Chapter 346: Summons
I had no choice. I had to go to my room eventually. With Charlotte ever my silent bodyguard, I drifted across the Yard toward the dorm, walking slower and slower with each step as dread tried to keep me from finishing the trip.
"Miss Hayle." I turned, grateful for the distraction, to face a smiling young man in a crisp black uniform. I recognized him, though couldn't place from where. It wasn't until he handed me a sheet of paper the same color as his outfit, reddish curls as round as his cheeks, that I made the connection.
"You're her page." One of them. I knew him from the trial. He'd stood with Maurice-now Mom's secretary-and a second page.
"Vincent." He winked at me. I found myself grinning even though he might have been fourteen, but was clearly flirting. "We never actually met, coven leader."
I took the paper from him. "I guess we didn't," I said. "I was too busy trying to save Mom."
He bobbed a nod. "Leadership looks great on you." Another wink. Really? Smart ass. But at least he was adorable enough it made up for his cheekiness.
One look at the sheet made my stomach clench. It was an invitation to dinner. An official invitation. Now, don't get me wrong. I was totally okay with invites to things, especially anything requiring such an invitation. But not when I was being summoned to dine with my mother. Clearly written by her secretary. And stamped with her magical seal.
Teeth suddenly on edge, annoyance my own mother would send an errand boy to fetch me with some tacky magical invite in his greasy little hand, I reached out with my power, despite knowing it was bad form, and touched Mom's magic.
You could have just asked. I was terrible at keeping anger out of my voice when I spoke out loud, but even worse at it using mental communication. Something about the closeness of the touch of power made everything bigger and more obvious.
Mom's sigh wasn't lost on me. It's your first official dinner with me, she sent. Can you at least allow me to treat you like you're special?
Like that's what it was about. Sure, fine. See you, I glanced at the time on the invitation then at my watch, in about two minutes. Way to give me any kind of advanced notice.
Mom let me go, feeling as irritated as I did. Lovely. This could be one of those times I'd be better off just going back to my room after all. But instead I crammed the black sheet into the front pocket of my jean skirt and, ignoring Vincent, stomped off with my backpack digging into my shoulder toward Massachusetts Hall and my mother.
The university president's office was in the same building as Mom's. But I wasn't sure if said president was aware of the invisible top floor only accessible from inside the building. I rode an old-fashioned elevator, well-disguised from normal eyes, all the way to the top and Mom's private quarters.
My bad mood dissolved the second the doors creaked open and my little sister bounced through to hug me.
"Syd!" Meira's right horn dug into my shoulder as she squeezed me as hard as she could. I hugged her back, ignoring the jab, just happy to see a smiling face.
Her cheeks were pinker than usual despite her red-toned skin and her teeth flashed white against her deeper lips as she looked up into my eyes. She'd grown since I saw her in June, at least two inches taller, face more mature. How had I missed she was growing up? The knowledge made me sad we'd been apart over the summer, not to mention I suddenly felt old.
My demon wrapped her power around Meira, Shaylee welcoming her, too, before my sister finally pulled away, still holding my hand as she half-pulled me forward through the dark wood paneled entry and into a big, open sitting area. I turned, caught sight of Charlotte stopped in the doorway.
"I can't pass," she said. The scowl on her face told me volumes.
Meira paused, bit her lower lip. "Sorry, Charlotte," she said. "Mom will have to clear you." Her amber eyes met mine. "She had to do it for me and Sass, too."
Charlotte nodded brusquely. "Very well," she said. "I'll wait here." Yeah, she was happy about it. I left my backpack with her and followed Meira.
Thing is, I would have liked to have stayed with my bodywere. The sitting room, the whole upper floor, in fact, felt oppressive despite the tall ceilings, thanks to more dark wood and the tall, grim paintings of previous High Council leaders lining the walls. Their creepy eyes seemed to follow me as Meira dragged me through the sitting room and toward a large, heavily carved door. A wide, long table of more of the dark wood sat in the middle of the next room, covered in black linens and china with silver and gold leaf edges.
