Chapter 626: Sister's Permission
I retreated from the table, leaving them to talk, needing to escape, to spend some time alone. Especially after Trill's little reveal about me.
A one-woman army. One maji?
Whatever.
As I settled cross-legged in the center of the pentagram, hoping the family magic would keep me safe if Alison made a comeback, a familiar furry form rubbed against me. Sassafras climbed into the hollow my legs made. I stroked his silver body, hearing his purr begin, but softly, without the push of magic behind it.
We reached for the veil together, as though we thought of it at the same moment, tearing open the way between planes until my sister's magic reached back. Meira sat at a desk, watching us through the veil between worlds, large window behind her showing the multiple suns of Demonicon glowing, a frown of worry on her face.
"Are you all right?" She stood, approached the gash between planes. "Should I come through?"
The touch of Ahbi's spirit flowed around me before retreating back to the edge of the veil. But it made me smile, enough Meira relaxed and sat again.
"I've just had a bad day," I said. "I wanted to fill you in."
And I did, Sassafras helping, while my sister, so mature, so much more at ease with her position than I was, nodded sagely before sitting again and steepling her hands in front of her.
"Talking to Mom is out of the question, considering what you told me." Meira stared down at the surface of her desk while she pondered.
"Agreed." Sassafras leaned against me, purr now silent. "Miriam's ties to the Council power have rendered her useless to us."
Worse, it made her our enemy. But I didn't say so out loud.
"If I do this," was I really saying what I thought I was saying? "If I free Ameline," shudder, shiver, hell no, "and we deal with the attack on the Sidhe, I could always return her to prison." Could I really? We'd see. But it sounded better than letting her go, even though Iepa and Trill both seemed to think I'd have to. And made the idea of letting her out keep me from the brink of puking over the family pentagram.
Meira's steady gaze held me. "What do you mean, if?"
Sigh.
"You might want to be ready." Funny how I felt more confident telling her than my father. He might be Ruler, but she felt powerful to me, in control of herself. Less like my little sister and more like an equal.
Imagine that.
"I've linked my own magic with that of Grandmother's spirit." Meira let me feel the connection even as Ahbi touched me again, as though offering the same. But I rejected her, gently and she retreated without emotion. This was Meira's role to fill, not mine. "She'll let me know the moment something happens."
I felt suddenly better, found myself smiling even as I mentally fist-pumped. The Brotherhood couldn't have anticipated this. That the former Ruler of Demonicon would now be part of the Node supporting the planes, how her granddaughter would be able to communicate with her.
Had to be an advantage they didn't anticipate.
At least, I told myself so.
"Bet Theridialis and Henemordonin are both having fits," I said. "Proof Ahbi is still with us."
Meira winked. "Why do they have to know?"
Fair enough.
"Please," Meira said, some of her old softness showing as her grin faded, "take care of yourself, Syd. And if it comes down to it, you know you have a place here."
If they arrested me, she meant. Decided to burn me.
Syd. When. Inevitability loomed.
"Thanks," I said. "I'm already working on it."
Meira waved, disappearing as the veil sealed shut. The feeling of Ahbi's power lingered until my side of the veil healed and then she was gone.
Impulse drove me to hug my demon cat to me, rubbing my cheek against the top of his head as he began to purr again.
"I'm screwed no matter what I do, Sass," I said. "If I don't act and the Sidhe fall, it's the beginning of the end."
He twisted until he could look up at me, amber eyes glowing, but keeping silent.
"And if I free Ameline," I said, "the Council will try to kill me for breaking the law."
"Try," he snarled. Sighed. "I know."
I let my shoulders sag, released all of the tension I'd been holding, finally welcomed the family magic pooling beneath where I sat to rise and embrace me. "I think you know where this is going."
He nodded. "You're going to leave the coven and work alone to protect us."
I didn't answer. Didn't have to.
"I would do the same, in your position," he said, suddenly brusque. "However, we need you yet, Sydlynn Hayle. And you need us."
I hugged him. "I'll always need you." When I let him go, both of our eyes swam with moisture. "I won't give up the family magic unless they arrest me. And I'm counting on you to guide Shenka when it happens." Because, frankly, it was inevitable, and we both knew it. I was now on a path, made my choice, I realized. I was about to get up, leave everything I knew to set loose a terrible evil in the hope she really could help me save the world.
"You're leaving the coven to her?" He didn't sound surprised.
"She's the logical choice," I said, a little shocked how calm I felt. But now that the decision was made, I actually did feel better. Confident. Calm. I'd probably do some freaking out later, but for now, I'd take it. "She'll make an excellent leader."
He nodded. "I agree," he said. "Though most seconds wouldn't, you've chosen one who is as happy to be subordinate as she is to take command. Well done."
Fate again? Maybe. I felt the sadness of the family magic as it clung to me, but knew it would support my choice if the time came.
When. I was having real trouble with that word.
I wondered if my length of leadership would be some kind of record.
Thought of Mia and her crumpled power, her loss of the Dumont magic and shuddered.
Nope.
"Just promise me," he said, "you'll talk to me first before you make your final decision."
"They might not give me a chance," I said. "If I'm in prison, Sass, you won't be able to reach me."
"Please," he said, pupils huge, ears flattening to the side as his whiskers drooped. I'd never heard him so desperate. "Please, trust me."
"Okay." I hugged him again, kissed him gently between his eyes. "Bossy cat."
"Stubborn child." He head-butted me.
A single sob escaped me as my calm cracked just a little. "Sass," I whispered. "Thank you. For everything. For being here for me even when I wanted you to go. For standing by me no matter what. You've always been by my side, and I love you for it."
A soft whine escaped him as he sagged in my lap. "Syd," he choked around a thick voice. "I love you, too." He opened his mouth as though to say more, but shook himself instead. "I'll always be here," he said. "Always."
I rocked him as we hugged again, taking comfort from him as I did as a child. My fondest, oldest memories had Sassafras in them, I realized then, as well as my darkest and most fearful. He was my constant and the thought of walking away from him broke my heart.
The air beside me shuddered as I spun, shaken free of my sadness in a surge of fear, feeling the emptiness of sorcery stirring in the basement even as a black hole gaped and Demetrius ran through.
He fell into a crouch beside me, eyes gaping huge, hands trembling as they grasped at me, pulling me toward him.
"Come," he hissed. "You must. She is there and it is terrible."
"Did you find Alison?" Sassafras hopped down, amber eyes blazing as he watched the shaking sorcerer. I stood, almost welcoming the distraction from my rising grief at what was to come.
"They are in terrible danger." Tears glistened in Demetrius's mad blue eyes. "Terrible. And she's going to ruin everything."
"Who?" I took his shoulders in my hands, squeezed, shook him just a little. "Who is in danger, Demetrius?"
"Your family," he said. "The vampires."
***
