Chapter 324: Confrontation
Yet again, I was unsurprised to find the brothers weren't alone. Ameline strolled in after them, looking around as if she was sizing the place up for herself. And, as usual, Mia trailed along behind her like a shadow.
"Where have you been, Syd?" Kristophe struck one of his model poses and cocked his head to the side, running his tongue over his lips. "We've been looking everywhere for you."
Ah. I'd been starting to wonder why Batsheva was taking so long calling the Council back to order. Now I knew what she'd been waiting for.
"Here and there," I said, trying for nonchalant despite the ghost now clinging to my arm.
Damn. Of all the terrible timing. If they found out about the necromancy, they could use it against me before Gram and Pender had a chance to release the echoes they carried.
But the Dumonts ignored my ghostly friend as if she was insignificant. It just proved to me further, they were morons.
Someone in a dark cloak hovered in the window. Even though I couldn't see a face, I knew it was the same person from the night before when we'd rescued Sebastian. Batsheva's spy didn't enter the room, but stayed just outside, watching.
I was surrounded by cowards.
Mind you, I was kicking myself for not telling Gram I'd been followed. What if the spy tracked us when we went below? I shook the worry off immediately. Gram would have known. In fact I was starting to think she'd somehow lured Pender down there with us.
She didn't leave anything to chance.
Jean Marc crossed his arms over his chest and stared at my cleavage. "I never quite understood what Quaid saw in you," he said, "but I suppose your inferior looks are growing on me."
Jerk. "How nice for you," I said. "Too bad you were born to be disappointed by life."
Heh.
He scowled at me, poor baby. Did I hurt his little feelings?
"Don't be idiots." Ameline was used to dealing with the pair, obviously. She crossed the room to face me, ignoring Alison.
Which made me wonder. Could they see her? And if not, why not? Surely Ameline would have commented by now.
"Syd," Alison whispered in my ear, "why is Pain here? And where's her Goth makeup?"
I didn't answer her, but kept my focus on Ameline. "Nice of you to drop by." We really had to stop having these oh-so-casual conversations right before trying to take each other apart.
"Wouldn't have missed it." Ameline's icy eyes were soulless. "You do understand what this means? I almost had you once. And this time I'll succeed."
I shrugged. "Now I know how big of a cheater you are," I said, "I'm prepared."
She laughed. "It's not cheating when you win."
"So you say." I pretended to yawn, pulling my power inward, using the precious moments to reinforce my shields. "You know, this is really very predictable of Batsheva and Odette."
Annoyance flickered in her eyes. "Who says this has anything to do with them?"
I rolled my eyes at her and tipped my chin toward the spy.
"Oh please," I said at my most condescending, "like you could pull this off on your own. Whatever."
She did not like my prodding, not even a little bit.
"Your power is mine," she hissed right in my face at the same moment she attacked me.
I was ready for her, as ready as I could be, but she wasn't prepared, because neither of us expected what came next.
The moment her magic struck me, the vampire virus reacted with joy, reaching for the magic and sucking it inside its prison. I realized then Dad built the marble to hold the virus in, not to keep power out.
Ameline shrieked at the top of her lungs and jerked free, but only because I didn't act in time to allow the glowing gem to suck her dry. I would have happily sat back and let it happen, I was just too slow.
Damn it.
She shuddered as she fell back, staring at her hands. They appeared withered, aged beyond her years. The flesh began to fill out again slowly as she held them before her eyes, absolute horror on her face.
"What have you done to me?" Ameline's voice rose to a wail.
Satisfaction flooded my heart as I smiled in her face and winked.
The spy ran, disappearing from my peripheral vision. Good, let him go and report back to Batsheva. Let her be terrified of me.
That would be awesome.
Something impacted the shield the Dumonts erected around the room, shattering it inward. I let my own bubble of power collapse as four Enforcers stormed the room followed by a furious Charlotte.
"What is going on here?" The lead Enforcer was a Dumont, plain and simple. He looked angry, but not at me. Ameline scowled and shoved him off when he tried to pull her away.
"Hear me, Sydlynn Hayle," she snarled. "When I take control of the Dumont coven, I'm coming for you. I will tear your heart out and eat it while you watch before I strip your family magic. Only then will I allow you to die."
I glanced at the gathered Enforcers, keeping my tone light.
"Arrest her," I said.
None of them moved.
"She just threatened me and another coven leader," I said, looking from face to stony face.
Still nothing.
"I see," I said. "Nice to know the Enforcer order is so full of honesty and integrity."
"Watch your back." Ameline spun and marched from the room, the brothers trailing behind her, glaring at me like I'd ruined their fun.
Mia paused one moment, looking hesitant, but when I reached out to her she fled.
"You are to stay in your room," the Dumont Enforcer said. "Until your presence is required."
I was done with being bullied. I played Ameline's game, no problem. But no low ranking Dumont in Enforcer's clothing was going to tell me what to do.
"Get the hell out of my way," I snarled, my anger swift and raging as my demon fought me for control, no longer able to hold back my frustration.
To their credit, they did.
It wasn't until I was marching, still furious, down the hall on a mission to nowhere I realized Alison was no longer beside me. Had she moved on? Maybe. Or was hiding. Either way, I had to leave her to her own devices.
Charlotte's anger simmered below the surface, but I knew she was as furious as I was.
"So now we know," she said softly.
"The Enforcers will do nothing to protect us when Batsheva and Odette act," I said. "Now we know."
I stopped short, the sudden need to see my mother so overpowering I almost sobbed.
"Come on." I led Charlotte to the nearest Enforcer. I didn't recognize his features as Dumont, but that didn't mean anything so I put on my bitch face and hoped. "You," I said, "take me to Miriam Hayle."
He hesitated, glancing around.
"Did you hear me?" I snapped the words like whips. "I am a coven leader. I have the right to speak with the accused. You will take me to see her now."
I guess I convinced him because he nodded sharply and turned, heading back the way I'd come.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Charlotte's eyes were everywhere as we passed a group of Enforcers lounging around and laughing. Yeah, the order had fallen far.
"I doubt it," I said. "But I'm going anyway."
She huffed a breath, but didn't argue further.
Smart weregirl.
***
