by Patti Larsen
For.
Me.
I only had a heartbeat to draw a breath before they hit me full in the chest.
Right in the heart.
My insides exploded, power erupting from every cell in my body. I felt my consciousnesses meld, merging with the wild magicks, the others magic races falling away, still feeding me, but no longer needed.
Only Ameline, who had no choice but to join me.
Images flashed around me, shared with those who watched, fed me energy, images the wild magicks tried so hard to make me understand.
But this time, when they reached the flash of Belaisle holding the mirror shard, they didn't stop. Instead, they wound on and on, showing us the future.
What was coming.
Death. Destruction. Fire and earthquake and the demise of our plane. Normal cities falling to plague and volcano, continents shifting and sinking into oceans boiling from the exposed magma beneath the Earth's crust. The sky tinted orange, the very air burning as the last magic of our plane exploded in a massive exodus of energy.
But they weren't done, not even close. With Earth gone, they turned to Demonicon, the Node crumbling and collapsing, the planes broken apart, colliding, rupturing into massive chunks of debris until demons were no more. And the Sidhe realm, the green dying, withering, the waters drying up before darkness swallowed it and its shining people whole.
Other planes, ones I didn't recognize, races I didn't know, burning up in a fiery end while Belaisle's voice laughed.
And laughed.
And laughed.
The images cut off abruptly, my body compressing as the wild magicks left me in a pulse of power, a weapon against the darkness.
This time when they flew toward Vasyl, they carried my power with them. Mine, and that of all the magic users gathered to stand against him.
Varity. I reached for her, felt her answer. Now.
With a soaring song, the small, glowing ball of power punched through Vasyl's chest and exploded out the other side. While Varity Rhodes, her sorcery boosted by mine, cut the line between the Black Soul sorcerer and the stronghold.
For a long moment he sat there, staring at me in utter shock before keeling slowly over onto his side, toppling from the bench with a fist-sized hole in his sternum I could see through.
We'd hoped for a chain reaction when we freed Applegate.
And boy, did we get one.
In a clap of thunder so loud I was sure I'd never gain my hearing back, a giant black hole flared into life around the dead sorcerer, sucking in threads of emptiness from every single person in Applegate's party, including her assembled Enforcers. They shook as a unit as the taint of the Brotherhood left in a rush, slamming home into the black hole before it shrank with a sucking noise and popping out of existence.
Applegate staggered, catching herself on the back of her bench, looking up to meet my eyes.
“Sydlynn Hayle,” she said in a shaking voice, “thank you.”
And collapsed.
***
Chapter Thirty Three
I released the others, not needing them any longer, feeling Trill linger the longest even as I shoved Ameline away from me when I felt her trying to siphon more power.
The dark maji shrugged and offered a little smile like she had to try.
I'd give her something to siphon.
I tried not to think about the charred remains of Vasyl as Enforcers rushed forward and removed his body or the paleness of Applegate's face when Mom rushed to her and bent over her prone form.
Instead, I focused on the quiet in my mind where Varity had been. Grasped for Gram’s hand. Felt the old Enforcer leader’s heart beat on the other side, just enough, her connection to Gram telling me she was fine.
Better, was there, safe and sound, when she burst through into our plane and her energy hugged me.
Awesome. Gram sank down to the bench, still clutching Sassafras. I sent her a magical kiss on the cheek before facing off with the silent, shaking and finally clued-in witches who watched in horror.
“Darkness is coming,” I said, not in the least bit self-conscious about using formal language, feeling as though this was right and necessary. “And now you've seen the face of that darkness.”
“The Brotherhood are your enemy,” Ameline spoke up, voice ringing in the stillness as everyone stared, too stunned to speak. “You must guard against them and their lies, their insidious ways. Or they will use you as they did Margaret Applegate.”
“Every witch, were, vampire, demon, Sidhe and all others must stand against them,” I said. “Any thoughts you had perhaps the Brotherhood really meant what they said, about wanting peace, must be purged if we are to survive.” I fixed my gaze on the Hensley leader. “His desire for us to expose ourselves to normals was only part of his aim to destroy us and take possession of our magic. And now, we’ve seen where such an act will lead.”
I shivered inside at the images, still raw in my mind, the wild magicks burned into my brain.
Tallah sank into her seat, head bowed. I felt terrible for Shenka's sister, but at least it looked like she got the message.
“Your houses may be dirtied with the touch of the Brotherhood,” Ameline said, a trace of disgust in her voice. “But you are not alone.”
Wow, was this really her speaking? Self-centered, all about me Ameline Benoit?
“We will help you,” I said, spotting Trill helping Apollo from the ground, Owen bent in half with his hands on his knees, panting for air. “Darkness might be coming, but we are the Light.”
Trill looked up at me and saluted.
Tallah stood, turned to Mom. “I propose a law,” she said. “The Brotherhood and all of their members are now to be considered the mortal enemies of every magic race represented here, and we will act as one to eradicate their presence from our planes forever.”
I didn't condone genocide, as much as I would have liked to see the Brotherhood fall. But no one was listening to me anymore. Not while they all surged to their feet with a roar of approval, Mom nodding in acceptance.
