Chapter 427: Safety With The Sidhe
I hadn't bothered to warn the two siblings about our mode of transportation, considering how they'd arrived in my life to begin with, though from the glaring anger on Trill's face when she stumbled forward out of the darkness I probably should have.
Yeah, not.
Shielding still firmly wrapped around the pair, I led our small group into the library and down the back stairs, to the entry to Liam's safe haven. Which I was counting on for Trill and Owen, too.
He was waiting for me when I crossed the green barrier, arms wide as he hugged me, kissing the top of my head. I absorbed his warmth, the scent of him so familiar and wonderful, all fresh turned earth and fabric softener mixed with his own subtle taste. His smile didn't waver as he released me to hug Meira, stroke Sassafras's fur and nod to Charlotte before turning his attention to the newcomers.
A quick introduction and I had him up to speed.
"Fascinating." He stared at Trill like he wanted to dissect her, or at least ask her a million questions. I found his attention irritating for some reason, but ignored it and plowed ahead.
"So the idea is, if the Brotherhood can track Trill, the cavern's out-of-plane shift might keep them from finding her." I'd had a hard enough time myself when Shaylee first warned me about the Gate, back before I'd met Liam or knew he was the Keeper. I'd discovered not only did the cavern have its own Sidhe protections, there was the subtlest of shifts in its plane location, not quite on our plane, but not quite anywhere else either, as though it hovered between my home and the Sidhe realm behind the massive portal.
"Yes, that makes total sense," Liam said. "Unless sorcery can penetrate the plane system like demon or Sidhe magic?" He addressed Owen and Trill rather than me. It felt weird to share his attention and I found myself unhappy with the little jealousy burning in my chest.
Like I had the answers he needed. Grow the hell up, Syd.
"That is one power sorcerers don't have," Trill said. "Sorcery is only able to function through the destruction of objects or the theft of power. Creation, pure creation, is beyond its ability." Was she smiling? Acting coy? No, my imagination. But she did seem softer around my tall, handsome friend. Mind you, the sweetness of his nature radiated out of him, a sure-fire way to put anyone at ease. Liam just had that effect on people. Still.
Grrr.
"What do we know of this Brotherhood?" Galleytrot's deep voice echoed softly in the hall of the cavern.
"Excellent question." Liam rubbed his hands together with a huge grin, like this wasn't life and death or anything, but a mystery he couldn't wait to unravel. "And I know exactly where to look for answers."
"So do I," I said, fixing my eyes on Sassafras while Liam turned toward the archive. The silver Persian ignored me, scampering after the Keeper, while Owen looked around in awe, one hand resting on the shoulder of the big black hound.
"Cool digs," he said.
"Thank you," Galleytrot said.
I let them go ahead, eyes locked on Trill who, instead of joining her brother and my sister with Liam, instead turned and walked ahead, into the Gate room. I grit my teeth together at her presumption. This was Liam's home after all. How dare she just wander around like she owned the place?
Okay, big fat reality check. I really needed to get a grip on my animosity. It wasn't like the Gate was under some kind of lock and key or anything. It stood there, a massive doorway of carved wood and iron bracers, humming softly with Sidhe magic. I held back as Trill examined it, felt Liam join me, the touch of his hand on the back of my neck making me shiver.
"It's a Gate," he said, speaking to Trill who turned and nodded.
"I know," she said. "Nona spoke of such portals between planes. How the Sidhe chose to retreat from this place and how the maji created their plane for them."
Whoa. What?
"The maji made the Sidhe plane?" How cool was that? So maybe their creation myth stuff wasn't all a crock of overcooked crap.
Liam left me to stand with Trill. "I've been reading up on your kind," he said. "I have so many questions about the creators."
Yikes. Jealous much? I had to hug myself to keep from jumping between them as Trill turned and smiled up at him, just a little.
"What would you like to know?"
I should have left. Walked away. I had absolutely no reason to be jealous. Or at least no right. And yet, I couldn't bring myself to just leave them alone. So I stood on the outside, heart in knots as Liam and Trill spoke.
