Chapter 473: Consensus
Though Celeste made a retreat, Demetrius still hung close, eyes watching her as she rounded the corner at the end of the hall before he did a happy dance, spinning in place.
"So, good news?" I started to follow Celeste, Charlotte behind me and he quickly kept pace.
"Very, very," he said. Danced again. Clapped his hands before covering his mouth with them, eyes huge. "Quietly," he whispered.
Right. He scampered off before I could comment I wasn't the loud one in our little conversation. I decided to take it slow, even though I wanted to run to the throne room and thank the Queens for their questionable hospitality before blowing this place.
Despite-or maybe because of-Demetrius's enthusiasm, my gut told me it wouldn't be so easy.
If I had real doubts, they were answered by the look on Mom's face the moment I entered the throne room and began my parade down the center carpet. From Sebastian's grim expression to Sunny's tight-lipped anger, Uncle Frank's crossed arms and even Margaret's frustration, everything screamed bad news for Syd. But the happy, even cheerful smile Batsheva fixed on me was the worst of all.
At least Pannera didn't look cheery either. I had that to keep me warm.
"All right," Margaret said in her bracing voice. "About time." She tapped one foot on the stone, hands on hips until I came to a stop in front of her. "We've come to a consensus."
"We have not," Mom said.
"We have." Margaret let her arms drop. "You, Sydlynn Hayle, have possession of vampire property. And while I agree with you said vampire property is, in fact, a personality, a life of its own," my vampire sniffed at "its", "and the right to choose, both clan leaders demand the return of this power." She held up both hands to silence me, though I didn't move or try to speak. "Since this power can't be forcibly removed from you, as that would break treaty law," Batsheva's smile slipped a little, "it has been decided you will remain here, in the custody of the vampire clans, until a time the personality or power or whatever you want to call it can be safely removed or chooses to leave you." She puffed to a halt, cheeks red while a bubbling mass of burning began in the very bottom of my feet and slowly rose to the back of my throat. "You will choose a clan to join so, through your connection to the vampires, the essence you carry will be part of all of them."
"I swear to you," Mom said, power crackling in her voice, "the High Council I command will not stand for this ruling."
Margaret spun on her. "What do you want me to do, Miriam?"
"I want you to do your damned job," Mom shot back. "Defend a witch in your territory."
"I've done so." Margaret's face pinched into petulance. "To the best of my ability."
"You've caved to the prattling of spoiled children," Mom said. "You do understand you're forcing me to take matters further."
Margaret paled, two pinpoints of red on her cheeks, looking like a flaky old woman who'd seen her day. "You wouldn't."
"I will." Mom straightened to her full height. "I will declare war over this."
As much as I loved my mother for throwing it all in over me, the look of triumph Celeste let slip at Mom's pronouncement told me everything I needed to know.
This was exactly what the Brotherhood was counting on. So I had to stay.
But I couldn't stay. Trapped in a vampire clan when I wasn't really a vampire?
"If that's your decision." Margaret cooled to all new levels. "But I've fulfilled my obligations."
"Obligations." Mom snorted. Mom never snorted. "Run back to your soft life in London, Margaret, and bar your doors and your delusions from the truth. But if you are too weak and afraid of what might happen if you actually took action, I'll do it for you."
"My territory," Margaret said. "My final word."
"We'll see." Mom gestured to Pender, his grim face dark even as he stepped forward instantly. "Alert the others we're leaving to raise the Council."
He nodded once, backed away again, face distant as Mom continued.
"You had better hope none of your people find themselves in need of help in my territory," she said. "I promise you, it will not go well for them."
"Don't threaten me unless you're ready to act on it, Miriam." Margaret gestured herself, Elliot coming to her side, though I could tell by his posture and the sad look on his face he was less eager to do her bidding.
"Oh, I'm absolutely ready," Mom said as Pender came back to us and nodded to her. "And so is my Council."
Sydlynn. The vampire inside me whispered my name. This cannot be.
I know. I drew a breath, tried to look empty and bored. I'm on it.
"Thank you for your careful consideration of my case," I said. The two witches' heads snapped around, Mom and Margaret both staring at me like they'd forgotten where and why they were. Pannera's eyes showed some interest while Batsheva sat back with her usual smirk. Elliot's eyes met mine, his need for this to end well almost as bad as Margaret's.
Mom was right. They were weak, both of them. Complacent. How long had they ruled without having to act, to do anything aside from playing their parts? I almost felt sorry for them and hoped there were strong leaders who could take over for them when things went downhill.
And they would go downhill. Fast and hard.
I pushed on. "I accept your terms, but need a few moments to consider my options."
Mom's mouth dropped open even as Margaret grunted and looked away. I refused to meet my mother's eyes, instead staring Pannera down.
"Of course." Elliot stepped forward, motioned for two Enforcers, his, to come to my side. He turned to Batsheva then. "A room nearby where the coven leader might retreat?"
Nice choice of words, but I let it go. Batsheva waved with nonchalance while Piotr bowed, mocking me with his smile, his eyes. He'd recovered from our little teleportation trip. Looked like I let him off too easy.
Pity. I'd have to rectify that.
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