The Outcast Read online

  It means, Mom sent to both of us, tired but almost gleeful, we should be safe enough. For now.

  “The laws have not been changed.” Lauren Noble of the Hensley coven almost sounded relieved as the others nodded. I wondered again about Tallah and why her representative didn’t say a word to her or anyone else. “Any coven leader has the right to sever her ties to her council at any time, and is therefore, forevermore, no longer under the control or purview of said council.”

  I had no idea.

  It’s an old law, Mom sent. From when the council was first created. A back door to appease the coven leaders, just in case they decided to bail. I remember finding it, wondering why anyone would want to leave.

  I guess we just found a reason.

  “This choice will make you and your family outcast, Sydlynn Hayle.” There was the soft begging sound I expected to hear earlier. Was Erica cracking? “You would be without territory or support, your power severed from the magic of the Council. This is a huge choice to make that could mean the end of your coven. You’re making a big mistake.”

  “On the contrary,” I said. “It means their survival. I want out. Now.” She hesitated. “It’s not like I had any support in the past.” I couldn’t help the jab. I just couldn’t. “So this will be no different.”

  Her jaw tightened again and I knew we’d won.

  Or, maybe not so fast.

  “This is preposterous.” Belaisle’s fury was written all over his face. I feared he’d thought of everything, but maybe he wasn’t as far ahead of me as he thought. “Arrest her!”

  But the power of the council was already acting, on Erica’s prompting. I felt it embrace me, even through my shielding, and worried a moment about what this would do to the coven. After all, our magic was part of the Council power, and had been for a very long time. But I shoved aside my worry as the magic of the council softly, sadly released me.

  Not before it let me feel its pain at what had been done to it. I couldn’t help. I was out of options and had to think of my family first. Sighing its blue flames, the Council magic cut ties with me and let me go.

  One thing was for certain as I swayed slightly at its loss. I needed to get in touch with the other major coven leaders and find out if things were as grim as I now feared they’d become.

  It was odd, at first, not feeling the magic of the council. But as I drew a breath and settled into the feeling of being alone, I realized, now more than ever, we didn’t need the council. The heartbeat of the coven thudded strongly inside me, as warm and powerful as ever. And I grinned, knowing Erica would understand without me having to say a word.

  The Enforcers backed away, but the sorcerers didn’t move.

  “Take her,” Belaisle snapped.

  The combined power of the council and his sorcery crackled between his people and my little group. I had no idea how much control Erica had over Belaisle, but I was surprised she could do even that much. I certainly didn’t expect her control to last.

  “We must let them go.” Deep regret colored her words. Her grave and judging gaze fell on me. “Understand this, Sydlynn Hayle. You are no longer a member of the North American Witches organization. Therefore, you are no longer welcome in our territory.”

  Not shocking, Mom sent. Saw this coming.

  “That being said,” Erica went on, “if any of your outcast family are discovered in this territory, beginning at dawn tomorrow, you will be captured and executed without further warning. Do you hear me?”

  I nodded, power gathered tight around me, ready to tear the veil. But I couldn’t resist one last stare down with Erica, one I was determined to win.

  She didn’t flinch. And I was finally forced to let it go.

  “I hope you can learn to live with what you’ve done,” I said. And jerked a hole in the veil. Belaisle roared, his power smashing through the council barrier, but he was too late.

  I saluted him with my middle finger as Mom, Charlotte and I leaped into the veil and out of his reach.

  ***

  Chapter Thirteen

  I didn’t take us far, dropping us out on campus. I shivered despite my lack of sensitivity to temperature and met Mom’s eyes.

  “Now we know,” I said.

  “There is more to uncover.” She wrung her hands a moment before stilling them at her sides. “I have people to find and talk to. But this is dangerous, Sydlynn.”

  “As long as we avoid the Brotherhood,” I said. “We have until dawn, remember?” I turned to Charlotte. “Go with Mom and watch her back.”

  “And who will watch yours?” Charlotte’s no-nonsense glare pinned me and I almost laughed.

