by Patti Larsen
“Sorcerer sect,” he said. “I had no idea they were still around.”
Definitely needed to talk. “How did you manage the portal?”
“Nona,” Owen said. “She tried, but the sorcerers blocked her, using up the air around us. That’s how they—we—work.” He shuddered softly before going on. “Maji create but sorcerers, we destroy for gain.”
“So your Nona reached for me.” I set my milk aside, thinking about Iepa. “She was right about one thing—I’m the perfect person to help. With my demon power, I’m able to open the veil and do it all the time.”
Trill was staring at me like I was a little simple. “It’s not your demon power the gives you that ability.”
Gram cleared her throat and sat forward while my demon rumbled her confusion to match mine. “Why are the sorcerers chasing you, children?” All serious again, no hint of the fruity nutcake she tended toward.
How much of it was an act?
“I won’t let them take my brother.” Trill’s angry response didn’t really answer the question, but did at the same time.
“Why do they want Owen?” I hated secrets, half-truths, bits of information. So not helpful.
Owen shook his head, reached out and took his sister’s hand. “It’s not just me,” he said. “Trill’s as much at risk because of me as I am because of her.” He let her go, sitting back again, tone matter-of-fact if tinged with regret. “They want me for their army,” he said, “and they want Trill so they can strip her maji power and kill her.”
***
Chapter Eleven
Breakfast wrapped up pretty quickly after that, Meira and Owen volunteering to clean while Gram’s magic interjected from time to time to speed the process. Trill and I left them to it, retiring to the back yard.
“You might not be able to reach your grandmother through the family wards,” I told her as the cool grass crumpled under my bare feet, the touch of the Sidhe Wild Hunt, sleeping far below the earth whispering to me in its slumber. “But then again, I have no idea what maji power is capable of, so it’s worth a try here before you expose yourself.”
Trill’s lips twisted, a hint of arrogance on her face. “All that power,” she said, “and you still have no clue.”
My fists clenched at my sides, good will fading rapidly. “Listen,” I said, getting all up in her personal space, letting my demon out to snarl. Trill didn’t back down. “I’m here to help, remember? You’re freaking welcome.”
Trill’s nostrils flared, but she nodded. “You’re right,” she said. “I’m sorry. It’s just… you really have no idea?” When she sighed, the loss of air seemed to crush her a little, tight shoulders sagging, face going from angry to sad. “There are so few of us.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I said, not even trying to hide my confusion.
She nodded. “Let me try to reach Nona and then we’ll talk.”
I felt her power stir, drawn to the warmth of it, the sizzle and pop as it woke, the growing heat as she reached outward. It felt familiar, like Iepa’s magic, creation energy rippling easily through the wards in search of Trill’s grandmother.
She shook her head after a moment, tears in her eyes. “I can’t reach that far,” she whispered. “I’m just not strong enough yet.”
I took her hand immediately, opened up to her. “Are any of my magicks useful?”
She looked so shocked at the offer, as my power spread wide like a welcoming flower, I had to laugh.
“I realize you may never have been able to trust anyone,” I said, respect and sadness for her shoving aside my irritation at her attitude, “but you can trust me. And my family. Now, will any of my many personalities be able to help you or am I hanging it all out there for nothing?”
She tried. I felt her fishing around, winced a time or two as she attempted to shove past my vampire core and reach deeper still, but without success. With a final grunt of frustration, she pulled her hand free as my magic coiled back around me.
“It’s no use,” she said. “You’ve buried it.”
Okay, what the freak? “Buried what?”
Trill’s brown eyes were black with frustration. “Your maji gift, Sydlynn.”
“Syd,” I said absently while my brain churned. Oh boy.
Another one?
“You’re saying I have maji blood?” Um, hello? Remember the whole family tree in the cavern thing? Knock, knock, Miss Brilliance. That train left ages ago.
Trill just shrugged. “Somewhere inside you,” she said. “But your powers are so muddy, it’s impossible to find it and isolate it enough to use it.”
