The Outcast

by Patti Larsen

  One she’d lost.

  A single glance around the room told me the other leaders might have been shocked, but they weren’t about to budge. My jaw ached from grinding my teeth, but there was nothing I could do to force them to listen. “Just so you know,” I snarled. “I’d trust a building’s instincts over anyone here.” I refused to look at Femke. I was just too angry with her at the moment. “What does that say for what we’ve become?”

  “The law is the law.” Erica’s blunt statement put an end to my protest. She swept the circle with her gaze, power crackling. “If any of you try to enter my territory uninvited, if this creature,” she points at me, “somehow convinces you to break the law and do so, I will consider it an act of war.” Blue flames engulfed her. “You don’t want to test me or my allies.” And then, she was gone.

  “And that,” I said, “is where the world is heading. To puppets controlled by the Brotherhood.” I gusted out a frustrated breath of air. “Are you all happy now?”

  The spluttering and anger started instantly, but I was done with their small minded pettiness. “If you don’t learn to work together,” I said, leaning over the table with both fists planted on the surface, “you are done.”

  They all stared at me, silent but unmovable.

  “What will it take?” Femke’s voice broke the silence. I glanced at her at last, her own fury as hot as mine. “Seriously, tell me. What will it take for all of you to see the real threat here?” She met my eyes. “And it’s not Sydlynn Hayle.” She looked back. “Perhaps one of our territories being attacked?” They squirmed, silent. “No? Will you sit back and watch our Councils fall, one by one, relying on your assurance that it’s not your territory and none of your business?”

  I couldn’t have said it better myself. My anger toward Femke faded, died off. I knew better. She was on my side and always had been.

  “If I’ve learned anything,” I said, softer this time, with feeling, “from combining all these personalities in my head,” I tapped at my temple while my demon, vampire and Sidhe princess all murmured their agreement, “it’s that all of us, working apart, are a mess. But when we got our crap together and finally joined up, nothing could—or will—stop us.” I sagged, knowing I’d lost, but unable to stop myself. “How long do you think it will be before the Brotherhood comes after you? How long before you’re under their thumb, your families and those of your territories burned, their power stolen? Your loved ones consigned to the fire of this ridiculous false future they are trying to pass as whole cloth?” Still didn’t have them. They were so closed I doubted they heard a word past their own quivering, fear filled mental voices. But I just had to finish. “The Brotherhood is winning because no one will step up.” My shoulders pushed back, chin rising. “Well, I’m stepping up, with or without you. And when the day comes when the Brotherhood invade your territory, you’d better damned well hope I’m willing to take your call when you come running.”

  I couldn’t stand them anymore, their staring faces, their silence and reticence. With my anger tightly clenched around me, I spun and stalked out of the room.

  I heard the door slam behind me when I was barely halfway down the hall, the patter of feet running toward me turning me partially around. Femke embraced me, breathless and shaking, as I hugged her back.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered before leaning away, blue eyes intense with regret. “But the moment I felt them turn, I knew it was a lost cause. I wish I could have saved you that heartache.” She dropped her arms. “Please don’t think I abandoned you in there. You were brilliant.” Her voice was steady despite her shivering. “And they are, as they have always been, impossible.”

  I shrugged and turned from her, still stinging no matter her excuses. “Whatever,” I said.

  She jerked me around, voice dropping in volume, looking over her shoulder before sighing. “I tried to coerce them.” Her eyes were huge, the pupils drowning out the blue suddenly as I drew a breath. “I know, I know.” She bit her lower lip. “It was so wrong and if anyone ever found out… I pushed so hard, Syd. But they just wouldn’t take the bait.”

  I hugged her again, understanding now her failure to speak up. She’d been a little busy. “I wish I’d thought of that,” I growled in her ear. “Stupid, Femke.”

  She nodded against my shoulder, letting me go. “I know. I just…” she looked back down the hall toward the door, sudden fury flashing over her face.

  I took her hand, pulling her along, linking my arm in hers as she drifted, listless, beside me. “Yeah,” I said. “I know. Don’t do anything like that ever again.” Bad enough the Brotherhood were burning witches with no provocation. If the other Council Leaders found out she’d tried to coerce them, she’d be killed on the spot. Damned risky and I didn’t agree with her tactics, but her frustration? That I understood.

  She coughed a laugh. “Yes, Mummy.”

  I glared at her as we paused outside her office door. “I mean it,” I said. “We’ve all been pushed to our limits before. I don’t want to worry you might cross the line into something you’ll regret and will get you killed.”

  She nodded, shoulders stiffening, but not with anger. “I know it was a foolish thing to do,” she said. “And a waste of precious time and energy.” She shook out her short, blonde hair. “I learned a valuable lesson, Syd, and not about them, either.” Her breath whistled between her teeth as she exhaled. “About how far I’m willing to go.”

  “And?” I waited for her to go on. Damn it, I really didn’t want to have to worry she might crack and lose it. Femke was the one solid ally in the witch world I had right now.

  “And.” Her blue eyes cleared. “They’re all rubbish. And not worth giving up my beliefs or pushing me past the point of no return.”

