by Patti Larsen
I can't. It came out as whiny. Wonderful. I tried again. Contact seems to make it worse. I need to take this thing off.
I didn't get to lift my hands. Her magic pinned my arms. You need to wear it, she snapped. But you have to find a way to shield yourself. She sighed heavily. Has your mother taught you nothing?
You're forgetting I didn't want anything to do with magic, I shot back, tone dry. Whose fault was that exactly?
You have a smart mouth, girl. Gram was amused however, so I knew she didn't take it personally. Fine, I guess if I made this problem I have to fix it. Pay attention and do as I show you.
Uncle Frank nodded to the Council, his testimony already over. He paused one lingering moment, eyes locked on Ameline. I found myself grinning as he smiled and winked at her, blowing her a kiss, though the icy-faced girl didn’t react.
Didn’t seem to matter to Uncle Frank.
Sebastian was next. And last. I didn't have time to mess around with the vampire virus.
But I really didn't have a choice.
Gram grasped onto my magic and pulled me inside myself. It felt like standing in a glowing room filled with blue, amber and green fire swirling around me as if I was underwater.
There. Gram jerked me around and pointed me at the glowing white star in the middle of the space. You see?
Now what? My magic—even my demon’s—shied from the pulsing light. Normally aggressive and furious at any kind of assault, she pulled back, away from the source of the cold illumination. Shaylee refused to touch it at all.
You're a witch too, you know. Gram nudged the family magic. You control all five elements, not just earth and fire.
Right. Water. Air. And the fifth and most powerful.
Spirit.
And vampire magic, Gram asked me as if teaching a child, comes from what?
Ah. Okay, so I was a little slow.
She could sue me.
I called on my spirit, tied to the matching power contained in the family magic, and it came, willingly, eagerly, as if it had only been waiting for me to notice it. The beautiful white power felt similar to the vampire virus, only clean and without guile, perfect source energy from the very soul of the Universe. I let it wash over me, marveled at the strength of it, felt myself go giddy from its sweet nature.
Enough playing. Gram's power gently guided me forward, the spirit magic wrapped around me like a shawl, hanging from me, swaying in time with my movements. I faced the vampire virus and whispered to my magic. It slid forward, flowing like mist and the softest clouds, twining around the core of pulsing white light until its illumination joined together with the invader.
I was suddenly wide awake and totally aware of my surroundings. The whisper of the virus was gone, the pull inside no longer there. In fact, I felt refreshed, pumped up as though I'd had the best sleep and a bunch of happy pills all within a matter of seconds.
Wicked.
That's better, Gram sent, smug. But don't get cocky. The virus will continue to grow in influence the longer you carry it.
Good to know. I was about to ask her more questions, wondering how she knew all this, when the secretary called out a final name.
“Come forth, Sebastian DeWinter, leader of the Blood Clan DeWinter, and give your testimony.”
Sebastian had changed clothes at least. Didn’t make him any less yummy. Or alluring. Neither Batsheva nor Odette looked all that sucked in by his deliciousness for some reason, as he strode forward to face them.
It was a small victory, but the way my life was going lately, I'd take all the good stuff I could get.
Before Sebastian could speak, however, Odette climbed to her feet.
“I must protest,” she said. “This vampire is known to be a danger to himself and others. In his greed, he has taken on the blood of the original virus which created his kind and cannot be trusted.”
The gathered witches looked worried, but Sebastian simply smiled at her, showing the barest of fang.
“I assure you,” he said in his smooth and velvety voice I'd missed since he left us, “I am quite harmless.” He flashed his charm all over the place and the witches sighed and relaxed. “The virus you speak of has been neutralized and I am no longer under its influence.”
“So he says.” Odette rolled her eyes. “Really, where is this going to end, Council? Next, the Hayle family will demand we raise the Wild Hunt so Gwynn ap Nudd can testify.”
I didn't need Gram's prod to speak up. Rather than stand, I languished back in my chair with a grin on my face.
