Instantly I pulled my mouth from his arm. Heath! Had I killed him? Panicked, I tried to sit up, but the pain shooting through my body stopped me.
The human is fine, Priestess, Darius soothed. Stanch the wound on his arm so that he will not lose any more blood.
Automatically I ran my tongue over the narrow slice on Heaths arm and the bigger gash Id made when I bit him while I thought Healdont bleed anymore, and when I pulled away this time I saw that the knife wound, as well as the marks my teeth had left, had completely stopped bleeding.
You can close the circle, Darius told Aphrodite, who was watching me with undisguised curiosity.
See, I wanted to tell her, there are a lot of different kinds of Imprints. What I have with Heath is definitely not what you have with Stevie Rae. But I couldnt summon the energy to say the words. Actually, I wasnt looking forward to the gazillion questions I was sure she was going to have for me. And then before she turned to Stevie Rae to begin thanking and then sending away the elements, I saw Aphrodite send Darius a sexy smile filled with promise, and I remembered that the first Imprint Id shared with Heath had been broken when Id had sex with Loren, and I realized that it was Darius who was going to have to field her questions. By the intimate smile he gave her in return, I was guessing he was going to like that kind of questioning wayyyy more than I ever would.
Okay, gross.
As a grinning Aphrodite closed the circle, Darius turned back to Heath and me.
Erik, help me get him over to the bed, Darius said.
A stone-faced Erik lifted my head out of Heaths lap. He and Darius carried him the short distance to the bed and laid his still body on the spot so recently vacated by Jack (who was watching, wide-eyed, from the side of the room while he manically petted Duchess over and over).
Go get something fast to eat and drink. Oh, and find some more of Venuss wine, Darius told Jack. But tell the red fledglings to stay away, he added before Jack nodded and scampered off with Duchess at his heels.
Theyre not gonna attack Heath, Stevie Rae said. She came to me and held my hand. Especially now that hes Imprinted with Zoey again. His blood smells wrong.
I dont have time to test whether they will or will not right now, Darius said. He came back over to the bed and started inspecting my wound again. Good. It has completely stopped bleeding.
I think Ill take your word for that. I dont really want to look again. I was pleased as hell that I had my voice back, even if I did sound weak and more than a little shaky. Thanks, guys, for the circle, I told my friends, who grinned at me and started to rush the table.
No! Darius put up a hand, halting their jubilation. I need room to work. Aphrodite, find some of those butterfly bandages in that kit and bring them over to me.
Hey, am I done almost dying? I asked the warrior.
Darius looked up from my wound to meet my eyes, and I saw there a relief that told me exactly how close I must have been to not making it.
You are done dying. He paused, clearly at the brink of saying more.
But? I prompted.
Theres no but about it, Stevie Rae said quickly. Youre done dyin. Period.
I didnt look away from Darius, and he finally answered me. But you need more help then I can give you if youre going to recover fully.
What do you mean, more help? Aphrodite asked as she moved to Dariuss side, a handful of weird Band-Aids clenched in her fist.
Darius sighed. Zoeys wound is severe. The humans blood has saved her life by replacing the blood she lost and strengthening her enough that she was able to accept the energy of the elements, but not even Zoey can recover from so great a wound by herself. She is still just a fledgling, though even were she a fully Changed vampyre, an injury like this would be difficult for her to recover from.
But she looks better now, and shes talking to us, Damien said.
Yeah, I dont feel like Im not really here anymore, I said.
Darius nodded. That is all good, but the truth is you need many stitches so that the wound can close and heal.
What about these? Aphrodite held up the butterfly Band-Aid packages. I thought thats why you needed them.
Those bandages are only temporary. She needs real stitches.
So stitch me up. I tried to sound as brave as I could, even though the thought of Darius sewing up my flesh made me want to puke or cry, or both.
There are no sutures in the kit, Darius said.
Cant we get some? Erik asked. I noticed as he spoke, he was looking everywhere but at me. I could drive Heaths truck to the St. Johns pharmacy and Stevie Rae could do her mind control thing on a doc there. Wed bring back whatever you need, and then you could stitch her up.
