by Patti Larsen
Another face, this one with vibrant blue eyes, makes me smile. I open my mouth to say “Owen.”
And pass out.
***
My body rocks back and forth, something soft under me, daylight streaming in a window over my head. Hand-made quilt, the smell of the outdoors and cooking. The rumble of an engine, wheels over pavement.
Darkness.
***
“—brought her as fast as we could.” Nona's voice, Trill hovering. It's night now, a light bulb overhead casting strange shadows. But the familiar feeling of magic, family magic, pulls me close and whispers to me as hands touch my face, lips soft on my cheek, faded blue eyes full of tears meet mine.
“Oh, girl,” Gram whispers.
Fade to shadow.
***
Whispering, lots of whispering, hands holding mine, magic threading through me as my demon stirs, Shaylee sighing, my body on fire, burning, the pain rising until I cry out from it.
Then it's gone and I'm out again.
***
Flicker
Gram hovers, holding my hand to her cheek
Flash
Mom glows with power, Meira too, flooding my body and lighting the room, casting their faces in an eerie glow
Snap
Liam's familiar scent, an arm around my shoulders, my head on his chest while a big, black face with glowing red eyes watches me from the foot of the bed
Spark
The rustle of fabric as Quaid rises from my side, black cloak with blue edges, strong hand releasing mine
Wake
Wake
***
Wake.
I opened my eyes. Found a pair of amber ones staring, a small, pink nose almost touching mine. Soft, silver ears perked, a single tail-thump striking my ribs.
“Syd,” Sassafras whispered. “About time.”
I lifted my arms, weighing ten times normal, and hugged him to me, sobbing into his fur while he murmured in my ear, amber magic pulling me close as he purred and purred away my fear.
“It's over,” he said at last. “You're going to be okay.”
I snuffled, letting him go, wiping my nose and eyes with the sheet, body coming alive and awake, no longer feeling like I had the house sitting on me.
Just my silver Persian. And he was always welcome.
My demon purred back at him, stretching and waking as Shaylee hugged me, my family magic bubbling. But my vampire, she who I'd lost, was gone, only a trace of her remaining.
I should have been happy to be alive. Home, in my own bed, and, if the feeling of the house beneath me was to be believed, surrounded and protected by the people I loved. The whole coven was here. Not in body, but in power, the thrum of their awareness all around me.
Why did I want to hide from them? Instinct pulled my power tight, lidded it and, despite my worry the other parts of me would protest, they didn't. They missed her as much as I did. Felt the guilt I felt.
Sassafras's eyes flared with power, but he didn't comment. Knew better. “I'll tell the others you're awake,” he said, turning and leaping from the bed, running out the door to summon my family, to flood my life with people and their joy while my heart wept for my loss.
I crept out of bed and slunk down the stairs, slipping out the back door to perch on the bench alone, shivering in my pajamas, the sky over head full of pinpoint stars.
I suddenly hated the dark.
The screen door sang, padding steps approached. I didn't look up, didn't have to. Fluffy socks settled next to my bare feet, the sigh of her breath and the pressure of her on the bench disturbing my solitude. One wrinkled hand reached out and cupped mine as she sat back, our shared magic full of love, but holding its breath.
We sat there in silence for a long moment. Until I couldn't stand it any longer.
“How long?” My voice was still rough, my throat sore. More a croak than a voice.
“Three days.” Gram's foot bobbed over her crossed knee. Pink and green this time. I loved her socks and never told her. Needed to. “Trill and Owen brought you back, them and their Nona.” They found their grandmother and she was all right, no matter what the sorcerer Belaisle tried to make Trill believe. That made me feel a little better. And the memories I had of our journey, the rocking motion. Trill said they had an RV.
“They saved you.” She sounded guilty. And I knew why. She would be feeling she should have saved me.
“Iepa.” I said. “The maji.” And one other, though I wouldn't speak her name. Would never acknowledge her help. I hadn't asked for it. Didn't want it.
