Yeah. Okay, do not tell anyone else this next part, not even Darius. Do you swear?
Yeah, yeah, whatever. Cross my heart and hope to
Just saying you wont tell is good enough for me, I said, not wanting to hear anything about hoping to die come out of her mouth.
I wont tell. So, what is it?
Were not going back to the depot tunnels when we leave here. Were going to the Benedictine Abbey.
Her gaze on me was sharp and way more intelligent than most people gave her credit for being. Do you really think thats a good idea?
I trust Sister Mary Angela, and I have a bad feeling about the tunnels.
Ah, shit. I hate it when you say that.
Hell, I dont like it either! But I sensed a darkness down there that Ive been seeing too much of.
Neferet, Aphrodite whispered.
Im afraid so. I spoke slowly, thinking aloud. And Im thinking that the influence of the nuns might repel her. Plus, Sister Mary Angela told me that there was a place of power there at the abbey, something that made my control over the elements not so surprising to her. I think she called it Marys Grotto. As I spoke I felt that sureness within that told me Nyx was pleased with the choices I was making. Maybe we can somehow use the power there, like weve used the power over by the east wall before. At the very least it might help me keep us cloaked.
Marys Grotto? Sounds like something that should be in the ocean and not in Tulsa. Look, just keep in mind that the place of power by the east wall has been misused about as much as its been tapped into for good, she said. And what about Stevie Rae and her freaks? Not to mention your boyfriends?
Theyll be there. Or at least I hope they will. The Raven Mockers have been watching around depot.
Well, I can tell you from being around her for those two days that she is majorly resourceful, and some of those resources are not so nice. She paused and kinda squirmed uncomfortably.
What is it? I prompted.
Look, if I tell you, I want you to promise to believe me.
Fine. I promise. Now what is it?
Well, talking about your bumpkin BFF and her bag of tricks kinda reminded me of something. Something I found out after she and I, well, you know.
Imprinted? I said, trying (unsuccessfully) not to smile.
Its not funny, smart-ass, she snapped. Its annoying. Anyway, remember when you were talking to Stevie Rae about the extent of the tunnels and whatnot?
I thought back. Yeah, I remember. Then my stomach clenched as I replayed the scene in my mind and I really did remember how Stevie Rae had looked all uncomfortable when I asked her about other red fledglings, and I braced myself to hear what Aphrodite had to say.
She lied to you.
I had a feeling Aphrodite had been going to say that, but knowing didnt make hearing it any easier. Exactly what did she lie about?
So you believe me?
I sighed. Sadly, yes. Youre Imprinted with her. That means youre close to her in a way no one else is. My Imprint with Heath has taught me that.
Okay, look. I do not want to do the nasty with Stevie Rae.
I rolled my eyes. I didnt mean that, you dork. There are different kinds of Imprints. My bond with Heath is very physical, but Ive been attracted to him for years. Uh, can I assume Im right when I say youve never been attracted to Stevie Rae?
Hell yes, you can assume that, Aphrodite said dryly.
Both of you have psychic abilities. Its only logical that your bond would be mental, not physical, I said.
Yeah, good. Im glad you get that. And thats how I know she was lying to you when she said the red fledglings she introduced us to are the only ones there are. There are more. She knows it, and shes in touch with them.
And youre absolutely sure of this?
Totally and absolutely, she said.
Well, I cant worry about that right now, but that could definitely explain some of the darkness I sensed down there. Its the same aura that used to surround Stevie Rae, but its going to have to wait until we get out of here, I said, feeling miserable and upset that my BFF felt like she had to lie to me.
I hate to be the one to clue you in, but Stevie Rae has more secrets than Paris Hilton has purses. On the bright side, Im betting your lying bumpkin friend, the freaks, and your boyfriends make it past the bird boys.
I hope so. I sighed and messed with my napkin.
Hey, she said softly. Try not to let this thing with Stevie Rae freak you out. Shes keeping secrets, but I can also tell you that she cares about youa lot. I also know shes choosing good, no matter how hard it is for her sometimes.