Yeah, we can do that. I can even grab a doctor if you want and bring him down here, then wipe his memory clean when we return him, Stevie Rae said.
Okay, Stevie Rae, thats a nice offer, I said, more than a little disturbed that she was talking about what amounted to kidnapping and brainwashing. But I really dont think thats a good idea.
Its not that simple to solve the problem anyway, Darius said.
So explain it so it is that simple, Heath said, propping himself up on his elbows and looking totally like crap even though he smiled sweetly at me.
Zoey needs more than a doctors care. Zoey needs to be around adult vampyres so that the damage to her body doesnt become fatal.
Hang on. I thought you said I was done almost dying, I said.
You are done almost dying from this particular wound, but if you dont get within a coven of vampyres, and I mean more than one or two or three of us, the damage caused to your body will use up your reserves of strength and you will begin rejecting the Change. Darius paused, letting what he was saying sink in with all of us. Youll die from that. You may come back to us, like Stevie Rae and the rest of the red fledglings did, but you may not.
Or you may come back like that stupid Stark kid and be a crazed asshole who starts attacking us, Aphrodite said.
So you really dont have any choice, Darius said. We have to get you back to the House of Night.
Well, hell, I said.
CHAPTER 14
But she cant go back! Kalonas there, Erin said.
Not to mention the Raven Mockers, Shaunee said.
One of them did this to her, Erik said. Right, Heath?
Yeah, the thing was disgusting, Heath said. He was chugging brown pop from a can Jack had handed him while he stuffed nacho cheese Doritos in his face. I was glad to see he looked lots better, almost completely like himself, which proves Doritos and brown pop really are health foods.
Then theyll just attack her again, so taking her there wont really save Zoey. Itll just enable them to finish killing her, Erik said.
Well, maybe not, I admitted reluctantly. The Raven Mocker didnt attack me, or at least, not on purpose. It was going to attack Heath and I kinda got in the way. I gave Heath an apologetic smile. Actually, it freaked when it hurt me.
Because it said its dad had been looking for you, Heath added. I remember. He did freak right after he cut you. Zoey, babe, Im sorry I almost got you killed.
Didnt I fucking tell you! Aphrodite practically snarled at Heath. What happened was your fault! You shouldnt have been here!
Whoa, Aphrodite, hang on, I said. I started to put my hands up to make simmer-down motions to her, but Darius shot me a hold still look. Plus, it really did hurt whenever I moved too much. So I settled for words with no hand motions, which felt kinda weird. You kept blaming Heath before. What gives?
She looked at me and I swear she fidgeted. Aphrodite actually fidgeted.
I frowned at her. Whats the deal, Aphrodite?
When she didnt say anything, Stevie Rae sighed and said, Cause shes know-it-all Vision Girl, and this time she was in the dark.
Do not tap into my mind like that! Aphrodite shouted at Stevie Rae.
Then answer Zs question. She feels too crappy to pull it out of you, Stevie Rae said.
Aphrodite turned her back to Stevie Rae. Its just that I expected to get a heads-up if you were going to die, thats all.
Huh? I said, speaking for all of us who were staring at her with question-mark faces.
She rolled her eyes. Hello! Ive had two death visions of you, so its only logical to assume if you were going to be all grotesquely close to death, Id know a little something about it, thats all. But Nyx didnt clue me in with any kind of a vision, so I figured Football Joe over there messed things up cause the goddess didnt expect him to be poking around where hes not supposed to be. She frowned at Heath and shook her head in disgust. I mean, come on! Are you special needs, special services or what? Werent you almost killed here once before?
Yeah, but Zo saved me, so I figured shed make like a superhero again if things got bad, and wed be okay, Heath said. Then his cute, goofy expression changed and he looked like someone had just taken away his birthday. But I didnt think Id be the cause of getting Zoey almost killed.
And they say football players arent brilliant. Wherever did they come up with that? Aphrodite said sarcastically.
All right, thats enough, I said. Heath, you didnt almost get me killed. The stupid Raven Mocker almost got me killed. Do you think I would have gone willingly with it? Hell no!
But I he began.
