Steam Union

by Patti Larsen

  No mutters, this time. Pledges of allegiance from all of the coven leaders in the room, spoken in layered, shaking voices. My mind spun away from the emotional moment, looking for something to latch onto to prevent me from sobbing openly at their allegiance. Settled on the understandable realization the Dumont family wasn’t in attendance. Like that was a shocker. Andre Dumont and I weren’t exactly buddies. In fact, if he was still alive, I’d be surprised. After abusing and almost killing my werefriend, Charlotte, he deserved the slow, rotting death she’d inflicted upon him.

  Just funny where my mind went when I was faced with something so huge I wanted to cry.

  Syd. Sass’s mind hugged mine, his furry head swiveling around, amber eyes glowing up at me. Say something, silly.

  I stood slowly, lifting him into my arms, bowed my head.

  “Thank you,” I said, cleared my throat around the tightness there, not entirely defeated by my thoughts of Andre and his coven. “I accept.”

  Their relief cleared the oppression in the room so fast I felt light headed, almost giddy. Grim expressions changed to hope, some laughter and smiles washing away the darkness. Sass hit it on the head. They needed this more than they needed anything. More than a new NAWC, more than comforting words from my mother. They wanted the chance to fight back and to do it as one, as part of a greater whole. I couldn’t turn down the chance to make that happen after fighting so long to see this exact result come to being.

  I waited for them to move through their flood of emotions before pulsing the room with magic to get their attention.

  “First order of business,” I said. “If you want to be safe from the Brotherhood, you have to fight sorcery with sorcery.”

  “We’d heard you’ve been waking power in your family.” Tallah sounded almost jealous. Shenka must have told her and from the slightly guilty twitch of my second’s eyes, I was right.

  “Something all of you need to do,” I said. “That way, if the Brotherhood returns,” I refused to say “when”, though that seemed much more likely, “you will be able to stand against them.”

  Nods of enthusiasm and another wash of excitement. This was what progress felt like. I just hoped we could maintain momentum and not fall back into old habits.

  Cynical much?

  “We don’t want to become our enemy.” Paula’s shining, dark hair shivered, brown eyes huge.

  “I can assure you,” I said as their hesitation returned, “that won’t be the case. You’re all familiar with the Steam Union?”

  A low level of animosity ran through the room.

  “They left us helpless when the Brotherhood attacked.” Karyn hugged herself, leaned away from me.

  “No one knew what was happening.” It was hard to be gentle, but I managed and their worry eased. “And they had their own battle to win, betrayed from within their own ranks.” I didn’t bring up the fact their leader, Eva Southway, had allowed that attack simply by being greedy and accepting every sorcerer—Brotherhood all—into her order after the fall of Liander Belaisle. “I promise the Steam Union members I recommend to help you will do everything they can to teach you how to use your sorcery.” Now, to recruit some. Since Eva wasn’t my biggest fan and seemed to have fallen off her rocker, I wasn’t sure how I’d go about it. Though my grandmother, Ethpeal, and her husband, Demetrius Strong, were both in the Steam Union. Along with outcast Pier Southway for help, I was sure I’d find a way to make this work.

  That was, if Eva didn’t implode her own people in the meantime.

  I’d have to worry about logistics later. For now, I had the coven leaders relaxing again, their optimism hugging me tight.

  A moment later, Karyn’s physical arms were around me, Sassafras purring enthusiasm between us.

  “Thank you,” she said, pulling away, blinking back tears that glistened on her eyelashes. “We knew you wouldn’t let us down.”

  I stepped away, smiling and nodding as the leaders left, whisked away by the drawn faced and silent ex-Enforcers who had brought them to me. I knew a few of them by name only, had met them in the past. Though in some cases not their fault, the bulk of the Enforcer order had been disbanded, rather than charged with crimes against other witches for their role in the Brotherhood takeover. Since they had only stood back and allowed the new law to send witches to their deaths at the hands of the Brotherhood—unforgivable in my estimation, regardless—they had instead been sent home to their covens to bolster numbers. It was clear from their attitudes they would never forgive themselves for following orders.

