by Patti Larsen
I collapsed against one of the big trees and sobbed silently into the darkness, hands pressed to my face to keep sound from escaping. Charlotte hovered somewhere nearby, but I was grateful she didn’t come closer.
I’m here, girl. And Gram’s power wrapped around me, pulled me close and she drew me to her so I could let out all of my pain into her. The part of her that lived in me for so long returned for a moment, filling me up with so much love I cried harder when she pulled away. But they were cleansing tears now, not the empty, tearing sobs trying to destroy me.
Gram. I smeared the tears away with the heels of my hands. How did everything get so messed up?
It’s love, she sent, gruff but kind. Nothing ever goes as planned.
She’d know. Her husband betrayed her and the whole coven, a traitor planted by Odette and Naudia Dumont.
My heart went out to her, then, to my amazing grandmother. You’re here for me, I sent. But was anyone ever there for you?
Doesn’t matter now, she answered. Are you all right?
I drew a shaking breath, did a quick, silent exam of myself. Yes. I am. And I was. Mostly. The hurt was still there, but I could live with it.
Best you can hope for. Gram’s power held me another moment. I’m always here. Remember that.
She let me go even as I hugged the feeling of her to me and wished I could go home and hold her for real.
I almost acted, reaching for the veil, when Sassafras’s mental voice broke through what was left of my grief.
The Dumont brothers are on the move.
So? I didn’t mean to be short with him, but I wasn’t exactly a hundred percent.
So, he shot back, they have company.
The image of Rupe and Simon walking side-by-side with Jean Marc and Kristophe was enough to shove all of my crap down and send me running.
***
Chapter Thirty Five
What were the Dumont brothers doing with my friends? I kicked myself as I considered the possibilities—and failed to realize I should have been watching the clubhouse for them to leave as well as enter. We could have had the pair of them instead of now chasing them for the second time that night, this time in worse company.
At least in my opinion.
I was so grateful for the chance to focus on a disaster I eagerly dove into the veil, almost forgetting Charlotte who lunged to grip my hand at the last second. Kudos to her for not saying anything, and not judging me even for an instant. I could tell from the calm and steady look on her face when we emerged onto Holyoke nothing had changed for her.
Naturally, I arrived the moment Rupe and Simon passed through the door, Jean Marc and Kristophe right behind them. Was it just me or did they seem hesitant? Maybe Darin was widening his net to include witches he deemed worthy.
Which said nothing for his taste.
I was about to turn to Sassafras who sat at my feet, growling softly, when a long, black car pulled up to the front of the Star Club and the back passenger door opened.
My stomach clenched as my eyes traveled over the black-cloaked figure, the set of her shoulders—yes, it was a she—the way she carried her head even inside her hood. I knew her, knew her in the pit of my gut, in the burning fury in my veins, absolutely, without a doubt.
Didn’t need the confirmation of her identity when Ameline Benoit turned her head, her profile clear in the light of a street lamp before she swept her way up the steps to the front door and let herself inside.
My entire body shook with the need to go after her, to pound her into the ground with the power of my magic, to turn her into a wet lump of flesh and blood and splintered bone I would then happily dance through while I cackled my madness.
Ameline.
Gram was rubbing off on me.
“How?” Charlotte’s shock made her look years younger. “I don’t smell her.” She turned to me as if this was my fault. “How, Syd?”
I shook my head, letting my anger simmer. I’d need it later. Yes, I would. “I have no idea,” I said. “But we’re not going to wait until tomorrow night to find out.”
Sassafras growled softly. “Now we have to act,” he said. “If only to take her into custody.”
“She tried to kill me,” I said, “and is wanted by the Council. Which gives me every right to break those wards and go after her.” My demon hummed her happiness, her eagerness to kill while Shaylee shivered in the imagined pleasure of ripping Ameline’s black heart out and feeding it to her.