Oh, so now they wake up and smell the decaying pus bag that was the Brotherhood.
Typical.
I released my power, still levitating me over the proceedings, sinking to the floor of the pavilion, Ameline beside me, as Mom gestured for silence.
“From this day forward,” she said, “any witch, were, demon, Sidhe, vampire or Steam Union member who is found to harbor the Brotherhood or forward their aims will be charged with treason and punished to the fullest extent of the law.” Another roar. “Further,” she went on when their hell yes died down. “Any Brotherhood member caught in any plane or territory of the above mentioned races will be arrested and brought to trial.”
“No,” Tallah said, fury making her voice vibrate. “They will be arrested and summarily executed without trial.”
Uh-oh. I spun on Mom. This could get out of hand very fast, I sent.
Too late for that.
The wave of approval was so powerful I almost missed Ameline's mental chuckle.
Witches, she sent. How delightful.
Can Tallah actually propose something like this? I looked up at Mom who didn’t meet my eyes.
Any Coven Leader can propose new law, she sent, tight and angry. You really haven’t been paying attention.
Damn it.
I turned to scowl at Ameline, just needing something, someone, to focus my frustration on. The wild magicks suddenly appeared again, skipping and dancing happily over my head.
You did wonderfully, I sent to them.
They hummed in joy, dive-bombing the ground as they celebrated their victory.
The fact they'd just killed someone didn't seem to put a damper on their mood any, and considering they were wild magicks...
I just couldn't bring myself to feel bad for Vasyl.
Ameline's power snapped out before I could stop her, snatching at the spinning ribbons of energy. Their joyful song turned to a snarl of rage as th
ey slapped her back. She staggered, choking on a nasty laugh, blue Enforcer power snapping as she dodged my grab for her.
Worth a try, she sent. I'll see you soon.
And was gone.
No time to think about Ameline. Not when I looked up at the worry on Mom's face to the cheering sound of the law granting us the right to destroy an entire race being passed.
***
Chapter Thirty Four
“This could be very bad,” I said as I sank into the chair across from Mom. “You realize this will probably blow up in our faces.”
My sister snorted as she reclined in another chair, huge platform boot bobbing on the other end of her crossed knee. “I don't see how the downfall of the Brotherhood is that big of a deal.”
Mom sighed. “It's not the Brotherhood we have to worry about,” she said as her eyes tightened. “I'm all for wiping their asses from every plane permanently.”
Vicious.
“But it's not the guilty who I'm concerned for,” Mom said. “We've effectively passed a law allowing witches and the other races to kill anyone they even suspect might be Brotherhood.”
Eva Southway squirmed in her seat, skin drawn and pale, both eyes ringed in black as though the power of the Brotherhood punched her in the face. At least she was alive after the backlash of Piers’s attack knocked out her and her sorcerers. “My people will be at risk,” she said. Sounded very unhappy, not that I blamed her.
“Not to mention every person out there who has sorcery, but might not know it,” I said.
Meira's smirk of triumph faded. “I didn't think of that,” she said.
Funny how quickly I forgot she was just a teenager in the body of a mature demon. Sure, she was fabulous at her job, but her youth added to the burning need for revenge all demons possessed and I wasn't surprised she was so bloodthirsty.
Or had missed the deeper point.
“Surely you can temper this law somewhat,” Sunny said. I was so relieved when day finally faded to night and we had access to the vampires again. The mess of conclave's end wasn't the smooth and ceremonial process I was sure Mom's people planned, wrapping up more so in a rush of exiting witches, all flashing off to their own territories after a brief farewell to my mother.
And me.
Groan.
At least one thing was certain: the Brotherhood were no longer welcome on our plane or any known one. Which meant they were about to have a very uncomfortable transition from power-hungry, underground players to hunted fugitives.
As long as we managed to keep the innocent carnage to an absolute minimum, I guessed I could live with this outcome for a little while.
Mom sat back as she pondered Sunny's question. “I'll reach out to the Council Leaders in the next few days and attempt to do just that,” she said. “But what they saw, after being lulled into almost believing Belaisle... I think it's frightened them into overreacting.”
No, really? Understatement of the year.
“At least we're all on the same page, for once.” Uncle Frank bumped fists with Charlotte whose calm expression didn't alter. “That's a victory in itself.”
I knew it couldn't last, but yes. I'd take that, too, thank you very much.
Niamh and Odhran stood, his Sidhe cloak sweeping the floor, the soft vibration of earth magic following them as they bowed to Mom.
“We will return to our realm,” Ohdran said. “And though I am certain we are free of Brotherhood influence thanks to Sydlynn's assistance last year, we will do a thorough sweep of our plane to ensure our continuing freedom.”
Mom stood and bowed to both of them, all of us silent as they left. I felt the rush of Sidhe power as they departed, taking their people with them while Oleksander leaned forward, hands on his knees.
“There is the case of Margaret Applegate,” he said. “How will she be dealt with?”
Mom tapped her fingers on the table top, a small sign of her agitation. “I don't know,” she said. “She's free now. And if I tried to interfere, we'd be right back where we started.”
