Chapter 793: Going Home
The maji chamber said goodbye as I left, not through the veil, but on foot.
I just had to see what kind of disaster my friends had wreaked.
And yes, I was expecting a mess, especially knowing it took the power of the drach to keep the house from falling in. Was leaving a particularly gory disaster behind myself, one I'd get around to cleaning up eventually.
Eventually.
Even though I had a picture in my mind of what the destruction would look like, I still winced at the giant chunks of rock littering the round room above, the blackened holes in the walls and groaning, fallen sorcerers and dark maji who struggled to rise as I exited into the corridor, my son in my arms.
"I take it I don't have to warn you lot not to get into any trouble," I said. "Or try to leave." Flaring blue magic erupted above ground, the touch of Enforcers arriving in droves, probably thanks to Mom after our little tête-à-tête during my near fail with Ameline.
The cavalry were more than welcome to mop up the damage and take care of the mess.
I was going home.
Trill and her brothers dashed up the stairs ahead of us, she pausing just before I reached the steps to meet my eyes.
"We're going to help in the cleanup," she said. "See you at the house." And ran up out of sight.
Okay then.
I found Pender at the top of the stairs, beginning his own run down toward me. He stopped, stared, bowed to Gabriel who smiled back his beaming little smile.
"There's a few down there," I said. "Shouldn't give you too much trouble." Paused. "Oh, and if you want to gather Ameline's bones and crush them to a powder, I'd be all for that."
Pender snarled an eager smile. "She's dead then?"
"As a door knob." I bounced Gabriel and smiled. "Isn't she, sweetie?"
He giggled. "Yes, Momma," he said.
I would never, ever, ever grow tired of hearing him say that.
Never.
Sebastian paused just outside the door. I looked up and into his troubled eyes.
"Stewart," he said.
I followed him down the corridor, stopped at the door to the basement-the real one-where I'd found Sebastian dying, where Batsheva trapped the vampires while Mom was on trial. Followed him down into the dank, lit only by a few pale bulbs.
Found the trusted butler dead, drained of blood, stacked like a log of discarded wood on top of the other human servants.
Alison moved forward, reached out with her power. Whispered to them, soft and hopeful. And they rose, all of them, their echoes forming ranks before us, smiling at Sebastian who wept and smiled back.
Stewart raised is hand in salute. "Master," he said.
And was gone.
The hall rang empty with their echoes moved on. I choked on more tears, knew they probably wouldn't be my last tonight, but hoped the ones to come could be happy.
Happy would be a very nice change.
Sebastian hugged Alison suddenly and she embraced him back after the shock on her face wore off.
"Thank you." His deep voice whispered into her hair.
"You're welcome," she said.
When he released her, Sebastian's tears dried up as his expression settled into grim anger. Without a word, he strode forward two steps, pulled out a plain wooden coffin, the lid sealed shut with large iron spikes and rainbow magic.
Eagerness woke in my heart. I'd killed Ameline and felt none the worse for wear, no matter Quaid's fears about it. Would I suffer over it later? Maybe. Probably. But it was still worth it. Looking at that coffin, knowing there had to be only one vampire Sebastian would save for me in such a way, I figured adding Celeste's death to my tally wouldn't hurt my soul either.
"You wanted her alive," Sebastian snarled. "She is. Barely."
My need to kill faded as Gabriel's sad face pulled me back.
"Let the Enforcers know," I said, turning my back on Celeste Oberman. "Mom and the Council will be happy to burn her. I have better things to do."
Did I. I could taste the anticipation in Gram's power, the need to return home. And I was more than happy to oblige.
One last pause, to hug Alison. "Thank you for everything."
She hugged me back with great enthusiasm. "Thank you," she whispered. "I wouldn't be here without you."
Time to go. I smiled at Quaid, wiped at the smudge of ash on his face, only then noticing he could barely tear his eyes from Gabriel who smiled shyly at him before opening his arms to the startled Enforcer.