  The bitter, furious part of me hoped it hurt forever.

  As the last of them left, I found myself standing in the back yard of my house, bare feet on the soft grass, wondering what the hell I’d just gotten myself into.

  ***

  Chapter Three

  I finally returned inside, light from the kitchen drawing me onward. Shenka shuffled some dishes into the sink, Sassafras perched on the table, watching her with the end of his tail twitching.

  “Well,” I said with forced enthusiasm. “That was something.”

  Shenka’s shoulders jerked, but she didn’t turn around. I let her be, sinking into a chair at the table, reaching out to stroke Sass’s fur.

  “Your plan is a good one,” Sass said.

  “Thanks for that, oh high and mighty cat.” It was meant as a joke, but he didn’t laugh and neither did I. Shenka continued to ignore us, but before I could reach out to her to find out what was wrong, Sass went on.

  “Where, pray tell, do you plan on finding enough sorcerers to train all of those covens?” His eyes flared with demon magic, ears flattening.

  “I’m working on it.” I sighed and sat forward, face in my hands, elbows on the table. “The main Steam Union is off the playlist, I guess.” Since Eva kicked me out the last time I saw her… thing was, it was her own fault as far as I was concerned. The Steam Union fell apart because she willingly allowed former Brotherhood members to join her ranks. End of story. When I defeated Belaisle all those years ago and his organization fell apart, I had a sinking feeling the Brotherhood had another plan up their sleeves. When Belaisle resurfaced and attacked our covens, his people woke from their sleep in the Steam Union and did some damage of their own.

  If Eva blamed me for that, she had another thing coming.

  “I’ll talk to Gram and Demetrius,” I said. “And Piers, when he gets in touch again.” I missed my sorcerer friend. His sister, Clover, had come for him weeks ago, begged him to help her sway their mother. I’d had a few sniffs from him since, but nothing tangible. And while I was willing to help, Piers had his own issues to deal with that had nothing to do with me.

  Maybe it was time to change that. I could always try to go through Piers’s girlfriend, Zoe Helios. The young Oracle who saved my family by warning me the Brotherhood were about to attack had lost her ability to see the future. But she still had solid sway over Piers. I was happy to see he’d finally found a great match and liked her very much.

  But her loss of foresight led me down a far different and even more troubling line of thought. Into the fate of the Universe, the loss of visions by the Fates themselves and a huge, looming mess I just couldn’t get into right now.

  Focus. Gotcha.

  “I need to talk to Mom.” This time, Shenka spun around, hands covered in suds, dark eyes snapping anger.

  “You can’t!” She almost shouted at me, her voice wobbling. “Tallah said you’d betray them, but I didn’t believe her.” Shenka sagged, turned away.

  “You’re kidding me, right?” I didn’t want to be angry with her, but damn it, this wasn’t some game we were playing. “Shenka, do you really think it’s a good idea to keep this a secret from Mom? After everything we’ve been through?” She shuddered, wouldn’t meet my eyes. “I’m happy to help them now that they are willing to accept help. But Mom needs to be in on this and you know it.”

  Gently, Sass sent. She’s been troubled since she returned from California. T
here is more to her hurt than we’re hearing or seeing.

  I let out a long breath. “Shenka.” I stood up, went to her, pulled her around. She still wouldn’t meet my gaze, lower lip caught so tight between her teeth the dark, glowing skin looked ashen. “You know I would never do anything to put anyone in danger. I’m the one who fights all she can to do the opposite. Right?”

  She nodded briefly, without comment.

  “Okay,” I said, letting her go, crossing my arms over my chest and leaning against the counter. “You tell me what I should do.”

  She finally met my eyes, hers wide and moist. Her glossy black hair shivered as she shook her head ever so slightly.

  “Oh, Syd,” she whispered. “I don’t know.” And ran from the room, sobbing.

  Okay then.

  Sassafras hopped down from the table. “I’ll go talk to her,” he said. “You get in touch with Miriam and fill her in.”

