Chapter 103: Undead Enemy
"Miriam," Uncle Frank said, voice full of tension but calm at least, "we have no idea what you're talking about. What happened to Meira?" His concern was real enough and managed to reach Mom.
Mom's magic flickered white. Then red. Green. Back to blue. I could tell an imminent explosion when I saw one. Anastasia didn't struggle but her white vampire magic rippled and dimmed the longer Mom held her.
I was inclined to believe Uncle Frank. Still, if he was innocent, where was Sebastian?
I didn't think, just stepped between them. The hum of Mom's power buffered me as I inserted my energy between her and the vampire and eased her hold. Anastasia recovered quickly, jerking herself free of my mother's grip. I gave her credit for staying put. Trouble was, neither backed down, but I did feel a slight easing of the pressure so I was grateful.
That proved they were willing to listen at least.
I turned to the second of the DeWinter blood clan. Anastasia might have been a major bitch but Sebastian trusted her and so did Uncle Frank. She didn't look at me, eyes never leaving my mother, beautiful face stunning but no match for Sunny.
"Anastasia," I said, keeping my voice low and soft. Wouldn't do to raise my volume in the middle of such a volatile situation. "My little sister Meira has been having nightmares. About a man who comes and hovers over her, asks her to join him."
I could feel Mom's confusion and the touch of Sassy's regret. He hadn't told her either. Or thought much about it. Mom wasn't listening when I told her about the bad dreams back at the house, but she heard me now.
I plunged on. "Tonight, while she slept, a vampire made it past the family wards, broke into her room, attacked Sassafras and kidnapped Meira." I could feel the vampire's growing concern. There was understanding in it, and a level of fear. Not the kind that went with her seeing my mother's side, but something deeper.
She knew who took my sister.
Before I could say anything, she spoke up. "What did she say about this man? The one who haunted her dreams."
"That he felt familiar," I said. "Like she should know him and trust him but not quite."
A hiss ran through the vampire ranks. Another vampire leaned forward as if to say something to Anastasia, but she silenced him with an upraised hand.
"How did he break the wards?" Her eyes devoured me as if my answers were all that held the clan together. Now I was really worried.
Where was Sebastian? I know Mom must have been wondering the same thing, while a tiny seed of doubt planted itself and began to grow.
"There's only one way," I said. "And we all know it."
The only way he'd made it inside the house was if he was invited in before. This was looking worse and worse.
"Would she have invited him into her room?" Anastasia's intensity was painful.
"I don't-"
"Sydlynn." It was the first time the blonde vampire used my name. She gripped my upper arms and shook me just a little. "If she thought she knew him, would she have let him in?"
I glanced over my shoulder at Mom. She looked very troubled, but nodded.
"If she thought she knew him then yes, she would have." My sister was far too trusting.
"It would not be totally her fault." Anastasia stepped back, power surging once before fading away. She met my mother's eyes. "Miriam," she said, "I am so very sorry."
Mom's magic faded too, enough so her grief started to win. It was as if her elemental energy was all that kept her from falling apart. "You know who took my baby." I watched tears trickle down Mom's face. "You know who he is."
The blonde vampire didn't say anything.
"Anastasia," Mom said. "Where is Sebastian?"
The coven gasped out loud, the ripple of it feeding their anger all over again. It was if they only then noticed the absence of the blood clan leader.
"This isn't what it looks like." For the first time since I met her, the arrogance left Anastasia and she actually sighed. "We need to talk."
Mom nodded curtly, body rigid. "Very well." She turned toward us, back to the vampires as Anastasia snapped her fingers. The male vampire leaned in again. Even his arrogant face creased with worry. "Track him," she said.
He and the other vampires were gone in a flutter of shadows. All but Uncle Frank and Anastasia.
Mom's anger returned as they left. "Find my daughter," she snarled, "no matter her kidnapper. I want her found and in my hands right now."
The coven scattered. Erica remained a few moments, doing Mom's job of soothing the more skittish of our family while Celeste stood and watched my mother like a dog eyeing a juicy bone. I glared at the woman so hard she finally turned to meet my eyes.
"I believe you have a job to do," I said.
Celeste frowned at me, fingers flicking in my direction as if I had no consequence. And yet, with one more look at Mom, she left.
Small miracles.
As soon as we were alone, Mom surged forward. "Tell me what's going on."
Anastasia hugged herself, glancing at Uncle Frank who looked confused himself.
"Sebastian is gone," she said.
"Gone?" Mom stared at her. "Gone where?"
