Chapter 444: Blood Magic
I credited the fact my powers were cut off, since I didn't feel a surge of nausea at her words. And yes, I'd heard the geas thing before and was fairly certain it was true. That sorcerers forced a witch to use her power to convince every witch thereafter the use of blood-creation-magic was evil and the very worst crime someone could commit.
Still. The idea I'd have to use it... she couldn't be serious.
Trill must have seen my reluctance. She scrunched her nose at me, glasses twitching, before she sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. "This is how things are," she said, her no-nonsense attitude reminding me of Sassafras. "Crash course, pay attention." Owen shook his head with a little smile. He might have been used to her, but she was pushing her limits with me. If I hadn't needed the information, we'd be having a serious talk about her abrasive nature.
"The maji created everything," she said. "From witches to the Sidhe." I still struggled with the mythos, but let her go on. "From demons," knew that already, "to yes, even the sorcerers." Which made the maji some kind of master race. Why did that give me the creeps? "They even created the planes we live on, and the veils to keep those planes apart." This was all starting to sound even more like religious dogma, but I held my judgment until I could do my own research. And yet, I couldn't argue the maji did have their hands in a lot of different pies. "Though they were-and are-very powerful, they are, like us, only human. At least, in the sense they aren't perfect." Trill paused, let her arms drop. "I'm doing this wrong. Nona tells it better than I do."
Owen just smiled at her. "Keep going, sis," he said. "Syd gets the point."
I nodded for her to continue. "I don't need the fancy version," I said. "Facts do me just fine."
"Okay," Trill said. "The maji made mistakes on other planes and had to leave ours while they were still working on things. From what Nona told me, they meant to come back, but couldn't." More likely didn't. Or were distracted by something shiny. I was growing more annoyed with the almighty maji by the moment. "They left their half-bloods behind, sons and daughters born of our races, to keep things going. But here on our plane, and I'm sure on others," Trill pushed her glasses back with one finger, "the blood thinned over the centuries and much of the knowledge of what maji could do was lost."
"Iepa mentioned they were trying to perfect creation." Shudder. "A few kept the histories." I thought of the chambers under the mansion. "Right?"
Trill actually smiled. "Exactly. Nona's family was one of those."
As mine was supposed to be? Maybe. I nodded again for her to go on while my mind churned.
"With most of the maji spread throughout the population and with no idea who they were or what they were capable of, the sorcerers finally rose up and began their plot to kill off or control each of the bloodlines. They were the last creation of the maji before they left our plane, and the most daring of their inventions. Without the full maji here to control them, the destructive nature of sorcerous power gave them an edge over all of the other races. They used their influence and the lust for control-a byproduct of their magic-to seek out other races here on this plane and find ways to either destroy them or use them for their own gain. Both openly," I thought of the Inquisition, "and covertly, they have been hunting us and destroying our lineage."
"So why haven't those who know better done anything about it?" I began to pace, aware it was my tick in face of anxiety, but needing the physical outlet.
When Trill didn't answer, I stopped, met her eyes. Only to see hers were downcast and Owen just looked sad.
"We're supposed to," Trill said.
"But?" I looked back and forth between them.
"It's my task," Trill finally said, body shaking as she gripped her elbows in both hands, as if trying to hold herself together. "My destiny. It's why I'm the light."
Whoa. "You're some kind of general?" I guess someone had to be. But Trill?
"I'm the strongest maji born in centuries," she said. "Carefully created, bred to be as close to full power as possible. It's my line that is the purest and has been kept that way, nurtured, until now."
And I thought my life had been predetermined. "Which is the real reason the sorcerers want you."
She nodded, clearly miserable, shoulders slumping forward. "And I handed myself over to them."
"We need to raise an army," Owen said, breaking the sadness hovering around his sister. Her lips wavered as she tried a smile at him, though I knew now there was no "we" about these two. Not after what I'd seen of his power and reaction to the maji chamber. Still, she needed all the support she could get right now. "An army of maji."
"You don't have to fight alone." I had to talk to Mom again. "Other races will help. Maybe not all of them, but I know my coven won't stand by and allow the Brotherhood to commit genocide now that we know it's happening. Why didn't the maji come to us in the first place?" Frustration warred with sorrow. "We could have stood together long ago."
The old argument of fearful witches.
None of our business.
Trill shrugged, probably thinking what I was, but her reply fed my cynicism. "Passing the buck. Turning a blind eye. Who really knows?"
"Doesn't matter now," Owen said. "As long as we can change things before it's too late."
"You're sure others will help?" Trill actually sounded hopeful. Did she really think they were alone in wanting to protect our home? I guess it must have felt that way her whole life. No wonder she didn't trust me, thinking only the maji cared, and just a handful of them at that. Time to reeducate her on the goals and dreams of the rest of us.
Then again, after everything I'd been through, the rejections I'd faced time and time again when I needed help, I may have been pushing my optimism just a teensy little bit.
Not this time.
"I think I can speak for a number of races," I said without a trace of sarcasm as my multiple personalities supported me, "in saying there are always those who refuse to accept tyranny. When we get out of here, I'll be speaking to all of them personally." Well, hopefully. Both on the getting out of here and the communication. Might be hard to reach a few of them-the Sidhe for example-but I was willing to try. "Once they know this plane isn't the only one at risk," I said, "I know they'll act."
I turned to face Owen. "I have questions for you too," I said. "About what happened in the maji chamber. Your power attacked us. I take it that wasn't your idea?"
He hugged his knees, lips turned down as he met my eyes with his brilliant blue gaze. "No," he said. "I don't remember doing anything. Liam and Galleytrot were ahead of me. I felt weird when I was walking down the stairs, kind of tingly. But it wasn't until I crossed over into the room everything went crazy. I was pulling power into me and couldn't stop it." A tear formed in one eye, trickling down his cheek before he dashed it away with his hand. "I just want to help," he whispered. "But I can't if I'm a sorcerer. If I'm meant to betray Trill."
"Don't say that." She sat next to him, away from Charlotte.
"I can't help it," he said. "We've known our whole lives. And now that we've seen proof of what I'm capable, I know I have to get away from you."
Trill tried to hug him, but Owen pulled away, backed off, standing next to me. "I can't be with you anymore, Trill. You may have turned us over for what you thought was the right reason, but I'll betray you without even having a choice and ruin everything."
"I disagree," I said. They both looked at me, startled, and hopeful. "Personally, if you're going to betray her, I'd rather keep you close by so we can watch you."
His face fell, shoulders rolling forward as he collapsed a little. "A prisoner."
Trill opened her mouth to protest, but I laughed first. "Silly," I said. "An ally. Think about it." They both watched me carefully as I went on, the idea forming as I spoke. "I'd rather have a sorcerer on our side who could tell us what to expect and help us figure out ways to counter the Brotherhood, even if that sorcerer is part of some prophesy. Because, I'll tell you, things are rarely exactly as you think they are." Boy, had my life proven that one over and over again. "And trying to guess what will happen just distracts from the more important things. Like getting the hell out of here."
Trill rose and came to hug Owen who allowed it this time. When she met my gaze, hers was level and calm.
"You're right," she said. "So what's the plan?"
Because I was the queen of plans.
Yeah, right.
***
