Enforcer

by Patti Larsen

  “Demetrius.” I touched his arm as he smiled at me, blue eyes wide and staring.

  “Yummynom,” he said through the mouthful. “Jolly belly, Syd.”

  Oh boy.

  He'd held it together long enough to return to us. Well, good enough, then. Even though I had a million questions for him, he'd earned his peace. And dinner.

  But he shuddered as I pulled away, the strand of wild fire magic prodding him gently. I watched the life return to his eyes, awareness even as he gasped and almost choked.

  I patted him on the back as he gulped a drink of water before sagging in his chair, food forgotten.

  “Syd,” he whispered. “Oh, Syd.”

  Tears leaped into my eyes. “I know,” I said. “Thank you for showing us. We needed to know.”

  His head bobbed, chin on his chest. “Hurts, owie,” he said.

  I just bet.

  “Listen,” I said. “There's more. Piers and the Steam Union are planning to go after Vasyl tomorrow and try to free Applegate.” Why was I telling him? Because, even broken, even reduced to this tiny man who wore stained t-shirts and often had food in his teeth, Demetrius Strong suddenly reminded me so much of Gram I couldn't help myself.

  I trusted him.

  Imagine that?

  He shivered, turned sideways in his chair, laying his head on my shoulder. “Won't be easy,” he said.

  I hugged him, cradling him like a toddler, rocking a little as the wild magicks slipped over him, cooing softly. “Will it work?”

  Demetrius sat up abruptly, pointed at my chest.

  “You might,” he said.

  I sighed. “I can't. Mom ordered me not to.”

  His sigh was long, drawn out, chest collapsing. “Then,” he said, “dunno.”

  I sat back as he dove into his meal again. And focused on the wild magicks.

  “You lot,” I said. “Any help from the peanut gallery?”

  They actually meeped as a unit. Froze in place.

  Hmmm. “I need your help,” I said, wondering how much they understood.

  Twitch. Spark.

  “Can you do anything to free the witches?” Applegate, Brindle, the Enforcers…worth a shot.

  With a sob of compressing air, the wild magicks bundled together into a shining ball and vanished.

  Cowards.

  Still, it made me smile for some reason. Like a pack of bad kids running off when there were chores to be done.

  Which meant I only had the hard way left.

  Everything in me rebelled as I reached out to Ameline.

  She answered immediately.

  Here's the deal, I sent in a whip crack of magic. And told her what Piers had in mind.

  She listened quietly until I was finished.

  He'll fail, she sent.

  Cynic, I shot back. But yeah. I already knew that, didn't I? Fine, I sent. We work together. I'd have to find a way around Mom's order.

  Wait a second. Considering she'd given me total autonomy, did I have to follow her order?

  Worth arguing with her about after the mess was sorted out.

  But? Ameline's mind rang with amusement.

  You keep your grubby paws off my sister, I snarled. My demon pushed against her to add her own threat to my words. We'll find another way to work this out.

  Ameline's artful sigh made my teeth ache. So stubborn, she sent. As you wish. I'll be in touch.

  Cut me off. And no amount of screaming at her did me any good.

  I really, really, really hated her guts.

  Really, really.

  Demetrius passed out on the couch, Shenka arriving home with a grim expression to cover him with a blanket after the twins retired to their beds.

  She refused to talk to me about her sister, which I took as a bad sign. But I didn't push her. I wasn't the only one with problems I wasn't willing to share.

  The next morning dawned bright and beautiful, warm even as the sun rose. The kind of day I used to love when I just wanted to be ordinary, a perfect day for soccer, hanging out in the back yard with some lemonade and a sappy romance novel and lying under the stars with Meira and Sassafras, making up stories about what we saw in the night sky.

  Maybe I'd have days like those again.

  I could only hope for that kind of peace.

  The last day of conclave would be filled with policy arguments, new law and territory dispute rulings and any wrap-up needed from the last two days. Would be nice to have the issue of suddenly exposing all magic users to normals swept under the rug for another one hundred years. I laughed to myself, sipping a strong cup of coffee as I realized I was so wrapped up in what was going on behind the scenes, I'd paid little attention to the actual reason most of the magical races were here.