Muddy? My demon snarled while Shaylee sniffed in disdain. But the vampire essence twitched, sighed. Was she right? Did the combining of my magicks make things harder for me?
“No,” I said, knowing she was absolutely wrong. “Integration has saved me more times than I can count. I refuse to believe I’m doing it wrong, not when trying to keep the powers separate has only made me vulnerable.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Trill said, perhaps more sharply than she intended because she paused before she went on. “Your powers are separate, whether you like it or not. I’m sure there are times you reach near perfection with them, when they combine and meld. But until you are able to do so on a permanent basis, your control of each will be limited.”
Interesting. “And you know all this how?” Like she’d encountered someone like me before or could possibly know more than I did?
Snort.
“Nona,” she said. “And the teachings of the maji. You’re not unique in history, Sydlynn Hayle, but you are unique in this time and place.”
Cryptic. “If you have it all figured out,” I said, “tell me how to fix it.”
Trill stuffed her hands in the back pockets of her jeans. “I don’t know how.” Ah, finally admitting while maybe she knew the concepts, the actual follow-through needed work.
So helpful.
“None of this matters,” she said, turning away from me, heading for the back door. “Thank you for catching us,” it seemed to hurt her to say thank you, “but we can’t stay.”
I grabbed her arm, pulled her back, purposely touching her skin. Our power connected for a moment. “You can’t just leave,” I said. “Your Nona sent you to me for a reason. And that guardian angel I mentioned? Yeah, I think she’d be a little miffed with me if I just let you go.”
“What are you talking about?” Trill tried to pull free, but I held on.
“First things first,” I said. “We need to hide you and Owen so the sorcerers can’t find you. If they have some way of tracking you neither of you is aware of, smothering that ability is our first priority.” I wanted to kick myself. They’d been here in Wilding Springs for what, four hours or so? Yes, the family wards would offer some protection, but without knowing if the sorcerers were, in fact, able to track the brother and sister, I could very well have left the door wide open for the Brotherhood to find my coven.
Still holding onto Trill, I let my power out, but this time weaving a net of protection around her and, through her, Owen. Sidhe, witch, demon and vampire magic swirled together, each as individual as a snowflake, with their own taste, scent, feeling. By the time I finished and let Trill’s hand drop, tying off the net of energy, she stared at me wide-eyed like I’d done something she thought impossible.
I reached for her, now that she was contained, let my power ease around her. While there was still the barest hint of her magic bleeding through, I was fairly confident if she didn’t try to use her power the barrier I’d built should keep her muffled enough until I found a more permanent solution.
“Well done,” she said, totally grudgingly, but at least she said it. Not that I needed her approval, but if I was going to help protect her and Owen we had to at least try to get along.
“It will do for now,” I said. “I think. I have no idea if sorcerers can see right through this or not. We need a better plan, somewhere they can�
�t penetrate, no matter what.” Shaylee prodded me, the whispering of the Wild Hunt a little louder as she offered the solution.
Brilliant. Sometimes having multiple personalities was a good thing.
“Come on,” I said, marching to the back door and into the house. “I think I know what to do.”
As we entered the kitchen, I saw Owen staring at his own hands, eyes wide. He met my gaze, his full of wonder.
“What did you do to me?” He flexed, his skin seeming to shine as though the surface were coated in a soft layer of frost.
“Shielded you,” I said, “at least for now. But I have a much better idea.”
Gram’s eyes narrowed as she chewed her thumb nail. “The cavern.”
“Exactly.” I motioned for Owen to rise and join us. “Since you don’t know if the sorcerers can track you, we’ll put you somewhere they’ll never find you, even if they can feel you’re around.”
“Should work,” Gram said while Trill scowled.
“Where?”
My turn to have a secret. “You’ll see,” I said. “Let’s go.”
Girl. Gram’s mind touched mine. We need to talk.
Where have you been? Damn, I didn’t mean to wail at her like a hurt child.