"Isn't it awesome here?" Meira sank into a chair, still grinning, as I took the one beside her. I glanced around, looking for Mom, not really surprised she wasn't in sight, though I could feel her moving toward us.
"You're liking it?" I focused on my sister and found myself smiling. "You look great, Meems. I missed you a lot."
No way was I crying. But Meira had her own tears in her eyes as she leaned in and hugged me again. "Me too," she said before pulling back. "But I really do like it here, Syd." Her old happy smile wreathed her face. "I get to go to witch school. It's amazing." Her cute nose wrinkled as she helped herself to the glass of water in front of her plate. Obviously eating here in this big room at a table that would easily seat thirty didn't faze her any. "So much better than any normal school."
"You don't have to hide." I leaned forward and kissed her forehead. She swatted at me, but beamed as she held my gaze.
"Exactly." She sighed happily. "There are a few Dumont kids here, but no one listens to them anymore." Meira's smile deepened. "Those girls who were mean to me at camp? Yeah, nobody likes them. But they do like me."
"Naturally." A large ball of silver fur landed on the end of the table. Sassafras sauntered down the center of it as if he owned the place, weaving in around goblets and table wear until he came to a halt before me. "What's not to love?" He sat, tail flipping forward to wrap around him as he observed me with his half-lidded amber eyes. "Unlike Sydlynn, here."
There was no way I could resist. I leaned forward and gathered him into my arms, snuggling him against my chest, pressing my face into his soft fur, breathing in the lovely cat scent of him reminding me of newborn kittens and crackling winter fires.
"Sass," I whispered. "I missed you."
His paws settled on my shoulders as I let him lean back, nose coming forward to press to mine as he started to purr. "Silly girl," he said, voice thick though I knew he'd deny any such emotional reaction later, "of course you did."
My laugh bubbled up, taking me over as I snuggled him close again. "Oh Sassy," I said in my best little girl voice, "you're my most favoritest kitty, ever."
Meira giggled while Sass's tail thrashed, a deep growl coming from his chest.
"Honestly, Sydlynn," he hissed. "Will you never grow up?"
I let him go, giggling with my sister. "I hope not."
"Me either," she said.
Sassy snorted and began licking one paw with great vigor. "It's a curse, I tell you," he said, "being saddled with you Hayle witches."
Somehow that made us laugh harder.
We were still laughing when a door at the end of the room swung open and Mom strode in. My good humor faded as she approached, not looking at us, head down and to the side, listening to her secretary as he whispered in her ear. I'd never gotten along with Maurice and always had the impression he saw me as a bother, a nuisance in the way of Mom's complete attention.
When Mom finally looked up, her blue eyes found mine. "Sydlynn."
I stood slowly as she came to my side. "Mom."
Our hug was strained and it bothered me. A lot. But it was hard to commit to her when I felt her unwilling to do the same, especially with Maurice hovering behind her, glaring like I was taking up precious time better spent elsewhere.
Mom hugged Meira with more enthusiasm and even bent to kiss Sassafras on the head.
"Charlotte can't enter." It came out a little harsher than I meant it and from the frown Mom shot me she didn't appreciate my tone.
"I'll make sure she's on the list." Mom took a seat, pulled out and shoved back in by Vincent who magically appeared at her side.
"Miriam, we must discuss tomorrow's meeting." Maurice ignored the rest of us. "I'm certain the Dumont contingent will raise the same issues as last time."
It took a lot for me not to sigh as the interruptions of our family time continued through the entire meal. A very fast, very tense meal. By the time I was served my main course, I was ready to stab Maurice through the eye with my fork. Mom was just as bad, spending half her time in silent communication with the Council. My frustration hit overload when I caught the unhappy look on Meira's face and the way Sassafras's whiskers drooped as he backed away from his half-finished meal.
