Light and Shadow

by Patti Larsen

  “I saw something.” I told them in a halting voice, about the battle, the conversation and the two kids. I shook myself a little as I spoke. The girl had to be near my age and I was calling her a kid? Something about going through all the life-changing events I’d been through made me feel like anyone else my age was still just a child.

  Not fair of me, though. For all I knew, those two had seen as much trouble as I had.

  “None of you saw any of it?” I wasn’t really surprised, though I hoped I’d have some backup in case I was accused of looking for trouble. Funny how Quaid’s reaction from months ago still clung to me and made me feel guilty.

  “I’m sorry,” Liam said. “I shouldn’t have touched you. But you were shaking and looked like you were in pain.”

  Charlotte hung back, her breath coming in soft pants. I turned and went to her, taking her hands in mine. “What is it?”

  “You were gone so long,” she said softly. “If Liam hadn’t broken the spell, I would have.”

  I spun back on the others. “How long?”

  “At least a few hours,” Liam said. “We were going to let it run its course, but then you became so agitated.”

  Wow. It felt like minutes to me.

  “Okay,” I said, trying to pull my thoughts together through a burning need to find the two kids in my vision. “So here’s what we know. It seems the sorcerer’s sect is prepping for some kind of war against all other magic races. But they aren’t ready yet. Unless we find a way to stop them, magic as we know it could be destroyed.”

  Sassafras shook, his fur standing on end. “And the children you mentioned?”

  “According to Iepa, they have something to do with the light and the shadow, whatever that means. I do know they are both important in the war.” I ground my teeth together and crossed my arms over my chest. “You know what? I’m getting mighty tired of all this crap. Just for once, couldn’t something be easy?”

  Galleytrot snorted. “I’m sure the powers controlling this are most contrite about their methods,” he said. “I’m sure if you ask the maji to just come out with it, they’ll be happy to oblige.”

  I scowled at him, but couldn’t hold it, a grin winning. “And here I thought Sassafras was the smartass.”

  The big dog bowed his head, tongue hanging out as his tail wagged a few times in answer.

  “There’s not much more we can do here,” Liam said, looking around. “I did as much study of the family lines as I could without equipment to log the information.”

  “Unless you think you can reconnect with the maji?” Sassafras finally hopped down on his own and I found myself breathing a sigh of relief he’d done so.

  I shook my head. “For whatever reason, our time was up.” Yeah, Syd, like you’d over-used your broadband or something. Right. Still, it felt like I had what I needed.

  I just had to find the kids and… what? Protect them? Help them? Lock them up?

  Okay, so I didn’t have everything. But maybe once I had them in my grasp they would be able to tell me more.

  Shadows flickered, the room taking on a cold edge just as the air seemed to part and Sebastian appeared beside me. I turned toward him, the pull of his nature calling to my vampire core. The moment I did, he moved as well, all tall, dark and deliciously undead of him hovering over me, eyes full of something reminding me I hadn’t had dinner yet.

  “Sydlynn.” His cold hand touched mine, skin temperature telling me he hadn’t stopped to eat either before coming to see what we’d uncovered.

  “Sebastian.” Grrrowl. I’d always had a crush on the devastatingly handsome blood clan leader, even before my brilliant idea to rescue him from the essence threatening his life and now residing inside of me. Even more so now I knew what his broad, strong body looked like mostly unclothed. But the feeling of wanting to be with him was much stronger than I remembered. While I blamed my vampire core, I couldn’t help the grin lifting the corner of my mouth or the naughty urge to stroke his hand with my thumb while I imagined stroking other parts of him—

  Yeesh. Okay, down, girl.

  I think Sebastian must have had the same reaction to me. And the exact understanding of why in the moment I did because it seemed like we pulled apart in the very same instant, his body, once curved toward me in sensual offering now rigid as he took a step away and clasped his hands behind his back.

  There was just enough of my awareness left to register the flash of jealousy on Liam’s face.

  Like the poor guy needed another rival to worry about.

