Chapter 622: Hello, Zornovs
I monitored the location of the Enforcers for the rest of the day, keeping a close eye on them just in case. Anything to gather ammunition against Mom so I could have them removed completely.
"Just go to the Council," Shenka said as I paced the kitchen while she fixed lunch. "They have to listen when their own laws are being broken."
"Except they aren't now," Sassafras said. "And with them outside the border, we can work around them while Miriam feels secure Syd is being watched. It's a win-win."
I wished I agreed with him, though, from the sharpness of his tone, I knew he wasn't as happy about the situation as he made out. Still, eggs and omelets-and I'd broken enough eggs in my lifetime I was sick of them for breakfast.
It wasn't until night darkened the sky again, while I struggled with worry for the Sidhe and my own denial of what I had to do to make things right for them, that I felt the Enforcers stir. The moment I reached out to see what happened to trigger their attention, my rage returned and, with a snarl, I dove out the front door, hitting the street with a jerk on the veil, flashing out in a blaze of power.
The gathered Enforcers spun at the sight of me when I leaped from the other end, magic flaring, as I let all of my alter egos show what they had to offer. The dark flower of my sorcery bloomed as my vampire, Sidhe princess and demon joined my family magic and the iridescent power of the maji.
An old, rust-spotted RV was pulled over to the side of the road, a tall, dark-haired girl's furious expression turning to smug anticipation as I stomped to the edge of my territory.
"Hi, Syd," Trill said. "Are we too late for dinner?"
"Not at all." I copied her casual manner despite the power hovering around me. "Hope chicken casserole is okay."
"Perfect." Trill turned to Howermall who glared back and forth between us. "If you'll step aside," she said. "I don't want to keep the coven leader waiting."
His hesitation told me Mom ordered him not to let anyone with magic come near me. He was lucky a string of three normal's cars drove by at just that moment or he would have found out in intimate detail just what I thought of his pause to reflect on what my mother wanted.
The moment the tail lights of the last car vanished over the hill toward town, I let my anger out, though at least tempered by the moment to contemplate my next action. A show of force was obviously necessary, however, and I felt absolutely within my rights to use it. My snap of power over the edge of the family territory lit up the local patch of sky like the northern lights on steroids. Hopefully the show told him he'd better watch his step.
He got the message loud and clear. Howermall backed down, bowing his head to me. "Coven Leader," he said.
"If you ever," I slashed at the border again, sending waves of magic in a rainbow of colors cascading across it, sparks escaping to hiss on the grass by the side of the road, "ever," this time I sent a rumble of earth magic through the ground under his feet, making him stumble, "ever," a tornado of power whirled around him and his people, jerking on their hair and precious suits, stirring enough dust to make them choke, "try something like this again," the sky darkened overhead as the heavy clouds answered my call, a rumble of thunder echoing in the night, "I promise you, it will be the last time."
He didn't say anything. Just stared, holding my gaze as Trill climbed behind the wheel of the RV and drove it over the border, still staring as I waved her on.
Held his eyes. Until he finally looked away.
Hell yeah.
I sealed the edge of the border with sorcery, much as I had with my power against Mom, tapping against it as Howermall scowled. "I warned you," I said. "Don't push me."
It had to suck, being left there, impotent. Just wasn't feeling the sympathy.
I arrived home after Trill and her family pulled into the driveway with their big camper, partly because I took extra time to examine the four points of power anchoring our family territory. North was already covered, thanks to the Enforcers and their little attempt to control me. East was as strong as ever, even better now that my sorcery fed it. Any magical attempt to break through would draw on the user's own power. I kicked myself as I rode the veil to the west. I should have thought of this ages ago, wondering to myself as I landed in the dark quiet night if it would even work against the Brotherhood.
Not likely. But I still felt better. My eyes settled on the entrance to the cave, the place where I'd first met the vampire essence when she was still trapped in the body of the Firbolg magician, Cesard. Where Ameline fell. Where Sebastian had come to die.
And, on impulse, not sure why I did it, I sealed it, too. Completely this time, with sorcery and maji power. The air around it shuddered, the view of the cavern entrance, a large rock covering it, wavering and vanishing.
Safe. For what? I had no idea.
But I had a terrible feeling I'd be needing a safe haven at some point. And this was the only one around.
A quick trip to the south and I was on my way home. The soft grass of the park gave way under my feet as I crossed into the back yard. And froze.
Charlotte glared at me where she stood near the door. Oh, crap. I'd left her behind in my anger. At least she didn't shake or look like I'd damaged her, not physically. But the hurt on her face, the stern resentment, twisted me up inside far worse than anything else.
"I'm sorry." I reached out for her hand, but she remained rigid, fingers cold in mine. "I really am. I didn't think."
"No," she said. "You didn't." And turned her back on me, going inside.
Sigh.
Temperamental bodywere's with phenomenal guilt skills weren't for the faint of heart.
I followed Charlotte into the kitchen, spotting Shenka's wince first before she hugged me.
She's not happy, Shenka sent.
No kidding.
