That unpuffed Heath. Look, Im not putting her in danger by coming here. I just wanted to be sure she was okay. I tried to call a couple of times, but cell service is messed up.
Heath, its not me being in danger by you being here that Im worried about. Its you being in danger, I said, giving Erik a hard you-should-shut-up-now look.
Yeah, I already know about those nasty fledgling kids who tried to chomp on me last time we were here. I dont remember real well everything that happened, but I remembered enough to bring this. He reached into the pocket of his camo Carhartt and came out with a dangerous-looking black, snubbed-nose gun. Its my dads, he said proudly. I even have extra clips of ammo with me. I figured if they tried to eat me again, I could shoot whatever you couldnt zap.
Heath, do not tell me youre carrying a loaded gun in your pocket, I said.
Zo, I have the safety on and the first bullet in the clip is empty. Im not a total moron.
Erik snorted sarcastically. Heath narrowed his eyes at him.
I spoke quickly into the testosterone-filled air before they started banging on their chests. The fledglings dont eat people anymore, Heath, so youre not going to have to shoot anyone. When I said I was worried about you being safe, I meant because of the Raven Mockers.
And she answered your question. Now whats this about gang stuff going on?
Heath shrugged. Its all over the news. Course, the electricity keeps going out and the stupid cable has been knocked out all day, along with the cell service being sucky. But they say that some gang went nuts last night about midnight, some kind of New Years initiation thing. Chera Kimiko on Fox News called it a bloodbath. Cops were late in responding cause of the storm. Some people were killed in midtown, which is freaking everyone cause midtown isnt exactly gang central, so a bunch of rich white folks have lost their minds. Last time I watched the news they were yelling about calling in the National Guard, even though the cops are saying everything is under control. He paused and I could practically see the wheels in his head turning. Hey, midtown! Thats where the House of Night is. Heath looked from me to Erik and then back to me. So it wasnt gang bullshit. It was those raven thingies.
Brilliant, Erik muttered.
Yes, it was really the Raven Mockers. They started the attack when we were escaping from the House of Night, I said before he and Erik could snipe at each other again. The news didnt say anything at all about weird creatures attacking people?
Nope. They said a gang attacked people. Killed some of them by slitting their throats. Is that what those Raven Mockers do?
I remembered how one had attacked me at the House of Night, almost making one of Aphrodites two death visions for me come true by trying to cut my throatand that was before they got their physical bodies all the way back. I shivered. Yeah, that seems to be what they do, but I really dont know much about them. Grandma knows more, but they made her get in a car accident.
Ah, Zo, Grandma was in an accident? Damn! Im so sorry. Is she gonna be okay? Heath was genuinely upset. He was a big favorite of Grandmas and had gone out to her lavender farm with me more times than I could count.
Shes going to be okay. She has to be, I said firmly. The Benedictine nuns are taking care of her in the basement under their abbey over there at Lewis and Twenty-first.
Basement? Nuns? Huh? Shouldnt she be in the hospital?
She was before Kalona rose and the Raven Mockers got their nasty part-human, part-bird bodies back.
His face squidged up. Part human, part bird? That sounds creepy.
Its worse than you can imagine, and theyre big, too. And mean. Okay, Heath, you have to listen to me. Kalona is an immortal, a fallen angel.
By fallen you mean that hes not a good guy anymore and doesnt float around with wings playing a harp?
He has wings. Big black ones, Erik said. But hes not a good guy, and everything we know about him says hes always been evil.
No, he hasnt. Okay, my mouth said that, but I really hadnt meant it to.
Both guys gawked at me. I smiled nervously.
Well, uh, according to my grandma, Kalona used to be an angel, so I guess I just figured that he used to be a good guy. I mean, a long time ago.
I think we should just assume hes evil. Totally evil, Erik said.
A bunch of people were hurt last night. I dont know how many killed, but it was bad. If this Kalona guy is behind it, Id say hes evil, Heath said.
