Chapter 86: Justice
I needn't have worried. Sebastian had it covered. He pulled the weakened Cesard from my mother before any damage could be done and threw him to the ground.
The vampires descended on him, all of them, clinging to the screaming magician and draining him dry. I couldn't watch. It was too horrible. Instead, I ran the five steps to my mother and hugged her like I'd never let her go.
That was the plan, anyway.
"Syd," I turned at the sound of my name. Brad was watching me, but there was a glazed look to his eyes telling me he wasn't all there yet. "What happened?"
I didn't want to leave Mom and didn't have to. Quaid bent over Brad and touched his forehead.
"Go back to sleep, Football." Brad's eyes closed and he sighed deeply.
Damn. I still had that mess to deal with. I met Quaid's eyes. They were empty of emotion and his smirk was back. Double damn.
I didn't get a chance to confront Quaid. Raised voices drew my attention. I turned with Mom and watched as Sebastian and Uncle Frank went toe-to-toe over Cesard.
"He has to be destroyed." Uncle Frank looked feral, almost evil. I shuddered. Could the blood they drank have tainted them with the spirit's power?
"Our creator is in that man's body," Sebastian said. "And you would destroy it?"
"I would," Uncle Frank said as the rest of the vampires formed up behind him. Sebastian glared. That was all we needed. Another power play leading to a fight and more death and destruction.
I was in between them, one hand on Sebastian's chest while the other restrained my uncle before I knew I moved.
"It's not up to you," I said without thinking. "I'm the one who beat him, so I get to decide."
Wow. How childish. At least I didn't finish it with, "Because my Daddy said so." I saved myself that much humiliation. But they both backed off so they must have agreed.
Okay. Brilliant, Syd. Now what? I looked down at the desiccated corpse the vampires left behind and tried not to be sick. Cesard's eyes locked on mine. I couldn't believe he was still alive, let alone conscious. I felt my mother and the family drawing in around me as I crouched next to the fallen magician.
"We might be able to save you," I told him, really not sure if it was possible.
"Once," he whispered. "Perhaps. But the spirit has been with me for too long. It is a part of me now, Demon Child."
Not my favorite nickname, but knowing vampire stubbornness, I was stuck with it. "If we let you live, could you control it?" The other vampires did. But Cesard's head wobbled back and forth as if he knew what I was thinking.
"They have a diluted form in their bodies," he said, "filtered through years into something that can be used, without consciousness. Not so the spirit within me."
I understood. "What do you want me to do?"
"You must destroy me," he said. "It is the only way."
Sebastian crouched at my side. "There is so much we could learn from you."
"No," the magician said, "only death and evil are down that road, my son. You must let me go. And quickly. Already I feel the power of the spirit taking me over, replenishing itself, looking for escape. The old battle was never won and I feel its need to continue our fight. You must be cautious, as well. You drew much of it to you and while its mind lives within me, there cannot help but be effects."
"Okay," I said. "You got it." I turned and looked up at Mom. "Can you help?"
She shook her head. "Not that way, darling." She motioned toward the tunnel and the outside.
Right. There was an easier way.
I stepped back and let Sebastian lift the body of the magician into his arms. He left the cavern first, slow and measured steps leading his people out. The family went with them, some carrying the fallen, and I was surprised to see Quaid had Brad with him.
Mom and I were the last to leave, trailing behind the others. She hugged me before we passed out of the cave, hugged me and kissed my face and hugged me again.
"Syd," she whispered. "I love you."
"I love you too, Mom."
"You're grounded." She left me standing there.
She was kidding, right?
When I caught up to her she smiled and her arm slid around my shoulders so I knew she was just joking. Maybe.
I was amazed the sky brightened in the east. The whole night was gone. Sebastian laid Cesard on the grass past the bushes hiding the cave mouth. His people retreated to the tunnel to wait. I saw Uncle Frank watching me and tried to smile but it was hard. He just nodded and hugged Sunny. They disappeared into the dark.
Sebastian was smoldering by the time Mom convinced him to leave for safety. I waved at him as he turned for one last look and he touched my mind.
Be well, demon girl.
He was gone before I could thank him.
We made a ring around the man and spirit, the family paying respect to the magician who was and bearing witness to the end of the evil.
When the first rays of the morning sun lit his face, Cesard wept.
And burst into flames.
I couldn't watch. I turned away and took one step and found myself in Quaid's arms where I sobbed my regret into his leather jacket.
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