by Patti Larsen
My demon swatted at me. She liked them.
Naturally.
It was enough to snap me out of my fear cycle. I took my place next to Mom with as much confidence as I could muster.
There were more men than women, all dressed in black. Sunny was by far the most beautiful and Uncle Frank stood out with his blond hair and blue jeans. But I saw them as they really were in that moment, free to be who the vampire blood made them and I realized how much they masked from us for our own comfort.
Next time Uncle Frank did that to me, he was getting a serious punch in the arm. No one deserved to live half a life with the people who loved them.
To prove the point to myself, I grinned and waved at them both and saw Meira do the same out of the corner of my eye.
Uncle Frank’s frown hung on only for a moment. Then, he laughed.
I didn’t realize how much tension had built around us until it cracked and shattered with his laugh.
Uncle Frank and Sunny smiled and waved back.
Wicked.
“You must be Sydlynn.” And he had to be Sebastian. Wow, he was hot. Black hair, the greenest eyes I’d ever seen. Big shoulders. All black leather, all the time. What was this thing with me and bad boys?
My demon hummed her pleasure.
“Nice to meet you.” I grinned at him too.
I think I actually surprised him because he winked at me.
“We have come as agreed.” Sebastian stepped forward, toes almost at the line, right in front of my mother.
I had never seen her so calm and that was saying something. “Welcome, Sebastian DeWinter, and welcome to your clan.”
“We would feel more welcome if there wasn’t this barrier between us.” Sebastian ran a finger over the shield, blue sparks flying. His eyes met hers again. “Unless I was wrong about you. And this is some sort of trap.”
The rest of the vampires were instantly alert. They didn’t move or make any threatening gestures, but I could feel their tension. Answered instantly by the family.
Mom just smiled. “Frank and Sunny reassured you, I’m certain, or you would have never come.”
“True,” Sebastian said. He crossed his arms over his chest, eyebrows dropping into a deliciously yummy frown. “And yet, in all my years, I have been known to be wrong.”
“They shared with you information about the creature?” Mom wasn’t taking the bait. I saw Celeste shift behind her, a slow sway forward, and let my demon jab her with a thin thread of power. Celeste glared at me but held still.
My demon giggled. She was such a brat.
“They did.” Sebastian’s eyes drifted to me like he knew what I had done. I winked back at him.
His lips twitched. “And we have begun our own investigation. If what they say is true, this creature poses a danger to normals. Which makes me wonder why it’s my problem?”
“Because,” I said before my mother could speak. “If it’s part vampire, your people are as much a target now as ours.”
Mom didn’t move but I felt her wave of approval wash over me before I could kick myself for speaking up.
“You have a pert but intelligent daughter, Miriam.” Sebastian showed me his fangs when he smiled. “I wish she was wrong. But she isn’t. If this creature does, indeed, have our blood, not only will it call attention to what we are to the normals, but it may well come after us for sustenance.”
I wondered how old he was, all the while loving the way he talked.
Sheesh, Syd. This is not some romance novel. I had to get a grip.
“There’s more to this story, however.” Sebastian gestured at my mother. “I doubted what Frank and Sunny told me. About your power, their power. Taken from them. By force, I understand.” He made it sound like it was Mom’s idea or something. Or her fault. He badly misplaced his blame. Though I doubted he cared Batsheva Moromond was the real reason Mom now had vampire magic.
Sebastian crossed his arms over his chest. ”It seems they were telling the truth, that our power can exist in a living being. I can feel you through the barrier.”
She nodded. “It was not my intent, but I welcome it,” she said. “And the understanding it brings me. It is my hope that sharing your gift will help build a bridge between our people.”
“Not likely.” One of the female vampires looked pissed. Okay, more than her. Like, most of them. “Sebastian, this is getting old. Tell her what we want.”
He paused a long moment, eyes locked with Mom’s. When he finally spoke, his voice was pitched very low but carried on the still air.
“Anastasia speaks for those who demand the return of our power,” he said, “or your death.”
Oh boy. He just had to go and say that, didn’t he?
I could smell the fight coming before the family answered with anger.
***
Chapter Twenty-Five
It was turning into a battle. One where blood would be spilled and people died. I saw the panic in Uncle Frank and Sunny as they fought to pick sides. The vampires crouched, hissing and snarling. The family's collective fury rose into a column of blue fire, focused magic designed to bring down the undead.
Mom did the only thing she could do.
She stepped through the shield and saved us all.
Sebastian appeared visibly shaken. And impressed. “You take a great risk.”
“Do I?” Mom’s tone was so mild she might as well have been discussing the weather. “I thought we were fighting a common cause?”
“And your stolen power?” Anastasia came forward, her blonde hair shining in the light. As beautiful as she was, I hated her guts. She looked like a bitch.
Not that it mattered. Mom spun on her, her magic suddenly wrapped around her like a weapon. The rainbow of power lit her up, washing over the vampire and making her flinch.
“Come and get it.”
Anastasia instantly backed down, though her grumbling didn’t cease. Somehow I didn’t think she was the type to let stuff go.
