Chapter 296: Mansion Usurped
Minnie's engine hummed softly as she cruised down the highway toward the mansion. It felt odd to leave the confines of Wilding Springs. Now that I was aware of Shaylee and the Gate to her realm, I keenly felt it as I passed from the influence of Sidhe magic and into the normal world.
How no one else felt the absolute supernaturalness of the town I had no idea.
I shivered as we passed the invisible boundary created by the Gate's magic and felt Quaid's power, along with his hand, grasp me and hold on. I was happy to have him with me, filling the front seat of the passenger's side with his long, lean yumminess, though thinking about him in any romantic way was hard considering the circumstances.
Hormones managed somehow.
The look on his face when he'd laid eyes on me when I descended to the kitchen was almost comical. I worried I'd scarred him for life, that he'd never be able to look at me again without seeing my mother. Instead, he bent and kissed me, all warm, soft lips and hot breath.
"Beautiful," he whispered before backing off. And winked.
Tell me he didn't have a thing for my mother?
I'd considered using the veil to travel instead of taking conventional means, but I was ready in plenty of time and wanted the drive to sort myself out. It had been hard to leave Sassafras and Meira behind in the end, though I knew he would never let anything happen to my sister. I couldn't worry. I had to think ahead. To keep my cool and take whatever came in stride. I had a quick, sharp conversation with my demon who agreed to behave herself, but who knew? She was a demon, after all.
No promises.
I pulled up the drive of the mansion, remembering the last time I'd been here. Demitrius Strong had my demon under his power and Quaid, Sunny and I broke in to take her back. I felt a thrill of nerves shake loose the butterflies who liked to live in my stomach at such times, my eyes traveling over the huge stone castle-like building as it came into view around the bend. The lush, wide lawn was perfectly tended and again I had the feeling it was more a seat meant for royalty than a common house.
Cars lined the driveway, parked at even intervals. I knew I should have left Minnie in line, but there was no way I was walking to the front doors. I was the Hayle Coven leader and I wasn't about to be treated like some lackey.
Besides, I was lucky to stand let alone walk up the graveled drive. Mom's shoes may have fit, but they were killing me.
I really hoped it wasn't some kind of sign.
Quaid let go of my hand, a small smile on his face, dark eyes full of confidence. "Ready, fearless leader?"
Jerk. But it made me grin. "Not even remotely." I kicked open my door and climbed out, fists full of velvet skirt as I stood and let it fall back in place.
Erica came forward, face pale, but seemingly in control of her nerves. Her eyes and staring face told me I'd done the right thing, as a surge of hope and gratitude reached me from her magic. She turned quickly and snapped her fingers at someone hovering nearby.
"Park this, would you?" She swept her way into the building, obviously buoyed by my choice of wardrobe. I followed her, doing my best to mimic the cold, calm look I'd practiced in Mom's mirror, even as Quaid paced along behind me, close enough I took comfort from his presence, but far enough away it was clear he was subordinate.
Wow. Quaid subordinate. It almost made me giggle.
We barely passed through the huge doors and into the massive marble lobby when Erica slowed to let me catch up. My eyes adjusted from the bright sunlight to the cool, dark interior. I spotted Celeste and James not far from us, standing off to one side. The horse-faced witch was jerking on her braid with her man-hands, but even she'd made some effort to dress for the part.
The look on her face when she saw me almost ruined my poise. I wanted to laugh out loud as, for a single moment, she clearly thought I was my mother. When she realized who I was, a hint of fear chased over her expression. I saw her glance at James, frown at the guilt on his face. I didn't react to either of them, instead choosing to greet the twins, the creepy old ladies in matching twinsets, who gazed at me like I wasn't who they thought.
Erica slid in next to me as we formed a small circle. Quaid kissed the twin's hands like they were ladies at court and I was shocked to hear them titter and see them blush.
"I've been to see Miriam," Erica said softly, for only our ears. "She's totally fine, so that's a relief." Why she was including Celeste and James in this conversation was beyond me. Surely she wasn't so stupid. She'd been part of an attempt by my mother to catch Celeste trying to take over the coven, so it wasn't like Erica didn't know the woman was a menace. But the worst part was hearing her talk about Mom, how she'd acted without me.
My temper prickled, but I held it in. No time to show weakness or a divided camp. Bad enough Celeste knew Erica and I were having problems. She'd offered to take Erica's place once. I had no reason to believe she doubted Mom's second was ready to crack.
"And the vampires?" I needed to know Uncle Frank and Sunny were safe.
Celeste snorted. "They are the least of our troubles, in case you hadn't noticed. And aren't our concern, either."
I didn't bother answering her. I'd had enough. My magic reached out, encountering so much power I almost paused. Of course, the other covens were here. This would be the biggest gathering of magic I'd ever encountered. The trial of a coven leader was a huge affair. I wasn't even sure Mom had ever been to one, they were so rare.
