by Patti Larsen
Still, I worried. Just because she had access to her magic now didn’t mean all those years of suffering and being told she was crazy were just wiped away. She still had a lot of trauma to deal with. And while I’d been mostly leaving that up to Mom and Gram to manage, I still felt responsible for keeping Pain level.
She looked up at me, her crystal blue eyes meeting mine and for a heartbeat I had a feeling of déjà vu. Where had I seen those eyes before? Hers were familiar, of course they were, but I’d seen someone else with the same eyes lately…
My train of thought was cut off as the door to the diner swung open and the Dumont brothers walked in. This time they weren’t alone. Quaid was with them, hand in hand with Ameline, their red haired bodyguard staying by the door.
I felt my temper rise immediately, saw Alison glance over her shoulder to see what pissed me off and heard her gasp.
“Them again,” she said. “And is that Quaid? Who’s he with?”
She turned back, met my gaze then covered her mouth with both hands, horror in her eyes. “Oh Syd,” she said softly. “I’m so sorry.”
I shrugged, letting my anger simmer, sending it all at tall, dark and offensive. He didn’t look my way, but I knew he felt the animosity I sent toward him because his shoulders twitched like he was trying to shake me off.
Jean Marc spotted me and his favorite smirk appeared. My simmer cranked up a notch.
“Who are they?” I glanced at Pain, saw the look of fascination on her face and at last made the connection.
She had Odette Dumont’s eyes.
But that couldn’t be possible. There was no way Pain was a Dumont. Mom would have known. Mom would have told me.
Mom was in huge trouble.
The brothers came to a halt next to our table, eyes running over first Alison then Pain. My Goth friend was totally drawn in, I could tell. I felt her magic swell and connect with them though I was sure she didn’t know she was even doing it. I gently inserted a wall between her and their power, easing her back while my magic slapped both brothers sharply.
Kristophe bared his teeth at me like an animal, but Jean Marc ignored me.
“I’m Mia.” Pain didn’t even wait for them to ask. She beamed, all sadness gone. My heart clenched for her, knowing her need and how vulnerable she could be.
“Jean Marc Dumont.” He kissed her hand as he’d done with Alison while my bestie sighed next to me. Oh no he didn’t. But she was magic free. Just being stupid over a handsome face.
“Kristophe Dumont.” Thing two took his place, same nasty hand kissing in action. I wanted to slap him for real. “Delightful.”
“You’re witches.” Pain said it so loudly even the brothers seemed put off. Alison looked confused. Oh crap.
“As are you.” Jean Marc’s gaze flickered to me. “With the Hayle coven, yes?”
I opened my mouth to say something when Pain shook her head. “I haven’t sworn to a coven yet.”
That floored me all the way down to the ground. She hadn’t? But she felt like… wait a minute. She felt like us, but only on the surface, from interacting with the family magic. But hers was still her own and I was actually hurt by that.
“Our coven is always on the search for such powerful young witches,” Jean Marc said, while Kristophe snickered at me. “We are hosting a family dinner this evening, at the Hillcrest Hotel. We would adore for you to join us. 8pm.”
“She can’t make it,” I snarled between clenched teeth. No way was I letting them sink their nasty hooks into my friend.
But Pain had other ideas. She glared at me before smiling at the brothers. “I’d love to,” she said. “I’ll be there.”
Kristophe laughed out loud and said something in French. Jean Marc smiled but there was only animosity in it and, naturally, it was aimed at me.
“Tonight then, mon cher.” The brothers moved on, leaving Quaid and Ameline to pass us. They didn’t even pause, though Ameline met Pain’s gaze and smiled a little, letting her eyes drift over me as she left my view.
“Wow,” Pain said, “they are amazing, aren’t they?” She was a totally different person all of a sudden, perked up completely, all traces of her sorrow for Blood gone.
“If you like jerks,” I said. “You have no idea who they are, Pain.”
She shrugged. “So you say.”
