We arent lurking, Hateful, Shaunees voice was little more than a whisper.
Yeah, were respectful-ing, Erin added in a twin whisper.
Oh, for shits sake. What are you two talking about? Aphrodite said.
Its disrespecting Zoeys, um, body to be all talking and stuff around her while shes Shaunee broke off, looking at her twin for help.
Before Erin could, as usual, finish her sentence, Stark said, No. We arent treating her like shes dead. Shes just not here, thats all.
So its more like a waiting room than a hospital room, Jack said, reaching from his chair to touch Zoeys hand.
Yeah, Stark said. Only its a waiting room for something really good.
Like at the DMV when youve passed your drivers test and had a really bad picture taken and youre just waiting for them to bring you your license? Jack said.
Exactly, only without the filth and the peasants, Aphrodite said. So pull up some chairs, brain-sharers, and stop acting like Zoeys a corpse.
The Twins hesitated, shared a glance, shrugged, and then pulled chairs into the bedroom and joined the groups little circle.
All right, now that were all together on this, you need to tell us what you found out from Stevie Rae, Darius said.
Aphrodite smiled at her Warrior. Howd you know I got the info from Stevie Rae?
Darius touched her face gently. I know you.
Stark clenched his fists and looked away from the bond that was so obvious between Aphrodite and Darius. He wanted to hit something. He needed to hit something. He was going to explode if he didnt get rid of some of the feelings that were choking him from the inside out. Then Aphrodites words penetrated the mess that was his mind, and he whirled around to face her. Say that again!
I said, Kalona really is in the Otherworld. Neferets sent him there to be sure Zoey doesnt pull herself together and make it back here.
Wait, no, I remember overhearing Kalona talking to Rephaim once. He was real pissed because the Raven Mocker had said something about returning to the Otherworld. Im sure Kalona said he couldnt go back because Nyx kicked him out, Stark said.
She kicked out his body. His body isnt there, Aphrodite said. Its his soul thats slithered its way back in.
OhmyGoddess! Damien said.
Zoeys in bigger trouble than we thought, Erin said sadly.
And that was already some really big trouble, Shaunee agreed.
It gets worse, Aphrodite said. Neferets behind all of this. She sighed and met Starks eyes. Okay, this is gonna be not so nice for you to hear, but you need to listen up and deal with it. Kalona used to be Nyxs Warrior.
The color drained from Starks face. Thats what Zoey told me right before . . . He rubbed a hand through his hair. I didnt believe her. I got pissed and jealous and stupid. Thats why I wasnt with her when she saw Kalona kill Heath.
Youre going to have to find a way to forgive yourself for that mistake, Darius told Stark. If you do not, you will not be able to focus on the here and now.
And its going to take a shitload of focus to save Zoey, Aphrodite said.
Because Starks gonna have to go to the Otherworld and fight Kalona for Zoey. Jacks voice was hushed, almost like he was talking during church.
And figure out a way to help her get the pieces of her soul together, Damien said.
Then thats what Ill do. Stark was glad he sounded confident because his gut felt like someone had punched him in it.
If you try to do that without the right preparation, you will have no chance at all of succeeding, young Warrior.
Starks eyes followed the voice to the doorway, where Thanatos stood, looking tall and grim and way too much like death personified.
Then tell me how to prepare! Stark wanted to shout his frustration from the rooftops of the world.
To do battle in the Otherworld, the Warrior in you must die to give birth to the Shaman.
Stark didnt hesitate. All I have to do is kill myself? You mean then my soul can go to the Otherworld and help Zoey?
It cannot be a literal death, Warrior. Think what it would do to Zoeys already wounded spirit were she to have to bear your death as well as that of her consort.
Theres no way shed ever leave the Otherworld then, Damien said solemnly. Even if she could get the pieces of her soul together.
Exactly, and that is what I believe happened to the other High Priestesses whose Warriors followed them into the Otherworld, Thanatos said, entering the room and walking to Zoeys bedside.
So the other Warriors really did kill themselves to protect their Priestesses? Aphrodite moved even closer to Darius and threaded her fingers through his.
