The Undying

by Patti Larsen

  Meira shrugged off my attempt to let it go. “It changed me,” she said. “The nectar. For a long time, I hated who I was. Hated everyone, including you.” She squeezed my hand. “Mom. Dad. All of it. When Mom sent me to Europe for school, it just made things worse.”

  I should have checked up on her. Why didn't I check up on—

  Meira laughed. “I can see it in your face,” she said. “You're beating yourself up over it.”

  Guilty.

  “I snuck home.” She sat back, one foot bouncing at the end of her crossed leg. “Talked to Dad. He agreed to let me live here.”

  “I didn't know.” Mom never told me. Then again, Mom and I weren't really talking.

  “I've made my choice, Syd.” Meira's smile reminded me of the lovely girl I used to know, the kind, gentle and caring girl I adored. But she had a new edge, one I knew she'd need to survive here. Thrive, even. “I'm living here full time, now. Attending to my duties as heir. And I love it.”

  “Does Mom know?” She had to.

  “I asked her not to tell you.” Meira looked back over her shoulder, out the window, her beautiful profile so much like Mom in demon form at that moment I felt more tears rise. “I was carrying a lot of crap around. I didn't want you coming after me. Until I worked it out.”

  “Looks like you did.” I felt myself relax as Ahbi's touch rejoiced at our reunion.

  Meira laughed. “I did. And kicked some serious demon butt in the process.”

  Of that I had no doubt.

  She was a Hayle, wasn't she?

  Meira leaned toward me, finger tips running over my cheek. “It took me some time to hash things out. Mostly through challenging every demon I could.” She wrinkled her nose. “Sassafras wouldn't be impressed with me. Most of the time, in the beginning, I wasn't all that elegant about it. But with each battle, I changed. Learned more about myself.” She rubbed her thumb and index finger together, a tiny flame bursting into life before dying in a wisp of smoke. “I hated so deeply it took the power I gathered to teach me there were more important things.” She laughed. “Funny, right? Most demons would spiral deeper into darkness. But for me, it reminded me who I was and why I was here in the first place.”

  She felt much stronger, now that I thought about it. And her easy confidence was tied to her extra strength.

  “Once I decided I needed to be heir, to take my responsibilities seriously, everything fell into place. And in a way, I have you to thank for that.”

  Me?

  She bit her lower lip before going on, pinpoints of amber light dancing in her eyes as her emotions rose and tinted her power. “Every battle I went into, whether I liked it or not, I thought of you.” Her dark curls bobbed as she shook her head. “Most of the time it pissed me off. At least in the beginning. But the further I went, the easier it was to remember how strong you are. To keep asking myself, what would Syd do?”

  Holy. I wavered between loving her so much I could barely stand it and worrying I'd given her a really flawed working model to work from. And yet, she seemed to have done all right.

  Maybe I didn't suck as a big sister after all.

  “I've been waiting to see you.” Meira hesitated, looked up through her thick lashes, the girl she was showing up for a moment. “But I was scared. I'd been so cruel to you. I didn't know how you'd take me now that I was different.”

  I hugged her hard, pressing my cheek to hers. “I'm so proud of you, Meems.” My words barely made it from my lips, my throat was so thick with sadness and joy.

  Her breath tickled my ear. “I wanted to tell you how much I love you. How much I admire you.” She cleared her throat, her own voice rough. “How much I want to be like you.”

  Holy. “Meems...” I stuttered a few times before being able to go on. “You're amazing all on your own.”

  “I know.” She winked, kissed me. “But I have an equally amazing big sister to look up to. And I'm so grateful.”

  More hugging. This time I didn't want to let her go. I'd missed her so much, missed just knowing my sister was there, that I could talk to her, have her in my life. A fierce love I'd never felt before surged inside me, passing to her through my demon magic, returned from her in equal measure.

  “Whatever you need,” Meira said as we finally parted, wiping at one cheek and the moisture there, “whatever, you call me. I'll be there.”

  “Meems,” I said. “Same here.”

