Chapter Thirty Three

 

I thought I was ready for anything. Sebastian and Sunny quickly filled me in as I arrived in the kitchen, that a battle had been fought and was now at a standoff at Batsheva's castle. Pannera had her surrounded, while Enforcers, at least according to Mom's intel, kept the war zone contained. It was clear Pannera wasn't about to allow Batsheva to keep the essence, though I was a little confused. Now that she had my vampire, why wasn't Batsheva able to defeat Pannera?

There could only be one answer. And it gave me more hope than I probably should have had.

We traveled together, a string of witches, vampires, a demon cat and one werewolf girl as I tore the veil open and pulled them through with me. The rubbery membrane welcomed me home, but the extra draw of it was lost thanks to all of the people I had with me. I'd never attempted to transport so many before, but no way was I waiting around because someone couldn't find a ride.

All or nothing.

The veil slit open, emptying us out into the corridor outside the throne room. I could feel the hum of magic outside, the pressure of the Enforcer shielding and welcomed it. Their attention meant no one would be escaping until I was ready to deal with them.

Margaret was going to be so mad at me for using her tactics against her.

Couldn't wait for that confrontation.

Mom marched beside me, Gram slightly behind, Sassafras scampering between my feet and through the door before I reached it, demon magic preceding me as he let loose a wall of fire.

Good thing, too. The gathered vampires probably wouldn't have even noticed we were there if he hadn't put on such a show. As it was, it looked like I'd arrived just in time.

Not to stop a war. I couldn't have cared less about their petty squabbles at the moment. But to keep Pannera from killing Batsheva before I got the chance.

They both spun, Sebastian's Queen dressed in tight black leather, ball gown long gone, her cascading hair bound in a thick braid wound around her shoulders like a shawl. Batsheva was in full vampire mode, though her humanity returned as she glared at me as every vampire in the room, all poised for death and destruction, stopped and turned to see me storm in.

With my own little army at my back.

Just try and take us on.

“You!” Batsheva jabbed a long, pointed claw at me, eyes burning white. “You were meant to die!”

“Better luck next time.” I stopped in front of them, my power pushing the other vampires back as Mom, Gram and I faced them down. I could feel Meira behind me, Sassafras joining her, Sebastian, Sunny and Uncle Frank sealing up the end of the line.

Pannera pulled back, but I knew she wasn't going to stand down easily.

“How did you survive?” Was that real curiosity in her eyes? Respect even?

Who cared?

“I'm here to take her back.” I pointed at Batsheva's chest, knowing my vampire would be lodged there. “We can do this easy or we can do it so hard you'll never recover. Your decision.”

Batsheva snarled and threw a thick bolt of lightning at me, spirit magic sizzling. Shaylee had already grounded us firmly to the earth while my demon slashed at the attack, family magic absorbing it with a happy surge of power.

“Nice try.” I snapped my fingers, fire crackling, and slammed her with a fist of demon power. The fire just set her fancy suit coat alight, sending her scrambling backward, shrieking and slapping at the curling smoke and embers.

“This is not permitted!” Batsheva turned to Pannera, soot covering one hand, white frill at her throat now crisped and black. Seeing no support from her rival, she spit at me. “Treaty rules,” she said. “Attacking a clan Queen is punishable by death.”

“You tried that already,” I said. “Feel like coming up with a better plan? Because your first one seems to have a pretty big flaw.” I turned to Mom with a perky smile. “Suggestions, Council Leader?”

Mom's answering grin was tight and full of the desire to hurt someone. In particular. “Kill the bitch,” she said. “Any way you can.”

I spun back to Batsheva who finally seemed nervous, bless her evil, black, twisted little heart, while my family fanned out and raised shields of their own as the gathered vampires threatened. Knowing my back was firmly covered, I found myself smiling. “Well, then,” I said. “Sounds like it's my turn.” I raised my hand, eyes drifting to Celeste who was looking decidedly panicked and ticked off one finger. “For betraying all magic users on our plane to the Brotherhood of sorcerers, I sentence you to death.”

Both clans muttered, Pannera's eyes empty. A handful of vampires tried to rush me, but Meira sent them packing with a whip of flames she wielded with expert ease. All that fighting on Demonicon did wonders for her talent.

My second finger fell. “For using sorcery to undermine Yvette Wilhelm and win over her clan, I sentence you to death.”

