Chapter 122: Allies
I huddled with Mom and Dad while the rest of the vampires and witches took care of Nicholas's followers. It was horrible and disgusting and I just wanted to hide from it. Dad hugged me close, feeling so normal it made me cry harder.
It was like seeing Sebastian's grief finally opened my own floodgates. I sobbed so hard my head hurt.
And yet, we were safe. Mom was fine, Dad was... well. Dad was mortal. But at least he was okay. And I was alive. Barely.
I was at the hiccupping stage when Anastasia's quiet voice finally caught my attention and held it.
"I'm sorry we were late," she said. "We encountered a barrier to the site and tried everything to break through it. It fell at last but I fear there is more to be told here than just Nicholas's meddling."
Mom quickly filled her in on everything.
"When I knew what they were after, I asked Sunny to be host to my power." It still amazed me.
"But, she betrayed you," Anastasia said.
"I knew she wasn't to blame and that Nicholas was using her." Mom shrugged. "We came up with the plan on short notice. It was the best I could do."
"Miriam's power helped me control how much information he received from me," Sunny told us. "It was a great gift to be able to help you." Her dimples were adorable and would have had more impact if there wasn't a spot of blood at the corner of her mouth. I found myself staring at it in horrified fascination.
Mom told the rest, including the sacrifice my demon made. Anastasia's sympathy almost drove me over the edge again, but I held on.
"It seems this demon of yours is very clever," she said. "She managed to stop him from his evil plans."
"Except now he has her." I couldn't help but speak up, the words almost choking me. "I have to get her back."
Anastasia nodded while Dad's arm went around me on one side and Mom's enfolded me on the other.
"I shall make it my priority to find him," she said. "Not just for you, demon girl," I winced when she used the familiar term, "but because their kind must be rooted out and destroyed."
Mom nodded firmly. "The coven agrees. Though I am saddened that the line of sorcerers must come to an end this way."
"What about Sebastian?" He deserved our help too. "What's happening to him?"
Mom answered. "We don't know, Syd. But we'll help him if we can."
Anastasia sighed softly. "His path is his own, now," she countered Mom. "He has become something none of us understand. Perhaps in time we will learn. But for now, he continues to hide from us."
Mom squeezed my hand. "When that time comes," she said, "the coven is here to assist."
Anastasia bowed her head. I was actually starting to kind of like her after all. "That being said," she saluted, the other vampires falling in behind, "I take my leave of you. I will be in touch."
They fluttered to shadow and were gone.
All but Uncle Frank and Sunny. I caught them casting glances at each other and couldn't stand it. There was so much sadness in this one little patch of grass now I had to do something before I died from bawling my heart out.
I grabbed Uncle Frank and dragged him to Sunny, making him face her.
"You two kiss and make up," I said in a wavering voice, "or I'll never forgive you."
Sunny's little smile was very sad. "It's not that simple," she said.
"It can be." Uncle Frank took her hand. "We need to talk but... I never stopped loving you, Sunny. Or believing in you."
Mom pulled me back and away from them as Sunny's beautiful eyes welled with tears. They left together, not another word to any of us, just the whisper of their transformation as they disappeared.
Mom hugged me. "Well done, Syd," she said. Before pushing me back and looking down into my eyes, her own wide with horror she could only now accept.
"I know," I whispered. "You were right. I'm powerless. It's all gone."
She had her own tears to shed, then. The coven gathered around us, but I didn't want them. Just my real family.
Because now I wasn't a witch anymore. The protective power of whatever divided my entire life was locked in place around my magic. Forced into a latent state, without access to the magic my mother's blood should have granted me, I wasn't a part of the coven any longer.
Erica's stricken face was too much. "Just back off," I snapped. She did, quickly, almost stumbling over her own feet in her rush.
"Syd, it's going to be okay." I looked at Dad who smiled his own sad smile. "We'll find Demetrius and bring your demon back."
"What about you?" I couldn't bear the thought he was stuck here even though the idea of having my dad with me all the time seemed really appealing. "How are we going to get you home?"
Mom touched his face with her fingertips. "Oh Harry," she whispered. "I'm so sorry."
She sighed then and looked at me, her deep blue eyes serious.
"I want you to think about this first," she said. "After all, honey, it's exactly what you've been wanting all along, isn't it? Your freedom?" She exchanged a look with Dad. "This is your chance to be normal, to have the life you've always wanted."
She was right. Maybe I would grow used to how this felt. Maybe I would end up really happy as an ordinary, every day girl living an ordinary, every day life. At least I wouldn't be at risk anymore, not like when I was a witch.
I looked at Quaid who stared back at me, face a mask. The memory of our magic entwined, how it felt to be with him, the future I knew we were supposed to have together slapped me across the face.
"No," I said. "It's not right. I was wrong." I hugged myself as I understood at last. Whatever drove me to reject my magic made me latent at best and powerless at worst. "And we can't leave her in the hands of the Chosen. We can't. I want her back."
Instead of offering to help or even showing he cared at all, Quaid turned and walked away.
My heart shattered. It wasn't fair. I'd finally decided what I really wanted and he abandoned me because I was powerless.
Fine. Jerk. Be like that. Maybe this was for the best after all.
I wished I could believe that.
They led me away as Quaid went the other direction. Only then did I remember our friends. There were a pair of witches with him so I knew they were about to be given alternate memories.
As I settled into the back seat of Erica's car, I knew I had two jobs to do. One, find my demon. And two, uncover what exactly kept me from the life I was supposed to live.
I just had no idea how I was going to do either of those without a lick of power. But I was determined to make it happen.
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