air, feeling like I’d just been drained of the very thing that gave me life. Everything felt hollow and unreal, naked and joyless. I saw a red foot beside me shift and turned my head to look.
She stood next to me, my demon, amber eyes staring down at herself in shock.
“It worked.” Her voice was mine, but layered with power. She looked at me, her glowing eyes alight, horns peeking out of her silky black hair. Her red tinted skin shone in the darkness.
“Goodbye, Syd,” she said. And disappeared into the crystal.
Demitrius smiled, an awed smile like a child opening a favorite toy at Christmas. His crystal turned amber, full of demon power. He raised it and pointed it at Nicholas.
“Now,” he said, “the power of the witch or you die where you stand.”
Nicholas crouched as if to attack. Demitrius gestured just as Nicholas leapt for him.
And fell back with a cry as the crystal flared amber light, shuddering visibly in his hand as if battling him for control, shooting flames up his arm. At the same time, the vampire pounced, fangs bared and white undead power flickering against the surging demon power, the two combined energies driving him to the ground.
“NO!” Demitrius’s hand met a rock, funneled light through the very earth and into Nicholas who sprang back as if he’d gotten a shock. The Chosen leader leapt to his feet and glared at the crystal in his hand, shaking it as though doing so would cause my demon to do his bidding.
Boy, did he bite off more than he knew.
Nicholas shook his head. So did his fellow vampires. And I suddenly felt the rush of magic around me, even in my stripped and weakened condition. The family was coming and they were furious.
Demitrius ran, his men with him. I could feel flickers of power from the vampires as they tried to stop him, but every time they did it was like their magic hit a wall and dissipated.
Sorcery. Had to be. And the bastard was getting away with my demon.
There was nothing I could do about it. I couldn’t even stand up.
Mom’s hand met mine. “Syd,” she whispered, “they’re coming, just hold on.”
I knew she was right. The vampires were coming closer, though. I heard a laugh and looked up. Nicholas smiled down at us.
“I owe you thanks,” he said. “Your little trick freed me and my people. Demitrius’s power gave him control over me through my blood. I admit I gave it to him willingly, him and that foolish crystal of his. But now that your demon half has destroyed the power of mine he hid in that thing, I am my own vampire again.” He laughed, stretched even as though his body had been under control and not his magic. “It’s unfortunate that I now have to kill you.”
The family was close. But not close enough.
This day could only get better.
Nicholas bent over my mother, bending her back, her neck exposed. “Imagine my disappointment,” he whispered to her, “when I discovered you already gave your magic to someone else.”
What was he talking about?
“Clever,” he said, “that veneer you maintained to disguise you were already drained. Who has it?” Nicholas’s hands tightened on Mom’s arms while Dad struggled against the vampires, his demon fire barely flickering.
She smiled at him, a gentle expression full of satisfaction. “You’ll never know,” she said.
Nicholas snarled and pulled her close while I struggled to muster anything to protect her. But the chasm was healing over, sealing me up inside it, blocking even my mortal magic. I finally felt it, the magic holding my demon and I apart. Perfectly hidden, disguised my whole life and sandwiched between us, the energy of it slithered over my mind like a protective wrapping. It slung itself around me and what was left of my magic and smothered both.
Quaid tackled the vampire from the darkness, but the fight was short. Weakened by the sustained shield over our friends and keeping them asleep, Quaid’s power was divided
and no match for the ancient vampire.
Quaid groaned as he collapsed, eyes rolled back in his head from a blow of undead magic.
“Fool,” Nicholas snapped. “You only delay the inevitable.”
His sharp fangs flashed in the dark as he sank them into Mom’s neck.
***
Chapter Thirty Four
He barely had time to graze her pale skin when he was hit again. But this hit was much harder, enough to send him sprawling, shuddering from the attack as a blazing ball of white light fell from the sky and drove him face first into the dirt.
“Enough,” Sebastian said, standing over Mom and I, his hands in fists of rage, so stunningly beautiful I had no words. Everything about him was chiseled perfection now, as though he were becoming the statue my father lost. Even Mom looked shocked. But he ignored us, his power humming around him in a welcoming glow. “It’s over, Nicholas.”
“No,” the twin snarled, eyes huge, on his feet in a fluid moment. “Sebastian. What have you become?” Even he seemed drawn to his brother while fighting for his hate to survive.
The site was suddenly full of people, witches and vampires alike. Nicholas’s followers formed a tense bunch near us, hissing at the furious pack of family and friends who closed in around them. I saw a few flutter as if trying to turn to shadow and escape, but from the expression on Erica’s grim face she and the others were keeping them from leaving.
I say that because I had only a guess. I couldn’t feel a thing. Not a touch of magic, not a thread of power. I was shut off, my whole world muffled as if I’d stuffed cotton into the places that fed me information.
So this is what normal felt like.
It sucked.
I was just grateful that whatever attraction magic Sebastian had in his arsenal, he had it turned way down or I would be a dead girl as a final insult.
Celeste turned to face the two brothers, but Sebastian snapped, “No!” and she backed off. They all did. That one word was all it took. It had power in it, force behind it, made me shudder with the need to obey him. And I could tell by the way his body trembled, he barely held that power back, while trying to tear him apart.