  It was hard to go. Even knowing I had to, that I had a job to do, the Sidhe to save, it was very, very hard to reach for the veil, to leave my sister behind.

  As I entered the rubbery membrane, I reached out to Ahbi directly.

  Is that what you wanted?

  Her happiness filled me with the giggles. She followed with a suggestive image of Ram.

  Blushing.

  And then, just before I slid free, home again, a warning of feeling rather than words.

  To stay in touch. It was only a matter of time before the Brotherhood came calling.

  ***

  Chapter Eleven

  The cool, dark of the basement welcomed me, Charlotte stepping out beside me into our plane. I immediately felt Gram's touch, knew she was home, felt her summon me to the kitchen.

  Only problem? I was aware before I finished the climb to the top of the stairs her trip with Varity didn't go as planned.

  Surprising how the first rays of daylight shone in the kitchen window. How easy it was to forget time moved differently both in the Sidhe realm and on Demonicon. I'd lost the entire night to my travels. Odd, I didn't feel tired, not even a little. Knowing there would likely be slim opportunity for sleep in the next day or so, I figured my unusual wakefulness was a good thing.

  Gram thudded the lid of the waffle maker so hard the thing bounced. Varity sat, cross-legged and clearly irritated, from the way her magic vibrated at an erratic frequency. She slumped in her seat at the kitchen table while Shenka met my eyes with a little shake of her head. Her magic set out plates and cutlery as Gram grunted her frustration.

  “What happened?” What were they up to again? No, seriously. I'd been to two different realms since I left the house and it took me a second to shift back to problem number one.

  Gram's right foot, sheathed in a fuzzy purple sock, stomped against the floor tile. A sliver of earth magic, triggered by her act, sent a shudder through the house. “Applegate happened.”

  Uh-oh. The leader of the European Council should have kept her nose out of it. But that obviously wasn't the case. Which meant Gram was right telling me to stay home.

  “Absolutely refused us admission into her territory.” Varity looked about ready to shake apart she was so furious. Her lean face pinched even thinner, two furious eyes glaring as energy skipped over her, puffs of smoke rising as it did. “Imagine.”

  Gram jerked open the machine top and peeled off the first waffle before dumping batter into it and slamming it shut again. “Met us at the border with Enforcers.”

  Varity's crossed leg bounced with growing violence. “Not even a sniff of courtesy in that woman.”

  I felt my own anger rise as they talked back and forth. “This is ridiculous,” I said. “And none of her damned business. By witch law.”

  Gram just scowled at the waffle maker while Varity sighed.

  “Technically,” she said, “we do need permission. Regardless of our destination. And because Ethie and I are witches and not vampires...” She dropped her foot to the floor, leaning forward with her hands on her knees, expression tight and angry. “Damn her.”

  “Which means I could go after all.” I was a vampire, wasn't I? And officially of the Blood Clan Wilhelm.

  Gram whirled, pointing at me with the spatula she held in a death grip, a drip of batter falling to the tile floor with a splat. “You,” she snarled, “and I and Varity are going to eat waffles. And then we're going to go see your mother.”

  Wow. Gram suggesting talking to Mom?

  She had to be pissed.

  �
�There's more,” I said, taking a seat, rubbing my face with both hands as my mind whirled. The old ladies fixed me with their baleful stares like I'd done something terrible on purpose while Shenka took the plate of waffles from Gram and calmly began to serve breakfast.

  Thank the elements for my second. Normalcy felt great right about now.

  I forced myself to eat while I talked, telling them about the Sidhe, feeling my desperate need to help the Fey rise again now it hung in the forefront of my mind. Then, shared my little side-trip to Demonicon. Gram tapped her fork against the side of her plate in irritation before nodding sharply.

  “I couldn't stand the old bat when she was alive,” she said, “but death seems to have given her some sense.” Gram jabbed the air with her fork, the tines ringing as she used magic to spray sparks at me. “You and your sister were both looking for butt kickings. With things the way they are, you're going to need her, girl.”

