Chapter 107: Nicholas
Sassy immediately flipped out.
"You are not going out there," he said, leaping to his feet, fur standing on end, ears laid back so flat they were practically lost from sight. "Absolutely not, under no circumstances."
I scowled at him as I shoved my chair out of the way. I didn't really want to go, but his overbearing bossiness made it easier to push past my fear.
"You're right," I said as I turned to go to the door. "I'm not going outside. But I am going to find out who he is and what he wants."
I was pretty sure I already knew who he was. But I had to see for myself. It was safe enough to at least go to the door. Mom reinforced all of the wards, severing Meira's welcome, so I knew the vampire wouldn't be able to enter. Not to mention he'd be fried by Mom's power the moment he tried. It also helped vampire magic was keyed to places and their occupants, only allowing them to pass if they had permission.
Sucked to be them.
I heard a heavy thump behind me and felt Sassy press against my leg as I went to the back door. He didn't say another word to me, and even my demon was quiet. And vicious. She couldn't wait for a shot at Nicholas.
If it was Nicholas. He felt enough like Sebastian with a layer of nastiness over him I had to be right.
The back hall was dark, the innocent and flimsy-seeming screen door allowing in a breeze. I could see a dark shape just on the other side. And despite the fact I was totally comfortable with vampires, there was no way I would face this one without some lights on.
My hand trembled when I flicked the switch, turning on the lamps flanking the door. The yard flooded with soft light from the low level bulbs. Just enough to see Sebastian standing there, watching me.
Yeah, right. I knew better. But it was so hard to tell the difference. Wow, were they ever twins. Same wavy dark hair, same powerful features, same bottomless eyes. But I started to notice subtle differences the more I looked at him. Where Sebastian's face was alive with passion and always open, Nicholas was tighter. Still beautiful, but tainted somehow, the corners of his eyes drawn out, his mouth narrowed from centuries of spite. My demon reached out before I could stop her and felt him. A door way flickered open in my mind, scenes of horror and hatred, filled with familiar faces, like Sunny and Sebastian himself.
Nicholas actually gasped, a sound of outrage, slamming the door shut. It hurt, like stubbing my toe on something hard, but it made me realize something. I was unexpected. He underestimated me and my demon.
Hopefully there was a way I could use that to my advantage. Feeling much more confident, I pulled open the screen door and stood right at the threshold, Sassy hissing spitefully at Nicholas from between my feet.
"You'd better have my sister with you," I said, doing my best Mom impression. "Or you've just made a gigantic mistake."
Yeah. Bluffing. Sue me.
He took it seriously enough that he didn't hand me any evil cliché moves like a sinister laugh or cheap shot back. Nope, none of that tired old bad guy routine for Nicholas DeWinter. Instead, he just stared at me. "Sydlynn."
For some reason, him saying my name like that, all soft and aware, was way worse. I couldn't underestimate him, either.
"Where is she?" Not like he was going to tell me or anything, but it was worth a shot.
His head tipped to the right, the light catching his fangs as he finally smiled. "I had no idea," he said. "How powerful you are. And your demon." I felt his power slide over me and lashed out, furious.
"Don't even think about it." I shook, feeling so dirty I needed an immediate shower.
"Just returning the favor," he said. He laughed this time, but there was nothing crazy about it. It sounded like Sebastian's laugh, with an edge. "It doesn't matter, not yet. You'll be mine soon enough."
"Be gone, foul spirit," Sassy snarled at him. "Your very presence is vile and unwelcome."
How formal. I wondered if he had a reason. And found out a moment later. A fine mist of amber light rose from the ground, surrounding Nicholas in a haze of power. He flinched from it before summoning the pure white of his own and burning it off.
Good vampire banishing tidbit to know. Probably would have worked, too, if Nicholas hadn't been so powerful.
"Demon cat," Nicholas said. "Poorly played."
Sassy puffed up even further, a low, aching whine coming from him. I bent and scooped him into my arms, afraid he might forget himself and go after Nicholas. The vampire left him alive the last time, but I wasn't sure even Sassy would survive if the ancient creature wanted him dead.