Okay, yeah, well, you guys are probably right, I said. What the hell was the matter with me? I knew better than just about anyone how evil Kalona was! Id felt his dark power. I knew Neferet was all mixed up with him, so mixed up with him that shed decided to turn her back on Nyx. Okay, all of that definitely spelled E-V-I-L.
Hang on. I almost forgot about this. Erik hurried back to his chair and Heath and I followed him. From the shadow beside it, he pulled out the ginormic boom box radio-cassette-CD monstrosity. Let me see if I can get anything in. He messed with the enormous silver knobs, and pretty soon a very staticky Channel 8 came on. The announcer was being all serious and talking quickly.
To repeat our special report on the gang violence in midtown Tulsa last night, Tulsa P.D. reiterates that the city is safe and the problem under control. To quote the chief of police, It was an initiation ritual by a new gang that calls itself Mockers. Leaders of the gang have been arrested and the streets of midtown Tulsa are, once again, safe for our citizens. The newsman continued,
We have one more community announcement: All House of Night staff and students have been recalled to the school due to the impending weather. Again, all House of Night staff and students have been asked to return to school. Stay tuned for updates. We return you to our scheduled programming.
There was no gang in midtown last night, I said. Thats the most ridiculous thing Ive ever heard!
She fixed it. She manipulated the press and probably the public, too, Erik said, looking grim.
Is the she that High Priestess who messed with my mind? Heath asked me.
No, Erik said.
Yes, I said at the same time. I frowned at Erik. He needs to know the truth to protect himself.
The less he knows, the better it is for him, Erik insisted.
No, see, thats what I thought before, and thats why everyone was so mad at me. Thats also why I made some major mistakes. I looked from Erik to Heath. If I hadnt kept so many secrets and had trusted my friends to handle themselves, I might have talked more and messed up less.
Erik sighed. Okay, I see your point. He looked at Heath. Her name is Neferet. Shes the High Priestess at the House of Night. Shes powerful. Very powerful. And shes psychic.
Yeah, I already know she can do stuff with her mind. Thats how she messed with me. She made me forget chunks of things that happened. Ive just started to remember them.
Does it make your head hurt? I asked him, remembering the pain Id had to work through when Id broken the memory blocks Neferet had put in my mind.
Yeah. It hurts, but its getting a lot better. He smiled his familiar, forgiving smile and my heart squeezed.
Neferet is also some kind of queen for Kalona, Erik continued.
So shes bad news all the way around, Heath said.
Bad news and dangerous. Dont forget that, I said. Also, Kalona cant stand to be underground. He couldnt before he was imprisoned in the earth by Cherokee women, and now that hes escaped, my guess is hes going to be even leerier of the earth. So remember, youre safe underground.
What about the Raven Mockers?
I shook my head. We just dont know. None have come down here, but that doesnt mean much. I thought about the darkness in the tunnels below and the bad feeling it was giving me, but I didnt know what the hell it actually was: Red fledglings? Raven Mockers? Some other faceless thing that Kalona was sending against us? Or was it as simple as my imagination? The only thing I knew for sure was that Id sound like an idiot crying wolf if I babbled a bunch of maybes, which meant, for the time being, I kept my mouth shut.
Well, its Saturday, but we dont have school because its still winter break until Wednesday, and if this ice storm hits as hard as they say its going to, we might be out for the whole week, Heath was saying. It should be easy to keep safe, even if the Raven Mockers attack again and their attack moves from midtown Tulsa to Broken Arrow.
My stomach felt hollow. And they might. Neferet knows Im from Broken Arrow, and she knows there are still people I care about there.
So she might send the Raven Mockers to Broken Arrow just to mess you up? Heath said.
I nodded. Especially when my group and I ignore the call to return to school.
But wait, Zo. You have to be at school around a bunch of vamps or you and all the rest of the fledglings will get sick, right?
Im here, Erik spoke up. And so is another full vampyre. Not to mention Stevie Rae.
Isnt she all gross and undead? Heath said.
Not anymore, I said. Shes Changed into a different kind of vamp, one with red tattoos. And all of the gross fledglings that tried to eat youwell, theyre red fledglings now, and arent so gross.
Huh, Heath said. Well, Im glad your BFFs okay.
