But, yes, I continued, answering Darius through the laughter of the masses. All of those things are true about the red fledglings.
And the one red vampyre. Stevie Rae sounded tired but proud. Oh, and I can also tell you that sunrise was exactlyshe paused, cocking her head like she was listening to cricketssixty-three minutes ago.
All adult vampyres know when the sun rises, Darius said.
Ill bet it doesnt make all vamps as sleepy as it makes me. Stevie Rae punctuated her words with a big yawn.
No, it usually doesnt, Darius said.
Well, it makes me real sleepy, she said. Especially today, which I bet has somethin to do with that stupid arrow that used to be stickin through me.
Since Stevie Rae had mentioned it, I was feeling majorly exhausted again now that my jolt o blood had worn off. I looked around at our mixed group of red and blue and saw dark circles under eyes and lots of stifled yawns. Kalona and the problems at the House of Night nagged at my mind, as well as my increasingly strong feeling that everything was not as it seemed with the red fledglings, but I was too tired to deal with all of it.
Wishing I could burst into tears, I cleared my throat, refocused, and said, How about we all get some sleep? Were fairly safe here, and theres really nothing any of us can do about whats going on upstairs when were so tired were all practically asleep on our feet.
Agreed, Darius said. But I think we should set watches at the entrances to the tunnelswith your approval, Priestess, just in case.
Yeah, thats probably smart, I said. Stevie Rae, are there any other entrances to the tunnels besides the one through the depot?
Z, I thought you knew that therere tunnels that connect to a bunch of the old downtown buildings, Stevie Rae said. This section is part of that system.
But no one comes down here and uses these particular tunnels except you guys, do they?
Well, no, not this part of them, cause everyone thinks theyre old and nasty and abandoned.
Could be because they are old and nasty and abandoned, Aphrodite slurred sarcastically. I noticed shed ignored the fact that Id cut her off and started on her second bottle of wine.
Thats not right. They aint nasty and abandoned, Kramisha spoke up, frowning at Aphrodite. Were here and we been decorating. You should know cause we used your got-no-limit gold card to buy the stuff.
Did you use incorrect grammar at the same time? Like you are now? Aphrodite said asAYe she peered blurrily at Kramisha from around Darius.
Look, I know you human and just been awkwardly Imprinted with Stevie Rae, not to mentioned you gettin totally trashed, so Id hate to use my superior red fledgling skills to kick your bony ass, but if you talk about me again Im gonna forget to be nice, Kramisha said.
Can we not focus on the bad guys who might be trying to eat us instead of bickering with each other? I said wearily. Stevie Rae, do the other tunnels connect to these?
Yeah, but theyre sealed off, or at least thats what it would look like to everyone else.
Is there only one entrance from this section of tunnels to the public ones? Darius asked.
Only one that I know of. And it was blocked by some seriously thick metal doors. How bout yall? Have you found any more? Stevie Rae said.
Well, maybe, Ant said.
Maybe? Stevie Rae said.
I was exploring and I found something, but the opening to it was little even for me, so I didnt go into it. I meant to go back and poke around with a shovel or, better yet, with Johnny Bs muscles, but I just havent yet.
Johnny B grinned and flexed for us. I ignored him, but the Twins tittered appreciatively.
So, basically, what you guys are saying is that besides the depot entrance, theres one we know of for sure that links these tunnels to the other ones? I said.
Sounds about right, Stevie Rae said.
Then I advise you to post two guards, Priestess, Darius said. One at the depot entrance and one at the known entrance to the other tunnel system.
Okay, that sounds like a good idea, I said.
Ill take first shift on the depot entrance, Darius said. Erik, you should take over for me there. Its our most vulnerable place, so full vampyres should guard it.
Erik nodded. Agreed.
Jack and I will take the first shift guarding the sealed-off entrance to the downtown tunnels, Damien said. That is, if its okay with you guys.
Yeah, we could even plan some menus and write down some things we need for the kitchen, Jack said.
Sounds good, I said, smiling at Jack and Damien.
I agree. Shaunee and Erin, could you relieve them for the next shift? Darius said.
The Twins shrugged. Okay with us, Erin said.