Who opened his arms back.
"No way." I clung to Gabriel who giggled and sighed. "Mine."
Quaid laughed.
It was a nice sound.
Charlotte stuck to my side, tickling Gabriel, whispering to him in Ukrainian and, to my shock, he whispered a word or two of her language back. As long as she wasn't teaching him swears, we'd be fine.
Galleytrot panted beside me, hopping up now and then, a little whine in his voice until I stopped almost to the foyer and bent. Gabriel dug his little hands into Galleytrot's fur and pressed his forehead to the dog's.
"'Alleytot," he said.
"My Gatekeeper," Galleytrot said, voice heavy with emotion, the air around us smelling of a fresh spring rain.
Gabriel giggled and let the dog go. "Gate," he said, clear as a bell. And the air beside him shimmered.
Oh boy.
"No, sweetie." I shut him down gently, feeling my concern turn to fear at the vastness of his power. Had I done that, giving him Liam's Cian? In a way, but not as I expected. There was an undercurrent to him, and it was all me.
Gabriel sighed deeply, head on my shoulder. Yawned and closed his eyes like opening a Gate to who knew where was no big deal.
I was going to have to do something about that.
The mansion was a disaster, though Max's magic kept it from falling in completely. Most of the foyer was filled with the top four floors of the house. The dust had pretty much settled, but I still formed a protective bubble around us to keep the air breathable, glad Gabriel was asleep so he wouldn't see the bodies, the blood and gore.
Like he hadn't just watched his mother kill someone.
Yeah.
I walked out the front door to the musical sound of Enforcers arriving and leaving on flares of blue flame, down the steps and to the wide front lawn before turning and looking back.
And up.
Three quarters of the mansion was on the ground, debris spread down the drive, trees knocked over and smoldering as Enforcers flew overhead to contain the flames. I gaped a bit despite myself, then turned on my friends.
Quaid grinned, shrugged while Piers punched him in the shoulder with a laugh.
"Told you she'd be pissed," he said.
Quaid rubbed his arm, hit Piers back, so hard the sorcerer staggered.
"Worth it," he said.
Boys.
I laughed. Opened the veil. Gabriel woke, eyes glowing as Ahbi reached for him.
"Ahbi," he said.
Gabriel. I could feel her love from my contact with him.
"Home, Ahbi," he said.
She opened the way, adding me her embrace.
"Syd." I turned, saw Quaid glance up at the hovering Enforcers.
Why did my heart fall so hard? Of course he had to stay.
"Thank you," I said. "For being there for me."
His jaw worked. Head bobbed. And he spun on his heel and left.
I sighed as Gabriel watched him go, eyes full of tears, lower lip trembling.
"Momma," he said, grasping after the Enforcer.
Weird. "Don't you want to go home, sweets?"
He nodded, rubbed his eyes with his little fists. "Wanna."
How would I ever survive his cute? Or say no to anything he wanted?
I was so screwed.
"Guess I should stay, too," Piers said. "Can't let the Enforcers have all the fun."
"Piers." I was already choked up.
He shook his head, dipped toward me to kiss my cheek. "You're amazing," he said. And turned and strode off.
Sebastian smiled as I sighed and looked away. Met his blue eyes.
Knew our little crew was shrinking by another member.
"This was my home," he said. Turned to survey the damage. "And with help and time, it will be again."
I nodded, smiled. "You know where to find me," I said.
"That help." Alison's voice vibrated with nerves. "Could you use mine?"
Sebastian's eyes widened before he reached out his hand for her. She took it, fingers trembling.
Wait. Was she blushing?
Oh. My. Swearword.
The pair stepped back, still holding hands, Alison looking a little embarrassed, but smiling nonetheless. The handsome former vampire waved to me as I turned at last.
Ahbi was waiting. And I was ready for this to be over.
With Charlotte on one side, Galleytrot on the other, Demetrius behind me, and Alison and Sebastian waving us on, I walked through the veil and headed for home.
***