  Let them make their rules and solidify their treaties. Live their lives in peace with their heads stuck in the sand. I had their backs.

  And, honestly, wouldn't have trusted anyone else to the job anyway.

  The air of excitement was back, despite the rapid arrival of the Brotherhood and Belaisle's equally swift departure. I guess that meant the gathering was a success. The Council would be happy, at least.

  As I sat in my usual seat and tuned in to what was going on, I realized something. The speed at which the gathering made their changes to the order of things was in direct conjunction to the importance of said order. When items really mattered, needed deep discussion and input from all sides, they flew ahead full steam. And yet, the pettiest things, inconsequential, were assigned time at a later date to be hammered out and chewed over.

  Snort. Witches. At least the wild idea to jerk back the curtain and say hiya to the unmagic world was forcing them to slow down.

  For now.

  I spotted Charlotte as she rose, circled the bleachers. Welcomed her as she sat beside me. Her wolf’s spirit slipped over her eyes as she met my gaze with her typical blank expression.

  We are behind you, she sent, hesitant but more powerful as she got the hang of it. No matter what happens.

  Nice to know, I sent back. You're growing stronger, I see.

  She smiled a little. Your lessons are helping.

  The very idea I was teaching her how to use her magic always made me giggle.

  You know what's coming? I squeezed her hand.

  Miriam told us the final plan this morning, she sent. Looked upset.

  Don't worry, I sent. I have my own plans.

  Charlotte perked immediately. I knew you would. She tipped her head to one side, eyes narrowing. There's more.

  Sigh. I hated how easy it was for her to read me.

  I have to use Ameline, I sent.

  Her mind growled, wolf showing up again. Nothing good comes of her, she sent.

  Tell me about it.

  And yet, Charlotte sent, I trust you, Syd. I know you will do only what is best for all of us.

  No pressure or anything.

  I just hoped her total support wasn't unfounded. Or I'd be in a whole heaping pile of doodoo without a shovel.

  ***

  Chapter Thirty One

  If I had to sit through the creation of one more silly law, I was going to attack Applegate openly just to get the party started.

  “Surely you agree,” a portly witch with a strong Spanish accent, a coven leader from the South American territory, appealed to first her Council and then to Mom. “Adding this clause to present law will ensure the purity of witch blood.”

  I rolled my eyes, lower lip aching from all of my irritating chewing. At least they weren’t talking about the power reveal yet. Petty lawmaking could go on all day as far as I was concerned. Anything to keep the gathering from passing legislation on exposing us to normals.

  Mom's sigh was unheaved, but I heard it in her voice. “I understand your concern,” she said while I tossed my hands in the air before I could stop myself. “And though I really do believe your worries that dogs and cats,” snort, okay, it was kind of funny for all that, “will rise and try to seize power fr
om our kind, I'm comfortable accepting your addition to law that will deny them power and the ability to evolve into magic users.”

  The witch beamed at Mom while the gathering chittered like a pack of nosy monkeys.

  Was this chick really serious? And how was Mom keeping a straight face?

  How offensive, Sassafras sniffed. As if cats would care.

  Snort.

  I tuned out again, grateful for the distraction when Piers's mind brushed over mine.

  It's time, he sent. Just as Tallah stood up, beaming, surrounded by smiling witches.

  Was it ever.

  Finally. I sat up straighter, Sassafras perking, pointed ears twitching in response to my movement.

  Wish us luck. Piers's magic embraced me, wrapping me in emptiness. An emptiness that changed as my sorcery blossomed beneath me and welcomed him in. Suddenly he was all richness and depth, heat and coffee touched with mint. I let him hold me a moment longer before breaking the contact.

  I take it they are ready? Sassafras's mental voice crackled in my head.

  As they will ever be. I shot a very thin line toward Ameline. You'd better be here when I need you.

  Her mental laughter was my only answer.

