Going Under (23 page)

“You know how we talked last week about the rise in our power?”

“Yes. And I’ve heard the same from other witches as well.”

“Molly tells me there’s a rumor the vamps need less blood now. And that the wolves
have had an easier time with multiple shifts.”

“Hi, Meriel. Nina Warden also told me that young wolves, ones who often have trouble
resisting the call of daytime moonrises, have had an easier time resisting over the
last two months as well.”

“Well now. This is all quite interesting. I’m going to have Simon contact the Fae
to see if they can shed any light on this. They’re the only ones who know much about
the Magister. The people who came to us a few weeks after the Magister left have moved
on, trying to find it so they can’t help us.”

“Seems to me it’s a question of chicken and egg. Did the rise in power or magick happen
because of the Magister? Or something the Magister did? Or defeating it?” Dominic
spoke for the first time in the call.

“Yes, or some variation of that. The Kellys might be a good place to start with this.”
The Archives had put two witches on researching the Magister full time in the wake
of the final confrontation with it.

“Good idea.” There was a brief moment or two of silence and Gage knew Meriel was taking
notes so he just waited for her to finish.

She finally spoke again. “You’re on the way to D.C. this morning?”

“Yes. We’ve got to leave in about ten minutes.”

“I’m going to send my notes about the call I had last night with the attorneys for
the wolves held in jail in Indiana. I want to know right away what you hear about
this bill they’re floating. Camps. I think not. Please do feel free to speak on my
and Simon’s behalf on this issue. In my absence you speak for the Owen. We are diametrically
opposed to this legislation.”

Molly nodded, though Meriel couldn’t see her. “I’ve prepared a statement so check
your inbox. I’ve got a meeting with the Council of Others when we arrive and then
I’m on my way to the television station. I’ll be checking my mail frequently. Rita
has my schedule so you can always check in with her to see what’s up.”

“Good luck. Keep her safe, Gage.”

He disconnected. “You ready to go to D.C. and kick ass?”

“Ready as I’m gonna be.”

“Pretty much all you can ask for in life.”

Chapter 24

WHEN
they landed it was to find that the Senate version of the Domestic Security Act had
been introduced. Molly fixed her hair and makeup on the way over to the hotel where
the rest of the Others would be waiting.

As she did that, she also put in a call to Tosh.

“I’ve just arrived. On my way to the meeting now.”

“I take it you got my message about the Senate version of the House bill?”

“Yes. You need to be aware that none of us is going to be pleased about this. And
by not pleased, I mean we do not support any provisions in either bill.”

“I know. I know. I’m working on creating an opposition coalition here. We’ve got a
solid group forming. Then again, there’s a sizable number in support of the bills
in both houses, on both sides of the aisle. And a lot of undecideds. Our hearing has
been moved to Monday. They want to fast track the legislation.”

“Has anyone even contacted my office to see if I’m available? Or does it just not
matter at all what the perspective from those who’ll be affected is?”

“Molly, I want you to know that I will fight this with everything I have. This is
not my country. This is not what we do in America. I knew you’d be here so when they
called my office I figured I’d just tell you when you arrived.”

She huffed a sigh. “Fine. I’ll see you later today. I’ve sent the information about
my escort to your assistant.”

“Can you get that number down a little? Things here have tightened up since the riots
in Indiana. One guard would suffice. You’ll be here. It’s safe here.”

Gage narrowed his gaze at her, shaking his head. “No, Molly. You’ve been assaulted
at the capitol more than once. You’ve had death threats. We can’t trust anyone but
our own people. You have three guards. Period.”

“Did you hear that?” she asked Tosh.

“Yes. I’ll see what I can do.”

She disconnected and closed her eyes, finding her center. Now was not the time for
upset. Now was the time to let anger make her a weapon. Her brain and her magick would
do that for her if she just didn’t let herself get twisted up.

“I’m not even going to comment on how he doesn’t take your safety seriously,” Gage
spoke to her in an undertone as they arrived at the hotel.

“I don’t have the energy to argue with you right now. I think you judge him unfairly.”

“Why would I do that?” He took one side of her while Faine got the other.

“Because you’re jealous.” She moved ahead of him before he could reply to deny what
was so totally obvious. Molly did allow herself a smile though.