“That won't be necessary,” I said. “Though I would be willing to ask the Seelie Queen herself to join us if you'd like? I'm certain she would come to her daughter's call.”
Okay, I wasn't. But Odette didn't know that.
“Enough.” Batsheva glared, first at me, then at Sebastian. “We have no proof of the safety of your presence.” She gestured at the gathering. “And I must insist on the safety of all present.”
What was she up to?
Sebastian's face went cold. “If my assurance isn't enough,” he said, “perhaps you need more proof. A gathering of vampire clans may be in order, yes?”
More war talk. Batsheva scowled and sat back.
“Of course not.” She seemed very unhappy. “Very well. But we break first before we hear your testimony.”
It wasn't against the rules to call for a break. But it was weird. After all, we'd only heard two witnesses since we came back and Sebastian was the last.
But the other witches were nodding to each other, chattering a little as they prepared to exit for a quick stretch. Batsheva didn't wait for Sebastian to acknowledge her decision, but strode off toward her door. The Council followed quickly while the tall, handsome vampire fumed.
If she was trying to piss him off, she'd done it.
I hovered in my seat, head down, trying to figure out what the evil witch was up to when Gram prodded me.
What the hell are you doing just sitting there? Her mental voice crackled with power. Get up and get moving.
Where? I was on my feet and hurrying out the door before I realized I'd done it. I passed Mom, still guarded by Enforcers and tried to smile at her. She smiled and waved back.
Batsheva is up to something, Gram sent. And I'm tired of waiting around to see what her final card will be. It's time for us to take action.
I wanted to shout and jump up and down all of a sudden, the joy of her words filling me up with raging excitement. Even my demon, who had kept herself quiet since the introduction of the vampire virus, hummed her happiness.
Keep moving. I followed Gram's nudges all the way back to the foyer. The passageway leading to the vampire lair was unguarded. Down there. But don't go down the stairs yet. All the way to the end.
I followed her instructions, hurrying into the dark corridor, worried I'd be stopped by an Enforcer at any moment. But no one called out or appeared so I kept going.
There, that doorway. Stop.
I did, coming to a sudden halt outside as instructed. The door jerked open inward and a gnarled hand reached toward me, grabbing my arm and pulling me inside.
The door thudded shut behind me, Gram's faded blue eyes fixed firmly on mine.
“Finally,” she said. “I'm tired of waiting. Aren't you?”
I hugged her so hard I'm sure I was hurting her, but she didn't protest, simply hugged me fiercely back.
“I missed you too, girl,” she whispered, voice hoarse. When we pulled apart we both had tears in our eyes. I grinned at her, the excitement I felt growing by the moment.
“Let's kick some ass,” I said.
She laughed out loud. “Not quite yet.” One index finger poked me in the nose. “But soon. First, we have some people to talk to.”
The door eased open and Charlotte slid through. She didn't react to Gram's presence but fixed me with a baleful stare.
“You left without me.” Her accusation was almost comical. “I'm your bodyguard, Sydlynn. You're not supp
osed to run off without me.”
“Sorry,” I winked at her. “I wasn't exactly given a choice.”
Her gaze flickered to Gram. “Do better next time,” she said to me before her face returned to the calm she usually showed.
It was probably best I kept my giggling to myself.
“You don't seem surprised to see me, wolf child.” Gram made one of her crazy faces at Charlotte.
The blonde shrugged. “I knew you were here,” she said, tapping her nose. “Your choice to reveal yourself had nothing to do with me.”
Okay, that annoyed me. “You could have told me.”
“I assumed you knew,” Charlotte said without a hint of apology.
I guess I really had, at that.
“We don't have time to discuss each other's hurt feelings,” Gram said. “Come with me, and be quiet, both of you.” She turned away from me and headed to the other side of the room without waiting to see if I'd follow.
