Chapter 786: Tons Of Help
I reached for Ahbi the moment we were in the veil.
I need to go right to the maji chamber, I sent, knowing it wouldn't work, but hoping we could figure something out.
Ahbi grunted softly, showed me a wall of power.
And the lawn of the mansion.
At least I knew where we'd be ending up. Sent the image to the others, the exact image Dark Fate had shown me. He hadn't been generalizing, it turned out.
I felt their acceptance and understanding.
Drew a breath.
Gabriel. I'd be holding him again very soon.
Or I'd be dead.
My egos hugged me.
Nothing will keep us from him, my demon snarled.
We will move the very earth to get him back, Shaylee sent.
And that bitch will die. My vampire's spirit magic blazed inside me.
The family power surged in agreement. Even my sorcery blossomed open in the hope of devouring her soul.
So be it.
Grandmother, I sent to Ahbi. If you would do the honors.
She hugged me tight with her power before ripping open the veil and letting us out.
I stepped onto the dew-wet grass and didn't miss a beat, striding forward toward the front door, a woman on a mission. Shouts answered our appearance and approach, the guards Ameline placed to watch for us-of course she had-raising the alarm. I felt the power guarding the mansion tighten on reflex in answer to the uproar and grinned.
Ameline.
So happy she knew I was coming for her.
They lined up in front of the entry to the mansion, easily a hundred of them, while I could feel others flanking us, closing us into a circle. Ameline must have told them they stood a chance.
It almost made me laugh.
I caught a glimpse of Demetrius in my peripheral vision only to have him move past me on my right, his short legs carrying him with great speed though he looked like he was out for a stroll.
He threw his arms wide as he went, a smile in his voice as he spoke and I could only imagine he was beaming.
"My children," he said in a booming voice. "My Chosen. Come to me."
The outcry fell off, a few of the figures in the front pushing back their hoods, staring with huge eyes at Demetrius. Someone shouted, "Master!" Triggered a mass of collapse, half the front row falling to their knees while the gathering behind them thinned still further.
The remaining guards-dark maji, had to be-looked around in confusion and growing concern as Demetrius strode, without a moment's hesitation, all the way to the front line. I giggled in barely contained anxiety and adrenaline as not one of the gathered attacked him, stunned and overwhelmed by his approach.
I was right behind him, stopped just shy of his shoulder as his power stretched outward, the edge of it touching my sorcery.
"Oh, my children," he said. "How far you have fallen."
One of the men in the front-I knew him, didn't I? Annick, one of his lieutenants from so long ago-crawled forward on his hands and knees, groveling.
"My master," he wept, tears shining on his cheeks in the lights surrounding the entry. "Forgive us, we thought you lost."
They moved forward as a mass, coming to worship their lost leader.
I knew it would only be another moment before the dark maji were forced to act.
Trill, I sent.
I'm already on it, she sent. Boys, you out there?
Reading and waiting, sis. Owen's mental voice shocked me, not at the depth of it-he'd grown so much since we'd met-but at his presence.
Apollo? Trill's irritation came through.
I'm here, her older brother sent with a mental wink. Just let them try it. The Zornovs are ready for action.
Trill glanced sideways at me, rolled her eyes. Grinned.
Gave them a call. Since they were bored. They popped over. Her grin deepened. I thought I might need them after all.
Brilliant.
Trill moved to the outside of our little pack, focusing on the front line. I caught sight of the tall, angry looking dark maji who turned and opened his mouth, probably at the same instant she did. Someone in authority finally decided to act, did he?
Unlucky for him.
He froze where he was, hands going to his throat as Trill began to glow. I felt the answering thrum from the right and the left, sorcery racing toward us as the Zornov brothers made good on their word and backed up their sister.
Dark maji dude hit the ground with his eyes bugging out of his head while his people stared.
I took a step forward, ignoring the groveling Chosen who wept at Demetrius's feet and grinned at the line of bodies in my way.
Waved.
"Boo," I said.
They shrieked as a unit just before Trill and her brothers attacked.
The sky was suddenly filled with rainbow light, bracketed by black so deep no stars shone through as the Zornovs contained the dark maji and hit them hard.
Syd, Trill sent, mental voice tight, go. I don't know how long we can hold them.
She didn't have to tell me twice.
I squeezed Demetrius's arm on the way by as he soothed his people, winking at me with one blue eye.
Good luck to you, Sydlynn, he sent before spreading his arms again, this time to the sky.
"MY CHILDREN!" His voice boomed like thunder. "OUR CREATOR HAS SPOKEN. THE DARK MAJI ARE OUR ENEMIES."
Oh, clever. Very, very clever. I felt them stir as I hurried past them, saw their faces darken, turn toward those they had once stood beside.
