Steam Union

by Patti Larsen

  One more question to ask her as I breathed past the last. “Any sign of the vampires?” Six weeks ago, Sebastian DeWinter, king of his blood clan, and the aforementioned Alison, vanished without a trace, their entire family gone with them. Castle DeWinter in Austria was empty of their magic and even the house above, once populated with vampires of their bloodline, stood silent and bereft.

  Ameline shook her head, sadness in her icy eyes. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I have no idea where they’ve gone.”

  Was worth an ask. I refused to give up on Sebastian. We’d been through too much together. I’d saved his life twice, he my magic once, long ago. And I adored him. If I could find him and bring him back from wherever he’d gone, I’d risk my life to do it.

  “One thing that may be connected to his disappearance,” Ameline said, slender hand rising to stop me before I could thank her for trying. “I have noticed a shift in spirit magic.”

  Max sighed softly. “As have I,” he said.

  Ameline turned her gaze to him. “Everything is… off kilter. Wonky.” Her nose wrinkled at the use of the word. Adorable, really.

  “It has been,” he said, “since the heart of Creator was stolen from the Stronghold.”

  “What does it mean for us?” I almost didn’t want to ask.

  Max shrugged, diamond eyes dull. “I don’t know, Syd,” he said. “Except that once the power of sorcery was divided, in order to protect us, spirit magic became the basis of Creator’s power. I fear the effects to that particular magic will only increase with time.”

  I shivered while my vampire tucked herself carefully away inside me.

  We needed to find those pieces before the whole Universe fell apart.

  ***

  Chapter Seven

  I stepped out of the veil and into the dark basement at home, Max’s farewell echoing in my head. Frustration made me stomp as I crossed the concrete floor to the stairs, tension across my shoulders giving me a whopper of a headache, one I’d carried with me all day after leaving the Fates with Iepa.

  Once we left Ameline, we spent the rest of our time searching planes for the pieces of Creator. I’d never been part of a more intensely unsatisfying process as this whole search had become. When we’d first begun our task Max calmly divided the entire Universe into sections, assigning his people across the planes and, over the last six weeks, we’d been systematically touching down in each one to see if we could find trace of Creator’s physical form.

  With a small group of drach left behind at the Stronghold to protect Creator’s statue at all times, it felt like our little adventure in futility was going to take forever. And I worried we didn’t have that long.

  Hey, I sent as the afternoon turned to night in my internal clock. The critter attacks have slowed down, haven’t they? Or is it just me?

  Max’s affirmative mental signal was joined with worry. I noticed the same, he sent as we swooped over a fragrant purple field filled with tiny white flowers, pale green water rushing past. The sky was also faintly green, huge hippopotamus creatures lounging on the banks. One lifted its big head, bulging eyes so human I shuddered and looked away.

  I take it that’s a bad thing? How could it be? We’d been chasing creatures from the other Universe for years, crossed over first when Gabriel opened the gate and then when the demon Xeoniteridone destroyed the Node holding Demonicon’s planes together. It seemed like the fight was never ending. But now, suddenly, we had the veil to ourselves again. What gives?

  I don’t have an answer, he sent. Except that if they are gone, they have to have gone somewhere.

  Oh, yeah. Right.

  I’d have to worry about it another day. For now, I stomped my way up the creaking stairs and to the kitchen, already aware how quiet the house was. The sun had set, the first floor dark. I blinked into the brightness as I flicked on the light, gaze settling on a note resting on the table.

  My fingers smoothed the edges as I read Shenka’s firm, scrolling handwriting:

  Quaid is working late and the kids are sleeping over at your mother’s at Harvard. Sassafras said he was visiting friends, but might be back when you get home. I had to run out. Dinner is in the fridge if you don’t mind leftover casserole. See you in the morning.

  Shenka

  And, just like that, I was on my own for the night. Okay then.

