You are probably right, he said. Can you manage it?
Well, its really not very far to the dorm. Plus, the weathers already nasty. Ill just call in some mist and increase the rain. That should do a pretty good job of hiding us. Remember to think that youre made of nothing but spirit. Try to imagine blending in with the storm. That usually makes it easier for me.
Will do. Im ready whenever you are.
I drew a deep breath, grateful that my chest was almost completely pain-free, and centered myself. Water, fire, and spirit, I need you, I said. I flung wide one of my arms, as if receiving a hug from a friend, and hooked the other through Dariuss arm. Immediately I felt the three elements surge around and through me and, hopefully, Darius, too. Spirit, I ask you to cloak ushide uslet us blend with the night. Water, fill the air around us, bathe us and conceal us. Fire, I need you just a littlejust enough to heat the ice so the mist forms.
Go."
Okay," added all and anticipation around as at buoyed "But" by changes" "Darius." door="door elements everything felt fire,give grounds. He "I" id="I’d" ice="ice" in="in" into="into" it="it" lets="let’s" magical.="magical.”" make="Make" mist="mist." misty="misty" moved="moved" nodded="nodded" not="not" of="of" only="only" opened="opened" out="out" over="over" quickly="quickly." quivering="quivering" school="school" smiled="smiled" soupy="soupy" spirit="spirit" storm=""pat***** [needs correction]******
Id been right about one thing: the weather was nasty. Id definitely liked it more looking out from inside the warm, dry building. It had been bad before, but as the elements responded to my command the storm increased in intensity. I glanced around us, trying to discover if the Raven Mockers had noticed us, but the elements were working together well, and Darius and I walked in what felt like the middle of a blinding snow globe turned to ice. The ice and wind were so bad that I would have fallen right on my butt if Darius hadnt had the reflexes of a cat and somehow managed to keep both of us on our feet.
Which reminded me, as he and I walked quickly but carefully down the frozen sidewalk, shrouded in a sudden mist that had blown up all around us, heads bent against the icy onslaught, I did not see one single cat. Okay, yeah, the weather was awful, especially after Id messed with it, and cats dont like anything wet, but I didnt remember once in the months Id lived at the House of Night walking anywhere on campus and not seeing at least a couple cats chasing after each other.
There arent any cats around, I said.
Darius nodded. I already noticed.
What does it mean?
Trouble, he said.
But I didnt have time to think about what the absence of cats might mean (and to worry about where my Nala might be). I was already feeling the drain of energy. I had to focus all of my strength and concentration to keep a running whispered litany going to wind, fire, and water. We are the night, let the spirit of night cover usshroud us with mistblow, wind, and keep evil eyes from seeing us
We were almost to the dorm when I heard the girls voice. I couldnt make out what she was saying, but the high, nervous tone definitely meant that something was wrong. The tension in Dariuss arm, and the way he was peering around, trying to see through the elemental soup surrounding us, told me that hed heard it, too.
As we got closer to the dorm, the voice got clearer and louder, and the words began to make sense.
No, really! II just wanta get back to my room, the frightened girls voice said.
You can get back. After Im done with you.
I froze, pulling Darius to a stop with me as I recognized the guys voice even before the girl answered him.
How about later, Stark? Then maybe we can Her words were abruptly cut off. I heard a little scream that ended in a gasp, and then there was an awful wet sound, and the moans began.
CHAPTER 20
Darius started forward, pulling me with him. We got to the little stoop that was the entrance to the girls dorm. There were wide stairs, framed with staggered, waist-high stone walls, excellent for sitting on and flirting with your boyfriend after hed walked you to the door and before he kissed you good night.