“I have a question.” Alison looked back and forth between us. “What’s with all the witch and coven business?”
Pain just stared at her, as if suddenly realizing what she’d done. Which left me to clean up the mess.
“It’s a game,” I said. I was taking lame to a whole new level. “Role playing, you know? Online.” I kicked Pain’s foot under the table. “Stupid, right? But I play sometimes. You too, right, Pain?”
She shrugged, looking over her shoulder at where the brothers, Quaid and his little tart were sitting in the booth at the back wall, two away from us.
Alison made a face like I’d just told her I loved broccoli. “I hate those games,” she said. “Too much thinking.”
Tell me about it.
“Yeah, well,” I said, “some people take it way too seriously.”
Once more the door opened, but this time I groaned out loud. Page and company. Delightful. The head cheerleader at Wilding Springs High had a hate on for me, though I had no idea why. There was a time when we were actually friends, back before she was reaccepted onto the squad.
To think I’d let her hang out with me.
Ever since she’d taken over as leader of the bitch club at school, Page had made it her mission to make my life miserable if possible. I rarely paid attention to her efforts. Unlike Alison who had been a master, Page could barely wrangle annoyance out of me, let alone tears and despair.
I think she knew it, too. Maybe that was why she hated me so much. I’d seen her at her weakest and couldn’t bring myself to fear her.
I watched her spot first me, with an evil grin and whispers to her friends, then the group at the table behind us. Suddenly I wasn’t interesting, I guess. She and her handful of cheerbots walked right past us without a word, heading directly for the Dumonts. Within moments, she and her friends were seated at the table next to them, laughing and chatting like they were old friends.
“That should tell you what kind of guys they are right there,” I said. “No accounting for taste.”
Alison snorted and tapped glasses with me. “True that.”
Pain didn’t say anything, just kept looking back with a soft frown on her face.
Beth arrived in a hurry, delivering our ice cream. I forced myself to smile at her despite my mood.
“Sorry,” she said quickly, “have to run. Busy day!” She headed immediately for the growing noise behind us.
I took one mouthful of my dessert before shoving it aside. I just couldn’t sit there and listen to them, their stupid French accents, the way the girls giggled at everything they said.
Ten dollars found its way out of my pocket and onto the table. “I have to go.”
Pain met my eyes. “Are you all right?”
“Fine.” I slid out of the booth. “I just need some air.”
I turned to leave, knowing I was abandoning Alison and Pain to the mercy of the cousins. I’d warned them, hadn’t I? But if I tried to convince them to leave, there would be a scene and if I stayed much longer, there would be an even bigger scene.
And I’d promised my mother.
Before I had a chance to take one step, I felt a surge of magic. It spun me around, my rage roaring forward, demon in a frothing fury, to see the group of assholes with Beth pinned in the middle.
There were tears on her face. How dare they tug on her skirt, tease her, use magic to push her around? And Quaid, sitting there, head turned to the side, looking out the window, refusing to do anything about it.
Alison was on her feet, staring. Even she looked angry at last. I grabbed her hand.
“Let me take care of this,” I said. I strode forward, almost
to them when Beth broke free, sobbing, heading right for me. Kristophe’s magic leapt out and tripped her, sending her flying toward me.
***
Chapter Twenty One
Beth wasn’t close enough for me to catch her physically. All I had was magic. I threw out some air in front of her, supporting her, preventing her from face planting into the floor. The only problem was, she hung there at an impossible angle for what seemed like a long moment, eyes locked on mine as her fear subsided.
I rushed to her, closing the distance to try to disguise the catch, helping her stand up straight.
“Thanks, Syd,” she whispered before hurrying off. I glared at the brothers while Kristophe made kissing sounds at me and Jean Marc grinned. Page laughed out loud, directly at me before turning her back.
The only one who didn’t react was Ameline. She just stared at me with her dead eyes and flat expression. I was so caught up in her gaze I didn’t notice Quaid was beside me until he had a hold of my arm—hadn’t I told him not to touch me?—and was dragging me outside.
