Chapter 642: Under Arrest
They gave me Ameline's cell. Of course they did. I sat, dressed in a white robe just like hers, bare footed on the cold stone floor. My magic was intact, at least. They'd done nothing to block it off. Which made me wonder about the wards in the stronghold and why they weren't worried I'd bolt.
Which I planned to do. Eventually.
This time was very different from the last. No nice suite of rooms, no playing at "asking me questions." No fooling around with the coven leader who broke so many laws they probably didn't even need to hold a trial to sentence me to burn.
I really had to give up the family magic. Just freaking do it already. Before they held my continuing leadership against the coven. But I promised Sassafras I wouldn't, that I'd wait and talk to him first. And since I had no communication with the outside world...
Yeah. Who was I kidding? My reluctance had nothing to do with Sass. I was afraid, plain and simple. Not just for me, but for Shenka. And for Gram.
Gram. I could still feel her, at least. So she was alive and well. Or, alive, anyway. The rest would have to wait. Her touch was the only thing keeping me from busting out of here. Until I knew if she was going to be okay, I couldn't let go of the family magic. Because her part would leave with mine and for all I knew the coven's power was the only thing keeping Gram alive.
Because the elements knew I didn't do much to protect her, did I? Guilt gnawed in my guts, ate away at my strength. I'd left her there, abandoned her, Shenka, Charlotte. All of them. Allowed Ameline to hurt my family.
Only to fail, to watch Alison take the vampire taint into herself and become something I couldn't understand.
I had no idea how Charlotte was, if she recovered. Why the Enforcers had been in my yard. Even if the power I pulled from the ground meant big trouble with the Wild Hunt. Nothing, nada, zippo information. I'd woken in Ameline's-my-cell dressed as I was and with the fragile connection to Gram the only thing I could cling to.
And what did I have to show for Gram's harm, for Charlotte's, Shenka's. For the loss of the two Enforcers? Nothing. Worse than nothing.
Alison was real, full of the vampire taint and working for the Brotherhood.
I ground away at my own spirit, winding up the same guilt again and again, crushing myself with loathing and regret.
Where was Iepa in all this? She allowed it to happen as much as I did. Hate blossomed, peaked in my chest, burned me with its power. She abandoned me after telling me I needed Ameline. Forced my hand. And now that everything had taken a fast train to apocalypse, she was nowhere to be found.
Typical.
I gritted my teeth against the internal battering.
To hell with her. With the so-called prophecy, my destiny, all of it.
I was so done.
I thought the time alone in my cell would be quiet. For peaceful contemplation of my impending doom. Lots of emptiness I could use to beat myself further.
Not so much.
The cell door swung open shortly after I crossed my arms over my chest and told myself no matter what happened the world could fall apart and I wouldn't lift a finger to help from now on. I contemplated my escape and subsequent hiding out in a cave somewhere no one would find me when Pender entered, a troubled look on his face.
"Coven Leader," he said. Licked his lips. I noticed he kept his distance, not leaving the vicinity of the door. Was he afraid of me?
Good. He should be.
"I'm here to take your statement." A glowing line of writing appeared next to him, tracing out his words in blue flame.
I turned my face away, calling up my shielding, opening the dark flower of my sorcery, ready to fight him off if he tried to make me talk.
And ignored him.
The silence held for a long time, his power probing mine until he sighed. Left the room, closing the door behind him.
Didn't try very hard. Which made me wonder. But my deep-seated depression shoved curiosity away.
Who cared? He'd either be back with a pack of bullies to force the issue or not.
Shrug.
My vampire whispered to me I was acting quite childishly, but I smothered her. And my demon who snarled in answer. Shaylee when she tried to prod me to act. The family magic mourned with me, so I didn't have a fight there. And my sorcery? Well, it begged and pleaded to be let out, to sample the magic of the stronghold. Which told me in no uncertain terms if I tried to use power outside of my personal shields I'd probably set of a chain reaction the likes of which I'd better be prepared for.
Not yet.
My second visitor appeared only a few minutes later. Erica came to sit beside me while I fought the trembling taking me over at the sight of her sad face.
"Gram?" I clutched at Erica's hands, felt how hot hers were, looked down to see mine were white and shaking.
"I don't know," she said. "Syd, what happened?"
I shook my head. "I need to know if Gram's okay."
Erica sat back, sighed, rubbing her tired face with one hand, still holding onto me with the other. "Miriam won't tell me anything," she said. "I'm worried about her, Syd." She squeezed my fingers. "And you."
"I'm fine," I said. "Go take care of Gram."
Erica left, shoulders bowed while I raged inside.
Mom. Damn her. Had she left Gram to suffer?
I felt power appear in the room, lurched to my feet, turned to face Iepa with a snarl on my lips. Threw all of the venom and hate simmering inside directly at the maji who trembled as I spoke.
"Get out." I advanced on her, voice rising to a roar. "NOW!"
Iepa raised one hand to me. "I'm sorry this is necessary-"
I called her a very bad word even as my maji power flared against her.
With guilt collapsing her features, Iepa tore open the veil and vanished through it.
Screw. Her.
I turned my back, felt the veil part again, spun to scream bloody murder at her if not commit it.
To have Meira stumble into me with a cry.
***