Most of them did, and the Warriors who didnt die before their souls left their bodies did so shortly thereafter. You must understand that Warriors arent High Priestesses. They dont have the gifts it takes to move freely in the spirit realm.
Kalona is there, and hes definitely not a High Priestess, Stark said.
Even those of us who do not believe he is Erebus come to earth know that this being you call Kalona is an immortal who has somehow arrived here from the Otherworld. The rules that bind a Warrior, or even a male vampyre who is not a Warrior, do not apply to him.
He is bound, though, Aphrodite said, leaning forward with urgency. I can see his chains. His body is covered by them.
Tell me what youve seen, Prophetess, Thanatos said.
Aphrodite hesitated.
Tell her everything, Damien said. Aphrodite met his eyes. We have to trust someone, or it wont end up any different for Stark and Zoey than it has for those other Warriors and High Priestesses.
We might as well trust Death, Stark said. Because, one way or another, thats what Im going to have to face to get to Zoey.
Aphrodite looked from Starks pale face to Darius. I agree.
Me, too, said Jack.
Yeah, said Shaunee.
Tell her everything, added Erin.
All right, Aphrodite said. She gave Thanatos a wry smile. So, I better start with Neferet, and you better sit down.
Chapter 10
Stark
Stark thought it was pretty impressive that Thanatos kept her shock to a minimum as Aphrodite, with some help from Damien, explained everything to the High Priestess, beginning with Zoeys entrance to the House of Night, going through the discovery of the red fledglings, Kalonas rising, their slow realization of the depth of Neferets evil, and finally finishing up with the conversation shed had with Stevie Rae on the phone.
At the storys conclusion, Thanatos stood and walked over to stare down at Zoeys body. When the High Priestess finally spoke, it seemed she was talking to Z more than to them.
So from the beginning this has been a battle between Light and Darkness, only until now it has been fought mostly in the physical realm.
Light and Darkness? It sounds like youre using those two words as titles, said Damien.
Very astute of you, young fledgling, Thanatos said.
Thats what Stevie Rae was doing, too. Using Darkness like a title, Aphrodite said.
Titles? Like theyre two people? Jack asked.
Not peoplethats too limiting. Think of them more as immortals who are so powerful that they can manipulate energy to such an extent that spirit can be made tangible, Thanatos said.
You mean like Nyx is Light and Kalona, or at least what he represents, is Darkness? Damien said.
It is more accurate to say that Nyx is allied with Light. The same can be said for Kalona and Darkness.
Okay, Im not Miss Perfect Schoolgirl, but Im smart, and I actually did pay attention in class. Most of the time. I havent heard of any of this stuff, Aphrodite said.
Neither have I, Damien said.
And thats saying something, cause Damien is definitely Miss Perfect Schoolgirl, said Erin.
Totally, said Shaunee.
Thanatos sighed and turned from Zoey to face the rest of the room. Yes, well, it is an ancient belief that I dont think was ever fully accepted by our society, or at least the Priestesses of our society.
Why? Whats wrong with it? Aphrodite asked.
It was based on struggle and violence and the clash of the raw powers of good and evil.
Aphrodite snorted, You mean guy stuff.
Thanatoss brows lifted. I do.
Hang on. Whats so guy-stuff-like about believing in good fighting evil? Stark said.
Its more than a simple belief that there is good and that it should fight the evil in the world. Its a personification of Light and Darkness at their most elemental level, as forces that are so absorbed with themselves that one cannot exist without the other though they constantly try to consume one another. Thanatos sighed again at the blank looks the kids were giving her. One of the earliest representations of Light and Darkness was of Light being a massive black bull and Darkness being an enormous white bull.
Huh? Shouldnt the white be Light and the black be Darkness? Jack asked.
