Chapter 19: Ethpeal And Demetrius

I almost panicked, except I knew her face, her dark hair, the blue of her eyes. My grandmother, Ethpeal Hayle, looked like Mom, only a little older, though she'd aged from fear and weariness. I caught just a glimpse of her making it through before she grabbed me and wouldn't let me go.

Love attack. My favorite.

My heart wept as she rocked me, lips on my cheek, heart pounding against me. "Girl," she whispered in my ear. "Oh, girl."

"Gram." I'd spent a great part of my life with her witch power inside me, then several years leading the coven with her at my side. She'd sacrificed everything for the Hayle coven long before I was born and her mind shortly after my birth to a battle that stranded her power in my body. Freeing her from her insanity was one of the finest moments of my existence, after seventeen years lost and wandering in her broken mind. She was a sister of my soul and one of the few people who really understood me and the choices I'd been forced to make.

Feeling her tremble against me, the grasping of her hands on my back as though to reassure herself I existed still, made me weak kneed with guilt.

"Damn you." She leaned away, beautiful face far younger than the one she used to wear. I still missed the soft, white hair that had a life of its own, her wrinkled skin and faded blue eyes. The flower covered dressing gowns she used to wear, her favorite fuzzy socks. Most of all, I missed the connection of our magic, her witch power gone to protect the Universe from Ameline Benoit after that evil creature stole the majority of Gram's magic away to feed her rise to maji. Though Gram survived, her sorcery, long suppressed, awakened by her true love and husband, Demetrius Strong, it wasn't the same anymore. I loved her still. But my heart missed her every single day.

"Sydlynn." Speak of the devil, he came to me and hugged me when Gram finally let me go. "We were so afraid for you." His white cap of curls were the only indication of his age, sweet, cherub face kind and creased in worry. Crystal blue eyes held more innocence than ever. He, too, had been lost to insanity, tortured and turned from the Steam Union to the Brotherhood by Liander Belaisle, transformed back to the sorcerer Gram loved when he helped me defeat Belaisle in the final battle the Fates predicted. I'd gone from being repelled by him when he was the leader of the Chosen of the Light, to hating him for stealing my demon from me. To pitying the shell of a creature he became and, finally, loving him for all he endured and survived, only to save my grandmother from death.

I hugged him, too. "Where have you two been?" Not an accusation, not at all. Just worried wondering. After all, they were connected to the Steam Union. To the silent Eva Southway.

From the tension in Piers, he was as anxious for their answer as I was.

"It's not good," Gram said directly to my tall sorcerer friend. "I'm sorry, Piers. The Steam Union fell apart two days ago."

My jaw tightened. "Their timing is impeccable."

Both older sorcerers whipped their heads around and focused on me.

"We've been trying to reach you," Gram said, one shaking hand on my arm, though the former Enforcer and coven leader she was shone behind her blue eyes. "Is everyone all right?"

"Our family is," I said. "But I'm afraid the rest of the continent isn't so lucky."

When I was done repeating my story again, Gram's fists were tight at her sides, tears in Demetrius's eyes.

"I should have killed him when I had the chance," he said.

"We both should have," I said. "This isn't your fault, Demetrius."

He shrugged. "I had so many chances, Syd. Lost opportunities." The old sorcerer sighed. "But guilt won't save anyone now."

Great philosophy, that.

"My mother." Piers's words choked off as he drew a shaking breath. "My sister and father?"

Gram squeezed his arm, face compassionate but stern. "I don't know," she said. "We were away, felt the recoil in the Steam Union's sorcery. When we arrived at headquarters in Nottingham, the damage had been done."

"I'm guessing the former Brotherhood members who joined ranks with our people turned on us?" Piers's casual question was anything but. If he didn't let out his rage soon, he'd burst from it.

Demetrius nodded sadly. "We tried to warn her," he said. Stopped himself. "Guilt, again."

Gram kissed his cheek. "It's our birthright, I think sometimes."

Tell me about it.

"No news could be good news," I said, more for Piers's benefit. "Eva's clever and powerful. If you couldn't find her, it's possible she escaped."

Gram didn't argue, but she didn't agree with me either. Bless her for not adding to my friend's worry. "We've kept our distance," Gram said. "Since you left, Piers." He bobbed his head. "She's become harsh, almost impossible to talk to."

"I know," he said, a single tear tracking down his cheek. He wiped at the moisture with a trembling hand before stuffing his fists into his coat pockets, shoulders hunched and rigid. I wished I could help him somehow. "It's part of the reason I left. And she never gave me a good enough excuse to come back."

"You, my boy," Gram said, linking her arm through his, "are not to blame for your mother's decisions. Or for standing up for what you believe in."

He didn't say anything, but the horrible tension in him eased a little.

"We could search for her." I had no idea where to start. If the Brotherhood had her, she'd be well shielded. And, knowing Eva, if she was safe somewhere, I'd never find her anyway.

Piers shook his head, leaned in to kiss Gram on the cheek. "Mum can take care of herself," he said.

"You're going back to Wilding Springs?" Gram and Demetrius almost looked eager.

I nodded. "I take it you'd like to join us." Nothing would make me happier.

