Chapter 435: Trill's Escape
I didn't wait for an answer before firing off another. "Where's Sassafras?" I was already turning, heading for the exit.
"He went looking for her." Liam moved as if to join me, hesitated.
"You have to stay," I said. "Galleytrot, watch over them, would you?" I gave Demetrius a gentle push. "Stay here." I met the big dog's eyes. "Keep an eye on him. Don't let him out of your sight."
He growled. "Not even for a moment."
Charlotte beside me, I barged through the wards and leaped into the veil, a heartbeat of fear all it took to exit the slice between planes, landing in the driveway outside the mansion.
Neither of us missed a beat, running for the front door. I opened it with magic, not bothering to knock, freezing as I passed the threshold to the sight of Sebastian standing over Trill, three vampires keeping her contained as he confronted her.
His blue eyes met mine as he looked up, lips a grim slash. "We've uncovered an intruder," he said at his most polished. "I assume she's one of the two you mentioned earlier?"
I glared at Trill who glared right back as I shoved my way between Anastasia and another vamp to confront the girl. "What were you thinking?" My magic lashed out, wrapping her up in shielding until I could barely feel myself let alone her. "How did you find this place?" Charlotte quivered beside me and I could only guess what I was forced to do also affected the bond she had with me, but I wasn't in a position to go easy on anyone.
Least of all a stupid maji girl who just put everyone I cared about at risk.
"I'm not sorry." Trill's voice quavered, telling me otherwise. "I had to come." A slip of paper in her hand told me she'd found the address, probably on Liam's computer.
Stupid, Syd. Really stupid.
"Alone and unprotected." My desire to smack her silly had returned with a vengeance.
"Yes," Trill said. Took a breath. "No offense, but I have no real way of knowing if I can trust you."
Um, what? "Excuse me?" Charlotte growled beside me. "Still? Really? What the hell is your problem?"
Trill didn't answer, just crossed her arms over her chest after an angry adjustment of her glasses.
"Considering you're so worried about putting my coven and my vampire family at risk," I snarled, "this wasn't exactly the smartest move you could have made."
She had the good grace to flinch at that, at least.
Sheesh.
"This little stunt of yours could very well have told the sorcerers exactly where to find your brother, have you thought of that?" What would it take to get through to her?
"I left Owen behind so he would be safe." A moment of fear, gone as fast as it came.
"Did you not hear what I told you when I left you there?" Shaking her was imminent. Like, any second now I'd be rattling her teeth together. "You were both safe as long as you stayed put. But your leaving likely revealed the entrance to the cavern. And the location of your brother." I punched my hip to keep from using my fist on her in my frustration. "Not to mention my friends. I took you in, protected you, even when it meant danger for my family and myself. And you. Don't. Trust. Me." I spun away from her, had to. Stalked off a step. Drew a breath. Caught my temper between my teeth before turning back. "I want the two of you out of Wilding Springs. I'm done playing nanny to a spoiled girl who refuses to accept help when it's offered. And since my assistance is clearly not wanted, you can go back and pick up Owen and get the hell out of my town."
Trill shook, hands clenched at her sides. If she had any plans to come after me...
Tears. Were those tears trickling out from under the shine of her glasses? Were her lips trembling as much as her body? I held myself clenched and tight, unwilling to back off, but starting to feel like a bitch.
"I did it for Owen." She crumbled, hugging herself while Sebastian kindly held her up. "I have to protect my brother."
Sigh. "That's no excuse, Trill." Okay, maybe it was. Would I have done the same, pursued, hunted, Meira at my side? Would I take stupid risks to protect my sister?
Um, yeah.
Damn it.
"He's the important one." Trill pulled herself together, shaking off the handsome vampire leader, wiping at her face with both palms. "I don't care what Nona says, the stupid light and shadow business." Her hands chopped downward as though cutting off the very idea. "Owen is the key, not me."
I gestured to Sebastian, who, in turn, waved off his vampires, though Anastasia glared at Trill as she flickered into shadow and vanished. Trill didn't move as I approached, just stood there shaking, but holding her ground.
"You never explained what it meant." Anger ebbing, I reached for her, half-expecting her to reject me, but instead she took my hand.
"I know," she said. Followed by a whispered, "I'm sorry."
The only problem with having a temper was the guilt after. And how well I knew that lesson. Oh well. I refused to let it get to me too badly. She was the one who screwed up. Nice to know I wasn't the only one who could.
"Come on," I said. "Since you're here, and now that you're shielded, you can at least see what the fuss is about." I met Sebastian's eyes, caught his nod.
We'll watch, witch girl, he sent. But dawn approaches.
Crappy crap on a crap-covered cracker.
Trill missed our exchange, still holding my hand as I guided her quickly down the hall and to the room with the secret stairs.
"There's some stupid maji prophecy," Trill said as we made our way down the tunnel to the maji chamber. "About a light and a shadow-a maji and a sorcerer, born of the same blood. The maji is to be the salvation of the world, but he will be her downfall."
I could see why she didn't want to pay attention to something like that. Not when the meaning was clear enough. She had a job to do, and Owen would betray her. Though I knew, as I'd already agreed with upstairs, if it was Meira and me I'd be just as stubborn about it as Trill.
"He's my brother." Trill stumbled a little as she passed over the threshold into the maji chamber. "I love him. I will do anything I can to protect him." She met my eyes, despair and hopelessness making my heart hurt. "He can't be my shadow."
How much did this suck? Instead of answering, wishing I had some comfort to offer, I led Trill down the winding stone stairs. She didn't seem to notice or care where we were going, head bowed, cold fingers still clasping mine, the odd tear escaping from behind her glasses, which she attacked with a fierceness that worried me.
The moment we touched the last step, everything changed. I felt her energy shift, quiet, the pull of something drawing both of us onward. And as much as it made me nervous, we needed answers and it seemed whatever solutions were to be offered, I required Trill's presence to receive them.
I stayed with her, Charlotte close behind, as Trill approached the slab in the middle of the room and climbed up on it, lying prone, her dark hair spreading around her. I heard her sigh, could almost see the air leaving her lungs as her maji power reached outward-
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