Chapter 576: Laid Low
I ran for the back door, reaching for the veil I knew I wouldn't be able to access until I left the property and the family wards, only to feel someone's hand on my arm. I spun around, panic fighting against Shenka who shook her head, face grim.
"I have to help her." I tried to pull free, but Shenka's fingers refused to open, her grip on my sleeve keeping me still. Gram and Sassafras stood behind her, the demon cat clutched to my grandmother's chest. No surprise, Charlotte stood on my left, my constant shadow ready to join me without question.
"You have to play by the rules." My second's words chilled the fire burning inside me, the need to rush off and save Mia. My old friend, the leader of the Dumont coven, hadn't been in close touch in a long time, not since the debacle at Harvard when she'd lost her boyfriend, Rupe, to Ameline's manipulations. Not to mention how some of the members of her coven had been associated with Ameline's plan.
I'd done my best to support Mia, to help her cement her rule of her coven, but in this case, Gram was absolutely right when she'd said ages ago Mia wasn't strong enough to run her own family. Her power crippled when she was a baby by a mother who was just trying to protect her, Mia spent her whole life knowing she was different, but unable to access the magic she craved. I always worried she would crack under the strain, considering the corruption in her coven.
But I never expected the Dumonts to fall under attack.
Shenka shook me a little, dark eyes intense. "Miriam needs to be informed."
Right. The rules thing. Mom warned me last fall I stomped on thin ice with the Council. She'd done her best to protect me in the past, but by pushing the limits of the law, I put myself in a position of interest.
This was different, though. I wasn't meddling. "Mia asked for my help," I said, urgency rising again. "I have to go."
Shenka nodded quickly. "Of course you do," she said. "But you tell your mother, first."
Gram tossed Sass into my arms, the silver Persian's claws hooking on my t-shirt. "Do it," she said.
Mom. I threw my power at my mother, catching an image of her looking up, startled and angry, from her desk.
Sydlynn Thaddea-
I didn't let her finish. Pummeled her with what I'd just gone through. Mom's anger disappeared in a flash, the feeling of her rising and moving quickly feeding my own desperate need to act.
Go, she sent. I'll be there shortly with Enforcers. You know where to find her?
Following her call. I spun on Shenka and Gram, Sassafras tucked against my chest. "Watch the family," I said before turning and sprinting across the yard and into the edge of the park, tearing a massive hole in the veil the moment I crossed over the family wards.
Quaid, Sass sent as we leaped from the other side, my feet landing on a manicured lawn, Charlotte releasing a soft hiss as we emerged at the end of a long, cobbled drive leading up to a massive mansion, more castle than house.
Right. I reached for the Enforcer trainee, knowing he'd want to help Mia if he could, though I knew the siblings were as estranged as Mia and I.
Why was I surprised to feel him nearby? More shock, the Dumont family wards were down.
No, not down.
Gone.
I slipped into the veil again rather than run what looked like a half mile to the front door, stepping out into a large foyer of marble and dark stone, a thick, purple carpet soft under my feet, climbing the staircase. Charlotte's deep growling cut through the stillness, punctuated by the sound of crying. I almost tripped over a fallen woman, her angular face characteristic of her Dumont heritage, skin pale, eyes closed. Sassafras leaped from my arms as I looked around in horror. The foyer was filled with the fallen, Dumonts all, from the look of them, some staring empty-eyed at the ceiling, others groaning softly, weeping.
But the worst was the young woman resting in the arms of the black-robed Enforcer six stairs up. Mia sobbed in Quaid's arms, her black Goth makeup trailing down her white cheeks. I choked on disbelief, a horrible feeling of dread rising in my chest as I followed Sassafras who streaked up the steps to land in Mia's arms.
She hugged him, the sound of him purring reaching me long before I knelt beside her, my demon cat's particular brand of comfort vibrating through her body. Mia looked up at me, ice blue eyes huge before she lunged toward me, pulling away from Quaid to embrace me, Sassafras squashed, but still purring, between us.
"Oh, Syd!" She clung to me, sobbing harder despite Sassy's comforting magic.
I hugged her back, reaching for her power.
Felt it, puny, small.
My entire body shuddered as I understood at last what happened, terror for my own family clenching my muscles tight as I reached for Gram.
It's gone. I could barely whisper in my mind. The Dumont power. Just. Gone.
I had no idea how. Didn't know it was possible.
But there wasn't a trace of the old family's magic anywhere.
Gram touched me, understood. Gasped before cursing. We're gathering the coven, she sent. Everyone is safe. So far. Keep us informed.
I met Quaid's eyes, registered the hurt as he leaned away from his sister. I reached for him with one hand even as Mia fell back again, grasping at me and her brother at the same time.
The air around me exploded all at once, shocks of blue magic erupting as dozens of Enforcers suddenly appeared overhead. Mom burst into view, landing with a thud on the step below us, leaning over Mia as she reached for the girl. Mia fell into Mom's embrace, shuddering uncontrollably, Sassafras slipping free, still purring, but shaking his head at me.
No amount of comfort magic would help Mia. Not now.
Maybe not ever again.
I caught glimpses of Enforcers gathering the fallen Dumonts, but kept my attention on Mom. Her blue eyes met mine as she rocked Mia, her power engulfing the girl even as she touched my mind.
The family?
I hugged her mentally. Safe. For now.
Mom seemed to relax a fraction, only enough I noticed, knowing her so well.
"Mia," Mom said. "You must tell us what happened."
The Dumont leader gasped a shuddering breath before absolute hate crossed her face, transforming her from grief to evil in a breath.
"She did this," Mia snarled. "Ameline."
I shook my head immediately even as Mom answered.
"That's impossible," Mom said. "Ameline is in prison. And has been for months. You know this."
Mia's whole body bucked as she jerked free of Mom, vibrating with her hate, feet pattering against the floor as her heavy boots thudded into the thick carpet.
"She did this!" Her scream echoed through the giant foyer, catching the attention of the Enforcers who tended to her family. Everyone stared as Mia lurched to her feet, balls of flickering lavender magic appearing and disappearing around her hands as the meager amount of power she still had access to struggled to do her bidding.
"Rupe was here." Mia's voice dropped, a deep hiss.
Her old boyfriend vanished with Ameline after she tried to steal my vampire essence. So I could understand why Mia was so convinced. But I delivered Ameline into custody myself. Fear lanced through me as I turned to Mom.
She is in custody. Right?
Mom didn't answer. Didn't have a chance. Mia spun on Quaid, grasping him by the front of his robe, the magic lighting the fabric on fire.
"You find her," Mia shrieked, "and you kill Ameline Benoit for stealing our family magic!"
***
