You know, he said. If you could forget all the craziness the storm is causing, and the whole Kalona-Neferet mess, the ice really does look cool. Its almost like its taken us out of the real world and transported us to a weird winter land. Like someplace the White Witch would really like.
Oooh, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe! That was a great movie.
He cleared his throat. I didnt see it.
You didnt see it? My eyes widened and I glanced over my shoulder at him. You read the book?
Books, he said, putting special emphasis on the plural. C. S. Lewis wrote way more than one Narnia book.
You read?
I read, he said.
Huh, I said, feeling befuddled (as Grandma would have said).
Whats wrong with that? Readings good, he said defensively.
I know! Its cool you read. Actually its hot that you read. And it was. I loved it when cute guys showed they had brains.
Really? Well, youd definitely be interested in the fact that I just read To Kill a Mockingbird.
I smiled and elbowed him. Everyones read that.
Ive read it five times.
Nu-uh.
Yep. I can quote parts of it.
Thats bullpoopie.
And then Stark, my big, bad, macho Warrior, raised his voice, put on a little girls Southern drawl, and said,Uncle Jack? Whats a whore-lady?
I do not think thats the most important quote from that book, I said, but laughed anyway.
Okay, how about: Aint no snot-nosed slut of a schoolteacher ever born cn make me do nothin! That ones really my favorite.
You got a twisted mind, James Stark. I was smiling and feeling warm and happy when we turned into the long driveway that led to the House of Night. I was just thinking how magical it looked, all lit up and welcoming, when I noticed there was more light than usual coming from the schools backup generators and old-fashioned oil lanterns. Then I realized the light wasnt coming from any of the school buildings. Instead it was flickering from an area between Nyxs Temple and the school proper.
I felt Stark tense instantly.
What is that? I asked.
Stop the horses, he said.
Whoa. I pulled Persephone to a halt, calling for Shaunee and Johnny B to stop their horses, too. Whats going on?
Keep your eyes open. Be ready to ride back to the abbey. Go and go quickly if I tell you to. And dont wait for me! was all Stark said before he slid off Persephone and sprinted behind us to the Hummer.
I twisted around and could see that Darius was already getting out of the Hummer as Heath took his place behind the drivers wheel. The two warriors talked briefly, and then Darius called Erik and all the male red fledglings to him, plus Stevie Rae. I was just getting ready to head Persephone over to the Hummer when Stark jogged back to me.
What is it? I asked.
Somethings on fire inside the school grounds.
Can you tell what its from? I asked Shaunee.
Dont know, Shaunee said, wrinkling her forehead in concentration. But it feels sacred.
Sacred? What the hell?
Stark took Persephones bridle to get my attention. Look under the trees.
I looked to my right, to the row of Bradford pear trees that lined the lane leading to the House of Night. There were things under themshadows within shadows of crumpled forms. My stomach felt sick when I realized what I was seeing.
Raven Mockers, I said.
Theys dead, Kramisha said.
We have to check. We have to know for sure, Stevie Rae said. She had stepped up with the red fledgling males and Erik.
That we will, Darius said. Then, pulling a knife for each of his hands from inside his leather jacket, he told Stark, Stay with Zoey. Nodding to Stevie Rae and Erik to follow him, he started toward the trees.
It didnt take long.
Dead, he called, after pausing by each one.
When the group rejoined us, I couldnt help but notice how white Stevie Raes face looked.
You okay? I asked her.
She looked up at me, her eyes more than a little startled. Yeah, she said quickly. Fine. Its just Her voice trailed off and her gaze went back to the grisly lumps under the trees.
Its cause they smell bad. Kramisha said. We all looked at her. Well, its true. Them Raven Mockers have something nasty in they blood.
Their blood does smell wrong. I know because I had to clean it up from where Darius had shot some of them down from the sky back at the abbey, Stevie Rae spoke quickly, like the subject made her uncomfortable.
Thats what I smelled on you! I was relieved Id finally identified the odd scent.
Everyone needs to focus on the here and now, Darius said. We dont know whats happening in there. He motioned toward the school grounds and the flickering flames that were illuminating its heart.