One would think so, but it is thus that they were represented in our ancient scrolls. It was written that each creature, Light and Darkness, carried something for which the other would always long. Think of the bulls, swollen with the power they wield, meeting in eternal combat, each struggling to get something from the other it could never attain without destroying itself. I saw a depiction of their battle once when I was a young High Priestess, and Ive never forgotten how raw and violent it wasdisturbingly so. The bulls horns were locked. Their powerful bodies strained to reach the other, blood spewed, nostrils flared. It was a deadlock that was frightening in its intensitythe painting itself seemed to vibrate with power.
Masculine power, Darius said. Ive seen that depiction, too, when I was in training to become a Warrior. It decorated the cover of some of the ancient journals written by great Warriors from our past.
Masculine power. I can see why the vamp leaders let that bull stuff fade away, Erin said.
Seriously, Twin. Shaunee nodded. Too much guy power when vamps are mostly about girl power.
But our belief system isnt about female power suppressing male power. Its about a healthy balance between the two, Darius said.
No, Warrior, the truth is our belief system is not supposed to be about female power suppressing male power; but as with Light and Darkness, it is an eternal struggle to find a balance between the two without one destroying the other. Think of the images of Nyx that we see about us every day, with their feminine beauty and appeal. Contrast that to an imagining of the raw power unleashed in the form of two great, battling, male creatures. Do you see how a world trying to contain both would be in conflict, and thus one must be suppressed in order to allow the other to thrive?
Aphrodite snorted, Thats not so hard to imagine. I cant imagine the uptight High Council wanting anything to do with something as messy as two giant guy bulls and any beliefs they represent.
She means except for you, Stark said, frowning at Aphrodite and sending her a youre not helping look.
Thanatos smiled. No, Aphrodite is correct. The Council has changed over the centuries, especially over the past four I have existed. It used to be a vital force, in its own way very elemental and rather barbaric in its power. But in modern times it has become . . . The High Priestess hesitated, searching for the correct word.
Civilized, Aphrodite said. Its super civilized.
It is, Thanatos said.
Aphrodites blue eyes widened. And being too civilized isnt necessarily a good thing, especially when youre dealing with two bulls ramming against each other and taking out anything that stands between them.
Zoeys awfully close to Light, Damien said softly.
Close enough to get gored by Darkness, Stark said. Especially if Darkness has been sent to be sure she doesnt ever reach the Light again.
The room went silent while everyones eyes went to Zoey, lying silent and pale against the very civilized cream-colored satin linens.
It was within the silence that the realization came to Stark, and with the instincts of a Warrior guarding his High Priestess, he knew he had found the right path.
Then finding out how to protect Zoey isnt about ignoring the past. Its about looking deeper into the past than anyone today would think to do, Stark said, excitement raising his voice.
And its about embracing and understanding the raw power that is unleashed by the struggle between Light and Darkness, Thanatos said.
But where the hell do we find out about that? Aphrodite said, brushing her hair back from her face in frustration. The beliefs we need have died outyou said that yourself, Thanatos.
Perhaps not everywhere, Darius said, sitting up straighter, his eyes sharp and intelligent as his gaze met Starks. If you want to find ancient and barbaric beliefs you have to go to a place formed by an ancient and barbaric past. A place that is essentially cut off from todays civilization.
The answer jolted through Stark. I have to go to the Isle.
Exactly, Darius said.
What the hell are you two talking about? Aphrodite said.
They speak of the place where Warriors were first trained by Sgiach.
Sgiach? Who is that? Damien asked.
It is the ancient title for the Warrior who was called The Great Taker of Heads, Darius said.
Sgiach was as raw and barbaric as it gets as a Warrior, Stark said.
Okay, this is all well and good, but we need him to be alive today and not just an old story Warriors know, cause Im pretty sure if Stark cant travel to the Otherworld, he also cant travel to the past, Aphrodite said.
She, Darius corrected.
She? Aphrodites face was a question mark.
Sgiach was a female Warrior, a vampyre of amazing powers, Stark said.
And those old stories, my beauty, also say that there will always be a Sgiach. Darius gave Aphrodite an indulgent smile. She lives on the Isle of Women at the House of Night there.
Theres an Isle of Women House of Night? Erin said.
Why dont we know about that? Shaunee said. Do you know about that? she asked Damien.
