Flesh and Blood

by Patti Larsen

  “Thank you,” he said. “I will see your truth.”

  I dove inside after him, watching him, as he examined Mom's memories. It was weird to relive it all from her point of view, to see me from her eyes, even pick up some of her thoughts. I alternated between blushing, rage and tears as Pender led me through the attack by the Moromonds, felt his disgust at Batsheva's use of blood magic, wound my way with him through the visit by the Chosen of the Light, the fight with Cesard, her fear for me when my magic was stolen and my father's effigy smashed. He examined closely her orders for me to stay away from the coven site and felt his admiration when he understood her true purpose—to force me to do what she was unable to find my demon.

  The Wild he observed with great curiosity. But it was the actions of the Dumonts before the arrival of the Enforcers which made him the most furious.

  When he slid free from Mom, I emerged too, but not without hugging her magically and sending her as much love as I could muster. Her energy hugged me back as I released her and came back to myself.

  “Hear me, Miriam Hayle,” Pender said, “I believe you and know now the lies the Moromonds and Dumonts seed in the hearts of the Council. We were informed, presented proof even, you were the blood magic practitioner. Told you are power hungry, have stolen magic from the Sidhe, demon plane, and the undead race to further your aims.” He glanced at me. “She also informs them your demon children are evil, out of control. That you raised this Cesard and the Wild Hunt in a bid to increase your power.” He looked away for a moment, fingers pressing into his eyes as his shoulders slumped. “There was a time,” he said, “the Hayle Coven was held in high regard. Such regard is gone, I fear, from many minds, at least from the minds that matter.” He met her gaze again, determined but regretful. “If they find a reason to turn against your coven, they will. Most of my fellow Enforcers are still honest, uphold the law. But every day Dominic Moromond dismisses my brothers and sisters and replaces them with his own choices. Typically from the Dumont family.”

  Mom murmured her sympathy.

  “I've had enough,” the Enforcer said. “I simply cannot stand by and watch the Dumonts break Council law, not while I still have breath and wear this cloak.” He shook his head. “If only my one voice meant anything.”

  Mom shifted in her seat. I could see the battle on her face and reached for her mind.

  What do you want to do?

  I have to go talk to them, Syd. Her mind swirled around and around in conflict. But how can I leave now? With your father...

  I'll go. Now that was a disaster waiting to happen. Her blue eyes met mine.

  You have to stay here, she sent. I need you to be with him when he... Oh, Syd.

  She pulled free and faced Pender, no hint of her grief in her voice. “I'm coming back with you,” she said, “to talk to the Council.”

  I saw Celeste shift, felt a whisper of excitement from her. Before I could warn Mom, Pender spoke up.

  “It's just too dangerous,” he said. “At least for the moment. But I have allies. I will speak to them and determine the best course of action. I can at least rally some support and alert you when it is safe to speak to the Council.”

  Mom hesitated, but Pender leaned ahead and squeezed her hand. “I'm aware things are difficult for you right now. Let me do what I can. The Council will listen to me. The Moromonds must pay for what they have done.”

  Mom nodded at him, sinking back in her chair as I let out a barely suppressed sigh of relief. Celeste's scowl was all the reason I needed to be happy Mom was staying put.

  ***

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Pender left with promises to keep in touch, though I wasn't holding my breath. He seemed far too trusting of the Council for my tastes, considering the fact they'd not only been ignoring us, but now seemed like they'd turned against us completely on the word of a woman who was evil personified.

  Celeste left shortly before Pender did, slithering away before I could confront her.

  “Let her go.” Mom sounded so tired I didn't argue with her. I watched her go upstairs, shoulders a little straighter than they had been, but walking right back into her world of grief.

  I couldn't do it, couldn't join her. I instead found myself drifting downstairs into the basement. It seemed so odd to be down there and not sense Dad. He'd become such a fixture in our family magic space it was odd to have the whole place to myself.

