Chapter 209: Coven Alone
Sunlight streamed in the kitchen windows, turning the Enforcer's honey hair a glowing gold. I sat and watched him, Sassafras in my lap, while Mom served him tea.
"We've been trying to reach the High Council for some time," Mom said while the man seemed to squirm in discomfort. "Can you shed some light on why we've been ignored, Enforcer Tremere?"
"Pender, please, Ms. Hayle." He sat stiff and uncomfortable. "I'm afraid that's a question you'll have to ask the Council. I'm merely a messenger. And an officer of coven law. I follow orders as they are given to me."
I wanted to confront him, but Gram's mind wouldn't let me.
We could have an ally here, she sent. There is still honor among my brothers and sisters it seems.
After he'd left, with very little more information wrung from him, Mom sighed and hugged herself, staring into her teacup.
"This isn't over," she said.
"No," Gram said, dropping lump after lump into hers with little bursts of magic, "but at least now we know who we're up against."
The Moromonds. I just couldn't believe it. How did they manage it? The last I'd seen of Batsheva, she used negative blood magic to escape with her oh-so-charming husband after Mom kicked her ass.
Something was obviously up and it was about time we got to the bottom of it.
Not like we'd get more information from the Dumonts. Odette and her family were gone, escorted out of town the night before. I'd watched Mia and Quaid go with them. Mia wouldn't meet my eyes and Quaid was still wrapped up in the hate that possessed him, his whole body tense with it.
Uncle Frank and Sunny, together with their blood clan, tried to go after them only to have Enforcer Tremere block their attempt.
"The Dumont family will be allowed to pass," he said. "I have my orders."
"And our satisfaction?" Uncle Frank shook with rage. "What of the treaty between our people, Enforcer?"
Tremere bowed his head. "I have no instructions," he admitted at last. "You must take your grievance up with the High Council."
Yeah, that went over well. I wanted to follow when the entire clan flickered as one and faded to shadows, the shield now dissolved so they could leave, but Dad was there holding me by my shoulders still, as though he knew if he let me go I'd do something we'd all regret.
He was right.
I have to admit, it was pretty cool to see the Enforcers land, the few who remained, and greet Gram like an equal. I could tell she was still furious, but she was also very gracious with them and I wondered if she planned to return to their ranks now that her past had come back to haunt her.
I retreated to my room, leaving Sassafras and Galleytrot in the sunny kitchen. It was still hard for me to believe both Mia and Quaid went with the Dumonts, after all we knew about them now. Were they really that brainwashed? Was it possible? I threw myself down on my bed, heart aching, only to jerk upright at the sound of my phone vibrating its way across my dresser.
I dove for it, checked the screen. A text from Alison.
I'd forgotten all about her.
In nuthouse. Come c me?
I didn't even hesitate. The drive to the hospital was quick and silent, at least on the outside. Inside my mind churned. The familiar uncomfortable feel of the building seemed unimportant as I took the slip of paper with her room number on it and went to the psych ward.
This time there was no confrontation with a Sidhe spirit, no Mia/Pain's possession to deal with. Only a lost, forlorn and damaged girl sitting in the sunlight on the horrible plastic chairs in the lounge beside the double doors, her hair in a pony tail, face scrubbed fresh of makeup so the deep, dark circles under her eyes showed clearly.
I ran to her the moment our gazes met, hugging her as she stood up, her lower lip shaking, skin translucently pale.
"I'm sorry," she whispered into my hair. "I'm such a jerk."
I hugged her as hard as I dared. "Yup," I said. "Me too."
It made her laugh, a soft sound through tears. I heard the door creak behind me as someone emerged from the ward and turned to see Angela Morgan standing there. But not the woman I remembered. Gone was the heavy makeup, the fake nails, the perfect hair. She looked ordinary, slightly worn around the edges, but more beautiful than I'd ever seen her.
A genuine smile touched her face and she came forward to hug me.
"Thank you for coming," she said. A real person looked back at me from behind her gaze and I smiled in return.
"Couldn't keep me away," I said.
I followed Alison inside the ward, her mom nodding to the nurse it was okay I joined them. Her room was small but private, and Angela had brought her beautiful quilt to make it seem more homey.
"I'm in for a few days," Alison said as her mom left us there to talk. "They want to observe me." She rolled her eyes, but her voice cracked when she said it, hands clenching together in her lap as she collapsed on the bed. "Syd," she whispered, "I'm kind of screwed up."
"Yeah," I said, "I know. But we all are, Al. And you can unscrew a bit, you know?"
She smiled at me. "I guess." She sighed, eyes drifting to the doorway. "I'm just really grateful for you," she said. "You saved my life, I'm sure of it."
I was about to argue when she gestured. I glanced over my shoulder, out the door. Someone was shuffling past, leaning heavily on a nurse's arm.
"It could have been so much worse," Alison whispered. "I could have ended up like Page."
Oh. My. No. Way. Page. I'd forgotten all about the vindictive cheer squad leader. As Alison spoke I understood, recognized the thin and wasted creature in the ugly hospital robe, knew as the girl lifted her head and met my eyes, her gaze empty of anything resembling thought, that Alison was absolutely right.
The Enforcers mind wiped Page. Turned her into a shell.
I watched shuffle by, but for the life of me, I honestly couldn't bring myself to feel sorry for her.
I was definitely going to pay for that unforgiveness when it was time to tally up such things.
***