“I’ve underestimated you,” Sebastian said, taking Mom’s hand and kissing the back of it, even with her power still flaming around her. She let it go and curtsied just slightly.
“No doubt you’ve had bad experiences with witches in the past.” She took her hand back. “That is about to change.”
Mom dropped the shield. The family gasped as one, but they all held their peace.
Sebastian smiled. “You were right, Frank,” he called over his shoulder. “I like her very much.”
Uncle Frank and Sunny stepped forward at the same time I did. I hugged first him then her and turned to face the leader of their clan.
“And you, demon girl,” Sebastian said. “And you.”
Despite the near-battle experience we just had, the feeling was oddly mutual.
“Now,” Mom said, “be welcome.” She gestured into the site circle.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Sebastian stepped across and into the family.
They parted for him like water, but without resentment or fear. Finally they were getting it. They were trusting Mom completely. And I knew the vampires could feel it because the rest of them followed.
As soon as the entourage cleared the circle, Mom put the shields back up.
“To protect us from the creature,” she told Sebastian before he could protest. “And to give us privacy.”
He agreed with a smile. “You think of everything.”
“You flatter me. I’m merely trying to keep us all safe.”
He got the point.
“Your brother has kindly shared with us what he knows,” Sebastian said, “but I’d be happier getting it first hand.”
“Of course. Syd?”
Really? This again? I sighed and offered Sebastian my hand. He stared at it like I asked him to hold a dead snake.
“What?”
I loved the way he laughed. Velvet over ice. “You are your mother’s daughter.” And he took my hand.
Freezing cold. He hadn’t eaten. It made m
e shiver a little. “Hold on to your fangs,” I said. And showed him everything.
Mom was there with us. The whole family was. And we held nothing back. By the time I was done and his hand slipped from mine, I felt like I’d gone through it all over again. But I also touched his power through Mom’s and understood at last why we had to have them. He was very strong, all of his vampires were. And trustworthy. We needed them if we were going to win against the threat of this creature. So it was worth it.
“Thank you, Syd,” Sebastian said. “Miriam. All of you.” He clasped his hands behind his back, perfect brow furrowed. “You have been open with us. Time we reciprocated.” He met my mother’s eyes again. “We are not immune to the creature’s waking, Miriam. In fact, many of us have experienced what your family has. We too feel the rise of its power. And its connection to our blood.”
“You could have said,” Celeste groused, but the sound was lost in the crowd and he probably didn’t hear her. Then again, he was a vampire.
“And yet, there is so much more complexity to it than vampire power. I admit, I am more intrigued by it than anything.” He held up one hand before anyone could protest. “It has not, as of yet, tried to take one of my people. If it did, I would feel as you do. And so, we give chase, yes? Together?”
He looked around the family and his own people, all of them nodding. He smiled at Mom again. “Will wonders never cease,” he said to her very softly. “Vampires and witches are getting along.”
“The Apocalypse must be around the corner,” she murmured.
He laughed. “Indeed.”
“This creature now has access to witch magic,” Mom said.
“Troublesome. And yet, perhaps it will make it easier to track?” Sebastian turned to his people. “Spread the word. We are in coalition. The creature is our priority.”
“And the information we were promised?” Celeste just didn’t know when to let up, not to mention there were no promises made as far as I remembered. But Sebastian took it kindly, even though his people looked pissed.
“I must admit,” he said in his elegant voice, bowing slightly to her, “I too am at a loss. Though, the age of the creature is surely beyond any of us.” He gestured at Uncle Frank. “It’s been suggested it is perhaps millennia old, though I have no proof.” For a moment his eyes took on a glint of white light and the façade of his humanity slipped. Even Celeste paled though Sebastian wasn’t looking at her, or anyone, seeming to be lost in his own thoughts. “If so, we could be talking about one of the oldest of our kind. And that would be a great thing, indeed.”
“A great thing?” Celeste managed a sputter despite her obvious nervousness. “This thing is kidnapping witches.”
He was instantly back to acting all suave and polished. “My apologies,” he said. “I didn’t intend to offend. But my people have been told we were the result of a gene mutation, an aberration of human DNA. To uncover one such as us who was perhaps of the first of our kind, why that would offer a great deal of insight I’m quite interested in examining.”
Mom put a stop to further rebellion by putting herself between Celeste and the vampire leader. “Yet another reason for you to participate,” she said.
“Indeed.” His smile showed fang. But it was aimed at Celeste, not Mom, so that was fine with me.
“We have work to do.” Mom turned to the coven as she dropped the shield. I felt the vampires leave, all but Sebastian, Uncle Frank and Sunny. To my surprise, Sebastian turned to me. “You feel odd, demon girl.”
Mom looked startled at last. Her turn to be thrown a fastball.
Me too, I guess.
“Sorry,” I shrugged. “My dad is a demon after all.”
“No,” he said, eyes never leaving mine as his power ghosted over me. It felt like fingers of ice running up my spine and I was very proud of myself I didn’t shiver. “There is something more. But I don’t know what it is. Intriguing.” He spun on my mother. “All of you, a wealth of curiosity. But, my questions must be answered on another day. Miriam.” He kissed her on both cheeks. “I will be in touch.”