I know that. I believe Stevie Rae must have a reason for not telling me things. I mean, its not like Ive never kept secrets from my friends before. Yeah, I added silently to myself. And you messed up big-time because of that, too.
Okay, so its not just Stevie Rae thats making you look like you need some pharmaceutical help to cheer up. Then her brows raised as she continued to study me. Oh, I get it. Youre having boyfriend issues. Or should I say boyfriends issues?
Sadly, the plural seems to be the correct form of the word, I muttered.
Erik and I used to have a thing, but you know thats way over. You can talk to me if you need to.
I looked at her and again thought how ironic it was that she was right. I really could talk to her.
Im not sure I want to be with Erik, I blurted.
Her eyes got just a little wider, but her voice stayed nonchalant. Hes pressuring you about sex?
I shrugged. Yes, no. Kinda. But its not just that. I leaned forward and lowered my voice. Aphrodite, did he ever get possessive and über-jealous with you?
She curled her lip in a sarcastic sneer. He tried. I dont so much tolerate the jealous bullshit. Then she paused and in a more serious tone added, Neither should you, Z.
I know, and Im not. I sighed. I have a lot to deal with when this mess is over.
Seriously. You have a mess to deal with when this mess is over. She gobbled another forkful of spaghetti.
Well, lets try and get this particular mess over with then so I can go back to my ridiculous personal drama. Tell Darius to be ready for some bad stuff to go down tonight. Like he said, Kalona isnt going to be happy when we get out of here.
No, he said Kalona isnt going to be happy when you get out of here. He really has a thing for you.
I know, and I wish hed just get over it, I said.
Hey, have you thought any more about that first poem Kramisha gave you before we left the tunnels? It sounded like it was a formula for getting rid of Kalona.
Well, if its a formula, I havent figured it out. I didnt want to admit to Aphrodite that I hadnt thought at all about Kramishas poemor at least not the one about Kalona. Id been completely distracted by the second poem, and by the possibility of Starks humanity being returned to him. And that realization made my stomach clench. What if Stark was diverting me on purpose? What if he was putting on an act when the two of us were alone so that I would be too involved with him to figure out the other poem or anything elselike a way to get out of the House of Night?
Okay, clearly, your issues are weighing on you. And I think we can sum up your problems in one word, Aphrodite said.
I met her eyes and we said the one word together. Boys.
She snorted, and I gave a kinda hysterical little giggle. Lets just hope someday all of this goes away and your biggest problem is boy drama. She hesitated and then added, I hope youre not still thinking about Stark.
I shrugged and took a massive bite of spaghetti.
Look, I did some asking around, and the boy is wrong. Period, the end. Just forget about him.
I swallowed, chewed some more, and swallowed again. Aphrodite was still studying me.
The poem might not have even been about him, she said.
I know, I said.
Do you? And, look, you need to focus on getting us the hell out of here, and getting rid of Kalonaor at least chasing him away from here. Figure that out now. Worry about Stark and Erik and Heath and even Stevie Rae later.
Yes, I know, I said. Ill think about them all later.
Yeah, right. I still remember how you were the night Stark died. He got to you. But you have to remember the Stark thats strutting around here, acting like hes all that, and basically using girls and throwing them aside after he fucks with their minds even more than their bodies, is not the guy who died in your arms.
What if he is that guy, but he just needs to Change like Stevie Rae did?
Well, I can promise you Im not giving up another piece of my humanity to save his ass. Shit, Zoey, Eriks a better bet than Stark! Are you hearing me?
Im hearing you. I drew a deep breath. Okay, Im going to forget all guys right now and focus on getting us gone, and then getting Kalona gone, too.
Good. You can deal with boy issues later.
Okay, I said.
And you can deal with BFF issues later.
Okay, I said.
Okay, she said.
We went back to eating. Id meant what Id said. I was going to deal with all my personal issues. Later. Really. Or at least thats what I told myself
CHAPTER 27
I was thinking that drama class wouldnt be a big deal. One of the pod professors would probably substitute for Erik, who had taken over temporarily for Professor Nolan after shed been killed. I sat in the desk behind Becca, feeling weirdly déjà vu-ish, and half expecting to see Eriks pissed-off face calling me up in front of the class to try to seduce or humiliate me.