  I watched his fluffy butt sashay out of the room, tail up and quivering like a furry flag. My mood darkened just enough I’d lost the optimism I felt at the support of the covens. I didn’t ask for this, didn’t want it. But I was stuck.

  Might as well make Mom’s night right along with mine.

  The moment I reached for my mother, another mind touched me, drawing my attention.

  Syd. Trill Zornov’s magic used to feel clean, the purity of her maji creation power a breath of fresh air. But, thanks to her new friends she’d somehow managed to muddy it up with sorcery, eliminating her need for her partnership with her little brother, Owen. And worse, I worried there was something terrible going on with her, tied to her power and the people she kept company with these days.

  We hadn’t parted on good terms last time. I’d basically kicked her and her buddies out of the Stronghold when I found out what she’d done to her magic. But she was my friend, and I refused to just wash my hands of her, especially if she was reaching out first.

  Trill. I hugged her with power and she gratefully hugged me back. Coming over? Face-to-face I might be able to fish more information from her.

  No need, she sent. Just checking in.

  Her reticence to talk in person made me nervous. And though it probably wasn’t necessary, I wanted to see her face and feel her power at the same time, just to make sure she wasn’t hiding anything from me. Paranoid? You betcha.

  It’ll only take you a minute, I half joked. Too busy to see your old friend? I winced inwardly, knowing how much I sucked at subtle.

  She hesitated before sending the affirmative through her magic. Back yard.

  I retraced my steps, the push of her energy cutting through the wards enough warning she beat me there. The family magic stirred, though it let her through. It, too, was uncomfortable with what she’d become.

  Or, correction. What she was becoming. She felt different, still, as though the sorcery inside her smothered her creative power. But she smiled at me, hands in the back pockets of her jeans, long, dark hair in a loose braid over one shoulder. She’d been an angry, frustrated and intense young woman when I met her. Reminded me a lot of me, quite frankly. Trill had matured into a beautiful, though troubled, woman and I wished I’d found more time to spend with her. Maybe I could have kept her from taking this road she seemed to be barreling down with no brakes.

  I approached her, hugged her for real, but Trill’s embrace only lasted a moment before she let me go and backed up. The contact was enough for me to feel the rigid tension in her muscles, for my power to do a quick inventory of hers. She must have known I was snooping because she frowned and looked down, one hand sweeping back her bangs as she shuffled her boots on the grass.

  “Nice to see you,” I said, keeping my tone casual.

  She shook her head, a flash of anger passing over her face. “Don’t patronize me,” she said. “Or handle me. I’m not a child anymore, Syd.”

  I nodded, crossed my arms over my chest. “I know,” I said. “But you’re kind of acting like one, Trill.”

  Her jaw clamped tight before loosening, sadness passing over her entire body like a flood of grief. “I shouldn’t be here,” she whispered. “But I had to talk to you.” Her dark eyes met mine, desperate need in them so intense I swayed toward her. “You need to believe me. No matter what happens. I’m on your side.”

  And yet, her words made me very nervous. “Just the fact you’re saying that to me,” I said, “makes me doubt, Trill.” I dropped my arms to my sides, held out both hands. “Talk to me.”

  She stepped back a pace as though I’d threatened her. “Things are changing, so much is happening.” Her hands clutched at her temples, pulling loose strands from her braid to dangle their loneliness over her face. “I have to act. But everything I do, Syd, is for the good of all.”

  “You’re trying pretty hard to convince me,” I said, power reaching for her as my own anxiety rose up and tried to choke me. Whatever she was into, it had to be bad. “Or are you trying to convince yourself?” I had to pin her down, make her tell me what was going on. But my power slid over hers and she dodged me as easily as if I’d been a normal.

  “I wish you hadn’t done that,” she said, a tear tracking down her cheek. “I trusted you.”

  “No,” I said, sorrow making it hard to speak. “You didn’t. Or it wouldn’t have been necessary.”

  We stood there a long moment, staring at each other while I gathered my magic to subdue her. Something was horribly wrong. And I couldn’t just let her go.