I cut him off. Heath, if you hadnt been there I would have eventually stuck my head aboveground. The gross birdman said they were looking for me, which means sooner or later they would have found me and I would have had to fight them. Period, the end. And, Aphrodite, just because you get visions doesnt mean you know everything. Sometimes stuff happens even you cant foresee. Get used to it and stop being so darn mean. Plus, this isnt just about Raven Mockers. Before it attacked, it looked like Neferet, I finished in a rush.
What? Damien said. How could it have looked like Neferet?
I dont have a clue, but I promise when I looked up she was there. She smiled a terrible, creepy smile at me. I blinked, and then she was gone and there was a Raven Mocker in her place. Thats all I know. I knew there was something else I needed to remember about what had happened, but my mind was feeling fuzzy with pain and I slumped down, totally exhausted.
We have to get her back to the House of Night, Darius said.
And take her right to Neferet? That doesnt sound smart, Heath said.
Nevertheless, she has to go there.
I looked up at Darius. Isnt there some other way?
Not if you want to live, he said.
Then Zoey has to go back to school, Damien said.
Oh, great! So the Raven Mockers and Neferet have her exactly where they want her! Aphrodite yelled.
I looked at Aphrodite and saw beyond the hateful demeanor she wore like armor to the sincere worry she had for me. Basically, she was scared. I couldnt really blame her. I was scared, toofor myself, for my friends. Hell, I was scared for the whole darn world.
They want me there, but they want me alive, I said solemnly. That means before they do anything else, theyll make sure Im healed.
Are you remembering that the House of Nights healer is Neferet? Damien said.
Of course I remember, I said irritably. Im just hoping Kalona wants me alive worse than she wants me dead.
But what if she does something terrible to you after youre healed? Aphrodite said.
Then you guys will have to come get me out of there, I said.
Uh, Zoey, Damien said. You sound like you think youre going back there alone. Youre not.
Yeah, no way, Erin said.
Were not letting you out of our sight, Shaunee said.
Where you go, we go, Jack said.
Thats right. Were in this together, Stevie Rae said. Remember the only thing that was the same about both of the death visions Aphrodite had of you was the fact that you were alone. So were not lettin you be alone.
Eriks voice sliced between us. We cant all go back with her.
Look, Erik, Aphrodite sneered. We get that youre Mr. Jealous and that seeing your girlfriend sucking on another guy is probably not cool with you, but youre going to just have to learn to deal.
Erik completely ignored her. Instead, he met my eyes and I saw that he had, once again, reached into his acting bag of tricks and pulled out the character of a stranger. As I studied him, I saw absolutely no trace of the guy who wanted me so bad that his passion had gotten kinda scary. I couldnt even find any trace of the possessive Neanderthal who had wanted to kick Heaths butt and boss me around. He was able to cover all of those versions of himself and his emotions so effectively that I was beginning to wonder who the hell the real Erik was.
Stevie Rae cant go back with you. If she goes, who will be here to control the red fledglings? Aphrodite cant go back with you. Shes just a human, and as much as Id like something to eat her, I imagine you and Nyx probably want to keep her around.
Before he says shit else, you need to know that Im going back with you, no matter what, Heath said.
Erik didnt so much as blink. Yeah, and youll get your stupid human ass kicked, probably killed, even faster than Aphrodite would. And along with yourself, youll probably get Zoey killed for real this time. Zoey has to go back, because shell die if she doesnt. Darius is the only one who should go back with her. Anyone else is taking a big risk. For sure theyll be trapped at the House of Night. Maybe theyll even be killed.
As usual, the room exploded as my friends yelled their own not-so-positive opinions of Eriks emotionless proclamation.
Guysguys I tried to speak over them but didnt have the energy.
Silence! Darius commanded, and everyone finally shut up.
Thanks, I said to him, then I looked at my friends. I think Eriks right. Anyone who goes back with me is at risk, and I dont want to lose you guys.
But arent the five of you stronger when youre together? Heath asked.
Yes, we are, Damien answered.
Heath nodded. Thats what I thought. So shouldnt those of you who have a special thing with an element go back with Zoey?
An affinity for an element, Damien explained. Thats what its called. And I agree with Heath. The circle should stay complete.
