Burned. Part 23

Len.o.bia made a dismissive gesture. "One Raven Mocker is one too many, but whether he's alone or with a flock, Dragon will hunt him down and destroy him. And unless Kalona and Neferet are goading them, I don't think we need to worry about them attacking the school. I'm much more concerned about the rogue red fledglings."

"Me, too." Stevie Rae was eager to change the subject. "The news report said the people had only been partially drained of their blood?"

Len.o.bia nodded. "Yes, and their throats were ripped out-not cut or bitten and then bled as you or I would feed."

"They aren't feeding. They're playing. They like terrorizing people; it's a kind of high for them."

"That's truly an abomination of Nyx's ways." Len.o.bia's words came fast; her voice filled with anger. "Those from whom we feed should only feel our mutual pleasure. That is why the G.o.ddess gave us the ability to share such a powerful sensation with humans. We don't brutalize and torture them. We appreciate them-we make them our consorts. The High Council has even banished vampyres who misuse their power over humans."

"You haven't told the High Council about the red fledglings, have you?"

"I wouldn't do that without discussing it with you first. You are their High Priestess. But you must understand that their actions have taken them beyond where they can be ignored by the rest of us."

"I know, but I still want to deal with them myself."

"Not alone again. Not this time," Len.o.bia said.

"You're right about that. What they did today shows me how dangerous they are."

"Should I call Dragon in on this?"

"No. I'm not goin' alone, and I do plan on givin' them an ultimatum-shape up or s.h.i.+p out-but if I take outsiders down there, I won't have a chance of any of them deciding to give up Darkness and come with me." Then Stevie Rae realized what she'd said and stopped like she'd run into the side of a barn. "Ohmygoodness, that's it! I couldn't have known it before I met the bulls, but now I understand. Len.o.bia, whatever it is that gets ahold of us after we die, and then un-die, and we're all evil and filled with bloodl.u.s.t and stuff-it's part of Darkness. That means it isn't a new thing. It has to be as ancient as the Warrior/bull religion. Neferet is behind what happened to me and the rest of the kids." She met the Horse Mistress's gaze and saw the fear she was feeling reflected there. "She's involved with Darkness. There's no doubt about that now." that's it! I couldn't have known it before I met the bulls, but now I understand. Len.o.bia, whatever it is that gets ahold of us after we die, and then un-die, and we're all evil and filled with bloodl.u.s.t and stuff-it's part of Darkness. That means it isn't a new thing. It has to be as ancient as the Warrior/bull religion. Neferet is behind what happened to me and the rest of the kids." She met the Horse Mistress's gaze and saw the fear she was feeling reflected there. "She's involved with Darkness. There's no doubt about that now."

"I'm afraid there's been no doubt about that for a long time," Len.o.bia said.

"But how the heck did Neferet find out about Darkness? For centuries and centuries, vampyres wors.h.i.+pped Nyx."

"Just because people stop wors.h.i.+pping, doesn't mean the deity stops existing. The forces of good and evil move in a timeless dance, regardless of mortal whim or fas.h.i.+on."

"But Nyx is the the G.o.ddess." G.o.ddess."

"Nyx is our our G.o.ddess. You can't really believe there is only one deity for a world as complex as ours." G.o.ddess. You can't really believe there is only one deity for a world as complex as ours."

Stevie Rae sighed. "I guess when you put it like that, I gotta agree with you, but I wish there wasn't more than one choice for evil."

"Then there would be only one choice for good. Remember, there must always, eternally, be balance." They walked in silence for a while before Len.o.bia said, "You'll take the red fledglings with you to confront the rogues?"

"Yep."

"When?"

"The sooner the better."

"There is only a little over three hours left until dawn," Len.o.bia said.

"Well, I'm askin' them a simple yes-or-no question. That's not gonna take much time."

"And if they say no?"

"If they say no, I'll make sure they can't use the depot tunnels as their cushy hideout anymore, and I'll make sure they're separated. As individuals, I still don't believe they're all bad." Stevie Rae hesitated, and then added, "I don't want to kill them. I feel like if I do, I'll be giving in to evil. And I don't want that Darkness to touch me, ever again." An image of Rephaim, wings spread, fully healed and powerful, flashed through her memory.

Len.o.bia nodded. "I understand. I don't agree with you, Stevie Rae, but I do understand. Your plan has merit, though. If you shake them from their stronghold and force them to scatter, those who are left will have to worry about surviving and won't have time to 'play' with humans."

"Okay, so let's split up and spread the word that I need all the red fledglings to meet me at the Hummer in the parking lot-now. I'll take the dorms."

"I'll go to the Field House and the cafeteria. Actually, on my way to meet you, I saw Kramisha going into the cafeteria. I'll get to her first. She always knows where everyone is."

Stevie Rae nodded, and Len.o.bia jogged away, leaving her alone and heading toward the dorms. Alone and able to think. She should be thinking about what the heck she was gonna say to the stupid Nicole and her group of killer fledglings. But she couldn't get Rephaim out of her mind.