What is that? Is the school really on fire? Stevie Rae spoke our thoughts aloud.
I can tell you what it is. The voice startled all of us except the three horses we rode, which should have clued me in instantly to who was standing in the shadows on the field house side of the lane. It is a funeral pyre, said Lenobia, Professor of Equestrian Studies, and one of the few adult vamps who had stood by us after Kalona and Neferet had taken over the school.
She went straight to the horses, greeting them, checking them, and generally ignoring us until she was sure they were okay. Finally, looking up from caressing Persephones muzzle she said, Merry meet, Zoey.
Merry meet, I responded automatically.
Did you kill him?
I shook my head. We chased him away. Kramishas poem was right. When the five of us joined, we were able to banish him with love. But whose
Is Neferet dead or just fled with him? she interrupted my question.
Fled. Whose funeral is the pyre for? I couldnt wait any longer to ask.
Lenobias beautiful blue-gray eyes met mine. Anastasia Lankford lost her life. The last act Kalonas favorite son, Rephaim, did before he called his brothers with him to follow you to the abbey was to slit her throat.
CHAPTER 22
Zoey
I heard Stevie Raes horrified gasp echoed by everyone surrounding us, but Darius didnt hesitate. Are there any Raven Mockers left alive here?
None. May their souls rot eternally in the deepest depths of the Otherworld, Lenobia said bitterly.
Did anyone else die? I asked.
No, though there are several wounded. Theyve filled the infirmary. Neferet was our only real healer, and now that she Lenobias voice trailed off.
Then Zoey needs to get to the wounded, Stark said.
Lenobia and I wrinkled our foreheads questioningly at him.
Me? But Im
Youre the closest thing we have to a High Priestess. If there are hurt fledglings and vampyres at the House of Night, they need their High Priestess, Stark said simply.
Especially if she has an affinity for spirit. You could definitely help soothe the wounded, Darius added.
You are correct, of course, Lenobia said, brushing her long white-blond hair back from her face. Im sorry. Stasias death has taken a toll on me. Im not thinking clearly. She smiled at me, but it was really more of a grimace of upturned lips than a true smile. Your help is welcome and needed, Zoey.
Ill do whatever I can. I put pretend confidence in my voice, but the truth was, just the thought of hurt people was making my stomach sick.
Well all help out. Stevie Rae spoke up. If one affinity can help, maybe five can help times five.
Perhaps, Lenobia said, still looking defeated and sad.
Itll bring hope back in.
I glanced down in surprise to see Aphrodite move to Dariuss side and wrap her arm through his. Lenobia gave her a skeptical look. I think youll see things have changed at the House of Night, Aphrodite.
Thats okay. Were getting good with change, Aphrodite said.
Yeah, change is almost our same, Kramisha said. Several of the other kids made sounds of agreement.
I was so proud of them I almost burst into tears.
I think were all ready to be home, I said.
Home. Lenobia repeated the word in a sad, soft voice. Then follow me into what home has become. She turned, made a clucking sound, and, as one, the three horses followed her without any direction from us.
From the main entrance of the school we moved through the parking lot, which was where Darius motioned for Heath to park the Hummer, and we all paused to dismount and regroup. The edge of the professors building and the infirmary blocked our view of the center of the school grounds so, eerily, all we could see were the dancing shadows made by the flames.
Except for the crackling of fire consuming wood, the school was absolutely silent.
Its bad, Shaunee said softly.
What do you mean? I asked.
I can feel sadness through the flames. Its bad, she repeated.
Shaunee is correct, Lenobia said. Ill take the horses to the stable. Do you want to come with me, or would you rather Her voice faded as her gaze was drawn to the flickering shadows the firelight cast against the boughs of the ancient oaks that grew throughout the center of the school grounds.
Well go in there, I said, motioning toward the heart of the school. Might as well face it.
Ill follow as soon as the horses are cared for, Lenobia said. She disappeared into the darkness with the horses at her heels.
Starks hand was warm and steady on my shoulder. Remember, Kalona is gone, and so is Neferet. That leaves fledglings and vamps for you to handle, which should be simple after what youve gone through, he said.