  “Incredible.” It was probably a good thing Sebastian was instantly fascinated with the chamber. Otherwise, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to show as much restraint as he did. Part of me was sad when he walked away, eyes locked on the carvings on the walls, to think we’d used to be as close to friends as we could get, and now this thing between us could only end in disaster. I knew he’d been avoiding me since the fall, the only time I’d seen him since then an awkward and uncomfortable moment of him standing across the room muttering platitudes. He’d felt the vampire inside me when I’d asked for his help looking into the Star Club, so he was forewarned. But this was the first time we were actually in contact with each other and I fully understood why he held his distance.

  Sucked. I’d have to talk to my vampire about it and see what we could do. Because now that I knew I was immortal, Sebastian and his blood clan were the few people in my life I could have a very long relationship with.

  Liam lost whatever anger he’d been feeling, or at least found a way to hide it, because he eagerly joined the blood clan leader, the two muttering over the find before Sebastian turned and fixed me with his very blue eyes. I felt my cheeks heat, and not from embarrassment. Rather, the desire to run my hands over his face, to find out what he tasted like so strong I had to look away.

  “This must be studied,” he said, kindly not mentioning my moment of weakness. “I would be honored to assist you, Liam, in any way I can.”

  My Sidhe friend laughed a little, almost nervous. Was he afraid of the vampire? But no, not Sebastian, after all. “I’m not much of a scholar,” Liam said. “But I’d really like to explore this further.”

  A few more flickers and three vampires joined us. I recognized Anastasia immediately, the cold, blonde vampire one of Sebastian’s most trusted clan members. Her face twitched as she met my eyes, hunger burning in her gaze before she shuddered and crossed to Sebastian, staying away from me. The other two did the same, eyes looking everywhere but at me. My vampire core acted like a repulsion beam, though I knew part of the reason they avoided me was because they felt the opposite and struggled with the need to have access to her again.

  All of a sudden I didn’t feel so welcome anymore.

  ***

  Chapter Eight

  I turned without a word and retreated, climbing the stairs, letting my fingers run over the carvings as I did, feeling my bodywere close on my heels, the press and warmth of Sassy’s furred shape against my leg as we emerged in the chamber above.

  Time for me to be going. Now that the vampires were awake, it was probably a good idea for me to make myself scarce, though I was sure Liam and Galleytrot would be here for a while yet.

  My mind returned to the two kids and Iepa’s warning as I emerged into the main house level and walked the hall toward the front door, head down, eyes locked on the carpet, mind far away. I needed to figure out a way to find the pair, but I had no idea how.

  Arms slid around me and since Charlotte didn’t protest I assumed I knew the owner of those arms. I hugged Sunny back immediately, feeling the warmth of her, thankful she at least had eaten before I ran into her and wondered if hunger for blood made Sebastian’s problem with me worse. It was much more likely his troubles stemmed from the fact he was host to the essence for so long.

  Uncle Frank took Sunny’s place, grinning like a kid, handsome face perfect, two blue eyes shining down at me. I couldn’t help but remember how he used to look, the bubbling
ruined orb, the melting scar. All thanks to Ameline and Odette Dumont.

  And while my Sebastian troubles were thanks to the vampire essence, Uncle Frank’s wholeness was too. And if having to hold my distance from the blood clan leader was the price for my uncle’s healing, I’d pay it.

  There was obviously something on their minds as they pulled free of me, holding hands, both smiling and exchanging glances. Sunny was gorgeous, the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, but she glowed with a radiance now making her usual appearance pale in comparison, no pun intended.

  “Spill it,” I said, unable to resist the grin pulling at my lips or the stirring of excitement inside me. Yup, something was definitely up if my witchy senses were tingling.

  Sunny reached for my hand with her free one, her vampire power pulling me close and tying me to the both of them. “Oh, Syd,” she said with a low, throaty laugh, “we were planning to see you when we heard you were here.”

  Uncle Frank leaned in and kissed my cheek, hand cupping the back of my neck, the circuit of our physical touch complete. “We wanted you to be the first to know.”