  “Council Leaders,” Tallah said. “We now bring before you the proposal to begin our contact with normals in power and open dialogue between our people.”

  Piers was already slipping around the back of the benches, heading for the European contingent, while Tallah spoke. My stomach clenched, made worse when I felt a different mind latch onto mine. A mind filled with panic.

  Syd! Trill's maji power zapped me like a lightning bolt. Stop him!

  I tried, trusted her absolutely. The panic in her wasn't something I could ignore. But the moment I reached for Piers, I felt it, too late, as his sorcery lashed out and impacted Vasyl's.

  This time there really was lightning, thick white bolts of it, streaking from the former Black Soul sorcerer. The gathered witches cried out, Tallah ducking as the lightning ricocheted against Piers and, through him, in a cascade of protections, thundering across the short distance to strike each and every Steam Union member in attendance.

  I jumped to my feet as three people fell from the bleachers in front of me, realizing then Eva secreted her people throughout the pavilion as, en masse, they all collapsed.

  The snap-crackle-boom died away, flashover of light forcing me to blink several times to clear the tears of pain from my eyes. By then, the whole pavilion had fallen deathly quiet.

  All but for Vasyl Krajnik's laughter.

  Fools, Ameline snarled in my head, even as a black-robed Enforcer spun, her hood falling back, power lashing at the amused sorcerer.

  Why wasn't I surprised Ameline was here all along?

  Whatever protections Belaisle left with Vasyl, they pushed Ameline away, too, though she was spared the sizzle of super-charged electric retaliation.

  Syd, Trill sent, listen to me. Vasyl isn't alone. He has all of the power of the stronghold at his disposal.

  Um, what?

  That's why Belaisle was here, she sent. To test the connection, to make sure it would work. He wanted you to attack. I'm sorry, her voice wailed in my head as the gathered witches finally shattered their trance-like silence and roared in sudden reaction. I ignored the mayhem, focusing on Trill. I found out too late. I should have warned you, but my connections inside the Brotherhood didn’t tell me until just before I reached for you.

  Not your fault, I shot back. Wait. She had Brotherhood connections?

  Since when?

  You must attack together, she sent. You and Ameline. It's the only way.

  She's not full maji yet, I sent, teeth gritted as I reached for my rival even as she leaped into the air on a ball of blue fire while a handful of Enforcers rushed toward her. Besides, attacking him with power will only feed him.

  Not if you’re together, she sent. You already know this, you’ve seen it with my brothers and me, how our combination rejects Brotherhood attacks. She sounded irritated to have to be explaining things to me. Because you both have sorcery, and you’re maji, he won’t be able to draw on your power. He’ll have to fight you or fall.

  Okay then. Good to know.

  Gram’s hand suddenly latched onto my arm, her mind interjecting, cutting through into our conversation.

  And Vasyl's connection isn't perfect, she sent. Feel it.

  We both did, Gram along for the ride. The empty darkness was vast, massive. But the edges felt rough, cracked and warped.

  There’s weak spots, Gram sent. Focus on those and you’ll sever the connection.

  Did you do this? I turned to her, eyes wide.

  Varity helped, Gram sent. She’s in the stronghold now, hiding. But she won’t be able to hold on much longer without you.

  She was what? Is she out of her mind?

  Gram’s eyes sparkled with a hint of her former self.

  Crazy old ladies.

  We're coming, Trill sent, the image of her running for the pavilion in my head. Just do what Ethpeal says and we'll back you up.

  I lashed at the Enforcers, sending them back, eyes locked on Ameline's. Will this work?

  Trill gulped. It has to.

  Lovely.

  Well, I wanted a way to show the witches exactly what they were up against. The means to shake them free from their complacent, apathetic need to mind their own business.

  Time to see if I could wrangle me some attention.

  Sassafras squawked as I twisted and dumped him on Gram, rising into the air myself, drawing Ameline to me, linking my power with hers yet again. I could feel her weaknesses, like blank spots inside her, not the emptiness of sorcery, but more like unfulfilled potential.

  She had enough of each I knew we could manage. Hoped.

