Chapter 290: Dumont Plans
The moment the Enforcers were gone, Erica's mind latched onto mine in a desperate grasp.
WHERE IS YOUR MOTHER? I could feel her moving, running. SYD, IS SHE OKAY?
I didn't want to calm down, damn it, not even a little bit. I wanted to rage and tear things apart with my power and my bare hands until someone bled for what just happened. But I couldn't, not with mind after family mind reaching for me, latching onto me with tentacles of need, asking the same question over and over again until I wanted to scream.
The Enforcers took her. I didn't mean to be so blunt, but it was either that or fall apart completely. She's been arrested.
Among the chorus of gasps, fear, horror, and worry was a single thread.
Satisfaction.
And I knew exactly from whom that particular feeling came. Finally, a focus for my rage. When I managed to get my hands on Celeste Oberman, the horse-faced witch was a dead horse-faced witch.
I felt Quaid pull Meira away, turned to see him lift her into his arms, his black shirt blending with her curls as she pressed her face into his shoulder, arms around his neck. He met my eyes with so much calm I felt instantly more confident. If he was worried, afraid, pissed off, he didn't show it.
Bless him. This was why we were meant for each other. I needed someone who could hold it together when I lost it.
Not to mention his yummy tanned, tattooed, and muscular deliciousness didn't hurt any.
He sank into one of the kitchen chairs with my sister still in his arms while tires screeched on the pavement outside the house. Lights flashed over and over as multiple cars arrived. I pulled myself together, preparing for the arrival of the coven en masse, as someone passed the wards of the back yard, his Sidhe energy flooding me with relief.
There wasn't much Galleytrot could do, and I knew it, but having him here just added to my sense of control. The hound of the Wild Hunt entered the kitchen, panting from what was obviously a flat out run, eyes alight with red fire.
"I felt them come." His deep voice rumbled like a thunderstorm about to break overhead. "And Miriam leave. Are you all right?"
I shook my head, tight, jerking movements back and forth. "They arrested her."
He sighed deeply, tongue lolling out. "The Dumont's plans seem to finally have come to fruition."
Of course. Why didn't I think of that? Trumped up charges... I suddenly felt a surge of something close to release. If they were throwing false accusations around, which was obviously what they were doing, Mom had nothing to worry about.
I wished Erica shared my opinion. She dumped her mess the moment she flew in the kitchen.
"We have to do something." When did Erica start getting wrinkles? I mentally shook my head. Who was I kidding? I was a week or so shy of my eighteenth birthday and I probably had them, thanks to the endless disaster that was my family.
"Pull yourself together." I'd forgotten about Sassafras. His voice struck out like a whip as he jumped up on the kitchen table to be closer in height to the trembling witch. "Syd needs you. We all do. And don't think your past behavior is lost on Miriam, Erica Plower. Your position can be filled with a more suitable candidate if necessary."
She flinched, cheeks flushing as anger raged in her eyes. Good. Anger I could use.
"Erica," I drew her attention and her unhappiness. "It's going to be okay. The Dumonts have nothing on Mom, remember? And this is the High Council we're talking about. There's no way they can influence the entire conclave of witches."
Erica sagged a little, nodding. "You're right." Her shoulders straightened as the door opened and the Vegas let themselves in, a line of coven members right behind them. Louisa came directly to me, her dear face scrunched in concern. She kissed me soundly on the cheek before turning and hugging Quaid, so small he didn't have to stand for her to do so. She patted at his cheeks, kissing him, too.
I smiled and hugged Martin as he joined us, so happy to have them there. The Vegas had been a large part of my life when I was little, almost surrogate parents at times. And the childless couple were Quaid's guardians when he was around, just so happy to have someone to take care of they doted on him like he was their own.
I let Erica deal with the rest of the crowd as Martin finally released me and bent to hug Quaid himself. Erica turned on the others with a small smile, calm and level, her magic shaking only a little.
Small miracles.
Syd, Sassy's mind touched mine, watch her. She's been under a lot of stress. She was never able to handle change very well.
Of course he'd have more knowledge than me. She was older so I only ever saw her mothering side.
I'm going to go contact Harry if he's not arriving on his own already. He's bound to have felt Miriam's power loss.
I nodded to him as he hopped down and scampered to the stairs, disappearing into the basement.
The pressure of the family on my mind grew stronger. But this time I knew what to do. I had enough anger behind what happened I didn't feel even a moment of hesitation as I took control of the coven magic and pulled them all together. It was a soft touch from Quaid, gentle and unexpected, which carved the sharp edge from my contact with them, just enough they fell silent and looked to me for guidance.
"It's going to be okay." I tapped into Shaylee, let her soothe them with her Sidhe energy. "Mom has this completely under control. I know you're all aware the Dumonts want nothing more than for our family to fall apart. That's why we're going to show them and the High Council exactly what the Hayle coven is made of. What Miriam Hayle has made of us."
Their collective surge of gratitude and bolstering of confidence caused me to feel a little giddy, but I held onto my poise. "Whatever charges they've brought against Mom are totally false. You've all been here, lived what we've lived. You know the truth. And it's that truth we'll use to set Mom free."
I felt like a general calling her troops to battle with every cliché saying I could think of, but it did the trick. More than did the trick. Suddenly they were angry.
Awesome.
The mercurial shift in their mood was giving me a tension headache. Not for the first time I wondered how Mom handled it so well while I felt like I was just hanging on by my chewed fingernails.
A few of the family glommed onto me instantly, using me as a lifeline. All of a sudden I wasn't so sure having their trust was a good thing. Worse than Alison, some of them, clinging and pulling at me like I could save them. I gently detached myself while I shuddered inwardly and pulled free, letting the family go.
"Go home," I said. "And keep faith. I'll let you know the moment I have news."
They dispersed, the crowd of witches drifting away in small groups, but there was hope in their whispered voices. I followed them out, watched as the line of haphazardly parked cars powered up and drove off. I wondered then what our neighbors thought of the sudden arrival of about a hundred people at our house at all hours of the day and night.
Nothing, thanks to the Sidhe. The Gate in the center of town did its part to keep us safe and prevent locals from noticing anything magical.
We had one blessing on our side at least.
I turned to go back inside, to Erica and Quaid and my sister, when I felt Louisa and Martin Vega reach for me.
Syd, we need to talk to you.
They spoke in tandem, mental voices overlapping. But neither laughed at the snap.
Of course. I really just wanted to go back inside to my family and break down for minute in private, but if the Vegas were reaching out, it had to be big.
They hesitated, both of them at exactly the same time, before Martin went on alone.
Not this way. In person. I'm sorry we couldn't stay. We needed to talk to you away from the others.
Louisa cut in. There are those who shouldn't know we spoke. Please, it's very important.
I'd adored the Vegas my entire life, was loved and spoiled by them, the very last witches to judge me, always on my side, even at the worst of times. If they thought it was that vital they had to see me in person, they'd have me in person.
But not right away. I just had to have a second to process before I imploded.
I'll be over in an hour.
I felt them hug me mentally, their gratitude mixed with worry.
I gently cut off my contact and tried not to guess what they had to tell me.
Because I just knew it couldn't be good.
***
