Chapter 426: Learning To Trust
Breakfast wrapped up pretty quickly after that, Meira and Owen volunteering to clean while Gram's magic interjected from time to time to speed the process. Trill and I left them to it, retiring to the back yard.
"You might not be able to reach your grandmother through the family wards," I told her as the cool grass crumpled under my bare feet, the touch of the Sidhe Wild Hunt, sleeping far below the earth whispering to me in its slumber. "But then again, I have no idea what maji power is capable of, so it's worth a try here before you expose yourself."
Trill's lips twisted, a hint of arrogance on her face. "All that power," she said, "and you still have no clue."
My fists clenched at my sides, good will fading rapidly. "Listen," I said, getting all up in her personal space, letting my demon out to snarl. Trill didn't back down. "I'm here to help, remember? You're freaking welcome."
Trill's nostrils flared, but she nodded. "You're right," she said. "I'm sorry. It's just... you really have no idea?" When she sighed, the loss of air seemed to crush her a little, tight shoulders sagging, face going from angry to sad. "There are so few of us."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," I said, not even trying to hide my confusion.
She nodded. "Let me try to reach Nona and then we'll talk."
I felt her power stir, drawn to the warmth of it, the sizzle and pop as it woke, the growing heat as she reached outward. It felt familiar, like Iepa's magic, creation energy rippling easily through the wards in search of Trill's grandmother.
She shook her head after a moment, tears in her eyes. "I can't reach that far," she whispered. "I'm just not strong enough yet."
I took her hand immediately, opened up to her. "Are any of my magicks useful?"
She looked so shocked at the offer, as my power spread wide like a welcoming flower, I had to laugh.
"I realize you may never have been able to trust anyone," I said, respect and sadness for her shoving aside my irritation at her attitude, "but you can trust me. And my family. Now, will any of my many personalities be able to help you or am I hanging it all out there for nothing?"
She tried. I felt her fishing around, winced a time or two as she attempted to shove past my vampire core and reach deeper still, but without success. With a final grunt of frustration, she pulled her hand free as my magic coiled back around me.
"It's no use," she said. "You've buried it."
Okay, what the freak? "Buried what?"
Trill's brown eyes were black with frustration. "Your maji gift, Sydlynn."
"Syd," I said absently while my brain churned. Oh boy.
Another one?
"You're saying I have maji blood?" Um, hello? Remember the whole family tree in the cavern thing? Knock, knock, Miss Brilliance. That train left ages ago.
Trill just shrugged. "Somewhere inside you," she said. "But your powers are so muddy, it's impossible to find it and isolate it enough to use it."
Muddy? My demon snarled while Shaylee sniffed in disdain. But the vampire essence twitched, sighed. Was she right? Did the combining of my magicks make things harder for me?
"No," I said, knowing she was absolutely wrong. "Integration has saved me more times than I can count. I refuse to believe I'm doing it wrong, not when trying to keep the powers separate has only made me vulnerable."
"That's not what I meant," Trill said, perhaps more sharply than she intended because she paused before she went on. "Your powers are separate, whether you like it or not. I'm sure there are times you reach near perfection with them, when they combine and meld. But until you are able to do so on a permanent basis, your control of each will be limited."
Interesting. "And you know all this how?" Like she'd encountered someone like me before or could possibly know more than I did?
Snort.
"Nona," she said. "And the teachings of the maji. You're not unique in history, Sydlynn Hayle, but you are unique in this time and place."
Cryptic. "If you have it all figured out," I said, "tell me how to fix it."
Trill stuffed her hands in the back pockets of her jeans. "I don't know how." Ah, finally admitting while maybe she knew the concepts, the actual follow-through needed work.
So helpful.
"None of this matters," she said, turning away from me, heading for the back door. "Thank you for catching us," it seemed to hurt her to say thank you, "but we can't stay."
I grabbed her arm, pulled her back, purposely touching her skin. Our power connected for a moment. "You can't just leave," I said. "Your Nona sent you to me for a reason. And that guardian angel I mentioned? Yeah, I think she'd be a little miffed with me if I just let you go."
"What are you talking about?" Trill tried to pull free, but I held on.
"First things first," I said. "We need to hide you and Owen so the sorcerers can't find you. If they have some way of tracking you neither of you is aware of, smothering that ability is our first priority." I wanted to kick myself. They'd been here in Wilding Springs for what, four hours or so? Yes, the family wards would offer some protection, but without knowing if the sorcerers were, in fact, able to track the brother and sister, I could very well have left the door wide open for the Brotherhood to find my coven.
Still holding onto Trill, I let my power out, but this time weaving a net of protection around her and, through her, Owen. Sidhe, witch, demon and vampire magic swirled together, each as individual as a snowflake, with their own taste, scent, feeling. By the time I finished and let Trill's hand drop, tying off the net of energy, she stared at me wide-eyed like I'd done something she thought impossible.
I reached for her, now that she was contained, let my power ease around her. While there was still the barest hint of her magic bleeding through, I was fairly confident if she didn't try to use her power the barrier I'd built should keep her muffled enough until I found a more permanent solution.
"Well done," she said, totally grudgingly, but at least she said it. Not that I needed her approval, but if I was going to help protect her and Owen we had to at least try to get along.
"It will do for now," I said. "I think. I have no idea if sorcerers can see right through this or not. We need a better plan, somewhere they can't penetrate, no matter what." Shaylee prodded me, the whispering of the Wild Hunt a little louder as she offered the solution.
Brilliant. Sometimes having multiple personalities was a good thing.
"Come on," I said, marching to the back door and into the house. "I think I know what to do."
As we entered the kitchen, I saw Owen staring at his own hands, eyes wide. He met my gaze, his full of wonder.
"What did you do to me?" He flexed, his skin seeming to shine as though the surface were coated in a soft layer of frost.
"Shielded you," I said, "at least for now. But I have a much better idea."
Gram's eyes narrowed as she chewed her thumb nail. "The cavern."
"Exactly." I motioned for Owen to rise and join us. "Since you don't know if the sorcerers can track you, we'll put you somewhere they'll never find you, even if they can feel you're around."
"Should work," Gram said while Trill scowled.
"Where?"
My turn to have a secret. "You'll see," I said. "Let's go."
Girl. Gram's mind touched mine. We need to talk.
Where have you been? Damn, I didn't mean to wail at her like a hurt child.
Hunting. She paused. I've been feeling someone sniffing around Wilding Springs for some time now. Ever since the trial, when we opened the maji chamber.
My stomach clenched as I fixed my eyes on her while the others gathered at the door.
Sorcerers?
It's been worse since yesterday.
When we found the underchamber.
Gram didn't comment, didn't have to. We were closely enough linked I knew she was already aware of what we'd found at the mansion.
It has to be the Brotherhood, she sent. Tracking maji magic. So it's the girl you need to shield.
Of course. Though I doubted telling Owen would make him feel better.
Just be careful, Gram sent as she shooed me out the door, Charlotte close beside me, Sassy scampering out between my legs to follow Trill and Owen into the driveway. I'm going to have another look around.
And if I tell you to be careful? I paused long enough to hug her, kiss her powder-soft cheek.
I'm always careful, she cackled suddenly in my mind. They can just look the hell out.
I opened the veil, taking the others with me, still worried no matter Gram's assertions.
And yet, I wouldn't want to piss her off.
***