  I paused in the middle of the room, turning slowly in a circle. It had been so long since I just looked around. I realized how many boxes still remained down here, remnants of my life I'd long forgotten. It was a simple attempt to forget everything for a little while, my exploration of cardboard heaven. I uncovered a box full of old stuffed animals I'd thought were lost in a previous move, a stack of picture books I could still remember word for word, read aloud in Mom's expressive voice. One of her sweaters, an old favorite of mine, slid free from the confines of its forgotten home, pressed to my nose. It still smelled of her, lilacs and an even earthier, deeper scent reminding me of the Wild.

  I was rummaging happily through a stack of my old clothes, smiling and making soft sounds of pleasure as I discovered bits and pieces I loved but would never wear again when I accidentally knocked over a large box piled one too high. I dove for it, using magic and my body to keep it from crashing to the floor, but I was just a little too slow. The clothes and books inside spilled out over the concrete, the side of the box tugging on the sheet draped over a large object just behind it.

  I caught a glimpse of something shiny and dug in deeper to investigate. The sheet pulled free easily, a small ball of witch light enough to illuminate the massive steel statue of my father hidden carefully away in the corner.

  The sight of the effigy, nearly complete but still rough in feature and polish, made me gasp in sadness. This is what he'd been working on all these months while he fought to part the veil and contact Theridialis. Steel was much stronger than stone for effigies, but was notoriously slow to mold. Was he determined, once he had his demon life back, to never risk his statue again by making it out of metal? Or was he leaving something of himself behind for us, knowing his end was inevitable?

  No, it had to be the first. And I was damned if it would go unfinished. I reached out with my demon magic, felt it flow around the hard steel, heard my demon snuffle and grumble as she fought to reform the thick stuff. It was like pulling on half frozen honey, taking a massive effort to even smooth out a small section. I let go after a moment, sighing. I didn't have the time. Or the power necessary.

  Hang on. Not true. My fingers went to my pocket, the crystal inside. I pulled it free and held it up in my hand. Demon magic, my demon's power, had been funneled away into the core of the thing. Clearly its nature was to contain such power, like a battery of some kind. No wonder Demitrius Strong was so powerful, able to fool me for so long, hold my demon captive. And while she was undiminished from the ordeal, it had saved up enough of her magic it was dominated by it. I gazed at the tiny pulsing heart of amber fire deep inside it before turning and pressing the crystal to the statue.

  It was as though with that one simple act I'd super heated the effigy, given it a life of its own. The steel flowed like liquid, the heart of the crystal pouring its power out into the effort. By the time I was done, I felt tired but content, gazing up at the soft smile on my father's face.

  The crystal pulsed in my hand, its power still present, as though it were a living thing now, a tiny soul linked to my magic, able to recover like I was. I dove inside it, touched its mind, felt the awareness there. Its power swelled to welcome me, to show it was me, my demon, but now something entirely new, a thing of sorcery and magic both.

  Whatever my demon had done to the stone, it was connected to us both permanently.

  “There you go, Dad,” I said softly. “It's done.”

  Arms twined around me from behind, the familiar smell of lilacs filling my senses. Mom hugged me gently.

  “I had no ide
a.” She slid around me, running her hands over the cold steel. “I wish he had told me.”

  I just shrugged. Like it mattered now. The crystal pulsed in my hand just as my heart leaped.

  If this crystal could help me cross the veil, was part sorcery, part demon magic, what was it capable of? The stone pulsed again.

  There was one thing I hadn’t tried.

  “Mom,” I said. “Where's Sassafras?”

  I found him in the park, on the swings, his feet scuffing the dirt under his feet as he spun and spun in endless circles. I took the seat beside him, reaching for his hand. Sassy took mine easily, squeezing a little.

  “Sorry to take off,” he said. “I just couldn't handle it anymore.”

  “I know.” I beat at the excitement in my chest, trying to keep calm and not get my hopes up, but it was hard, so hard, and I was sure I was right. “I need to ask you a favor.” I held up the crystal in front of his eyes, showed him the heart of demon fire. “Do you know what this is?”