Me, too. I smiled.
So are three adult vamps enough to keep you guys from getting sick? Heath asked.
Well have to be. Heath, you need to go, Erik said abruptly.
Heath and I looked at him. I realized Id been grinning a lot at Heath and really liking that he and I were talking again.
The ice storm, Erik continued. Its not smart for him to get stuck here, and thats whats going to happen if hes still here when the sun sets. Erik paused and then said, Which is going to happen in about half an hour. How long did it take you to get from Broken Arrow to here?
Heath frowned. Almost two hours. The roads are bad.
It should have only taken him about thirty minutes to get from his place to the depot. Erik was right. Heath had to go home. Not only were we clueless about how much danger we might be in from Kalona, but I wasnt one hundred percent sure Heath would be safe around the red fledglings. Besides my questions about them, the truth was no matter what they were or werent now, Heath was one hundred percent human, with lots of yummy, fresh, warm, sexy, pumping blood (I ignored the fact that my mouth was watering just thinking about it), and I had no idea about their willpower limits.
Eriks right, Heath. You cant get stuck outside tonight, especially this close to midtown. Besides the ice, we dont know whats up with the Raven Mockers.
Heath looked at me like he and I were completely alone. Youre worried about me.
My throat felt dry. This was so not a conversation I wanted to have in front of Erik. Of course I worry about you. Weve been friends a long time. I could feel Eriks eyes on me. I forced myself not to fidget guiltily and added, Friends worry about friends.
Heaths smile was slow and intimate. Friends. Right.
Time for you to go. Erik sounded pissed.
Without looking at Erik, Heath said, Ill go when Zo tells me to.
Its time for you to go, Heath, I said quickly.
Heaths eyes stayed locked with mine for several heartbeats. Fine. Whatever, he said. Then he turned to Erik. So youre a real vamp now, huh?
Yes.
Heath looked him up and down. The two guys were close to the same height. Erik was taller, but Heath was the more muscular of the two. Still, both guys looked like they could handle themselves in a fight. I felt myself tense. Was Heath going to throw a punch at Erik?
People say male vamps are big into protecting their priestesses. Is that right?
Thats right, Erik said.
Good. Then I expect you to be sure Zoey stays safe.
Nothings going to happen to her as long as Im alive, Erik said.
Make sure it doesnt. Heaths voice had lost the charming, easygoing tone with which he usually spoke. It had gone hard and dangerous. Because if you let anything happen to her, Im going to find you, and vampyre or no vampyre, I am going to kick your ass.
CHAPTER 11
I moved quickly, putting myself between the two of them. Stop it! I shouted. I have way too much to worry about right now to also have to pull you two off each other. Jeesh, talk about immature. Both guys kept glaring at each other over my head. I said, stop it! And I smacked their chests. That made them blink and shift their attention to me. Now it was my turn to do the glaring. You know, you two are ridiculous with your puffing up and your testosterone and crap. I mean, I could summon the elements and kick both of your butts.
Heath shuffled his feet and looked embarrassed. Then he grinned at me, like a cute little boy whose mommy had just yelled at him. Sorry, Zo. I forget you have some major mojo going on.
Yeah, sorry, Erik said. I know I dont have anything to worry about with you and him. And he finished with a smirk at Heath.
Heath looked at me like he expected me to say something like well, actually you need to worry way too much, Erik, because I still like Heath, but I didnt. I couldnt. No matter what was going on between Erik and me, Heath was part of my old world, and he fit better in my past than in my present or future. Heath being one hundred percent human meant he was one hundred percent more vulnerable to being seriously hurt if something attacked us.
Okay, Im out of here, Heath said into the awkward silence. He spun around and started to walk toward the door to the outside and was almost there when he paused and looked back at me. But first I really do need to talk to you, Zo. Alone.
Im not going anywhere, Erik said.
No one asked you to, Heath said. Zo, would you come outside with me for a minute?
Hell no, Erik said, moving toward me possessively. Shes not going anywhere with you.