“No need.” We all turned to find the small woman standing in Mom's office doorway. The Margaret I'd met at Wilhelm Castle had been partially in thrall to the Brotherhood, but I thought I'd seen her true character after she was freed the first time. And the woman I'd interacted with then had been strong, strong enough, I thought incorrectly, to stand against the sorcerers.
This Margaret was a broken vessel, her round face sunken, skin the color of gray paste. The power she used to radiate felt contained, compressed, as though the Council magic grieved for her.
No, wait. She didn’t feel like Council power. Only personal. What had she done?
Mom came through her captivity stronger for it. Margaret Applegate wasn't so lucky.
“I've stepped down,” she said, voice barely above a whisper. Paused while Mom stood, reached for her, but shook her head. “No, it's for the best. They don't trust me anymore.” She shivered, a tear tracking down her cheek. “I don't trust me anymore.”
I stood, went to her. “Now that you're free,” I said, “you're exactly who they need.” The same argument I'd used on Mom. Only I wasn't so sure I believed it this time.
Margaret smiled a little through her tears, patting my arm in a kind gesture. “You're a dear,” she said. “I can't tell you how it ate at me, what they did to you.” Her eyes settled on Charlotte. Oleksander. “To your friends.” She turned to Eva. “To my friends.” The Steam Union leader bowed her head. “The European Council needs new leadership. Someone who they can look to for guidance.” Margaret stepped back half a pace. “I'm not that leader anymore.”
I looked up as a tall, blonde woman with strong features and pale blue eyes strode through the doorway, her hand settling on Margaret's shoulder.
“It's already done,” she said with a faint accent I didn't recognize. “Margaret's choice will be honored among our covens.”
“This is Femke Svensson,” Margaret said. “She will tell you what I can't.” The woman choked, a soft sob escaping. “And now, if you'll excuse me, I must return home to bury my best friend.”
My heart constricted as Margaret turned, her eyes meeting mine.
“Elliot,” I whispered.
She sobbed again. And left.
Damn it. I knew her Enforcer Leader had to be dead. I just didn’t want to admit it.
“I would like to make a suggestion,” Femke said, crisp but kind. “That each Council be assigned a Steam Union representative, as a show of good faith with their order, as well as an early warning system in case of Brotherhood attack.”
Brilliant. I saw Eva's face perk despite her obvious pain from the bruises.
Mom's smile told me she was as relieved as I felt. Why hadn't I thought of that?
“Excellent,” Mom said. “And will go a long way in keeping our sorcerer allies safe from false prosecution.”
Okay then.
I felt the air behind me stir, glanced over my shoulder to see Piers slip inside the office. No one else noticed him as they gathered around Mom, Meira discussing the possibility of finding a sorcerer with demon blood to take home with her while Oleksander argued his people would have trouble accepting such a watchdog.
I left them to argue, went to his side. He looked like hell, blonde hair charred at the tips, face marred by scorch marks and bruises matching his mother's. He hunched over a little as if in pain and, when I touched his arm, flinched from me.
Silly, I sent. And let my vampire, sealed to my spirit magic, explore and heal him while I fed him power.
Thank you, he sent as his cracked ribs healed over, seared flesh under his clothing softening and renewing with fresh skin. By the time I let him go a few moments later, he looked himself, if tired, even his gorgeous locks restored.
Because I may not have loved Piers that way, but I really adored his hair.
“Piers.” We both turned to find Eva watching. “Femke, this is my son. He would be the perfect candidate to advise your Council
.”
I looked up at him in time to see his brow knit. “Actually,” he said, “I was thinking the North American Council would be a better fit.” He bowed to Femke. “My sister, Clover, would be an excellent choice.”
Eva's jaw worked just before she winced. Man, that had to hurt. “We'll discuss it,” she said in a tone of voice that said they would do no such thing.
I'll work on her, he sent to me. If you wish.
And left it hanging there, between us.
I pretended to listen as Mom and the others continued their conversation even though I didn't hear a word they said.
You don't love him, my demon growled. But he's good for us.
As good as Liam? Shaylee's heart was in the obvious place.
Perhaps better, my vampire sent softly. And yet...
And yet.
I squeezed Piers's hand. I'm looking forward to getting to know your sister, I sent.
His sigh reached through his magic and touched my heart.
Ruled by love, he sent. So much power, so little sense.
If you say so. I let go of his hand as he grinned at me.
So it matters that much to you.
It does. I hugged myself as he nodded. It might be dumb and romantic and deluded, but.
But.
He bent and kissed my cheek, the tingle of contact sweet, full of warmth.
Watch your back, he sent. And, if you insist on thinking with it, your heart.
With that, he left me standing by the doorway and went to shake hands with Femke.
Amazing how such a simple gesture could mean goodbye.
***
Chapter Thirty Five
I left them to hash it out, no longer feeling like they needed me. Mom would fill me in later and I really needed to just get out of there, catch some air.
The giant central tent was already being disassembled, the walls on one side coming down. I skirted a group of witches folding and compressing the fabric into small squares which then vanished in pops of blue fire.