Hunting. She paused. I’ve been feeling someone sniffing around Wilding Springs for some time now. Ever since the trial, when we opened the maji chamber.
My stomach clenched as I fixed my eyes on her while the others gathered at the door.
Sorcerers?
It’s been worse since yesterday.
When we found the underchamber.
Gram didn’t comment, didn’t have to. We were closely enough linked I knew she was already aware of what we’d found at the mansion.
It has to be the Brotherhood, she sent. Tracking maji magic. So it’s the girl you need to shield.
Of course. Though I doubted telling Owen would make him feel better.
Just be careful, Gram sent as she shooed me out the door, Charlotte close beside me, Sassy scampering out between my legs to follow Trill and Owen into the driveway. I’m going to have another look around.
And if I tell you to be careful? I paused long enough to hug her, kiss her powder-soft cheek.
I’m always careful, she cackled suddenly in my mind. They can just look the hell out.
I opened the veil, taking the others with me, still worried no matter Gram’s assertions.
And yet, I wouldn’t want to piss her off.
***
Chapter Twelve
I hadn’t bothered to warn the two siblings about our mode of transportation, considering how they’d arrived in my life to begin with, though from the glaring anger on Trill’s face when she stumbled forward out of the darkness I probably should have.
Yeah, not.
Shielding still firmly wrapped around the pair, I led our small group into the library and down the back stairs, to the entry to Liam’s safe haven. Which I was counting on for Trill and Owen, too.
He was waiting for me when I crossed the green barrier, arms wide as he hugged me, kissing the top of my head. I absorbed his warmth, the scent of him so familiar and wonderful, all fresh turned earth and fabric softener mixed with his own subtle taste. His smile didn’t waver as he released me to hug Meira, stroke Sassafras’s fur and nod to Charlotte before turning his attention to the newcomers.
A quick introduction and I had him up to speed.
“Fascinating.” He stared at Trill like he wanted to dissect her, or at least ask her a million questions. I found his attention irritating for some reason, but ignored it and plowed ahead.
“So the idea is, if the Brotherhood can track Trill, the cavern’s out-of-plane shift might keep them from finding her.” I’d had a hard enough time myself when Shaylee first warned me about the Gate, back before I’d met Liam or knew he was the Keeper. I’d discovered not only did the cavern have its own Sidhe protections, there was the subtlest of shifts in its plane location, not quite on our plane, but not quite anywhere else either, as though it hovered between my home and the Sidhe realm behind the massive portal.
“Yes, that makes total sense,” Liam said. “Unless sorcery can penetrate the plane system like demon or Sidhe magic?” He addressed Owen and Trill rather than me. It felt weird to share his attention and I found myself unhappy with the little jealousy burning in my chest.
Like I had the answers he needed. Grow the hell up, Syd.
“That is one power sorcerers don’t have,” Trill said. “Sorcery is only able to function through the destruction of objects or the theft of power. Creation, pure creation, is beyond its ability.” Was she smiling? Acting coy? No, my imagination. But she did seem softer around my tall, handsome friend. Mind you, the sweetness of his nature radiated out of him, a sure-fire way to put anyone at ease. Liam just had that effect on people. Still.
Grrr.
“What do we know of this Brotherhood?” Galleytrot’s deep voice echoed softly in the hall of the cavern.
“Excellent question.” Liam rubbed his hands together with a huge grin, like this wasn’t life and death or anything, but a mystery he couldn’t wait to unravel. “And I know exactly where to look for answers.”
“So do I,” I said, fixing my eyes on Sassafras while Liam turned toward the archive. The silver Persian ignored me, scampering after the Keeper, while Owen looked around in awe, one hand resting on the shoulder of the big black hound.
“Cool digs,” he said.
“Thank you,” Galleytrot said.
I let them go ahead, eyes locked on Trill who, instead of joining her brother and my sister with Liam, instead turned and walked ahead, into the Gate room. I grit my teeth together at her presumption. This was Liam’s home after all. How dare she just wander around like she owned the place?