  Darkness burst into life, four tunnels of power opening beside Trill. The family magic crackled in protest, but I quieted it as Cable Noonan and the rest of his people stepped through. The young blood maji leader glared at me before hooking his hand around Trill’s upper arm.

  “We have to go.” His dark eyes never met mine, thick, black beard making him seem older though I could tell from the feel of him he was close to Trill’s early twenties.

  “Get your hands off her.” I startled myself with my powerful reaction as his grip tightened around her.

  “Syd, it’s okay.” She let him manhandle her, a faint smirk on his face as she relented.

  “No,” I said, glaring right at him, hating his casual arrogance, the way his black motorcycle jacket creaked, the coldness of his gaze. “It’s not, Trill. One word and I kick his ass.”

  “Please, don’t worry about me.” She took a voluntary step back with him, heading for the darkness hovering in my back yard. “I’ll see you soon.”

  I hesitated too long. They were already moving and, knowing I’d lost my chance, I could only watch with growing worry as Cable pulled Trill into one of the tunnels and they disappeared.

  But not before her eyes met mine, begging me to understand.

  I just hoped the next time I saw her we were still on the same side after all.

  ***

  Chapter Four

  Again I stood in the back yard, pondering the state of things, when two small bundles of giggling came running across the grass. They hurtled themselves at me while the tall, handsome man who escorted them laughed into the cool evening, a shaggy, giant hound with red fire in his eyes following close behind.

  I scooped my daughter into my arms, kissing Ethie’s tanned cheek soundly. Her blue eyes glittered with good humor, dark hair falling in perfect waves around her lovely face. She was the picture of a Hayle witch, with her father’s darker skin and strong jaw. But there was no doubt in anyone’s mind she was my daughter.

  “Mom.” She poked my nose with one finger. “Sorry we’re late.”

  I kissed her again, set her down and replaced her with her shyly smiling brother. Gabriel was getting so heavy, but I refused to stop picking him up just yet. At seven he looked more and more like his lost father, Liam O’Dane, than ever before. Some days seeing his handsome face made the loss of my first husband easier. I still had a part of Liam with me. But there were other times, like now in the dark mood I was in, his resemblance only brought up sadness.

  He must have sensed
it, because he kissed me gently and patted my cheek.

  “Love you, Mom,” he said.

  I kissed him back, lips pressing to his forehead as I swung him back and forth in my arms.

  “My sweets,” I whispered. “Love you, too.”

  My father, formerly Teris Haralthazar, Ruler of Demonicon, now mortal Harry Hayle, bent and hugged me, Gabriel between us, Ethie sandwiching herself in our legs.

  “Miriam wanted to have dinner,” he said in his deep voice. I nodded, shrugged.

  “No worries,” I said. “We had a busy night.” For a moment I considered filling in Dad about the shadow council, let him dump it in her lap, but figured Mom should hear it from me directly. I bounced Gabriel before setting him down, arms aching from his weight. “How was school?”

  “Awesomesauce!” Ethie giggled at the word, covering her mouth with both hands. She might only have been six, but she had the oldest soul I knew. Considering she carried some of the power of her great-grandmother, Ethpeal, as well as her name, I wasn’t surprised at all. Her new favorite word—one she’d heard me say once and latched onto like it was the best thing ever—rang from her little lips like a battle cry. She spun in a circle, pink dress flaring out around her knees. “Nana taught us how to make fire dance.”

  Mom was training the two of them, thank the elements. Knowing I’d be a terrible teacher helped in the decision, though I felt bad she’d offered before the crap hit the fan. Mom had enough on her plate, running the new Council, but she insisted when I tried to renege.

  “The time with your kids,” she told me with tears in her eyes, “is the only joy I get. Don’t take that away from me.”

  And so every morning Dad picked them up and whisked them off to Harvard. His ability to travel the veil hadn’t left him when we’d destroyed his effigy, giving him the freedom to move about freely. Which meant I could leave the kids in his capable hands and not worry about them.

  “That’s cool,” I said. “You can tell me all about it once you’re in your PJ’s and under the covers.”