"Isn't this nice?" Oh Syd, when will you learn to keep your mouth shut? But I just couldn't sit there and live this lie any longer. "Our happy family, spending happy family time over dinner together."
Mom shot me a look half-angry, half-guilty, while Maurice sighed in a heavy huff.
"Maurice," Mom said. "Please excuse us, will you?"
He stared at her like she'd asked him to commit suicide. "Council Leader?"
Mom stared at me, face calm and quiet. Had I gotten through to her? "Just go."
He wavered, hesitated, as though Mom might change her mind, offer him some reprieve. When she ignored him he left, clearly upset with the state of affairs.
"I'm sorry," Mom said. "You're very right, Syd. This is family time."
Well. What do you know? "It's good to see you, Mom." I meant it. She looked great. A little tired around the eyes, but if Maurice was any indicator, it's not likely she was getting much rest.
"You too, sweetheart." She softened instantly and suddenly she was my mom again. "How was your first day?"
Yeah, didn't want to talk about that. "Thanks for encouraging Liam to come to school." I toyed with my pasta, thinking about Quaid and the mess I'd left behind earlier.
"He's an excellent student," Mom said, "and while he's tied to the Gate, he can be a great asset to the Council in the times he's not fulfilling that capacity."
Really? Was he just a tool to her? My anger returned, even when Sassy flashed me a glare from his amber eyes and changed the subject.
But no matter what we talked about, Mom turned it back into something about work. Work, work, always her work until I felt like Maurice might have well stuck around.
He gave us maybe ten minutes as it was, appearing through the door again to hover at Mom's elbow before I even had a chance to sniff at the dessert Vincent set before me.
I was about to totally lose it when Erica rushed in and came right to my side. She hugged me while I was still in the chair, her long, blonde hair falling over my shoulder. Mom's second in command was now the Hayle member of the Council and the change had done her good. Always in Mom's shadow, Erica Plower had blossomed. She looked fantastic and her genuine kindness and happiness when she pulled away from me was a far cry from the troubled and fearful woman who had tried to wrest control of the family from me when Mom was on trial.
"Syd," she said, "it's so good to see you!"
Erica slid around the table, taking a seat across from me, smiling at Vincent who set her own dessert in front of her.
"You too, Erica." She'd arrived just in time to diffuse my ticking bomb and I was grateful. I really didn't want to fight with Mom, but if this was going to be the extent of our relationship from now on, I wasn't sure I could keep my temper in check.
"Sorry I'm late, I wanted to be here earlier, but Council business calls." She smiled at Mom, at Meira, at Sassafras. "How was first day?"
I wasn't going there, not when she seemed so happy. But I did have one thing I had to deal with. "Things are great," I said. "But I do have something I need to deal with."
Mom's forehead bunched as she frowned a little. "What's wrong?"
"Sashenka." I set down my fork as my stomach clenched. "She's Tallah Hensley's sister?"
"Your roommate." Mom nodded. "I made sure the two of you were together. Since you seemed to get along well when you met."
"Well, I'm not sure what I did to piss her off," I said, "but she can't stand me now." I hated admitting it, with Maurice and Vincent watching, even Erica. But there was no telling when I'd have a chance to talk to Mom again. "I'll be needing a new roommate."
Mom looked like she wanted to argue but sighed finally, sitting back like I really was at fault. "Fine then. But you have to share with someone, even if it's Charlotte."
Great attitude, Mom. Way to be on my side. "I didn't say I wanted special treatment," I said through teeth not quite clenched but close. "But I can't live with someone who won't even talk to me."
"Just give her another chance, Syd." Erica looked back and forth between me and Mom, face creased in concern. "I'm sure it's probably nothing."
Leave it to Erica to side with Mom. Shocker.
"I'm not sure what you expect to change," I said, "but whatever. I'll give it until the end of the week. This isn't my choice, Mom. It's Sashenka's."
As much as I didn't want to be different, to have special treatment, I would have taken a room on my own in a heartbeat.
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