"You're correct," she said. "About the planes. And the Gates. My people," she paused a moment, "the original creators from who I'm descended, they made all of this." Her hands made sweeping gestures before her. "Though the art of it is lost to us. And maybe the power." She shook her head, backing away a step. "Our bloodlines are so weak now, too many generations gone."
"I'm sure that isn't true," Liam said. "And if so, maybe if you worked in a group, together-"
Trill shut down like he'd slapped her, face flat and cold. "I need to find my brother now."
I stopped her, blocking her path. "There's something you should know," I said, though part of me wanted to keep things from her, just to punish her. Seriously? No backsliding.
"Then tell me," she shot back, "or get out of my way."
Snap. I would have smacked her, I'm sure of it, if Liam hadn't appeared at my side and slid his arm around my shoulders.
"There's a maji stronghold not far from here," he said, saving me from snapping her damned head right off and spitting it out. "In a mansion controlled by vampires. Friendly vampires." He punctuated his caveat with a smile. "Syd's family, no less." His arm hugged me, Sidhe power stroking my magic in slow, soothing pets.
Yeah, it worked. Liam might have been gentle and mild and all that soppy mess, but he knew how to manipulate me.
Trill's closed expression opened a little. "What kind of stronghold?"
"A history," he said, excitement returning to his voice. "Of the maji, of everything."
Trill nodded slowly, sliding her glasses back as her black hair rippled around her shoulders. "I've heard of such places," she said. "Nona says there are buried chambers all over the world with family records, bloodlines tracked for centuries."
"Exactly!" Liam let me go, his happy energy enough to finish off the last of my irritation.
"I can take you to see it," I said. "If you want."
Again she closed off, but not completely. A crack of life still showed through her mask. "Just tell me where it is," she said. "Owen and I can go there ourselves."
What was her problem, really? Was this some kind of character flaw or did she get a kick out of pissing me off? She had no idea what a pissed-off Syd was like. And she didn't want to find out.
Liam's power reached for me for the second time, but this time I batted it away, even more annoyed.
"You're not going anywhere," I snapped. "Forget I even asked."
I turned away from her, needing to get out of her space, far enough so I could cool down before I did something I'd regret later. Maybe regret. Maybe not.
I was leaning very heavily toward not.
"You can't trap us here." Trill grabbed me, pulled me back, rage showing in her eyes, in the tension of her hand and the coiling of her magic. The shields I'd built around her flexed as she pushed against them, but they held.
"I'm not," I snarled back. "In case you forgot, I saved your life. And I'm still trying to. I'm trying to keep you safe. You know what? Just forget it." I jerked free of her grip. "Why don't you and Owen just wander off then and see how far you get before the Brotherhood finds you?"
She stared at me in impotent rage, her whole body trembling, hands fisted at her sides. She wanted to strike out at me-I could see it in her, feel the aggressive energy pouring out toward me.
"Better be sure," I said, ever so softly, leaning in. "You just better."
Liam's gentle magic slid between us, cutting the cord of our mutual anger. Trill stepped back, turning away, though her hands didn't relax. I glared up at Liam who shook his head with sadness in his eyes.
"Please, Trill," he said, turning to her. "You're maji. We need to protect you. If what Syd's been told is coming is true, you're very precious to us."
Holy. Enough with the freaking jealousy already. I almost kicked him and made him look away from her with those begging hazel eyes, big hands held out to her. No way did he pick her side.
Syd. Breathe. Liam was right. If Iepa was correct, and I had no reason to doubt her, we did need Trill. And Owen.
On the other hand, here I was blindly trusting an entity who invaded my dreams and dragged me through a mental battle that hadn't even happened yet only to force me to rescue two kids I'd been informed were important.
I hated being manipulated, especially when the manipulator just assumed I'd fall in line.
Which I had.
Damn it.
I needed more information, to talk to Iepa again and this time she'd better be more forthcoming with me than sharing some vague warning about a war and showing me things I couldn't trust.
"I'm going to the mansion." I turned from Liam and Trill, not caring if either protested or not, though I did pause to glare at the maji girl. "If you want to leave, fine. But don't put your brother at risk because you're a stubborn idiot."
I left her to chew that over while the accusation rang in my own head.
***
