Chapter 641: The Price
Panic tore a hole inside me, drove me to abandon Alison, abandon my own sense of safety, pushing me to run for the house.
To Gram.
Who I couldn't feel anymore.
It wasn't until I crossed through the family wards her power touched mine again. But dim, so dim, and failing by the moment. I couldn't think, breathe, speak as I rushed through the empty house to the back door.
Into carnage.
Charlotte lay sprawled on her face, half inside the house, cheek and bleeding nose pressed to the stone of the walk way. Shenka sagged on the grass nearby, passed out, skin so pale I thought she was gone.
Two black-robed Enforcers lay just past her, bodies smoking, the scent of burning flesh slapping me in the face.
But I didn't focus on them, not while my eyes flashed over their dead bodies.
To the limp old woman collapsed in the grass.
I ran to her, fell on my knees, pulled Gram's body into my lap, screamed a sob as I poured power into her. She was so far away, felt like Galleytrot did when Ameline took his power. Like Charlotte had when she almost died.
But this was Gram, powerful, unstoppable. Invincible like me.
She had to be.
Had to.
I felt her fighting to come back to me, latched onto her, pulled her up from the black threatening to smother her and steal her soul. Her chest rose in a gasp, eyelids fluttering, power returning slowly, oh so slowly, even the Sidhe soul inside her fought for life.
I gave her everything I had. Vampire, demon, Sidhe, witch. Used sorcery to drain the life force from the very ground beneath me, forced it into Gram. Ignored the feeling of the Wild Hunt stirring as I disturbed their rest.
Let them rise. If Gram died-
No.
Never.
"Syd!" I didn't move when I heard Trill call my name, felt her next to me as she fell beside me, reached for Gram. "Syd, what happened?"
"You were here!" I spun on the maji girl, fury and terror cutting giant gashes in my soul. "Why did you let this happen?"
Not her fault. So not. Mine. All mine. Trill's face crumbled as she stroked Gram's forehead.
"Ameline," she whispered.
Ameline.
She would die. And I would be happy to kill her.
Gram's pulse sped up, power gushing out of her like an open wound. I hunted for the gash, tried to seal it. Felt Ameline's power in the way.
Lashed at her, even as the pain of hurting her sliced more ribbons of agony.
I told her, Ameline sent, cold and detached, a clinical observer of my grandmother's weakness. She'd already taken one from me.
This one she could not have.
Light and Dark, balance or not, I drove my power into her, felt her collapse under the assault, writhe free like a snake with a snarl of rage.
Save her then, if you must. But I'll see you again, Sydlynn Hayle. When the time comes.
Bitch. I threw myself at her through our connection, felt her sever it.
No time to chase her. No time while Gram was dying in my arms.
The memory of holding Ahbi, of feeling her blood on my hands, how her body went limp, the last breath of life escaping tore a giant sob from me.
Nonononononono. NO.
I spun down into the darkness trying to take Gram away from me. Clawed my way to a stop, pulled myself out. And brought my grandmother with me.
I blinked away tears, panting for breath. Reached for the one person who could help me save Gram who still fluttered, weak and lost.
MOM!
She came to me, in a rush of power, flaring blue magic bursting overhead. Mom's magic met mine. Yes, she was here, we would save Gram now, go after Ameline together and everything would be fine-
The Council power grasped me and jerked me back from Gram, slamming me into the ground.
No, what was she doing? Incoherent screams escaped me as I fought with my body, unable to focus my power away from Gram as I tried to support her, felt Mom cut me off. Off. Over and over I tried to reach Gram, only to have the Council's full power pin me as Mom came to stand over me, fury vibrating from her.
I couldn't even bring myself to use my magic against her, still battering the edges of her wards around Gram. I had to save her.
Please, just let me save her.
"Sydlynn Hayle," Mom said in a voice shaking with rage. "You are under arrest for freeing Ameline Benoit from prison."
What the hell was wrong with her? "Mom!" I barely pushed enough air out of my straining lungs to speak, gathered my mind to string words together. "Gram needs help. Please."
Varity appeared next to Gram, bent over her, face grim and tears on her cheeks. When she met my eyes, hers were full of hate.
"Where is Ameline?" Mom's sharp question distracted me.
"Help Gram!" I fought harder, feeling my maji power rise, the swelling of my sorcery begging to absorb the magic holding me down. But I didn't care about me, not now. Not while my grandmother lay limp and unresponsive, her power link to mine so weak I could barely feel her at all. "Mom, you can't let her go!"
The Council power wrenched me to my feet, two Enforcers securing me between them.
"Take her," Mom said, disgust and rage washing over me as she sliced open the veil.
No. Not this way. I had to save Gram-
Something dove past my shielding, already gaping wide thanks to my grief, and struck me so hard the world went black.
I spiraled into it, falling and sobbing, still screaming her name.
***
