The Undying

by Patti Larsen

  I spun to the touch of emptiness, felt it blocked even as Ameline lashed at Belaisle. He fell back again, eyes rolling into his head as he collapsed on the floor.

  We were supposed to leave him alive. Why was I so worried? Wouldn't dead be better? A horrible chill raced up my back, fear like I'd never known. He was necessary.

  I didn't kill him, Ameline sent. But he'll find things have changed when he wakes.

  What the hell did that mean? No time to find out. As I opened my mouth to ask her out loud, chest tightening in anxiety, I felt myself being pulled into the tail of the stream of fleeing Sidhe magic. Reached out around Ameline's power toward the unconscious sorcerer only to feel my power slide over him, repelled by his magic.

  His greatly reduced magic.

  And then we were falling, back through the gap, the Sidhe power gushing in a waterfall of green fire, plunging back toward the ground. We landed hard but intact, Ameline already pulling my attention upward, to the gap in the sky. The storm overhead rumbled, the clouds snapping in half, rain pouring down over us as I reached, Ameline reached. Together we plunged our creation magic into the torn lip of the Sidhe veil and repaired it.

  I blinked into the suddenly blue sky, shaking water from my hair, storm gone, hole gone.

  Healed.

  I spun to find Aoilainn watching me, as perfect and powerful as ever, Odhran and Niamh the same, their people restored. The realm repaired.

  “I feared,” Odhran said, coming to grip my shoulders in his hands, bending to kiss both of my cheeks. “But you did not fail us. Our thanks, Sydlynn Hayle.”

  Ameline scowled and looked away. I guess I understood her irritation at being left out of his gratitude, but she still hadn't thanked me for freeing her ass so I figured she could grovel a little before I felt bad for her about anything.

  “What assurance do I have this won't happen again?” Just like Aoilainn to make this about her.

  “You don't,” I snapped. Blunt, yup yup. “But I can tell you this: if you work together from now on, the odds are much more in your favor.”

  Odhran grimaced, but nodded while Aoilainn gaped at me in horror.

  “Surely you will now restore our border.” She shook, braid vibrating over her shoulder, brushing the ground.

  “Nope,” I said, stepping away, feeling Charlotte come up beside me, the brush of her fur against my hand, Aoilainn's glamour firmly back in place. “You're just going to have to learn to get along.”

  Ameline was smiling again, clearly amused by the idea.

  Like I gave a crap what she thought.

  While Aoilainn spluttered and trembled, Odhran watching me with hooded eyes telling me he was now reconsidering his gratitude, I turned and marched off without another word. Charlotte kept pace, Ameline hurrying to catch up. I found myself smirking at her as she was forced to run a few steps, long hair bobbing behind her.

  Yeah, she loved looking like a little kid. I could just tell.

  I turned at the sound of my name, found Thalion striding forward to join us. The two Sidhe peoples milled around behind us, as though unsure about what to do next, though I was gratified to see Odhran and Aoilainn come together in the middle and touch hands.

  Good enough. I'd saved them, but it was their responsibility to keep things in balance from now on.

  Sheesh. I was going to come to hate that word.

  “I will escort you,” Thalion said. Paused. “If you wish.”

  Holy crap. Did we just save the entire of the Sidhe realm? A rush of giddy happiness flooded me, so much I smiled and hooked my arm through Thalion's, much to his shock.

  “I wish,” I said. “Thanks for the offer.”

  Ameline grumbled something under her breath and stomped faster, leaving us to follow her. I didn't even have to ask Charlotte to keep pace with the girl, though thanks to the connection we still shared, I could feel Ameline's frustration at being ignored. Treated like a kid.

  A bubbling rage built inside her and I knew I'd have to watch her carefully.

  “She is not to be trusted.” Thalion's voice broke my concentration, but reinforced my worry.

  “News flash,” I said. Grinned at his eyebrow quirk. “Sorry. Yeah, I know that already.” And yet, she'd done what needed doing. Proved she would stand against the Brotherhood. I briefly considered a visit to Belaisle, just Ameline and I, while the Gate loomed in the distance, rushing closer with every step.