He shook his head. Never heard of it.
Thats because youre not Warriors, Darius said. The Isle of Women is also known as the Isle of Skye.
Skye, like in Scotland? Damien said.
Yes. It is there that the very first vampyre Warriors were trained, Darius said.
But not anymore, right? Damien said, looking from Darius to Stark. I mean, Warrior training goes on at all the Houses of Night. Like Dragon Lankford trains a bunch of Warriors who come from all over, and hes definitely not in Scotland.
You are correct, Damien. In the modern world the training of Warriors takes place at the House of Night schools throughout the world, Thanatos said. Around the turn of the nineteenth century, the High Council decided that would a more convenient way of doing things.
More convenient and more civilized, I bet, Aphrodite said.
You, too, are correct, Prophetess, Thanatos said.
Thats it, then. I take Zoey to the Isle of Women and Sgiach, Stark said.
And then what? Aphrodite asked.
Then I get uncivilized so that I can figure out how to fight my way into the Otherworld without dying, and, once Im there, I do whatever I have to do to bring Zoey back to us.
Huh, said Aphrodite. That actually doesnt sound like a bad idea.
If Stark is allowed to enter the Isle, Darius said.
Its a House of Night. Why wouldnt they let Stark come in? Damien said.
Its a House of Night like none other, Thanatos said. The High Councils decision to move the training of the Sons of Erebus from Skye and spread them out among the Houses of Night worldwide was a decision that was the culmination of many, many years of tension and unease between the reigning Sgiach and the High Council.
You make her sound like a queen, Jack said.
In a way she isa queen whose subjects were Warriors, Thanatos said.
A queen in charge of the Sons of Erebus? I know the vamp High Council wouldnt like that, not unless Queen Sgiach was part of the High Council, too, Aphrodite said.
Sgiach is a Warrior, Thanatos said. And Warriors are not allowed on the High Council.
But Sgiach is a woman. She should be able to be voted onto the Council, Damien said.
No, Darius said. No Warrior can sit on the Council. That is vampyre law.
And that probably pissed off Sgiach, Aphrodite said. I know itd piss me off. She should be able to sit on the High Council.
Thanatos bowed her head in acknowledgment. I agree with you, Prophetess, but many did not. When the training of the Sons of Erebus Warriors was taken from her, Sgiach withdrew to the Isle of Skye. She spoke to no one about her intention, but she didnt need to. We all felt her anger. We also felt the protective circle she cast around her Isle. Thanatoss eyes were filled with the shadows of memories of the past. No one had experienced its like since the mighty vampyre Cleopatra cast a protective circle around her beloved Alexandria.
No one enters the Isle of Women without the permission of Sgiach, Darius said.
If they attempt to do sothey die, Thanatos said.
Well, how do I get permission to enter the Isle? Stark asked.
There was a long, awkward silence, and then Thanatos said, Therein lies the first of your problems. Since Sgiach cast her protective circle, no outsider has been given permission to enter her Isle.
Ill get permission, Stark said firmly.
How are you going to do that, Warrior? Thanatos asked.
Stark blew out a long breath, and said, I know how Im not going to do it. Im not going to be civilized. And right now thats about all I know.
Hang on, Damien said. Thanatos, Darius, you both know things about Sgiach and this ancient barbaric religion. So, where did you learn it?
Ive always liked to read. Darius shrugged. So I was drawn to the old scrolls at the House of Night where I studied the blade. In my off time, I read.
Dangerous and sexy. Thats an excellent combination, Aphrodite purred, snuggling into him.
Okay, well all barf later, Erin said.
Yeah, right now, stop interrupting, Shaunee said.
What about your knowledge of the bulls and Sgiach? Damien asked Thanatos, giving the Twins and Aphrodite be quiet looks.
From ancient texts here in the palace archives. When I first became a High Priestess, I spent many hours studying here by myself. I had to; I had no mentor, Thanatos said.
No mentor? Thatd be hard, Stark said.
Apparently our world only needs one High Priestess at a time who has been gifted with an affinity for death, Thanatos said with a wry smile.