  “I have three whole other people in my head, in case you’d forgotten,” I said, tapping my temple with one finger. “We’ll be fine.” I looked around me, at the quiet, wondering where the tourists were, why this placed seemed so empty. The Brotherhood must have cleared the campus to keep normals out of the way. “Just stay in constant contact. I’ll come for you if you run into trouble.”

  Charlotte’s heavy stare didn’t falter as Mom took her hand and led her away, the blonde werewoman watching me over her shoulder as my mother disappeared back into Massachusetts Hall. I had another destination in mind, the towering front entry of Widener Library just around the corner.

  Why did I feel like I was skulking?

  Because we are skulking, my vampire sent.

  Stupid, if you ask me, my demon sent. Let’s just start picking off the Brotherhood one idiot at a time and see how Belaisle likes it.

  Tempting, I sent in return, my bare feet slapping on the stone steps. For the first time since I woke in the cavern, I felt self-conscious about my lack of attire. But for no reason, it turned out. Even the library, dim and quiet, was as empty as the rest of the campus seemed to be.

  I stood inside the big glass doors, looking across the lobby toward the stacks, shivering and hugging myself though I wasn’t cold. This was seriously weirding me out.

  Agreed, Shaylee sent. Where is everyone?

  I believe you are right, my vampire sent. The Brotherhood must have cleared the place.

  To which my demon hissed a long, slow curse. You don’t think Belaisle would have the balls to hurt normals, do you?

  I wouldn’t put it past him, I sent while my vampire murmured agreement and Shaylee sighed sadly.

  We can’t worry about them. Damn it. Belaisle knew how to make me feel torn in multiple pieces. Saving others was so ingrained in me, I had to act. But every distraction to the contrary of my original goal just weighed on me heavier and heavier.

  I shook off my conflicted emotions. Family first.

  My alter egos hugged me with power, in full agreement.

  After we know they are safe we deal with the Brotherhood. My vampire’s gentle words were anything but.

  I paused by the maintenance door on the far left of the lobby, hand trembling slightly as I reached for the thin shield hiding Coven Hall from the normals. It had been years since I was here, since graduation, but it felt as familiar as if it was only yesterday when the way parted and I stepped through.

  Maybe I should have been more careful, but I honestly didn’t consider the fact there could be Brotherhood here. They weren’t witches. It wasn’t until I passed through into the dark central hub I drew a sharp breath and looked quickly around, the thought occurring to me I could be walking into a trap.

  But no, nothing. Just silence and a long hallway ahead, the round room I found myself in bracketed by multi-colored doors. How odd. I knew these doors. They were the same ones I used for classes in my fourth year.

  The system must not reset for each individual, my vampire sent. There’s no need, I suppose.

  I nodded absently, turning in a slow circle. My first day, I handed off my course list to the sparkling pink sprite who managed the courses of all students. She and the magic of this place, made sure I only had access to the doors I needed. Convenient, but always made me feel a bit like a little kid b
eing herded.

  Where was she? I reached out with power, trying to trigger her appearance, but the bright eyed and cheerful rotund sprite never showed.

  Whatever holds the rest of the denizens of the campus away, my demon sent, must have affected her, as well.

  Made sense. I sighed, sagged forward, hands shaking before me.

  I was hoping for some answers, I sent to the hitchhikers in my head.

  No time to falter now, Sydlynn. My vampire’s tone held confidence, encouragement. We will uncover what we need to remove Belaisle and his sorcerers from their place of power.

  I wished I shared her optimism. Everything seemed so hopeless at this point. I’d not only torn my coven free from our council and made us outcast, I’d put prices on our heads.

  The soft swish of fabric spun me around, mouth opening to greet the pink sprite. Only to freeze in place, lips agape at the sight of Council member Willa Rhodes hurrying toward me.

  “Sydlynn,” she gasped, panting slightly, her black robe swirling around her feet, small, wrinkled hands fluttering before her. “Thank goodness you’re still here.” She glanced back over her shoulder as though fearful she’d been followed. “I knew you wouldn’t just leave us to our fate.”