Okay, big fat reality check. I really needed to get a grip on my animosity. It wasn’t like the Gate was under some kind of lock and key or anything. It stood there, a massive doorway of carved wood and iron bracers, humming softly with Sidhe magic. I held back as Trill examined it, felt Liam join me, the touch of his hand on the back of my neck making me shiver.
“It’s a Gate,” he said, speaking to Trill who turned and nodded.
“I know,” she said. “Nona spoke of such portals between planes. How the Sidhe chose to retreat from this place and how the maji created their plane for them.”
Whoa. What?
“The maji made the Sidhe plane?” How cool was that? So maybe their creation myth stuff wasn’t all a crock of overcooked crap.
Liam left me to stand with Trill. “I’ve been reading up on your kind,” he said. “I have so many questions about the creators.”
Yikes. Jealous much? I had to hug myself to keep from jumping between them as Trill turned and smiled up at him, just a little.
“What would you like to know?”
I should have left. Walked away. I had absolutely no reason to be jealous. Or at least no right. And yet, I couldn’t bring myself to just leave them alone. So I stood on the outside, heart in knots as Liam and Trill spoke.
“You’re correct,” she said. “About the planes. And the Gates. My people,” she paused a moment, “the original creators from who I’m descended, they made all of this.” Her hands made sweeping gestures before her. “Though the art of it is lost to us. And maybe the power.” She shook her head, backing away a step. “Our bloodlines are so weak now, too many generations gone.”
“I’m sure that isn’t true,” Liam said. “And if so, maybe if you worked in a group, together—”
Trill shut down like he’d slapped her, face flat and cold. “I need to find my brother now.”
I stopped her, blocking her path. “There’s something you should know,” I said, though part of me wanted to keep things from her, just to punish her. Seriously? No backsliding.
“Then tell me,” she shot back, “or get out of my way.”
Snap. I would have smacked her, I’m sure of it, if Liam hadn’t
appeared at my side and slid his arm around my shoulders.
“There’s a maji stronghold not far from here,” he said, saving me from snapping her damned head right off and spitting it out. “In a mansion controlled by vampires. Friendly vampires.” He punctuated his caveat with a smile. “Syd’s family, no less.” His arm hugged me, Sidhe power stroking my magic in slow, soothing pets.
Yeah, it worked. Liam might have been gentle and mild and all that soppy mess, but he knew how to manipulate me.
Trill’s closed expression opened a little. “What kind of stronghold?”
“A history,” he said, excitement returning to his voice. “Of the maji, of everything.”
Trill nodded slowly, sliding her glasses back as her black hair rippled around her shoulders. “I’ve heard of such places,” she said. “Nona says there are buried chambers all over the world with family records, bloodlines tracked for centuries.”
“Exactly!” Liam let me go, his happy energy enough to finish off the last of my irritation.
“I can take you to see it,” I said. “If you want.”
Again she closed off, but not completely. A crack of life still showed through her mask. “Just tell me where it is,” she said. “Owen and I can go there ourselves.”
What was her problem, really? Was this some kind of character flaw or did she get a kick out of pissing me off? She had no idea what a pissed-off Syd was like. And she didn’t want to find out.
Liam’s power reached for me for the second time, but this time I batted it away, even more annoyed.
“You’re not going anywhere,” I snapped. “Forget I even asked.”
I turned away from her, needing to get out of her space, far enough so I could cool down before I did something I’d regret later. Maybe regret. Maybe not.
I was leaning very heavily toward not.
“You can’t trap us here.” Trill grabbed me, pulled me back, rage showing in her eyes, in the tension of her hand and the coiling of her magic. The shields I’d built around her flexed as she pushed against them, but they held.
“I’m not,” I snarled back. “In case you forgot, I saved your life. And I’m still trying to. I’m trying to keep you safe. You know what? Just forget it.” I jerked free of her grip. “Why don’t you and Owen just wander off then and see how far you get before the Brotherhood finds you?”