47. Chapter 47
Chapter 47
The pendant led us to the mahogany doors. I paused before I went in to reach out and feel Bastion. He was focused and frustrated; without immunity to the chimera’s fire on his side, she was far harder to defeat.
I bit my lip. Bastion would shout at me but…
‘Frogmatch, go and help Bastion with the chimera.’
The imp looked at me. ‘He won’t be happy with that.’
‘Maybe not, but he’ll still be alive. How long can you stay super-sized?’
‘Not much longer,’ he admitted. ‘Five minutes maybe, tops.’
‘So don’t waste them with me. Go!’ He hesitated a beat before he obeyed me.
I turned to Benji. ‘In my vision, you were rescuing the truth seeker because we need her for some reason. Rescue her and bring her to me. ’
Benji frowned. ‘I don’t want to leave you, Am Bam.’
‘I concur,’ Benjamin said. ‘It is not wise to leave you unescorted, Miss Amber.’
‘Wise or not, there is a reason the Goddess showed me the vision. Pop Ria down and go!’ They didn’t argue again, just propped Ria against the wall, turned and sank into the bricks.
I blew out a deep breath. Bastion would be really mad at me when he realised I had once again shaken off my guards. If we lived past this, I’d make sure to say sorry in a way that ensured he forgave me. We still hadn’t done that thing he’d suggested that one time – I could try that. Maybe he’d forgive me then.
I reached for the brass knob on the door, turned it and walked into the library.
My father, Oscar and Mum were sitting down around a fire, looking for all the world as if they were having a chat. Oscar’s rage filled eyes gave the game away – that and the way they darted pointedly back to the door behind me. He couldn’t move but he was trying to warn me as best he could. He wanted me to turn around and walk away. I gave him a wry smile. Not today, Dad.
I met my father’s eyes. ‘Your other daughter is unconscious. She’s propped against the wall outside.’
His gaze turned furious, though not with me. ‘She had one job to do,’ he groused. ‘One. Stay under the radar; remain hidden. How hard is that to do?’
‘Apparently pretty hard when you’re a headstrong teenager.’ I looked at him accusingly. ‘You’ve fucked her up.’ I rarely swore, but sometimes an expletive was needed. This was one of those occasions.
‘Language,’ Mum objected, with a stern glance.
‘She wanted to kill her own mother,’ I explained to her. ‘Then she wanted to kill me to take my place and bond with the harkan.’
Mum glowered. ‘You’re right. Shaun did fuck her up. See?’ she said to him. ‘You would have screwed up Amber too if I’d given you half a chance.’
‘I loved you,’ he growled at her. ‘And you threw me away and blackmailed me!’
‘Bullshit!’ my mother cursed. ‘You had a whole other family, Shaun. Louisa, remember her? And your damned kids, Rebecca and Edward?’
‘And Meredith,’ I interjected. ‘He married her too. Shaun is big into polygamy.’
‘Don’t call me Shaun!’ he spat. ‘Call me Dad.’
‘No,’ I refused flatly. ‘That’s reserved for Oscar.’
‘Oh!’ Mum’s eyes filled with tears as she turned her head to look lovingly at Oscar, ‘I’m so pleased.’
Oscar smirked at Shaun. ‘Both your women love me.’ He was trying to goad him but into doing what, I wasn’t sure.
I needed to get this back on track. ‘Where’s the harkan?’ I demanded.
‘Here,’ Shaun said calmly. ‘Come and see it.’ He tapped the clear glass box next to him. Through the translucent panes I could see the dark red crystal, glowing, pulsing with light like a visible throbbing heartbeat. I didn’t need to touch the jewel to feel its evil intent. The power of the damned thing pervaded the room.
‘Don’t touch it!’ Mum barked at me.
What did she think I was, an acolyte? I took a small step forward to take a better look at the clear box. As I was still swimming in the magic of three witches, I could easily see the snare runes all around it. I sighed. ‘Bring it to me here. I’m not stepping into any of your traps.’
‘Worth a try,’ my father said, grinning at me unrepentantly. Shaun stood, crossed the distance between us and handed me the harkan box. I felt the weight of its power instantly; the box was containing it to a degree but even holding the box made the power vibrate into my fingertips .
‘Let me get Ria,’ Shaun sighed. ‘I don’t want her getting hurt in the fighting.’ He went to the door and stepped out of the room.
I took advantage of his absence to quickly consult with my sisters. I grabbed the pendant in my left hand. How do I destroy it? I asked them silently.
It is made with a life force forcibly taken. It is destroyed with a life force freely given. Abigay’s voice was calm.
I clenched my jaw. On some level, I had known it would come to this. I let the pendant drop back to my chest and across the room I met my mother’s all-too-knowing eyes.
‘It was my mistake,’ she said softly, as if there were only us in the room. ‘You know the prophecy, Amber. “Her sacrifice made in love’s pure light . ”’
I shook my head stubbornly. ‘No.’
‘Yes,’ she insisted.
Before we could argue further, Shaun returned cradling Ria in his arms. When he laid her down on the sofa, she looked like she was sleeping. Her face wasn’t lined with malice and hate, and she looked so young.
Shaun reached into his pocket and pulled out Fido, who was barely moving. He pulled a vial of the familiar potion I’d made out of his pocket, poured a little onto the coffee table and laid Fido next to it. The mouse opened his eyes and sniffed the air.
‘Drink it,’ my father ordered him.
I remembered suddenly that Fido had ridden into the safe room on Lucille’s back. I’d thought it was because they were messing around, but now I saw that Fido could barely move. I realised that Lucille had carried him out of necessity. Dammit, if I’d realised Fido was sick sooner, Ria’s betrayal might not have blindsided me the same way. I had missed too many clues and now here I was, stuck in the spider’s web with one heck of a tarantula.
Luckily, I’ve never been afraid of spiders.