Refused to believe Ameline had saved my life.
“How, Gram?” I met her eyes at last, tightness in my chest making it hard to draw air. “I should be dead.”
Gram's eyes glistened in the light over the door, but her voice was steady when she spoke. “You should,” she said.
“The vampire essence...” It hurt to think of her. “She said I was immortal, but not invincible. Was she wrong?”
Gram didn't say anything. I was glad. I needed to work this through on my own.
“She called me the Undying.” My fingers flexed on Gram's. “Iepa. Trill did too.” A massive shudder took me, the need to sob, broken and lost and alone. I felt the family now, crowded at the back door, wanting to come to me, holding back.
Giving me my space.
“Then it must be.” Gram sighed, pulled on her grip, caught me against her, cheek on my hair.
Both of my hands rose, clutched at my chest without my consent, the empty hole inside me begging for what I'd lost. And though the maji power swelled and tried to fill it, there just wasn't enough.
Would never be enough now that I knew what it was like to be almost whole.
Gram had to have known where my mind was going. “You're safe,” she said. “Home with us. Alive. And you have your marbles, yet.” Unlike her experience. I wondered then if she resented my ability to survive, even when I'd lost my demon. But no, not Gram.
Not ever.
“You could leave things here.” She sounded like she didn't believe what she was saying either. “Let Batsheva keep what she's stolen. Neither blood clan has said anything, though they both know you live.”
Sebastian? Or spies. Whatever.
“I can't.” Breathing was easier again when I spoke those two words, the tightness loosening, my body feeling lighter already.
“Is that the best choice?” Gram paused. “For your coven?”
No hesitation on my part. “Yes,” I said. “I've been here before. I needed my demon when she was taken from me,” she hummed happily in answer, “and I need my vampire now.” The jab of pain wasn't quite so bad. “If only because my coven needs me to fight the Brotherhood.” I pulled free of her and faced her, found her nodding, sad but stern.
“All right then,” she said. “Let's get you cleaned up and pay Batsheva a visit.”
My heart sang in anticipation. Time to get my vampire back.
***
Chapter Thirty Two
I didn't have to tell them where I was going, what I was doing. The crowd at the door already knew. Backed off and let me enter, hands touching me, Mom hugging me swiftly, Meira, Liam. Uncle Frank almost crushed me he held me so tight, but I didn't mind.
“We should have stayed, fought harder.” His words were muffled in my hair.
“You had no choice.” I kissed his cheek and smiled. I could smile now that I'd decided what to do. “But I do.”
Sunny next, trembling, teary, but full of love. “I'll never forgive myself,” she whispered.
“Silly,” I said. “I feel the same way about me. For putting all of you in that position. I should have just cut and run instead of trying to play their game.”
Sebastian. He engulfed me in his arms, though his body was rigid. “I failed you.”
Damn them, all of them, with their guilt. Though I understood it, of course I did. But I needed them to suck it up if I was going to go back and do what I had to
.
“Enough,” I said, with enough force behind it they all stilled. “We've been through a lot together.” I looked up, saw Trill watching from behind Sebastian, her and Owen and their Nona holding back, giving the family room. “We don't always get to have happy endings.” Trill's arm went around her brother as she leaned into her grandmother. “But we always do our best to finish what we start.” She nodded to me, smiled as I turned to face the others. “Guilt and accusations and stupid mistakes be damned. I'm going to Austria to clean up a mess. Who's with me?”
“You're clearly off your rocker,” Sassafras said, tail thrashing. “But Batsheva must be stopped.”
Nods all around. Mom looked positively nasty. “I'll alert my colleague we're on our way,” she said with way too much satisfaction in her voice.
Margaret Applegate was going to love seeing us coming.
I left them talking, planning, headed for the stairs and the shower I so desperately craved. Liam's hand caught my arm as he followed me up, drawing out a hiss of pain from my lips.
