Chapter 111: Longest Night Ever
Erica handed me the keys to Mom's car. "I'll follow you," she said.
Twice behind the wheel. Normally this would be a dream come true. Now I just wished Mom would appear in the passenger's seat and give me a hard time about what I was about to do to her transmission.
I impressed myself with my driving skills, actually. Especially considering life was fairly crappy at the moment. Erica didn't even pull in, just tooted her horn on the way by. Her red Mini Cooper scooted down the street and out of sight.
Meira helped me maneuver Gram into the house after a brief moment when my sister's magic was reaccepted by the family power. Mom must have left a safeguard in place to ensure she'd be welcome despite severing her from the wards previously to guard against Nicholas's entry. We left Gram in her room while my sister stayed close as I closed the door behind us.
I felt the wards waver again and my stomach lurched before I recognized the feel of Quaid's energy entering the house.
Meira followed me back to the kitchen and spotted Quaid. "Hi," she said.
He high-fived her without enthusiasm from either of them. "Hey, kidski. Way to take a hit."
I winced. He had no tact. But it actually made Meira smile.
"He loosened my tooth. See?" She wiggled the offender with her tongue. "I owe him for that." Demon fire flooded her eyes. "Don't I, Syd?"
"You bet." But I had no intention of letting her anywhere near him ever again. Not until he was good and dead. So she'd have to settle for second hand revenge. Maybe I'd bring some of his ashes home for her so she could flush them down the toilet.
Meira would love that.
Quaid met my eyes. "As truly frightening as you two are, just so you know, I'm staying the night."
Why did that send a surge of relief through me? I could totally take care of myself not to mention the ironclad wards around the house keeping anything nasty from coming in. Still, it was nice to know he would be there. Just in case.
I took my sister upstairs and to the bathroom where she managed a quick bath.
"Don't leave, okay?" Where had she learned to be so tough and stay so vulnerable?
I sat down outside the door. "I'm not going anywhere."
Water splashed. "Thanks."
***
Not that I blamed her for wanting me around. Or someone, anyway. After spending that much time with a bunch of nasty vampires, I wouldn't want to be left alone either.
It wasn't until I had her changed into her jammies that I realized something was missing.
She noticed at the exact same moment.
"Sassy." Tears welled in her amber eyes. Her little fingers went to her mouth, her whole body scrunching up. "Is he... did he die?"
I hugged her quick, feeling around for the absent cat. "No, Meems. He's fine." I located him in my room under shields so thick I almost missed him. Weird. I figured he'd be all over Meira the moment she arrived home.
We went together into my room. He crammed under my bed in the very back, curling into a miserable ball. He whined softly under his breath, ears flat to the side, pupils so large they almost masked all of the gold. His whiskers dragged on the carpet, tail tucked under his back legs.
I finally had to move the bed so Meira could reach him. He tried to escape but she was too quick. She had him in her arms and was hugging him tight before he could scramble off.
"Sassy," she said, "I was so worried about you."
She sat on the edge of my bed with him still firmly pressed to her. His chin hung over her shoulder, paws limp. He looked so miserable I wanted to hug him too, but I knew this was something Meira had to do alone.
"I thought you died," she whispered. "Nicholas told me you did. I thought it was all my fault."
He twitched and met her eyes. If a cat could cry he would have been bawling. "It's my fault," he said in a rush. "I was supposed to protect you and I failed."
She shook her head and kissed the top of his. "You fought so hard, I remember," she said. A flicker of memory escaped her, one she willingly shared with me. Though I hadn't been there when it happened, her openness allowed me to be with her when the vampire called to her. I understood when I felt her response why she thought it was Sebastian. I would have made that mistake too, had I not known. I was there with her in the past as she showed me when she finally invited him in, caught in a half doze of his making. Felt the wind brush over me as the glass of the window shattered. "If it wasn't for you, I would have let him in the rest of the house instead of just my room." The vision flickered; she was pulled out the window, the crumpled form of the silver Persian bleeding on the sheets.
He licked her face several times. "I tried so hard," he whispered. This time the vision was his, fuzzy form suffused with amber light as his demon magic wrapped around him and lifted him from the bed, every strand of fur on end.
"I know," she said. "You didn't have any time. I should have told Mom about the dreams. It was my fault."
She wept again, cheeks slick with moisture. This round of blaming had to stop.
"Listen," I sat next to her, stroking Sassy's fur and her hair at the same time, "it's no one's fault." I was surprised I actually believed it. "Except Nicholas. And Mom's going to kick his ass so we don't have to worry." At least, that's what I told myself. She'd make it to his stronghold or whatever and let loose her magic on him and be home any minute now.
Okay, that I didn't believe, not really. But if anyone could do it, it would be my mom.
"Meira," I said, "do you remember where he took you?" Maybe I could be one step ahead of the coven. If Nicholas had a base of operations nearby, my sister might be able to guide me.
Instead, to my disappointment, she shook her head and showed me what she had seen. Which wasn't much. Mostly darkness, though she used her demon magic to cut through the blindfolds they kept on her most of the time. I caught the dry, dusty scent of vampire skin and the tinge of dirt and mold. Something that sounded like dripping water was off to the left. But none of it gave any clues as to where she was. I felt her memory fight to uncover something, anything that would be of help. I lived her fear as her power struggled to wake up and contact the family.