But my pissed-off bodywere would have to wait, now that my kitchen was packed with Zornovs. I grinned and went to Trill, hugging her tight before turning and squeezing Owen. He'd grown some, the top of his head now level with my nose, but he was as sweet faced and cheery as ever, brilliant eyes always giving me shivers.
The final Zornov opened his arms, winking broadly. "Hey, baby," Trill's older brother Apollo said. "Miss me?"
Made me laugh even while I considered doing something painful and permanent to him.
"Really, Apollo," Trill snapped. "You're such an idiot." She rolled her eyes at me. "I should have left him back at the park with Nona, but we kind of need him."
Two sides of the coin and a center for balance made three. I didn't blame her.
At least she'd figured her stuff out. Came to peace with her need.
Now, if only I could do the same. But just the thought of Ameline gave me an ulcer.
Dinner felt weird, but happy, despite everything. Relief washed through me, having the Zornovs here. At least they understood, had the combined power to stand against the Brotherhood.
Hang on.
"Trill," I said, feeling my heartbeat increase as the excitement of my idea grew. "I need your help." She nodded instantly, Owen perking while Apollo shoveled food into his mouth. But when I finished telling her about the Sidhe and what happened when I tried to cut off the Brotherhood, Trill sadly sighed and sat back from her own dinner.
"I know what you want," she said. "But there are three problems." She held up one slim hand, pulling down her standing index finger. "One, none of us are Sidhe or have Sidhe souls to carry us in safety through the realm." I considered that, knew I could recruit some souls to find homes with them if it was necessary. "Two, if we take on Sidhe souls," okay, she was way ahead of me, "we have no idea how they will affect our power. If they will interfere." True. But only one way to find out. "And three," she dropped her hand, "it won't work."
Grumble, mumble. "Why not?" They were both, weren't they? Light and shadow? That was their purpose, Trill on the side of light, Owen the shadow and their irritating brother between them, the channel.
"All we need is balance," I said. "You three could give me that."
Trill looked down at her hands. "We're no balance for you," she said. "We have maji blood and sorcerer. But you are maji, Syd. You need another of your kind and you know it." She met my eyes as I fought the truth yet again. "One of the dark."
Craptastic.
"Tell me about them." Maybe Trill's experience with the dark maji could help me figure out a way to make working with Ameline more palatable.
Not likely, but worth a shot.
Trill leaned in again, toying with her noodles while Apollo helped himself to a second round and Shenka smiled at him behind her hand.
"You're not going to like it." Trill took a sip of water. I knew stalling when I saw it. She finally spoke, voice quiet and deep. "They are like me, like all maji descendants. Born of the blood, of the original maji who created our plane. But they are... different." Sounded like an understatement. "Not all maji had the prosperity of the races they made in mind. Some focused on acquiring power instead."
Familiar scenario. "I guess it makes sense," I said. "Every barrel has bad apples."
Trill leaned forward and took my hand. "There's more," she said. "Because their focus is power, they have goals of their own. Ours, as you know, is to bring balance. Theirs is the same, but through control, rather than freedom."
"Let me guess," I said, unable to keep the wry bitterness from my voice. "They want to rule the world."
"Every world," Trill said.
Typical bad guy crappola. They needed a new song and dance because this one was getting old fast.
"While they intend to take that control for themselves," Trill said, "they've agreed to join forces with old enemies to position themselves more carefully." Owen made an unhappy face, blue eyes blinking at me. Trill set her napkin aside, one hand on her stomach as though suddenly nauseated. "They fully intend to betray their allies, to make their own grab for domination, but, for now, they work with the Brotherhood."
Oh, that was just all kinds of awesome, wasn't it?
"Which means, if I do free Ameline," I said, my own stomach clenching, cutting off my desire to eat anything ever again, "I'm handing her over to the bad guys. The real bad guys."
Trill shook her head. "I don't think so," she said. "From what I understand, they are waiting for some kind of leader, a power to come. A maji like them. But dark. Syd, I really think if you free Ameline, they will leave their alliance with the Brotherhood. Which will mean two forces, ours and theirs, against our real enemy."
"And that," Apollo said with a smirk, "is what you call a kick ass plan. Ka-pow, sis."
Was he for real?
Trill scowled at her brother. "It's a theory," she said. Met my eyes again. "But I'm certain I'm right."
Sure enough to risk it? I trusted Trill, of course I did.
But this was Ameline we were talking about.
"So, say this is a good idea," I said. "That somehow I am able to free Ameline and we fight the Brotherhood and everything is sunshine and butterflies and unicorns pooping rainbows." Owen snickered at me. "What happens when the war is over and it's us against them?"
Trill didn't say anything, just looked miserable.
Yeah. Thought so.
Bad idea.
"I don't think we have much of a choice," she said. "Can you talk to your mother? Have Ameline released?"
Shenka dropped her fork, the rattling sound making me jump. She smiled apologetically and shrugged. "You met the Enforcers?"
Trill looked back and forth between Shenka and I. "I thought they were there to protect you."
"Not quite." I shoved my plate aside. "Mom isn't exactly herself these days. Or listening to anything resembling reason."
Trill's face fell. "Then we're lost. First, the Sidhe. Then whoever their next target is. Without balance, without the light and the dark, this war is already over."
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