It cant, Darius said. Stevie Rae has to stay here with the red fledglings. If shes trapped on campus or, worst case scenario, killed, we have no way of knowing if Eriks presence, as a Changed vampyre, will be enough to keep them healthy and under control. In case Zoey and I were the only ones who noticed, let me tell all of you that Kramisha looked as if she was having trouble controlling herself around Heath. The ripple effect that might be caused by Stevie Raes absence could be disastrous. So the circle cannot stay complete.
Wait, maybe it can, Aphrodite said.
What do you mean? I asked her.
Well, I cant represent earth anymore. That affinity was given back to Stevie Rae when she Changed, and the one time I tried to evoke it, the element was pissed and zapped me.
I nodded, remembering how upsetting it had been for Aphrodite to believe that Nyx had abandoned her, which she really hadnt. But still, the girl was definitely unable to evoke earth anymore.
But, Aphrodite continued, Zoey can evoke earth, just like she can any of the five elements. Right?
I nodded again. Right.
And I just evoked spirit without any problem. So what if we just change positions? Zoey personifies earth and I call spirit. It worked just a little while ago. I think as long as Zoeys around to help nudge spirit toward me, theres no reason it wont work again.
She has a point, which makes the circle complete without me, Stevie Rae said. As much as I want to stay with you, Darius is right. I cant take the chance that I cant get back here to my fledglings.
You are all forgetting another reason the rest of you cant return with Zoey, Darius said. Neferet, and perhaps even Kalona, can read your minds. Which means everything you know about the red fledglings and this safe haven, they will know, too.
Uh, guys, I have an idea, Heath spoke up. Okay, I dont really know much about this stuff, so I might be totally wrong, but cant each of you get help from an element to, I dunno, set up some kind of roadblock around your minds?
I blinked in surprise at Heath and then grinned. You might be on to something. What do you think, Damien?
Damien looked excited. I think we were idiots not to have thought of it ourselves. He smiled at Heath. Well done, you!
Heath shrugged and looked adorable. No problem. Sometimes it takes someone from the outside to figure stuff out.
You really believe that could work? Darius asked.
It should, Damien said. Or at least it should for those of us who have an actual affinity for an element. The Twins and I have called our elements to protect and shield before. It shouldnt be hard to ask them to put up barriers around our minds. He hesitated and glanced at Aphrodite. But can you do it? You dont really have an affinity for spirit, do you? Im not trying to be mean, but just because you can stand in Zoeys place and evoke the element within a circle, it doesnt mean you are actually able to conjure spirit on your own.
I dont have to conjure spirit to protect my mind, Aphrodite said. Neferet hasnt been able to read my mind from the day I was Marked, just like she hasnt been able to read Zoey. And I have to tell you Im getting damn tired of you guys giving me shit because Im a human again!
Okay, youre right about the mind reading part. Sorry about that, Damien said. But I think we should know for sure if spirit will really work for Aphrodite, before we blunder back into the House of Night.
Yeah, Aphrodite, Jack said. Were not being judgmental about you being a human and all. We just need to know if your spirit mojo works.
I had a sudden thought. It doesnt really matter whether Aphrodite can conjure the element outside a circle casting, because I can. Spirit, I said softly, come to me. As easily as drawing a breath, I evoked the element and felt its wonderful presence. Now go to Aphrodite. Protect and serve her. I flicked my fingers wearily in her direction, and felt spirit rush away from me. An instant later Aphrodites big blue eyes widened and she smiled.
Hey! It works, she said.
How long can you keep that up? Erik asked me.
Annoyed at the total lack of emotion in his voice, I snapped, As long as I have to.
So the circle stays intact, Damien said.
Yeah, we all go with Z back to school, Erin said.
Together. The five of us, Shaunee said.
I feel like one of the dorky Mouseketeers, Aphrodite said, but she was smiling.
Were agreed, then, Darius said. The five of you and I will return. Stevie Rae, Erik, Jack, and Heath stay here.
Hell no, he doesnt stay here, Erik said, finally showing some emotion.
Dude, you dont have shit to say about it. Anyway, Im not staying. Im going with Zoey.
