Chapter 688: Wild Magicks
I stumbled back, gathering my maji power even as the egos inside me paused.
And recognition dawned.
The swirling mass of magic separated into ribbons of color, amber and blue twining with red and green and white. A final zigzag of black crossed the lot as the glow from their energy lit the room in a rainbow of power.
I knew these scraps of elemental magic, had freed them myself from the crystals the Brotherhood used to trap the Dumont family magic. Each of these wild fragments escaped the clutches of Belaisle and his evil group.
Demetrius Strong had been happy they were free. The crazy, former Steam Union sorcerer and one time leader of the Chosen of the Light believed as I did--the Brotherhood lost a power source when I shattered the crystals holding the slivers of wild magicks in thrall.
But I hadn't seen them or thought to ever again once they fled captivity that night. I stood there, mouth hanging open and unable to react as they swirled around me like giddy children, their energy light and full of joy at seeing me again. At least, that was the impression they gave me as they stroked my skin on the way by in their happy, acrobatic dance of enthusiasm.
Amazing and beautiful as they explored first me, then my room, burrowing under my quilt, poking into my closet before alighting in various places like contented butterflies.
But what did they want?
The moment the thought crossed my mind, they leaped into action again, increasing their speed, now agitated. Love poured over me, loyalty and adoration. But a dark warning lay within them, trying to reach me.
So I reached back. Felt my individual egos connect with them. And shuddered as darkness enveloped me. The feeling of travel through emptiness. Then light, a laboratory of some kind. The remnants of the machine in which they'd been trapped.
Were they showing me their old fear or a new one?
Belaisle's face appeared, his arrogance, the nasty little goatee on his chin. So this was a reminder?
"Yes," I said to them as they came together again into a ball of swirling light. "I remember."
Another push of power and the vision changed. I fell into a mirror, surface rippling like a pond.
A flash of light.
Nothing.
I gasped a breath as they released me, sinking back to sit on the bed, their fear now mine.
"But what does it mean?" I reached for them again.
I felt someone cross the family wards at that moment, the familiar touch of the Hensley coven's power an instant distraction.
The cloud of wild magic sighed in frustration, spun in a vortex and zipped away even as I tried to pull them back, heading for the window.
I almost fell out as I lunged after them, watching as they flared in the night and vanished.
At a loss, still muddling over the message-if there was a message-I moved before I realized I opened the door, my feet padding softly down the stairs to the kitchen to find out why Tallah was here.
Found her whispering with Shenka in my kitchen. The pair looked up, Tallah a little angry, Shenka with guilt, my second jerking free of the hold her older sister and former leader had on her arm.
"Syd," Tallah said. She'd been cold with me ever since Shenka chose to leave her and join me. Not my problem. Though I hoped the young coven leader would get over her snit eventually. I really did like her and wished things could be different.
Still, seeing Shenka rub the place where Tallah held her, the confused flicker passing over the younger Hensley face, my temper returned before I could stop it.
"Can I help you with something?" It was after midnight, only 8pm in California, the home of Tallah's coven. So it was a natural mistake to come here and forget time zone issues were in play. I did it all the time. Still, from the frown on Tallah's face, her uncertainty, I figured she knew exactly when she'd be arriving.
And hoped to talk to her sister without me finding out about it.
Now, fair enough. If Tallah had a private conversation with Shenka, her family by blood, who was I to interfere? Except when my second met my eyes, it was pretty obvious whatever Tallah was here to discuss had nothing to do with personal matters and everything to do with the coven.
My coven.
Hell no.
Tallah shrugged and stepped away from Shenka, her dark hair in a tight, shiny ponytail, deep-toned skin flushing red at the peaks of her cheekbones. "I'm here for Sashenka," she said. Paused. "That came out wrong."
Did it ever. "I assumed you didn't intend to kidnap my second," I said, keeping my voice light, even as Tallah's brows came together in a quick frown. Time for her to get it through her stubborn skull Shenka was mine.
Until she decided she didn't want to be. But it would be Shenka's choice, not her sister's.
"I should be going." Tallah's mysterious visit ended there. She tried to hug Shenka who did a quick back pat before pulling free.
I wanted to ask. I so wanted to. Needed to know.
But instead, I just waited as the door closed behind Tallah, the surge of her magic fading as she left.
Waited for Shenka to tell me what she needed to tell me.
She hesitated, arms around herself, head down. Swayed like a young tree in a storm.
"Okay, well," she said. "Good night, then."
And rushed past me, up the stairs to her room.
Closed the door firmly behind her.
Restraint has never been one of my strong suits. Keeping my temper, allowing others secrets when I worried they might affect me and my family. But this was Shenka.
I had to trust her. Didn't I?
I half spun, ready to go after her, heart clenched against the need to believe she had my best interest-and that of the coven-in mind. Of course she did. She worked so hard to protect the family, was the one who managed the day-to-day so deftly I was hardly necessary most of the time.
But Tallah was her sister, had a blood connection I couldn't counteract.
Stopped myself at the bottom of the stairs, feeling like a total bitch for allowing my anxiety to make me doubt her.
Forgot all about Shenka and Tallah and my need to uncover the mystery about the wild magicks and what they wanted of me, when a second power crossed the wards, this time in the back yard.
I turned like an automaton, feet carrying me without my permission, heart nudging me out the door and into the grass.
The bond between us left me no choice but to go to Quaid.
***