  I slouched over to the stainless steel door and jerked it open, wash of cold air from inside sending out a soft plume of mist. Shenka had carefully wrapped a serving of her delicious chicken specialty for me, but I just wasn’t into it. The door thudded as I slammed it shut and retreated upstairs for a shower.

  There was only so much time and hot water I could waste before even I got bored, especially when I was showering alone. Doing so just made me think of my absent husband and how much I missed him. We’d fallen into this uber comfortable pattern over the last seven years, mixed with kids and family that never failed to make me happy. Thinking that way as I rinsed soap from my hair made me wonder if I was being selfish about Quaid’s choices after all. Was I putting him first or was I, deep down, being a whiny baby because I didn’t have him at my beck and call 24/7 any longer?

  I refused to be that wife. Shudder to the gazillionth degree. And yet... it wasn’t lost on me being by myself in the house with no one to talk to triggered my loneliness. Like I was going to fall apart because no one loved me anymore.

  Sigh. Grow up, Syd.

  Sprawling on my bed with a romance novel only made me think of Quaid all over again and the fact I was still a little ticked at him for last night and his total lack of willingness to talk about Gabriel. That, at least, I knew was justified. Or so I told myself in a huffy scowlfest. TV was a batch of police procedurals with plots so simplistic I knew who did it within minutes of tuning in. I finally got up and paced the house, wondering where this restlessness was coming from.

  A quick check of the family turned up peace and contentment, though I’d learned that was a big, fat distraction. The last time I thought everything was peachy keen, a girl in flames crashed into our back yard and a third of the continent’s witches ended up dead.

  Okay, melodramatic much? But considering the past, I had the right to worry.

  For a moment I thought about reaching out to Piers and Zoe. But I shut down my urge and shook my head at myself, standing on the top of the landing outside the bathroom door.

  Get a grip. And take a night off.

  I finally ended up in the basement yet again, tearing at the veil, reaching for the one person I knew would keep me company without making me feel like I was intruding. My sister’s lovely, red-tinted face appeared behind the jagged slice, beaming a smile. Meira’s position as Ruler of Demonicon had grown on her, and she’d grown into it. I was so proud of her sometimes I could just hug her and never let her go.

  “Syd!” She was alone in her office, the towering windows behind her showing the moonlit skyline of her capital city, Ostrogotho. While I loved her husband, Rameranselot, and adored her daughter, Zuza, it was nice to have Meems to myself for once. “How are you?”

  I grinned at her. “Social,” I said before she could continue, or ask her usual question as to the nature of my call.

  Meira laughed. “Good to know the world isn’t in imminent danger.”

  I winked. “Didn’t say that.”

  We talked for at least an hour about nothing and everything. Meira spun in her chair, platform boots on her desk, curving horns disappearing into her lush, black curls. It was nice to just chat without pressure or a goal, a problem to solve.

  Of course I had to go and ruin it by smacking myself in the forehead. “Mom,” I groaned.

  Meira sat up abruptly, power crackling around her. “What?”

  I waved her off. “Sorry,” I said. “I have something to tell her and I keep forgetting.” Bad daughter.

  “Well, I have to go anyway.” Meira waved to me. “Love you, sis.”

  Why did that make me choke up? “You, too,
Meems.”

  She disappeared behind the closing veil and I sat there a long time, hugging myself. When I finally pulled myself together and reached for Mom, her power blocked me with a kind but firm, “Do not disturb.”

  Fine, then. I tried. I’d have to tell her about the shadow council later. Meanwhile, I had an olive branch to extend to a friend and this was a good time to do it. It was only then I realized why I was so restless and lonely. Because I was avoiding contacting Femke.

  Oh, Syd.

  I was just gathering myself in preparation for saying I was sorry, when power I didn’t know tapped gently, but with insistence, on the edge of the family shields. I was so surprised I froze, jerking out of it when a second tap pulled me loose.

  Polite, whoever it was.

  I allowed the spirit magic through, felt the weight of the mind on the other end. A mind I didn’t know, but seemed familiar with me as she settled her power before me.