I was frowning up at Erik, about to tell him that he really wasnt the boss of me, when he did something that totally, utterly, and completely pissed me off. He actually grabbed my wrist and jerked me toward him, even though I hadnt taken one step to follow Heath.
An automatic reflex had me yanking my wrist from his grasp.
His blue eyes narrowed at me. At that instant he looked mad and mean, and seemed more a stranger than a boyfriend.
Youre not going anywhere with him, he repeated to me.
My temper spiked. I cannot stand being bullied. It was one of the reasons my moms new husband and I never got along. At his core, the step-loser was nothing more than a big bully. Suddenly I was seeing that same attitude reflected in Erik. I knew it would break my heart later, but just then my anger was burning too hot for any other emotion to cool my reaction.
I didnt yell. I didnt scream and smack him like I really wanted to. Instead, all I did was shake my head and say in my coldest voice, Erik, enough. Just because were back together doesnt mean you can tell me what to do.
How about does it mean you dont cheat on me again with your human boyfriend? Erik snapped.
I gasped and took a step back from him like hed slapped me. Why the hell do you think you can talk to me like that? My stomach clenched up so hard I thought I was going to be sick, but I ignored it, meeting Eriks angry glare with a steely stare of my own. As your girlfriend, youve just pissed me off. As your High Priestess, youve just insulted me. And as someone with a working brain, youve made me wonder if youve lost every bit of your sense. What do you think Im going to do in the minute or so Id be alone with Heath standing outside in the parking lot during an ice storm? Lie down and let him do me right there on the cement? Is that really the kind of girl you think I am?
Erik didnt say anything; he just kept glaring at me.
In the electric silence Heaths chuckle was supermocking. Hey, Erik, let me give you a little advice about our Zo. She really, really, really doesnt like it when you try to tell her what to do. And thats how shes been since, uh, I dunno, third grade or so. I mean, even before she got the vamp mojo from her goddess, she hated to be bossed around. Heath held out his hand to me. So would ya walk outside with me for just a sec so we can talk without an audience?
Yes, yes I would. I think I need some fresh air, I said. Ignoring Eriks pissed-off stare and Heaths offered hand, I stomped over to the metal grating that looked way more closed and secure than it was and with an annoyed shove pushed it aside and walked out into a very nasty winter evening. The blast of cold wet air felt good on my heated face, and I breathed deep, trying to calm down and not shriek my frustration with Erik up into the bruised gray of the sky.
At first I thought it was raining, but pretty quickly I realized it was more like the sky was spitting little pieces of ice. It wasnt coming down thick, but it was constant, and the parking lot, railroad tracks, and the side of the old depot building were already starting to take on the weird magical look of being gilded with ice.
My trucks just over there. Heath pointed to where his truck was parked at the edge of the deserted parking lot under a tree that had obviously at one time been planted as an ornament near the sidewalk that wrapped around the depot. Years of being ignored and not pruned had really messed with it, though, and instead of fitting neatly into its circular opening in the cement, the tree had grown way bigger than it should have and its roots had broken the sidewalk around it. Its ice-slick limbs swayed precariously close to the old granite building; some of them were actually leaning on the roof. Just looking up at the tree made me cringe. If we got much more ice, the poor old thing was probably going to shatter into zillions of pieces.
Here, Heath held one side of his coat up over my head. Come on over to my truck so we can talk out of this mess.
I glanced around at the gray, soggy landscape. Nothing seemed frightening or freakyas in half-man, half-bird grossness. It was just wet and cold and empty.
Okay, yeah, I said, and let Heath lead me over to his truck. I probably shouldnt have let him hold his coat over me and tuck me close to his side while I clutched on to him to keep from falling on the ice-slick pavement, but it felt so familiar and easy to be with him that I didnt even hesitate. Lets face it, Heaths been in my life since I was in grade school. I was literally more comfortable with him than with anyone else in the world, except for my Grandma. No matter what was going on, or not going on, between us, Heath was like family to me. Actually, hes better than the vast majority of my family. It was hard to imagine trying to treat him all formally like he was a stranger. After all, Heath had been my friend before hed become my boyfriend. But he can never just be my friend again; therell always be more between us than that, whispered my conscience, but I ignored it.
