by Patti Larsen
Someone else’s shields surrounded him. The glamour filled two jobs, it seemed. One to keep Liam from me and the other, to prevent me from knowing what I now registered so clearly.
“Mom,” I said. “Whose magic is that?”
She turned to me, frowning as the twins nodded in unison.
“He is being held,” they said together, still lost in the fight to break the shielding. “Whatever power feeds these wards, it’s Sidhe in nature, but doesn’t originate in the patient.”
I couldn't sit anymore, rising to pace, arms wrapped around me, eyes locked on Liam and the healers on the way back from the five steps to his dresser. It was hard to make the turn, head away from him, but I had to. Couldn't bear it.
What was happening to my friend?
The words he'd managed to whisper. He'd mentioned the green.
So had Ameline's note.
Oh. My—
“We've brought down his fever.” Lula’s voice broke my thought and spun me around. “But he resists any healing while the shielding holds him. As if his soul is elsewhere.”
Shudder. Mom.
She didn't acknowledge I'd spoken in her head. “Can you break through the wards?”
“We could,” Alphonse said. “But he's in a fragile state, Miriam. It would do more harm than good.”
“What's wrong with him?” A sick feeling rose inside me. I'd failed him when he needed me. Allowed his mother and that bastard Venner to distract me. Let Mom's warning keep me from asking questions.
“We don't know, Leader Hayle,” Lula said. “He has some kind of virus. It's not natural but magical in origin. And, from what we can tell, designed to weaken his physical body and distract his mind. As for the shields… they seem to hold his body together.” Lula seemed to struggle with her next words. “I fear if we break them now, Liam may not survive.”
Mom twitched. Syd, she sent. I'm sorry.
So am I. Bitter, the taste of my failure. It has to be Venner.
Mom didn't argue. “Please, stay with him. Keep trying to heal him of the virus.”
Both twins nodded before turning back to Liam. Charlotte eased out from under my friend, coming to my side, shaking with anger.
“He feels wrong,” she said. “Damaged.” Her black hair shook around her, charcoaled eyes dangerously narrow. “I should have sensed it was more than a flu.”
I had to clench my hands into fists to keep from hitting something as my eyes settled on a bowl and spoon next to Liam's bed. I pointed it out to Mom and the twins. “Sonja was supposed to be taking care of him,” I snarled. “Said she was going to make him soup.” Alphonse pounced on the bowl, a flicker of power sliding around the ceramic surface but stayed blue. He shook his head before setting it down again.
Not the soup. Why did that bring a hysterical giggle to the back of my throat? “So she's either a terrible mother,” my vote, “or she's in on this with Venner,” okay, also my vote.
Yeah, I got two votes. This wasn't a democracy.
“Syd,” Mom said, “we still have no proof Venner or Sonja are involved. Until the twins can uncover what's wrong, we can't act.”
I clenched my shaking hands, wishing I could just shake the stupid rules out of my mother. “Where are they?” Growling would get me nowhere, but I couldn’t control my voice.
Mom shook all right. Her head. “If the twins uncover their involvement, I’ll be the first to question them. I can’t have you running off and demanding answers when we have no evidence.”
She was so wrong. I still had options. “Just take care of him, Mom.” I grabbed Charlotte's hand and ran for the door. “I'll be back with help.”
She didn’t try to stop me. Smart Mom.
I could have had Charlotte sniff Venner and Sonja down, but I wanted backup for this particular instance. And, as much as I wished I could just take the two of them out, Liam had to come first. And I had to do something. Maybe Galleytrot could find a way to heal Liam.
If anyone could.
Galleytrot? I threw the black hound’s name out as a question while I took the stairs two at a time, racing for the Yard before I jumped into the veil. Charlotte didn't resist my grip, flying along beside me.
No answer. Galleytrot. I probed for him, let Shaylee out completely.
Nothing.
This was bad. Unless he was behind the wards of the Gate.
Deep breath, Syd.