* * *

MOLLY
sat in that room of angry Others and never lost her cool a single time. Sometimes
Gage wondered if she was a robot or a superhero. Hell, he’d wanted to punch people
at least a dozen times, but she maintained her calm and because of it the room would
back off from the edge over and over.

Using his othersight, he watched the magick pour from her, mix and combine with the
Others in the room. She
was
a conductor it seemed. The energy moved through her and she seemed to sort of guide
it, push it when necessary. He’d never seen anything like it. She seemed to get better
at it each time, perhaps as she’d gotten her legs on this new job. Or maybe, maybe
it was connected to the way magick seemed to be growing more powerful for many Others.

Whatever the case, she was brilliant at it. So brilliant he pretended her little jibe
about being jealous of Sato wasn’t true.

“If we can stay on task, please.” Cade Warden, the Supreme Alpha of the United States,
attempted to keep the meeting on track. He and Molly worked well together.

“What are you doing about these illegal arrests in Indiana? I’ve got to tell my pack
something. Everyone is nervous and angry. How much are we supposed to take?” One of
the wolves from a Midwestern pack spoke.

“We’ve got an entire staff of attorneys working on it. Because of Meriel Owen and
Gabe Murphy from Pacific, the Justice Department has sent people in to investigate
the situation. The wolves have been able to finally see their families and speak with
their attorneys. It’s our goal to get them out by the end of this week.”

“What about the humans? Why haven’t they been arrested?”

“Because their police department and prosecutors are bigots.” Molly spoke, still remaining
seated. “I wish this weren’t so, but it’s clear to anyone with half a brain. The location
of the bar that was attacked, the property that was destroyed, all in a shifter-dominated
part of town. There’s surveillance video of the humans entering the bar that the police
have
lost
twice now. Senator Sato and Representative Carroll are working on this from their
end as well.”

“Working? How? How long do we have to wait? You told us to defend ourselves at a meeting
last month. And now three of us are in jail for it. Why should we listen to you at
all? What’s your agenda?”

Gage fisted his hands until Faine snorted, clearly amused. He leaned in close. “Your
female is made of tougher things than to let herself get ruffled by such silly commentary.”

Gage let go of some of the rage. “People have no idea how hard she works on their
behalf.”

“It’s easier to complain than to understand.”

Lycians were a lot more complicated than Gage had thought at first.

“I understand that you’re upset and frustrated. We all are. Every time I hear about
kids being picked on in school, Others losing jobs or being kicked out of their homes
I get frustrated too. My agenda is the same as it’s been since the first time we all
met. I’m working to broker an equitable relationship between Others and humans. There
are times this seems more possible than others. But for right now, it is my continued,
stated agenda to continue to secure our rights as American citizens. I don’t mean
to push this topic aside, but I have another meeting to get to and I wanted to bring
up the reason for it. House Bill 877 and its Senate companion.”

He watched, amazed, as she unraveled the bills for them, pointing out what each provision
would mean and the possible cascade of other events. The picture she painted was bleak.

And at the lowest point, she had them all in the palm of her hand. She stood, her
voice still calm and sweet. She looked out over the room as it seemed like everyone
held their breath.

“My friends, we will not stand idly by as groups of bigots in this nation tear it
apart by stripping us of our rights. They are, most assuredly, the rights and responsibilities
we were born with. We were Americans before the Magister and we are Americans now.
They expect silence and compliance? They’ll have our voices, and the strength of our
will. We helped build this nation and we will not tolerate the dismantling of it by
heartless vandals. One of my foremothers, upon coming to this nation and deciding
to build a home for witches where we could be safe, once spoke to the largest convocation
of witches ever held.
We are kings and queens, handmaids and blacksmiths. We are more than the filth they
try to make us by their actions and we will underline that for them until they remember
that once and for all
. Rebecca Owen was right then and she’s right now.”

Cade Warden stood and began to clap. People joined until the entire room was filled
with deafening applause. Magick pulsing through the space. She drew it back into herself,
probably not even purposely. But she shone through his othersight like a star.

* * *

“YOU’D
make an excellent Lycian.” Faine spoke to her as they hustled back to the car to head
toward Tosh’s office. “Should you ever want to come visit us, I have no doubt the
males who would find you appealing would fill an auditorium.”

Molly laughed, patting Faine’s arm. “That’s a very wonderful compliment. Thank you.”

