Mom drove home. I almost didn't give her the keys. But even worried about my sister to the point of distraction, my mother was a better driver than me.We were all quiet on the way, piling out of the car in silence. Gram followed Mom into the house, presumably to her room. It wasn't often my grandmother went willingly into her four-poster prison.I carried Sassy inside and set him down on a kitchen chair. I needed something normal to do. The drive to be ordinary was very strong right then."Hungry?" I went for his bowl, measured out an extra large portion of his favorite wet food, set it in front of him. But Sassy just turned away from it, ears hanging low, whiskers almost touching in the front. His pushed in little nose nearly brushed the chair as his tail sagged off the side.I crouched next to him and offered him a pet. "It's not your fault. Sassy, it's not."If a cat could cry, Sassy was doing it. "You can say it all you want." His voice hung in the air, thick with emotion. "I
Sunny hovered at the edge of the light. She was her usual stunning self, but there was something so vulnerable about her I just wanted to hug her. I didn't stop to think about it, just rushed forward and wrapped my arms around her.It took her a moment to hug me back, but when she did it was with the same old enthusiasm and adoration she always showed me."I love you, Syd," she whispered. "Thank you for the hug."I pulled away, startled to hear her so choked up. She was actually crying, crystal tears on her perfect face. She lifted her gaze and met Mom's eyes. "Miriam," she said, "I'm so sorry."Mom's face crumpled a little when she stepped forward to embrace the blonde vampire. "Thank you," she said.Sunny let her go before looking back and for between us. "There are things you need to know," she said. "Things Anastasia won't tell you. I couldn't stand it any longer. I had to come."Mom grabbed her hand, fierce and eager. "Who took Meira, Sunny?"She held onto my mother as she
Why did I bother going to school that Monday morning? Call it habit, sucker for punishment, whatever you want, but up I was, showered even, and off I went.Yeah, probably one of the dumbest moves I've ever made. Ever.No one waited for me in the nook by the front door. Big surprise. And not a soul stood by my locker to say they were sorry, either. Still not a shocker. What was the worst? How they hovered in their new favorite spot, my former friends, Benjamin lording over them with that sickening smile of his.I had to walk past them to go to Chemistry. Someone snickered. My memories of bullying at pretty much every school I'd ever attended came rushing back and, like the coward I hadn't been in a long time, I ran.Slumped in my seat, I struggled with tears. I'd only imagined that snicker. I was sure of it. They knew how much it hurt, would never, ever bully me. They just wouldn't.Right. Like I knew them at all anymore.My test was a total fail. I think Mr. Prusse actually hande
Sassy immediately flipped out."You are not going out there," he said, leaping to his feet, fur standing on end, ears laid back so flat they were practically lost from sight. "Absolutely not, under no circumstances."I scowled at him as I shoved my chair out of the way. I didn't really want to go, but his overbearing bossiness made it easier to push past my fear."You're right," I said as I turned to go to the door. "I'm not going outside. But I am going to find out who he is and what he wants."I was pretty sure I already knew who he was. But I had to see for myself. It was safe enough to at least go to the door. Mom reinforced all of the wards, severing Meira's welcome, so I knew the vampire wouldn't be able to enter. Not to mention he'd be fried by Mom's power the moment he tried. It also helped vampire magic was keyed to places and their occupants, only allowing them to pass if they had permission.Sucked to be them.I heard a heavy thump behind me and felt Sassy press agains
It was only a couple of blocks and I covered the distance in less than a minute. Which wasn't long enough for me to bring my mind to order or figure out how I was going to make Quaid listen when he had a serious hate on for me right now.Not that it mattered. And I refused to stop and think he was the first person I thought of when I needed help. Because that would mean admitting I needed him.I just wasn't in the right headspace for that at the moment.I snuck around the back of the house, trying to quiet my breathing so Martin and Louisa wouldn't hear me. My luck, just as I hit the corner, I heard their door open and the sound of their voices. I threw myself behind a bank of rose bushes and hoped they hadn't seen me."But, Martin," Louisa was saying, "she can't do this.""We have to trust Miriam," he answered. I heard a car door open. "She knows what she's doing."Door slam. "I hope you're- " cut off by another door slam. The engine of their Econobox fired up and they spun away
I eased through the last line of trees and peeked out at the people gathered in the center of the site. Someone lit a fire, not as large as our Samhain or Beltane blazes, but it glowed with the blue light of the coven so I knew it had to be Mom.She was sending a pretty clear message. Don't mess with the family.Somehow I didn't think Nicholas would be all that impressed.I made sure to shield myself very well, despite my demon's distress. The last thing I needed was for Mom to catch me before I could be of any use. This was supposed to be a surprise attack, after all. The only problem with this plan? I had no idea where Quaid lurked.I crouched in the long grass outside the fire light, finding a rock ringed by weeds for cover. While the family kept the center of the site mowed, the rest was allowed to grow wild. All the better for me. My vantage point was maybe thirty feet from the edge of the circle, far enough I hoped I could stay out of sight, but close enough I'd be useful whe
Erica took over while the rest of us just stood there and tried to figure out what to do next."Miriam left me with instructions," she said. "I have work to do. And so do all of you." She turned to me and Meira. Gram still clung to us like she was lost. "And you."Mom left me a job to do? Wicked. Finally."Go home," Erica said. "And stay there."I scowled at her, opened my mouth to protest."Syd," she said, softer, with great feeling, "someone has to protect the house. Your sister and grandmother. Your father. It was Miriam's order."I hated it so much when she was right."Fine," I said, "but you better keep me informed."Erica smiled a little. "I will," she said. Saw my look of disbelief. "Honest."Best I would get from her. Hopefully she remembered the little talk we had in the kitchen. I wouldn't be ignored.Speaking of being ignored, my demon was ripping mad.We could have saved her.I didn't answer. Because at this point, there was nothing I could do about it. Besides,
Erica handed me the keys to Mom's car. "I'll follow you," she said.Twice behind the wheel. Normally this would be a dream come true. Now I just wished Mom would appear in the passenger's seat and give me a hard time about what I was about to do to her transmission.I impressed myself with my driving skills, actually. Especially considering life was fairly crappy at the moment. Erica didn't even pull in, just tooted her horn on the way by. Her red Mini Cooper scooted down the street and out of sight.Meira helped me maneuver Gram into the house after a brief moment when my sister's magic was reaccepted by the family power. Mom must have left a safeguard in place to ensure she'd be welcome despite severing her from the wards previously to guard against Nicholas's entry. We left Gram in her room while my sister stayed close as I closed the door behind us.I felt the wards waver again and my stomach lurched before I recognized the feel of Quaid's energy entering the house.Meira foll