Chapter 271: Dumonts
It was just too much. Dad's eyes closed a moment later, energy gone, back to a sleep he might never rise from.
Mom appeared as if she knew somehow it was done. Meira stayed where she was, but I had to go, had to leave, to get away from them, from this tragedy, this loss.
I'd only just now learned to truly love my father and he was leaving me.
My moment of weakness was bound to have consequences. But hopefully the family had seen enough they wouldn't judge me for it.
Not that I really cared if they did. My dad was dying. And there was nothing I could do about it.
My favorite retreat, the back yard, called to me. I stumbled through the crowd, down the stairs and out the door, rushing out into the cool embrace of the early evening air, a hint of bitter cold still lingering. I breathed in, tasting the flavor of newly cut grass, felt the hum deep beneath me of the sleeping Wild as they snoozed their way through time. This was familiar, welcome, brought me more peace than I expected.
Wasn't meant to last.
"Well, if it isn't Sydlynn Hayle." The voice, softly accented in French, snapped the one tiny touch of calm I felt and I jerked around. Jean Marc and Kristophe Dumont stood, the former with his arms crossed over his chest, the second slumped in what I'm sure he considered an attractive model's stance that just made him look like a poser.
"Evening, mon cher." Kristophe winked at me, blonde hair flowing back as he tossed his head, smirk pulling his thick, wide mouth sideways. "I'd say good, but..." he drifted off, eyes flickering to his more stoic brother.
But even Jean Marc seemed unable to suppress his amusement. "That's right," he said. "Not so good right now, is it, Syd? What with your poor father's... condition."
I'd remained frozen in shock at their appearance up until that moment. They weren't supposed to be in Wilding Springs let alone anywhere near my family. The Enforcers had ordered them to leave. And the consequences of breaking those orders were supposed to be dire. Not that I counted much on the High Council or the Enforcers to protect my coven.
I gathered my magic, calling on the family power. I felt Mom's energy twitch as she latched onto me in response, but I shoved her aside and slammed up my shields. No way was she interfering. They broke the law.
And I was damned if I would let them get away with it.
"You two are so predictable," I said. "What's the trouble? All that inbreeding kill your originality?"
Yeah, I was prodding them. About time I got a few digs in.
Kristophe growled at me, but Jean Marc just rolled his shoulders in a slow shrug. "We wanted you to know we're here for you. When the time comes. You know, when your mother falls apart and someone needs to take steps to keep your coven going until she's back on her feet."
Threats now, was it? My temper flared, demon roaring at me to rend them into tiny, edible pieces. "Maybe you two should run off like good little boys. I'm sure your Daddy must be worried about you." I forced a smile. "Oh, and make sure you say hello to Ameline for me."
Two could play the threat game.
The brothers exchanged a look. "We'll do that," Kristophe sneered, "right after she manages to pry herself from the lips of that delicious witch you gave up."
He did not just bring Quaid into this. My anger swelled wider, but fed by fear now. How much did they know?
Before I could formulate a question which wouldn't tip them off, but get me the information I needed, the brothers exchanged one last look before Jean Marc fixed me with a steady glare and reached for me with his magic.
He had no possible hope of hurting me, not really, not here on my family's property surrounded by the protective magic of the coven. In fact, I'm surprised the magic didn't lash out on its own and drive him head first into the dirt. Probably because of the fact it was a minor attack or because of the split distraction with the events inside. For whatever reason, when he reached out with power and pinched my ass, he got away with it.
Let me correct that. He got away with it temporarily.
It was a smart-ass move, a clear assault couched as a taunt, meant to be something he and his family could explain away as a simple boyish gesture.
My demon took it as a full-on attack.
While I still stared at him, mouth agape and brain churning for a way to make him pay for what he'd done, she lunged for him, her power wrapping around him and driving him to his knees. The look of pure terror on his face as she slammed through his personal wards was so comical and absolutely delicious we both paused.
Too long in our appreciation for his expression, it turned out. Kristophe gathered up his brother and ran.
And I chased them. I'd had enough-of their lies, their taunts, my family's inability to act, the Enforcers, the High Council. But most of all, I was tired of failing over and over again.
Screw that.
They used magic to run, something I'd never done. I fumbled around for the means to pursue them without having to go back for my keys and Minnie, feet pounding over the ground as they disappeared into the darkness.