Only the vampire inside me was still. Enough of an anchor I had the presence of mind to reach out to Uncle Frank and Sunny.
Ameline’s here, I told them. We’re moving now.
They arrived in a shudder of shadow only a moment later. “You’re certain it was her?”
Charlotte still struggled with the truth, muttering to herself in her native language, guttural and angry.
“I’m positive,” I said. I turned to the weregirl and grasped her arm, shaking her a little. Charlotte looked up, met my gaze, rage showing in her face.
“That bitch,” she said. “How did she hide from me?”
“I need you to go to Mom,” I said. “Charlotte, you have to tell her what’s going on.” No way was I reaching for my mother. She could get the news second hand, after I’d torn Ameline and the brothers Dumont brand new gaping holes where none had been before. “Do you understand?”
But Charlotte jerked free of me, shaking her head, her wolf in her eyes, twisting the skin of her face.
“Never,” she snarled. “I will not leave you. Nor will you take from me the chance to have vengeance.”
“I’ll go.” Sassafras stood up, shaking himself. “Now that we know Ameline is here, Miriam will have to listen.” He scampered off into the darkness before I could stop him, not that I would have. He was right. If Mom would finally pay attention and act, it would be under Sassy’s scathing demands.
“No more sneaking,” Sunny said. “We’re going in the front door, no surprises.”
“Agreed,” I said. “I’m tired of standing around.”
As I turned toward the Star Club, I felt Liam’s mind reach for mine. The tentativeness giving way to worry, then a surge of protectiveness as he felt what I was doing.
I’m on my way.
He might have been, but I wasn’t waiting.
I drew in my power, letting it build and build, a delicious, horrible joy filling me up at the act. This was the feeling, the stirring of greatness, what it meant to be powerful. I embraced my magic, the flood of demon fire, the surge of Sidhe energy. It didn’t matter to me the vampire held her peace. I pulled in the family magic at last, felt Gram stir and back me up, the entire coven coming to my call, as I faced the door to the club and smashed down the wards with a single blast of my power.
The door flew inward, splintering around the edges, the shields collapsing with an almost audible sigh until the entire place was defenseless. Sunny and Uncle Frank flashed forward, up the steps and inside while I strode in, Charlotte beside me, like I owned the place.
“Honey,” I called as I stepped over the remains of the door, “I’m home.”
Empty. Sunny flickered into the wide hallway I found myself in from a nearby entry and shook her head. No way the place was empty.
No way.
I checked every room myself, felt around with my power. Stood in the middle of the main room at the end of the hall and fumed as I spun in a slow circle and realized we’d been led on a wild goose chase.
No one. The place was silent.
Liam panted his way down the hall, coming to a gasping halt just inside the door to the fine parlor with its stupid leather seats and velvet curtains and crystal studded chandeliers. I wanted to puke, to scream, to tear the place down with my bare hands.
Where were they?
“Syd.” Charlotte stood near the back of the room, sniffing at one of the curtains. “Here.”
I was at her side, the two vampires with me, Liam hovering behind, as Charlotte jer
ked the curtain wide. Exposing a door.
Cowards. They were hiding from me.
She was reaching for it just as I felt the pressure of a ward breaking, like a bubble being popped, outward toward us. I had only a moment to grab her by the back of her jacket and jerk her away before the door burst open and a rush of bodies came through.
I fought without thinking, sending the attackers flying, spinning, bodies crumpling into walls and furniture, not realizing until we’d almost subdued all of them who I was bringing down. Students, normal students, some of whom I recognized just in passing from seeing them on campus, at least twenty or more of them, practically frothing at the mouth, eyes crazed, skin pale.
Thralled. Chalices. Both.
Witch and vampire magic together.
Abomination, the vampire inside me whispered.
I spun on Uncle Frank and Liam who mopped up the last of the first line of defense. “You two stay up here and contain this mess, then search the rest of the house.” I gestured then to Sunny. “The three of us have a job to do.”