"ATTACK!"
I formed a quick shield before me, pointed like the bow of a ship, and pushed my way through the last of the guards as they turned on each other like animals.
One hurdle down. Who knew how many to go.
The front door of the mansion was warded, sealed around the edges. I scowled at it, drew back to ram it with the shield. Only to have Piers step past me and bow with a smile.
"Light One," he said, voice airy and full of humor. "Allow me."
He spun and gestured, black emptiness engulfing the door.
Wood groaned, metal squealed and sighed.
And the entire front entry collapsed into dust, leaving a gaping hole in the front of the house.
"Nice," I said. "Thanks."
He bowed again. "My pleasure," he said.
I scowled suddenly. "You're supposed to be helping Trill."
Piers shrugged, gestured for me to enter. "It appears she doesn't need me," he said. His gray eyes filled with concern. "But you might."
Way to stick to the plan, Steam Union. Not that I was surprised.
"Just don't make me rescue you," I said. And stepped over the threshold.
Reached out for my son.
And almost fell to my knees much like the Chosen in front of Demetrius.
"He's here," I whispered even as my heart sang and screamed and rejoiced.
A flicker of shadow to my right told me I had to pay attention. But I needn't have bothered. Celeste appeared, stepping out of the darkness with a dozen vampires at her back. She looked terrified, especially when Sebastian smiled. Saluted me. And rushed at them, his power roaring around him, no longer just the white of spirit, but touched by mine.
"You." I jabbed a finger at Piers. "Help him." And toward the vampires.
To his credit, he didn't hesitate, threw himself toward Sebastian.
Even as I turned and marched through the foyer, to the hall. All the while pushing against the magic trying to keep me from veiling down into the maji chamber.
On foot, then. Fine. I could walk. Just meant my fury and need to smash and maim increased with every step.
Galleytrot loped ahead of me, green fire tracing over his fur, sparks falling to the red carpet in the dark hall. He stuck his nose into the door at the end, the one we aimed for, turned to look at me.
"Clear," he said.
Weird. Would she have thrown all she had at us so soon?
"Wait." I held out one hand as he moved to enter. "For us."
Charlotte joined him, sniffing around. Tensed even as Galleytrot did. He touched his nose to the air just inside the room.
And fell back with a howl of pain, writhing on the floor with a black shadow fighting to devour him.
Ameline was up to her old tricks. I lashed at Galleytrot, cutting the cord of the shade before it could draw out his power. He panted, furious, howling his rage into the air as I came to his side, hugged him.
"Careful," I said.
"I'm going to play tug of war with her intestines," he snarled.
"Sounds like fun," I said.
Faced the doorway. She'd done this before, used her sorcery as a kind of trap, leaving part of it in the person she attacked. I hadn't seen the actual trap before, though. Could never figure out how she managed it.
Piers panted to my side, jogging to a halt as Max came to stand next to me, head tilted to one side. Quaid supported the panting Galleytrot as Charlotte paced back and forth between me and the rest of the house, a low growl humming in the back of her throat.
"Interesting," Max said. "It's alive."
Piers's magic touched it before he flinched back. "Holy mother of..." He turned and was noisily sick, whole body convulsing around his need to rid himself of the touch of what Ameline had done.
I reached for it myself, needing to know, to understand.
Almost wished I hadn't.
There was a soul tied to the sorcery trap. A normal's soul. Stolen from a woman who never knew our world, though she had a latent ability in her spirit. That latent magic fed the sorcery, kept it alive until the trap was sprung.
When she attacked Gram. Galleytrot in the cavern. Liam.
She used the souls of latent normals to do it.
Sick. So freaking sick.
I wanted to puke like Piers had, barely held it together as he straightened and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Sorry," he whispered.
"Don't be," I said. "I know exactly how you feel."
Alison ghosted to my side, her face fallen into sadness. She turned to meet my eyes. "I think I can free her."
I reached out and squeezed her hand.
"Yes, please."
Followed her power, the soft-edged touch of it, more echo than mortal, felt her sever the tie to the sorcery and embrace the woman's soul.
The saddest part, it wasn't even her echo trapped, but her actual spirit. I watched as the form of a woman, short brown hair and staring eyes, formed in the doorway, blackness fading from around her. A very bright light woke behind her and she turned with a smile and dove into it before the glow went out in a flare so bright I had to look away.
When I turned back, Alison was crying into her trembling hands. Looked up to meet my gaze with hate in hers.
"She's going to pay for this," Alison said.
"She's going to pay for a lot of things." I turned toward the now empty doorway. "Eyes open," I said. "Everyone pay attention."
They formed up behind me, Alison taking the lead as Galleytrot came to my side.
Onward.
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