Heath stepped up to flank my other side. Hes right. Even dealing with hurt fledglings and vamps isnt as bad as Neferet and Kalona.
It is our home, no matter what has happened, said Darius.
Yeah, home. Its about time we took it back, Aphrodite said.
Lets see what kind of mess Neferet left for us, I said abruptly. I stepped away from Stark and Heath, leading everyone to the sidewalk that went around the pretty fountain and garden area outside the professors entrance and the castle-like round wooden doors, beside the turret that was really a media center. Finally, the central grounds of the school came into view.
Oh, Goddess! Aphrodite gasped.
My feet stopped without me consciously telling them to. The scene was just so awful that I couldnt make myself move forward. The funeral pyre was an enormous mound of firewood that had been placed under and around a wooden picnic bench. I knew it was a picnic bench because even though it was burning, the structure was still completely recognizable, as was the body that lay on top of the table. Professor Anastasia, the beautiful wife of our Fencing Master, Dragon Lankford, had been dressed in something long and flowing and covered by a white linen shroud. Horribly, her body could still be seen through it. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her long hair fell toward the ground, lifting and crackling in the fire.
A terrible noise, like a heartbroken childs cry, pierced the night, and my gaze, which had been fixed on the grisly pyre, shifted to a place near the head of the bench. Dragon Lankford was there on his knees. His head was bowed and his long hair swept forward, though it didnt hide the fact that he was weeping. Beside him a huge cat I recognized as Shadowfax, his Maine Coon, leaned into him, staring up into his face. In his arms was a delicate white cat who was yowling and struggling to get free, apparently willing to hurl herself onto the pyre with her vampyre.
Guinevere, I whispered. Thats Anastasias cat. I pressed my hand to my mouth, trying to hold in the sob that was building there.
Shaunee stepped quickly away from us and walked over to the pyre, standing way closer than any of us could have. At the same time, Erin moved to Dragons side. As Shaunee raised her arms and called loudly, Fire! Come to me! I heard Erins softer voice asking water to join her. While the pyre and the body were suddenly engulfed in camouflaging flames, Dragon was surrounded by a cool mist that reminded me of tears.
Damien moved close to Erin. Wind, come to me, he said. I watched him direct a soft breeze to blow away the terrible smell of burning flesh.
Stevie Rae joined Damien. Earth, come to me, she said. Instantly the breeze that had blown away the scent of death was filled with the delicate sweetness of a meadow, bringing to mind images of springtime, growing things, and the verdant meadows of our Goddess.
I knew my part was next. Filled with sadness I walked to Dragon and gently put one hand on his shoulder, which shook with his sobs. I raised my other hand and said, Spirit, come to me. When I felt the beautiful rush that was the element answering my call, I continued, Touch Dragon, spirit. Soothe him and Guinevere and Shadowfax. Help their grief to be bearable. Then I concentrated on directing spirit through me, into Dragon and the two devastated cats. Guinevere stopped yowling. I felt Dragons body jerk and slowly his head raised and his eyes met mine. His face was terribly scratched, and there was a deep gash over his left eye. I remembered that last time Id seen him he had been battling three Raven Mockers. Blessed be, Dragon, I said softly.
How will it ever be bearable, Priestess? His voice was rough. He sounded completely broken.
I felt an instant of panican instant of Im seventeen! I cant possibly help him! Then, like a perfect circle, spirit spiraled from Dragon, through me, and into the Fencing Master again, and I pulled strength from my element. Youll see her again. Shes with Nyx now. Shell either wait for you in the Goddesss meadows, or shell be reborn and her soul will find you again during this lifetime. You can bear it because you know that spirit never really endswe never really end.
His eyes searched mine, and I held his gaze steadily. Did you defeat them? Are the creatures gone?
Kalona and Neferet are gone. So are the Raven Mockers, I assured him.
Good good Dragon bowed his head and I heard him praying softly to Nyx, asking the Goddess to look after his beloved until they met again.
I squeezed his shoulder once and then, feeling like an intruder, stepped away to allow him some privacy for his grief.