  Bully. Except, she was right.

  Speaking of bullies, once breakfast was over, we packed up ourselves, marched out to the back yard and I did the honors, leaving Shenka behind as we crossed to Harvard. Gram and Varity took the lead, leaving Charlotte and I to trail behind them, shoving their way into the elevator with so much aggression I worried they might bring down the building before stomping into Mom's sitting room where they came face-to-face with Maurice.

  Mom's secretary's grumpy and arrogant expression lasted about three seconds, just long enough for the pair of unhappy witches to shove him to one side and barge past him while he fish-lipped, gaping and spluttering. I smiled at him, gave him a happy wave while Charlotte growled low and threatening on the way past.

  If only it would be so easy to deal with Mom.

  I almost ran into Gram as she and Varity came to a halt in front of Mom's desk and, for a moment, my heart stopped beating.

  Mom sat behind it, but it wasn't my mother. Not the woman I knew and loved. She looked even worse than the last time I saw her, face drawn and aged, twenty years added to her sagging skin, her dull eyes that nonetheless flashed with blue fire as we faced her down.

  “Why am I not surprised?” She sounded tired, bitter. “I've just heard from Margaret Applegate.”

  I wanted to go to her, to offer her support, knowing now the Council power was breaking her down. That it wasn't Mom, not really, who refused to help or act. She fought the control of the Council's centuries of habit, law, and stubbornness with her own will, but it was clear to me now, oh so very clear, my mother was losing.

  Before Gram or Varity could speak, I pushed past them. Leaned forward and touched her hand across her desk.

  “Mom,” I whispered. “It's not worth it.”

  She shuddered, light leaving her eyes.

  “This is killing you.” I tried to offer her energy, but she pulled away from me, mouth turning down into a scowl so deep the lines in her face cast shadows.

  “You two,” Mom looked past me, glaring at Gram and Varity, “tried to illegally enter European territory.”

  “Since when is it illegal?” Varity was shaking again, voice vibrating with her outrage. “I've been an Enforcer for most of my life, Council Leader, and I've never, ever been denied access to other territories. Ever.”

  Mom sat back, still scowling. “Times have changed,” she said. “And so have the laws. You are no longer permitted to enter another territory without the express permission of both your Council Leader and the Leader of that territory.”

  Holy crap. What the hell happened to trigger the change?

  “I thought we were trying to create openness and union,” I said. “Not more separation.”

  Mom flinched, but not from guilt. Her whole body twitched from it, Council power pooling around her where she sat. “You dare question the laws of your Council?”

  Fine. Whatever. I couldn't get through to her that way. So I had to try another.

  “Did you know Celeste Oberman is the leader of Sebastian's old blood clan?” I didn't really have a plan, outside of hitting Mom with everything I had. To see if I could somehow shake her—the real her—loose from the death grip of the power she was trying so hard to wield. “Or that the Brotherhood is right now trying to destroy the Sidhe realm?” I wasn't holding out much hope, but I'd tried to reason with her before. Even tried yelling. Smacking her with facts was the only course of action I had left.

  Mom twitched again, one hand going to her throat before she choked. “Neither the vampires,” she gagged, “nor the Sidhe,” her face turned dark red as she struggled to speak—and yes, I had no doubt it was Mom, my mom, choking behind those words, “are any of our business.” Mom gasped for air after she finished, sagging in her chair. Thudded both fists down on the arm rests in clear frustration.

  But whether it was frustration at us or the fight I know had to be going on inside her that triggered the physical reaction, I had no idea. Though I had a terrible feeling my mother was fading fast and, if nothing was done, she'd soon be lost to the Council power forcing her to do its bidding.

  Could I live with that? And what would happen if I took matters into my own hands?

  The stake. The pyre. For trying to save my mother.

  Couldn't win for losing.

  “Miriam.” Gram’s voice grated as though she fought for emotional control. “This is absolutely ridiculous and you know it.” Varity shifted next to my grandmother, face tight but blank. “Where’s your sense, girl?”

