For an instant, the black bulls gaze met Rephaims, and the Raven Mocker gasped. Hed never seen such kindness in his life; hed never even known such kindness could exist.
Do not let her have made the wrong choice. The new voice in his mind was as deep as the first bulls had been, but filled with a wealth of compassion. Because whether you are worthy or not, she has paid the price.
The black bull lowered his head and charged the white bull, hurling it off Rephaims body. There was a deafening crash as the two met, and then a silence so deep it, too, was deafening.
The tendrils dissipated like dew from the summer sun. Stevie Rae was on her knees, reaching for him, when the smoke vanished, and the fledgling ran into the circle, knife raised and ready.
Get back, Stevie Rae! Im gonna fucking kill it!
Stevie Rae touched the ground, and murmured, Earth, trip him. Hard.
Over Stevie Raes shoulder, Rephaim saw the ground rise up right in front of the boys feet, and the wiry fledgling fell down face-firsthard.
Can you fly? she whispered.
I think so, he murmured back.
Then get back to the Gilcrease, she said urgently. Ill come to you later.
Rephaim hesitated. He didnt want to leave her so soon after theyd been through so much together. Was she really well, or had Darkness taken too much from her?
Im okay. Promise, Stevie Rae told him softly as if reading his mind. Go on.
Rephaim stood. With one last look at Stevie Rae, he unfurled his wings and forced his battered body to carry him into the sky.
Chapter 14
Stevie Rae
Dallas was half carrying, half dragging Stevie Rae around the corner of the school, arguing with her about going to the infirmary instead of just back to her room, when Kramisha and Lenobia, who were walking toward Nyxs Temple, caught sight of them.
Sweet weeping baby Jesus, you is messed up! Kramisha yelled, stumbling to a halt.
Dallas, lets get her to the infirmary! Lenobia said. Unlike Kramisha, she didnt freeze at the bloody sight of Stevie Rae; instead, she hurried to her other side and helped Dallas support her weight, automatically angling them toward the infirmary entrance.
Look, no, yall. Just take me to my room. I need a phone, not a doctor. And I cant find my dang cell phone.
You cant find it because that bird thing ripped almost all your clothes off of you, along with your skin. Your cells probably back at the park smooshed in the ground thats still soaked with your blood. Youre goin to the damn infirmary.
I have a phone. You can use mine, Kramisha said, catching up to them.
You can use Kramishas phone, but Dallas is right. You cant even stand by yourself. Youre going to the infirmary, Lenobia said firmly.
Fine. Whatever. Get me to a chair or somethin so I can make a call. You have Aphrodites number, dont you? she asked Kramisha
Yeah. But dont think that makes us friends or anything, Kramisha muttered.
As they headed into the infirmary, Lenobias sharp gaze kept returning to Stevie Raes battered body. Youre in bad shape. Again, she said. Then Dallass words seemed to catch up with her, and the Horse Mistresss gray eyes widened in shock. Did you say a bird did this?
Bird thing, Dallas said at the same time Stevie Rae said, No!
Dallas, I do not have the time or the energy to argue with you bout this right now.
You mean you didnt see what happened to her? Lenobia asked.
No. There was too much smoke and darkness; I couldnt see her, and I couldnt get into the circle to help her. And when it all cleared she was like this and a bird thing was crouching over her.
Dallas, stop talkin bout me like Im not here! And he wasnt crouched over me. He was lyin on the ground next to me.
Lenobia started to speak, but theyd reached the infirmary, and Sapphire, the tall, blond nurse who had been promoted to head of the hospital in the absence of a Healer, greeted them with her usual sour expression, which quickly changed to shock. Put her in there! she ordered briskly, pointing into a newly emptied hospital-style room.
They laid Stevie Rae on the bed, and Sapphire started to yank stuff out of one of the metal cabinets. One of the things she grabbed was a baggie of blood she tossed to Lenobia. Make her drink this immediately.
No one said anything for the few seconds it took for Lenobia to rip open the blood bag and help support Stevie Raes shaking hands as she held it to her mouth and drank greedily.
Im gonna need some more of that, Stevie Rae said. And, like I said before, a dang phone. Right away.