"They kept me asleep," she said. "I remember waking up now and then, but that was it. And Sunny." I expected Meira to burst into tears, but instead she scowled. "I remember Sunny." Her amber eyes lit up with her anger. "She was there, Syd. Tried to touch me once. I heard her voice, felt her. She's a traitor and I hate her. And when I get to kill Nicholas, I'm going to kill her, too."
Sheesh. Bloodthirsty. My demon approved, so I knew at least it wasn't out of character as much as it made me wince. Besides, she was right, so there wasn't much I could say about that.
I tucked Meira into bed with Sassy right next to her. She refused to let him go and he made no move to leave her. His glowing amber eyes watched me as I left them, door wide open, and went downstairs to talk to Quaid.
He still stood in the kitchen, hands in his pockets, leaning one hip against the counter.
"Is she okay?"
I shrugged. Sighed. "I think so. Wants to go on a vampire slaying binge. I had no idea she was so vicious." It made me laugh a little before I sobered. Problem with imagining my sister killing vampires? She wasn't like other little girls. Given the right circumstances, I'd be afraid for the undead. Instead of dwelling on it, I went on. "Sassy was a mess too. But they're settled, so hopefully..." I left it at that. My sister was pretty tough. She didn't have a mark on her, the blow from Nicholas already healed. And from the sounds of things they hadn't hurt her prior to his little fit of temper. She'd probably been through worse just being a part of the family.
"I think we should talk to your dad."
I perked up, hope suddenly alive again. Why didn't I think of that? My hopeful bubble shattered when I remembered how he hadn't been able to help find Meira. Still, he'd want to know what was going on, would be frantic for news.
He had the right to know his youngest was fine and his wife probably wasn't.
I left Quaid upstairs on guard and descended the stairs into the semi dark. I shivered in the cool damp of the basement, but warmed quickly as I summoned Dad. He shot into his statue like he'd been sitting on the other side just waiting for the invitation.
"Syd," he came toward me, hugged me hard. "What's going on? Where is your mother?"
I filled him in on everything, including Sunny's betrayal and Mom's orders. Dad wavered between fury and despair.
"I can't help," he groaned at last. "There's nothing I can do on this plane, Syd. I'm not allowed to interfere in demon form."
"You did with Cesard." That wasn't fair. I knew it.
"That was a different situation," he said. "You summoned me, yes. But I had to deal with a prisoner. You and I broke a few laws that day, young lady. But the Demon Lord council let it go because I returned Torsh to them."
I hadn't known my little door opening act had stirred up trouble. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be." He gripped my arms and shook me just a little. "I was, and am, so very proud of you." His intensity made me shiver. "There is so much of your life I don't have access to. You have no idea how crazy it makes me that I can't be with you full time." He dropped his hands. "Especially in cases like this when your mother needs me."
"There has to be something you can do." What was the good of having a Seventh Plane Demon Lord for a father if he was helpless here on earth?
He looked about as frustrated as I felt. "I know," he said, as if reading my mind. "Not much help, am I? I'm trapped in this statue," he looked down at himself with real regret, "and in the pentagram. The only other option is for me to come over all the way. To be mortal."
I knew right away that was a bad idea. "Your demon magic doesn't come with you, though."
He sighed so sadly I wanted to hug him. "Not most of it." His gaze met mine. "Enough I might be able to help. But to what extent, I don't know. I can feel her, at least. We reinforced that connection after the Moromonds attacked. But as to where she is..." He paced the basement, handsome face a mask of frustration. "What was she thinking?"
There was nothing to say to that. We had Meira back.
Mom did what she had to.
"You can't cross over." There was no way. Mortal meant vulnerable and I couldn't lose both parents. "So now what?" I hated that I knew he would leave and I'd be left to deal with this. It was obvious I wasn't the only one.
"Give me some time." I saw how desperate he was to help, how his face crumpled in anxiety. Dad was usually really good at hiding it, just like Mom, a way to protect us, I guess. I reached out and squeezed him as hard as I could.
"It's going to be okay, Dad," I said.
He hugged me back, cheek resting on my chin. "I'm going to call on some favors. There might be a family loophole I can take advantage of. If I can cross as a demon, I'll tear them apart. If not... we'll work it out, cupcake."
"Mom's tough," I whispered into his chest.
"She is. It's part of the reason I fell in love with her. And what do you know? She passed it on."
I cried and giggled at the same time. Dad wiped my tears, his own concern hardening into decision.
"I'll be back," he said. And left.
I know he wouldn't want me to, but even though he was working on it, I still went upstairs to worry. I filled Quaid in on Dad's situation as I fetched some sheets and a blanket from the linen closet for him. I even gave up one of my pillows. He stood there in the dark next to the sofa and just looked at me.
"Not now," I said softly. "I just can't talk about anything yet."
He reached for me before I was done talking. "Syd," he said. "I know. It's okay. And it's going to be. Your mom..." he let out a breath into my hair sending shudders through me. "Miriam is the smartest, strongest, most amazing woman I've ever met. She'll be fine. We do have to trust her."
"While we look for her," I mumbled into his T-shirt.
"Exactly." He pushed me back and smiled down at me. "As for our talk... when this is over."
I nodded, so grateful I hugged him again. Kissed him. Just a sweet, small kiss but enough to make me believe he was right.
Just knowing he was downstairs was enough to calm me to the point I actually fell right to sleep.
***
