I planned to ride the veil to get home since Minnie was no longer an option. But the approach of two Enforcers put a damper on my idea."This way, coven leader." They glared at Charlotte and her pack mates, but I put myself between her and the black-robed witches and glared right back."Thank you for the escort," I grated. "We're ready to leave now." I pushed past them, not sure where I was supposed to be going, only wanting-needing-to show them who was boss.No way were they pushing me around. I was so not in the mood.Luckily, I didn't have to go far to figure out my ride. A large family van pulled up in front of me, the back door opening with a push of Enforcer magic.Arrogant asses. Whatever.I waited for Charlotte to precede me, or tried to make it look that way. She latched onto my arm and pulled me to a halt, swinging past me with her friends flanking the vehicle. They circled it, snuffling and talking in their Eastern European language. The two Enforcers with me looked an
They argued. They shouted, listed the reasons why this was a very bad idea. But in the end, I won. Because they knew I was right.With Sebastian on our side, Mom would be home free.She was worth the risk.I sat in Quaid's lap again, feet swinging, feeling his breath on my neck as he bent to press his lips to my cheek. The connection of our power was instant and full of fire, but I didn't have time for it at the moment and, to his credit, he pulled away with a sigh, clearly understanding it too."We need him," I said, though I inwardly shuddered at the thought of the blood clan leader. The last time I'd seen him, he was a shining star, an angel of death, the most horrible and beautiful thing I'd ever laid eyes on. Already devastatingly attractive, the vampire virus he'd ingested, taken from those of his clan who had fed on Cesard before he died, turned Sebastian into some kind of super vampire, an incarnation of what his kind was meant to be. The former Firblog magician, host to th
I remembered that walk, taken with Quaid, down the long, dark tunnel, on our way to face Cesard and rescue the people he'd taken. It seemed like so long ago, yet the feeling was so familiar it all flooded back as if it was happening all over again. I fought the urge to look around, to feel for Quaid, knowing he wasn't there with me, that two vampires followed my lead instead and this time, I was the one in charge.Not my mother.The idea scared me more than a little bit.The soft glow of permalight beckoned from up ahead. I emerged into the large cavern with a sharp exhale, only then realizing I'd been holding my breath. Part of me worried the vampire would jump out at us, and I'd either succumb to the pull of his power or be forced to kill him. Neither of those options worked for me.At least the demon binding was no longer in place. Whoever restored the elemental wards had failed to return the muffling pressure of the demon proofing which held the demon Torsh here for millennia,
Dad arrived in a rush of energy, the veil tearing as he burst through. He wavered above me, in full demon form, his energy nearly as powerful as when he crossed into his effigy. It made me wonder how strong he was on Demonicon and if it made a difference."Syd." His voice boomed in the cave. "Tell me what you need."Love and gratitude surged inside me and I caught myself blinking away even more tears. I was turning into my mother for sure, a freaking supernatural faucet. But I loved the fact he didn't hesitate, didn't ask questions, just offered his support.No matter what happened before, the old resentment I'd finally released, tied to his life-long absence, I knew then I had the best dad.Ever.I filled him in quickly. Or started to. Just as I began to tell him everything, the veil parted further and the glowing image of Theridialis appeared next to him. I felt my hope rise even further. Sassafras's father was a preeminent demon scientist, a brilliant mind. If these two demon
I sat with my head in my hands, whole body trembling from the aftermath of agony I'd endured. I was sure if I tried to move or speak I'd shatter into a million, bite sized Syd pieces.The world went on around me, Theridialis chattering with great excitement."Incredible. Absolutely incredible. Have you ever felt anything like it, Haralthazar?" Dad must have answered to the negative because Theridialis went on. "Nor I, my friend. A living entity whose sole purpose is to feed from the life force of another. Like a parasite, only spirit based."Someone groaned. It was enough for me to risk looking up. I'm glad I did, because it proved to me I wasn't going to fall apart after all. And better, I was there to see Sebastian sit up, shake his head, raise his gaze and meet mine."Demon child," he whispered, voice still slightly hoarse, but completely recognizable. "Are you well?"Hell of a thing to be asking me considering what he'd just gone through. I managed a nod, weariness making my h
I was so excited I found myself vibrating with a mix of thrill and fear as Sebastian handed Uncle Frank over to Anastasia and strode through the entry of the house on his way to the Council chamber. It was quite late, or early depending on your undead status, and I knew we were running out of night time. Not that it seemed to stop Sebastian or even slow him down.And I thought Sunny was scary when she was pissed. He'd retained enough of his angel- of-death power his deadly allure still remained. Doors opened, sleepy witches looking out only to be snared by his energy and drawn forward. Even the Enforcers who rushed out to stop him appeared suddenly awestruck the moment they entered his sphere of influence. They followed him in a line, like the fabled rats behind the Pied Piper, pulled by the call of his vampire magic. I felt it too, though I was no longer compelled to obey it and wondered about the refreshed bite inside me the virus had awakened.Later. So much later. I had Mom to sa
I ignored the Enforcers. Blocked out Quaid's cold, angry words to them. Felt myself guided into the front seat of the family van. Accepted the hands belting me in. Held myself rigid and still, telling myself as long as I kept everything together things would be fine, just fine, Alison would be...Fine.But she wasn't fine. Not from the aching energy of Galleytrot's power, the subtle hum of him like a gathering rainstorm. Not from the gentle way Quaid held my hand after he climbed behind the wheel and slammed the door, closing the Enforcers and the world off from the rest of us. Not from the roughness of Sassy's tongue as he leaped into my lap and bathed my cheek in kisses before turning, balanced on my legs, looking out the window, my little sister crying softly in the back seat.No. This was wrong, couldn't be right, couldn't be happening.Was. Not.The drive took forever and no time at all. How did we arrive so quickly at the edge of the lake when it seemed like time didn't move
We didn't move, not one of us, not even when the alarms drew close, when the firefighters arrived, the police. Usually the intrusion of normals would make us flee. But we couldn't leave them, not one of us.We were finally forced back by normals who thought this was some ordinary fire. But I knew better. Had felt a fire like this one before, knew it was fed by magic outside my own, by sorcery.Someone set it to kill the Vegas. For what they knew. I screamed inside my head at myself. They wanted to talk to me. I knew it was important. And I let them down. Would they be alive now if I'd found the time, made the time, stopped for one moment and gave them the attention they'd asked for?How much guilt could one girl survive, exactly? Because it appeared I'd signed up to find out.Who has done this? The twins found my mind, their rage making their mental voices quiver.I don't know. I let the whole coven feel my shame. But Martin and Louisa were silenced, I have no doubt of that.Quai