Chapter 600: Zornovs To The Rescue
The leader of the Brotherhood didn't get a chance to pull the trigger. And neither did Demetrius make it to his destination. An outward blast of power sent me flying back, Quaid and Mia next to me, Demetrius falling in my lap as I landed hard between two of the towering crystal columns.
We weren't the only ones. Sorcerers went tumbling like ten pins as a giant, black hole opened in the center of the roof, gushing iridescent light around the edges. Belaisle's lips moved as though he cursed, but the sound was lost in the roar of wind as three figures stepped out of the black hole just before it crushed itself out of existence.
Trill stood in the center of the gap, long hair settling around her, arms dropping to her sides as she released her power. Owen stood next to her, gaping mouth and eyes no longer endless pits of darkness. The pair clearly mastered their abilities, tied them together even, but not without help. A third form stood between them, blackness and light all wound together around him. Hope rose in me again, even as my friend's companion, a tall, handsome guy it turned out when his own magic faded, offered Liander a wave and a smile.
"Long time no see." He turned and winked at me, eyes as blue as Owen's. "You're welcome."
I'd be pissed about his attitude later. Belaisle and his people pulled themselves to their feet, and together, advanced while Belaisle glared at the trio. I stood, too, trying to find my maji again.
Only to realize everything was gone. My head was silent. My right hand closed reflexively around the crystal.
The crystal that wasn't there anymore.
Damn, how had I lost it? Dropped it in the arrival of the Zornovs.
Helpless. Hopeless.
I had to find it.
Belaisle wasn't about to wait for me to scramble around searching for my crystal. He raised his gun and pointed it at Trill.
Pulled the trigger.
I screamed, a sob punching me in the chest, seeing Charlotte, knowing another of my friends gave her life.
Only to gape as the bullet slowed. Stopped. Came to hover in front of Trill. She plucked it gently from the air, let it sit in her palm. Blew on it. The metal burst into sparks and dispersed under her breath.
"You'll have to do better than that," she said.
Hell, yes!
Syd. Trill's mental voice reached me. But how? It wasn't until I saw Owen's hand in hers I understood. She used his sorcery to touch mine. I'll handle Belaisle. Destroy that machine.
I spun to look for my crystal, knowing she was right, only to have Demetrius grab my hand and pull me forward, into the circle. Toward the big black column.
I showed him my empty hands, tried to turn away and find what I'd lost, but he tugged against me as the air behind me burst into rapid gun fire. I had to go back, to help my friends! Something pinged from one of the crystal columns, a sharp slice across my cheek stinging as a shard cut me.
We weren't alone, then, Quaid dragging Mia into the center with us, ducking behind one of the columns. His dark eyes met mine, fear as real as his resolve.
Demetrius pinched me to gain my attention, scowling. "Focus," he said. "Here, you see?" He held up his crystal, showed me the lines running through it. Someone screamed, a man's scream. I couldn't focus, what was he thinking? How could I possibly pay attention while there was a good chance those I cared about were likely dying?
To buy me time.
Suck it the hell up and get to work, Hayle.
Right.
I looked, drew a breath, fought for calm.
"Here," he said, pointing with one very grubby finger. "You see it?"
At first I didn't. Low light, no way to augment my vision, distractions pulling at me. But just as I was about to shake my head, the glint of illumination when he turned the crystal showed me what he pointed to.
A flaw. Deep inside.
"Fragile," he whispered. Gestured around him at the columns. "Only as strong as their weakest point." He leaned forward and pounded on the outside of the black one. "No way to do it from here," he said. "But from inside..." He pinched me again. "Inside is weak."
Inside. "You want me to go inside the crystal?" Seriously, there was only so much I could take. This wasn't the Node, all soft and liquid. It was a solid piece of stone.
"Not you," he snarled. Poked me between the eyes. "You."
He was making no sense and I was out of patience. "Just freaking show me," I snarled.
"No!" Mia lunged to her feet, leaving Quaid's side. I turned, distracted, realizing the sound of gunshots had faded to one or two at a time, flashes of light and guttering black just visible past the crystals. "Let me!"
She pushed me aside, hugging the black stone, weeping as she lay against it. Quaid rushed forward, but I held him back as Mia leaned away, blue eyes closed in concentration.
"My life," she said, "my magic. Come to me."
The crystal pulsed, once. I almost thought I imagined it before it pulsed again, a lavender rim forming around the edges. She was doing it. Calling out the family magic. Even Demetrius gaped as though he didn't think she could do it.
A hysterical laugh built in my chest as Mia's lips spread in a smile, arms wide open to welcome her family magic home.
"Mia?"
We all stopped, stared as a tall, broad-shouldered figure emerged from the back side of the machine. Mia turned, arms dropping, expression crumpling as Rupe entered the light. His smile was small, secret, face open. One hand reached for her even as Quaid snarled under his breath.
"Blood." Mia sighed out his old Goth name and my hope cracked down the middle.
Quaid eased around me, heading for Rupe, but I knew he was too late.
"I'm sorry," Rupe said. "They made me lead them to you. This was all a mistake." Mia nodded, leaning toward him even as the rippling lavender fire retreated back into the crystal. Quaid was almost in position, hate burning in his eyes. But he didn't stand a chance, not when Rupe took one more step toward Mia and smiled. "You know I love you."
She rushed to him, falling into Rupe's arms just before Quaid reached them. A heavy thrum of empty magic hit my chest as Quaid flew backward, impacting one of the crystals, falling, unconscious on his side.
Mia screamed, thin and wailing, turning to claw at Rupe's chest. The sound of his fist hitting her jaw hurt me even from a distance. She went silent with a squeak, spinning sideways before tumbling to the rooftop.
I met Rupe's eyes with hate of my own even as he saluted me.
"I really have to thank you, Syd," he said, laughter in his voice. "If it wasn't for you, I never would have found out I was a sorcerer."
And I'd called him my friend, once. Trusted him. "You're welcome," I snarled. "Too bad you won't live long enough to enjoy it."
Shouting, renewed gunfire, echoed from the other side of the crystals. Trill had to be holding her own. But I had no idea how long she would last. My eyes went to her direction. Caught sight of a ball of silver fluff. Amber eyes winked at me before Sassafras turned and ran away.
For help. Just like he promised.
If he made it.
I turned back to the black column, knowing our only hope lay there now. Rupe took a step toward me, but Demetrius hissed and slashed at him with his own sorcery, the footing under Rupe's feet giving way, sending him tumbling back with a cry.
"Now," Demetrius said, grabbing my hand, forcing his crystal into it, squeezing our flesh together over the sharp stone. "Inside."
I followed where he led, felt myself lift free of my body. The urge to fight was so powerful, to return to my mortal form, I almost ruined everything. But they saved me.
Surrounding me, outside me as I was outside myself. My vampire, my demon, my Sidhe princess. Freed as I was freed.
Together, we followed Demetrius into the heart of darkness.
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