  “I assume I’m welcome in this conversation? Or shall I wait in the van?” Sassafras’s testy tone just made Sunny laugh and she released me to bend and scoop him into her arms, stroking his fur and rubbing his cheeks until he purred.

  “Silly boy,” she said. “You, my love, are always welcome.” She kissed the top of his head.

  “Naturally,” he said, though there was now laughter in his voice. “Proceed.”

  “Thank you, oh wise and noble demon cat,” Uncle Frank said. Again he and Sunny gazed at each other, but this time with so much love I thought they’d melt. Kind of gooey and all that, but I was just girly enough still it made me sigh and wish.

  “We’ve decided to blend our blood,” Sunny finally said. “And we want you to be there with us when we do.”

  Whoa. Blending blood was like getting married, only way more intense and totally for life. Which, to vampires, was eternity.

  “We’ll share our blood and be our own family, our own little clan,” Uncle Frank said. “Will you stand with us?”

  Um, hello? Dumbest question ever asked ever. I lunged for the two of them, hugging Uncle Frank and Sunny as a pair, Sassafras squashed between us until he squeaked a little in protest.

  When I pulled back, I wasn’t surprised they wavered before me in a mist of moisture, not when my throat was so tight from emotion I could barely swallow.

  “I’m so happy for you,” I wailed. What was wrong with me? Sunny set Sassy in Uncle Frank’s arms and hugged me for real, one of her amazing hugs where she put her whole body into it. Uncle Frank did the same, from behind, making me the center of a nice vampire sandwich. Not that I minded even a little.

  “Syd,” Sunny whispered, “are you really?” She pulled back a little, concern on her lovely face. “We didn’t want to upset you.”

  I swiped at my tears and latched onto her, my heart churning even as I sobbed into her blonde hair.

  “I’m r-r-really, r-r-really h-h-happy for you,” I pushed out around my tears. “I s-s-swear.”

  She laughed as Uncle Frank released me and returned to her side.

  “Silly,” she said. “Then why are you crying?”

  I wished I knew. Except that looking at the pair of them, seeing them perfect and young and knowing now Sunny would always be a part of our family, made facing my immortality almost bearable.

  “I won’t be alone,” I whispered, bending to scoop up Sassafras who licked at my tears with his sandpaper tongue and purred me into quiet. “I guess I’ve really been worried about it.”

  Sunny’s face fell, hands reaching for me again while Uncle Frank’s concern came at me in waves, but I laughed and shook my head and cuddled my demon cat.

  “I’m fine, I promise,” I said. “No more meltdowns. And I really am very happy for you both. This is so awesome, you have no idea.” Okay, huge mood swing. I was beaming at them now, body vibrating with joy.

  Much more of this and I was sure they’d have me committed for observation.

  “So you’ll do it?” Uncle Frank slid one arm around Sunny as she leaned into his side, the perfect couple. “Stand with us, I mean?”

  Damn it, tears, freak the hell off. “Yes, of course,” I babbled this time, fighting the need to wail all over again. But this time it was from a place of absolute joy. “Thank you so much for asking.”

  Syd. Seriously. Get a grip.

  I left them in their mix of happiness and worry for me, sending a quick message to Liam the keys were in the van, riding the veil with Charlotte and Sass back home. Neither of them said much, Sassy devouring his meal with his usual cat-like grace while my bodywere served me dinner before joining Meira and me at the table. I spent the entire meal waffling between sobbing my heart out and giggling like a little kid every time I thought about Uncle Frank and Sunny, filling my little sister in on their important news while she squealed in excitement, which naturally set me off again. Those moments of joy and pain were punctuated by the faces of the two kids Iepa insisted were important.

  I retreated from my family at last, leaving Meira chattering happily away to Charlotte about her little boy friend, suddenly tired, eyes so heavy I could barely keep them open, the day having worn me out completely. I collapsed on my bed, the memory of the kids rising just as I fell asleep.

