Chapter 200: False Accusations
I didn't think my mood could get much worse. Until I walked into the kitchen and saw the look on Mom's face. We'd been through a lot together in the last year, from risks to the coven, to the whole town even. And as much as Mom had shown cracks in her façade of perfect coven leader, even fallen apart a time or two-at times I hardly blamed her-I'd never, ever seen that level of pure terror in her before.
"What now?" It came out snarky, but my tone was soft. If Mom was afraid, there was reason to be afraid.
Dad paced the kitchen, anger warring with anxiety written all over him. "Your Uncle Frank," he said.
The door flew wide before I could say a word, as I was propelled forward further into the kitchen. Strong hands caught me, turned me around. I thought Mom looked scared.
Sunny was absolutely desperate.
She stepped around me, went right to Mom, vibrating with the force of her emotions.
"It's not true," she said. "It's not."
Mom just looked up at her.
Uncle Frank... oh no. No. Was he...?
"They have him in custody," Dad told Sunny while Mom shook and hugged herself. "They have a witness. Sunny, it doesn't look good."
Not dead then. Not dead. That penetrated the crazy terror in my brain. And drove me to ask the obvious.
"What the hell happened?"
The three of them looked at me like they didn't know who I was.
"Your Uncle Frank," Mom whispered, "Syd you were there. Weren't you?"
I nodded slowly. "I got Alison out," I said, my anger at her in my voice. "Not like she deserved my help."
Mom didn't seem to hear me. "You were there," she repeated. "You must have witnessed it."
"Mom," I went for slow speech and as much calm as I could manage to get through to her. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I went to the hotel, got Alison and got out." Galleytrot was nodding beside me. "What's going on?"
"Frank," she choked out, one hand reaching for me before dropping with a thud at her side, "has been accused of feeding on a human."
Not dead, no. Not yet. But he would be soon.
"Mom," I choked out her name around the denial that rose up. "He would never."
She was on her feet, shaking herself, visibly pulling herself together. "We need to go," she said. "Before they do something drastic."
Like kill my uncle. The Dumonts had so much to answer for. And if they harmed one hair on Uncle Frank's head, coven law or no coven law, not one of them would survive.
My demon roared her approval.
The hotel was quiet and dark again when we arrived in the family minivan. It had been less than an hour since I retrieved Alison and yet the place looked like there hadn't just been a raving party happening. The parking lot was empty of all but the Dumont's shining black SUV's.
Charlotte opened the door, refused to meet my eyes, led us inside. I knew where we were heading and pushed past the werewolf and into the parlor. Odette sat on the antique love seat, dressed all in black, looking like a decrepit old spider spinning her web tight to those around her. Andre perched beside her, arms crossed over his chest. Uncle Frank knelt at her feet, bound in her sickly purple tinted magic.
A row of werewolves backed her, the same group that tried to prevent my leaving, but they were all focused this time, not a doubt among them, not even Charlotte. She took her place and glared at me like this was my fault.
"Miriam." Uncle Frank's voice was harsh, as if Odette tried to keep him from speaking. His white magic flared, cutting hers enough he was able to turn to face us. "I didn't do what they claim. I swear it."
Odette didn't wait for Mom to demand their proof.
"Bring the girl," she said.
I turned, knowing what I'd see, but still horrified nonetheless. Page looked terrible, anemic, like she'd been bled. Which she probably had been. She was led in by the brothers, each with a hand on her arm. Quaid and Ameline trailed in after them. Two puncture wounds stood out on her neck, some blood dribbled artfully down the front of her shirt.
It was so staged to look like a vampire attack I wanted to applaud and give them an Oscar.
"Girl," Kristophe said, shaking her a little. "Tell them what happened."
Page mumbled something before Kristophe shook her again. She perked then, looking about, dazed expression retreating. She took one look at Uncle Frank before she pointed at him and screamed. She collapsed backward, the brothers barely holding her up, as she clamped one hand over her neck and sobbed.
So she believed it at least. They'd done that part of the job well enough. Mom stared like she was thinking the same thing.
"I think it's obvious, is it not?" Odette turned to Mom. "Miriam, I'm shocked and appalled that your own brother is a drinker. And were the decision only mine, you know I would ask for leniency." Yeah, right. "But with all these witnesses and the girl, so young. So pretty... such a shame. You know coven law when it comes to vampires. They have rights. Until they drink from a human."
And then they had none.
Mom turned to Page. "I want to examine her," she said. "The memory could have been implanted, her experience created."
Odette smiled. "Of course. Be our guest."
Damn it. What was the old bat up to? And where was Gram? We could have used her in all this.
Coming, she sent then. Don't let them hurt him. I'll kill her myself if I have to.
I'll do my best. I watched Mom approach Page, soothe her with magic. And instead of minding my own business and staying out of it, I slid my power along side Mom's and followed her into Page's head.
We weren't alone.
"In all fairness," Ameline said softly. "One of us needs to be with you. So you don't tamper with her."
Mom stared flatly, but didn't argue.
In we went, past spinning, manic thoughts, into fear and darkness. Page's mind heaved against us, the specific memory drawing us to it easily. Vague, with clumps of shadow, one face dominating as he bent toward her, eyes glowing white.
Uncle Frank. Oh no, please.
I pulled free, unable to take anymore, but Mom stayed with Page for quite some time. When she finally lifted her head, hands falling free from the cheer girl's forehead, her expression was blank, but her heart was full of grief.
I reached for her again, linked power with her as Mom turned and met her brother's eyes.
"I'm sorry," she said softly. "The memory is real."
Uncle Frank writhed against the Dumont magic. "No! Miriam, Sunny, I didn't, I swear it! The girl is lying."
Odette's power crushed him into forced silence.
"You've had your time to examine the accuser," she said. "You've discovered what I myself know is true. Your brother is a drinker and for that crime, he dies."
Mom stood there for a long moment in silence. "And his manner of death?"
There were several ways to do it. Humane ways. Only one would cause him horrible pain and suffering. We were hours from that, however. I was sure she had something else in mind. But Odette couldn't hide the smile that crept over her face and I knew I was wrong after all.
"He will be held in custody until dawn," she said, "and then he will be put out into the sun."
***