The moment we were on the street I hit him with air magic, slamming him into the side of the building. I didn’t give a crap if there were witnesses at that point. Besides, no one seemed to care in this town one way or the other.
“What the hell were you thinking?” He jerked himself upright, fury in his eyes. “You don’t use magic in the open like that.”
“Tell that to your cousins,” I said. “You have no right to say anything to me, Quaid Moromond.”
“Dumont,” he snapped.
“Whoever,” I snarled back. “I was so wrong about you, you know that? I thought you were a good person, that you cared about people. Now I see who you really are. As much of a pig as Dominic was.”
For a heartbeat I was actually afraid of him, wondering if I’d gone too far. The absolute, all consuming hate in his eyes made me hesitate.
“Don’t you ever,” he said in a voice that hummed with deadly intent, “ever say that again.”
“Maybe if you start acting like a human being instead of a heartless ass, I’ll think about it.”
Quaid visibly struggled with his anger before shaking his head. “You don’t understand.”
“No, Quaid,” I said, “I don’t. I really don’t. The guy I loved would never sit by and let a friend be turned into a target.”
I turned and walked away from him, my anger a physical thing inside me, driving my feet to move faster than normal, my demon writhing inside me while my Sidhe spirit tried to comfort me.
I slammed my way into the house and up to my room, ignoring Sassy’s glare and Galleytrot’s questions, throwing myself on the bed where I could punch my pillow over and over again. It wasn’t long before I heard a car pull up, the slamming of a door, voices in the kitchen.
The summons was expected. I knew the consequences of what I’d done. Someone turned me in and now I had to pay my dues. But my rage at Quaid grew by the moment as I stomped my way down the stairs and into the kitchen to face my mother.
She stood with Celeste, face calm while the tall, mannish witch beside her jerked on her thick brown braid, eyes flashing with indignation. I didn’t spare the woman even a moment, coming to stand before Mom.
“I used magic in public,” I said. “I was planning to tell you,” I shot Celeste a scowl, “when I calmed down. Clearly someone couldn’t wait to turn me in.”
“Of course you were going to confess,” Celeste said with weighty sarcasm. “Don’t lie to us, Sydlynn.”
Mom’s magic lashed out and slapped Celeste so hard the woman staggered. She stared at Mom, open-mouthed, hand on her face.
“I’ve told you time and again,” Mom said, voice calm, “never speak to my daughter that way. Nor do you have the right to demand anything. I am the leader of this coven, Celeste Oberman.”
“Then lead it,” the woman snapped, her anger returning. “And stop allowing your child to run roughshod over coven law.”
Mom waved one hand at her. “You can go.”
Celeste didn’t move. “I have the right to hear what she has to say, as her accuser.”
Mom turned on her so fast I knew her vampire power fed her. “Go,” Mom said. “Before I make your leaving permanent.”
Celeste faced Mom down for only a moment. My mind flashed to the handful of times she’d challenged Mom’s authority so far and wondered why Mom didn’t just kick her troublesome ass out of the family for good.
Power passed between them, Celeste’s almost testing. Mom immediately struck her again, this time driving Celeste back three feet.
“Is it time?” Mom asked softly. “Are you ready to take me on yet, Celeste?”
The woman scowled, shook her head and fled.
“About time you put her in her place,” I said as Mom turned back to me. I suddenly wished I’d stayed quiet. The anger in her face made me flinch.
“You promised me,” she said. “You were to stay away from those boys.” Mom let out a heavy sigh. “Syd, this is exactly what Odette wants. To divide the coven. To create disaster. Don’t you understand? Each and every one of her family she’s brought here has their orders. To create as much trouble as they can.”
“They used magic in public first.” Why did that come out whiny?
“I don’t care if they conjured a giant purple elephant,” Mom snapped. “Do. Not. Go. Near. Them. Again. Understood?”
“Fine,” I snapped. “Kind of hard to do at dinner.”