The veil welcomed me as always, humming softly with the life of the Node, the touch of my grandmother, Ahbi, now alive and well within it. I tried to avoid the distraction of its/her touch and it/she must have sensed something was wrong, because the usual feeling of happiness faded to grim just as I leaped out of the veil onto the side lawn of town hall back home in Wilding Springs.
The stairs took half a breath, the wards opening easily to me as I raced over and into the Sidhe Gate cavern, already calling the big dog’s name.
“Galleytrot?” I stopped in the silence of the front entry, holding my breath.
“Something's wrong,” Charlotte hissed, easing around me, her wolf flexing visibly inside her.
“I know.” I glanced to the right, into Liam's room. Empty. And a quick look in the archive told me it was also uninhabited, at least the office space. If the hound was somewhere back in the stacks, I'd never find him.
“Sydlynn.” Charlotte's humming growl caught my attention, spun me back toward the main cavern and the Gate.
Where a dark lump of fur lay sprawled on the stone.
Motionless.
***
Chapter Thirteen
A wave of panic drove a million spikes of fear through me as I threw myself over the threshold and onto my knees next to the silent body of the hound. Visions of the Wild Hunt rising without Galleytrot's vigilance, without protection for Liam, the last Gatekeeper, forced my breath from my lungs. Not to mention he was as much a part of my family as anyone. Personal feelings had a way of meaning more to me than the end of the world.
Go figure.
I plunged my hands into the fur of his face and dove inside him, Shaylee leading the way.
Galleytrot. Where was he? Not gone, please, no, not lost to us. Galleytrot!
Nothing. Blackness.
Silence.
Emptiness.
A flicker.
Shaylee caught onto that spark, pulled it to her, cradled it in her Sidhe magic, drawing it outward, upward. I supported her with my earth energy, my demon and vampire doing their best to offer strength while Shaylee rescued Galleytrot from the brink of death and brought him back.
He groaned softly, a rumbling noise shaking the floor as his energy slowly returned, green sparks floating from his jet-black coat. When his eyes snapped open, they flared with red fire. The great hound howled as he leaped to his feet, tossing back his head. The sound filled the room, so loud I had to clamp my hands over my ears, though it did little good. The howl wasn't just audible, but inside my head, fueled by his magic, the entire cavern rocking and shifting, dust falling from the ceiling to drift over us.
Galleytrot finally fell silent, dropping his head, panting with his long tongue lolling out of his mouth. He sank to his haunches, then his belly, drooping until his head rested in my lap, Shaylee's magic holding him close while he gathered his strength again.
I scratched his ears, kissed his muzzle, wiped at tears as I wept for what almost happened.
“Syd,” he whispered. “Liam.”
I hugged him. “It's all right. He’s with Mom’s healers at the moment. I need to know what happened.”
He grumbled a growl. “You don't understand,” he said. “Liam did this, Syd.” One eye opened, flashing red through the sadness. “Why would he try to kill me?”
Um, what? “Tell me everything.” I had to force myself to take breaths as the great hound spoke.
“He arrived home.” Galleytrot panted a few times before licking his chops and continuing. “I ran to greet him, as I always do. I didn't know he intended to retur
n.”
I met Charlotte's eyes as she grunted.
Galleytrot whined like a puppy, turning his face into my lap, body limp. “Syd, he attacked me. Cut the tether of my Sidhe soul to this body.”
I had no idea that was even possible. Wait, Sidhe soul? “How?”
“The power of the Gate.” Galleytrot groaned softly. “I wasn’t expecting him to harm me so I didn’t shield against him. He just reached inside me without warning and…” the big dog chuffed, ears drooping, body shaking. “He used that power to cut the Sidhe soul inside me free. Conlaoch was so terrified, he tried to drag my mortal soul with him. And almost succeeded.” Galleytrot licked the back of my hand. “If you hadn’t come when you did, I don’t think I would have been able to hold on much longer.”
Um, confused. “Sidhe soul?” What was he talking about?
Sydlynn, Shaylee sent. Later. This is more important.
Okay then. “Then what happened?”
“I managed to hold on. I watched Liam open the Gate and pass through.”
