Chapter 109: Confrontation
I eased through the last line of trees and peeked out at the people gathered in the center of the site. Someone lit a fire, not as large as our Samhain or Beltane blazes, but it glowed with the blue light of the coven so I knew it had to be Mom.
She was sending a pretty clear message. Don't mess with the family.
Somehow I didn't think Nicholas would be all that impressed.
I made sure to shield myself very well, despite my demon's distress. The last thing I needed was for Mom to catch me before I could be of any use. This was supposed to be a surprise attack, after all. The only problem with this plan? I had no idea where Quaid lurked.
I crouched in the long grass outside the fire light, finding a rock ringed by weeds for cover. While the family kept the center of the site mowed, the rest was allowed to grow wild. All the better for me. My vantage point was maybe thirty feet from the edge of the circle, far enough I hoped I could stay out of sight, but close enough I'd be useful when the time came.
Thank goodness my magic was keyed to the wards. At least being there and touching them wouldn't give me away.
I heard the gathered witches talking quietly among themselves, the clear night air carrying the murmur of sound if not the specific words. I spotted Erica talking to Louisa and Martin, no surprises there. But I wasn't expecting to see Celeste or James. Neither were Mom's biggest supporters. But they were both powerful witches, so I guess I could understand.
The biggest shocker was the sixth witch Mom brought. Gram stood alone off to one side, her mouth working over and over. I could only imagine Mom gave her one of her favorite chocolate toffees to keep her busy. But why Gram?
I allowed a tiny sliver of myself out of my shields. It's not as easy as it sounds. I shook and sweated from the effort, wishing yet again I'd spent more time practicing while knowing no amount of practice would take away my aversion to magic, so it was pointless to have this conversation with myself.
When I finally managed it, I understood Mom's reasoning. Gram's magic was family magic. Not as in family coven, but in blood. And Gram had been the leader of our coven before she faced the Purities and had her brains scrambled. There was enough residual power in her to boost Mom if she needed it.
Perfect. Now that I knew, I could infiltrate the link when the time was right and offer Mom even more.
At least, that was the theory.
I glanced at my wrist and made a face. Forgot my watch. It had to be close to an hour by now. I caught James doing the same, saw him look at Mom. Surely it was time?
Nope. My thighs started to burn from the crouch, my knees aching. I bounced a little, trying to encourage the blood to flow in my feet again. They were tingling, starting to go to sleep. The waiting was the worst thing I'd ever gone through. I'd have gladly faced Nicholas personally without magic to defend myself than wait another minute.
Not my choice, I guess. I gritted my teeth against my growing fear as my mind started second guessing the plan. What if we screwed this up and made it worse? What if me being here caused Meira's death, or worse, pushed Nicholas to turn her into a vampire? What if Mom was captured anyway and I played right into his plans?
This was stupid. Stupid. What the hell was I thinking? This would never work. I had to leave, to let Mom take care of it before I ruined everything, just like I always did.
My breath came too fast, my anxiety making me shake. My demon howled her disappointment, but I knew I had to leave before I did something really and truly stupid.
I turned on one heel, wincing at the groan from my right ankle and came face to face with Sunny. I almost screamed, but managed to hold it in. She reached for me, hugged me quickly, her mouth over my ear, whisper barely audible, just loud enough for me to make out.
"What are you doing here?" She pulled back, nose practically pressed to mine.
I leaned in and copied her whisper. "Quaid and I snuck in. We're going to attack when Nicholas is distracted." I felt a whole lot better having Sunny with me.
She looked concerned for a moment then nodded. "My plan exactly." She squeezed my shoulders. "Just remember I'm here to help, Syd. I've only ever been here to help."
That sounded... odd. But I knew it was true. I bobbed my head at her, feeling my worry retreat. If Sunny backed this move, I was on the right track.
Now all I had to do was not make a mess of things.
Shadows rippled and landed at the edge of the site just to my right. Almost too close. It made me nervous. But a glance at Sunny's calm face helped a lot. I reached out and squeezed her hand as Nicholas and his five vampires approached the inner wards.
And were stopped in their tracks. Nicholas hissed as the blue fire flared and lashed out, a lick of flame leaping free to slam into him as he tried to cross into the protected circle. Gram grunted then grinned at him and waved, her teeth dark from chocolate.
So that was Mom's plan. She was using Gram as the core of protection and herself as offense. Nicely played. There was no way Nicholas could be as strong.