Thats a sucky job description, Jack said, and then clamped his hand over his mouth, and squeaked, Sorry!
Thanatoss smile widened. I take no offense at your words, child. To be allied with Death is not an easy career path.
But because of that, and because Darius is a reading Warrior, we have something to go by, Damien said.
What are you thinking? Aphrodite said.
Im thinking that Im really good at one thingand thats studying.
Aphrodites blue eyes widened. So we just need to point you to something to study.
The archives. You need access to the palace archives, Thanatos said, already heading toward the door. Ill speak with Duantia.
Excellent. Ill get ready to study, Damien said.
Ill help, Jack said.
Nerd herd, as much as I hate it, it looks like were all gonna get ready to study.
Stark watched Thanatos go. He vaguely registered that the rest of the kids were excited that they had somewhere to focus their energy, but his gaze went back to Zoeys pale face.
And Ill get ready to ally myself with death.
Zoey
Nothing seemed right.
It wasnt like I didnt know where I was. I mean, I knew I was in the Otherworld but not dead, and that I was with Heath, who definitely was dead.
Goddess! It was so weird that it was becoming more and more normal to think of Heath as DEAD.
Anyway, besides that, stuff just wasnt right.
At this moment I was curled up with Heath. We were spooning like an old married couple at the base of a tree on a mossy mattress made by the joining of ancient roots in a roughly bedlike oval. I should have been majorly comfortable. The moss was definitely soft, and it really did seem like Heath was alive. I could see him, hear him, touch himhe even smelled like Heath. I should be able to relax and just be with him.
So why, I wondered as I stared at a gaggle of dancing blue-winged butterflies, am I so restless and generally out of sorts as Grandma would say?
Grandma . . .
I did miss her. Her absence was like a mild toothache. Sometimes the feeling went away, but I knew it was there, and it would come backprobably worse.
She must really be worried about me. And sad. Thinking of how sad Grandma would be was hard, and my mind skirted away from it quickly.
I couldnt keep lying there. I moved away from Heath, careful not to wake him up.
Then I started to pace.
That helped. Well, it seemed to for a little while. I walked back and forth, back and forth, making sure I could see Heath. He did look cute while he slept.
I wished I could sleep.
I couldnt, though. If I restedif I closed my eyesit was like I lost pieces of myself. But how could that be? How could I be losing myself? It reminded me a little of the time I had strep throat and such a high fever that I had a super weird dream where I kept spinning around and around until pieces of my body started to fly off me.
I shivered. Why was that so easy to remember when a bunch of other stuff in my head was so foggy?
Goddess, I was really tired.
Distracted, I kinda tripped over one of the pretty white rocks that jutted up out of the grass and moss, and caught myself from falling by throwing up a hand and grabbing the side of the closest tree.
Thats why I saw it. My hand. My arm. It didnt look right. I stopped and stared, and I swear my skin rippled, like in one of those gross horror movies where nasty stuff gets under an almost naked girls flesh and crawls around, making her
No! I wiped frantically at my arm. No! Stop!
Zo, babe, whats wrong?
Heath, Heathlook. I held my arm out for him to see. Its like a horror movie.
Heaths gaze went from my arm to my face. Uh, Zo, whats like a horror movie?
My arm! My skin! Its moving. I flailed at him.
His smile didnt hide the worry on his face. He reached out and slowly ran his hand down my arm. When he got to my hand, he threaded his fingers with mine.
Theres nothing wrong with your arm, babe, he said.
You really dont think so?
Really, seriously, I dont think so. Hey, whats going on with you?
I opened up my mouth to tell him that I thought I was losing myselfthat bits of myself were floating awaywhen something caught my eye at the edge of the tree line. Something dark.
Heath, I dont like that, I told him, pointing a shaking hand at the spot of shadows.
The breeze stirred the wide green leaves of the trees that seemed suddenly not as thick and sheltering as they had moments ago, and the scent came to me, sickening and ripe, like three-day-old roadkill. I felt Heaths body jerk, and knew I wasnt imagining it.