“Galleytrot,” I said, blood running so cold, goosebumps rose all over me, “Liam is back at school. Very sick. So it wasn't him.”
The dog lifted his head, met my eyes. “I wouldn't have let him through if it wasn't.”
I had to talk to Mom. Whatever was wrong with Liam? Yeah, no brainer, it was tied to whoever played the imposter.
“Can you stand?” I scooted out from under him. “We have to cross the wards to talk to Mom. She needs to know about the attack.” Maybe knowing Galleytrot almost died would finally snap her out of her whole “follow the rules” broken record.
And I still had to find out what the Sidhe soul stuff was about. Though, as I stood up, my brain processed Shaylee’s existence.
Did Galleytrot have his own version of my Sidhe princess? And if so, why?
Galleytrot heaved himself to his feet, leaning heavily on Charlotte while Shaylee fed him power. “I must be strong enough,” he said. “For Liam.”
I led the pair out into the basement hall and reached for Mom, feeling Gram's mind link with me the moment I did. I told them both what we'd found, my panic rising again though I knew now Galleytrot was all right.
I had other things to panic about.
Galleytrot, you're certain it was Liam? Mom sounded as troubled as I felt.
I assure you, Miriam, the big dog sighed. It was he.
May we examine your memories? Gram's magic pulsed toward him. You wanted proof, Miriam. Maybe it's in the dog's head.
You may, Ethpeal, Galleytrot sent. I have nothing to hide.
I joined my mother and my grandmother. Watched Liam enter the cavern, felt our body run toward him, seen through the hound's eyes. I saw the person who looked and felt like my Sidhe friend and knew Mom and Gram did the same.
It's him, I sent. I'd know Liam's magic anywhere.
As would I, Galleytrot sent.
My stomach knotted as I stared at the image of Liam. Ameline figured out how to take on a demon's form, I sent to them. Could she have done the same with Liam? It made the most sense. Especially when I added her mention of seeing me on the green to his fevered muttering. What had he said?
Gone to the green.
Syd, what you're suggesting is impossible. Mom's power churned.
Actually, Gram sent, it's not.
You've seen this happen before, Mother? I think we both forgot, at times, Gram used to be an Enforcer. Until she piped up with knowledge neither of us had. Made me wonder all over again what her life with the order was like.
Maybe once my life settled down, she'd find the time to tell me.
There have been instances, Gram sent. But it requires the subject's soul.
Ameline stole the soul of the demon boy, Todd, I sent. So it was true.
This is a little different, Syd. Gram's mental voice went silent a moment. How much do you know about the passing of Sidhe heritage?
It's a bloodline thing, right? I didn't have time for a history lesson.
Not exactly. Gram sighed. Let's just say, you're not the only one with a Sidhe hitchhiker in your head.
Shaylee muttered at that, but didn't argue.
Galleytrot’s soul talk came back to me. Sorry?
Mother, what are you talking about? Mom sounded afraid.
It's not something that's common knowledge, Gram sent. Not even for someone like you, Miriam. Gram's chuckle almost made me feel better. The only way to have Sidhe blood is to have one reincarnate inside you.
I already knew that was what happened with Shaylee and me. But I had no idea it was common practice. Now the big hound’s talk of his Sidhe soul was beginning to make sense.
What? Mom's shock came through the connection so clearly I could see her standing outside Liam's room with her mouth hanging open. Just a flash of image, but enough. Sidhe power is parasitical?
Shaylee didn't like her tone or terminology one bit. She tried to send a shaft of Sidhe fire back toward my mother, only to shut down because I kind of loved the witch on the other end, thanks and wanted to keep her around a while.
Not parasites, exactly, Gram sent. But co-inhabitors. Most witches don't even know they have Sidhe souls inside them. Only the strongest are able to influence or even contact their host.
Okay then. Hang on, I sent. How do they get here? The Sidhe realm is sealed.
From ordinary magic, Gram sent. And there are more Gates than just ours, Syd. It’s part of a Gatekeeper’s job to sort souls.