I called on Shaylee to search, knowing her earth magic could find the vampires quickly and be the least affected by witch magic. It wasn't long before I felt the undead, only the next level underground.
My feet made tapping sounds on the marble, toes aching as I stormed across the entry and to a wide hallway. It was crowded with witches who stared at me but dove out of the way, clearly reading something they feared in the expression on my face. Footfalls fell to thuds as I stepped onto the thick crimson carpet running the length of the corridor. I heard the others chasing after me, felt Quaid's steady support and Erica's fear and anger, but I didn't care about any of it now.
I found the door I was looking for, guarded by two people in black robes. I didn't wait for them to tell me otherwise, shoving the door they guarded wide open and taking the staircase on the other side at a steady, determined pace.
I heard arguing voices behind me, continued anyway, felt Quaid's warning and knew I had little time. My feet made it to the bottom of the steps, coming down on more stone, this less polished, more ancient.
A massive double door stood at the end of the underground hall. I caught the sight of colorful tapestries out of the corners of my eyes, passing doorways. I only had focus for the two Enforcers standing outside my target.
They saw me coming and tensed, their black cloaks swaying. I heard feet running behind me, felt the brush of magic as someone reached for me and roughly blocked off whoever it was with a demon-fueled shield. As if.
I came to an abrupt halt before the two Enforcers, determined not to take no for an answer.
"Open the door," I said with power behind my words. "Now."
Someone eased past me, a third Enforcer. I didn't know him, or the two others. "The vampires are safe," he said, huffing a little to catch his breath. I could see the round of his pot belly under his cloak where it pressed against him. "We've ensured it."
I glared at him. "You'll forgive me if I don't trust you at the moment." I gestured toward the door while the other two Enforcers exchanged a look. "Now open the damned door or I'll do it for you."
I was flanked on my other side by a fourth Enforcer, but felt no fear. They didn't scare me, not even a little, and I began to wonder if this protection detail wasn't reserved for those who could perhaps oppose the new order.
Could these Enforcers be possible allies? I met the portly one's eyes and let him see my concern. "Please," I said, allowing the word, but not the weakness. "Let me see them."
He nodded once, sharply, as if deciding only then the orders be damned. The two before the door shrugged and stepped aside, leaving me to do it after all. I jerked on the heavy steel handle and shoved the door open, striding inside.
The room was huge, some kind of storage, with a massive, vaulted stone ceiling, though plainly appointed. Stacked inside, almost crammed together, were over a hundred vampire homes. Everything from traditional black plated caskets to heavy stainless steel affairs were jammed into the room. My eyes found what they sought, two carved wooden cupboards, one hanging open, the other sealed against the daytime.
Sunny was safe. Her clan too. Why hadn't she told us the Council was here? The only way they could keep her quiet was if they moved in just this morning after the vampires had gone to sleep.
I saw no sign of the handful of human servants I knew cared for the clan during daylight hours. "If their people have been harmed," I snarled, letting out my temper at last, "heaven help you."
"They, too, are safe." The Enforcer sighed. "We won't let them come to harm."
I spun on him. "So you say. As if Enforcers can still be trusted."
He flinched at that, they all did.
I was on a roll and didn't care who I jabbed with my rising anger. Even while I struggled to get myself back under control, I lost it. "How dare you handle the clan's sleeping places? Put them under arrest? Hold their servants? What are we, barbarians? Are we willing to run roughshod over the rights of other magical races now?"
"You're lucky they aren't turned out into the sun." I spun as the Enforcers beside me gasped, heads down, cloak hoods falling over their faces. I caught sight of the fourth, realized then how much trouble we were in even as Dominic Moromond went on. "Evil, foul creatures of blood magic. When the Council finally sees the error of their ways, this infestation will be destroyed-and none too soon."
Pender Tremere would not look up, though I glared at him while Dominic advanced on me, a lecherous smile on his face. I glared at the Enforcer whose life Mom saved, who promised to help us find out what was going on, my hope dying while my anger simmered.
More cowards.
Dominic stopped in front of me and winked. "You look so much like your mother."
It was his tone, not the words. The way he licked his lips and looked at my chest.
Oh. My. Swearword.
He was so dead.
"We have to go." Erica was by my side, grasping my arm, pulling me away. "The conclave is about to gather."
I glared at Dominic, willed him to spontaneously combust while my demon supplied me with the means and suggestions to make it happen. He smiled right back, the smile of a man who knew there was nothing I could do.
Nothing.
I leaned close to him, lips near his ear. "If anything happens to the vampires," I whispered sweetly, letting him feel a thread of demon fire as it traced across his cheek and down his neck, "or their servants, I will hold you personally responsible." I leaned back, saw him scowling now. Smiled and patted his cheek. "And you don't want that, Dominic. Trust me."
I walked away like I won this round, even though I knew I didn't.
***