  “Damned right.” I growled the words. “No one is.”

  She hesitated, touched my hand. “Syd, you are.”

  I shook her, grasping her upper arms in my hands. She was older than me by at least a decade, but I treated her like someone younger at times. “Listen to me,” I said, voice low and harsh. “No one. Not even me. Promise.”

  Femke swallowed audibly. “You’re our only hope,” she said. “I’ll do anything to protect you.”

  “I can take care of myself,” I said, letting her go. “You know that. And I need to believe you’re not going to do something we’ll both have to pay for later because you think I need help.”

  Femke stared at me, mute and hurt before shaking it off. I’d never seen her so vulnerable, probably a byproduct of the coercion attempt, leaving her open and defenseless. When she met my eyes again, my friend was back, grim smile in place.

  “You’re stubborn and ridiculous,” she said. “And I love you for it.” She didn’t wait for me to comment, pushing her office door open and walking in. I followed her, head down, heart pounding at how close we came to her breaking.

  If anything happened to Femke and the Councils stood by, I’d clean house myself. They had no idea, none. How thin a line I walked, how easy it would be to crack myself, to become an avenging angel, a rogue with no conscience, only revenge in my heart.

  Except for us, my vampire sent.

  We will never let you fall, Shaylee whispered.

  Never. My demon’s power crackled. Though I’d be in for a little constructive ass kicking in the name of education.

  I laughed shakily, running one hand over my mouth as a cold sweat engulfed me. So easy to just let go and let the power take over. But they were right and I was so lucky to have them.

  By the time I’d pulled it together and stepped through the door, Femke had clearly filled in the waiting Sunny and Danilo, because they were both furious. While the vampire queen’s came across as icy calm, the werewolf king looked about ready to go on a rampage.

  You have to present the right example, my vampire sent. For their sake.

  Appearances could bite me.

  “I have a question.” Sunny’s blue eyes found and held mine. “When yo
u came to see me, asked about the dull feeling that Sassafras uncovered, did you make the connection to Belaisle?”

  I froze a moment and stared at her. “What connection?” But, yes, of course I had. I’d just forgotten the instant of understanding, just as Zoe left, when the Brotherhood first attacked. I just hadn’t thought of it since. Been a little busy.

  “Think about it.” Her rigid shoulders and perfect posture made her look like a statue of a stunning, angry woman. “How ever did Belaisle manage to take over so slickly?”

  “He bound his sorcery to the council’s magic,” I said, sinking into a chair. “Yes, I assumed the lassitude had something to do with it, but I figured it was just to make everyone look the other way.”

  “Wherein lies the problem,” she said. “We agreed with you, did we not, we felt it, too?” She looked to Femke and to Danilo who both nodded. “If we are to assume he inflicted this feeling, and that we in Europe felt it as much as you in North America, does it not carry that our entire plane is affected?”

  Femke hesitated. “Maybe not,” she said. “He knows Syd has allies here in Europe. It could be he tried to influence us just to keep us from noticing anything or asking questions.”

  “Why then,” Sunny said, “am I still feeling it, if subtly, in my mind?”

  I didn’t. But Femke’s startled expression and Danilo’s sudden bout of swearing told me they did.

  “If he has no desire to spread his hold to other territories,” Sunny said, “he would have dropped his little naptime routine when he took control of North America, correct?” I nodded, numb for another reason. “The fact he hasn’t can only mean one thing.”

  “He plans to attack other territories.” Danilo surged to his feet, pacing as his mouth formed a wolf’s muzzle before retreating again. “Surely the other councils will act with this knowledge.”

  “Only if we can present proof of it,” Femke said. But she was sounding hopeful so I latched onto that. Was there a way to make them see and pay attention? To show them they were all at risk right now?

  That might be enough to make them act.

  “Let’s run with that,” I said, standing again, needing to get out of there. The three nodded to me as I opened the veil, reaching for the Stronghold. “Keep me posted.”

  “What are you going to do?” Femke’s hesitation was gone, my friend fully returned.

  “I don’t know,” I said. “But when I figure it out, you’ll be the first to know.”

  I didn’t have the heart to tell them I was running away as I stepped through the veil and reached for the Stronghold. Okay, not exactly. But I needed time to think things through, to shake off the disappointment of the same old same old. And, I wanted to talk to Mom. She’d help me figure this out.

  The moment I set foot in the Stronghold I was practically assaulted by two young sorcerers. The Zornov brothers grinned at me like they’d found some delicious way to exact revenge on their most hated rivals. I hoped that was good news for me.

  “Syd,” Apollo said with a grin, “we have a way to get the family fortune back.”

  My eyes flew wide, heart pounding as I beamed. About time I had some good news. “How?”

  He hooked his arm through mine while Charlotte approached, eyes narrowed. I didn’t know she was back, waved at her to join us. She did as the sorcerer gestured toward the mirror.

  “I have someone I want you to meet.” He bowed at the waist. “After you.”

  ***

  Chapter Thirty Two

  I let him take the lead, pulling Charlotte along next to me, happy to have her with me.