Shudder. I was actually kind of glad Liam never mentioned that. So you're saying Ameline stole the reincarnated soul of a Sidhe?
Not just any soul, she sent. But the one inhabiting Liam. The one his father, his grandfather, all of his ancestors carried for centuries. Divided between them until only one Gatekeeper remained.
Liam.
Gram went on. The hound can tell you more, but that’s the basic gist.
So Ameline is using this soul to take the shape of who she wants to mimic? I shook my head, trying to wrap my mind around it. Why doesn't she look like the Sidhe soul? And what had she done to herself to eliminate her scent? What was she becoming?
Because she's on this plane, Gram sent. The mechanics are a little complicated, ruled by plane law. But once she crossed over through the Gate, you can bet she took on the shape of the Sidhe himself.
And if a reincarnated soul is taken from a host? My heart went to Liam.
It's no wonder the boy is sick, Gram's mental voice grated. And if we don't retrieve the soul and return it to him, he'll die.
There's no way Ameline managed this herself. My power surged, whipping into a frenzy. Anger was my favorite go-to when I felt helpless and this was a perfect example. Venner had to have helped her.
Mom didn't protest.
Smart Mom.
I'm going after her. I spun toward the entrance, only to have Charlotte block my path while Gram and Mom both latched onto me with power.
Not alone you're not.
You get back here right now, young lady!
Guess whose mind said what.
Ameline is on the Sidhe side, I sent while I squirmed to pull free of their power, glaring at Charlotte. With Liam’s soul! You just said he’ll die without it!
And running off without back up and no intel will get you dead. Gram's grunt actually made me pause. Your days of running off half-cocked have to stop, girl. Time to work smarter, not harder.
Sucked. So. Much.
But she was right.
Mom, how is he? Maybe if we brought him to the Gate cavern, the power of the place would help him.
She didn’t say anything for a moment, probably conferring with the twins. When she finally reached for me, her tone was grim. Not well, she sent. But stable.
Can we bring him here? A quick trip through the veil—
Forgive me for interrupting, Lula’s mental voice was as gentle as her spoken one, but moving him now would be a mistake. We will consider it as a last resort. But in his wea
kened condition, I fear we could do more harm than good.
There went that idea. Fine, I'm coming back. I spun, eyes locked on Galleytrot.
“I’m coming with you,” he growled, eyes flaring red.
“We can’t leave the Gate unprotected.” This idea wasn’t working out so well, either.
“With Venemeth in your mother’s sights and Ameline on the other side, I must make Liam my priority. He is our only hope to keep control of the Gate. Now that she has his Sidhe soul, restoring Liam is more important than the portal itself.”
I wasn’t sure I agreed with him, but we had to do something.
“Seal the Gate itself,” the hound said. “She might be able to open it, but if you shield the inside, it will take her some time to break through and escape.” He turned to the entry. “I’ll reinforce the wards at the entry so none may pass within or without. That should be sufficient for the time it will take for me to examine Liam myself.”
It wasn’t the best-case scenario, but we were kind of low on good ideas. It didn’t take Shaylee long to form a thin but powerful seal around the outside edge of the Gate. While Ameline could activate the door itself, the ward would act like a doorstop, keeping it from opening.
I stepped out into the musty basement and offered Galleytrot power as he took his turn, green magic pouring into the existing shields until the glow solidified into shining glass only one with Sidhe blood could see.
Mom, I sent, as comfortable with our solution as I could be. We’re on our way. And I'm bringing Galleytrot with me.
As hard as it was to leave the Gate behind, knowing now full well Ameline was already on the other side and having done everything I possibly could to ensure the Gate’s safety I gathered up the hound and my bodywere and dove into the veil for Harvard before I could change my mind.
***
Chapter Fourteen
Galleytrot chuffed unhappily over Liam while I paced the room again and tried to stay out of his way both magically and physically. The Kennecott twins stepped aside the moment the giant black hound entered the room, hovering together in the corner where I occasionally brushed Alphonse's robe with a muttered apology.