We got to his truck and Heath opened the door for me, the interior smelling of an odd, familiar mixture of Heath and Armor All. (Heath is a neat freak about his truck; I swear you could eat off the seats.) Instead of sliding in, I hesitated. Sitting next to him in the cab of his truck was just too intimate, too reminiscent of the years I had been his girlfriend. So instead, I pulled a little away from him and half sat, half leaned on the end of the passengers seat, enough out of the icy rain to stay semidry. Heath gave me a sad smile, like he understood that I was doing my best to resist being with him again, and leaned against his side of the open door.
Okay, what did you want to talk to me about?
I dont like you being here. I dont remember everything, but I do remember enough to know that the tunnels down there are bad news. I know you said those undead kids have changed, but I still dont like you being down there with them. It doesnt seem safe, he said, looking serious and worried.
Well, I dont blame you for thinking its disgusting down there, but it really has changed. The kids are different, too. They have their humanity back. Plus, its the safest place for us right now.
Heath studied my face for a long time, then he let out a heavy sigh. Youre the one whos the priestess and stuff like that, so you know what youre doing. It just feels weird to me. Are you sure you shouldnt go back to the House of Night? Maybe this fallen angel guy isnt as bad as you think he is.
No, Heath, hes bad. Just trust me on this one. And the Raven Mockers are seriously dangerous. Its not safe to go back to school. You didnt see him when he rose out of the ground. Its like he can put a spell on fledglings and vampyres. Its really creepy. You already know how powerful Neferet is. Well, I think Kalona is even more powerful than her.
That is bad, Heath agreed.
Yeah.
Heath nodded and didnt say anything. He just looked at me. I looked back at him, and somehow got caught by his sweet, brown-eyed gaze. Id been sitting there in silence for a while, just looking into his eyes, when I started to be intensely aware of him. I could smell Heath. It was the nice, soapy, Heath smell that Id grown up with. He was standing close enough to me that I could feel the heat from his body.
Slowly, without saying a word, Heath took my hand and turned it over so that he could look at the intricate tattoos that decorated it. He traced the pattern with one of his fingers.
Its really amazing that this has happened to you, he said softly, still studying my hand. Sometimes when Im waking up in the morning I forget that youve been Marked and youre at the House of Night, and the first thing I think is how much Im looking forward to knowing youre going to be at the game Friday night watching me play. Or that I cant wait to see you before school getting sausage rolls and your brown pop at Daylight Donuts. He looked up from my hand and into my eyes. And then I wake all the way up and remember that you wont be there for any of those things. That wasnt so bad when we were Imprinted, cause I still felt like I had a chance, that I still had a part of you. But now even thats gone.
Heath made my insides tremble. Im sorry, Heath. II just dont know what else to say. I cant change any of this.
Yes, you can. Heath lifted my hand and pressed my palm against his black Broken Arrow Tigers football shirt just over his heart. Can you feel it beating? he whispered.
I nodded. I could feel his heartbeat, steady and strong, if a little fast. It reminded me of the incredibly delicious blood that was pounding through his veins and how good it would feel to take just a tiny little bite of himAnd now the pounding of my heart was beating in double time along with his.
Last time I saw you, I said that it hurt too much to love you. But I was wrong about that. The truth is it hurts too much not to love you, Heath said.
Heath, no. We cant. My voice was rough as I tried to talk through the desire I was feeling for him.
Of course we can, babe. Were good at being together. Weve had lots of practice at it. Heath stepped closer to me. He took the pointing finger of my hand from his chest and ran his thumb lightly over my nicely manicured nail. Is it true that your fingernails are hard enough that they can cut through skin?
I nodded. I knew I should walk away and back down to the tunnels and the life that waited for me there, but I couldnt. Heath was also a life that waited for me and right or wrong it was almost impossible for me to walk away from him.
Heath took my finger and lifted it so that my nail was pressed lightly against the soft place where his neck curved into his shoulder.
Cut me, Zo. Drink my blood again. His voice was deep and harsh with desire. Were already connected. Well always be connected. So put the Imprint back between us where it belongs.