You cant, Heath. Its way too dangerous, I said.
Aphrodites human and she can go. So can I, he said stubbornly.
Moron football boy, first, I might be human, but Im also special, so I go. Second, you cant go because they can use you to get to Zoey. Youre Imprinted with her again. They hurt you; they hurt Zoey. So show some sense and take your butt back to suburbia.
Oh. I hadnt thought about it like that, Heath said.
You have to go home, Heath. Well talk later after things have settled down.
Shouldnt I stay here, where Im close to you? So if you need me you can get to me fast.
I wanted to say yes, even with Erik watching me all dead-faced and even knowing that the best thing for Heath was if I never saw him again. Our Imprint was incredibly strong, even more so than it had been the first time. I could feel him, so close and sweet and familiar, and even though I knew it was wrong and knew I shouldnt, I wanted to keep him beside me. But then I remembered how Kramisha had looked at him, like she wanted to take a chomp outta him. I knew that his blood would taste funny to any other fledgling or vampyre because wed Imprinted, but I couldnt be sure that would stop them from wanting to sample it. Just thinking about someone else drinking from Heath made me feel seriously pissed.
No, Heath, I insisted. You have to go home. Its not safe for you here.
I dont care if Im safe or not. I care about being with you, Heath said.
I know, but I care if youre safe or not. So, go home. Ill call you as soon as I can.
Okay, but Ill be back here the second you call, he said.
Want me to walk him outside? Stevie Rae asked. The tunnels can be kinda confusing if youre not familiar with them.
Plus, I can stop any red fledgling who has a mind to take a bite out of him. The thought was there, but unsaid in the air between us.
Okay, thanks, Stevie Rae, I said.
Erik, hold Zoey up. Aphrodite, finish wrapping this Ace bandage around her. I better go out there with Heath, too, Darius said.
The Raven Mocker was in the tree above his truck, kinda perched on the roof of the depot, I told Darius.
Ill be vigilant, Priestess, Darius said. Come on, boy. You need to go home.
Well be back in a sec, Z, Stevie Rae said.
Instead of following Darius and Stevie Rae from the room, Heath came to me. He cupped my cheek with his hand and smiled. Stay safe, okay, Zo?
Ill try. You, too, I said. And, Heath, thanks for saving my life.
Anytime, Zoey. And I mean that. Anytime. Then, like we were alone and not in the middle of a room with my friends (and boyfriend) gawking at us, Heath bent and kissed me. He tasted like Doritos and brown pop and Heath. Through it all I could smell him, the distinct scent of his blood that was Imprinted uniquely to me and, because of that, literally the most fascinating, delicious smell on this earth.
I love you, babe, he whispered. He kissed me one more time. As he was leaving he waved at my friends. See you guys around, he said. I was only half surprised when Jack and Damien called bye and the Twins made kissing noises at him. I mean, Heath is cute. Totally cute. Right before he ducked out the blanket door he glanced back at Erik, who was standing beside me. Hey, dude, Im holding you personally responsible if anything hurts her. Then Heath gave Erik his charming, lopsided grin. Oh, and how about you make my job totally easy and try to boss her around a bunch while Im gone? Chuckling to himself, Heath finally left the room.
Aphrodite laughed, which she tried to cover with a cough.
Ex-boyfriend does have a way about him, Shaunee said.
Yes, he does, Twin, Erin said. Not to mention a cute butt.
Uh, awkward, anyone? Jack said.
CHAPTER 15
The Twins muttered hasty apologies, shooting Erik guilty looks. Erik, looking like he was carved out of stone, told Aphrodite, Here, Ill lift her up a little and you can wrap the bandage around her.
Fine by me, Aphrodite said.
So, without meeting my eyes, Erik slid his hands under my shoulders and gently lifted my torso off the table. While I gritted my teeth against the pain and Aphrodite wrapped the Ace bandage around me, I wondered what the hell I was going to do about Erik and Heath. Erik and I were supposedly back together, but after the scene in the basement I wasnt one hundred percent sure we should be together. I mean, he said he loved me, which was all well and good, but did loving me mean hed turned all possessive and jerkish? And besides that, was what we had together strong enough to tolerate another Imprint with Heath, especially now that it wasnt just an abstract idea? Now that hed seen Heath and me together, was there any way Erik and I could be together?