Not whole yet by a long shot.
He winced, let me go, eyes sad. “Please,” he said. “Think this through.”
“I already have.” He of all people, trying to talk me out of it?
“Syd.” Liam rose another step, face level with mine, lips hovering close to my mouth as he ever-so-gently touched my cheek with his fingertips. “I won't survive if I lose you.”
“Liam.” Galleytrot's deep voice broke the moment between us. “Come.”
I met the big dog's eyes, caught his slow nod. Knew he understood.
The water was lovely and hot, though the lights too bright. Not that I was photosensitive anymore, but because of how I looked. Sunken skin, pale and slightly green, dark circles under my eyes. I slowly turned in the mirror and forced myself to examine my skin, to look at each and every puncture, mostly healed but still visible, the faint scars left from my healing where the flesh was torn by vampire teeth, and the deep, round welts on my neck.
From her. Batsheva. Where she'd stolen my soul.
The need to kill someone, my hate, had never been so powerful.
My demon growled, but she felt hurt, anguished. Shaylee too, though she was as determined as I to return and take back what we'd lost. Even the family magic coiled inside me, retreating from my hate.
Deep breath. Let it out. Another. I hugged myself as I stood there, calling up my demon as she flashed amber in my eyes, Shaylee who wove around me with Sidhe power and the witch magic I'd rejected for so long flaring to life as it rose to shield us all.
Not alone, not by a long shot. And I refused to let hate consume me. To become what Demetrius knew of Ameline, what I did as well. Not when I had myself and myself and, yes, myself to lean on. I wouldn't become the woman I hunted or the one I had to face for the return of my vampire.
Their relief was as real as our need when the hard ball of rage released and let go. No need for it. Though I wasn't making any promises when I had Batsheva in my hands.
My robe, normally soft and lovely on my skin felt almost abrasive as I belted it tight and opened the door to cross the hall.
And thought of Charlotte. Panic drove a spike through me, my power whipping outward to search for her.
Found her in Mom's room, unconscious on the bed. Worn out or magicked that way, I didn't know. But she was alive and safe.
I'd done that much right.
We'd just see if she'd ever forgive me for it.
I knew my room wasn't empty before I entered, but I was okay with my visitor. Trill sat on the end of my bed, hands folded in front of her, shoulders hunched a little as though expecting to be asked to leave. I crossed right to her and sat beside her, hugging her hard while her arms rose and hugged me back.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“You're welcome,” she said.
We smiled at each other a moment before Trill sighed. “We can't stay,” she said. “But I wanted to see you before we left. Alone.”
I took her hand, feeling tears rise. “You saved my life,” I said.
“Just returning the favor,” she said. “But Syd, I didn't save you. Neither did Nona or Owen. When you dropped out of the veil, I was sure you were already dead.” She shuddered softly as the image flared between us. I gasped at the sight of me, mummified as the young vampire Ellia had been when her clan was finished with her.
“There's no way you should be alive,” Trill said. “Unless you're very, very close.”
“The Undying.” I nodded. “Iepa came to me in the veil. She told me I had too much left to do. She sent me to you, I guess.”
“I've never seen anything like it,” Trill said. “I'm just glad you're all right.”
So I guessed I was invincible. At least, until I'd fulfilled the task Iepa had for me. Somehow, knowing it didn't make me feel any better.
“I will answer your call whenever you need me,” she said with so much emotion I wondered where the girl I'd first met went, the angry, suspicious girl who, now I was willing to admit it, reminded me a lot of who I'd been not so long ago.
“And I yours,” I said, hugging her again.
“Please be careful,” she said. “I know you must retrieve the vampire essence, but remember. She's been tied to Batsheva's power. The taint may have affected her.”
I hadn't thought of that. “We'll just have to make sure nothing of the Queen remains then,” I said.
Trill smiled at my tone. “I almost wish I could be there to see you kick her ass.”