Oh! My! God! He was not with me! Even though I sooooo wish he had been!
Beccas annoying exclamation marks snagged my attention from being disgruntled at Erik. She was talking in little gaspy starts and stops to the girl across the row from her who I recognized as a fifth-former named Cassie. I kinda knew her because shed placed twenty-fifth in the National Shakespeare Monologue Contest Erik had won, and all the drama kids tended to hang out with each other. Today, though, she wasnt acting like a Shakespearean heroine. She was acting like a pain-in-the-butt giggly girl.
Well, he wasnt with me, either. But I can tell you, since he bit me Ive been dying to do a little biting and sucking of my own on him, Cassie said, and then dissolved into giggles. Again.
Who are you guys talking about? I asked, even though I was pretty sure I already knew.
Stark, of course. Hes only the hottest guy at the House of Night. Well, if you dont count Kalona, Becca said.
CFFboth of them, Cassie said.
CFF? I asked.
Completely freaking fine, Becca said.
I realized afterwards that I should have kept my mouth shut. I mean, I was attempting to converse with what amounted to brainwashed pod people, but I couldnt stay out of it, and yes, I knew that some of my pissed-off-ness came from a totally inappropriate feeling of jealousy.
Uh, excuse me, Becca, I said, heavy on the sarcasm. But didnt Darius and I recently save your butt from getting raped and bit by oooh! the hottest guy at the House of Night? Then you were snotting and whimpering.
Shocked at my outburst, Becca opened, shut, and opened her mouth again, reminding me of a fish.
Youre just jealous. Cassie didnt look or sound shocked; she looked like a hateful bitch. Eriks gone. Loren Blakes dead. So now you dont have the two hottest guys at school on your little leash.
I felt my face flush. Had Neferet told everyone about Loren and me? I didnt know what to say, but Becca didnt give me a chance to speak anyway.
Yeah, just because youre all high and mighty with the elements doesnt mean you can have any guy you want. Becca was giving me the same hateful glare shed given Damien and the Twins when theyd tried to talk sense into her last night. The rest of us can actually have a chance once in a while, too.
I clamped down on my urge to shriek at her and tried reason instead. Becca, youre not thinking clearly. Last night, when Darius and I broke it up between you and Stark, he was forcing you to let him suck your blood, and he was also on the verge of raping you. I hated saying it. I especially hated knowing it was true.
I dont remember it that way, Becca said. I remember liking the sucking, and I would have liked the rest of what goes along with Stark sucking a girls blood. You busted up something good that was none of your business.
You remember it like that because Stark messed with your mind.
Becca and Cassie laughed, causing lots of heads to turn in our direction.
The next thing youre going to say is that Kalona is messing with our minds, too, and thats why we think hes so damn hot, Cassie said.
Are you actually saying you two cant tell that things have been different around here since Kalona broke out of the ground?
Yeah. So? Hes consort to Nyxs Incarnate. His presence is bound to make things different, Cassie said.
And of course he came out of the ground. Earth is one of Nyxs elements. Like you dont know that? Becca said, rolling her eyes at Cassie.
Id just opened my mouth to try to explain to them that hed escaped the earth, not been born through it, when the door to the classroom opened and Kalona strode in.
There was a cumulative sigh from every female except me. And, to be completely honest, Id wanted to sigh and had to clamp my jaws together to stop myself. He was just so utterly gorgeous. Today he was wearing black slacks and a short-sleeved, button-up shirt that was untucked, unbuttoned, and hanging open enough that whenever he moved I could see the flawless bronze of his chest and his yummy six-pack. Someone had slit the back of the shirt, because his magnificent black wings protruded through and then tucked neatly against his broad back. His long dark hair was loose on his shoulders, making him look, despite his modern clothes, like an ancient god.
I wanted to ask Becca or Cassie how old he looked to them, because to me he again seemed only eighteen or nineteen, in the prime of his youth and strength, and not too ancient and mysterious to be out of my reach.