Chapter 150: Gramsitting
That Friday was the longest day of my entire life. I retreated to my house to fidget and pace the time away. I was in my room trying to distract myself with a video game when I heard the kitchen door open and close and the sound of Mom's voice.
I raced downstairs to talk to her. She had to know about Galleytrot and Pain. But by the time I made it to the kitchen she was already leaving, her blue and white Mustang racing off down the street.
Instead, I came face to face with Erica and Gram.
One looked shocked to see me while the other just looked grumpy.
"Syd, what are you doing here?" Erica guided Gram to one of the kitchen chairs and absently handed her a chocolate toffee to keep her happy. My grandmother ripped open the wrapper and stuffed the sweet in her mouth while she glared at me like I'd killed her puppy.
"I have to talk to Mom." I briefly explained what I learned from Galleytrot. Erica winced when I mentioned him and I felt a momentary pang of regret. He'd been her boyfriend, after all, and she had no idea she'd been dating one of the black hounds of the Wild or harboring the very man who betrayed us all to the Moromonds. Not that they gave him a choice, but still.
I shoved my way past that. "He said it's because of Demetrius and my demon." I finished the story, but purposely left out Pain's involvement and the fact I now knew where the Chosen leader was. That I would only share with Mom. Not that I didn't trust Erica, but she had a bad habit of picking and choosing the things she thought Mom should know.
Meanwhile I was practically bouncing in place, waiting for Erica to jump into action. Part of me wasn't surprised when she sighed and sank into her own chair though I was horribly disappointed.
"I'm sorry, Syd," Erica said. "Maybe if he had gotten to you sooner. But it's too late. We're barely holding them back now. Your mom is sure tonight is the night they wake."
Galleytrot hadn't been kidding. "Shouldn't we at least try?"
Erica's smile was tired and small. "We are," she said. "I'm actually glad you're here."
Really? A warmth spread through my chest when she said that. "Thanks."
She stood up and handed me a clutch of chocolate toffees. "You can take care of your grandmother while I get back to your mom." She headed for the door while the warm feeling shattered, leaving a core of resentment behind. "I'll send the Vegas for you. They can take you, Quaid and your grandmother to the safe zone with the kids. Just stay put and be safe." She closed the door firmly behind her.
Great. Babysitting. I glanced down at Gram who glared while her mouth worked hard around the candy. I was so not in the mood for her attitude.
It took me shoving her forward, as gently as possible, to settle her in her room. She kept stopping and staring at me, faded blue eyes alternating between tears and absolute rage. I was sweating and panting from the effort by the time I had her seated on the end of her bed with a pile of toffee next to her on the quilt. She ignored them, lips puckering as her eyes narrowed and her sharp nails caught my skin when she grabbed my wrist.
"It's close," she said, voice phlegmy from the chocolate. "And you are being so stubborn."
I rolled my eyes at her. "I wish, just once, you'd figure out how to make sense." I tried to pull away, prying at her fingers, but she was way stronger than she looked.
"Listen to me." I looked up, startled, and into her eyes, saw the clarity there. Had I known asking for it would bring it on, I would have done so ages ago. "They won't survive without us. Without you." She shuddered, rocking slowly back and forth, humming under her breath as she struggled visibly for control. "Sydlynn," she whispered, "I'm sorry." She sucked in a breath. "Here it comes..." The light in her eyes snapped off in an instant, her nails digging in so hard I gasped and wrenched my hand free. Five lines of blood appeared where she'd cut me.
I had to lock her up, clearly. Now that her awake moment was over, she eyed me with absolute fury and I knew from experience how much damage she could do when she was pissed off. The crappy part was without power I couldn't activate the wards to keep her in.
I closed the door behind me, hoping she'd assume she was trapped. No such luck. On the upside, at least I had something to occupy me. She must have known I was in no position to control her because she spent the next several hours sneaking out of her room and past me, using her magic to her advantage.
For whatever reason, she didn't attack me again, so I was grateful. Most times when I led her to her room, she seemed confused and frightened, the rage missing. I don't know if she thought it was a game or if she felt the need to be with Mom as strongly as I did, but for whatever reason, she was wearing me out.
At long last the sun began to set. Erica must have forgotten to send the Vegas because no one showed to escort us anywhere. I started to worry about Gram as darkness fell. I couldn't just leave her like this, but there was no way I was wasting one second of the night. The moment Sunny showed up, I had to go.