  ***

  —war, this time full out war, the battle going badly for us. I am in the middle of it, my shields crumbling, my power lashing outward, but doing little damage against the sledgehammer destruction of the sorcerer’s assault. Panic grips me. The cacophony of sound pushes me down as witches and Sidhe and demons die around me, faces I know, faces I love even as the sky itself seems to explode and rain down on us. Shattered shards of the veil holding us on this plane break apart and fly free.

  I’m falling, we’re all falling, good and bad alike, the sorcerer’s final attack ending this plane in a rush of flaring light—

  ***

  A breeze ruffled my ponytail, bits tickling my face. I opened my eyes, brushed at them, drew a breath.

  No. Way.

  I’d found myself in the park before, back in the days when my demon and I didn’t exactly get along. She’d taken the opportunity to seize control of my sleeping body while my conscious mind was lost in dreamland, using the chance to run off and use my body all willy-nilly. It scared me then, terrified me, actually. But now?

  Now I was just annoyed.

  Okay, I sent the thought inside me as I looked down at the wet hems of my pajama pants, bare feet covered in newly cut grass. Which one of you thought this was a good idea?

  My demon rumbled her anger and denial while I hugged myself, the breeze cold on my bare arms, tank top not designed for a late spring dead of night.

  Shaylee protested in her Sidhe way, her earth magic pulsing, the very idea she was responsible an affront. And though my vampire was my most recent personality to join me, I was more inclined to believe she had nothing to do with it, even before she softly sent me her denial with a bemused feeling to her touch.

  Grumph. Well then. If not them… ? I looked around, reached out with all of my magic, feeling for the someone or something who’d managed to get me out in the middle of the night. But we were alone, so my fear of outside manipulation faded. Okay, so I wasn’t possessed. At least, not any more than usual.

  Maybe I’d taken up sleepwalking? Lovely.

  As I turned to go back, my power returning home where it belonged, the touch of maji magic spun me around. I barely had time to draw a breath of surprise when the air before me split in half and tried to part.

  A portal, a veil portal. But weak and unable to fully form. I reached for it without thinking, my demon surging out to grab the edges and rip them apart, the rubbery membrane of the veil doing her bidding so easily I almost staggered, prepared as I was for a fight. But this parting felt different, shallow, as though we weren’t severing the wa
ll between planes at all.

  More like someone was riding the veil in this plane and couldn’t find the exit.

  A crushing weight hit me, driving me backward to land on my butt in the dew-wet grass, pressing all of the air from my lungs as the portal began to collapse. My demon roared her fury, diving for it again, snarling her rage as she sliced open the resealing edges and wrenched it wide.

  The pressure increased. My body slid away under the intensity of its push as I reinforced my shielding to hold off whoever wanted this portal closed. I recognized the feel of it, though I was at a loss what to do to stop the sorcerer on the other end of the attack from getting what he wanted.

  Namely, to shut the portal down.

  I had no idea what would happen if whoever rode the veil became trapped inside, unable to escape, but I wasn’t about to let it happen on my watch. Anchoring myself to the ground with every ounce of earth magic Shaylee possessed, I forced myself to my feet and, with the vampire’s power tied to my spirit magic, I conjured a battering ram of my own, driving it into the gap and slamming it into the power of my opponent on the other side.

  The magic attack collapsed, opposition vanishing in a flash. I staggered, falling to my knees from the loss of pressure, just as my demon’s roar of triumph told me she’d managed to hold the portal open.

  Two bodies tumbled out, landing on me, sending me back into the grass with an oof of released air. I caught a glimpse of trees on the other side of the veil, a scene I recognized from the vision in the maji chamber, just before my demon let it go and the portal snapped shut.

  Protect them, Iepa’s voice whispered in my mind. The light and her shadow must survive.

  Now I knew who managed to get me out of bed in the middle of the night.

  ***

  Chapter Nine

  It was a short trip across the park and to the back yard, but I worried the entire time. Despite being careful, I didn’t want to be caught by a normal while levitating the two kids now in my charge. I could have used the veil, but I hesitated in taking them into it so soon after the attack. Besides, the wards on the house and surrounding property wouldn’t let me ride the veil all the way to the back door anyway, so I figured a little quasi-illegal magic use was worth the risk.