I need to see whats sliced up your body like that, made you lose entirely too much blood, which you need to replace right away, and figure out why the blood thats still dripping out of your body smells completely wrong, said Sapphire.
Raven Mocker! Thats the name of that thing, Dallas said.
A Raven Mocker attacked you? Lenobia said.
No. And thats what Ive been tryin to get through Dallass thick skull. Darkness attacked me and a Raven Mocker.
And like I said, youre not making no damn sense. I saw that bird thing. I saw your blood. These definitely look like slash wounds from that beak of his. I didnt see anything else! Dallas practically shouted.
You didnt see anything because Darkness was covering everything inside the circle, including me and the Raven Mocker while it attacked both of us! Stevie Rae yelled her frustration at him.
Why does it sound like you keep standing up for that thing? Dallas said, throwing up his hands.
You know what, Dallas, you can just kiss my butt! Im not standing up for anyone except myself. Its not like you could manage to get inside the circle to help me outI had to do it myself!
There was a long silence while Dallas stared at her with hurt clearly visible in his eyes, and then Sapphire spoke in her sharp, shitty bedside voice, Dallas, you need to leave. Im going to cut whats left of these clothes off her, and its not appropriate for you to be in here.
But I
Youve brought your High Priestess home. You did well, Lenobia told him, touching his arm gently. Now let us care for her.
Dallas, uh, why dont you go get somethin to eat? Ill be fine, Stevie Rae said, already sorry shed taken out on him the frustration fear and guilt were making her feel.
Yeah, all right. Im goin.
Hey, Lenobias right, Stevie Rae called after him as he slouched from the room. You did good bringin me home.
He glanced over his shoulder at her just before he closed the door, and she thought shed never seen his eyes look so sad. Anything for you, girl.
The door had barely closed behind him when Lenobias voice shot out. Explain about the Raven Mocker.
Yeah, I thought they was all gone, Kramisha said.
The two of you may stay. Margareta has gone to replenish our supplies from St. Johns Hospital, so I can use the extra hands, but youll have to talk while you help me, Sapphire told them, handing Lenobia another baggie o blood. Open this for her. Kramisha, go over there, wash your hands, and then start handing me those alcohol-soaked cotton balls.
Kramisha shot Sapphire a raised-brow look, but she went to the sink. Lenobia ripped open the bag and gave it to Stevie Rae, who drank slowly, buying herself some time.
With a ripping sound that seemed too loud for the room, Sapphire cut away what remained of Stevie Raes pants and her Dont hate the 918 T-shirt.
Stevie Rae felt everyones eyes staring at her mostly bare body. She wished shed worn a better bra, shifted nervously, and said, Dang, I loved those Cowgirl U jeans. I hate to think about havin to go back to Thirty-first and Memorial to Drysdales to get me another pair. The traffic always sucks in that part of town.
Maybe you should expand your fashion sense. Little Black Dress on Cherry Street is closer, and they got them some cute jeans that aint from the nineties, Kramisha said.
Three pairs of eyes shifted momentarily to her.
What? she shrugged. Everbody knows Stevie Rae needs a make-over.
Thanks, Kramisha. That makes me feel lots better, seein as how I just almost died and all. Stevie Rae rolled her eyes at Kramisha as she stifled a smile. But the truth was that Kramisha had made her feel betternormal better. And then Stevie Rae realized that she was, truly, feeling better. The blood had warmed her, and she didnt feel nearly as weak as she had just minutes before. Actually, she was kinda buzzing inside, like her blood was pumping super strong and surging all throughout her body. Its Rephaims bloodthe part of it thats mixed with mine is feeding off the human blood and giving me power.
Stevie Rae, you seem to be awake and aware, Lenobia said.
Stevie Rae refocused on her external world to find the Horse Mistress studying her carefully. Yeah, Im definitely feelin better, and I need a phone. Kramisha, let me borrow
Im cleaning these wounds first, and I promise you that youre not going to be able to chat on the phone while I do that, Sapphire said with what Stevie Rae thought was too much smug satisfaction.
So wait until after I call Aphrodite to mess with me, Stevie Rae said. Kramisha, dig in that giant bag of yours and get me your dang phone.