More muttering. Angry now. But only on her side and now turned away from us and internalized. Demetrius poked his head out from behind the throne and bobbed it at me. Good, he was here. I was going to need what he carried if my plan was going to work.

“For cheating with sorcery in the battle against Yvette Wilhelm, draining her power with illegal magic, I sentence you to death.” My last finger dropped and I aimed the index at Celeste. “You're next.”

I'm sure she got the irony.

Uproar followed my words, on both sides again, though Pannera remained as she had before, still and blank.

“You have no proof!” Batsheva was in major meltdown mode. Her face flickered from vampire to human, some of her perfection lost, the old her peeking through at times, the dumpy, wrinkled woman she used to be, as though the power inside her rejected her completely.

I was counting on it.

I gestured to Demetrius who crept forward, skirting her to come to my side and hunch at my feet. “Tell them.”

He did. Without a trace of crazy. And better yet, he showed them. More amazing than any big screen event, Demetrius drew from the power around him to cast a three dimensional holographic show for all to witness.

From Batsheva bowing to the Brotherhood, Demetrius among them, to her using a crystal to influence others, through the battle she fought with Yvette, that same crystal stealing the magic of the Queen until she fell, weakened and helpless.

To my downfall. It was hard to watch, seeing her hover over me. I could almost feel her teeth in my neck again, rubbing at it absently as the scene played out. My disappearance through the veil.

Batsheva's battle with the essence as my vampire tried to free herself.

Yes. So I was right after all.

The air around us went dark again, show over. But not one entity present resented Demetrius's borrowing of power, nor did they doubt for a moment what he'd shown was the truth.

Gotcha.

“Clearly we have all been deceived.” Pannera turned to Batsheva who practically frothed at the mouth. “I agree with Coven Leader Hayle's pronouncement and sentence you to death.”

Batsheva’s clan roared, but not to support her, their rage pushing against her as she spun on them and snarled. “Stop!” The shriek reached them all, froze them in their tracks.

Punched me in the stomach. I felt it too. She still had power over me.

It was the best thing I'd learned all night.

“Batsheva,” I stepped forward, “I challenge you for leadership of this clan.”

Power flashed over my head as Margaret and Elliot finally made an appearance. Ruining my moment, damn them. I scowled at the Council Leader as she landed with a thud between the vampires and me, face a round, red, wrinkled apple of absolute rage.

“What the hell are you doing?” She stomped one foot, hands in fists waving around her. “Are you out of your mind?”

Mom was already moving, her own fury radiating, but I stopped her before she could clothesline the woman with a snap of magic. “I stake claim to this clan,” I said. “I have the right.” I pointed at Margaret as she struggled to breathe. “A right you insisted on.”

Take that and choke on it.

She finally caught air, body vibrating with the need to hurt me. Let her try. I'd already been drained of blood and part of my soul, dumped in the veil and left for dead. Nothing she could bring would compare to that.

“Very well.” Um, really? “Finish this.” She turned away from me, hands still clutched tightly together while Batsheva spluttered.

“She has no rights here.”

“I do,” I said. “I felt your command. You made me part of your clan. And now I am challenging you. Yes, or no?” I grinned, unable to help myself. “Unless you're afraid of me.”

I reached for my vampire in the same moment, praying what I was about to do would work. Drove my magic inside Batsheva, searching, calling.

And my vampire answered.

She pulled partially free from the Queen, the shining white mass of her yearning toward me. Only for a moment, until she snapped back inside Batsheva, but it was enough. For me, knowing she was in there, autonomous, whole, but for the rest of the gathering as well.

“She doesn't want to be with you,” I said. “And I'm taking her back.”

Batsheva spun on Margaret one more time. “This is your territory,” she said, desperation finally rising. “Will you allow other magic users to come into your house and break your laws?”

“Like you did? You made Sydlynn Hayle part of your clan. She is within her rights.” Margaret fell cold. She waved one hand, fury gone, face tired, but angry. “Accept the challenge or I'll deal with you personally. And so help me heaven,” she spun on her heel, turning in a slow circle, before coming to face Pannera, “you lot will abide by what happens and if I hear one more breath of trouble from you, I'm wiping you all out. Personally.”

Nice to know frustration finally forced her to do what was right.

I drew a breath to thank her just as Batsheva flung herself at me.

 

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