Good. I think it wise that we dont use the red fledglings to guard the entrances during daylight hours, Darius said.
Hey, we can kick some ass, Johnny B spoke up, looking all jockish and testosterone filled.
Its not that, I said, guessing what Dariu jockishbs meant. We need to let you guys sleep during the day so that you can stand guard at night when youre strongest. Which means, hopefully, youll be stronger than the creatures who will be coming against us. What I didnt say was that, even had Darius not spoken up because of the daylight issue with the red fledglings, I would have said something. I didnt want to be protected by Stevie Raes kids until I felt surer about them.
Oh, well. Yeah. We can do that. Im cool with protecting a priestess and her group, Johnny B said, giving me a cocky wink.
I stifled an eye roll. Even without the red fledgling issue, the last thing I needed was another football player-like guy in my life. My eyes slid over to Erik and I had to force myself not to jump guiltily. Yes, hed been watching me. Great. Hed mostly ignored me since wed gotten to the tunnels and chose the instant when some other guy was acting flirty to stare at me.
Jack held up his hand like a good little student. Um, question
Yes, Jack, I said.
Where do we sleep?
Good question. I turned to Stevie Rae. Where do we sleep?
Johnny B spoke up before Stevie Rae could answer. For the record, Im willing to share my bed. My heart is more giving than Kramishas.
It aint your heart you wanna share, Kramisha said.
Dont go hatin on me, baby! Johnny B said, trying (unsuccessfully) to sound black.
Kramisha rolled her eyes at him. You so crazy.
Well, we have some sleeping bags, Stevie Rae broke in, sounding like she was on the verge of falling asleep. Venus, could you show Zoey and the rest of the kids where they are? I guess yall can sleep in whosever room you want to. She paused and smiled wearily at Kramisha. Except Kramisha doesnt share her bed.
But you can stay in my room. Thats cool with me, Kramisha said. Just not on the bed.
Do all of you guys have rooms now? I couldnt keep the surprise from my voice. This was all so different from the first time Id been down here. Then the kids could barely have been called humanoid, and the tunnels were dark and dirty and creepy. Now the room we were crammed into was cozy, lit by flickering oil lanterns and candles, and the furniture was comfortable, obviously new, and even had cute matching pillows on the bed. It all seemed so normal. Was I just imagining that there was weird stuff going on with them because I was so darn tired I could hardly think?
Any of us who wanted his or her own room has one, Venus answered me. Theyre really not hard to fix up. In this part of the tunnels therere lots of little dead ends. Weve been turning them into real rooms. I definitely have my own room. She smiled at Erik. I had to remind myself it probably wasnt ethical to evoke fire and have it burn all the hair off her bobble-head.
This is probably where most of the bootleg liquor was stored during Prohibition, Damien said. Its logical because this is right here at the train tracks, and it would have been easy to sneak stuff in and out at night.
Thats so cool and romantic! Jack sighed. I mean, the whole 1920s flapper thing and juke joints and gangsters.
Damien smiled indulgently at Jack. Actually, Prohibition lasted in Tulsa until 1957.
Well, never mind. Thats not so romantic. Thats more like gay Bible Belt stuff. He giggled. Gay! Hee hees.
Youre funny and cute. Thats why I love you, Damien said, kissing Jack smack on the mouth and causing Duchess to bark happily.
Okay, barf, Aphrodite said.
Oh, and I have one more question, Jack said, frowning at Aphrodite.
As he started to put his hand up, I said, Yes, Jack. What is it?
Where do we potty?
Potty? Did he really just say potty? Aphrodite giggled until she snorted. We ignored her.
Thats easy, Stevie Rae said around a giant yawn. Venus, would you show them?
You have a bathroom? What? There was working plumbing in the tunnels?
Venus sneered a guess-you-dont-know-everything look at me. Bathrooms, actually. With showers.
Hot water showers? Jack said enthusiastically.
Of course. Were not barbarians, Venus said.
How? I said.
Theyre in the depot building above us, Stevie Rae said. Weve done a lot of exploring in the building. Its totally boarded up, so no one can get in, except from the basement entrance, so we control who comes and goes.
And we dont let just anyone in, Venus added, looking a little dangerous.