For a second my mind did the math and I wondered why after living a bunch of centuries Nicholas wasn't able to count. Six witches and Mom. He only brought five.
Doofus.
"You go too far, Miriam Hayle." He sounded really pissed about the whole fire thing. Patted at his chest, his clothes smoking a little. And that suit looked expensive. Sucker.
"No," Mom said at her most regal. "It is you who goes too far, Nicholas DeWinter. Return my daughter as agreed."
"Not before you lower your defenses." He snarled at Gram who made shapes with her fingers. One of them slipped, a very rude one, and I wondered, as I always did, how much of my grandmother survived under all that insanity.
"You know that won't happen until you return my child to me." Mom didn't move, stood just as motionless. And just as cold.
"Your precious girl is fine," he said. "In a safe place. For now. I could arrange for that to change."
Nice threat. Mom wasn't having any.
"I have absolutely no reason to trust you," Mom said. "So you either produce Meira this instant or the conversation is over."
Nicholas laughed at her. "Then I suppose we are at an impasse."
Craptastic. Now what? Until he brought my sister out, I was useless. There was no way I could make a move until everyone was present and accounted for.
I was a little surprised when Sunny let go of my hand and grasped my upper arm. "Syd," she whispered, "I love you."
A weird thing to say in the middle of a... wait a second. What was she doing?
Sunny suddenly stood up with me firmly in her grasp.
"Lord Nicholas," she said in her beautiful voice. "You are betrayed."
I gaped at her as she shoved me forward, unable to act at all. Even my demon was floored and speechless. Sunny? No way. Sunny?
He turned and smiled at me while Mom's face crumpled for a moment. "Ah, yes. Hello, Sydlynn."
I wrenched my arm free from Sunny's grasp and rubbed at it. She might look delicate, but her vampire strength was something else. As she stepped up to Nicholas's side I realized what an idiot I had been.
Nicholas could count just fine. And had a real way with traitors.
My rage surged forward, my demon thrashing in her need to destroy something, anything. I barely held her back as I advanced on Nicholas, amber fire leaping from my hands. "Where's my sister, fang face?"
He actually backed off a step. Sunny refused to meet my eyes. Good for her. I'm sure had she managed it I would have found a way to kill her then and there just by looking at her.
I couldn't believe I trusted her.
"If you harm me in any way," Nicholas hissed, "your sister becomes one of us."
He could have been bluffing. But I knew this was the dilemma Mom faced. If he meant it, if he was that willing to risk an all out war between our coven and his blood clan, I knew he would go ahead with his threat.
I shot a handful of fire at his feet, making him flinch and snarl before backing slowly away from him. I felt his vampires try to circle me, but they moved too late. One last step in reverse and I was firmly in the safety circle my grandmother sustained.
Well, not quite. Mom had a big hand in it. No way Gram could stay coherent long enough to keep that fire burning. I felt a shock when I passed over, however. That feeling of protection. I'd felt it before.
But when? And where?
I didn't have a chance to explore the question. Mom was beside me in a flash, one arm around me.
"Sunny," she said softly, without accusation or anger. "Why?"
Sunny's beautiful face twisted and a single tear tracked down her cheek. "I'm sorry," she said. "I just couldn't resist him any more."
Nicholas laughed. I really, really hated this guy and wondered why Sebastian hadn't killed his ass years ago.
Sunny turned away and vanished into the dark. Coward. Mom may not have blamed her, but I sure as hell did. This was her fault. She should have warned us earlier. Maybe then Meira would be safe.
I almost lurched out of the protective circle when Sunny reappeared and would have if Mom hadn't had such a good grip on me. She had Meira with her. My sister looked totally fine, if really, really angry. She jerked her arm out of Sunny's hand and crossed her little arms over her chest, the deepest scowl on her face. I could tell from the amber fire simmering in her eyes she was ready to attack her captors all by herself. My heart swelled with pride for her even as I reached out.
Don't.
She hated it. I could totally see it on her face.
I'm going to kill them. Vicious little thing, my sister. All of them.
This could work. Quaid was out there. And with me in the circle... they'd obviously underestimated my sister's abilities. But she was no ordinary child.
"There, you see?" Nicholas smiled, actually patting her on the head. "Perfectly safe and sound."