What Stark was doing was a twisted mockery of the good-night kissing that usually went on there. He was holding a girl in what could have been an embrace, had it not been obvious that, just seconds before his teeth had locked on her neck, shed been trying to get away from him. I watched, horrified, as Stark, oblivious to our presence, continued his attack on her. It didnt matter that the girl was now moaning with sexual pleasure. I mean, we all know thats what happens when a vamp bites someone: The sex receptors in both the victim (and in this case she was definitely his victim!) and the vamp were stimulated. She was physically feeling pleasure, but her wide, terrified eyes, and the rigidity of her body made it obvious she would fight him if she could. Stark was drinking in huge gulps from her throat. His moans were feral and the hand that wasnt holding her tight against his body was fumbling at the girls skirt, lifting it so that he could situate himself between her legs and
Free her! Darius commanded, pulling his arm from my grasp and stepping out of the pocket of concealing mist and night that had been hiding us.
Stark dropped the girl with no more thought than he would have given an empty QT Big Gulp. She whimpered and on hands and knees scrambled away from him toward Darius. Darius tossed an old-time handkerchief hed pulled from his pocket at me, and said, Help her. Then he situated himself like a muscular mountain between the hysterical girl and me and Stark.
I crouched down, realizing with a start of surprise that the girl was Becca Adams, a pretty blond fourth former who had had a crush on Erik. As I watched Darius confront Stark, I handed Becca the handkerchief and murmured soothing words to her.
You seem to keep getting in my way, Stark said. His eyes still glowed red, and there was blood on his mouth that he wiped absently away with the back of his hand. Again, I could see a darkness that pulsed around him. It wasnt completely visible, but more of a shadow within a shadow that shifted in and out of my vision, something that was actually easier seen when I wasnt looking for it.
And then it hit me. I knew where Id noticed such strange liquid darkness before. It had been in the shadows of the tunnels, and then again in the glimpse of the spectral form of Neferet that had turned into the Raven Mocker who had almost killed me! With more sudden insight I recognized this darkness further. I was sure it had been present, pulsing like a living shadow around Stevie Rae before shed Changed, only then my eyes and mind had just registered my best friends need and anguish and struggle, and Id processed the darkness shed been moving in only as internal. Goddess, Id been a fool! Overwhelmed, I tried to make sense of this new knowledge as Darius confronted Stark.
Perhaps no one has explained to you that vampyre males do not abuse females, be they human, vampyre, or fledgling. Darius spoke calmly, as if he were having an ordinary conversation with a friend.
Im not a vampyre. Stark pointed to the outline of the red crescent moon on his forehead.
That is an inconsequential detail.Darius motioned from himself to Starkdo not abuse females. Ever. The Goddess has taught us better.
Stark smiled, but the gesture lacked any real humor. I think youre gonna find that the rules have changed around here.
Well, boy, I think youll find that some of us have rules written hereDarius pointed to his heartand rules written there arent subject to the changing whims of those around us.
Starks face hardened. He reached back and pulled free a bow that had been fitted in a strap on his back. Then he took an arrow from the quiver Id assumed was a man purse hanging over his shoulder (I should have know it wasnt; Stark isnt exactly a man-purse kind of guy). He fitted the arrow in the bow and said, I think Ill make sure youre never in my way again.
No! I stood up and moved to Dariuss side, my heart pounding like crazy. What the hells happened to you, Stark?
I died! he yelled, his face twisting in anger as the ghostly darkness rolled around him. Now that it was visible to me, I wondered how I could ever have missed it. Ignoring the shadowy evil, I continued to confront him.
I know that! I yelled. I was there, remember? That made him pause. The bow dipped down a little. I took that as a good sign, and went on. You said youd come back to Duchess and to me.
When I said his dogs name, pain flashed across his face, and all of a sudden he looked young and vulnerable. But the expression only lasted an instant. I blinked and he was back to being dangerous and sarcastic, though his eyes had stopped glowing red.
Yeah, Im back. But things are different now. And bigger changes are coming. He gave Darius a look of utter disgust. All that old shit you believe in doesnt mean anything anymore. It makes you weak, and when youre weak you die.
Darius shook his head. Honoring the way of the Goddess is never weakness.
Yeah, well, I havent seen much of any goddess hanging around here, have you?
Yes, actually I have, I spoke up. Ive seen Nyx. She appeared right in thereI pointed at the girls dormjust a couple days ago.
