Chapter 646: Hitchhikers And Half-Truths
Just as I was about to freak out from the solitude and my own spiraling thoughts, the seal around my door sighed and it opened. I braced myself, not sure who or what to expect. And winced at the sight of Varity Rhodes. She stared at me with a blank expression, draped in her heavy Enforcer robe, jaw tight, but eyes hooded and revealing nothing.
I felt terrible for what I'd been forced to do to her, thought of Charlotte and wondered if my poor bodywere was catatonic yet.
Before I could offer the apology I owed her, Varity spoke.
"Was it you who came to me?" Her voice seemed to echo in the stillness between us and I felt the brush of Enforcer power running beneath her words. "Was it you who asked me to bring you here?"
Um, weird question. I opened my mouth to confess.
Felt a jab from a place I wasn't expecting.
Lie, Quaid sent. Lie your face off. Just do it.
Huh? Okay, confused.
Tell her you have no idea what she's talking about. Quaid's deep voice was edged with desperation. Don't argue with me.
My temper flared. Bossy pants.
Syd, he snarled. Don't be an idiot.
Fine. But he'd pay for it later.
While I was getting much better at lying when it meant saving the world, lying to cover my own ass still gave me problems. I shrugged and went for nonchalant while my vampire sighed her disgust and took over.
"I don't know why I'm here," my vampire said, keeping my face straight. While I cringed inside for the untruth. Jeeze, even to save my life I was a goody two shoes. Sad, really. My vampire hissed at me before going on. "And I have no idea what you're talking about."
Varity relaxed suddenly, her power retreating, the empty look on her face easing. She didn't exactly smile, but the cold contempt was gone and I took that as a win.
She left without a word, the wards resealing as she left.
Weird. But there had to be something behind it, didn't there? Though it was pretty obvious it had been me who approached her.
What was Mom up to?
And why did she recruit Quaid to help knowing it would get him in trouble?
The last thing I wanted was to put anyone else at risk. But I guessed the people I loved had other ideas and since I was locked up in here with no way to give them a hard time over it, I just had to yell at them for being stupid once I broke out.
No way this little plan would work. No way.
Syd. Quaid's voice reached me again, distant, faint. I tapped into our connection despite knowing it might trigger the protections surrounding the stronghold. But his power must have been enough to keep it quiet, because after a brief rumbling stir of the magic wards around my cell, everything went silent again.
Okay, so fill me in, please. I wished he was here. That I could hug him and kiss him. Taste his power, feel his body against mine. But the thin thread between us would have to do.
I don't know what you did to Miriam, he sent, excitement and tension coloring his mental voice, but she's not the woman who went into your cell.
He could say that again. What is she doing?
She has a plan, he sent. Paused. So did I, but she wouldn't let me break you out after you turned Meira away.
That was you. Of course it was. You showed Meems how to find this plane. Love surged, warmed me up, made tears prickle my eyes, throat tight and hot. You idiot.
He laughed in my head and my memory showed me his dark chocolate eyes, the flash of his white smile. Someone had to do something.
I have a plan of my own, I sent. And I can break myself out, thanks. Without putting your head on the block with mine.
Doesn't matter, Quaid sent. The intensity of the connection increased, his magic winding around me, pulling me close. I can't let anything happen to you.
He loved me, I knew it. Could feel it, embraced it as much as I sent my own love to him. And yet here we were, unable to be together. Would never be.
What the hell was wrong with us?
Just be careful, he sent, voice fading. Syd, they're coming. You'll have to-
His connection severed, though I could still feel him. But our little discussion was over.
Which left me wondering: I'd have to what?
When the door unsealed and Pender entered, followed by Santos Councilor Huan Wong, Rhodes Councilor Willa Rhodes and Hensley Councilor Lauren Noble, I understood his warning.
They'd come to ask me questions. And I had to lie again. Convince them of this new truth, that it wasn't me who'd corralled Varity into leading me to Ameline.
Yeah, hello crash and burn of epic proportions.