Quaid came through the kitchen door right at sunset. "Ready?"
I gestured at Gram who lurched to her feet and hugged him with a girlish giggle. "Not exactly."
He led her gently down the hall and to her room. Unlike with me, she didn't give him a bit of trouble, even batted her eyelashes at him like he was her beau. I followed, wondering what he had planned before smacking myself in the forehead. Of course. He could set the wards and I was a total idiot.
I helped Quaid settle Gram in her favorite place, the end of her bed looking out her window, even fetching an extra large bar of chocolate for her out of guilt. She ignored it as I turned to go, grabbing both of my wrists again, her favorite grip on me these days, the strength of it tearing open the cuts from her nails. Her madness reflected clearly in her eyes, but there was a desperation in them as well I knew came from the part of her that still understood everything.
"You have to give it back." My body vibrated with the surge of power she threw at me. The protective spell in my mind sighed and expanded a moment, as if answering her call before settling tighter around my mind. I didn't have time to wonder what it was or even what it meant.
"Gram, stay." I pulled away from her, hoping to prevent more clawing injuries, but she lunged after me, sharp nails extended. Quaid forced himself between us as she howled and swiped at me like an animal.
"Give it back!" She struggled against him, her skinny body slamming into his as she threw herself toward me. "Give it back!"
"Syd, get out of here." Quaid grunted softly as Gram drove one little fist into his stomach in her attempt to get to me. "Go!"
I rushed from the room feeling terrible, like I hurt her but didn't know how or why. Tears sprang to my eyes as I turned and watched him slam the door on her, his power briefly visible as he sealed her door from the outside. Panting, he turned to face me, leaning against it like it was the only thing holding him up.
"Remind me never to piss off your grandmother," he said.
Gram started to bang on the door, screaming at us. "Horrible things! They are coming, tearing, rending! Horrible! Tainted green and black, killing the earth, killing everything. YOU MUST GIVE IT BACK!"
The whole house shuddered as Gram threw her power against the door. Quaid's wards held though they flared with light. I saw his face constrict, palms flat against the wood behind him. Another blow rocked the house.
He was sweating, biting his bottom lip, eyes unfocused as he fought her off. I was sure the house was coming down the way she threw her power around. Even I, with my crippled and latent magic, could feel the power they exchanged and was grateful for once I wasn't myself.
Quaid gasped finally, shoulders drooping, hands falling away as the pounding went quiet.
In the sudden stillness, I heard her voice, so soft and pathetic and small.
"Please? Oh please. You must."
I sobbed once and fled.
I didn't stop until I reached the driveway and his motorcycle. Quaid was only a few steps behind me. He grabbed my shoulders and spun me around, pulling me against his chest to hug me. I cried myself out against his T-shirt, wishing I knew what she wanted, but pretty sure I knew how she felt
I just had to have my demon back.
Quaid tipped my face toward his and kissed me. My arms lifted around his neck, my whole body caving into his as I lost myself for a moment in the way he felt, the way he smelled, the warmth and comfort of him. I missed the magic we used to share, the way we wound around and through each other, but for now this was enough.
Car tires crunched on pavement and bright light shone on us. I pulled away, a little embarrassed we'd been kissing so openly, only to feel my heart sink into my shoes as my eyes dropped from him and met Alison's.
She didn't even turn the car off. She just dropped it into reverse and backed up, not looking behind her, eyes locked on mine. I ran after her, grabbing the passenger door of her convertible.
"Alison," I said, voice choked, tears still on my face. "Please, you don't understand."
"No, Syd, I don't." Her voice was very quiet. "I thought you were my friend. I was sure of it. But now I find you kissing the guy I told you I liked after you abandoned me. You dare judge me for the things I do when you're just using other people." She glared at me, words starting to tremble as she let her anger out. "Does he know?"
"About what?" I wanted to explain everything but how could I?
"About Regan." I drew a blank. "Mom told me. I know you snuck out last night to be with him. And here I find you kissing Quaid." She snorted and looked away while in my mind I called her mother all kinds of names. "You know what, Syd? I think we're done."
Alison hit the gas and I let her go. Had to. No choice. As much as I wished things could be different, I had a more important mess to clean up before I could deal with the one I'd made of our friendship.
I turned and went to Quaid who didn't say a word. He just held out a helmet to me and climbed on his bike.
I hugged him hard to thank him for not making me talk about it.
"Let's go get my demon," I said.
***