All of a sudden I was shoved aside as my demon took over. I almost fought her, fear overpowering my anger, as she shuddered and dove into the veil between planes.
What was she thinking? This was no time to cross to Demonicon. I was about to try to seize back control when everything flickered and I found myself, still running, but a fair distance from where I'd started.
It actually pulled me up short for a moment. I turned, looked back the way I came before spinning around, heart pounding, a feeling of total awesome growing inside me.
"Wicked. Freaking. Cool." I grinned maniacally, feeling my cheeks ache from it, the flow of demon power calling me. "Again!"
She didn't hesitate. The moment I surged forward at a dead run, power focused on the retreating brothers, she slid us back into the edge of the veil. This time I paid attention, felt my demon's magic bend the distance between me and the brothers, using the edges of the veil to slip in and out of regular space. They were flying, however they managed it, but I had something better. Much better. I laughed out loud and let them feel me closing in on them.
Their growing fear was delicious, my demon propelling us along with the power of the demon plane.
It seemed like only moments and we were at the edge of town. I tackled them, leaping from the place between, power lashing out at them, pulling them from the sky, not wanting them to leave just yet. They fell earthward, tumbling into old, damp grass, ironically enough in the clearing which used to be our coven site. I so wanted to grind their faces in the dirt as I tromped over to them, my demon vibrating with good humor. She was enjoying this immensely and I had to admit she wasn't the only one. The sense of power I had was almost overwhelming, just held in check by Shaylee's firm grip on the both of us.
It meant the brothers both managed to recover, but the fact they were very scared of me now fed my growing satisfaction.
"Cowards," I snarled, a ball of witch light bathing the old coven site in an eerie glow reminding me of the night the Moromonds tried to kill my family. "Stand and face me."
Kristophe was already backing away, tugging on Jean Marc's arm. The older Dumont looked absolutely flabbergasted, as if I'd done something he did not expect.
"We only came to offer our condolences." Nice way to try to cover his butt after assaulting mine.
"You can lie all you want, scumbag," I snarled. "Consider your message delivered. Now get the hell out of Wilding Springs. The next time you show up here, I'll kill you both. And the Enforcers be damned."
They didn't get to respond. As in, run away from me in terror, the only reaction I'd accept. As I was about to put some of my magical weight behind the 'request' to drop dead, the air above me compressed and a shape in a black robe emerged.
"Stand down, witches." The Enforcer was alone, wrapped up in his heavy cloak, making him look huge and terrifying. If I had been in a terrifying mood, that was. Turned out I was way angrier than I thought.
"They are here illegally." I jabbed one index finger toward the brothers. "I demand they be removed. You Enforcers are happy to impose rules and restrictions, but you suck on the follow through."
The brothers were suddenly cocky again, not a good sign. I knew now Dominic Moromond was an Enforcer there had to be those among them who were a threat to me and my family. I recognized this Enforcer's voice, but at least it wasn't Dominic himself.
"Nice try, Enforcer." Kristophe made a rude face at the black-robed man. "Wrong orders, idiot."
Jean Marc shot his brother a withering look telling me everything I needed to know. The Enforcers were never on our side.
"I'm following the edict of the High Council, Dumont coven members. You are to leave this area immediately and not return."
Before Jean Marc could stop him, Kristophe's magic lashed out at the Enforcer, slicing through the man's wards and dropping him to his knees. I stared in shock first at him, then at the brothers. Jean Marc slapped his brother across the face so hard Kristophe spun half way around.
"You fool!" He swore at him in French for a moment. It had to be swearing from the redness of his face. The Enforcer groaned, shaking his hooded head as the brothers disappeared into the darkness.
I wanted to go after them. Was about to when the Enforcer tried to rise, sagged sideways and collapsed.
He shouldn't have been that hurt. The younger Dumont just wasn't strong enough to do that kind of damage. I snarled at myself and went to the man's side instead of going after the brothers, my good sense winning for once. I had good reason to chase them at least while they were in Wilding Springs, without reprisals. But pursuing them outside town was just asking for more trouble we didn't need.
I crouched over the Enforcer, peeling back his hood. I did know him. Pender Tremere, the only member of the elite guard force to even remotely show any affinity for my coven, groaned softly, one hand coming free from where he clutched the front of his robe.
It was covered in blood.
***