I looked up at him as he held me so carefully. Feeling my gaze on him, his blue eyes shifted to me. He didnt look like a stone man anymore. He just looked sad. Really, really sad. Did I still want to be Eriks girlfriend? The longer I looked into his eyes, the more I thought that maybe I did. Then where did that leave me with Heath? Back to where I was with both of these guys before Id cheated on them and let Loren trick me into giving him my virginity.
It had been an uncomfortable boyfriend triangle then, and it was even worse now. But what the hell was I going to do? The truth was I cared about both of them.
God, its exhausting being me.
When Aphrodite was done bandaging me, Erik asked Jack to bring him a pillow from the bed, and then he put me carefully back down with my head and shoulders resting on its softness.
You guys had better get ready to leave, Erik said to the Twins, Damien, and Aphrodite. Ill bet Darius will want to get Zoey back to the House of Night right away.
That means we have to get our purses from Kramishas room, Shaunee said.
Like I would forget my new winter season Ed Hardy purse, Twin? Erin said.
Of course not, Twin. Im just sayin Their voices faded as they hurried from the room.
I want to go with you, Jack said, looking close to tears.
I want you to come, too, Darius said. But its too dangerous. You have to stay here with Erik and Stevie Rae until we know exactly what were up against.
My mind understands that, but my heart says something else, Jack said, leaning his head against Damiens shoulder. Its justjust Jack took a deep breath and finished on a sob, Its just poop that I cant go!
Were going to step down the tunnel a ways, Damien said, putting his arm around Jack. Just have Darius yell when hes ready. Then Damien led a stricken Jack out of the room, with Duchess trailing sadly along behind.
Im going to go find my cat, Aphrodite said. Ill see if I can find your little orange creature, too.
Dont you think we should leave the cats here? I asked.
Aphrodite raised a blond brow at me. Since when could cats be told what to do?
I sighed. Youre right. Theyd just follow us back and then complain at us for years about leaving them behind.
Tell Darius Ill be right back. Aphrodite ducked out through the blanket.
That left Erik and me alone.
Without looking at me he started to move toward the doorway saying, Im going to
Erik, dont go. Cant we talk for just a second?
He stopped, his back still to me. His head was bowed and his shoulders were slumped. He looked utterly defeated.
Erik, please
He spun around and I saw there were tears pooling in his eyes. Im so damn pissed I dont know what the hell to do! And whats worse is that this, he paused, gesturing to the huge Ace bandage hiding the wound that sliced across my chest, is really my fault.
Your fault?
If I hadnt been such a possessive asshole in the basement, you wouldnt have gone outside with Heath. You were sending him away, but I had to push things and piss you off, so you went out there with him. He ran his hand through his thick dark hair. Its just that Heath makes me so damn jealous! Hes known you since you two were kids. I just He hesitated and his jaw clenched and unclenched. I just didnt want to lose you again, so I acted like a jerk, and not only did you almost die, but I lost you again!
I blinked at him. So he hadnt been acting like stone man because he didnt care or because he was mad at me. Hed been hiding his emotions because he thought all of this was his fault. JeeshI hadnt had a clue.
I held out my hand to him. Erik, come here. Slowly he came over to me and took my hand.
I acted like a jerk, he said.
Yeah, you did. But I should have shown some sense and not gone outside with Heath.
Erik looked at me for a long time before he spoke. It was hard to see you with him. To see you drink from him.
I wish there could have been some other way, I said. I did wish it, and not just because it had been uncomfortable for Erik to watch. I loved Heath, but Id made the decision not to be with him again, not to ever Imprint with him again. I knew the best thing for both of us, especially for Heath, was to be out of each others lives, and thats what Id planned. Sadly, my life rarely goes according to my plans. I sighed and tried to put some of what I was feeling into words. I cant help loving Heath. Hes been part of my life for a long time, and now that were Imprinted again, he literally carries part of me with him, even though I didnt mean for it to happen.