The blonde vampire shrugged and looked away as if uncomfortable admitting she didn't know. "There have been some... problems with the clan. Since the destruction of Cesard."
I knew it. Now Uncle Frank looked really troubled.
Mom nodded. "Sebastian told me. Some of the clan had issues with control. He said he dealt with it."
"He did," she said. "The only way he could."
Uncle Frank was beside her, anguish all over his face. "Why didn't he tell me?"
She didn't meet his eyes either. "He was certain he could keep it contained."
Uncle Frank turned to Mom. "This is very bad, Miriam," he said.
"Worse than him taking Meira?" Mom's shaking was worse.
"He didn't take her," Anastasia said with some heat. "I told you that."
"But you know who did." I knew Mom was doing her best to keep it together. I reached out and took her hand, feeling her fingers squeeze mine.
"Yes," Anastasia said. "And his timing couldn't be worse. In fact, if I didn't know he had nothing to do with Sebastian's problem, I'd accuse him of it."
"You still haven't told us what happened," I said.
She shot me a look that told me she wished I hadn't brought it up again.
"Some of the weaker members of the clan have been showing dark tendencies. The effects of the blood we took from Cesard. The only way to take it from them was for Sebastian to ingest the blood from their bodies."
Taking it on himself. "He couldn't just drain it?"
She shook her head. "It has an intelligence," she whispered, sounding almost afraid. "It hides from us when we try to bleed it out but goes willingly if drunk."
"So Sebastian's been taking on the infected blood of others," Mom said. "How many?"
"A few," Anastasia said. She was clearly lying.
"How many," Uncle Frank repeated.
"Most of us." Her eyes lifted to his. "You and Sunny were spared because neither of you drank from Cesard."
"But the rest of you did." He shook his head. "All of them?"
She nodded, face now creased in misery. "At first he seemed fine, stronger than ever even." I remembered meeting him in the yard, how he seemed to glow and looked fantastic. "But the longer it went on, the darker he became."
Uncle Frank was nodding. "And his power is leaking," he said. "The death glow."
Anastasia didn't have to say anything. Mom and I had both seen it.
"So now he's what, Cesard?" I couldn't believe it.
She shook her head. "No, nothing like that. The actual entity that lived inside the mage is dead. But the blood itself has a life of its own. And it has lived a dark life."
"What makes you so sure it's this mystery vampire you're talking about and not Sebastian who took Meira?" It was a fair question and I was glad Mom asked it so I didn't have to.
"Because," Anastasia said, "Sebastian isn't here. He's gone. As for the other... we've suspected he's been lurking for some time."
Uncle Frank looked surprised at that, then concerned.
"Do you know where he is?" Mom wasn't talking about Sebastian.
Anastasia stepped away, her old arrogance returning. "We will deal with him," she said, "and return your daughter to you. The honor of our blood clan demands it. And Sebastian would expect no less. The alliance stands, as long as you'll have us."
Mom was in her face immediately. "You are threatening the very alliance we've created," she said. "I won't tolerate being left out of this, Anastasia. I want my daughter back."
"And you shall have her." The vampire stepped away from Mom, arms spreading wide as she warped to shadow. "You have my word."
Mom's magic slammed into the ground, forming a domed shield around the vampire. Anastasia's power fluttered against it. "Let me go," she said. "You must."
"No." Mom's pain was winning again. "Not until you tell me who he is."
Uncle Frank came to my mother's side and gently tipped her face toward him. His fingers stroked away her tears while his blue eyes locked with hers. "It's all right," he said. "I'm going with her. She's my niece, Mir. I won't let anything happen to her."
Mom looked like she wanted to protest further but Uncle Frank's gentleness was just enough to weaken her hold on the shield. Anastasia flew off into the night.
"Frank," Mom said, "if anything happens to her, I'll kill every single one of you."
He looked very hurt, but nodded and left without saying a word.
"Miriam," Celeste surged forward out of the dark. I cursed myself for not checking if she had really left. "You can't leave it at that."
"I'm not." Mom's power snapped out and put the woman in her place. She focused on Erica who waited with tears in her eyes. "I want those vampires watched. And I want to know who Anastasia is protecting. And most of all, I want my daughter found."
Erica nodded quickly, turned to give orders to the others. I stayed with Mom and Gram and the grimly guilty Sassy.
"Mom," I said when we were finally alone, "they'll find her." Wow, so pathetic.
Mom just nodded. Tried to smile. Failed. Hugged me so hard suddenly I gasped for air.
"I love you," she said. "Sydlynn, I love you so much."
I hugged her back and tried not to think about my sister while Mom sobbed on my shoulder.
***