Laughter felt good, seemed to heal me further. “I'll tell you all about it when I see you again.”
Trill paused at the door, turning with a smile. “I meant to thank you,” she said. “For our escort.”
“Sorry?” Escort?
“Quaid.” Her glasses flashed in the light, brown eyes full of mischief. “Though I was annoyed at the time, he made himself useful. Thank you for asking him to watch over us.”
I grinned. “He can be an arrogant jerkasaurus,” I said, “but he's helpful when he wants to be.”
Trill laughed. “Once I put him in his place,” she said.
Crap. I would have loved to have seen that.
She waved as she left. I closed the door behind her, turning slowly, eyes falling on my wardrobe, a sinking feeling in my stomach telling me something wasn't right.
The top drawer was ajar.
A quick search told me, though a little late to be helpful, Demetrius had succeeded in retrieving my crystal. Damn it.
Talk about terrible timing. Still, I could only believe he was back with Batsheva. So I'd track him down and take it back before I did horrible things to her.
Oh, so horrible.
My demon chuckled. Now that the blackness of my hate had gone, she and the rest of my carry-ons were more than happy to consider the possibilities.
I drew on as much of the family magic as I could while I dressed, trying to fill up reserves drained by the vampires. By the time I was done, the massive magic had fleshed me out further, the bags gone, my skin a more normal pink, though I was still thin, so thin.
Alison would have been really jealous.
Why did I think of her in that moment? My throat burned with the need to cry as I tightened the leather belt I needed to hold up my jeans, but there was no time to break down, not now. Later. Later, if I really felt I needed it. But I had a feeling when this was done, I wouldn't be the one in tears.
Mom's door creaked softly as I entered and went to the bed. Charlotte's body twitched as I settled on the quilt beside her. I could have left her behind, and probably should have. But she was as much a part of me as my vampire and I wanted her with me, selfish or not.
One touch and she woke, sitting up, hands grasping my arms, eyes locked on mine while her wolf crawled through them.
“What happened?” She coughed softly, tried again. “You were hurt, I could feel it, but I couldn't get to you and they wouldn't let me go—” Hysteria rose in her voice u
ntil I sent her power, soothed her with magic.
“Batsheva won the first round,” I said. “I'm up for a rematch.”
Charlotte quivered as I rose from the bed and headed to the door.
“Well?” I grinned at her, turning back. “Are you coming or not?”
Silly question.
***
Chapter Thirty Three
I thought I was ready for anything. Sebastian and Sunny quickly filled me in as I arrived in the kitchen, that a battle had been fought and was now at a standoff at Batsheva's castle. Pannera had her surrounded, while Enforcers, at least according to Mom's intel, kept the war zone contained. It was clear Pannera wasn't about to allow Batsheva to keep the essence, though I was a little confused. Now that she had my vampire, why wasn't Batsheva able to defeat Pannera?
There could only be one answer. And it gave me more hope than I probably should have had.
We traveled together, a string of witches, vampires, a demon cat and one werewolf girl as I tore the veil open and pulled them through with me. The rubbery membrane welcomed me home, but the extra draw of it was lost thanks to all of the people I had with me. I'd never attempted to transport so many before, but no way was I waiting around because someone couldn't find a ride.
All or nothing.
The veil slit open, emptying us out into the corridor outside the throne room. I could feel the hum of magic outside, the pressure of the Enforcer shielding and welcomed it. Their attention meant no one would be escaping until I was ready to deal with them.
Margaret was going to be so mad at me for using her tactics against her.
Couldn't wait for that confrontation.
Mom marched beside me, Gram slightly behind, Sassafras scampering between my feet and through the door before I reached it, demon magic preceding me as he let loose a wall of fire.
Good thing, too. The gathered vampires probably wouldn't have even noticed we were there if he hadn't put on such a show. As it was, it looked like I'd arrived just in time.