Gage frowned, but kept his gaze roving over the landscape outside. “You handled them
well.”

“I get their anger. I wish I had better news to give them.”

“You’re doing all you can. And you’re effective.”

She squeezed his hand and he kept it, not caring if Faine saw.

“I don’t know if I’d say I was effective. I feel pretty useless right now. Pissed
off too.”

“Anger is a gift. That’s not a quote from my foremother, but it’s a Rage Against the
Machine lyric, which I think is just as important.”

She laughed, leaning into him for a brief moment.

* * *

TOSH’S
assistant had her hold back, ushering her through a side door. “The senator would
like to speak with you privately before the meeting starts. Can you please wait here?
He’ll be right in.”

Molly turned to Gage and Faine. “I’ll be right out.”

“We’re not leaving.” Gage’s mouth was set.

“Yes, you are. I appreciate that you want to do your job. But some things need to
be said in private. He’s asked that of me and I can respect it. You’re right outside
the door. I’ll be fine. Also I’m a witch; it’s not like I’m defenseless if something
should happen.”

He heaved a sigh, but went out. “If I hear as much as a raised voice, I am busting
through the door.”

“Thank you.”

Just moments later Tosh came in. She paused to admire him. Tall and broad shouldered,
the suit he wore fit him perfectly. His dark hair and eyes only framed his face. He
wore his power like his tie, or the suit coat he had on. If it hadn’t been for the
witch outside the door and more to the point, the witch whose boobs he kept sneaking
looks at, she might have pursued something romantic with him.

He was courageous. Starting off his work career in the military, like his father and
grandfather before him and then ending up in law school and as a JAG. By the time
he was thirty he’d ended up running for a Senate seat in his home district. There
was a lot about him to admire.

“Thank you for meeting with me.” He clasped her hands and kissed her cheek. “I won’t
take too much of your time, but I wanted to assure you about this bill. My family
was sent to an internment camp. My grandmother and her sisters and her father. My
grandfather enlisted to prove his loyalty to this country. They took his home and
put his family in a camp where my grandmother nearly died having my father because
there was a shortage of medical care. My father was career military, as were two of
my uncles, and now me and my sister. I love this country very much. But I don’t pretend
to love its mistakes, like interning the Japanese. This is not what we do. This is
not how we act. I will not be silent and watch this happen to anyone else.”

Tears pricked her throat but she kept them back.

“Thank you for that. It does help, knowing.”

“This is unfair and wrong. I have spent my life trying to do the right thing and I
will continue that. I’m not the only human being who will. Please be patient and have
faith.”

“Thank you for sharing that with me. It means something. As for faith? I’m trying.
But when shifters who were attacked in their own neighborhood are in jail while the
humans who burned homes and businesses down are being hailed as heroes, it’s hard
to keep that faith. Moreover, it’s hard for me to convince Others to keep that faith.”

She considered telling him about their growing power, but decided not to. The time
might come when they needed that secret as a weapon.

“I understand. You’re good at what you do, so I have faith in
you
.”

“I need to say this and I hope you’ll take it in the spirit I’m offering it in. We
are not cartoons. Push a shifter too far and it’s going to end badly. They’re up against
the wall. They’ve held back time and again. But they’re not going to much longer.
So if this stuff goes forward, they will defend their family and their land. The vampires
are already on the fence, they tend to stick to themselves so the fact that they’re
actually listening to me and agreeing to this Council of Others thing is unusual.
They may be old, but they do not have unlimited patience. They don’t mess around and
so far they’ve been left alone for the most part. Make sure you keep it that way.
The stakes here are a lot higher than humans seem to realize.”

“Are you saying we have a problem?”

“I’ve been saying that from day one. It’s like humans turn their hearing off. You
can come up with all the cages you want, but if you think we’re going to go into them
without a fight, you’re so sorely mistaken. I’m being as plain as I can here with
you because I respect you. But we are not victims.” She held his gaze for long moments,
letting it settle in. There seemed to be some sort of impression that because they
looked like humans and had been quiet before the Magister that they were malleable
and easily controlled. She needed to dissuade that perception without overdoing it
and freaking them into a knee-jerk reaction.

He sighed. “Fair enough. Thank you as well for sharing. Let’s go in. I ordered some
food so I hope you’re hungry.”