Chapter 219: Interim Leader
I returned to the kitchen in a daze. The rumble of a Mini Cooper engine actually calmed me down. For some reason I refused to let Erica see my nerves, or at least the full extent of them. As Mom's second and best friend, Erica Plower had spent my entire life treating me like her own daughter, not always to the best effect. In fact, from the look on her face as she walked through the kitchen door, my sudden rise to power wasn't instilling even an iota of confidence in her.
Which roused my anger and extinguished the last of my butterflies. I'd never been the best at following coven rules or toeing the company line, but when push came to shove, my family came first. From the moment her panicked eyes met mine, I was Sydlynn Thaddea Hayle, coven leader, damn it and there was no way I would let her see me otherwise.
The shock on her face was priceless, even more so when I called up my power and let it hover between us, not as a threat, but so she knew who wore the pants in our particular relationship.
"Mom's gone already," I said, amazed at how calm I sounded. "I need to contact the family and let them know what's happening." The fluttery wings of doubt returned, but I squashed them without mercy. This was no time to fall apart. I had one chance to prove to the coven I could handle things in Mom's absence and one chance only.
Erica reached out with her power. I could feel her anxiety grasping at me like I was some kind of life preserver and she was drowning. It did nothing to still my own nerves and, in fact, made things worse. I fumbled to send her soothing energy even as her doubt in my abilities leaked through and drove my attempt at confidence to the bottom of my feet.
She offered a wavering smile. "You can do this," she lied. "I'm right here with you."
Oh. My. Swearword. This was going to be a disaster of monumental proportions. I could already tell. But instead of fighting off the funk she dragged me into, rather than stepping away and catching my breath, doing it on my own, I let her influence the flavor of the family power as I reached out to every single mind and joined with them.
I felt a few flinch from me as my magic surged at the last moment when Erica's panic practically pinched me and made me jump. She barely held herself together, the feeling of her fear threading outward, one to the other, until the entire coven was in a frenzy.
I tried. Oh how I tried to pull them together. But even as I sent my message, I felt their apprehension.
Gram has disappeared. Mom and Uncle Frank are gone to look for her. In the meantime, Mom has left me in control of the coven. Doubt turned to reluctance to accept my leadership. I could feel it being fed, not just by Erica's concern, but by the instigation of another.
Celeste. Had to be. I never considered, in the few seconds I had to process what was happening before Mom dumped this crap on me, I'd be butting heads with the very woman who I was sure was in cahoots with the Dumonts. A former Purity witch, she was absorbed into our coven when her family was destroyed. That same night Gram lost her mind, but not the fight. Celeste was a constant thorn in Mom's side.
There was no reason to think she wouldn't double her efforts now that I was in charge. I could almost taste her eagerness as she spoke.
Where has Ethpeal gone?
The coven muttered, argued, speculation and fear flying. I fought for calm, reaching out to them only to have a small group elude my power, shattering my hold.
Everything is fine and under control. Why didn't Erica put some magic behind that statement? If I didn't believe her, no one else would. I'll be right here with Syd the whole time.
It did placate them, or some of them at least. Great. They only half trusted me if I had a babysitter.
Fanfreakingtastic.
That doesn't answer the question. Celeste's mind pressed against me and I pushed right back. Which only served to make the connection I had with the others even more unstable. Erica's mind jabbed into me as if she was correcting an errant child.
She so did not just chastise me, her leader, in front of the entire coven.
Oh, but she did. Which firmly and completely shattered any possible chance I had at pulling them back into my influence. I felt their attention shift to her.
I'd lost them. Way to play at being your mother, Syd.
We don't have answers yet. Erica's magic settled a little. Speculation is worthless. When I know more, I'll share it with you.
She was using a singular pronoun now, not even pretending anymore. Nice.
They left us then, a few at a time, until only a handful remained. I received a loving energy hug from both of the Vegas, Louisa brushing a magical kiss over my cheek while Martin sent a powerful shaft of support to me. They were the only reason I didn't lose it completely when only Celeste remained.
I expect you to keep control of that child, she sent, or I'll be forced to take steps for the good of the coven. I didn't get a chance to tell her where to shove it before she abruptly severed the connection.
Erica sighed as she released her power, sagging a little. "Everything will be fine," she whispered almost to herself. "It's been quiet since the Dumonts left and your mother won't be gone long." She had the nerve to smile at me. "This will be a wonderful opportunity for you. To stretch your magical legs. Adjust to how it will feel to be a coven leader."
She paled as I threw up my shields and blocked her, but not before I let her feel how furious I was. "You'd be right," I said in my coldest Mom tone, "if someone hadn't undermined me and ruined my first chance."
I knew it wasn't right to blame her, but neither did she have the right to treat me this way. I saw her own anger surface and hoped she'd speak up, but instead she simply turned and left.
Just as well. Fighting with my mother was one thing. I'd been doing it my whole life. And Mom was, after all, my mother. Yes, Erica may have spent a lot of time around me, but she never bore the brunt of one of the nuclear arguments Mom and I were notorious for, only ever coming in to witness the aftermath.
She had no clue. And she wouldn't stand a chance.
***
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