It cannot wait, Sapphire snapped. Your wounds are severe. You have lacerations from your ankles to your waist. They need to be cleansed. Many of them need stitches. You need to drink more blood. Actually, it would be preferable if we brought in one of the human volunteers for you to feed from directlythat would help in the healing process.
Human? Volunteers? Stevie Rae gulped. Stuff like that went on at the House of Night?
Dont be naïve, was all Sapphire said.
Im not drinking from some stranger! Stevie Rae said with more vehemence than shed meant to show, drawing raised-eyebrow looks from Lenobia and Kramisha. What I mean isIll be fine with blood baggies. Its too weird to think about drinking from someone I dont know, specially so soon after, well, you know . . . She trailed off. The three women would think she was talking about the recent breaking of her Imprint with Aphrodite.
But she wasnt thinking of Aphroditethat was ridiculous.
Stevie Rae was thinking that the only one she wanted to drink from, needed to drink from, was Rephaim.
Your blood smells wrong, Lenobia said.
Stevie Raes thoughts cleared, and her gaze went immediately to the Horse Mistress. Wrong? What do you mean?
There is something strange about it, Sapphire agreed as she began cleaning the deep slashes with the alcohol-drenched cotton balls Kramisha handed her.
Stevie Rae sucked in a breath at the pain. Through gritted teeth, she said, Im a red vampyre. My bloods different than yours.
Nope, theys right. Your blood smells weird, Kramisha said, averting her eyes from Stevie Raes wounds and wrinkling her nose.
Stevie Rae thought quickly, and said, Its because he drank from me.
Who? The Raven Mocker! Lenobia said.
No! Stevie Rae denied, then hurried on. Like I kept tryin to tell Dallas, the Raven Mocker didnt do anything to me. He was a victim, too.
Stevie Rae, what happened to you? Lenobia asked.
Stevie Rae drew a deep breath and launched into a mostly true story. I went to the park cause I was tryin to get info from the earth that would help Zoey because Aphrodite asked me to. Therere these really old vamp beliefs, somethin Warrior-based and not cool anymore, that she thinks can help Stark get himself to Zoey in the Otherworld.
But Stark cant enter the Otherworld without dying, Lenobia said.
Yeah, thats what everyone says, but recently Aphrodite and I found out about this really old stuff that might help him get there alive. The religion, or whatever you want to call it, was supposed to be represented by cowsI mean bulls. A white one and a black one. Remembering, Stevie Rae shuddered. Aphrodite, bein a total pain in the butt, failed to tell me the dang white bull was bad and the dang black bull was good, so I called up the bad bull accidentally.
Lenobias face had gone so pale it almost looked transparent. Oh, Goddess! You evoked Darkness?
You know about this stuff? Stevie Rae asked.
In what seemed like an unconscious movement, one of Lenobias hands lifted to touch the back of her neck. I know a little of Darkness, and as Mistress of Horses, I know more than a little about beasts.
Sapphire swabbed at the cut that snaked around Stevie Raes waist, making her wince. Ah, crap, that hurts! She closed her eyes momentarily, trying to focus through the pain. When she opened them, she saw that Lenobia was studying her with an expression she couldnt read, but before she could form the right question, the Horse Mistress asked one of her own.
What was the Raven Mocker doing there? You said it didnt attack you, but it certainly wouldnt have any reason to attack Darkness.
Cause they on the same side, Kramisha added, nodding thoughtfully.
I dont know about sides and all, but the bad bull attacked the Raven Mocker. Stevie Rae drew a deep breath, and continued, Actually, the Raven Mocker showin up was what saved me. He just kinda fell from the sky and distracted the bull long enough for me to draw power from the earth so I could call up the good bull. Stevie Rae couldnt help smiling as she talked about that amazing beast. Id never seen anything like him before. He was so beautiful and kind and so, so wise. He went after the white bull, and both of them disappeared. Then Dallas was able to get inside the circle to me, and the Raven Mocker flew away.
But what youre saying is that before the Raven Mocker got there, the white bull drank your blood? Lenobia said.
Stevie Rae had to suppress another shudder of remembered revulsion. Yeah. He said I owed him payment because he answered my question. Thats probably why my blood smells weird, cause you can still smell him on me, and let me tell you, he reeked. And thats also why I need to make that phone call. The bull did answer my question, and I gotta talk to Aphrodite.
