Chapter 291: Where Is Alison?
The moment I passed back over the threshold, the Vega's voices still echoing in my head, the phone rang. I sighed, wanting to ignore it, eyes locked on Quaid, but Erica was already answering it.
"Yes? One moment." She held it out to me, an apologetic look on her face.
Great. Thanks. Just what I needed. A chit chat over nothing while my mother was being falsely persecuted.
"Hello?" That was snippy, even for annoyed Syd. I winced a little as the voice on the other end of the line gasped softly.
"Syd?" Angela Morgan sounded upset. "I'm sorry, am I interrupting?"
Um, yeah. "No, sorry, hello Mrs. Morgan." I leaned against the wall, the cordless balanced between my cheek and shoulder as I drew a deep breath and tried to refocus from my witchy life to what remained of my normal one. "How are you?"
She didn't answer me, just plunged ahead in a rush of words. "Can I speak to Alison?" Her voice was strained, words a little stuttery. Like she was afraid of something.
"Alison?" I stood upright. I'd been trying to reach her myself. But I wasn't about to tell Angela anything until I knew what was going on.
"I'm at the house, and it's so dark, her bed is still made and Rosetta isn't here." Angela stumbled to a halt before laughing, a hysterical edge to her voice. "She said she wanted to come back on her own for a few weeks and we thought, well, her therapist said... we thought that would be nice." Angela's brittle tone intensified as she rushed on. "She told us she was going to stay with you mostly. Said your mother was fine with it. But Rosetta was supposed to be here to take care of her when she was home and I can't find either of them or reach Alison, so can I speak to her?"
My heart began to shrivel at the beginning of Angela's speech and continued to wither as she wound down to an almost whispered halt, fear plain in her voice though I could tell she was desperately trying to hide it.
Alison had been through so much, her mother too, with the Dumont's thrall then with Alison's two breakdowns and suicide attempt. No wonder Angela was afraid.
No wonder I was afraid.
Quaid was on his feet, moving toward me, Erica taking his place with Meira. He squeezed my arm and frowned , sending soothing magic as our power connected.
It was so hard to open my mouth, to say the words I had to say to the woman who was in no shape herself to hear the news she already dreaded. It had been days since I'd seen Alison last, and I hadn't heard from her since. Panic warred with Quaid's attempt to keep me level while I finally spoke.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Morgan," I said softly around the lump in my throat, "but Alison isn't here."
Her wail was heartbreaking. "I knew it, I knew I should never have let her come here alone no matter what Dr. Pattery said, I knew something terrible would happen."
"Mrs. Morgan. Angela!" I found myself shouting into the phone. "We'll find her. She's probably off shopping or something. Maybe with her new friends."
"New friends?" Angela's voice was hoarse with tears. "Syd, she didn't make any new friends. You're the only one she has."
Guilt struck me like sledge hammer, fear feeding it until I had to breathe through my mouth to get enough oxygen. I found myself leaning forward, pressing my free hand into my stomach as a surge of grief and loss tore through me.
I couldn't think like that, worst case scenario. But it was hard, so very hard, not to go there.
"I'm calling the police." Angela sounded desperate, panicked. I looked up at Erica as I straightened.
"That's a great idea." I had a sudden image of her standing in the dark foyer of the massive house, alone in the silence. "Did your husband come with you?"
"No." She choked on the word.
Can you go to her? I threw the thought at Erica who instantly nodded and sprang to her feet as I went on. "My friend Erica is going to join you at the house, okay? You remember her? From the hospital?" I winced. Way to bring up bad memories, Syd. "Until the police come. So you don't have to be alone."
Erica rushed out the door while Angela gasped around her tears. "Thank you."
"She's on her way. In the meantime, I'll start looking too. Asking around. We'll find her, I promise."
I could feel her calming a little as I spoke.
"Yes, of course. Thank you so much, Syd." She sighed deeply. "I'm just so worried about my little girl."
I could barely speak past my thickened throat, so it was a good thing she hung up.
Galleytrot pushed Quaid to the side and pressed his big head into my stomach before lifting his gaze to mine. "I'll go look for her."
I sobbed once, never so grateful to anyone in my entire life. I leaned forward and hugged him, feeling the weight of the earth in his body, the power of the Sidhe rippling over him and into me.
"Thank you." I pulled away. "Do you need something? With her scent?"
He shook his great head, shaggy fur swinging. "I think I know her well enough by now." He turned toward the door, gently butting Quaid's hip with his head on the way by. "I'll let you know the moment I find anything."
The screen door banged shut behind him and suddenly we were alone, Quaid, Meira and I.
And it all hit me.
But I couldn't let it. I just couldn't. I still had more to do.
Quaid hugged me, lips on my ear. "I'll take care of Meira," he said. "Go talk to your father."
I'd missed the surge of demon magic, so wrapped up in the stress of the phone call I'd forgotten Sassy was in the basement. But I could feel him now, joined with the power of a second demon, the veil parted for Dad's spirit to cross.
I kissed Quaid gently on the mouth. He pulled me close one last time, lips on my temple before letting me go.
"I figure I have to get used to this," he said, tone dry, a twist to his lips, dark humor lighting his chocolate eyes. "If I'm going to be married one day to the leader of the most powerful coven around, that is."
"Better believe it." I laid one hand on his chest for a moment, felt his heart beat under my touch. "Only I expect to live a long and quiet life, Quaid. So don't get too comfortable with all this disaster."
He winked and did his best to look disappointed.
Meira was a miserable ball of wide eyes and tears when I went to her. She hugged me and kissed me too.
"I'm okay," she whispered. "Really. I'm fine with Quaid. Go save Mom."
A fierceness, a protective instinct I'd only begun to develop, surged around me and then her, a sense of absolute responsibility to my entire coven wrapping me in the family magic.
"Consider it done." I kissed my sister and I must have done something right because she actually managed to smile. Quaid pulled up Erica's seat and held Meira's hand.
I watched them as they watched me for a moment, before pulling myself away and descending the stairs to tell my father my mother wasn't dead or anything.
At least, not yet.
I so did not just have that thought.
***