  She was an old lady. The sister of the Rhodes coven leader. Probably should have retired ages ago. But despite her advanced years, it was hard not to scowl at her, the need to plant a fist in something soft and squishy of hers almost overwhelming. “Tell me why I shouldn’t.”

  Willa’s face crumpled as she grasped for my hand. “This wasn’t supposed to happen.” A soft wail echoed in the back of her voice, desperation pulling her lips down into furrowed wrinkles. She looked just like her sister, Violet. And though I liked both of them, they were always sticklers for the law. Which mean whatever ridiculous rules were being upheld, she would support them to the bitter end. And yet, here she stood, almost weeping as her tiny body quivered inside the black velvet of her gown.

  I led her to one of the benches between two doors and pulled her down beside me. Willa gulped some air, tiny bow lips pinching into furrows as she gathered herself. “Tell me what really happened.”

  Her unhappy expression wasn’t encouraging. “Erica is correct,” she said. “It’s all on the up and up. We agreed as a council when she brought the proposal to us.”

  “What does your sister think of this?” I wanted to shake Willa. “Did Violet agree?”

  Misery woke in Willa’s eyes, moisture gathering to the tipping point on her lower lids. “It was decided our action would be best served if we ratified the laws without the interference of the covens.” She shook her hands at me, tears trickling through the lines under her eyes. “I know, I know! Foolish, arrogant. I have no idea why we thought this was a good idea.” I opened my mouth to comment, but she patted my hand. “And before you ask, no, I assure you. There was no coercion involved. We were led by the hand like tiny children. Convinced by a slick-tongued charlatan and his pack of bully sorcerers, into thinking we could change the world.” She fell still a moment, heaving a deep sigh. Her thin shoulders barely filled out the breadth of her robe. “We’d all been through so much, Sydlynn. Faced our own failings and lost our leader.” Like this was Mom’s fault for retiring. “All of us,” she looked up and met my eyes again, hers pale and watery, “to the last council member, only wanted to make a difference finally. Instead of standing by and watching history happen.”

  Considering Liander Belaisle is a crafty and convincing man, my vampire sent, I suppose I can understand how they fell for his ruse.

  So can I. I wanted to weep myself at the screwed up mess this had become when I wasn’t looking. When I thought I’d done my part and just left them to work it out. I should have known better.

  “This is not what I agreed to,” Willa said, insistent, intense, as though she feared I wouldn’t believe her. “I am sickened and horrified by the heavy handed finale of our plan. It was supposed to be a triumph, Sydlynn. A council reveal to all covens. But Belaisle and his sorcerers made certain events turned in their favor. By the time we understood just what we’d done, it was far too late.”

  “You could have warned them.” The accusation clipped from my lips.

  She shrank down again, nodding. “There was no time,” she said. “The Brotherhood acted before we knew they were putting anything in motion.” She paused. “Though I worry Erica was duplicitous.”

  I’d deal with Erica later. And she would not enjoy the experience.

  “Listen to me.” Willa grasped my hands again, hers cold, the thin, wrinkled skin almost powdery, nails digging into my flesh, caterpillar eyebrows bobbing up and down over her watery eyes. “No matter what you think of us, we need your help.” Her lips thinned as the lower one trembled. “Erica has lost control, despite the show she put on for you. And because of her loss, witches are dying.” She choked on a single sob as she spoke those words, driving fear through me, blades of anxiety. “As far as I know, thanks to your quick thinking—and you must tell me someday how you managed it—the Hayle coven is the only remaining family still intact.”

  “You’re correct.” I looked up, startled, to find Mom and Charlotte watching us. My mother crossed to Willa, sat on her other side, hugging her gently as the old woman wept on her shoulder. Charlotte came to stand next to me, grim and furious, eyes snapping with power.

  “Not good, I take it.” I met Mom’s eyes while she rubbed Willa’s back. “What happened to the other covens?” I didn’t think it was possible for goosebumps to grow that large on my skin. I was not going to like this one bit, but had no choice but to listen as Willa spoke.