  Sydlynn Hayle. She felt ancient, almost rigid, like a statue come to life. The volume of power at her disposal would have rivaled mine if she had access to other magicks. As it was, her spirit energy rippled with the weight of substantial strength.

  You have me at a disadvantage, I sent in return.

  You are summoned, she sent, flashing an image of a location in my mind. I’d never been there before, towering mountains in the distance, a spiraling castle climbing to the stars on one peak, clinging to the side like a delicate carving. Your presence would be appreciated.

  For what purpose? Was this some kind of trap? She had to be a vampire. Too much spirit magic otherwise. My own vampire didn’t comment, held very still inside me.

  To bear witness on the behalf of Teresa Wilhelm, she sent. At the event of her trial.

  My mind backpedaled as I tried to wrap myself around what this strange vampire just said to me. Teresa Wilhelm… wait, that was Sunny!

  Her what?

  The trial will commence in one half hour, she sent, her power retreating, slithering away like an old, dusty snake back to her lair. With or without you.

  I sat there in my basement, staring into space as though I’d been hit hard enough to stun me. Sunny was on trial? She was a vampire queen. Who could possibly be charging her with anything?

  I’m afraid I might know. My vampire crept forward, her mental voice soft and strained. They, like all other paranormal races, have a hierarchy. And Sunny is merely a single blood clan queen among many.

  How many? Okay, fine. So I was naïve to think the two monarchs I knew were the only ones. I’d never even considered the fact Sunny and Sebastian answered to anyone else. Probably because they never mentioned it. But I didn’t ask, either, did I? So, who was that? Some kind of older queen?

  My vampire shuddered softly. The first queen, she sent. Or so I believe. She turned from me, almost as though trying to hide inside me, shame radiating from her. I remember her, she whispered.

  Before I could react, my demon and Shaylee both embraced the vampire essence, drew her out, while the family magic coiled around them all.

  There is nothing to regret, my demon growled. Nothing.

  You were hurt and afraid for your existence, Shaylee sent. You didn’t know you were harming normals when you inhabited them.

  My vampire seemed to uncoil a little from their support. And yet, she sent, still subdued, the creation of the vampire race is on me.

  On Iepa. I corrected her sharply. She made you in the first place.

  Thank you for trying to comfort me, my vampire sent, her presence solidifying and strengthening. We all have our regrets, don’t we?

  Preaching to the choir, sister, my demon sent.

  Shaylee laughed. We’re quite the collection of screw ups, aren’t we?

  She could say that again.

  Okay, I sent. Any idea what we’re walking into?

  My vampire shook off the last of her sadness and focused, the sharpness of her spirit power pulling forward the image of the castle we’d been shown. I’m assuming a gathering of blood clan monarchs, she sent. Only they would have the authority to hold Sunny to task.

  Any clue what she might be charged with? I stood, brushing dust from the seat of my jeans, turning for the stairs.

  None, my vampire sent, sounding as baffled as I felt. I’m afraid I’m so outside vampire law now I couldn’t begin to guess.

  One way to find out, my demon snarled. Kicking ass and taking names.

  We’ll hold off on the violence until we know what’s up, I sent. If that’s okay with you.

  Weenie, she shot back.

  Might I suggest, Shaylee sent as I entered the kitchen, closing the basement door behind me, going alone might not be the wisest course of action?

  We can take care of ourselves, my demon sent.

  Agreed. My vampire paused a moment. Still, Shaylee is correct. A show of force, even if only a small one, might help in this case.

  Exactly what I was thinking. I stepped out the kitchen door and into the cool September evening. And I know the perfect pair to ask for backup.

  ***

  Chapter Eight

  The dojo was a short walk away, my feet carrying me quickly as the need to hurry drove my pace. Wilding Springs was quiet around me, lights shining from houses in the neighborhood, mostly coven owned these days. I waved at a pair of young witches walking a baby in a stroller, but didn’t have time to stop and chat.

