Chapter 188: One Of The Family
Pain's reaction was instant and expected, at least from me. I'd seen her crumble like this before, watched as her face collapsed in a mix of grief and relief, witnessed meltdown after meltdown.
But this time was complete. She sagged into Odette's arms while the family rose and surrounded her, the werewolves humming softly under their breath in a gentle song of welcome. It was one of the most amazing and touching moments I'd ever witnessed and it made me ripping mad.
Not because I didn't think Pain deserved to be happy or loved. But because I knew it was all just one big lie.
Pain looked up through her mess of makeup and into Odette's eyes. "Grandmother?"
The old woman's smile made me want to slap it from her face. "Yes, mon petite chere," she said. "Your mother was my daughter and heir to our coven."
Pain hiccupped through her tears. "She was?"
My gaze left Pain, caught a flicker of movement. I was fairly certain no one else witnessed the flash of pure venom that crossed Ameline's face. So the ice queen did feel. She was just very good at hiding it.
Good to know.
Someone clearly thought she was in a place of power only to find out it had been jerked out from under her. My mind put two and two together and came up with no more future coven leader for Ameline.
What a freaking pity.
When she turned back from staring at Pain, her face composed once again, she found me watching her.
And smiling.
Her nostrils flared once.
Tag, I thought. You're it.
Odette meanwhile gestured and another chair was brought forward. The innkeeper tucked it to the corner, between the old woman and Andre. Odette seated Pain herself, holding her hand as my friend shook and smiled and wiped her eyes with her pristine white napkin, now coated in black makeup.
"This is a night of great revelations," Odette lifted her glass. "We are finally one again." She saluted Pain while the rest of the family did the same. Mom held still so I did too. "Welcome home, Mia, my darling."
She smiled at her grandmother with the openness of a hurt child. "I was right," she breathed. "That's my name. They tried to call me something else, but I knew all along. I'm Mia." My friend beamed around the table, whole face altering, shifting it seemed, shoulders taking on a new set.
That sealed it. No more Pain. I could see it in everything about her now. My Goth friend was gone, forgotten. Mia emerged, instantly adopting her grandmother's poise, the tears gone.
A chameleon. I knew it of Pain-Mia-that she easily converted her mannerisms to those she admired and cared about, but this was the first time I saw her literally change right in front of me. And now I knew it wasn't just her, but it was tied to her magic somehow, this need to belong.
"How could I forget," Odette smiled at Mia. "You can't know who sits just down the table from you." The old woman met Quaid's eyes. "You two found each other," she said, "despite years and separation. And though you may not know it consciously, your hearts understand the truth. Don't they?"
Quaid looked very troubled, brow furrowed, but Mia smiled at once. She rose from her chair, went to stand in front of Quaid while my pulse sped up and tears threatened.
"Quaid," Mia said with soft innocence and great poise, "you're my brother."
He surged to his feet, hugged her so hard I worried about her while I struggled with my emotions. I was happy for them both, despite the circumstances, knowing at least she would have someone she could trust in this family of liars.
Or could she? The guy I'd thought I knew wasn't who he said he was. Would he really protect her? Because she needed protecting, my fragile friend. When his eyes met mine my doubts left me. He at least couldn't dissemble in front of me. The naked pain and joy in his gaze was enough.
Okay then. They had each other. And where did that leave me exactly? Telling myself it wasn't about me.
Liar.
Mia led Quaid to the front of the table. Odette gestured at Andre who stared as if he couldn't believe what she was asking. He finally rose, stiff and angry, letting Quaid have his seat while Mia took her place. She held Odette's fingers on her right and Quaid's on her left while the old woman sighed and patted her hand.
"I am so grateful to have you both returned to me," she said. Gag. Choke. Puke. "Your mother stole you, you see, your father too, when you," she pointed at Quaid, "were only one and you," she did the same at Mia, "were an infant." It was so weird to see him sitting there, surrounded by those icy blue eyes where his warm and delicious brown ones stood out. I found myself comparing Quaid's features to Andre's and while there was a little resemblance my memory flashed to the faded picture Quaid showed me, of his parents and how he looked just like his father.
Maybe there was hope for him yet? I shoved the possibility of that from my mind as Mia spoke.
"Why, Grandmother?" She gazed into Odette's face, rapt while I wanted to shake her and drag her out of there. Mom grasped my hand, squeezing it. Even Gram sat semi-still. This was important? Okay then. It better be.
"Your mother," Odette said, anger and outrage tingeing her tone, "quite lost her mind. She had a disorder, a paranoia. She convinced your father the only way to protect the both of you was to take you. Why she gave you up, Mia, with your power blocked and useless, is beyond me."
I could feel the thread of lies running through her voice, feel the pressure of her magic as she used it like a battering ram on Mia. I think it would have had the desired effect even without the power behind it. Mia's tears brimmed again, but didn't spill.
How could I sit there and watch this happen? "Maybe she wasn't paranoid."
Oh no. I did not just open my mouth and say that, did I? Mom's foot found mine and pressed down hard. But the damage was done.
Odette just smiled at me, condescending and colored with old disappointment. "Our family problems are our own," she said, "though they matter little now that our two darlings have returned to us." Odette squeezed Mia's hand. "And now that your power is returned to you, you are free to take your place at my side." Odette smiled at Quaid. "Both of you."
"Not quite." Mom's voice was soft, but her words carried. Finally! I was beginning to think she hadn't brought anything to the table and was going to let this farce continue.
Odette's smile didn't falter. "Whatever do you mean, Miriam?" Her voice was honey coated, but I could feel the threat underneath.
"Quaid belongs to me." Mom smiled gently back, so poised I wondered how she managed it. But while Ameline was heartless, Mom radiated calm, love and peace.
Odette's lips twitched. "He is a Dumont."
"But he is a member of my coven," Mom said in that same reasonable tone. "He was initiated after the Moromonds abandoned him. Quaid's magic is mine. Nor do I intend to release him from the Hayle coven."
So, the tension in the air could get thicker. I was going to have trouble breathing in a minute. Odette's smile vanished, her clear blue eyes staring into Mom's like she could kill her with a look.
"He was a member of my coven first," Odette said. "Born to it. That takes precedence."
"On the contrary," Mom corrected her gently. "I was very careful when I initiated him. He was not tied to your coven in any way. And when the Moromonds, his guardians at the time, took their oath, he took it with them. It would appear Quaid was never anointed as a Dumont witch. Which means he is a Hayle until I say otherwise."
"Then there is only one solution to this question," Celeste spoke up. I was sure then and there she'd been waiting for some opportunity to interfere.
"Which is?" Odette and Mom didn't move, didn't break their gaze. They spoke as one.
"A summoning of the family magic," Celeste said. "The power will tell."
Mom's smile grew.
So that was a good thing? I hoped she knew what she was doing.
***
