Chapter 203: One Last Push
I wasn't allowed to sit in on the conversation with Mia's adopted dad and, quite frankly, I didn't want to. My stomach ached in fear for her mother. It had been a full day since she'd been here, asking about Mia. She'd been missing ever since. And while I didn't know her all that well, I still liked her. Her obvious love for her daughter was clear every time we talked.
Instead I sat at the top of the stairs with Sassafras in my lap and Galleytrot lying beside me as I told them everything.
Jerry Hammond didn't stay long. I returned to the kitchen with Sassy in my arms, Galleytrot padding along beside me, the moment I heard his engine start and his car peel away. I found Dad hugging Mom, his cheek pressed to her forehead. They spotted me at the same time and both opened their hug to include me.
I'm not ashamed to say I needed it just then. I set Sassy on the table and went to them.
"Mom," I said softly into her hair, her familiar smell of lilacs making me want to cry, "can we help him find her?"
"I've already sent word out," she said. "Two of the coven volunteered to search. But the rest of us must prepare." She pulled back, fingers stroking my cheek. "We'll find her," she said, "but I fear the worst."
"This could have been over." We all turned to find Gram glaring at us from across the kitchen. She was positively furious. I could feel the energy through our link.
"She wasn't about to attack us, Mother," Mom said. "Not yet. We need to push her further."
"And you think this little game with her pet will do it?" Gram snorted, looked away. "I won't stand for her to escape me, Miriam."
"We have to do what's good for the coven, Ethpeal." Dad's tone was grim. It was the first time I'd ever heard him say something to her in that tone of voice. "If that means driving the Dumonts out and you missing out on your revenge, that is what we're going to do."
Sassy hummed unhappily. "Sometimes the one must go with the other, Harry."
Gram turned her back on us, staring out the window into the sunshine. She stayed there, vibrating with anger. I pulled away from my parents and went to her side. The bright light touched her thin skin, shining in the soft folds of her wrinkles, washing out her blue eyes to near transparency. But I could see in her the younger woman she was when she sacrificed so much for all of us. I reached out and took her hand, resting my head on her shoulder.
"We'll get her, Gram," I whispered. "I know you're ready now, but it will be worth it, won't it? Especially if you win when she thinks she has the power."
Gram snickered, her anger still alive, but softening. "I loved the look on her face when she saw me." She squeezed my hand back. "Priceless."
"Kodak moment for sure." I lifted my head and met her gaze. There was so much more to her than I'd ever believed before. "You can't shut me out," I whispered. "And I understand."
Tears rose in her eyes. Her fingers lifted, tucked some stray hair behind my ear. "Sister soul," she whispered back. "There are things I've done you don't need to know."
"I do," I said, "because they made you who you are."
She hugged me then, so hard it amazed me, the strength in her seemingly frail body. When she pulled away at last, her eyes found Mom's.
"Time to find out what kind of damage they've done to your brother."
Uncle Frank. I cringed inwardly. "I can help."
"No," Gram said with a tiny smile. "You need to stay a little innocent, demon child. Just a little while longer."
She and Mom disappeared into the basement, Dad trailing behind them. He blew me a kiss, offered a sad smile.
Points for trying.
I scooped up Sassy.
"Your uncle has survived a great deal," he said, amber eyes glowing. "He'll survive this."
My mind flinched from the memory. "You didn't see him, Sass," I whispered. "On fire like that. Didn't hear how he screamed."
"I did," Galleytrot said, looking up. "I heard him. Though I didn't know what it was."
I rubbed his big head while balancing Sassy in the other.
"I should have been with you." Galleytrot sat on his haunches.
"You weren't invited, as I recall," I said. "Or you." I stroked a finger down Sassy's nose. "And I'm just as happy you both stayed out of it. Bad enough Uncle Frank was hurt, but if anything happened to either of you..."
Sassy slapped my cheek with one paw, no claws. "I'm a demon," he said.