  I watched Mom clutch at her throat again, my chest tight with the need to help her, to do something, before she looked up and met my eyes, completely ignoring the two old witches. “You have been ordered to mind your own business,” she said, voice low and deep, roughened by her struggle. “I warn you, Coven Leader, you're very close to breaking laws that will see you burn.” Mom writhed in her chair before her hand dropped and she sagged one more time. “Yes, you are part Sidhe, demon and vampire. But you are also a witch, and subject, above all else, to our laws. First and foremost, your meddling will be weighed as a coven leader.” She wrenched her head to one side, jaw grinding. “Dismissed.”

  I wanted to protest, and opened my mouth. This couldn't go on. The Council power was going to kill her, in spirit if not in body. But a giant wave of magic rose, a solid wall of pulsing blue shoving me back. Gram, Varity, Charlotte, too, until we were all forced to retreat, leaving Mom behind her desk alone as the door slammed shut in our faces.

  ***

  Chapter Twelve

  Well, that was productive.

  I stood with Gram and Varity in one corner of the Yard, arms crossed, back against a tree as the pair glared at each other. I could tell from the way their faces twitched they were talking among themselves but didn’t have the energy to break into the conversation.

  When Gram finally spoke out loud, I jumped.

  “No,” she snarled, clearly continuing where her mental voice left off, “I wasn’t aware at the time the Council power had that much influence. Do you think I would have just let Miriam fall into this bottomless pit without support if I’d known?” She blew a gust of air from between her pursed lips. “It wasn’t until Miriam attacked Syd I realized just how far this had gone.”

  Varity’s shoulders slumped, hands clenched into a knot in front of her chest. “I’ve witnessed such influence,” she said. “But never on such a level.” Her eyes settled on me. “Nor have I seen a Council Leader fight so hard against her own magic.”

  To protect me. I knew that already. Gram paced in a tight circle before coming to an abrupt halt with a heavy sigh. Her lower lip quivered a moment before she took my hand and squeezed it so hard the bones ground together.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “I should have kept a closer eye on Miriam. Should have tried to help her, acted when she came after you in the spring.” I shuddered at the memory of Mom’s magic striking out at me when I tried to reach for her. “I knew things were escalating, but she’s clearly cracked.” That was a big statement, coming from Gram.

&nb
sp; “Can we free her?” I already knew the answer.

  “She would have to choose to step down,” Varity said. “And I think we all know now, she’s too far gone inside its control to do so willingly.”

  “Then we continue to work around her.” I could see Gram’s anxiety shift visibly on her face, feel it through the connection of our hands as her power rippled over mine.

  “I can’t just write Mom off.” Could I?

  Charlotte rumbled a low growl while both witches stared at me, mute and frustrated.

  Guess I had my answer. And without anyone else to appeal to, I only had one course of action open to me.

  The moment I arrived home, I reached for Liam, felt him leave the cavern so we could speak.

  Have you heard from Thalion? It was wishful thinking to consider Aoilainn would have a change of heart, but I was running out of things to hope for and grasped anyway.

  Not yet. Liam's power embraced me, the warmth and steadying strength of his earth magic helping to ground me and making Shaylee sigh happily. I really did miss him. But was it his friendship I missed, or his heart? But I'll keep you posted. He paused. Any luck on your end?

  Not so far. I felt his twinge of disappointment, fed by anxiety. Same deal. I'll let you know the moment I figure out what I'm going to do.

  I released him even as he tried to speak further, cutting him off. Not because I wanted to be cruel or anything, but the absolute disgust I felt, the fact I felt frozen, stuck, unable to act when acting was so very important, was almost too much for me to keep to myself.

  And he didn't need that kind of pressure on his shoulders right now. Besides, I suffered best in silence.

  I walked into the kitchen to find Varity and Gram whispering to each other, both jerking guiltily as they straightened when I joined them.

  I sighed, knowing no matter how much arguing I did, I'd lose. I was enough my grandmother's girl to know she'd do what she wanted regardless.

  Because I would. And did.