  That would be great, wouldn't it? Catch Belaisle in private and convince him to back off.

  I'd even let Ameline be in charge of the convincing. Though the memory of his reduced magic stirred more anxiety. What had she done to him and where did his power go?

  Hello, Syd. This wasn't rocket science. Ameline took it.

  Going to have to talk to her about sharing.

  “Keep us posted, would you?” I released Thalion's arm as Ameline paused in front of the gaping Gate. “Let me know if the Brotherhood decide to give it another try.”

  “I think we have less to worry about them,” the prince said with a small smile, “and more concern my queen and the Unseelie king will come to blows.”

  Well, that was their business, now, wasn't it? First time I was happy to use Mom's company line.

  “Sydlynn.” Thalion squeezed my hand, his Sidhe power softer than I remembered. Come to think of it, he was, too. Not as coldly perfect as I remembered, more warm and open. “I have done things I'm ashamed of.” He winced, still beautiful. “To Shaylee. And to you.”

  Um, wow. Empathy from a Sidhe? I loved the maji were wrong. Even the flawless Sidhe could grow hearts.

  I hugged him, let him feel Shaylee, our power wrapping around Thalion as he sighed in my ear.

  “Friends,” I said.

  He smiled, a real smile, lighting his eyes as he kissed me gently on the cheek.

  “My honor,” he said.

  I left him there, looking back over my shoulder at him as he continued to smile, one hand raised in farewell, remaining in that position until the Gate closed and he vanished from view.

  ***

  Chapter Thirty One

  Liam's arms warmed me up as his earth magic grounded me. It was hard to enjoy with Ameline tied to me, but I did my best.

  Now what? His mind caressed mine gently. Are you taking her back?

  To prison. To the stronghold and her cell.

  I wished.

  I can't. I looked up into his eyes, welcomed the soft kiss he planted on my lips. As much as I hate to admit it, we need her. And she has to be free to develop her power.

  “Happy to hear you've come to your senses.” Ameline had to be eavesdropping. Gross. “That you finally admit we're on the same side.”

  “For now.” I stepped away from Liam, felt his tension as he hovered over me, protective though he would never stand against her. “But what happens when the Brotherhood is defeated?”

  “I suppose we'll have to have that conversation when it happens.” Ameline's chill smile turned my stomach.

  Lovely.

  “And Belaisle's magic?” My power prodded hers but she blocked me, at least as much as she could around the bond. “If we're going to have balance, you need to share.”

  “Actually,” she said with her icy smile, “the magic I took from him, from his feeble followers, has brought us to equal.”

  She let me in then, allowed me to feel her sorcery, the blossom of her own.

  Only took me a heartbeat to realize she was right. How much did that suck?

  “You can leave her here.” Liam's big hand settled on my shoulder. “I'm sure Galleytrot and I could find a cubbyhole to stash her in.”

  Appealing, her smushed into a stone closet. In the dark.

  “She has to come with me.” I stepped away from my Sidhe friend and squared off with Ameline. “At least for as long as she behaves herself.”

  Her smile didn't budge.

  Without another option, knowing I was nuts and probably about to be murdered by my own family
for even considering the possibility, I parted the veil, one hand holding Charlotte's, the other grasping a fist full of Ameline's Enforcer robe and took us home.

  We appeared in the kitchen, again to my surprise, sliding right through the family wards. I'd never been able to do that before, usually forced to land on the edge of the park, near the back yard. I think our arrival was as shocking to the inhabitants of the kitchen as it was to me, because it took Gram and Sassafras a whole ten seconds before they started screaming at me.

  Charlotte eased out from the line of fire as Shenka hugged herself, face twisting in a mix of fear and resolve. Only Trill seemed calm, sitting back in her chair, observing with a slight tilt to her head as Gram and my demon cat tore me a new one.

  “What, by the blessed elements, were you thinking bringing her here?”

  “Are you completely out of your mind or did you leave part of it behind when you ran off earlier?”

