Chapter 659: Rescue Mission
"Before you tell me to go home," Shenka said as I turned away to the pressure of air displacement at Applegate's departure, "you can just take that and shove it."
I knew this was going to be a fight. "I need you with the family," I said, aiming for reasonable and diplomatic. No use trying for bossy. Not with Shenka.
"You need me beside you," she snapped while Sunny joined us, Uncle Frank's smirk wiped clean as I glared at him.
"Listen to me." I gripped her upper arms, stared into Shenka's determined eyes. "Where do you think you'll do the most good: with the family, watching over them, or with me, unable to use magic?"
Shenka's mouth opened. Closed. Her frown turned sad, still mixed with stubborn. "That's not fair."
"Nope," I said. "It sure as hell isn't. But the sad fact is I have access to other magicks and you don't."
She deflated. "And if I came with you, I'd be a liability." Shenka perked briefly. "But Applegate didn't order me not to use magic."
Sophistry and we both knew it. "You want to start a war over a technicality?" Low blow, Syd, using my vampire's tactics against my own second.
You're learning, my vampire sent.
Shenka hummed and Shenka fumed, but in the end, she left with one of Sunny's vampires giving her an unhappy ride home. With one less person to worry about, I turned back to the vampire queen to find Isabelle waiting beside her.
"I'll take you to your friend," the young vampire said. "But I can't promise retrieving her will be easy."
What in my life was ever easy?
"Just give me a second." I spun away, took a few steps to distance myself, reached for Mom. This conversation could go one of two ways and I was hoping she hadn't had a major backslide since I saw her Friday morning.
Syd, sweetheart, what's wrong? That was my mother. Could sniff trouble from three thousand miles away. Or maybe she just expected it now.
Lovely. Her daughter, the harbinger of impending doom.
Mom, I sent, keeping my emotions as tightly wrapped as possible, it's Charlotte.
Like I said, it could go two ways. As I filled her in on the last few minutes of my life, I ran over the possibilities in my mind. One, she would go ballistic on me and demand I come home. But that was the old Mom, right? Two, she would sympathize and tell me to be careful.
Sydlynn Thaddea Hayle, Mom sent, making me wince. She only used my full name when she was pissed. So it was number one. Craptastic.
Wasn't expecting a third option.
You go get that girl and bring her back here so I can have a firm talk with her. She paused. And kick some ass while you're at it.
Um. What?
Who are you and what have you done with my mother? I choked on a laugh.
Charlotte is family, Mom sent, a soft waver in her firm tone. We don't let anything happen to family.
Agreed. And the ass kicking?
Sorcerers, Mom growled. They have it coming.
Holy blessed halleluiah angels with trumpets and sparkly wings.
Mom, I sent. I love you like whoa.
Syd, she sent back, the image of her behind her desk, smiling, arms hugging herself, flashed in my mind even as her power embraced me. Be safe.
And she was gone.
I turned to find Sunny and Uncle Frank watching me with confused expressions.
"I have orders to go kick some sorcerer ass," I said. "And I can't disobey my Council Leader, can I?"
Uncle Frank laughed. "You've come a long way from making Mir cry, Syd."
Well, we'd see. There was still room for mayhem and world-crumbling disaster.
"Okay then," I said, rubbing my hands together, partly for warmth, feeling a grin stretch my lips. Yes, the outlook was possibly dire, but Mom was behind me and I was feeling rather optimistic, thanks. After all, I didn't need witch or maji power to ride the veil. Just like my demon said, in and out. I offered my hand to Isabelle. "Shall we go liberate one weregirl from the bad guys?"
Oh, how I wish she'd just taken my damned hand and not hesitated. Just one more second, and we'd have been gone. But Isabelle's momentary pause was lengthened by the sudden displacement of air, the calling card of Enforcer power. I spun, snarling, expecting Applegate, a renege on her promise. Only to find a young female witch and an Enforcer settling to the floor.
The pretty blonde with pale hazel eyes bobbed a quick curtsy. "Coven Leader Hayle," she said in a tight British accent, "it's an honor to meet you."
"And you are?" Way to be nice to the new kids, Syd. Yeah, wasn't really in the mood for nice.
The young witch didn't flinch, earning kudos from me. "My name is Gwendolyn Ravensdale," she said, smiling a little, dimples showing. She turned, gestured to the tall Enforcer beside her. "This is my partner, Finlay Wright."
Okay, he wasn't just tall. He was massive. I knew some big men, like my Dad. But this young Enforcer looked like he could take on a steam engine and win.
"Coven Leader," he said, voice the thunder roll I more associated with my black hound friend Galleytrot than any mortal witch.
"Nice to meet you." I crossed my arms over my chest, scowling back and forth between them. "Now, what do you want?"
So friendly. Yeah, yeah. Stop judging. I had work to do.
Gwendolyn finally showed nerves, just a flash, but enough I felt a little guilty. After all, neither of them felt like sorcery to me, and until I knew what they were doing here, I really didn't have reason to treat them badly.
Until she opened her mouth again.
"We're here to escort you." She glanced sideways at her companion. "Our Council Leader ordered it."
Oh hell no.
"You can tell your Council Leader," I said. Stopped. Drew a breath. "Just. Freaking. Lovely."
So much for stealth.
"We are to accord you every courtesy." She seemed to think I gave a crap about courtesy.
Do you want me to detain them? Sunny's mental voice snapped in my head.
The idea was so tempting I almost said yes. "Did your Council Leader say anything else?"
Gwendolyn nodded, face set. "We are to watch you and ensure you fulfill your side of the agreement." She shifted from one foot to the other. "I'm afraid our presence is mandatory."
I guess that answers your question, I sent to Sunny even as I faced the pair of European witches head on and opened my sorcery. The black petals bloomed open, hungry, searching for sustenance, but I held the power back, instead only allowed it to sniff over the two.
It could have been seen as an attack. But while I wouldn't risk checking out Applegate, I had no intention of allowing this pair to tag along if they were also under Brotherhood influence. Since I wasn't breaking Applegate's stupid rules, they could just suck it up.
Neither of them seemed to notice I did anything at all. As I closed off my sorcery, I bit my lower lip, thinking fast. They were clean of the Brotherhood's influence unless it was buried so deep I couldn't find it. But why would Applegate send these two, knowing they weren't under control?
Could she have done so to show me she still fought the Brotherhood's power? Tried to help me somehow?
There was no way of knowing. But at least these two wouldn't sabotage me, not on purpose, anyway.
"Fine," I said, temper barely held in check. "But if either of you does anything to jeopardize the rescue of my werefriend, I won't be responsible for my actions."
Gwendolyn winced slightly. "Ah," she said, "as to the term 'rescue'..."
Now what?
"We've also been instructed to ensure you use proper diplomatic channels in approaching the Czar and his people." She had the good manners to allow regret to cross her expression. "I'm sorry."
Isabelle made an anxious face and shook her head at me. Got the message, loud and clear. The Czar wasn't into diplomacy.
"And if talks fail?" This was turning into an absolute disaster.
"Then they fail." Finlay's deep voice was ice chips and gravel. "And you go home."
***