Okay, honestly, I was liking her less and less with every second. And this time it had nothing to do with her drooling over Erik.
Exclusssssive. My kind of place, Aphrodite said, then she burped.
AnywayStevie Rae rolled her eyes at Aphroditewe were checking out the depot and we found two locker roomsa guys and a girls. We figured they were for the depot employees. Theres even a gym up there, too. Dallas did the rest. She plopped tiredly back on her pillows, giving Dallas a go-ahead-and-tell-the-rest-of it gesture.
Dallas shrugged nonchalantly, but his grin said he knew hed done something cool. I just found the water main connection to the depot and opened it up. The pipes were all still good.
Thats not all you did, Stevie Rae said.
He grinned at her and again I caught a thing between them. Hm&helliv- fp;I was definitely going to get the scoop from Stevie Rae later.
Well, I also figured out how to turn on the electricity. That started the water heaters again, and then Aphrodites credit card got us the extra-long extension cords and such that I spliced into the old tunnel lighting system. A little work here and there, and we have hot water up there and electricity down here.
Wow, Jack said. Thats really cool.
Impressive, Damien agreed.
Dallas just kept grinning.
So do you want to use the facilities or not? Venus said. I thought she sounded grumpy, or maybe bitchy was a better descriptive word.
Yeah! Jack said happily. I could definitely use a hot shower before we go on duty.
Uh, whats the status on your hair-care products down here? Shaunee asked.
Oh, girl. I took care of that first thing after I got my sense back. Do not worry. I got you covered, Kramisha said, standing up and brushing crumbs from her butt-hugging jeans.
Excellent, Erin said. Lets go.
I hung back as everyone started to file out of Stevie Raes room.
Hey, Z, you wanna be my roomie again? Stevie Rae looked exhausted, but she was smiling her old smile at me.
Absolutely, I said. Our gazes slid over to Aphrodite, who was still perched on the end of her bed, half-leaning against Darius.
Aphrodite, go get yourself a sleepin bag. You can crash in here, too, Stevie Rae said.
Okay, look. No damn way am I sleeping with you, she said, trying hard not to slur her words. Our Imprint is not that kind of Imprint. And even if I was gay, which Im not, you are not my type.
Aphrodite, I was not makin a move on you. Thats just stupid, Stevie Rae said.
Im just letting you know. Im also letting you know that Im breaking this damn Imprint the first second I can figure out how.
Stevie Rae sighed. Dont do somethin thats gonna hurt either one of us. Ive had enough with stuff hurtin for a while.
Id been listening to the exchange between them with frank interest. I mean, Id been Imprinted with my human boyfriend, Heath, so I knew something about being linked to a human through the magic of blood. I also knew something about breaking an Imprintand it could be very painful.
Zoey, is it too much to ask that you stop gawking at me! Aphrodite burst out, making me jump guiltily.
Im not gawking, I lied.
Whatever. Just stop.
An Imprint is nothing to be ashamed of, my beauty, Darius said, putting his arm around Aphrodite gently.
It is weird, though, Stevie Rae said.
Darius smiled kindly at her. There are many types of Imprints.
Well, ours is not the drink-your-blood-and-have-sex-with-you type, Aphrodite said.
Of course it is not, Darius kissed her on her forehead.
Which means you can sleep in here without being freaked out, Stevie Rae said.
And again I say hell no. Plus, Im going with Darius. Ill be on duty with him, Aphrodite said decisively, raising her half-empty second bottle of wine in a weird, drunken salute.
Darius has to guard the entrance to the tunnels. He doesnt need to be takin care of your drunk behind, Stevie Rae told her.
I. Am. Going. With. Darius, Aphrodite repeated slowly and stubbornly.
She may come with me, Darius, said, unsuccessfully trying to hide a smile. Ill get a sleeping bag for her. I do not believe she will be much trouble, and I like to keep her close to me.
Not much trouble? I said. Stevie Rae and I raised our brows at him. I swear his high, chiseled cheeks blushed just a smidgen of pink.
He must be thinkin of another Aphrodite. One we dont know, Stevie Rae said.
Come on, Aphrodite said, getting unsteadily to her feet. I know where they keep the stupid sleeping bags. Just ignore them. She gave us a hilarious attempt at a scowl, which turned into another manly belch, grabbed Dariuss hand, and staggered from the room while Stevie Rae and I laughed.