Of course I did. All the way to the heavy, ugly tapestry hanging on the far wall. Gram was already pulling it aside, one wrinkled hand pressing a series of stones. As she pulled away, I felt a sigh of earth magic and heard the soft grinding sound of rock moving.
I staggered backward as the ground beneath my feet began to move, the marble floor sliding away to reveal a descending staircase. Gram caught my eye, pressed her finger to her lips and heading down.
The stairs were circular, winding around in a tight, narrow space. I felt Charlotte behind me, claustrophobia gripping me for a moment before my feet touched bottom and I found myself in a wide open corridor. We had gone further down than I'd descended last time, definitely under the basement.
So where were we?
Gram pressed another series of stones and the wall next to the stairs slid over, hiding them.
“There,” she said, “now we can talk without fear of being overheard.” She headed off at a surprising clip, forcing me to trot to keep up. “I've been here for a week or so, exploring this place. I knew a trial had to be coming, after everything I'd uncovered.”
“You could have warned us.” I wanted to be mad, but I was too busy looking around the dark, dungeon-like corridor we walked down.
“Silly girl,” Gram said, “your mother knew.”
Of course she did. Not like she was against keeping things from me or anything.
“We just didn't know when. It came without warning and earlier than I expected.” Gram paused near an opening in the hallway. “I didn't have enough time to gather everything I needed. Until now.”
Her power flared, a series of candles lighting within the room. It was roughly circular, the stone walls carved with what looked like words, though ones I didn't recognize, the entire place filled with spiraling text.
“What is this place?” Charlotte turned in a slow circle.
“One of the reasons Batsheva decided to hold the trial here,” Gram said. “It’s a Maji stronghold.” She hurried forward to a central altar and a large leather satchel sitting next to it.
Maji. “I know about them, don't I?” I found my eyes drawn to the text as if I should understand it.
“Your history, as I recall, isn't the strongest.” Gram grunted a laugh. “Ask me again sometime. All you have to know is this is a place of old power, older even than witchcraft, and will give us what we need to get the job done.” She growled then, like an angry animal. “I just wish I’d uncovered the truth before Batsheva could use it to anchor her magic to the Council room.”
Okay then.
“You remember when Batsheva took over the coven.” Gram turned toward me. “How she was using her power to influence the family against us.”
Cogs turned, puzzle pieces falling into place, my personal idiot meter dinging loudly in my head. “She's doing it again.” The wash of magic, the endless reinforcement of her power in the seals.
“Of course she is, you ninny.” Gram looked disappointed. “You mean you missed it?”
I blushed. “Give me a break, would you? I've been a little busy.”
Gram shook her head. “Perhaps I overestimated you.”
“Well, that was mean.” I stood my ground against her. “You take off without a word, leave me to muddle through giant disasters when you could have helped, play your cryptic best all along and now you accuse me of missing something while I juggle a million other things?” I'd never been angry with her, not really. It was too hard. But I felt my fury rise now.
How dare she?
Gram studied me a moment. “Maybe I'm being too hard on you,” she said. And sighed. “I forget sometimes you're just a girl yet. But Syd, you can't afford to miss anything, not anymore. This is too important. And trust me, even if we win this battle, the war is far from won. Doubts are being laid here, plans put into place that could affect you and the family for years to come.”
“I'll be ready.” I squared my shoulders. “But even more so if you'll stop being so damned secretive and help me.”
Gram cackled suddenly and grabbed my face, kissing me firmly on the mouth. “Brat,” she said. “Where's the fun in that?”
My anger was gone as fast as it came. “Brat yourself,” I said.
“Might I suggest this conversation continue at another time?” Charlotte's eyebrow was raised, a sure sign she was amused. “Sydlynn has an appointment and we have no idea how much longer Batsheva will be in recess.”
Gram nodded and winked at Charlotte. “This one’s a keeper, I think. Now,” she spun back toward the leather bag, “the control Batsheva has is subtle and it's tied to Odette. Blood magic.”
I shuddered even as my brain made one more connection. “Gram,” I said. “The Dumont power isn't blue. It's kind of purple.”