He was gone so fast it was like he was never there. My demon immediately pouted.
I ignored her while I tried to work out what he meant. How weird was that? I turned to gather up Gram and take her to the car when I felt something, like I was being watched. A shiver worked its way across my shoulders, goose bumps lifting on my forearms. I rubbed at them, hating the pressured feeling of hidden eyes on me.
Was Sebastian back? I looked around quickly but saw nothing. And my tentative probing into the darkness turned up a whole heap of nothing. I shrugged off the feeling and went to help my mother.
***
Chapter Twenty-Six
What was it about my sleep patterns these days? I woke with a start from a nightmare. This one at least was more natural in origin. It had something to do with Brad and a large cow and three zippers… I shook off the remaining fear, forgetting the details as quickly as the sweat dried on my face.
Man, did I need a therapist.
Which made me think of Pain. And brought everything back up again.
Knowing I wouldn’t get back to sleep after that, I swung myself out of bed and headed downstairs for a snack. Maybe a nighttime nom session would lull me into dreamland. At least it would give me something to do.
I was bent over with my head stuck in the fridge when I felt someone watching me. I let out a little shriek when I spun around and caught Quaid looking in the kitchen door.
Hand clutched to my oversized t-shirt, I went to let him in.
“What is your problem?” I hissed at him, my heart rate struggling to settle after the second stressor in less than five minutes.
“Sorry,” he said. “I knew you were up.”
I processed this information. First off, he apologized. Yet again with the odd Quaid behavior. And second, he knew what?
“How?” I asked, thoroughly creeped out.
“The light was on.”
Oh. Oops. I widened the opening, but he shook his head.
“Can we talk out here?”
He wanted to talk? Outside. In the chilly May morning.
Sigh.
“Just give me a second.”
I whipped open the closet and helped myself to one the long cloaks Mom wore all winter. Not the best teen fashion statement, but it reached my toes, all fur-lined velvet, so I wasn’t about to freeze. I slid on my blue plaid rubber boots and my ensemble was complete.
Classy.
I found him in the garden, planted on the bench by the house. I sat next to him, hands tucking inside the cape, holding it closed so no drafts could find me. Aside from the bite in the air, it was actually calm and beautiful out.
“Are you okay?” I didn’t know where else to start. And this was the first time Quaid came to me for anything so I decided on caution.
He leaned back, black leather pants creaking along with his jacket. The moon was just setting, still enough light to see his profile clearly but not his expression. But from the feel of him, he was conflicted about something even if he wasn’t showing it.
“I don’t know. I think so.” Not the answer I expected.
“Did you want to see Mom?” That must be it. He wasn’t really there to talk to me after all.
His eyes were black holes when he turned his head to look at me.
“Do I feel different to you?”
Again, not what I expected. I shrugged under the cape.
“Different, how?”
“Stronger.”
“Can I ask why you’re asking?” Come to think of it, maybe he was more powerful, after all.
“Just answer the question, Syd.”
Don’t tell me what to do! “Don’t tell me what to—“
He sighed. And I relented. Grudgingly.
“Fine,” I said. “Hold still. And give me your hand.”
Quaid pulled free a glove and offered his hand to me. It was warm. I held onto him and reached out. T
here it was again! The buzzing wall of something holding us apart.
“Is that part of it?” I asked.
“No,” he said. “I don’t know what it is.”
“Me either.” I forced my way around it, feeling the edges of him, even as I spoke. “I know you felt really strong the night of the party. Is that what you mean?”
“Could be.”
I sighed finally and stopped looking. “It’s hard to tell. Whatever is between us…”
He pulled his hand back and slid his glove back on. “Thanks for trying.”
There was no way I was leaving it at that. “Quaid, what’s going on?”
“I am stronger, Syd. A lot stronger.”
“Well, it happens, right?” Was he really just here for reassurance? It didn’t sound like Quaid, but neither did this whole conversation. “You’re getting older. Maybe you’re coming into your own.”
“Maybe.” He shifted his hips on the creaking bench. “Or maybe it’s something else.”
“You’re going to have to be more specific.” I was getting cold despite the cloak and wanted to go back to bed.
“My whole life, I’ve felt like an outcast.” Really? He was doing this with me? At three in the morning? With me? He kicked my boot. “Don’t worry,” he said, sarcasm back full force, “I’m not dumping my crap on you. This is important.”
“Okay,” I said. “Sorry. Go ahead.”
He paused for a moment. “You know what, forget it.” He tried to stand up, but I grabbed his arm and pulled him back down. Stupid bad boy angst. He was not leaving me there after dragging my ass out into the cold in this ridiculous outfit just because I’d somehow hurt his stupid feelings.
“Quaid,” I said, “I’m listening. Tell me. It’s important.”
Again the pause. But his body relaxed and he nodded.
“I never knew why I didn’t fit it,” he said, voice soft and troubled. “I thought there was something wrong with me. Don’t go for the joke, please.”
I wasn’t about to. Not really. Maybe. Okay, I was thinking it. Sue me.
