Chapter 370: Dumont Interference
What were the Dumont brothers doing with my friends? I kicked myself as I considered the possibilities-and failed to realize I should have been watching the clubhouse for them to leave as well as enter. We could have had the pair of them instead of now chasing them for the second time that night, this time in worse company.
At least in my opinion.
I was so grateful for the chance to focus on a disaster I eagerly dove into the veil, almost forgetting Charlotte who lunged to grip my hand at the last second. Kudos to her for not saying anything, and not judging me even for an instant. I could tell from the calm and steady look on her face when we emerged onto Holyoke nothing had changed for her.
Naturally, I arrived the moment Rupe and Simon passed through the door, Jean Marc and Kristophe right behind them. Was it just me or did they seem hesitant? Maybe Darin was widening his net to include witches he deemed worthy.
Which said nothing for his taste.
I was about to turn to Sassafras who sat at my feet, growling softly, when a long, black car pulled up to the front of the Star Club and the back passenger door opened.
My stomach clenched as my eyes traveled over the black-cloaked figure, the set of her shoulders-yes, it was a she-the way she carried her head even inside her hood. I knew her, knew her in the pit of my gut, in the burning fury in my veins, absolutely, without a doubt.
Didn't need the confirmation of her identity when Ameline Benoit turned her head, her profile clear in the light of a street lamp before she swept her way up the steps to the front door and let herself inside.
My entire body shook with the need to go after her, to pound her into the ground with the power of my magic, to turn her into a wet lump of flesh and blood and splintered bone I would then happily dance through while I cackled my madness.
Ameline.
Gram was rubbing off on me.
"How?" Charlotte's shock made her look years younger. "I don't smell her." She turned to me as if this was my fault. "How, Syd?"
I shook my head, letting my anger simmer. I'd need it later. Yes, I would. "I have no idea," I said. "But we're not going to wait until tomorrow night to find out."
Sassafras growled softly. "Now we have to act," he said. "If only to take her into custody."
"She tried to kill me," I said, "and is wanted by the Council. Which gives me every right to break those wards and go after her." My demon hummed her happiness, her eagerness to kill while Shaylee shivered in the imagined pleasure of ripping Ameline's black heart out and feeding it to her.
Only the vampire inside me was still. Enough of an anchor I had the presence of mind to reach out to Uncle Frank and Sunny.
Ameline's here, I told them. We're moving now.
They arrived in a shudder of shadow only a moment later. "You're certain it was her?"
Charlotte still struggled with the truth, muttering to herself in her native language, guttural and angry.
"I'm positive," I said. I turned to the weregirl and grasped her arm, shaking her a little. Charlotte looked up, met my gaze, rage showing in her face.
"That bitch," she said. "How did she hide from me?"
"I need you to go to Mom," I said. "Charlotte, you have to tell her what's going on." No way was I reaching for my mother. She could get the news second hand, after I'd torn Ameline and the brothers Dumont brand new gaping holes where none had been before. "Do you understand?"
But Charlotte jerked free of me, shaking her head, her wolf in her eyes, twisting the skin of her face.
"Never," she snarled. "I will not leave you. Nor will you take from me the chance to have vengeance."
"I'll go." Sassafras stood up, shaking himself. "Now that we know Ameline is here, Miriam will have to listen." He scampered off into the darkness before I could stop him, not that I would have. He was right. If Mom would finally pay attention and act, it would be under Sassy's scathing demands.
"No more sneaking," Sunny said. "We're going in the front door, no surprises."
"Agreed," I said. "I'm tired of standing around."
As I turned toward the Star Club, I felt Liam's mind reach for mine. The tentativeness giving way to worry, then a surge of protectiveness as he felt what I was doing.
I'm on my way.
He might have been, but I wasn't waiting.
I drew in my power, letting it build and build, a delicious, horrible joy filling me up at the act. This was the feeling, the stirring of greatness, what it meant to be powerful. I embraced my magic, the flood of demon fire, the surge of Sidhe energy. It didn't matter to me the vampire held her peace. I pulled in the family magic at last, felt Gram stir and back me up, the entire coven coming to my call, as I faced the door to the club and smashed down the wards with a single blast of my power.
The door flew inward, splintering around the edges, the shields collapsing with an almost audible sigh until the entire place was defenseless. Sunny and Uncle Frank flashed forward, up the steps and inside while I strode in, Charlotte beside me, like I owned the place.
"Honey," I called as I stepped over the remains of the door, "I'm home."
Empty. Sunny flickered into the wide hallway I found myself in from a nearby entry and shook her head. No way the place was empty.
No way.
I checked every room myself, felt around with my power. Stood in the middle of the main room at the end of the hall and fumed as I spun in a slow circle and realized we'd been led on a wild goose chase.
No one. The place was silent.
Liam panted his way down the hall, coming to a gasping halt just inside the door to the fine parlor with its stupid leather seats and velvet curtains and crystal studded chandeliers. I wanted to puke, to scream, to tear the place down with my bare hands.
Where were they?
"Syd." Charlotte stood near the back of the room, sniffing at one of the curtains. "Here."
I was at her side, the two vampires with me, Liam hovering behind, as Charlotte jerked the curtain wide. Exposing a door.
Cowards. They were hiding from me.
She was reaching for it just as I felt the pressure of a ward breaking, like a bubble being popped, outward toward us. I had only a moment to grab her by the back of her jacket and jerk her away before the door burst open and a rush of bodies came through.
I fought without thinking, sending the attackers flying, spinning, bodies crumpling into walls and furniture, not realizing until we'd almost subdued all of them who I was bringing down. Students, normal students, some of whom I recognized just in passing from seeing them on campus, at least twenty or more of them, practically frothing at the mouth, eyes crazed, skin pale.
Thralled. Chalices. Both.
Witch and vampire magic together.
Abomination, the vampire inside me whispered.
I spun on Uncle Frank and Liam who mopped up the last of the first line of defense. "You two stay up here and contain this mess, then search the rest of the house." I gestured then to Sunny. "The three of us have a job to do."
I didn't give the boys a chance to argue, heading for the dark stairs while my bodywere crept down them, her shape altering as she went, the low hum of her wolf's voice making my bones vibrate, the steady power of Sunny pressing close behind me.
I just barely reached the bottom step, eyes searching the artificial darkness, even my demon vision unable to penetrate it, when light flared, blinding me a moment and making both Sunny and Charlotte cry out as their photosensitive eyes were assaulted.
I blinked through the tears of returning vision, power wrapped tightly around me, knowing we could be attacked at any second, not surprised when I was finally able to see, the first face that swam into my vision was Ameline's.
"Hello, Syd," she said. "I'm so glad you could make it."
***