Driving away from him had been one of the hardest things she'd ever done in her life.

So why had she?

"Because he's well again," she said aloud, and then closed her mouth and looked guiltily around her. Thankfully, there was no one nearby. Still, she kept her big mouth clamped shut as her mind continued to race.

Okay, Rephaim was healed and all. So? Had she really thought he'd be broken forever?

No! I don't want him to be broken! The thought came quick and honest. But it wasn't just that he was well. It was that Darkness had healed him-had made him look ... The thought came quick and honest. But it wasn't just that he was well. It was that Darkness had healed him-had made him look ...

Stevie Rae's thoughts trailed off because she didn't want to go there. She didn't want to admit, even silently to herself, how Rephaim had looked to her standing there, framed by the moonlight, powerful and whole.

Nervously, she twirled a blond curl. And anyway, they were Imprinted. He was supposed to look a certain way to her.

But Aphrodite hadn't affected her like Rephaim had started to.

"Well, I'm not gay!" she muttered, and then shut her mouth again because the thought had crept through even though she hadn't wanted it to.

Stevie Rae had liked liked the way Rephaim looked. He'd been strong and beautiful and, just for a moment, she'd glimpsed beauty inside the beast, and he hadn't been a monster. He'd been magnificent, and he'd been hers. the way Rephaim looked. He'd been strong and beautiful and, just for a moment, she'd glimpsed beauty inside the beast, and he hadn't been a monster. He'd been magnificent, and he'd been hers.

She staggered to a halt. It was because of that dang black bull! It had to be. Before he'd totally materialized, he'd asked Stevie Rae: I can chase away Darkness, but if I do so, you will owe a debt to Light, and that debt is that you will be forever tied to the humanity inside that creature over there-the one you called me to save. I can chase away Darkness, but if I do so, you will owe a debt to Light, and that debt is that you will be forever tied to the humanity inside that creature over there-the one you called me to save. She'd answered with no hesitation: She'd answered with no hesitation: Yes! I'll pay your price. Yes! I'll pay your price. So the dang bull had zapped her with some kind of Light bulls.h.i.+t, and that had done something to her insides. So the dang bull had zapped her with some kind of Light bulls.h.i.+t, and that had done something to her insides.

But was that really the truth? Stevie Rae twirled a curl around and around while she thought back. No-it had changed between her and Rephaim before before the black bull showed up. It had happened when Rephaim had faced Darkness for her and taken on the pain of her debt. the black bull showed up. It had happened when Rephaim had faced Darkness for her and taken on the pain of her debt.

Rephaim had said she belonged to him.

Today she'd realized he was right, and that scared her worse than Darkness itself.

Stevie Rae "Okay, so, we all here?"

Heads nodded and from beside her, Dallas said, "Yep, everyone's here."

"Them bad kids killed those folks at the Tribune Lofts, didn't they?" Kramisha said.

"Yeah," Stevie Rae said. "I think so."

"That's bad," Kramisha said. "Real bad."

"You can't let 'em kill people like that," Dallas said. "They're not even street people."

Stevie Rae blew out a long breath. "Dallas, how many times do I have to tell y'all that it doesn't matter if someone's a street person or not-it's not right to kill anyone anyone."

"Sorry," Dallas said. "I know you're right, but sometimes before before gets messed up inside my head, and I kinda forget." gets messed up inside my head, and I kinda forget."

Before ... the word seemed to echo around them. Stevie Rae knew exactly what Dallas meant: before her humanity had been saved by Aphrodite's sacrifice, and they had the ability to choose good over evil. She remembered ... the word seemed to echo around them. Stevie Rae knew exactly what Dallas meant: before her humanity had been saved by Aphrodite's sacrifice, and they had the ability to choose good over evil. She remembered before, before, too, but as she got another day farther away from that dark past, it was easier and easier for Stevie Rae to put it out of her mind. As she studied Dallas, she wondered if it was different for him-for the rest of the kids who hadn't Changed yet, because Dallas did seem to make little slips like he just had kinda often. too, but as she got another day farther away from that dark past, it was easier and easier for Stevie Rae to put it out of her mind. As she studied Dallas, she wondered if it was different for him-for the rest of the kids who hadn't Changed yet, because Dallas did seem to make little slips like he just had kinda often.

"Stevie Rae? You okay?" Dallas asked, obviously uncomfortable with her scrutiny.

"Yeah, fine. Just thinkin'. So, here's what's up: I'm goin' back down to the tunnels under the depot, our our tunnels, and I'm givin' those kids one more chance to decide to act right. If they do, they stay and start back at school with us on Monday. If they don't, they're gonna have to find their own way, in their own place, 'cause we're takin' the tunnels back, and they're not welcome anymore." tunnels, and I'm givin' those kids one more chance to decide to act right. If they do, they stay and start back at school with us on Monday. If they don't, they're gonna have to find their own way, in their own place, 'cause we're takin' the tunnels back, and they're not welcome anymore."

Kramisha grinned. "We're goin' back to live in the tunnels!"