Before he ducked under the blanket, Darius spoke over his shoulder to Erik, who Id almost forgotten was still lingering in the room. Almost.
Erik, get some sleep. I will wake you for the second shift.
Sounds good. Ill be Erik hesitated.
Dallass room is just down the tunnel from here. Ill bet he wouldnt mind if you roomed with him, Stevie Rae said.
Okay, thats where Ill be, Erik said.
Darius nodded. Priestess, would you check the bandages on Stevie Raes wounds? If they need to be changed
If they need to be changed, I can do it, I interrupted. Hell, Id already helped shove an arrow through her chest. I could certainly change a Band-Aid without freaking.
Well, if you need me, simply have a fledgling
The warriors sentence was cut off as Aphrodite jerked hard enough on his hand to pull him from the room. Then she stuck her head back through the doorway. Good night. Dont bother us. And she disappeared.
Better him than me, I heard Erik mutter as he watched the blanket swing back into place. I made no attempt to hide my smile. I was glad Erik wasnt still interested in Aphrodite. Erik met my eyes. And slowly he smiled, too.
CHAPTER 7
No, you two go on. Catch up with the others. Im just gonna sleep, Stevie Rae said as she curled onto her side, moving gingerly.
There was a grumpy mee-uf-ow and a chubby little orange ball of fur padded into the room and jumped up on Stevie Raes bed.
Nala! Stevie Rae scratched the top of my cats head. Hey, Ive missed you.
Nala sneezed in Stevie Raes face and then made three rotations on the pillow beside her head, lay down, and started up her purr engine. Stevie Rae and I grinned at each other.
OkaySPECIAL NOTE: Duchess, Jacks yellow Lab, is an anomaly. Stark brought her with him when he transferred to our school from the Chicago House of Night. Then he died. Jack adopted her. Then he un-died, but was obviously not himself, cause the first thing he did was shoot an arrow through Stevie Rae. Hence the fact Duchess is still with Jack. Plus I think the kids really getting attached to her.
Anyway, when the group of us escaped from the House of Night, our cats, plus Duchess, followed us. So seeing Nala making herself comfortable added a comfy, homelike touch to Stevie Raes room for Stevie Rae and me.
You and Erik go on. Get a shower or whatever, Stevie Rae repeated sleepily as she cuddled with Nala. Nal and Ill take a little nap. Oh, you can catch the rest of them if you go out, turn left, and then keep circling to your right. The entrance to the depot is by the room where we keep the fridges.
Hey, Darius said I should check your bandages, I reminded her.
Later, she yawned massively. Theyre fine.
Okay, if you say so. I tried not to show the relief I felt. No way was I ever going to be anything resembling a nurse. Get some sleep. Ill be back in a little while, I said. I swear she was out before Erik and I ducked through the checkered blanket.
We turned to our left and walked without saying anything for a little way. The tunnels were less creepy than when Id been down here before, but that didnt make them unclaustrophobic and bright and cheery. Every few yards there were lanterns staked with what looked like railroad spikes into the cement walls at about eye level, but the dampness permeated everything. We hadnt gone far when something caught at the corner of my eyes and I slowed down, peering into the heavy shadows between the lanterns.
What is it? Erik asked softly.
My stomach tightened with fear. I dont know, I My words broke off as something exploded out of the darkness at me. Id opened my mouth to shriek, imagining feral red fledglings or, worse, the horror of the Raven Mockers. But Eriks arm went around me and he pulled me out of the way of half a dozen bats, who fluttered past.
Theyre as scared of you as you are of them, he said, taking his arm from around me as soon as the creatures were past us.
I shuddered, trying to force my heart to beat regularly again. Okay, no possible way could they be as scared of me as I am of them. Eesh, bats are rats with wings.
He chuckled as we started walking again. I thought pigeons were rats with wings.
Bat, pigeons, ravensI dont care about distinctions right now. Any fluttery, flappy thing is not cool with me.