Mom looked away. “You’re not coming to dinner,” she said.
Oh, yes I was. “Oh, yes I am.”
“Don’t make me give you a direct order,” Mom snapped. “I mean it, Sydlynn. You’re staying out of this from now on. You clearly can’t keep your temper in check and I can’t have you going off when I need you the most.”
That hurt. “You don’t trust me.”
“You’ve proven I can’t.” Mom stepped away. “I’m doing this for your protection. But Syd, I have to think of the entire coven.”
“You do that,” I snarled. “I’ll be at Alison’s.”
I didn’t give her the chance to argue. A breath of air magic winged my keys to my hand, the power use a purposeful snub. I threw myself behind the wheel, glaring out Minnie’s windshield the whole way to the mansion.
Alison was happy to see me, ushering me inside the moment I arrived.
“Are you okay?” She seemed a little breathless. “Quaid looked so mad.”
“Whatever,” I said. “What happened after I left?”
“The manager made them leave,” she said. “Poor Beth couldn’t stop crying, they were so mean to her.” She rolled her eyes. “I guess you were right about them.”
Will wonders never cease.
We were on our way upstairs when Angela appeared at the bottom.
“Girls!” She trotted up to meet us. “Syd, how are you?”
Um, wow. Weird. Angela was being nice to me? “Fine, Mrs. Morgan,” I said.
Even Alison seemed a little freaked. “We’re just going to my room, Mother,” she said.
“That’s fine, honey.” She kissed Alison’s cheek, leaving behind a sticky pink stain my friend immediately scrubbed away. “I’m going out tonight, just so you know. I met the most amazing people, and they invited me for drinks.”
Alarm bells. I felt around Angela, fury back in full force at the touch of magic that she carried around. “Really,” I said. “Who are they?”
“Well,” she winked, “mostly just one. His name is Andre. He’s French.” She giggled like she was a teenager and not a married woman talking about meeting a strange man at a hotel.
Alison’s face flushed bright red. “You think that’s appropriate, Mother?”
Angela rolled her eyes. “You’re such a prude. It’s perfectly innocent.” She turned and retreated down the staircase. “Have a lovely evening, girls.”
Alison didn’t say anything, just spun and stomped her way to her room. I followed her, trying to figure out ho
w to wrangle all the threads the Dumonts were putting out, knowing more than ever Mom was right and they were only here to cause trouble. I was still mad at my mother, so I held off warning her, but knew I’d cave.
But first I had to talk to Alison.
Before I had a chance to open my mouth and tell her about Andre, she whipped a bottle of vodka out from under her pillow and upended it, gulping it down. I grabbed for it, took it away from her while she scowled at me.
“Give it back.” She made a lunge toward it, but I held it off, turning and dashing across her room to her bathroom. I emptied the contents of the bottle into her pearl-coated sink, the faint smell of alcohol mixing with the sweet scent of her favorite bath products.
Alison stomped her foot. “Why did you do that?”
“Because,” I said, tossing the empty bottle into the trash on a pile of pink polish tinted tissue, “I don’t want you to turn into your mother.”
Boy, did that backfire.
“Get out.” She snarled it quietly at first before screaming at me. “Get out!”
There was no calming her down. Not when she spun and jerked open her linen closet, digging out another full bottle. I watched with growing sadness and misery as she drained three hefty swallows, glaring at me with defiance.
I didn’t say a word. There was nothing to say. She’d made her choice and I wasn’t welcome.
Rosetta slammed the door behind me as I left.
I still hadn’t come to terms with anything by the time I pulled Minnie into my driveway. The sun had gone down, the evening cooling off, feeling like rain. Mom’s car was conspicuously absent. I checked the time, 7:49. She was already gone to the hotel, she and the other people she trusted.
My car door didn’t make the sound I hoped, the cushioned hinges only allowing a deep thud. Not good enough. I turned and ran, feet pounding on the sidewalk, heading for the park, just wanting to find something I could quietly destroy. A tree would do.