  He looked at me funny. “Demitrius Strong’s crystal.”

  I shook my head. “Not anymore. My demon was trapped in it, remember?” I showed him the pulsing amber light. “It helped me cross the veil.”

  He nodded. “Yes, Syd, I know that already.”

  I let out a gust of air in frustration. “But it’s not just demon power. It’s sorcery. And my witch power too. In fact, I think this thing is absorbing any kind of power connected to me these days. Taking on different properties.”

  “Okay.” Sassy frowned. “And?”

  “And,” I said, holding it out to him, “can we try one more time?”

  Sassy’s eyes locked on it, a slight frown erased as he reached out, touched it with a fingertip. “We tried this, didn’t we?”

  “No.” I shook my head with enthusiasm, making the swing beneath me rock side to side. “I used it to see if I could bring him across to Demonicon. But we didn’t even think… Sass, this crystal is full of demon magic.” I held it tight in my fist. “I think now it was a power gathering tool when Demitrius had it. But when he trapped my demon, held her for so long, I think it was altered. And because she was separate from me at the time…” I drew a breath, knowing how crazy the next bit was going to sound. “I think she did something to it. That it’s alive.”

  He didn’t laugh or deny it, simply held out his hand.

  My demon hummed unhappily, but didn’t fight me when I let him take possession. Sassy rolled it over in his palm, frown back as I felt him focus his magic on it. The tiny amber flame inside it pulsed once, like a heartbeat.

  Sassafras looked up into my eyes, his full of excitement. “So you think we can use this to put Harry’s magic back?” It was like he wanted to believe, but still hesitated.

  “I don’t know.” Honestly, I didn’t. But it felt right, and my demon seemed to agree. “Draw it out, maybe? Soak it up? At least the essence of him. Trap it here.” I tapped the stone with one finger. “Then transfer it back into Dad.” I shuddered in excitement. “This thing, it doesn’t need to strip full power, Sass. It just collects the excess.”

  “So if we can pull out enough of Harry’s…” Sassy grinned suddenly and jumped to his feet, the swing swaying wildly as he reached for me and pulled me up, too.

  “You can stay in mortal form.” I hugged him quickly. “And Dad can be a demon again.”

  “Syd,” he whispered. “Brilliant.” I found myself taking the crystal from him. He relinquished it with a grin. “Race you.”

  We didn't run. In fact, we walked, hand in hand, back toward the trees and the edge of the park while the crystal, now safely back in my pocket, pulsed against my hip in time with my demon’s satisfied purring.

  Sassy pulled me to a halt part way with a small smile on his face. “It's been weird,” he said, voice gentle, as if he'd come to terms with something he'd been struggling over. “Being in this form, you know? Over a century and a half as a cat has given me a new perspective. And I'm not sure I know how to be this again.”

  “You'll get used to it.” It was an auto response. But would he? What was about to happen to him when Dad's magic was returned to him? Because I had no doubt now. None.

  Would Sassy revert to the cat I'd loved and lost?

  Sassy shrugged. “Maybe. It's just... I think I prefer being a cat. Isn't that hilarious?” He barked a laugh, but it did have some humor in it so I didn't worry too much. “I feel like I'm not a part of the family anymore, not really, not like this. Meira still won't come near me, did you know that? And I miss you, the way we used to be.”

  “At least you don't shed everywhere anymore.” Weak, but it did the trick. He winked at me.

  “True enough.”

  I hugged him, kissed his cheek. He ducked his head while I laughed myself, feeling lighter and more excited than I had in ages. This was going to work.

  This was going to work.

  “You'll always be welcome,” I said. “I love you no matter what you look like. You're my brother, Sassafras, the brother I never had.”

  Sassy's eyes welled with tears, moisture he dashed away quickly. “Thank you.”

  “Come on,” I said, pulling on his hand, almost bouncing with joy. “Let's go save Dad.”

  He grinned at me and followed.

  I heard the rustle of sound as I turned, only a hint of a whisper, but it was enough to pull me up short. Too late, far too late. Something lashed out of the darkness and struck me on the back of the head.