  Mom's mind crashed into mine. Don't you dare, she sent.

  You should have thought of that before you told me I could do whatever I wanted, I sent. Let me handle this, Mom.

  Vasyl was on his feet by then, facing me down while Margaret Applegate pointed at me with a shriek of fury.

  “If she touches him,” she cried out for all to hear, “I demand her death!”

  I felt Trill arrive, knew if we were going to act it was now or never. Before the other Councils decided to throw the weight of their Enforcers against us.

  Syd, now! Gram’s mind reached me, a flash of Varity Rhodes in my head, crouched in a dark corner, her power undermining the magic keeping Vasyl linked to the stronghold. I only had a second to realize the old Enforcer leader had sorcery before Trill's power flared, the touch of darkness in her creation energy calling to the sorcery beneath me. I opened wide to my maji magic and fed her even as Ameline's power siphoned from me to fill in her own gaps.

  A quick glance down and to my right showed me the maji girl and her brothers, Owen on the far end with his brilliant blue eyes flat black and Apollo in the center, his body swirling with light and shadow.

  You must be the focus, Trill sent.

  Naturally. I funneled their considerable power into path with mine, Ameline's darkness joining me as we aimed our attack at Vasyl.

  At least he finally had the good grace to look scared. “You will allow them to attack me under the protections of conclave?”

  Could I do this? What if we failed? Even as I committed to what we were about to do, I doubted.

  Until I spotted Sassafras bounding over one of the risers to land in Eloise Brindle's lap. The coven leader shuddered as he head-butted her, his demon power flaring. She immediately sagged to the side, shook her head and looked up at me, pale face full of rage and hurt.

  “This sorcerer is not my second,” she screamed as her family magic surged around her in outrage, my demon cat snarling in her arms. “My coven is under attack!”

  Syd, Mom sent. Now.

  Awesome.

  Eloise cried out, swayed as Sassafras screamed in what had to be pain, the Brindle family magic collapsing in a spiral of blue, even as Margar
et Applegate, her lips twisted in hate, slashed at the coven leader.

  But the damage was done.

  Together, I sent. And crushed Vasyl Krajnik with all the power at my disposal.

  ***

  Chapter Thirty Two

  Tried to.

  So. Much. Resistance. The very plane fought me, the feeling of the stronghold pushing back so powerful I gasped for air. But held on, poured everything I had into it, and more.

  Much more.

  Mom fed me magic, a living stream of it, joined almost immediately from Bindi Braylen and her people. The Australian Council Leader nodded to me scowling at her counterparts.

  “What are you waiting for?” She stood, swaying as we pulled on her Council power. “A witch is under attack. Defend her!”

  They did, at last, their power joining us, though much slower than the Sidhe who leaped to assist, even Aiolainn, though I was sure only because Niamh sat beside her, hissing in her ear. The werewolves offered what they had, the soft iridescence of their power golden around the edges. And Meira, my sister, tore a hole in the veil and offered me Ahbi.

  Meems, no, I sent. The Node. And opening herself like this made her vulnerable to Ameline.

  Will be fine, she sent back. Crush him like a bug.

  I tried. So. Hard. Felt everyone around me giving and giving even as Vasyl's laughter grew and Applegate's screaming ceased as she realized we would fail.

  Damn it, if Trill was right, how could we fail?

  At least she’d hit on one thing. He couldn’t take our power, not through Vasyl, anyway. So that was a bonus. Still.

  Double damn it.

  Varity’s mind touched mine. I’ve given all I have, she sent, faint, so faint. But I will give the rest if it will mean they fall.

  No. I cut her off, forcing her to back out. I caught a glimpse of her panting, hands over her face, in the dark of a quiet room in the stronghold. Get your ass home. Now.

  I’d find another way.

  There had to be one.

  And there was. Because random wins.

  They appeared in a swirling ball of light, diving for the Black Soul sorcerer, threads of wild magic coiling into a spear of attack. Vasyl's laugh turned to a shout of fear, but they didn't hit him, turning at the last moment, coming right.