  Where have you been? Her tone was almost accusatory, like she wasn’t off rescuing witches or anything without me.

  Council meeting, I sent as the mirror flowed around me.

  Result? Her tone softened, though there was little hope in her mental voice.

  Predictable, I sent, breathing in fresh night air as we crossed out of the portal and into a darkened street. The light over our heads was burnt out, only the one at the far end flickering with illumination, scent of asphalt cooling biting my senses. A car passed us at speed, roaring by with its headlights flashing in our faces, the catcalls of young men garbled by the night air and their car’s engine. I ignored their rude behavior and followed Apollo as he turned and led us away from the light, toward a small building on the right side of the street. I looked down the small grade into the city below us, pebbles harsh under the thin soles of my worn sneakers, wondering where we were. Not that it mattered if whoever Apollo had lined up could do the job.

  So, as usual, Charlotte sent, we’re on our own.

  I grinned at her in the dark, sadness in my expression. Think we can handle it?

  Her eyes flashed with the wolf in her, face stony and serious. As you’re so fond of saying, they’d better look the hell out. She sent those words with so much conviction my heart sang.

  Apollo circled the building, coming to a small side door. His sorcery made short work of the lock, the metal portal ringing a little on its hinges as he pulled it open. This time he led the way, not waiting for me to go first and I let him, following Owen and his brother with Charlotte beside me.

  The interior was dark, some kind of warehouse, I guessed, stacked with dark, bulky shapes. A single, white toned light glowed on the right, leading us that way as much as Apollo’s long strides. I had to push myself to keep up, weariness catching up with me again and was panting a little by the time we reached a smoked glass door leading to some kind of office.

  The silence was unnerving for some reason, broken by the whoosh of air as Apollo opened the door, the sound of humming coming from the interior. I stepped through after the Zornovs, Charlotte behind me in protective stance, and ran my gaze over the banks of computer backs facing me, sharp tang of hot plastic and too much electricity making me want to sneeze. The sound of tapping on computer keys paused, a chair creaked.

  “Lo,” a voice I was sure I’d heard before muttered. “That you?”

  “Brought the client I mentioned,” Apollo said. “Sydlynn Hayle, I want you to meet my friend, Si. Better known as BitsnBytes.”

  My heart dropped into my feet as a young man, his glasses flashing in the lights of his computer monitors, stood and stepped around the desk, mouth drawn into a thin line.

  “Oh,” Simon Clement said, my old friend staring at me like he wanted me dead, “Syd and I have met.”

  I hadn’t seen Simon for years. My sweet, kind hearted and slightly socially awkward friend had gone off to college early, attending Harvard. I only ran into him my first year, but too late. He’d been sucked into the Star Club, a private group led by Darin Mavore, who turned Simon over to vampires and Ameline Benoit. The resulting trauma ruined him and, grades dropping and soul shattered, Simon disappeared.

  Why had I never gone looking for him again? Guilt rose and this time none of my alter egos even considered mentioning I shouldn’t feel bad, their own concern and regret as powerful as mine.

  Apollo looked back and forth between us, smile fading. “How do you two know each other?”

  “We’re friends,” I said, meaning it.

  “We were.” Simon’s coldness hit me, crisp and harsh. He crossed his arms over his chest, still staring at me, though I couldn’t see his eyes past the glow of his glasses. He looked good, if pale, dark hair short and spiked, a fandom t-shirt hugging his narrow chest. He’d grow into himself, no longer the nerdy, tiny kid who was far too smart for his age, far too smart for his own good. I wished I could reach him somehow, but the rigidity of his stance, the closed feeling of his mind, told me this wasn’t the time.

  “It’s good to see you, Simon,” I said. “How have you been?”

  “Just dandy,” he said, bitterness crusting his words. “Heard you ruined Blood and Pain’s lives, too. And since Al committed suicide, I guess you’re three for four.” His body shook. “Seen Beth lately? Heard she’s doing great. You missed one.”

  My jaw clamped shu
t. None of that was my fault, but what was I supposed to say? Our little gang of friends was scattered, true enough. Mia—formerly the Goth girl, Pain, the heir to the Dumont family—dead. Blood, her boyfriend, now Rupe, had been lost to the Brotherhood, then madness as the werewolf infection he purposely inflicted on himself tried to destroy him. Alison, my ghostly friend, had found some happiness at least after her death. Thinking of her made me worry all over again where she and Sebastian had gone.

  And, finally, Simon. But he was right. Beth made it out, the scholarship Mom gave her taking her away from me, from everything.

  I hoped she was happy. And worried maybe Simon was right.

  “What do you want?” My former friend turned from me, sank into his chair. I circled as Apollo did, to scan the computer monitors. Code and flashing images and other things raced across the four huge screens, so fast I was nauseated almost immediately.

  “Syd wants to hire you,” Apollo said, not sounding so sure of himself anymore.

  Simon shook his head. “Not interested.”

  I frowned at Apollo with a tilt to my head. “What’s the deal?”

  “My dude here,” he said, “is one of the country’s greatest hackers. If anyone can get your money back, it’s him.”