She grinned at me, hopping up and down in a happy jig. “I didn't overestimate you after all. Why is that, Syd?”
Because blue and red made purple. “Oh. My. Swearword.”
She tapped the side of her nose with one finger. “Exactly. More blood magic.”
I didn't shudder this time. I was too overwhelmed with the truth. “But why didn't anyone notice?”
“Family power all has a subtle color difference. And the Dumont magic has been more blue than purple. But the lavender tint you noticed, it tells me more than anyone else is willing to admit.” She pulled something out of the bag with a happy cry. “But that's for later. Right now, I need your help.”
I frowned. Was that a skull in her hand? “Why don't we just tell the Council the truth?” It seemed the most logical solution.
Gram snorted. “We need proof. Surely you understand by now. We must have enough evidence against them and present it as publicly as possible so Batsheva's influence over the others is shattered completely.” Her fingernails tapped on the brow of the dirty skull. “And I know just the place to find such evidence. And the people to deliver it.”
She was not thinking what I knew she was thinking.
“We need witnesses who cannot lie,” she said. “It's a heavy load, but necessary. And I'll do whatever I can to make sure their message is heard.”
I glanced in the bag. Stared at the empty eye sockets of more skulls.
My heart stopped and I almost joined them.
Gram must have felt my hesitation because she turned back, focusing on me, her intensity as terrifying as the grinning bone in her hand.
“There's no other way,” she said. “Time to raise the dead.”
***
Chapter Thirty Three
Charlotte's soft growl broke my shock.
“Necromancy is forbidden,” the weregirl said, fear in her voice humming with her power.
“It is to ordinary witches. But not to Enforcers.” Gram blew out a huff of breath, her impatience clear.
“Then get the Enforcers to do it.” I tried to back away a step only to have Gram snatch my arm and jerk me back. “Gram, you're just going to make things worse.” I could see her standing next to Mom, on trial for the second most forbidden crime in our culture.
>
“Dominic owns the Enforcers, in case you've forgotten.” Gram let me go. “This is the only way. My former status should protect me.”
“But there is no promise of that.” We weren't alone. Charlotte spun with a snarl, crouching between me and the black-robed man at the door. “Your position protected you once, but I can't promise it will do so again.” Pender Tremere pulled back his hood, face wreathed in what looked like agony of indecision.
Gram didn't seem shocked to find him standing there. “I have no other choice.”
“You would break the law without considering the consequences to you and your family?” Pender shook his head. “I stood up for you before, Ethpeal Hayle. I'm not sure it will be possible for me to do so this time.”
“Are you going to stop me, then?” Her voice was deadly quiet, the tension in the room suddenly pressing against me as Gram drew her power to her. I reached for her immediately and offered her all of my strength.
Instead of answering, Pender sighed, his shoulders slumping forward. “My brothers and sisters are scattered,” he said, voice so soft it was hard to hear him. “I am tired of my order being tainted by evil, ruined by Dominic Moromond and the creature he calls wife.” Pender's head came up, the indecision I'd seen gone, replaced by grim certainty. “I've stood by and allowed it to happen.”
“You said you had allies.” It was hard not to scream at him now I had the chance. “Mom saved your life and you betrayed her, just like everyone else.”
He shuddered slightly, but he nodded. “I knew Miriam was being set up. When I returned the Dumonts already influenced the Council on their behalf and my pleas were ignored.” He shook his head. “How could they be so blind?”
“Because they aren't thinking for themselves.” Gram held up the skull while Pender frowned. “And this is the only way to break them free of the spell holding them hostage.”
His hazel eyes widened. “They wouldn't dare.”
“Oh, but they have.” Gram jabbed a finger at him. “What is with you witches? Can you not feel it when someone is trying to take over? Or do you simply not care enough to fight them off?”
Pender's face fell, anxiety so strong I could feel it influence the speed of my own heart. “I've been a fool.”