Blessed be, Priestess, he said without lifting his head.
I probably should have said something mature and wise in response, but just then I was so filled with emotion I couldnt talk. Stevie Rae was suddenly there beside me, Damien next to her. Erin moved away from Dragon to stand at my other side, and Shaunee stepped into the space beside her. We stood there silently, respectfully, a circle un-cast but present as Shaunees magickally enhanced fire took the last of Anastasias physical shell.
The silence that surrounded us was broken only by the sounds of flames and Dragons murmured prayers. Which was when a new thought struck me. I glanced around the pyre. Dragon had placed it in the middle of the paved drive that circled between Nyxs Temple and the main school buildings. It was a good choicethere was plenty of room for the fire. There was also plenty of room for the other professors and fledglings who should have been there, standing beside Dragon and sending prayers to Nyx for Anastasia, as well as her mate, not intruding on his grief, but bearing silent witness that they loved and supported him.
No ones out here with him, I said quietly, not wanting Dragon to hear the disgust in my voice. Where the hell is everyone?
He shouldnt be out here alone, Stevie Rae said, wiping tears from her face. Its just not right.
I was with him until I felt the horses approaching, Lenobia said, jogging up to join us.
What about everyone else? I asked.
She shook her head, the disgust I felt was mirrored in her expression. The fledglings are in the dorms. The professors are in their rooms. Anyone else is in the infirmaryanyone else who would have cared to stand with him, that is.
That doesnt make any sense. I couldnt wrap my mind around it. How could his students and the professors not care to stand with him?
Kalona and Neferet might be gone, but their poison remains, Lenobia said cryptically.
You need to be in the infirmary, Aphrodite said, coming up behind us. I noticed she kept her gaze from moving to the pyre or Dragon.
Go, Lenobia said. Ill remain here with him.
So will we, Johnny B said. He was my favorite professor before, you know.
I did know. Johnny B meant before hed died and then un-died.
Well all stay with him, Kramisha said. It aint right that hes alone, and you and your circles got business to take care of in there. She turned her eyes to the infirmary part of the school building. Come on, she called, and the rest of the red fledglings stepped out of the shadows to take places beside Dragon, creating a circle around the pyre.
Ill stay, too, Jack said. He was crying steadily, but he didnt hesitate to take his place in the circle the red fledglings were making. Duchess stayed close beside him, her tail and ears down as if she truly understood. Without saying anything, Erik stepped beside Jack. Then Heath surprised me by filling the space next to Erik. He nodded at me solemnly before bowing his head.
I wasnt sure of my voice, so I simply turned and, with my circle following me, along with Aphrodite, Stark, and Darius, we reentered the House of Night.
CHAPTER 23
Zoey
The schools infirmary wasnt very big. Actually, it was only three little hospital-like rooms on one of the floors of the professors building. So it was no surprise that there were hurt kids spilling out of the rooms. Not that it wasnt shocking to see an additional three pallets, each filled with a hurt fledgling, scattered in the hallway. The wounded kids blinked in surprise as my group and I paused in the entrance.
Zoey? I looked up from trying not to stare at the hurt kidsand not to smell the blood that seemed to hang in the air around usto see two vampyres hurrying toward me. I recognized them as Neferets assistants, kinda like the equivalent of nurses, and had to think hard to remember that the tall blonde called herself Sapphire, and the short, Asian one was Margareta. Were you injured, too? Sapphire asked, looking me over quickly.
No, Im fine. Were all fine, I assured her. Actually, were here to help.
Without a healer weve done all that can be done for them, said Margareta bluntly. None of the fledglings are in immediate danger of dying, though one never knows how an injury will affect the Change, so it is always possible that several of them might
Okay, yeah, we get it. I cut her off before she could say die all loud and obvious in front of the group of kids who might very well die. Jeesh, talk about bad bedside manner.
We arent here because of our medical skills, Damien explained. Were here because our circle is powerful, and within it we might be able to soothe those who have been injured.
None of the other uninjured fledglings are here, said Sapphire, as if that was a reason for us to not be here, too.
None of the other fledglings have affinities for the elements, I said.