I didn’t give the boys a chance to argue, heading for the dark stairs while my bodywere crept down them, her shape altering as she went, the low hum of her wolf’s voice making my bones vibrate, the steady power of Sunny pressing close behind me.
I just barely reached the bottom step, eyes searching the artificial darkness, even my demon vision unable to penetrate it, when light flared, blinding me a moment and making both Sunny and Charlotte cry out as their photosensitive eyes were assaulted.
I blinked through the tears of returning vision, power wrapped tightly around me, knowing we could be attacked at any second, not surprised when I was finally able to see, the first face that swam into my vision was Ameline’s.
“Hello, Syd,” she said. “I’m so glad you could make it.”
***
Chapter Thirty Six
The dark basement, stone walls weeping with moisture, was full of more bodies, though most of these had their own wits about them. Charlotte hissed, crouching as the wolf inside her reacted to the dozen or so vampires who lurked around the edges of the large space, though the leader, the vamp I recognized from the attack on me in the Yard and from just earlier that night as he escorted my friends into the house the first time, stood next to Ameline on her left as though they were friends. If the evil-to-the-core witch had friends. Most likely she was simply using him and would discard him when it was convenient for her.
Or whenever he became inconvenient.
About another dozen witches, all young, hovered behind Darin who stood at Ameline’s right hand. The smile on his face, so twisted he lost all semblance of humanity, made me want to shove it through the back of his head.
Couldn’t wait, actually.
Only two thralled subjects remained amid all the magic users and creatures in that basement—my friends, Rupe and Simon. Rupe sat at Ameline’s feet, one of her hands locked in his hair, though from the way he leaned into her touch it was clear he liked it.
Ew.
Simon, on the other hand, knelt in front of Darin and looked more out of it than aware. The sight of him crushed and broken in the hands of my enemies was almost enough to start the fight. Almost. If it weren’t for Sunny’s steady presence and the ever-soft calm of the vampire inside me, I’m sure I would have acted before I had all the facts. The last time I’d underestimated Ameline I’d almost died in the parking lot at the Hilltop Hotel in Wilding Springs. This time I didn’t have Mia to bail me out.
“Welcome to the Star Club.” Darin’s giggle came out girly, but he didn’t seem to care, obviously just excited I was here. Which meant, of course, he thought they’d won.
I couldn’t bring myself to be afraid.
It didn’t help his case when Ameline casually turned and struck him. The blow seemed inconsequential, but the witch staggered and fell to his hands and knees next to Simon, blood gushing from his broken nose.
“Your place, little witch,” Ameline said in her crystal clear voice, flat and emotionless as her piercing blue eyes stared into me. “Remember it.”
He groveled at her feet, but couldn’t reach her because Simon was in the way. Rupe. “Forgive me, mistress.”
I allowed my power out to check the rest of the house while she entertained herself. And came across sleeping witches, all older. All adults, even as Uncle Frank and Liam paused to check on each of them. “What have you done to the others?”
“Nothing,” Ameline said. “Except silence those who don’t clearly see my vision.”
So they were more than sleeping. I felt that now, their life-forces waning. Had the vampires fed on them? There wasn’t much I could do about it at the moment, not until I’d crushed the stunningly evil girl into the cold stone floor.
Ameline’s lips quirked slightly as she went back to running her fingers through Rupe’s hair. “I saw this delicious one with Mia,” she said. “And simply had to have him.” Blue eyes glittered. “I take it you don’t approve.”
I shrugged. “Not like you to bother with normals.”
She laughed softly, the sound making my skin crawl, though most people would have found it charming. “He’ll do for now,” she said. “And will make a lovely meal later.”
Rupe smiled up at her in absolute adoration while I found my stomach churning.
“Meal?” She was going to eat him? Had she become some kind of cannibal? I knew she was a blood magic user, but what was that doing to her?