He pressed my fingernail harder against his neck. We were both breathing heavily now. When my nail broke through his skin, making a small scratch on his neck, I watched, mesmerized, as an exquisitely thin ribbon of scarlet sprang up against the paleness of his skin.
The smell hit me then, the utterly familiar scent of Heaths blood. The blood Id once Imprinted as my own. Nothing can compare to the scent of fresh human blood, not another fledglings and not even an adult vampyres blood is as compelling, as hypnotically desirable. I felt myself leaning toward him.
Yes, babe, yes. Drink from me, Zo. Remember how good it feels? Heath whispered while his hand on my waist pulled me into him.
Couldnt I just take one little taste? So what if I Imprinted with Heath, again? Hell, of course, wed Imprint. And thats not so bad. I loved being Imprinted with him. Hed liked it, too, until
Until Id broken the Imprint along with his heart and quite possibly irreparably damaged his soul.
I shoved him away and lurched out of the cab of the truck, stepping quickly around Heath. The icy rain actually felt good as it fell on my face, cooling the heat of my bloodlust.
I have to go back, Heath, I said, trying hard to get my breathing and my racing heart under control. You have to go back, too, where you belong. And thats not here.
Zoey, whats wrong? He took a step toward me, and I moved one more step away from him. What did I do?
Nothing. ItsIts not you, Heath. I pushed my wet hair back from my face. Youre great. Youve always been great, and I do love you. Thats why this cant happen between us again. Imprinting with me isnt good for you, especially not right now.
Why dont you let me worry about whats good for me and whats not?
Because you dont think straight when it comes to me and you! I shouted. Remember how painful it was when our Imprint broke? Remember how you said it made you feel like you wanted to die?
Then dont break it again.
Its not that simple. My life isnt that simple anymore.
Maybe youre just making it too complicated. Theres you. Theres me. We love each other, and we have since we were kids, so we should be together. The end, he said.
Life isnt a book, Heath! Theres no guarantee of a happy ending, I said.
I dont need a guarantee if I have you.
Thats just it. You dont have me, Heath. You cant. Not anymore. I shook my head and held up my hand to stop him when he started to say something else. No! I cant do this right now. I just want you to get in your truck and go back to B.A. Im going to go back down there. To my people and my vampyre boyfriend.
Oh, please! You and that vamp asshole? No way are you going to put up with his crap, Zo.
This isnt just about Erik and me. The truth is you and I cant happen, Heath. You need to forget about me and go on with your life. Your human life. I turned my back on him and made myself walk away. When I heard him following me, I didnt look back. I just yelled, No! I want you to leave, Heath, and I dont want you to come back. Ever.
I held my breath and heard his footsteps stop. I still didnt look at him. I was afraid if I did that, I would turn around, run back to him, and hurl myself into his arms.
I was almost to the old metal grate when I heard the first croaking caw. The sound stopped me like Id run into a brick wall. I whirled around. Heath was standing in the freezing rain under the tree just a few feet from his truck. I spared hardly a glance for him. My eyes darted up into the dark branches of the ice-bowed tree.
Within the shadows of the naked boughs a darkness stirred. It reminded me of something, and I blinked, staring at it and trying to remember where Id seen something like it before. Then the image shiftedchangedI gasped as it became more visible. Neferet! She was clinging to a thick, ice-slick branch that leaned against the roof of the depot. Her eyes blazed crimson and her hair whipped around her crazily, like she had been caught in a sudden wind.
Neferet smiled at me. Her expression was so purely evil that I felt frozen in place.
Then, as I stared up in horror, her image shifted again, wavered, and where the image of the tainted High Priestess had been, there was now a huge Raven Mocker. The thing perched on the side of the depot roof wasnt human and it wasnt animal. It was a terrible mutated mixture of both. It was staring at me with eyes the color of blood and the shape of a mans. Its human arms and legs were naked, looking vile and perverted emerging from the body of a gigantic raven. I could see its forked tongue and the glistening saliva that dripped hungrily from that horrible maw.