Chapter 647: Council Leader
I thought that was it. Free to go, out of there. But Mom wasn't done.
Not by a long shot.
"Coven Leader Hayle," she said, voice ringing with authority. "With the recent attack on the Dumont coven and the escape of Ameline, we now clearly see the threat you've so patiently tried to warn us about." Snort. Good one, Mom. Because I was the queen of patience. "Your growing power and approaching status as maji gave us pause." Freaked them the hell out. She was good at this diplomatic speak. "But without your assistance, our covens would be under the control of sorcerers whose only interest is domination of all magicks."
Shocker. No one argued, turned red in the face. Nada.
Maybe I was wrong about the others being under the influence.
"Because of your special status," Mom said, "we, the North American High Council, grant you full immunity and impunity to act on any threat you see arise without compunction."
Did she just hand me the keys to the Universe?
"Terrible days lie behind us," Mom said. "And even worse lie ahead. Without you, we would fail and we know it." She sighed, sat back. "And that failing is mine."
Oh, crap. Don't tell me she was going to go all martyr on me all of a sudden?
Erica stared at Mom. "What are you saying?"
"For the last two years," Mom said in a low, level voice, "I have been under the control of the Brotherhood."
Silence. No outrage, no screaming. A little squirming.
They knew.
Because they were, too. I extended my energy, knowing now I had absolute freedom to do so and felt each and every one of them. Touched on the threads of emptiness leading away from them, some deeper and more seated than others, but none as controlled as Mom.
"Thanks to my lack of diligence," Mom said, "this Council has been manipulated by the very evil I sought to protect us from. And, because of that, I resign my position as leader of this Council."
Mom rose, gathering her magic, ready to force the Council power from her.
Like that was going to happen.
I slid a shield around her, maji magic sealing her tightly. She stared at me, frowning, but more from sadness than anger.
"In finding your freedom," I said, voice throbbing with emotion I couldn't contain, "you've become the very person we need the most." She trembled in my grip, eyes bright. "Now sit your ass down and listen."
She did. Amazing.
"Each of you has lost a personal item." There was no question now. The Council members exchanged curious looks. "Items embedded with your old family magic."
That got their attention. Erica reached for her wrist. Mom gave her a bracelet years ago. Missing. Huan Wong touched her earlobes, empty of adornment. The other Council members shifted uncomfortably, nodding agreement.
"The Brotherhood's power lies in manipulation and stealth." I didn't mean to pace, but it was hard to hold still with my mind whirling. "They use items embedded with family power to get to us." It was a theory, yes, but I think I'd proven it correct with Mom and thinking back to Margaret Applegate's ring, I knew I was right. "As important as those losses were, why were you unable to find them with magic? Magic you'd carried most of your lives?" None of them spoke, all pale, all quiet, eyes locked on me. Huan twitched, the emptiness around her tightening. Which meant we were being observed, didn't it?
Time to put an end to that.
I welcomed my dark blossom to open, felt the blackness gaping beneath me, allowed it to reach for the threads of sorcery tying the witches to their lost belongings. Traced the path back in a rush of darkness to the source. Not physically this time, there was no need for so small a job. But I felt him, Belaisle, the anchor. Felt his rage, heard his shriek of fury as I calmly severed his connections, sending each of them back with a crack, like a slap to his face.
The tokens I gathered in my power and destroyed. They were too tainted to return to their owners. I felt the remains of their magic trace back to their covens before retracting my awareness to the Council chamber again.
Each of the Council members looked shocked. As though I'd punched them in the gut. Erica sobbed once before covering her mouth with her hands. Huan spun in her seat and threw up rather noisily on the floor while Willa swooned and had to be supported by Lauren.
"You were all compromised," I said, but not to accuse them. Not in the least. This was my fault as much as anyone's. "But now that you are clean, you will stay that way." My maji power swelled, the sorcery inside me forming a slick skin around them, sealing them from outside magic. Even Mom who shuddered, but nodded. "You can't step down now. Because we have no idea who else is under their influence."
Mom sighed deeply as the rest of the Council murmured their agreement.
"We've been presented an opportunity to act," Mom said. "To cleanse our covens of the influence of the Brotherhood once and for all." She clenched her hands before her. "And, when we're done, take this battle to them."
Mess #1 handled. About a gazillion to go.
***
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
