Chapter 738: Thief
Zero hesitation.
Endless fury.
No doubt.
I dove through the veil after my sister's magic, my power already reaching out to squeeze the life from Ameline Benoit. Peripherally, I felt Max traveling with me, his magic humming through the veil with equal rage, the pair of us leaping out into my basement as I raised a hammer blow of maji power to crush the thieving bitch like a bug.
Only to pull up short at the fact she wasn't alone.
Not by a long shot.
Iepa stood beside her, face a mask of misery. My maji guide/backstabbing pain the tuckus hovered there, barely able to meet my gaze, her eyes brimming with tears. And that wasn't all, of course it wasn't. Ameline's own little fairy godfather, the dark maji Trinol, waited on her other side, night-black skin shining in the glow of Demonicon on the other side of the veil tear.
What. The. Freaking. Hell.
They weren't looking at me, neither of the maji. In fact, the moment I touched down, Iepa's tearful face flashed with hope while Trinol's showed fear. Both backed off a step as my big friend stepped out of the veil next to me, his power rippling with such anger I felt the house shake above me.
Didn't care. Not while Ameline smiled at me, Meira's magic hovering, fighting her, just outside my enemy's grasp.
I ignored the pounding of feet overhead coming our way, the flare of concerned family magic and the thrum of Sidhe raised by the disturbance of our arrival. I didn't have time to warn Shenka and Liam, or Sassafras, for that matter, as his demon power joined my second and husband on their way down the steps.
I had bigger issues to deal with. Like killing Ameline. I warned her, didn't I?
Couldn't wait.
Iepa's power reached for mine, a solid wall of maji magic holding me back as her misery returned.
"It must be this way," she said, voice thick with unshed tears.
My sympathy level for her poor me attitude went about as far as the first layer of my bubbling temper.
"Save it," I snarled as Shenka skidded to a halt on the bottom step, Liam right behind her, both staring with huge eyes at the scene unfolding before them. Sassafras scampered forward, circling our little group, hissing at Ameline as I went on. "Your little show and betrayal has gone far enough."
Iepa opened her mouth to respond.
And Max roared. So. Loud. My teeth rattled together. No, wait. My bones did, too. And the entire house shook so violently from the sound I felt the family magic struggle to keep it on the foundation.
"It does not have to be this way," Max said as my ears cleared from ringing. "And you know it. A choice of power source from the demon realm can be made instead."
I wanted to high five him before flipping both maji the finger, but chose instead to grasp my sister's power from Ameline's grip and rip her free.
Ameline let go after a short struggle. She might have been close to complete, but she was still no match for me, not with a battling demon soul fighting her every step of the way. Meira's magic hovered next to me a moment before I sent her back through the veil and to her body.
Okay, now I could kill the bitch.
Wicked.
"You idiot!" Ameline's temper rarely showed, but when it did, it showed. Flares of fire erupted from her body, cascading sparks to the concrete floor and the pentagram etched on the surface. "I need that power to be your equal." That had to hurt. Hoped so. "Do you want the Brotherhood to win? Is that it?"
Snarl, grumble, growl.
"Sydlynn," Iepa said, desperation in her voice. "Time is so short. You must allow it."
No. Way. "Not Meems," I said. "You keep your filthy hands off my sister."
Ameline crossed her arms over her chest, hate blazing from her ice blue eyes. "Unless you have an alternative," she said, "I suggest you get over your weakness about your family," she used the word like a curse, "and allow me to do what I need to."
Uh-huh, not a chance in hell freezing over.
I glanced sideways at Max, saw his anger receding. Knew if I lost his backing, Meems was done for.
He turned his head, diamond eyes meeting mine. "There is another way," he said. And spun on his heel, power reaching for the still-glowing tear in the veil, the scene on the other side holding my attention a moment as Dad shouted silently, Theridialis bent over my sister who now shook her head as she struggled to rise.
It was only then I felt Ahbi watching, listening, understood as Max's musical language poured out of him and toward my demon grandmother what he had in mind.
Felt Ahbi's surging acceptance in answer.
She slipped free of the edge, as though the Node chose to release her, the veil snapping shut behind her just as Meira reached toward me, fear on her face. So strange to see Ahbi hovering there, alone, a glowing shape of towering power, curved horns and fiery eyes. My grandmother's spirit smiled at me before turning and slamming her full presence into Ameline.
The dark maji gasped, staggering back, her body engulfed in amber flames. I watched my grandmother kick her ass from the inside before Ahbi settled down, one final flare of her appearing in Ameline's eyes before my enemy pulled herself upright, panting for breath.
Her lips curved in a vicious grin. "At last," she said, voice full of power, her maji magic appearing in a rippling rainbow around her. "At last!"
I rolled my eyes, fully expecting a resounding mwahahaha evil laugh, even as I saw Ahbi flex herself again, Ameline gasping, the maji net falling apart as she fought for control.
I smirked at her struggles. Ameline might be whole, but there was no way my demon grandmother was going to make it easy for her. And I had no doubt, once our little venture into Brotherhood territory was over, Ahbi would be doing everything she could to part ways with Ameline.
Wait. Damn it. I couldn't fight the Brotherhood now.
Quaid.
And Trill and company. Damn it, Syd. Not just him.
I turned and tore open the veil, reached for my sister, needing at least that reassurance.
You're okay? I felt her, caught a glimpse of Ram supporting her while Dad and Henemordonin argued in the background.
Fine, she sent. Thanks for the help. I had no idea she was so strong.
She's not, I sent, letting her feel my anger. She had help.
And now, so do you. Meira hugged me mentally. I don't feel Ahbi.
She's safe and sound with Ameline. I laughed evilly and my sister joined me.
I hope she burns her to a cinder, Meira sent. Sobered. You be safe.
I will, I sent. Love you.
I let the veil seal shut again, so odd without my grandmother's touch to it, spun back.
Ameline glared at me, lips curling back from her gleaming white teeth. "It's time," she said.
Crappy craplick on a crapstick. I felt my stomach sink into my feet. "You have them all now." Of course she did. I knew that.
"With your other grandmother's power inside me," she said, "I am complete."
The taint from Pannera. Her new soul fed by the lost ones of the Sidhe. All the power she stole from Belaisle to feed her sorcery. Gram's witch magic. And her maji power, honed on her use of blood magic.
Equal to me at last.
***