Don't be so cynical, my vampire sent, shoving me aside just as my demon shouldered past me, Shaylee shunting me behind her until the three of their spirits stood in front of mine, their egos sharing my body.
Freaky. But not like I hadn't given up control before. I waited, the family magic winding around me like an eager cat, as Pender bowed to me and repeated Varity's question.
"Coven Leader," he said. "Did you manipulate one of our Enforcers to bring you here with the intent to free Ameline Benoit?"
The pressure of magic surrounded me, Council power seeping through my shields. On purpose, as my alter egos let them in. Showed them what they wanted the witches to see. Me, innocent.
"I did not, under any circumstances, coerce Enforcer Rhodes." That much was absolutely true. She brought me here of her own free will. Still, if I could help Varity, throwing around the coercion thing, maybe they would think by suggestion she'd acted out of magical influence. Since she was still walking around, had come to see me earlier, I could only imagine she was in the clear. Wouldn't hurt, though.
They waited while my vampire went on.
"Nor did I enter this place at any time prior to my arrest." Blatant lie number one. We'd been here twice already. "In fact, I have absolutely no idea why I'm being held and refuse to give a statement until I'm told what is going on." Blatant lies number two and three flowed from my lips so easily I cringed. They had to feel it. Had to know I was full of crap.
Hush, my vampire sent as my demon took over.
"Considering how horribly I've been treated in the past," she said with my mouth, "I am appalled such accusations led to my arrest without a single word of my crimes being declared to me."
Pender's head bobbed, cheeks dark red even as the Council members flushed.
"It was our understanding you freed Ameline Benoit from this very cell." Huan's round face tightened. "You deny this?"
"Absolutely and without question." That was Shaylee. And I realized then why they took turns. So the witches could feel all of my magicks. As proof I told the truth. Which meant I'd have to step up at some point.
Yikes.
"I would like to know," Shaylee said, "why I was not informed the witch who threatened my family's wellbeing was allowed to escape."
"Because we believed you freed her." Huan stumbled over the accusation, losing steam. But she quickly recovered, nostrils flaring as she set her jaw. "You're not working with Ameline to undermine witch power?"
That one I could answer 100% with honesty and did so.
"Never," I snapped. Yes, I was working with her, under duress. But the caveat? To undermine witches? They had no clue.
None.
They asked a few more questions, more of the same, twisting the words around until I finally turned my back on them.
"I'm done talking," I said. "You have your answers. Either accuse me of a crime I didn't commit or let me go."
They left without another word, though I felt Pender linger. But by the time I turned around, he was gone.
Not that his absence lasted long. I had just enough time to fret myself into chewing my nails to the quick before the door unsealed and Pender returned.
Smiling. Cell exit opened wide.
"Coven Leader," he said. "You're free to go."
Holy. It worked?
"With one request," he said. "The Council would speak with you."
Oh, I had some words for them. So that suited me just fine.
I wished I had time to change, or that Pender offered, instead of being swept from the cell and around the corner to a large doorway still in my flimsy robe. This had to be the main entry, no endless stairs for me this time. And waiting by the door, his hands clasped inside his black robe, stood Quaid.
"Enforcer Trainee Tinder has requested to escort you." Pender stepped aside. "Be well, Coven Leader."
I could have been rude. But Pender was only doing his job, following the orders of the Council. Still, I couldn't bring myself to smile or anything. I nodded to him with all the confidence I could muster, before the door swished open to reveal an elevator. A little shocking to find one in what amounted to a medieval fort, but I didn't question it.
Quaid entered beside me, the doors sliding shut behind us. As the small stone room descended, magic propelling us down and then sideways, he held still, silent. I almost reached for his power, but let him be, still amazed I'd somehow managed to get away with the one real crime I'd committed.
The doors slid open, a short hall with a large mirror on the other end waiting for us. I approached it, realized how pale I looked, how thin the fabric of my robe really was, saw my hip bones poking out, collarbone stark against my slight tan. I'd lost weight, gained a little height. Looked so much like Mom I smiled.
