Chapter 694: Confessions
Meira caught up with me, her face falling at the sight of my expression. She linked arms, not asking questions, just offering her energy for support. My demon took it, used it to soothe me while my alter egos soaked me in love and understanding.
Walking was good. Moving on was better.
Mom appeared a few moments later to join us.
"Excellent," she said with a smile. "We now have confirmation from everyone but Europe." None of us were surprised we heard no word from Applegate. Though I fully expected the thralled Leader to show up at some point and cause trouble.
Prepared for disaster? I was born for it. And speaking of disaster...
"Mom," I said. "I have some things you need to know."
She drew me along with her as we strolled again, as though unconcerned by the conversation we were about to have while my sister's false smile echoed our attempt at subtlety.
I shared what I knew of the wild magicks, what they'd shown me, shared with Shenka and I in the basement. Mom's frown flashed only for a moment before she nodded pleasantly to a passing cluster of witches.
"You think this goes beyond gratitude?" Mom kept her voice low. "Maybe they have some kind of message they are trying to deliver?"
"That's my guess," I said. "But Mom, these are wild creatures we're talking about. Just getting them to settle down and tell me what they want me to hear is a bit of a struggle."
"Sounds like Shenka's idea to talk to Demetrius is a good one," Meira said. Hey, that had been my idea first. "Crazy or not, he seems to know a lot about things we've never dealt with before."
Made me miss Gram's quirky presence all the more. She would probably be able to figure it out in a flash.
"From the expression on your face," Mom said, "and the fact you said you had 'things' to talk to me about, I take it there's more?"
Bless her for not sighing or rolling her eyes. I would have. Wanted to, and I was the one passing on the trouble.
She pulled to a stop when I told her about Tallah's dream for witch equality and the fact she'd been in contact with the Steam Union.
"Syd." Mom's cheeks went pale, eyes wide, not even trying to hide her distress.
"I know," I said as Meira huddled close to us, a tight frown on her face.
"She's nuts," Meira said, skin taking on a reddish hue as her control over her real form slipped just a little. "We're already trying to circumvent a magic war. Now she wants to start one with normals?"
"Do you believe it may be the Steam Union she's speaking to?" Mom's blue eyes drilled holes through me.
I fought over my conscience with that one. "It's possible," I said. "Piers told me there were other branches of the Union in the world that had nothing to do with his people."
"Who are we kidding here?" Meira's eyes flared amber as her demon made it through. "She's been duped by the Brotherhood and we all know it."
I hated to say it was the most likely scenario.
"Only one way to find out," Mom said. "I'll speak to her. But you'll have to be there, Syd. I'll need her tested for the taint."
Shenka would understand. Agree with me 100%, I was sure. Still, I felt guilty thinking about her sister this way.
"I could just take a little trip to California," I said. In and out of the veil. Presto magicko.
"No," Mom said. "If she is under Brotherhood influence, I want to keep this official.
I don't want to warn Belaisle we know what he's up to." Mom's hand twitched over the front of her skirt, smoothing it in a reflexive gesture I associated with stress. We'll wait to talk to her when she arrives tonight."
Great. I had lots of time to torture myself over this.
Fair enough.
"Let me know when you're settled into your pavilion," Mom said. "We'll take care of it right away."
Ack.
"I don't know why it's necessary for me to stay here." Mom and I already had this talk but the whiner in me couldn't let it go.
"As a show of faith," Mom said.
"You know how risky it is." Every time I thought about leaving the family for a few days, I felt nauseated. Yes, I was still inside our family boundaries. But we were effectively stripping each of the major territories of their most powerful and influential witches. If the Brotherhood wanted to strike, the timing couldn't have been more perfect.
"Enforcers will be posted with each of the families," Mom said, her tone soothing, hand on my arm. "We've talked about this."
We did. Okay. "But what about the conclave itself?" I shuddered, sudden panic rising. She didn't know Belaisle the way I did, how he always seemed to be ten steps ahead of me. "We're sitting ducks here. Might as well paint giant bull's eyes on the tops of the pavilions."
"Had that done this morning," Mom said. "Biggest targets on the most important tents. So the Brotherhood knows exactly where to strike."
I gaped at her as she laughed and hugged me.
"Syd," she said. "I'm kidding."
Okay, I knew that. "It's not funny."
"No," she said. "It isn't. But we're doing everything possible to assure the safety of our covens and our visitors. You know this is necessary. We have to stand as one against the Brotherhood."
Grumble, mumble.
"This place will be swarming with foreign Enforcers, werewolves, vampires, Steam Union, Sidhe." Mom turned to Meira who nodded. "Demons."
"I've already gathered a contingent," my sister said, "demons with effigies available here on this plane." She nudged me. "Quite an impressive list."
We were safe. I had to believe it.
So why didn't I?
When Mom was called away again, Meira and I took our leave, sliding through the veil to the basement of my house while I struggled with worry and the understanding no matter what happened, the next few days were going to be very interesting.
***