Too late, lost in my confusion, I noticed the vampires had oozed forward and now had us cut off, Sunny’s back to me, Charlotte’s too so we formed a little protective triangle of power. I raised my shields around them, lending them my strength if they needed it, but knew they could take care of themselves.
“Piotr,” Sunny said. “What is the meaning of this?”
The lead vampire smiled at her. Wait, she knew him?
“Dear Teresa,” he said, dark eyes matching his long black hair and floor-length leather coat. “It’s been too long. Your family has missed you, my dear.”
Now, I had been sure my whole life Sunny wasn’t Sunny’s real name. But I’d never asked her real one, partly out of respect for the past I knew she regretted. Hearing her real name thrown out there with such casual disdain sent my temper flaring higher.
But Sunny had it handled. “You are no longer my family,” she said. “I’m a DeWinter now.”
“So you claim,” Piotr drifted closer, his vampires tightening around us while Ameline smiled and watched. “But your blood calls to blood, Teresa, and you cannot resist those who made you.” What was that accent? Something European. Not French, more guttural, but not as harsh as Charlotte’s.
“The vampire who turned me is dead,” she said.
“But the blood line he came from isn’t.” Piotr reached out to touch her cheek, but couldn’t through the hum of my shield. “And we own you, as much as we ever have.”
“The Blood Clan Wilhelm has no hold over me,” she said. “See for yourself.”
He frowned at her, suddenly not so cocky. Sunny turned her head, whispered to me. “Just trust me,” she said. “Let him in.”
Eep. She was asking a lot. But I parted the way, because it was Sunny and she’d never let me down when it really counted.
Piotr touched her cheek then, his long fingers stroking over the flawless flesh. White fire burned in Sunny’s eyes as he tried to wrap her up in his power. There was a brief flare of light I squinted away from, only to find his power falling away from her even as Sunny laughed.
“What have you done?” Piotr’s frown was more shocked than upset.
“I told you,” she said. “I’m a DeWinter now. My leader, Sebastian, drained me, my clan filling me back up again.”
That sounded... dangerous. From the horror on Piotr’s face, I was right.
“It should have killed you.” He pulled away from her, his vampires falling back as though they were affected by his disbelief.
“My
family sustained me,” she said, pride shining in her, power rolling forward as she shoved him back. “Something my birth clan never did.” Her smile was as bright as the sun she was named for as she shuddered softly, blonde hair rippling. I’d never seen her so beautiful. “I’m free of your evil forever,” she said.
Piotr retreated, his vampires moving away with him. The small smile on Ameline’s face was now gone as her forehead pinched in the barest of frowns and when she spoke her voice was as icy cold as her heart.
“Kill her,” she said. “I brought you here for a reason.”
So Ameline knew I’d recruit Sunny to help. Of course. Way to start a vampire war, you bitch.
But Piotr shook his head, his long, black hair shuddering with the motion. “I have no jurisdiction,” he said. “She’s not a Wilhelm any longer.”
“So what?” Ameline pointed at Sunny, her fury finally showing. “Kill her!”
“I was more than willing to remove her from DeWinter’s grasp,” Piotr grated at her, “but that was when I thought she was still one of us.” His dark eyes drifted over Sunny again, in a way that made me wonder if they had a real history. A personal history. “But I have no claim over her. And if I were to attack her now, it would mean instigating a war between clans. That I am not authorized to do.”
“You’ve broken lots of rules so far.” Ameline was practically spitting in rage.
He drew himself up, as cold as she had been, pulling away from her like he only then understood with whom he had allied himself. “No,” he said, “I’ve only tampered with mortals and witches. They are fair game. But to break clan law... that I will not do.”
Ameline’s hand lashed out, much as it had when she struck Darin, but Piotr was a vampire, faster, stronger. He caught her wrist in his hand and held her while he sneered down into her furious face.
“Be grateful you still have the support of my mistress,” he said. “Or you would be dead for daring to strike me, witch.”