Chapter 204: Betrayal
My room was stifling, but it seemed like the only place in the house I could go to be alone. I shut the door on Sassafras and Galleytrot, not sure I could handle being around anyone until I calmed down.
If it had just been Alison and her horrible mother, maybe I wouldn't have been so worked up. But backed by Uncle Frank's condition and the fact we still had to face the Dumonts in a few hours, I needed time to clear my head and screw it back on straight.
If that was even possible.
Gram scared me a little in the kitchen. Her hate was so powerful it colored my emotions, I was sure of it. How much of my own anger was hers? And did I give a crap enough to put an end to it? I could think of nothing more satisfying than taking out the entire Dumont family. And though my demon had been known to expose a violent streak in me, I didn't often wallow in the need to physically hurt others.
The house fell quiet. I must have dozed off because I jerked awake just as my room was beginning to darken. I sat up immediately, feeling around as I always did for my family. To my shock, the only two people I felt weren't related to me.
I slid out of my room and down the stairs, avoiding the one creaking step near the bottom. Voices, both female, just soft enough I couldn't quite hear. I eased around the end of the steps and listened.
"She's going to be the end of this coven." Celeste. What was she doing here?
"We can't act against our own leader, not at a time like this." Erica? ERICA? My stomach clenched and it was all I could do to not move and keep listening.
"She could be replaced." Celeste sighed softly. "You know this can only end in tragedy. Miriam's been blinded by her brother's maiming, by that insane mother of hers."
"Our former leader," Erica said.
"Not mine," Celeste hissed.
What? Since when? Hadn't she been a member of the coven when Gram fought the Puritys?
"What do you want to do?" Erica's voice trembled. The traitor. I couldn't wait to get my hands on her.
"We challenge her together," Celeste said. "Tonight, publicly. Show Odette and the Dumonts we're not all their enemies."
Erica was quiet for a long moment. "I'll consider it."
"Don't take too long," Celeste said. "There are enough of us, if we act at the right time, this will all be over and you will be leader."
I hissed out air between my teeth. Over my dead body. I was up and moving, my demon propelling me forward and into the kitchen as my anger surged up and showed itself in my face. At least I was fairly certain it did. Both women stared at me as I stormed into the room like I was going to murder them both.
The thought had crossed my mind.
"Get the hell out," I snarled at Celeste. "You're no longer welcome here. And when Mom hears about the two of you," I glared back and forth between them, "plotting to betray her, you'll both suffer far more than the Dumonts will tonight."
Erica was very pale, but Celeste drew herself up, as though her conviction would protect her from me. "I'm doing what's right for my coven."
"It's not your coven," I snarled. "Not anymore. Now get out before I do something you'll regret."
She left without a word. Smart of her. Erica simply stood there, eyes on the door, hands trembling. "Syd-"
I spun on her, my fury begging to be let out. "I can't believe you!" Three cupboard doors slammed open, their contents sliding violently outward to smash all over the floor and counters. Erica jumped at the sound of the impacts. "You heartless bitch, after everything Mom's done for you, how could you betray her?"
"Because I asked her to." Mom appeared at the hall entry, face sad. "Thank you, Erica. I know how hard that was for you."
"Syd," Erica stepped forward, still shaking. "I'm sorry you had to see that. But we had to know. Celeste approached me, James as well. It was the only way to find out the truth."
My anger drained out of me like I'd turned off the tap. "This was a set up," I said, face flushing with embarrassment this time.
She shook her head. "I know how it looked." Erica met Mom's eyes. "We have to be even more cautious than we thought. If Celeste has numbers behind her, this could get messy."
Mom shook her head however, a dark smile lifting the corners of her mouth. "I've already taken care of it," she said. "Mother is going to keep her magic out of this and watch for stragglers. She can handle anyone who tries to betray us."
Erica's shoulders sagged. "Our own people."
I suddenly felt like an idiot. "I saw them," I said. "Celeste and James. Talking to Odette. At the hotel. I should have told you, but I forgot."
Mom's smile softened. "It's okay, honey," she said. "I already knew."
Of course she did. It made me feel a little better, at least.
Mom came forward and hugged me before taking Erica's hand. "One way or another, this ends tonight."
Erica nodded. "We're here for you, Miriam," she said. "Always." I felt the power of the family swell as she opened herself to them and to us. They answered quickly, almost eager. We were as ready as we were going to get.
Trouble was, were those who answered really loyal? How deeply did the betrayal run? Knowing the connection I maintained with Gram, I would at least have answers to my questions if I really wanted to know.
I ran upstairs for a sweatshirt, glancing out at the darkening sky. The vampires would be rising soon. Uncle Frank, too. We'd know soon enough if he'd recover from his exposure. I suppose I should have been grateful he survived at all, but what kind of life would he have if he was suffering for the rest of it, twisted and broken, unable to exist outside the pain of the constant burning? It's not like it would just go away. Sun damage could be forever. And that included the pain that went with it.
I did not envy Ameline one little bit. If my uncle was even remotely himself, she wouldn't last two seconds past his decision to kill her.
My cell phone buzzed just as I headed for my door. I heard car doors slam, felt the touch of Mom's mind on mine.
Syd, it's time.
I glanced at the screen of my phone and received a little shock.
Syd. Need to talk, the park. No family. Important for both of us. Mia.
I hesitated. A trick? And yet it made sense. If she had to talk to me, it wouldn't be a good idea for her to do it around the Dumonts. And if whatever she had to say meant helping my family, I'd take the risk.
I'll follow you, I sent to Mom. I have something to do first.
Hurry.
No kidding. I heard her drive off, presumably with Dad and Erica. As for Gram, I could feel her out there, but she wasn't letting me in far enough to know exactly where.
I pulled my hoodie over my head as I trotted down the stairs and left through the back door. Oddly, neither of my furry companions were anywhere to be found. I just hoped, despite brave words, they stayed out of it.
The park was only a short jog away. Memories flashed in my head, of meeting Quaid and Sunny there, of being held and kissed on the back of a motorcycle. I shuddered all of that away as I slowed to a walk, heading for the familiar trees.
"Mia." I called out to her, feeling for her, but felt nothing. In fact, I felt less than nothing and that bothered me more than anything.
Someone was hiding something. And it couldn't mean anything good for me.
A canine growl was all the warning I had before a dozen werewolves burst from the new darkness and leapt for me.
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