He pulled back from her with a hiss, a thin column of smoke rising from his palm. Nicholas snarled at her and Meira snarled right back.
"Don't ever touch me," she said, flames licking out from her hands. "Ever."
Without warning, faster than she could move, Nicholas lashed out and struck her. I practically felt the impact, chest constricting as she spun half way around from the blow and collapsed on her side. Blood oozed from her nose, mouth gaping wide as her eyes slid closed.
"You bastard!" Mom shook so violently I shook with her, the shields wobbling as Gram screamed an echo.
"Bastard!"
Nicholas scowled at us. "I'll kill the brat," he said. "She isn't worthy of my blood. Your choice, witch."
There was no choice, not anymore. Still trembling, tears standing in her eyes, Mom let me go. I turned to her, knowing what she was going to do. But there was still time, and Quaid was still out there.
My resolve crumbled. He must have known there was nothing he could do. I'd have to leave the circle to help him and doing that would put me in Nicholas's grasp again, maybe mean Meira dying instead of lying there unconscious. Mom was right. I should have stayed home.
Another fine mess I'd gotten myself into.
Mom leaned over and kissed my temple. I grasped her hand, tried to hold her and for a moment I won. She clung to me as I clung to her, her endless shudders finally subsiding. When she leaned back, she smiled a wavering little smile, her power wrapping around me and holding me close.
Don't worry, she sent. I'll be fine. Take care of your sister. And whatever you do, don't let him take you too.
Tears clouded my vision as Mom stepped up to the edge of the circle.
"Meira first," she said.
Nicholas bent down and grasped my sister by the back of her pj's. He hefted the unconscious girl with about as much care as a sack of laundry and shoved her forward. Meira moaned softly, the movement rousing her, but not enough to make a difference. He held her, hovering just on the other side.
"Don't," I whispered. "Mom, please don't."
I'm not sure how Nicholas managed it, but the moment Mom lurched the last step forward he tossed my sister through the shield. Mom was instantly surrounded by vampires, far more than six, as they melted out of the darkness, appearing in fluttering shadow.
Meira tumbled to the ground in a heap. I rushed to her and knelt at her side, lifting her limp body into my arms.
"Syd," she whispered, "is that you?"
Tears poured down my face as I kissed her very gently and wiped at the blood on her upper lip. "I'm here, Meems." I stood, her head on my shoulder and watched as Mom made her way through the gathered vampires. They parted like water before her, but I knew they would never let her go.
Mom finally came to a halt in front of Sunny. The beautiful blonde vampire just looked back at her.
"Sunny," Mom said, "I welcomed you into my home, my life, my family. You have been a dear sister and friend. But for this, I will see you dead."
Sunny flinched like Mom hit her.
"How sweet," Nicholas said. "Time to go."
Mom turned to us, her majesty never leaving her. I felt the other witches gather behind us. A weathered hand slid into mine as Gram watched with a tilted head and a mournful expression on her face. And then, in a rush of shadow, Mom was gone.
Sunny remained. I was surprised she had the nerve to do it. Alone, she didn't stand a chance against us. Her eyes lifted to mine and held them for a long moment before she too vanished in a flutter of black.
I felt Quaid enter the circle and turned to see the rage and frustration on his face.
"I should have attacked," he said.
"You would have been killed." Erica sighed. "We need to trust Miriam in this."
Celeste looked angry. "I agreed to the exchange, but only because I assumed Miriam intended to fight. This is outrageous. We need to go after them immediately."
She was right, for the first time ever. And yet, there wasn't much we could do.
"Syd," Meira's eyelids fluttered. "Where's Mom?" The fear in her eyes as her awareness returned told me she already knew.
How could I lie to her? She deserved to know. "We'll get her back," I whispered.
Meira's face twisted, a fresh line of blood flowing from her nose. "Is Mom going to be okay?" Meira's amber eyes were full of regret and tears. I hugged her so hard she squirmed.
"Yes," I said with as much ferocity as I could muster. "You bet." I leaned back to look at her. Already she seemed better. Thank goodness for our demon blood. She was much tougher than a normal nine year old. Though I knew Nicholas must have pulled his punch. "Hi," I said. "How are you?"
"I'll be okay," she said in a voice that shook. "He hits like a girl."
No she didn't. I giggled. There was nothing funny about the situation, but I couldn't help myself.
"One good thing," she whispered. "No more nightmares."
I hoped she was right about that.
***