I see your point, he said, smiling at me. His smile didnt do much to help my heartbeat slow down, and as we kept walking, I swear I could still feel the warmth of his arm around my shoulders. In a few more feet we came to a section of the tunnel that was as amazing as it was surprising. Erik and I stopped and stared.
Wow, that is majorly cool, I said.
Yeah, wow, Erik agreed with me. This must be the work of that Gerarty girl. Didnt Stevie Rae introduce her as being an artist whos been decorating the tunnels?
Yeah, but I didnt expect anything like this. Forgetting about the bats, I traced my hand over the beautifully complex pattern of flowers and hearts and birds and all sorts of swirls, all entwined to make a brightly painted mosaic that seemed to breathe life and magic into this little section of the dreary, claustrophobic walls.
People, humans and vamps, would pay a fortune for art like this. Erik didnt add, if the world could ever know about the red fledglings and vamps, but the thought hung unspoken in the air between us.
Hopefully, people will, I said. It would be nice if the red fledglings could become known to the rest of the world. Plus, I added to myself, if they were out in the open, maybe my lingering questions about their powers and their tendencies could be more easily resolved. Anyway, I think vampyres and humans should have better relationships, I added.
Like you and your human boyfriend? He asked the question quietly, with no hint of sarcasm.
I met his gaze steadily. Im not with Heath anymore.
Are you sure?
Im sure, I said.
Okay. Good. That was all he said, and we started walking again, silent and lost in our own thoughts.
Not long after that the tunnel curved slightly to the right, which was the direction we were supposed to follow, but on our left there was an arched exit covered with another blanket. This one was black fake velvet decorated with a tacky picture of Elvis in a white jumpsuit.
Must be Dallass room, I guessed.
Erik hesitated only a moment, then he brushed aside the blanket and we peeked in. It wasnt very big, and Dallas didnt have a bed, just a couple of mattresses piled on top of each other on the floor, but he did have a bright red comforter and matching red pillowcases (there was a big lump under the comforter, which I assumed was the sleeping Dallas), a table that held a bunch of stuff that the light wasnt good enough for me to see, and a couple of black beanbag chairs. On the curved wall over the bed was a poster ofI squinted at it, trying to see
Jessica Alba in SinCity. The kid has excellent taste. Shes one hot vamp actress, Erik said quietly so as not to wake Dallas.
I frowned at him and pulled the Elvis blanket door closed.
What? Its not in my bedroom, he said.
Lets just catch up with everyone else, I said, and started walking again.
Hey, he said after a few minutes of dead air. I owe you a big thanks.
Me? For what? I looked over at him.
He met my eyes. For saving me from being left up there in the middle of that mess.
I didnt save you from that. You came along with us of your own free will.
He shook his head. No, Im pretty sure you saved me because without you I dont think I would have had any free will.
He stopped and touched my arm, gently turning me so that I faced him. I looked up into his brilliant blue eyes, which were framed by his adult vampyre Mark, an intricate pattern that gave the impression of a mask, making his totally gorgeous Clark KentSuperman look go all Zorro-like and insanely hot. But Erik was more than just supergorgeous. Erik was talented and an honestly nice guy. I hated that we had broken up. I hated that Id caused us to break up. In spite of everything that had happened, I wanted to be his girlfriend again. I wanted him to trust me again. I missed him so darn much
I really miss you! I realized Id blurted the words Id been thinking when his eyes widened and his sexy lips curved up.
Im right here.
I could feel my face flush hot all the way from my neck up and I knew Id turned a bright, unattractive red. Well, you just being here isnt what I mean, I said lamely.
His smile widened. Dont you want to know how you saved me?
Yeah, of course. I wished I could fan my face so that some of the beet color might go away.
You saved me because, instead of being hypnotized by the power of Kalona, I was thinking about you.
You were?
Do you know how amazing you were when you cast that circle?
I shook my head, caught by the brightness in his blue eyes. I didnt want to breathe. I didnt want to do anything that might spoil what was happening between us.
You were incrediblebeautiful and powerful and confident. You were all I could think of.
I cut your hand was all I could make my mouth say.
You had to. It was part of the ritual. He lifted his hand and turned it palm up so that I could see the thin ribbon that sliced down the meaty pad up under his thumb.
I trailed a finger lightly along the pink line. I hated to hurt you.