  I let them rattle on, swear words popping out here and there as they yelled over each other to the point I couldn't make them out anymore. When Gram paused to take a breath, I cracked a whip of power in the air. They both fell silent, though from the shuffling fury of Gram's feet and the way Sassy's tail thrashed against the table I knew I had only seconds before they started up again.

  “I know,” I said, keeping my tone reasonable. “I do. But where else was I going to take her?”

  Gram grumbled while Sassafras whined low in his throat.

  “Pretty.” Only then did I notice Demetrius, tucked into the corner, staring at Ameline through the crystal he held to his eye. He bent his head then, looking around it. “Not so pretty.”

  Would have been funny. Actually, really was. I snorted before I could stop myself, triggering a giggle fit from the little sorcerer. He pattered his feet on the floor, looking at Ameline through the crystal again.

  Gram eased up then, thin arms crossed over her chest. Even Sassafras seemed to relent, though it took a while for his puffed up fur to fall back to normal.

  “What a lovely welcome.” Ameline's mouth twisted in a sneer. Before anyone could stop her, she stepped forward and took a seat. Mine. Did she know I usually sat there or was it just her innate gift of pissing me off? “I'm hungry.” She snapped her fingers at Shenka. “Fix me something.”

  Oh no, she did not.

  But I didn't get to react. Before I could say anything, shoot her down, Gram's hand snaked out and smacked Ameline on the back of the head so hard her chin hit her chest.

  “Manners,” Gram said, baring her teeth in a nasty smile.

  Ameline snarled back before shrugging. “You'll pay for that, you old bitch.”

  I jerked on the power connecting me to Ameline, so hard the chair she sat in slid back a few inches. “Enough,” I said. “Or you're going back to prison after all.”

  All civil then? Grand.

  Shenka did end up making Ameline a sandwich, but as the dark maji ate it I couldn't help but hope my second found a way to spit in it first. Childish? Yeah. Still.

  No one treated Shenka that way. Or threatened my grandmother.

  I told them about the Sidhe, apologizing to Gram about Varity. Felt a chill of worry no one had come to arrest me yet. But when I turned to Charlotte, she shrugged.

  “I didn't hit her that hard,” the weregirl said. Gram scowled at her before Charlotte winced. “At least, I didn't think so.”

  “You realize what this means.” Sassafras hadn't touched his tuna. A testament to how upset he was. He never turned his nose up at tuna. “They'll be coming for you.” He looked sideways at Ameline who continued to eat her lunch without a flicker of acknowledgment. “For both of you.”

  It wasn't like I didn't know there would be consequences to my actions. “I know,” I said, sagging back into my seat. “We'll run before they come.”

  Just the thought made me cringe inside. Why had I brought her here? I was putting the whole family at risk by sitting here, eating lunch like nothing happened.

  Like I hadn't condemned myself to die.

  Explaining about the maji took a little more time, though I carefully left out the part about Ameline's heritage. She turned to meet my eyes, face blank, but didn't question me when I kept that little secret.

  I'd rather she didn't know. Not that Ameline cared even a scrap about Gram's feelings.

  As you wish, she sent.

  Why didn't I trust her to keep her mouth shut?

  Demetrius finished his sandwich, mushing his crusts together into a solid chunk before stuffing it into his mouth. I remembered his mission and cringed at the thought of asking.

  “Alison?” I leaned toward him, his blue eyes lifting from his milk glass to meet mine.

  “Gone,” he said. “Bu-bye.”

  Damn it. I'd have to deal with her eventually.

  “She knows,” he said. “About the gem.”

  What gem?

  Oh hell.

  I'd forgotten all about the jewel in my pocket. Had carried it with me through all of the mess I'd just survived. My fingers fished it out before I considered the company I was in. Ameline leaned forward, eyes intent on the black stone in my palm.

  “Is that the taint?” So she knew about the vampires, too, did she? Seemed her maji guide was more forthcoming with information than mine.

  Iepa would be hearing about that.

  I pulled my hand back, out of her reach, closing my hand around the jewel. “I have to destroy it.” She'd already managed to gain enough sorcery to equal me in the last little bit. No way was I handing her the means to match my vampire essence on a silver platter.