"You're not welcome here," I said. "Unless you have a reason for showing up beyond pissing off my cat."
Nicholas stilled. "Of course. I forget after all this time how the point is more important than the conversation. Such impatience in you, Sydlynn."
He didn't know impatience. I wanted to let my demon out to load a heaping pile of impatience all over him. Lucky for him, and probably for me, we were interrupted.
I was so focused on Nicholas I didn't notice she was there until Mom stood beside me, her power drawn up around her like a cloak. It extended outward to surround me and Sassy as she spoke.
"Let's hear it," she said. I was amazed at how calm she sounded, but could feel the thrum of her rage from inside the wrap of magic.
"Ah," he whispered. "Miriam. Delightful. I have been so eager to meet you."
She nodded to him like she was a queen and he just some lackey. It was the coolest thing I'd ever seen her do. It drew a snarl from him. I guess Nicholas didn't like being one-upped.
"You know the little one was never my target," he said. He took a step closer, closer still, until he was right on the edge of the threshold, face to face with Mom. "I am after much stronger prey."
"You have no idea how strong." The threat hung between them, heavy and full of magic. He swayed back from her as if dazed by it then smiled so wide it twisted his face into a mask of pure evil.
"Your coven site is the perfect meeting ground," he said. "One hour. Come alone or I will turn your daughter and own her forever."
"You touch her and I'll kill you myself." That came from both me and my demon. He flinched from us too, but it only seemed to make him happier. "Besides," I wanted another dig at him, "you aren't as strong as you think you are, are you? Sunny escaped you."
He threw back his head and laughed so loud I worried the neighbors might come out to see what was going on. When he met my eyes again, his twinkled with some hidden secret.
"One hour," he said.
"I refuse to come alone." Mom's voice was flat. "I won't leave Meira exposed if you are true to your word."
He took a step back, another, smiling only a little now. "Very well. Six witches may attend." He pointed one finger at me. "But this one is to stay home like a good little girl."
No. Way.
Mom offered him another regal nod. "One hour."
Nicholas flickered into shadow and was gone.
Mom turned to me before I could say a word. "Stay home," she said, desperation on her face, her fear finally showing now that Nicholas had left. "Syd, please. I'm not ordering you. I'm begging. I can't do this if I'm worried about your safety."
What was I supposed to say to that?
"Mom..."
"And you're not to say a word to Anastasia or your Uncle Frank. Sydlynn, I'm serious."
She was totally tying my hands. "You can't ask me to do that."
"I can ask." She gripped my face between her hands and kissed my forehead. "Please."
She didn't wait for an answer, just hurried away from me, her mind reaching out. I felt Erica's familiar touch before Mom cleared the corner and was gone out of sight.
"Syd," Sassy said. "What are you going to do?"
For the first time he wasn't being Mr. Bossy. He was actually asking.
Crap. How could I just sit idly by while Nicholas took my mother? My demon was spitting mad at the very thought and I couldn't blame her. This was one fight Mom needed me for, I was sure of it.
But how could I betray her if it meant putting Meira in danger? I struggled with it for a long, agony filled moment, frozen by indecision.
A face flashed into my mind along with the memory of warmth and comfort. He may not have been talking to me right now, but I needed advice and the only person I could think of to give it to me straight was Quaid.
"I'll be back." I set Sassy on the floor, watching his tail thrash back and forth. If I was frustrated and anxious I could only imagine how useless he felt. "Don't worry," I said. "I think I know what to do."
At least, I tried to convince myself. I drew a shaky breath at the fact I even considered what I was about to do and took a step across the threshold, letting the screen door swing shut behind me. I paused, shaking, hand raised to jerk it open again if somehow the nasty vampire appeared but, as luck would have it, no undead. Or lightning bolts. In fact, the back yard felt as quiet as usual.
Trying not to think about the danger I was in, I headed out at a run for the Vega's.
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