All Chapters of Hayle Coven Novels: Chapter 261 - Chapter 270

Before we headed downstairs, I paused at my desk, an idea forming, fed by my demon side. She hissed a suggestion at me I hadn't considered. Sassafras watched as I pulled open my top drawer and dug around inside, led by her prodding. He scowled as I exclaimed a soft, "ah-ha!" and pulled out what I was looking for, my demon humming in happiness at the sight."Where did you get that?" He frowned at the crystal I held up, the last of the light barely registering on its shining surface, the barest flicker of amber magic showing deep inside. I'd never noticed anything like it before."My demon," I said. "Took it from Demitrius." I'd forgotten all about it. She'd been trapped inside it, kept prisoner by the insane leader of the Chosen of the Light, only breaking free of the bubble of power he'd kept her in with my help. That same night Demitrius met his fate, the Wild went back to sleep in our yard. I'd emptied my pockets before bed and found it. "I tossed it in there," I gestured at my des

I quickly sat on the floor, Meira still in my arms, and told Mom what I'd done.Her reaction wasn't what I expected."You did WHAT?" Mom was usually pretty pale, her porcelain skin perfect. But now she looked almost ghostly, more like her vampire brother did before he had a chance to eat."Theridialis took me across," I said while Meira stared up at me."What was it like?" Her voice was low, soft, but I could hear real curiosity. At least I'd distracted her."Pretty cool," I said. "He invited me to come visit when this is over. You could come too."Mom reached out and grasped my hand, squeezing so tightly I jerked free of her with a startled squeak."Sydlynn Thaddea Hayle," she said, voice trembling in fear and anger all swirling together, "you and your sister will be doing no such thing.""Why not?" We asked in chorus and for the first time ever I found myself wondering why we'd never thought of visiting Demonicon before, even when Dad was whole and himself."Because," Mom sa

Sassafras sulked the whole way back to the house, refusing to talk to me about whatever it was that came to him. Which actually suited me at the time, considering the bomb Liam dropped on me.Alison was home. What did that mean? Was she home for good? For a visit? I wanted to see her, but I didn't, too. I had a lot on my mind, on my plate, without Alison coming back into the picture. And depending on how she was, if she'd healed and was doing okay or not, I knew I didn't have time for her otherwise. I simply couldn't take on brittle, broken Alison again.Couldn't.I guess that made me a really bad friend, huh?Sassafras disappeared down into the basement when we arrived home. I still had a little time, so I ran upstairs, passing Mom's closed door on the way to my bedroom. I'd left my phone home, not having much use for it since Alison left. But yes, there it was in black and white, a hand full of texts from the girl who had been my worst enemy and my best friend.Hm 2 sty. Mss U.

I tossed and turned for a while, the moonlight pouring in my bedroom window making it almost impossible to sleep. At least, I blamed it on the moonlight. Much better than admitting I couldn't get the crumpled disappointment on my mother's face out of my mind.I hated letting her down.One thing I knew, I wasn't waiting any longer for some window of opportunity dictated by Theridialis. One look at my father was enough to tell me I had to cross over with Sassy right away so he could be tested. Meira was fading quickly, her demon power feeding Dad's life force. Her dear little face looked older, lined, her skin sinking into the crevices around her bones.I wanted to go back right away, but Mom talked me out of it."Not after sundown," she said, face pinched with fatigue and worry. "Never after sundown. Promise me."Whatever. I had a feeling her fear was grounded in superstition and not fact, but agreed anyway if just to make her feel better.So sleep first. Yeah, right. Sleep. Like

It was a sad procession, returning Dad back to Mom's room, settling him in the bed. Was it pure Hayle stubbornness on my part I refused to give up? We'd been through so much, survived unbeatable odds before. Why should this be any different?And yet, it felt different. If only because it seemed all of our avenues had been explored. But this couldn't be it, the end. It couldn't.My dad couldn't just die.I hovered at the doorway, not sure what to do, torn between rushing off to look for another answer-where I had no idea, only that my feet wanted me to run-and sitting next to my mother in vigil.I couldn't bring myself to mourn just yet.The house wards quivered and Erica's power entered. I stayed where I was, feeling her as she passed through the kitchen, down the hall and up the stairs to come to stand beside me."I need to talk to your mother." Erica looked like she had been crying, her perfect makeup missing, long, blonde hair in a messy ponytail."Good luck with that." I gui