  The old woman’s nose ran, whole body trembling. “Every one of them was hit at the same time,” she whispered the admission. “Belaisle’s idea. Behind our backs. Erica was supposed to call a meeting of coven leaders. Instead…” Willa wiped at her shaking lips with one hand. “From what we’ve managed to uncover, the majority of families put up a fight. And lost.”

  Belaisle was a dead man. “And there’s nothing you can do about it?” I turned to Mom as Willa shook her head. “What the hell kind of law did Erica sign?”

  “A heavily biased one,” Mom said. “If Erica had read the drafted law more carefully, perhaps things would be different. We would have options.” She shook her head as Willa leaned away, snuffling, fishing in her robe a moment before retrieving a lace handkerchief. “But Belaisle was clever in some of the clauses he included.”

  Willa blew her nose softly. “None of us caught just how much power we’d given up until it was too late.”

  Mom’s face blanched, bright points of pink on her cheekbones, the rest of her face ghostly pale. “You knew?”

  “After.” Willa’s dull voice silenced all of us and held for a long moment. “Just before the attacks began.”

  I opened my mouth to ask Mom what she was talking about, what the law had granted Belaisle he could simply walk into witch territories and attack without provocation, but she was already talking.

  “I won’t ask how you could let this happen.” Mom’s disappointment almost seemed to affect the old woman like a blow. My mother had been a respected Council Leader for many years, despite the attempts of the Brotherhood to control her.

  “Mom,” I said. “What?”

  She looked away, jaw tight. “I spoke to Phillip,” she said. Who? Oh, right. Erica’s red-headed flirt of a secretary. “He’s devastated. Agreed to sneak me a copy of the new law.”

  I turned my head toward her, knowing I wasn’t going to like a word Mom said from here on in.

  “Thanks to Erica’s incompetence,” she said, though in my mind I had already convicted her old second of treason against all witches on purpose, “the Brotherhood now have permission to police all infractions against the new order.”

  I stared at her, trying to process what she said. “What about the Enforcers?” Willa made it clear the security arm of the Council was now as powerless as the rest of us.

&nbs
p; No. Not us. Them. We weren’t part of the family any more.

  The old woman shrank from me when I asked the question while Mom went on. “The document gives the Brotherhood carte blanche to enforce the law, against all witches.” Mom’s hands tighten on mine, whole body trembling and stiff. “That damned fool,” she whispered, looking away from me. “She’s turned our home into a police state, and the Brotherhood are in charge.”

  Heart thudding, I could only stare at Willa’s crumpled face. No time for threats, accusations or anything else, though, as much as my demon was screeching for a target. I’d melt down and punch the bag at Sage’s dojo until it died a horrible death once this was over. There was a time I would have allowed my temper to rule me. But I had a whole population of witches to worry about.

  Maybe my coven was autonomous now, but I wouldn’t abandon innocents to Belaisle.

  “It’s time to fight,” I said. “And we could use some inside help.”

  I might as well have poked the old witch with a cattle prod. Willa leaped to her feet and backed away, eyes huge, terror on her face. “I can’t! They’ll find out.” Again she looked over her shoulder, anxiety a living thing surging inside her magic.

  “Not even for your sister?” I had ammo and I wasn’t afraid to use it against her.

  Way to torture a broken, little old lady, Syd.

  “Not even for Violet.” It looked like admitting it finally destroyed Willa’s soul. Her face closed off, eyes dead, shaking stilled. A shell of a witch stood before me, her heart shattered at last. “It’s every witch for themselves now, don’t you see that? Anyone who speaks up disappears.” She half-turned away, paused. “Even Enforcers.” Was she talking about Pender Tremere, the Enforcer Leader? I hadn’t seen a hint of him and that made me worry. “If you can help us, Sydlynn, please. Have pity. But if you can’t…” She turned her back on me. “Save your family and leave us to burn.”

  ***