He took my hand in his and turned it over so that the sapphire-colored tattoos that covered my palms were visible. Then, much as I had just done, he lightly traced his finger across my skin. I shivered, but didnt pull away.
I didnt feel any pain when you cut me. All I felt was you. The heat of your body. The way you smell. The way you feel in my arms. Thats why that creature didnt affect me. Thats why I didnt believe Neferet. You saved me, Zoey.
Even after all thats happened between us, you can say that? My eyes were filling with tears, and I had to blink fast to keep them from spilling over.
I watched as Erik took a deep breath. He looked like he was a diver getting ready to jump off a high, dangerous cliff. Then, in one rush, he said, I love you, Z. All thats happened between us hasnt changed that, even when I wanted it to. He cupped my face in his hands. I couldnt be fooled by Neferet or hypnotized by Kalona because Im already a fool for you, hypnotized by what I feel for you. I still want to be with you, Zoey, if youll just say yes.
Yes, I whispered without one instant of hesitation.
He bent and his lips met mine. I opened my mouth and accepted his familiar kiss. His taste was the same; his touch was the same. I slid my arms up and around his broad shoulders and pressed myself against him, hardly able to believe that hed forgiven methat he still wanted mestill loved me.
Zoey, he murmured against my lips. Ive missed you, too.
Then he kissed me again, and I swear he made me dizzy. It was different than kissing him beforebefore hed become a full vampyrebefore Id lost my virginity to another man. Now it was like he knew a secret, but I was in on it. I felt his moan more than I heard it, and then I also felt the hard coolness of the wall of the tunnel against my back as he turned me in his arms and trapped me there. One of his hands, low on my back, was firmly pressing me into him. The other I felt sliding down the side of my body, skimming my ceremonial dress and traveling the back of my thigh until he found the hem, then his fingers were finding their way up and under it, warm against the coolness of my naked flesh.
Naked flesh?
Backed against the wall of a tunnel?
Being groped in the dark?
And the worst thought of all hit me: Did Erik think because Id had sex (once!) that now it was open season on nailing Zoey? Ah, crap!
I wasnt going to do this. Not here. Not like this. Hell, I didnt even know if I was ready to do it again at all. The one and only time Id had sex had ended disastrously and had been the biggest mistake of my life. It had definitely not turned me into some kind of nympho ho!
I pushed against Eriks chest and pulled my mouth from his. He didnt seem to mind. Actually, he hardly seemed to notice. He just kept grinding against me and moved his lips to my neck.
Erik, please stop, I said breathlessly.
Umm, you taste so good.
He sounded so sexy and turned-on that for a moment I was confused about what I really wanted. I mean, I did want to be with him again, and he was totally hot and familiar and
I had just begun to relax into him when I glimpsed something over his shoulder. Fear stabbed me as I realized the something had eyes glowing red from a deep, wavering sea of blackness that seemed to pool and writhe in the air like a ghost made of nothing but darkness.
Erik! Stop. Now. I shoved hard against his chest and he stumbled back half a step. My heart beating wildly, I moved quickly so that I could face whatever was there behind him. There were no red eyes glowing at me, but I swear I saw an inky darkness within the black of shadow. As I blinked and focused my eyes, the weirdness disappeared, leaving nothing but Erik and me and a dark, silent tunnel.
Suddenly, from the opposite direction, I heard the click of shoes against concrete and I drew in a deep breath, readying myself to call whatever element Id need to combat this new faceless threat, when Kramisha stepped calmly out of the shadows. She gave Erik a long, considering look and said, Boyyyy, you is workin it here in the tunnel? Damn! You got some game.
Erik turned to her as he tucked me under his arm. I didnt need to look up at him to know that he had an easy smile on his face. Erik was a seriously good actor. The face he was showing Kramisha was under control, with just the right amount of sexy, got-caught-in-the-act to it.
Hey there, Kramisha, he said smoothly.
On the other hand you have me. I could barely stand, let alone speak. I knew my face was beet red and my lips looked bruised and damp. Hell, I probably looked bruised and damp. Kramisha, did you see anything over there in the tunnel? I jerked my chin in the direction of the shadows behind us and managed to sound only semi-porn star and breathless.