I could live with that. But somewhere along the line, I grew up.
Freaky.
I turned to Quaid just as he stepped into me, arms engulfing me, pulling me to his chest. I breathed in his scent, embraced the pulse of his power, the heat of the passion he held in his heart for me.
For me.
His mouth burned my lips, edges rough with beard scruff, hands buried in my hair as he almost lifted me bodily into him. I pushed closer, hands inside his robe, under his t-shirt, sliding over his hot skin. My fingers traced his ribs as I lost myself in his breath, his heartbeat, the taste of his tongue. He flinched as my hands brushed the waistband of his jeans, sliding under the lip of fabric to stroke the soft skin of his lower abdomen.
"Syd." He groaned my name into my mouth before crushing me against his chest. My lips locked on his throat, teeth nipping down to the base of his throat.
"Quaid."
Sigh.
Quaid.
We both stepped apart at the same moment. His dark eyes looked black, pupils dilated, breath coming in short pants, hands clenching and unclenching at his sides.
I felt thoroughly mussed and absolutely in need of him, but I smiled instead of trying to finish what we'd started. "Thank you," I whispered.
"I love you," he said. Spun and left me there.
I didn't blame him for walking away. We had no future, together at least. But for as long as possible, I would steal these moments with him and cherish them forever.
The mirror beckoned, wavering as I approached. I touched the cold glass, watched as it rippled like the surface of a pond disturbed by my touch. A permanent portal, had to be. Drawing a breath, I closed my eyes and stepped through-
-breathed air so heavy it choked me-
-stepped out into light. Opened my eyes. To my surprise, I stood in the middle of the Council chamber and, as I turned, I spotted Pender behind me. How he'd beaten Quaid and I to the mirror, I had no idea. But his hand slid a shard of glass into his robes just as I turned to look and I understood.
He carried the way to the stronghold with him. How many such portable portals existed?
And did I need to worry one might fall into the wrong hands?
Concerns for later. I spun back as Mom began to speak.
"Your High Council would like to offer up our most sincere apologies, Coven Leader." It was just so good to see her again, as her. Surreal, considering what she'd come through. I caught myself on the edge of a grin and pushed it down. "You were wrongfully accused of a heinous crime." She gestured and Varity came forward. "When Enforcer Rhodes told us you freed Ameline Benoit, we believed her."
"I believed as well," Varity said. "Please, forgive me for falling for such an evil deception."
Okay, something happened to make them wonder if it was me or not. But what?
"New evidence arose just recently," Mom said. "Proving you had nothing to do with Ameline's escape."
Which was?
Pender stepped forward this time, setting a small coin on the floor in front of me. I recognized the feeling of maji power as the coin began to glow and Ameline's image appeared.
"Fools," her magical hologram said, same icy stare, same arrogance coming through loud and clear. "Did you really think you could hold me? I am maji." Her glossy black hair tossed as she shook her head. "And while, if things were different, I would gladly allow Sydlynn Hayle to burn, she is necessary." Ameline's blue eyes blazed in the recording. "I hate to admit her power, but she has saved you countless times from destruction. And her reward? You treat her like a criminal." She laughed, cold and calculated to raise the most anger. I know it worked on me despite the message. "I'm shocked at your idiocy. How you would ever believe she would help me after our history is remarkable." I watched the faces of the Council, met Mom's eyes as Ameline's image wavered. "Hear me, you worthless witches. You will fall, and I will rejoice in your end. But if this plane, if all planes, are to survive, it's time to come together." She seemed to look right into my eyes. "I'll see you soon," she said.
And vanished.
As Pender bent to retrieve the coin, it flared once more before bursting into a puff of black smoke. I waved my hand under my nose at the stench even as my heart clenched in rage.
She saved my life. Again. Ameline thought I owed her, told me when she'd triggered my demon to rescue me from being drained by the vampires. And her little show gave me every indication she still thought so. Wanted to rub my nose in the fact I needed her.
I'd find her. And we'd see who needed who in the end.
***