"And I'm a Fey dog," Galleytrot added.
Right. "Okay," I said, "you two go handle the Dumonts then, since you're so freaking special."
No further comment from the peanut gallery.
Surprise, surprise.
Syd. Erica's mind touched mine.
Mom's with Uncle Frank. I set Sassy down again, watching him waddle his way out of the kitchen and down the stairs to the basement. Sneak.
I figured. Erica sounded stressed by in control. I can't reach her. Just wanted her to know Ameline is secure with us. We'll see you tonight.
Tonight. When everything would be decided once and for all. Or so I hoped. This kind of crap just had to end eventually.
Didn't it?
I was half way upstairs, the big black dog bounding up ahead of me when I heard someone knocking on the door. I spun back, brain tumbling back and forth as I tried to figure out who it could possibly be. Of course it only occurred to me as I jerked the door open I could have looked with my magic, but I figured after everything I'd gone through I should cut myself some slack.
Angela Morgan stood in the doorway, glaring at me. She still had that glassy, dazed look about her, telling me without feeling her energy she remained deeply in Andre Dumont's thrall. She looked like crap. The spell had done nothing for her attractiveness, that was certain. I'd seen better makeup applications on plastic dolls.
"It's all your fault!" She lunged at me, rage on her face, lashing out with her inch long manicure.
I dodged her, heard Galleytrot snarl behind me as Angela withdrew with a gasp, hand pressed to her chest.
"Keep that vicious animal away from me." She pointed one shaking finger at him. "I'll have him put down if he touches me."
Alison's mom drinking was a bitch. Alison's mom in thrall was way worse. All of a sudden I wanted to punish her, to make her pay for what she'd done to her daughter, for how screwed up Alison was.
"Get out." I didn't hold back my temper. "You're so not welcome here."
"Not until I have a word with you," she snapped back. "About my daughter and the way you've corrupted her."
Me? Seriously? "What is your problem, lady?" I balled my hands into fists. I would not hit her.
"Alison is a mess," she said. "A drunk and an addict. And it's your fault!"
Denial ran in the family, clearly. "You're disgusting," I said. "Don't blame me for the mess you've made. Alison is a product of her environment. Of a mother who drinks too much, ignores her and dates men when she's married already."
Angela flinched visibly at every word. But I was in no mood to stop.
"Maybe if you cared even a little bit about your daughter," I snarled, closing the distance between us to shake a finger in her face, "she wouldn't be a disaster. Go the hell home and take care of her and yourself, for once!"
Mom was beside me, pulling me backward, eyes locked on Angela. I heard her whisper, saw the thread of blue magic lace through the net of the thrall holding the woman captive, witnessed Angela coming awake.
I could feel Mom's anger through our touch. "This must stop," she said softly, though I knew she wasn't talking to Alison's mom. "Go home, Angela. Lock your doors. And don't let anyone in. Understood?"
Angela nodded slowly, still dazed, but now from confusion.
"Yes, of course." She looked down at herself, back at me as though not knowing where she was or why. "How silly of me. I'll go home at once."
She left in a hurry. Lucky for her. Thrall or no thrall, Alison's mom or not, she came that close to having her ass kicked.
Mom hugged me gently. "Things aren't always as they appear."
"No," Gram said from behind us. "They aren't."
"How's Uncle Frank?"
Mom sighed. "He'll survive," she said softly. "But it's hard to know how much damaged he'll retain until he wakes and eats."
Damage. "It's permanent?" I couldn't imagine.
"Maybe," Mom shrugged. "Sun damage can be. But he's strong. And he has us to help him."
"It's not going to be enough," Gram said. "And you know it. He'll want revenge."
"You're familiar with that concept, Mother." Mom's words came out in anger, but she just looked tired.
"Yes," Gram said softly. "I surely am. And I'll be right beside him, cheering him on, when he tears that little girl's heart out."
***