You might as well let her call. She dont need them stitches anyway. Her cuts are closing up already, Kramisha said, pointing to the first slashes Darkness had made around her ankles.
Stevie Rae glanced down, but she knew what shed see before she looked. Shed already felt itRephaims blood was spreading its warmth and strength throughout her body, causing her torn flesh to begin drawing together and repair itself.
Thats incredibly unusual. And much like the rapid rate at which you healed from your burn wounds, Sapphire said.
Stevie Rae made herself meet the vampyre nurses gaze. Im a red vampyre High Priestess. Theres never been anyone like me before, so I guess we can say Im setting the learning curve for all of us. We must heal fast. She flipped the edge of the sheet over her body and then held her hand out to Kramisha. I need your phone now.
Without another word, Kramisha walked over to where shed dropped her purse, dug out her cell phone, and gave it to Stevie Rae. Aphrodites listed under the Bs.
Stevie Rae punched in the number. Aphrodite picked up on the third ring.
Yes, it is too damn early to call, and no, I do not care about whatever stupid poem you just wrote, Kramisha.
Its me.
Aphrodites sarcastic tone instantly changed. What happened?
Did you know the white bulls bad and the black bulls good?
Yeah. Didnt I tell you that part? Aphrodite said.
No, which really sucked cause I called the white bull to my circle.
Uh-oh. Thats seriously not good. What happened?
Not good? Try understatement of the dang decade, Aphrodite. It was bad. Really, really bad. Stevie Rae wanted to tell Lenobia and Sapphire and even Kramisha to go away so she could talk to Aphrodite in private, and then maybe have a really good breakdown and bawl her eyes out; but she knew they needed to hear what she had to say. Sadly, bad stuff didnt go away just because it was ignored. Aphrodite, its evil like nothing Ive seen before. It makes Neferet look like a trick-or-treat kid. She ignored Sapphires indignant snort and kept talking quickly. And its powerful beyond belief. I couldnt fight it. I dont think anything can fight it except the other bull.
So how did you get away from it? Aphrodite paused for half a heartbeat, and then added, You are away from it, arent you? Youre not all under its spell so that youre being used like a sock puppet for evil with a bumpkin accent, right?
Thats just silly, Aphrodite.
Still, say something to prove youre really you.
You called me a retard last time we talked. More than once. And said I was asstarded, which is not even a word. Im still tellin you thats not nice.
Fine. Its you. So how did you get away from the bull?
I managed to call up the good bull, and he is as really, really good as the other one is bad. He fought it, and they both disappeared.
So you didnt learn anything?
Yeah, I did. Stevie Rae squinted while she concentrated hard, wanting to be sure she remembered word for word what the white bull had said. I asked how Stark could get to Zoey so that he can protect her while she gets herself together and comes back here. This is what the bull said: The Warrior must look to his blood to discover the bridge to enter the Isle of Women, and then he must defeat himself to enter the arena. Only by acknowledging one before the other will he join his Priestess. After he joins her, it is her choice and not his whether she returns.
He said Isle of Women? Are you sure about that?
Yeah, Im positive. Thats exactly what he said.
Good. Okay. Uh, hang on, Im writing this all down so I dont forget any of it.
Stevie Rae could hear Aphrodite scribbling on a piece of paper. When she was done, her voice was filled with excitement. This means we are on the right track! But how the hell does Stark find a bridge by looking at blood? And what does that stuff about him having to defeat himself mean?
Stevie Rae sighed. A massive headache had started to throb between her temples. I dont have a clue, but getting that answer almost killed me, so it has to mean somethin important.
Then Stark better figure it out. Aphrodite hesitated before saying, If the black bull is so super good, why dont you just call it back again and
No! Stevie Rae spoke with such force she caused everyone in the room to jump. Never again. And you shouldnt let anyone else conjure either of those bulls. The price is too much.
What do you mean, the price is too much? Aphrodite said.
I mean theyre too powerful. They cant be controlled, whether theyre good or bad. Aphrodite, therere some things that werent meant to be messed with, and those bulls are part of those things. Plus, Im not so sure one can be called up without the other eventually showing up, and believe me, you dont want to ever, ever meet that white bull.