Gram's grin had nothing to do with humor. "Figured it was time to pay Liander Belaisle a little visit," she said. "By way of Erica's guts."

I laughed. I couldn't help it.

Gram was the best.

The moment we stepped through the veil and into the cavern, Gram went right to Mom, hugged her. I have no idea what the pair said to each other, but gave them space to say it. My kids, on the other hand, swarmed their great-grandmother, Ethie pawing at her namesake until Gram lifted the girl into her arms.

I took a few minutes to make the rounds, happy to see Quaid had put the cache of money to good use. Blankets and food and water had been distributed, fresh clothing as well. A few tents were set up, giving families privacy, a toilet facility cobbled together. It would do for now, but not for long. And how Quaid managed to drag a porta-potty in here with no one noticing was beyond me.

By the time I returned to the small knot of my immediate family, Gram was sitting with Ethie in her lap, Sassafras perched beside her. Demetrius sprawled on the ground at her feet, Piers a few feet further along the bench with Zoe in his arms.

Something clicked in my head and I kicked myself for missing it. The way they looked at each other, how he held her like that. Another of my suitors had finally found love. The one I never thought would settle for anyone.

Good for them, finding each other in this mess. I hoped we survived for them to see it through.

Quaid delivered a bottle of water to my grandmother who pulled him down for a kiss.

"Feel like taking a ride?" He glanced sideways at me. "My turn."

Right, his Enforcer friends.

"Where you thinking?" Gram winked at Ethie who winked back with child-like exaggeration.

"The Stronghold," Quaid said. "I want to track down Leader Tremere and see if there is anyone fighting back."

Gram nodded immediately, standing and setting Ethie back down in her place. She brushed dust from her long skirt and held out her hand to him. He took it like a gallant suitor, kissing the back while she grinned.

"Good choice," she said, staring right at me.

Why was I blushing, exactly?

They disappeared down the exit tunnel, heading for outside so Gram could carry them somewhere they could access the Stronghold. I fretted, knowing most of the access points were at Harvard. Instead of sharing my concern with those around me, I retreated myself, heading after them, toward the surface, just needing a minute alone now my present tasks were done.

You're never alone, my vampire sent, her mental voice soft.

Never, my demon sent.

We are here for you, Sydlynn, Shaylee sent. As always.

Thank you. I stopped at the entry, the way mostly covered by a giant rock, magicked for ease of removal. The darkness called me and I couldn't resist, slipping out the thin crack and out into the grassy clearing on the other side.

Shields firmly in place, I sat with my back against the rock, knees up, staring at the stars overhead. Did they even know what was happening? Did anyone out there care? A weight like the entire world settled on me, pushing me down to slump, weak and frail under the pressure of the past two days.

He took advantage of me being away, I sent to my alter egos. Liander. I'd finally found time to wallow. Old habits were hard to break.

This was my fault.

I'm not even going to comment, my vampire sent, decidedly snippy.

Real piece of work, isn't she? My demon's mental voice burned and sizzled. After all this time, still beating herself up over things out of her control. I thought we raised her better than that.

Clearly not, Shaylee sent, sniffing in irritation. We've failed utterly. What a disappointment.

The chuckle that escaped me was answered by three other voices, all in my head.

Okay, I get the point. I hugged them together inside me. Just figured a little poor me for old time's sake might make you nostalgic.

My demon snorted. If it got us somewhere, I'd be all for it.

Agreed, my vampire sent. And sighed. Options?

We go to Harvard and challenge the council. My demon's temper burned hotter than mine.

I believe we've already agreed even we are not strong enough to take on all those witches and sorcerers. Shaylee shifted inside me. It had to be odd for her, I thought out of the blue. Of all of my egos, she'd lived a life before this one, had her own body. How strange it must have been for her to share mine.

"I thought I'd find you here." Sassafras's furry head nudged me until I stretched my legs out in front of me. He hoisted his fat cat body into my lap, looking up into my eyes. "Beating yourself up, are you?"

"Actually," I said with false arrogance, "I was figuring out how to save the Universe. Feel like chiming in?"

His tail thrashed. "Now that you mention it." Sass lowered himself, curling up on my thighs, head on his paws. "I'm open to suggestions."

"Sass," I said, hand stroking his fur in a slow motion. "Why do things always get to this hopeless stage before we seem to be able to do something about it?"

"Nothing is ever hopeless," he said. "You should know that by now."

"I guess so."

"Besides," he said, looking up at me, "you thrive on being the underdog. And don't tell me you don't."

That made me laugh all over again, partly because it was true. Was I really that much of a lone wolf, a free agent acting on whim and impulse, trusting my intuition and the incredible power I possessed to save me?

Oh dear.

SYDLYNN!

I jerked upright, Sassafras hissing at me, fur standing on end.

"Did you-"

He fell silent as the voice screaming my name reached me again.

HELP US!

I didn't think. Didn't pause or wait to act. Someone needed me. And the underdog in me couldn't say no. I was on my feet, Sass bundled against my chest, dodging into the tunnel before tearing at the veil to hide the power surge, long before my mind whispered to me to be careful.

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