Chapter 192: Silent Treatment
I was getting very tired of the silent treatment from Alison. Yet again she refused to answer my emails, texts and calls. And while I guess I understood why she was angry this time, I had more right. The last thing I wanted was to watch my best friend turn into her mother, and I know if she could take a step back, Alison would see that was exactly where she was headed.
Since I could do nothing about the supernatural issues, I figured I'd go back to my mundane ones. Namely tracking down the former cheer squad captain and making her talk to me.
Minnie and I spent the morning searching. Rosetta rudely told me Alison was out before slamming the door in my face. I believed her, only because I took the time to feel around inside and knew Alison was, in fact, gone. I considered making a pain in the butt of myself just to piss the maid/Chosen member off, but I had more important things to do than torture the woman.
That fun I could save for later.
I found myself snickering in the front seat of my car, imagining horrible things I could do to Rosetta while wondering when I'd become so vindictive. And while I knew I'd never go through with any-all right, most-of the plans crossing my mind, I still worried about the state of my well-tarnished soul.
It was still wickedly delicious, though.
The drive to the mall was a waste of time. No red convertible and no feel of Alison. It wasn't until I returned to town, cruising the main strip that I finally spotted her car, feeling the touch of her at the same time.
Johnny's. Naturally.
Though what wasn't so natural was the sight of her as I pushed through the glass door and entered the diner. Not that she didn't look herself. Only that she was laughing like she really wanted to mean it.
And she wasn't alone.
Page was the first to spot me, her smirk edgy and making her pretty face really very ugly. She even had the nerve to wave while Alison looked up from her hip-to-hip seat next to the reigning she-bitch. Her laughter vanished, face paling before she tore her gaze from mine.
Wow. Really? Just wow.
Shock number two? Mia was with the cheer squad, looking all polished and Ameline-like, her hair smoothly shining, makeup soft and subtle. She gave me a flat, blank stare, just like her new bestie, the ice queen. I really noticed then how much Mia looked like her family, and Quaid. Why had I never made the connection before? Probably because I was a little busy at the time trying to save myself and my family.
Fair enough.
At least there were no Dumonts in their midst. Just the usual nasty cheer crowd. I'd hoped the girls had grown tired of their crap after their last leader, Suzanne, was possessed by the evil spirit now feeding the vampire Sebastian. Their reversion to actually nice people only lasted until Page took up the reins before everything fell apart again.
Nice to know some things didn't change. At least I was warned.
I hesitated then, not sure what to do. I really wasn't in the mood to deal with Page or her little posse, but walking out now would look cowardly. Did I care? Some. I had one more year of high school to deal with and I refused to show my soft underbelly to the predator staring me in the face.
Not that Page was near a match for me. But she could make my life hell at times and I didn't want to encourage that.
I had just decided they weren't worth it when Beth stumbled to the table with an armload of drinks. The moment she arrived, the tray just making it before she dropped the glasses, the group started in on her.
"Stupid, watch it!"
"Worst waitress ever."
"Can't believe they let someone like you work here."
"Have no standards."
"They should fire you."
"Loser will probably quit first."
Enough. Enough, that was it, I couldn't take it. Enough!
I found myself standing next to Beth as she shivered and tried to keep her composure, glaring directly at Page.
"Maybe someone's forgotten how far she fell once before," I snarled, "and how worse things could get."
Fear flickered in Page's eyes, but she sneered and rolled them at me. "Who asked you?"
I leaned forward and flicked the top from her drink, tipping it into her lap. She shrieked, jumping to her feet, hard to do while trapped inside the booth.
"Oops," I said. "Sorry about that."
She tried to come at me, but I pinned her with my stare. "If you ever, ever say anything nasty to Beth or any of my friends again," I said, voice low and soft, magic barely in check, "you will fall so far you'll never get up again."
"Don't threaten me." Page looked around at the others who had gone silent, shrinking down into their seats. "She threatened me! You heard her."
Alison refused to meet my eyes. Mia continued to watch, however, a thin smile on her lips. I ignored them both, focusing on Page.
"You heard me too," I said. "And I mean it, Page. You're only one screw up away from the outside again. Remember that."
"How dare you!" Page spluttered and tried to talk back, but she was clearly at a loss. I guess I understood. It's not like I'm that scary or anything. It's just hard to be a bully when the person you're trying to push around isn't afraid of you and never has been.
"Enough, Sydlynn." Mia's voice was soft, modulated. She sounded like she was emulating my mother. "You've made your point."
All of the girls focused on her, nodding, their energy tied to hers. It was then I felt it, my anger receding enough. She was using the brother's trick, influencing the girls with her power. I just couldn't believe it.
"I've never been so ashamed of someone," I said quietly to her.
I surprised her, saw it in the tightening around her eyes, the sudden soft intake of breath. But it wasn't enough, would never be enough. I knew that now. My friend was gone, lost to the Dumonts and she was now no friend of mine.
It was too much, losing so much so fast. I had to add one last dig, one more turn of the screw.
"Did your mother find you?" I straightened as Mia scowled slightly.
"You know very well my mother was a traitor and is long dead," she said. Her contempt was so thick it made the other girls flinch, even Beth.
I shook my head. "Not that one," I said. "Your adoptive mother, Dorothy."
Mia didn't say anything, just stared.
"She went looking for you this morning. At the hotel. Around 9am."
Confusion warred with concern faded to calm.
"I haven't seen her," she said, a lightly dazed tone to her voice, as though she suddenly remembered she had another life.
"Maybe you should care a little more," I said. "Then again, you're a Dumont now, aren't you? Who gives a crap about the woman who raised you your entire life?"
She scowled for real this time, all pretense of being like her family dropped.
"Mind your own damned business."
"When your business stops showing up at my front door," I snarled back, "I'll think about it."
I turned to Beth. "Tell the manager you can't serve them anymore," I said. "They don't deserve you." I spun back, glared at Alison for a moment. She didn't move or speak or acknowledge I stood there. I let it hang and hang and hang, making it uncomfortable for everyone, willing her to look up.
She never did.
Annoyed, sickened and out of patience, I left them all there. Naturally, the moment I turned to walk out, the Dumonts walked in. I had to tolerate the brother's smirks, how Kristophe licked his lips at me on the way by, and Ameline's flat, empty stare.
Fresh air never felt so good.
***