Then the shadows out there stirred, and I was sure I heard wings.
Oh, no, I whispered.
Heaths hand tightened on mine. Come on. We need to get farther inside here.
I felt frozen and numb all at the same time. Why? How can trees save us from whatever that is?
Heath took my chin in his hand and made me look at him. Zo, cant you feel it? This place, this grove, is good, purely good. Babe, cant you feel your Goddess in here?
The tears that filled my eyes made him all blurry. No, I said softly, as if I could barely form the words. I cant feel my Goddess at all.
He pulled me into his arms and hugged me tight. Dont worry, Zo. I can feel her, so itll be okay. I promise. Then, while I was still cradled by one of his arms, Heath guided me deeper into Nyxs grove as my tears overflowed and fell wet and hot down my cold cheeks.
Chapter 11
Stevie Rae
Skye? Really? Where is that? Ireland? Stevie Rae said.
Its Scotland, not Ireland, retard, Aphrodite said.
Arent they kinda the same thing? And dont say retard. Its not nice.
How about if I say bite me? Is that nice enough? Just listen and try not to be so asstarded, bumpkin. I need you to go back and do more of your weird commune with the earth or whatthefuckever it is you do, and see if you can come up with some info about Light and Darknessyou know, with a capital L and D. Also pay attention if a tree or whatnot says something about two bulls.
Bulls? You mean like cows?
Are you not from the country? How is it that you dont know what a bull is?
Look, Aphrodite, thats an ignorant stereotype. Just cause Im not from a big city does not mean I automatically know about cows and stuff. Heck, I dont even like horses.
I swear youre a mutant, Aphrodite said. A bull is a male cow. Even my moms schizophrenic Bichon Frise knows that. Focus, would you, this is important. You need to go ask the fucking grass about an ancient and entirely too barbaric and therefore unattractive mythology or religion or some such that includes two fighting bulls, a white one and a black one, and a very guylike, violent, unending struggle between good and evil.
What does this have to do with gettin Zoey back?
I think it might somehow open a door for Stark to the Otherworld, without him actually dying because, apparently, that doesnt so much work for Warriors protecting their High Priestesses there.
The cows can do that? How? Cows cant even talk.
Bulls, double retard. Stay with me. Im not just talking about animals, but the rawness of the power that surrounds them. The bulls represent that power.
So theyre not gonna talk?
Oh, for shits sake! They might and they might nottheyre super old magick, stupid! Who the hell knows what they can do? Just get this: to make it to the Otherworld, Stark cant be civilized and modern and all nicey-nice. Hes got to figure out how to be more than that to reach Zoey and to protect her without getting both of them killed, and this olden-time religion might be a key to that.
I guess that makes sense. I mean, when I think about Kalona, I dont exactly think of a modern guy. Stevie Rae paused, acknowledging only to herself that she was truly thinking of Rephaim and not his father. And hes definitely got some raw power.
And definitely in the Otherworld without being dead.
Which is where Stark needs to be.
So, go talk to flowers about bulls and such, Aphrodite said.
Ill go talk to flowers, Stevie Rae said.
Call me when they tell you something.
Yeah, okay. Ill do my best.
Hey, be careful, Aphrodite said.
See, you can be nice, Stevie Rae said.
Before you go all strawberries and cream on me, answer this question: whod you Imprint with after ours broke?
Stevie Raes body went ice-cold. No one!
Which means someone totally inappropriate. Who is it, one of those red fledgling losers?
AphroditeI said no one.
Yeah, thats what I figured. See, one of the things Im learning about because of this new Prophetess stuff, which is mostly a pain in the ass, by-the-by, is that if I listen without my ears, I know things.
Heres what I knowyouve lost your dang mind.
So, again, be careful. Im getting weird vibes from you, and theyre telling me you might be in trouble.
I think youve just made up a big ol story to cover up that whole lot of crazy you got going on inside your head.
And I think youre hiding something. So lets just agree to disagree.
Im goin to talk to flowers about cows. Goodbye, Aphrodite.