Chapter 190: Looking For Weakness
I felt like I was dying inside, slowly, painfully. But still I had to watch, didn't I, as Quaid gained his feet, went to Odette, was embraced in her arms? Had to endure the sight of Ameline approaching him, taking his hand, kissing his lips in welcome.
"I think it's time we took our leave." Mom bowed her head to Odette. I wouldn't have been so gracious. Sometimes I forgot my mom was such a class act.
"We haven't finished dinner." Odette pouted, but I knew she had what she wanted because she didn't argue further.
"Thank you," Mom said, "but I've lost my appetite."
Not like my mother to show weakness. Not at all. Dad held out his hand to her, guiding her to the door. I pulled mine free, let Gram and the vampires go ahead of me, knowing being the last out was the worst position to be in. Erica didn't give me a choice. My mom's best friend and second hooked her arm through mine, blonde hair shining in the low light as she tugged me along. Only Celeste was left to follow.
I refused to look back. I would not let Quaid know how much he'd hurt me, hurt my mother, our family. Not going to happen. He wasn't worth it anymore.
Ameline could have him.
The Dumonts waved at us from the doorway, not even coming out into the parking lot to say goodbye, slamming the door behind them when we were almost to the cars. I could swear I heard the brothers laughing.
"Harry, take Erica and Celeste home, please. I'll go with Syd."
Dad looked like he wanted to argue with her, but finally just shrugged and headed for the minivan. Erica seemed even more upset, making me wonder why Mom was cutting her out. Celeste just scowled at the lot of us and marched after Dad.
Mom ignored them all, turning to Sunny and Uncle Frank, both of whom seemed shaken and still angry. At least the werewolves stayed inside as well.
"I'm sorry for this," Mom said, kissing Uncle Frank's cheek and squeezing Sunny's hand. "You shouldn't be involved."
"We're here for you, Mir," Uncle Frank said while Sunny nodded and sighed.
"I'm not sure how long I can control the clan," she said. "Most still see me as a temporary leader. Without Sebastian to give orders, mine simply don't carry enough weight. His blood keeps them in line."
"I know." Mom frowned just a little. "Can we find him?"
Sunny looked so sad I wished I risked hugging her. "He is still hiding from me."
"From all of us." Uncle Frank shook his head, boyishly handsome face lined with worry. "And even if we did find him... he's not the vampire we knew, Mir."
I wished none of this had ever happened. Immediately a surge of, "It's your fault," raced through me. The rise of the monster Cesard hadn't been me, but the whole mess surrounding his capture could probably have been handled better. And now Sebastian was some kind of super vampire, an angel of death, full of the original plague spirit that had created his kind. The few times I'd seen him since it took him over, he'd scared the living crap out of me. Not because he was a monster, oh no.
He was so beautiful, his call was almost impossible to ignore.
Mom released Sunny's hand. "Just do your best," she said. "This will be over soon."
She kept saying that. What did she know that I didn't?
Uncle Frank ruffled my hair before he and Sunny flickered into shadow and disappeared.
Mom climbed into Minnie's front seat. Gram jumped in the back of my car without a word. She was so quiet I'd almost forgotten she was there.
Both women were totally silent as I climbed in the front seat and did up my seatbelt. The engine of the little car hummed softly as I backed out and drove off down the switchback trail. Now on the railing side of the road, I felt my nerves return.
Gram leaned forward suddenly, scaring a squeak out of me. Her white hair tickled my cheek as she leaned sideways to glare at Mom.
"This is very, very bad," she said, back to her normal self. Well, at least not fully crazy.
"Why?" I gripped the steering wheel so hard my hands ached, both from my anxiety about driving the narrow road and the memory of Quaid leaving me.
Damn him. How could he leave me?
Gram's faded blue eyes stared into me for a moment, only heightening my stress.
"It was a ploy, silly girl," she growled. "A means for Odette to test your mother. To find out how strong the Hayle magic has become. She knew Quaid was a part of our coven. It was clear to every witch in the room." Gram glanced at Mom. "And you showed her your hand."
Mom smiled, an angelic look. I wasn't sure if she was losing it or if I should feel better. Her pleased expression said she thought we'd won or something.
"I knew exactly what Odette Dumont was looking for," Mom said. "And made sure she got it."
Gram grunted and tried to argue, but Mom shook her head.
"I have nothing to hide," she said. "None of us do."
"You push boundaries you shouldn't, Miriam." Gram gripped the back of Mom's seat with her claw-like fingers, eyebrows pulled together. "Odette is far more clever than her sister ever was, and Naudia was very clever indeed."
"You just have to trust me, Mother," Mom said. "I do know what I'm doing."
Hmmm. This conversation sounded familiar. Could it be I'd inherited my need to argue with the woman who gave birth to me?
Mom leaned over to me, hand on mine where it was glued to the wheel. "Honey," she said softly. "I'm so sorry about Quaid."
I shoved that aside. It was hard enough to maneuver down the steep road without having my vision wavering with tears. "Why didn't you tell me about Pain? I mean Mia?"
Mom sighed, leaning back in her seat while Gram retreated to the back, glaring out the window like it offended her.
"Your mother loves her secrets," Gram snapped.
"It's not like that." Mom hugged her wrap around her. "I was hoping they would never find her," Mom said. "I wasn't permitted to hide her, especially when she didn't accept the family magic. I don't have power over her, Syd. When Quaid went looking for his family, I considered sending her away..." Mom stared out into the darkness, voice thickening. "She has the right to know who they are, to make her own choices."
"You know how fragile she is," I said. "She's lost now." More tears threatened.
"Mia is far stronger than you give her credit for," Gram said from the back. "Give her time."
Mom shuddered though it wasn't cold in the car. "I am sorry, Syd," she said. "And I hope you're right, Mother. But I worry for those two, I really do. And when this all comes to a head, and it will, I fear they will be caught in the middle of something that will force them to compromise who they are to fulfill their family's orders."
I spent the rest of the drive working over scenarios in my mind.
None of them ended well.
***