Really, we have done all that can be done, Margareta repeated coolly. Without a High Priestess
This time Stark cut her off. We have a High Priestess, so its time for you to step aside and let her, and her circle, help these kids.
Yeah, back off, Aphrodite said, literally getting in the vamps face.
The two vampyres backed off, though I could feel their icy, disapproving stares.
What the hell is their problem? Aphrodite asked in a low voice as we walked into the hallway.
I dont have a clue, I said. I dont really even know them.
I do, Damien said softly. I volunteered in the infirmary my third-former year. Theyve always been dour. I thought it was because they had to deal with fledglings dying.
Dour? Shaunee said.
Translate him, will ya, Stevie Rae? Erin said.
Dour means stern and kinda gloomy. You know, yall really should read more.
I was just gonna say that, Stark said.
Damien sighed.
Unbelievably, I had to stifle a smile. The circumstances were bad, but my friends being their normal selves made everything seem just a teensy bit better.
Nerd herd, focus. Youre here to help the fledglings. Dour One and Dour Two arent important, said Aphrodite.
Dr. Seuss reference. I like it, Stark said, giving me a check-meout-Ive-always-read-books hottie grin.
Aphrodite frowned at him. I said focus, not flirt.
Stevie Rae? A guy called from a pallet halfway down the hall, interrupting all of us.
Drew? Stevie Rae said, and then she hurried to his side. Drew, are you okay? What happened? Is your arm broke?
The kids arm was in a sling. One of his eyes was all bruised and puffy, and his lip was split, but he managed to smile at Stevie Rae. Im really glad youre not dead anymore.
She grinned. Hey, me, too. And I can tell you I dont so much recommend the dying and un-dying stuff, so you gotta rest and get well. Then she sobered as her eyes went back to his wounds, and she added quickly, But youre gonna be okay. You dont have to worry about that.
Its no biggie. I didnt break my arm. It just got dislocated when I was wrestling with a Raven Mocker.
He tried to save Anastasia. My gaze followed the girls voice into a hospital room beside where Drew was lying. The door was open and I could see a fledgling half reclined in bed with one arm propped on one of those aluminum side tray things that fit on hospital beds. Her entire forearm was wrapped in thick gauze. There was also a nasty cut that ran down the side of her neck and disappeared into her hospital gown. He almost did it, too. Drew almost saved her.
Almost isnt good enough, Drew said tightly.
Almost is better than what lots of kids did, said the girl. At least you tried.
What the hell happened, Denio? Aphrodite asked, moving past me and into the girls room. I suddenly realized who the girl was. She and her two buddies, Enyo and Pemphredo (named after the three sisters of the Gorgon and Scylla), had been part of Aphrodites bitchy inner circle before I came to the House of Night and, as Aphrodite herself has said, her life imploded. I braced myself for Denio to make some haggish comment to Aphrodite, since none of her friends had actually stayed her friends once shed fallen from Neferets good graces and Id replaced her as Leader of the Dark Daughters. Thankfully, the girls response wasnt hateful at all, though she sounded frustrated and more than a little pissed.
Nothing happened. Well, that is, unless you stood up to the damn bird things. Then they attacked you. Weshe gestured with her good arm out at the infirmarystood up to them. So did Dragon and Anastasia.
They attacked Professor Anastasia while Dragon was fighting a bunch of them down the lane. He wasnt close enough to help her. He didnt even see it happening, Drew said. I grabbed one of them and pulled it off her, but another one came up behind me.
I grabbed that one, Denio said. She pointed across the hall. Ian tried to help when the thing turned on me. The Raven Mocker snapped his leg like a twig.
Ian Bowser? I asked, sticking my head through the open doorway of the room Denio had pointed to.
Yeah, its me, said the scrawny, but kinda cute kid who had one leg propped up and wrapped all the way to his thigh in a cast. He looked way too white against the bleached sheets.
That looks like it hurts, I said. I knew him from drama class. Hed had a massive crush on our teacher, Professor Nolanbefore she was murdered a month or so ago.
Ive felt better, he said, trying to smile.