Stark looked at me silently for a long time. I searched his face, trying to find some hint of that guy Id felt such a connection withwhom Id kissed right before hed died in my arms. But all I could see was an unpredictable stranger, and foremost in my mind was the knowledge that if he shot that bow he would not miss whatever he aimed at.
And suddenly that reminded me. He hadnt killed Stevie Rae. The fact that she was alive proved that he hadnt meant to kill her. So maybe there was some piece of the old Stark left within him.
Stevie Raes fine, by the way, I said.
Thats nothing to me, he said.
I shrugged. Just thought youd want to know, since it was your arrow that made her a shish kebab.
I was doing what I was told to do. The boss said make her bleed; I made her bleed.
Neferet? Is she whos controlling you? I asked.
His eyes blazed. No ones controlling me!
Your bloodlust is controlling you, Darius said. If you werent under its control, you wouldnt have had to force yourself on that fledgling.
Yeah? Ya think so? Well, youre wrong. I happen to like my bloodlust! I liked doing whatever I want with that girl. Its time vampyres stopped slinking around. Were smarter, stronger, better than humans. We should be in charge, not them!
That fledgling isnt a human. Dariuss voice was like a naked blade, reminding me that he wasnt just a big brother-type guy; he was a Son of Erebus and one of the most powerful warriors alive.
I was thirsty and there wasnt a human handy, Stark said.
Zoey, get the girl into the dorm. Darius didnt take his eyes off Stark. She is done serving his convenience.
I hurried over to Becca and helped her to her feet. She was a little wobbly but able to walk. As we reached Darius, he moved forward with us, always keeping himself between us and Stark. Just as we were passing by him, Stark spoke with an angry intensity that sent a chill down the back of my neck.
You know, all I have to do is think about killing you and shoot this arrow. Wherever you are, youre dead.
If that is so, then I will be dead, Darius said matter-of-factly. And you will be a monster.
I dont mind being a monster!
And I dont mind dying if it is in the service of my High Priestess and, ultimately, my Goddess, Darius said.
If you hurt him, Ill come against you with everything I have, I told Stark.
Stark looked at me and his lips tilted up in a ghost of that cute, cocky smile he used to have. Youre a little bit of a monster yourself, arent ya, Zoey?
I didnt think that nasty comment was worth a response, and obviously neither did Darius. He kept shepherding us by Stark, opening the front door of the dorm and helping Becca inside. But instead of me following her in, I paused. Intuition was telling me that there was something I had to do, and much as Id like to ignore my intuition, I knew I shouldnt. Ill be right in, I told Darius. I could see that he was going to argue with me, but I shook my head and said, Trust me. I just need a second.
Ill be inside the door, Darius said, threw Stark a hard look, and then stepped into the dorm.
I faced Stark. I knew I was taking a chance with what I was going to say to him, but I kept remembering Kramishas poem and the line that said, Humanity saves her / Will she save me? I at least had to try.
Jacks taking care of Duchess, I said without any preamble.
I saw that flash of pain in his eyes again, but his voice wasnt touched by it. So?
So Im just telling you that your dogs fine. Shes had a pretty hard time, but shes okay.
Im not who I used to be, so shes not my dog anymore. This time I heard a quaver in his voice, which gave me enough hope that I took a step toward him.
Hey, the great thing about dogs is that they give unconditional love. Duch doesnt care who you are right now. Shell still love you.
You dont know what youre talking about, he said.
Yeah, I do. Ive spent some time with your dog. Shes got a really big heart.
I wasnt talking about her. I was talking about me.
Well, Ive spent some time with red fledglings, too. Not to mention that the first ever Changed red vamp is my best friend. Stevie Raes different than she used to be, but I still love her, I said. Maybe if you spent some time with Stevie Rae and the rest of the red fledglings you could, I dont know, find yourself again. They have. I said this with way more confidence than I felt. After all, I had glimpsed fragments of the darkness surrounding Stark down in those tunnels, around those red fledglings, but I couldnt help believing it would be best to get him away from here, where evil seemed to come and go so easily.
Sure, he said too quickly. Why dont you take me to this Stevie Rae vamp and Ill see what happens?