Okay, okayrelax. I get what youre saying, and I can tell you I have a kinda creepy feeling just talking about those bulls. I think youre right. Dont stress. No ones gonna do anything except try to help Stark find a blood bridge to the Isle of Skye.
Aphrodite, I dont think its a blood bridge. That doesnt even sound right. Stevie Rae rubbed her face and was surprised to see that her hand was shaking.
Enough for now, Lenobia whispered. Youre strong, but youre not immortal.
Stevie Raes gaze shot to hers, but she saw nothing in the Horse Mistresss gray eyes except concern.
Hey, uh, I gotta go for now. Im not feelin so good.
Oh, for craps sake. Youre not almost dying again, are you? Its seriously inconvenient when you do that.
No, I am not almost dyin. Not anymore. And you are not even almost nice. At all. Ill call you later. Tell everyone I said hi.
Yeah, Ill spread the love. Goodbye, bumpkin.
Bye. Stevie Rae punched the CALL END button, gave Kramisha her phone, and then leaned heavily back on her pillow. Uh, do yall mind if maybe I sleep for a while?
Drink one more of these. Sapphire gave Stevie Rae another bag of blood. Then sleep. Both of you need to leave and let her rest. The vampyre nurse swept the bloody alcohol cotton balls into a trash bag, snapped off her latex gloves, went to the doorway, and stood, tapping her foot and giving Lenobia and Kramisha the stank eye.
Ill come back and check on you after youve rested, Lenobia said.
Sounds good. Stevie Rae smiled at her.
Lenobia squeezed her hand before leaving. When Kramisha leaned close to her, Stevie Rae thought for one awkward, shocked second the kid was going to hug heror worse, maybe even kiss her. Instead, Kramisha met her eyes and whispered:
See with the soul and not your eyes
because to dance with beasts you
must penetrate their disguise.
Stevie Rae suddenly felt cold. I guess I should have listened to you better. Maybe I wouldve known I was callin the wrong cow, she whispered back.
Kramishas gaze was sharp and knowing. Maybe you still should. Somethin inside me says you aint done dancing with beasts. Then she straightened up, and in a normal voice, said, Get some sleep. You gonna need all your good sense tomorrow.
When the door closed, leaving her alone, Stevie Rae breathed an exhausted sigh of relief. Methodically, she drank the last baggie of blood and then pulled the hospital blanket up around her neck and curled on her side and, with a sigh, slowly twirled a blond curl around and around one finger. She was utterly exhausted. Apparently all of the power in Rephaims blood had worn her the heck out while it fixed her.
Rephaim . . .
Stevie Rae would never, ever forget what he looked like when hed confronted Darkness for her. Hed been so strong and brave and good. It didnt matter that Dallas and Lenobia and the whole dang world believed he was on the side of Darkness. It didnt matter that his daddy was a fallen Warrior of Nyx who had chosen evil centuries ago. None of that mattered. Shed seen the truth. Hed willingly sacrificed himself for her. He might not have chosen Light, but he had definitely rejected Darkness.
Shed been right to save him that day outside the abbey, and shed also been right to call the white bull and save him todayno matter the cost to her.
Rephaim was worth saving.
Wasnt he?
He had to be. After what had happened today, he had to be.
Her finger stilled, and her eyes started to flutter shut even though she didnt want to think anymore or to dreamdidnt want to remember that terrifying Darkness and the pain that had been so unimaginable.
But her eyes did close, and the memory of Darkness and what hed done to her did come. As she struggled against the unyielding pull of utter exhaustion, from the middle of that circle of terror Stevie Rae heard his voice again: Im here because shes here, and she belongs to me. And that simple statement chased her fear away, allowing the memory of Darkness to give way to the rescue of Light.
Just before Stevie Rae fell into a deep, dreamless sleep, she thought of the beautiful black bull and the payment he had exacted from her, and, again, Rephaims words played through her mind: Im here because shes here, and she belongs to me.
With her last waking thought, she wondered if Rephaim would ever know how ironically true his words had suddenly become for them . . .