  By the time I reached the back door of the dojo almost ten minutes of my thirty allotted had passed. I barely lifted my hand to knock, catching my breath, when the entry whipped open and Charlotte emerged, wolf rising in her eyes.

  “What’s wrong?” My werewolf friend sniffed the air around me, a low growl rising in her throat. “You smell like worry.”

  “I need your help,” I said.

  “Anything.” She stepped back, gesturing for me to enter. The warmer air of the interior felt stifling after the brisk walk, my cheeks heated from the exertion. Charlotte’s eyes returned to normal blue, blonde hair curling around her tanned face over the edge of the collar of her red leather jacket. She looked done up, makeup around her eyes, nice jeans, boots.

  “I’m interrupting.” I turned as Sage appeared. Her mate waved to me with a little frown, sea green eyes flickering with his own wolf a moment, black hair hanging across his forehead like the forelock of a horse. Sage had been my martial arts teacher for years and I owed him a lot for training me—and for loving Charlotte. Now a werewolf himself, the two of them chose to live here in Wilding Springs, Charlotte relinquishing the throne of the werenation to her brother, Danilo.

  As guilty as it made me feel, I was so happy to have them here.

  “It’s nothing,” Charlotte said. “Just a date.”

  Sage rolled his eyes at her and grinned. “Thanks, love.”

  Her flat, cold gaze didn’t change at his teasing. “What’s going on?”

  I quickly filled them in on the cryptic message I received. “Either of you know anything about the other vampire monarchs?”

  Head shakes from Charlotte and Sage both, him looking to her for information, too.

  “Not a clue,” she said, a faint hint of curiosity in her voice. “We’ve never been real friends with the vampire blood clans, outside of Sunny and Sebastian.” By ‘we’ she meant the werenation, I was sure. “Though, now that you mention it, I’ve of course talked to other weres from different territories who have had run-ins with blood clans.” She shrugged casually, though there was nothing casual about my werefriend. Focus made her eyes very blue. “I take it you’re looking for the strong but silent types to have your back?”

  “I realize there’s no love lost between werewolves and vampires,” I said. “And I wouldn’t ask, but—” I trusted the werecouple to make sure I had the security to do what I had to do. While Gram and Demetrius would happily have come and Mom could have supplied Enforcers, I’d relied on Charlotte’s quiet strength for so long, choosing her seemed the natural thing to do. I was already i
n mid-hesitation, wondering what I was thinking, that bringing them along could mean antagonizing the vampires, when Charlotte spoke.

  “This is Sunny we’re talking about,” Charlotte said. “Old animosity or not, you know she’s family. And how I feel about family.” About the same way I did, so I nodded. “And maybe it’s time the vampires of this plane finally got to see full-evolution werewolves aren’t their enemy.” The spark in her eye told me otherwise, that she was more interested in thumbing her nose at the undead race. But considering I was on my way to likely kick some vampire butt if that was what it took to save Sunny, I couldn’t think of anyone I’d rather have with me to do it.

  Neither of them hesitated a moment more, immediately stepping forward with their hands extended.

  “Let’s go,” Sage said.

  I loved them both so much.

  The veil opened to me, my mind fixed on the location the mystery queen had shared. A moment later we emerged in darkness on a narrow walkway, the thin, iron railing barely offering a hint of protection from the sharp precipice. The breath of wind and change in altitude stole my breath as much as my vertigo. I’d suffered a long time from a fear of heights, partially in thanks to a fall I took once on Demonicon. Riding around the veil on Max’s dragon back helped a lot to ease my fear, but every once in a while the old phobia of falling returned.

  This was one of those times. I gulped for air, feet scrambling on the uneven rock at my feet, pushing me backward into the rough stone face of the path. Charlotte’s hands caught me, steadied me as my pulse sped up to about a million beats per minute.

  “One would think,” she said in a dry and dusty tone, “the one immortal here would be the least afraid of falling.”

  “It’s not the fall, I believe,” Sage said with mild humor, looking down over the drop into the darkness of the mountains. “It’s the anticipation of the sudden splat.”