  And yet, wasn't that the point?

  Sigh.

  Ameline's eyes narrowed. “You know you need to give it to me,” she said. “My development will be that much closer to complete. And to confronting the Brotherhood with the pair of us as equals.”

  Yeah, like that was going to happen.

  It's actually an excellent idea, my vampire sent. Horrible to contemplate, but she's correct.

  “I'm happy to put off our final confrontation a little longer,” I said, shoving the gem back in my pocket.

  Ameline's lips bowed down into a pout, though her eyes flashed with anger.

  “You're a fool,” she said.

  “Maybe,” I said. “But I'd rather not give you access to unlimited vampire energy at the moment. Especially not the damaged kind.”

  “You can't let it fall into the Enforcer's hands, either.” Trill's dark eyes shone with worry. “It has to be destroyed, Syd.”

  Great. “We're going on the run,” I said. “I'll handle it when I get a minute.”

  Speaking of which, I'd put off our departure long enough. Pushed the limits of what was reasonable into the ridiculous. They'd be coming for me, any second now.

  Time to go.

  The moment I stood, backed away from the table, cold air enveloped me. I cried out from the chill, my skin burning from the icy touch, just as someone giggled maniacally in my ear. I felt ghostly fingers in my pocket, grasped for her, too late.

  Too late.

  Alison flared to life next to me, the gem in her grip.

  Grinned and vanished.

  And I, without thinking, went after her.

  Alone.

  Chased her through the edge of the family territory, felt the startled touch of Enforcers before flashing into the veil again, lunging after Alison. Brushed over her echo as she plunged into the ground.

  Into the cave where my elemental magic wouldn't work.

  Furious, raging, I went after her.

  My maji power dimmed, but stayed with me, as I dove beneath the earth and emerged in a burst of exploding fire, into the inner chamber. Alison crouched over a stone, the gem lying there, power hovering in her hands.

  I reached for the gem, knowing there was nothing I could do, felt her undead energy reach it before mine, crack the seal, break it open.

  Black mist poured up from the ground, groaning as it circled Alison befo
re plunging into her ghostly form. I fought it, wrestled with all of my ability, but I was weakened by the loss of my elemental magic, the maji in me not yet fully formed, unable to push past the seals on the cavern.

  Leaving the desperate, hungry magic to bond with the desperate, starving girl.

  I knew it the moment she came to life again, felt her heart thud once in response, fall still. But just the sight of her, solid and real, hovering above the stone floor, her eyes blazing with white fire while the black pits devoured blue pounded a spike of fear inside me.

  Not vampire, not human, not ghost. Something entirely different looked at me from behind Alison's face, laughed at me with Alison's voice.

  “Perfect,” she said, words echoing with power. “He was absolutely correct.”

  “Who?” I had to fight her, used my magic to seek a weak point only to have my vampire gasp and retreat at the touch of her.

  So evil, she whispered. Syd, we're in trouble.

  Alison laughed again, floating closer. The scent of decay she'd carried with her was gone, replaced by the haunting aroma of Alison's old favorite perfume and the faintest whiff of alcohol. Weird how the smells triggered a reaction in me. Loss and guilt and so much grief I choked.

  “You know who,” Alison said. Lunged for me only to fly back as my maji power repelled her. She snarled, looked down at her hands. “Whole again,” she said. “Has its disadvantages.”

  Which meant she could be trapped, captured. But even as I lashed out with my power, I felt her slip through my hold, her shielding slithering, slick and oily, as she rose higher. I grasped for her over and over again, pulling, tearing at her, unable to keep a grip as she began to glow.

  “Liander Belaisle sends his regards,” Alison said before flashing over into a sunburst and vanishing.

  I tucked my chin, covering my face with my hands to shield from the light, cursing as I reached for the veil to go after her.

  Syd! Gram's mind latched onto mine, the barest touch of her making it through the blocking on the elements. Syd!

  Gram? I tore at the veil, thoughts of Alison gone, desperation and absolute terror stopping my own heart. GRAM! I lunged for home.