Yeah, weve all felt better, said a girl on a pallet farther down the hallway.
Hanna Honeyyeager! I didnt see you over there, Damien said, moving around me to go to the girls side. I could understand why he hadnt noticed her before she said something. She was covered by a big white comforter, which she disappeared against because she was seriously the whitest kid I think Ive ever seen. You know, one of those blondes who had skin so fair it never tanned and she always looked pink-cheeked and either embarrassed or surprised. I only knew her through Damien. Id heard him talking to her about flowersapparently the girl was a genius with anything that bloomed. I remembered that about her, and the fact that everyone always called her by her first and last names, kinda like Shannoncompton, only they didnt run the two together.
What happened to you, sweetie? Damien crouched down beside her and took her hand. Her little blond head was wrapped in a gauze bandage that had a bloody spot near the forehead.
When Professor Anastasia was attacked, I screamed at the Raven Mockers. A lot, she said.
She has a seriously shrill voice, said a kid from the last hospital room, who I couldnt even see.
Well, apparently Raven Mockers dont like shrill voices, said Hanna Honeyyeager. One of them knocked me out.
Hang on. Erin marched down the hall toward the room of the kid I couldnt see. Is that you, T.J.?
Erin!
Oh. My. Goddess! Erin squealed and rushed into his room.
Right behind her, Shaunee yelled, Cole? What about Cole?
He didnt stand up to them, T.J. answered in a strained voice, which made Shaunee stop at the open door to his room like shed been smacked in the face.
Didnt stand up? But Shaunees voice faded, like she was utterly confused.
Oh, shit, boy! Look at your hands! Erins exclamation drifted from T.J.s room.
Hands? I repeated.
T.J.s a boxer. He even placed in the last Summer Games, against vampyres, Drew explained. He tried to knock out Rephaim. It didnt quite work out like he expected, and the bird guy tore up his hands.
Oh, Goddess, no. I heard Stevie Rae say softly, her words filled with horror.
I was watching Shaunee as she stood outside T.J.s room, looking like she didnt know what to do with herself, which gave me a really bad feeling. Cole and T.J. had been best friends, and theyd been dating the Twins. T.J. was seeing Erin; Cole was seeing Shaunee. The two couples had done a lot of hanging out together. All I could think was, How could one stand up to the Raven Mockers and not the other?
Exactly what Id like explained to me. I hadnt realized Id spoken aloud until Darius commented.
The last kid in the hall answered him. It just happened. The stables caught on fire, then Neferet and Kalona freaked. The Raven Mockers went crazy. If you stayed out of their way they didnt mess with you, which is what we were doing until one of them grabbed Professor Anastasia. Then some of us tried to help her, but most of the fledglings just ran for the dorms.
I looked at the kid. She had really pretty red hair and eyes that were bright, gorgeous blue. Both of her biceps were wrapped in gauze, and one side of her face was all bruised and swollen. I swear Id never seen her before in my life.
Who the heck are you? I asked.
Im Red. She smiled shyly and shrugged. Yeah, my names obvious, but thats me. Um, you guys dont know me because I just got Marked. Right before the ice storm hit. Professor Anastasia was my mentor. She swallowed hard and blinked back tears.
Im really sorry, I said, thinking how awful it must be for her to be newly Marked, newly uprooted from her family and everything shed ever known, and plopped down in the middle of this mess.
I tried to help her, too, Red said. A tear escaped and slid down her face. She brushed it away, wincing as the movement caused pain in her arm. But that huge Raven Mocker slashed my arms and then threw me against a tree. I couldnt do anything but watch when he Her voice broke on a sob.
Did none of the professors stand with you? Darius asked, his voice sounding harsh, though it was obvious his anger wasnt directed at Red.
The professors knew the Raven Mockers had simply become overexcited because Neferet and her consort were highly upset. We knew better than to further agitate them, said Sapphire in a clipped voice from where she and Margareta still stood in the entrance to the infirmary hallway.
Incredulous, I turned to face her. They simply became overex-cited? Are you kidding me? Those creatures were attacking House of Night fledglings and none of you did anything about it because you didnt want to agitate them?