  I felt the world go black to the sound of Sassafras yelling my name.

  ***

  Chapter Twenty Three

  The world wavered, wobbled. Shapes drifted past me, sounds echoing in and out. I struggled to rise, caught a distorted image of Sassafras, his mouth gaping open, magic flashing, people being thrown about. He staggered as I had, a cloth shoved over his face as he collapsed backward into the arms of someone dressed in white.

  A familiar face drifted into view, her petite features twisted into a snarl of hate. I recognized Rosetta, the white Chosen robe she wore, but was unable to gather my magic, my senses, my head still ringing from the blow I'd taken.

  I knew I had to get up, get moving, go after him, save him... but the world wobbled again and I collapsed sideways, reaching out to him.

  White robes surrounded me, hands grasping, pulling. My demon lashed out on her own, Shaylee at her side, their combined magic sending the Chosen members flying back from me though I was only peripherally aware they took action. The pain had come at last, disorientation fed by agony of a pulsing, knife blade of pain driving through the back of my head.

  Oblivion was the only alternative.

  A wet tongue swiped over my cheek, breath carrying the scent of earth and a growing thunderstorm. I groaned, felt soft fur nudge my face, a stream of healing Sidhe magic sliding over my scalp and into my body, waking me in an instant.

  I sat bolt upright, swaying as dizziness took me for a moment, the great black dog pressing his huge head under my body to hold me up. I hugged him hard, breathing in his scent while I pulled myself together.

  “Sassy.” I looked into Galleytrot's big dark eyes, seeing the stirring red fire deep inside.

  “I felt Shaylee's call,” he said. “I came as quickly as I could.” He nudged me again. “Your mother is coming. It might be good to have you on your feet by the time she arrives.”

  He was so right. I used him for leverage, but by the time I was standing I was already feeling much better. His magic healed the wound and what I'm sure had to have been one doozy of a concussion.

  The Chosen of the Light hadn't learned their lesson yet, it seemed. Time to bring school back into session.

  Mom came running through the grass in her bare feet, face desperate. I reached for her immediately and she grasped onto my magic, grabbing me the moment she was in reach, hugging me tight.

  “What happened?” She looked down at Galleytrot who sat on his haunches, tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth.
/>   “I'm not sure,” he said. “Only that Shaylee told me to hurry.”

  “The Chosen.” I snarled it like it was offensive. It was. “They attacked us, hit me, tried to kidnap me.” My fingers sought out the crystal in my pocket. Still there. Small miracles. But without Sassafras to funnel Dad’s power into it, feed it, build his power inside, there was nothing I could do to help my dying father.

  The source of my hope was gone.

  “Mom,” I choked, “they took Sassafras.”

  She twitched, like I hit her. “We'll find him.”

  Damned straight. The memory of Rosetta's face wavering in my mind sent my blood pressure so high I gasped for air around the anger I felt.

  “This is the last time,” I snarled. “They are so finished.” Mom reached for me, but I pulled away. “Let me handle this. You stay with Dad. He needs you. The Chosen of the Light are my problem.”

  Before Mom could answer, the air rippled and Sunny emerged from flickering shadow. “What happened?” One quick word to her was all it took. “I'm coming with you,” she said.

  “So am I.” Galleytrot chuffed deeply, the red fire in his eyes burning brighter.

  Mom couldn't argue with them.

  She returned to the house without much of a struggle, though I could tell she was at war with her decision. I waited for her to disappear from view before turning to Galleytrot.

  “Track him.”

  The big dog huffed a breath and immediately turned away, loping through the line of trees. I suppressed a shudder of deja-vu and the last time I was in these woods at night, begging Sunny to make me a vampire so I could have some power, any power, to battle the Wild Hunt. My demon grumbled at me, though with good nature, and I knew she was as happy to be home with me as I was to have her.

  Sunny and I reached the street where Galleytrot stood, head in the air, sniffing in every direction. He finally swung toward me, growling softly under his breath.