Chapter 15
Stark
As Stark awoke, just for a second he didnt remember. All he knew was that Zoey was there, in bed, beside him. He smiled sleepily and turned, reaching an arm out to pull her close to him.
The chilled, lifeless feel of her unresponsive flesh brought him fully awake, and reality crashed and burned the last of his dreams.
Finally. You know, you red vampyres might be all strong and whatever at night, but during the day you sleep creepily like the dead. Hello, I have one word for you: stereotypical.
Stark sat up, scowling at Aphrodite, who was sitting in one of the cream-colored velvet chairs, long legs crossed gracefully, sipping a cup of steaming tea.
Aphrodite, why are you in here?
Instead of answering him, her gaze went to Zoey. She hasnt moved at all since it happened, has she?
Stark got out of bed and gently tucked the blanket back around Zoey. He touched her cheek with his fingertips and kissed the only Mark left on her body, an ordinary fledglings crescent tattoo in the middle of her forehead. Its okay if you come back as a regular fledgling. Just come back, he thought as his lips brushed her Mark. Then he straightened and faced Aphrodite. No. She hasnt moved. She cant. Shes not here. And we have seven days to figure out how to get her back.
Six, Aphrodite corrected.
Stark swallowed hard. Yeah, youre right. Its six now.
Okay, come on then. Clearly we dont have time to waste. Aphrodite got up and started out of the room.
Wherere we going? Stark started following her but kept glancing back over his shoulder at Zoey.
Hey, you gotta snap out of it. You said it yourself: Zoeys not here. So stop gawking at her like youre a little lost puppy.
I love her! Do you even know what the hell that means?
Aphrodite stopped and turned to face him. Love doesnt have shit to do with it. Youre her Warrior. That means more than I heart Zoey,she said sarcastically, using air quotes. I have my own Warrior, so I do know what that means, and heres the truth: if my soul was shattered, and I was stuck in the Otherworld, I wouldnt want Darius to boo-hoo about it and be all heartbroken. Id want him to get the hell to work and figure out how to do his job, which is to stay alive and protect me so that I can figure out a way to get home! Now are you coming or not? She flipped her hair, turned her back to him, and started twitching down the hall.
Stark closed his mouth and went after her. They walked silently for a while as Aphrodite led him down some stairs, around increasingly narrow corridors, and down more stairs.
Where are we going? Stark asked again.
Well, it feels like a dungeon. Smells like mold and kinda weird b.o., the institutional decor is suitable for either a prison or a hospital psych ward, and it makes Damien think hes died and gone to dork heaven. So take a guess.
Were going back to human high school?
Close, she said, her lips lifting in a hint of a smile. Were going to a really old library filled with the frantically studying nerd herd.
Stark let out a long breath in a loud sigh to keep himself from laughing. Sometimes he almost liked Aphroditenot that hed ever admit it.
Stark
Aphrodite had been rightthe basement of the palace did remind him of a tacky public school media center, minus the foldout windows and cheap, ratty mini-blinds, which was weird as hell because the rest of San Clemente Island was over-the-top rich. Down in the basement, though, there were just a bunch of worn wooden tables, hard benches, bare white stone walls, and tons and tons of shelves filled with a zillion different sizes, shapes, and styles of books.
Zoeys friends were clustered around one big table that was overflowing with books, pop cans, crumpled bags of chips, and one humongous tub full of red licorice whips. Stark thought they look tired but totally wired on sugar and caffeine. As he and Aphrodite walked up, Jack was holding up a large leather book and pointing to an illustration.
Check it outthis is a copy of a painting of a Greek High Priestess named Calliope. It says she was also the Poet Laureate after Sappho. Doesnt she look exactly like Cher?
Wow, thats insane. She does look just like young Cher, Erin said.
Yeah, before she started wearing those white wigs. What the hells up with that? Shaunee said.
Damien gave the Twins a look. There is nothing wrong with Cher. Absolutely. Nothing.
Uh-oh, Shaunee said.
Stepped on a gay nerve, Erin agreed.
I had a Cher Barbie doll. I loved that doll, Jack said.
Barbies, herd of nerd? Seriously? Youre supposed to be saving Z, remember? Aphrodite said, shaking her head in disgust and curling up her lip at the licorice whips.