"Yep," Stevie Rae said, and she knew from the cheers and relieved shouts of "finally" she heard from the kids that she'd made the right decision. "I haven't talked to Len.o.bia about it yet, but I can't think that there's gonna be any problem with us busing back and forth from the depot to the House of Night. We need to be underground, and even though I really like this school, it doesn't feel like home anymore. The tunnels do."

"I'm with ya, girl," Dallas said. "But we need to get somethin' straight right now. You're not gonna face those kids alone again. I'm comin' with you."

"Me, too," Kramisha said. "I don't care what kind of big story you gave everbody else, I knew them bad kids was behind you almost gettin' fried up on the roof."

"Yeah, we've all talked about it," muscle-y Johnny B said. "We're not letting our High Priestess face that s.h.i.+t alone again."

"No matter how earth-will-kick-your-a.s.s powerful she is," Dallas said.

"I'm not goin' alone. That's why I called y'all here. We're We're gonna take our tunnels back, and if a.s.s needs to be kicked, gonna take our tunnels back, and if a.s.s needs to be kicked, we're we're gonna do it," Stevie Rae said. "So, Johnny B, I want you to drive the Hummer." She tossed him the keys. The big guy grinned at her and s.n.a.t.c.hed them out of the air. "Take Ant, Shannoncompton, Montoya, Elliott, Sophie, Geraty, and Venus with you. I'll take Dallas and Kramisha in Z's Bug. Follow me-we're goin' to the lower parking lot of the depot." gonna do it," Stevie Rae said. "So, Johnny B, I want you to drive the Hummer." She tossed him the keys. The big guy grinned at her and s.n.a.t.c.hed them out of the air. "Take Ant, Shannoncompton, Montoya, Elliott, Sophie, Geraty, and Venus with you. I'll take Dallas and Kramisha in Z's Bug. Follow me-we're goin' to the lower parking lot of the depot."

"Sounds good, but how're we gonna be sure we can find those red kids? You know those tunnels are like, well, an anthill down there," said the little kid nicknamed Ant, and everyone chuckled.

"I been thinkin' 'bout that, too," Kramisha spoke up. "And I have an idea, if you don't mind me sayin' somethin'."

"Hey, that's one of the reasons I called y'all together, 'cause I need everybody's help with this," Stevie Rae said.

"Yeah, well, this is my idea: Those kids tried to kill you once already, right?"

Figuring there was no hiding from her fledglings, Stevie Rae nodded. "Right."

"So I figured if they tried but didn't get rid of you once, they'd want to give it another shot, right?"

"Probably."

"What would they do if they thought you was down in the tunnels again?"

"They'd come get me," Stevie Rae said.

"Then use the earth to let them know you's there again. You can do that, right?"

Stevie Rae blinked in surprise. "I never thought about it before, but I bet I can."

"That's genius, Kramisha!" Dallas said.

"Totally!" Stevie Rae said. "So, hang on and let me try some-thin'." She hurried from the parking lot to the side of the school that adjoined it. There were a couple of old oaks there, a wrought-iron bench, and a tinkling fountain surrounded by what was now an ice-encapsulated bed of yellow and purple pansies. While her fledglings watched, she faced north and knelt on the ground in front of the biggest of the two trees. She bowed her head and concentrated. "Come to me, earth," she whispered. Instantly, the ground around her knees warmed, and she smelled the scent of wildflowers and long, waving gra.s.s. Stevie Rae pressed her hands against the earth she loved so much and reveled in her connection with the element. Feeling warm and filled with the strength of nature, she said, "Yes! I know you-I can feel myself within you and you within me. Please do somethin' for me. Please take some of this magic, this awesomeness that is us together, and pour it into the main tunnel under the depot. Let it be like I'm there, so much so that anyone who rests within you would know it." Stevie Rae closed her eyes and imagined a glowing green bolt of energy leaving her body, traveling through the earth, and pouring into the tunnel right outside her old room in the depot. Then she said, "Thank you, earth. Thank you for being my element. You can go now."

When she rejoined her fledglings, they were all staring at her with wide eyes.

"What?" she asked.

"That was amazing," Dallas said, his voice filled with awe.

"Yeah, you was green and all s.h.i.+ny," Kramisha said. "I never seen anything like it before."

"It was totally cool," Johnny B said, while the rest of the kids nodded and smiled.

Stevie Rae smiled back at them, feeling like a real High Priestess. "Well, I'm pretty sure it worked," she said.

"Ya think?" Dallas said.

"I think," she said, and they shared a look that made Stevie Rae's stomach feel quivery. She had to shake herself mentally and refocus, saying, "Uh, okay. Let's do this."

The kids scattered to the two vehicles, and Dallas draped his arm around Stevie Rae's shoulder. She let him draw her close.

"I'm proud of you, girl," he said.

"Thanks." She reached around his waist and slid her hand in his back pocket.

"And I'm glad you're bringin' us along this time," he said.

"It's the right thing to do," she said. "Plus, we're stronger together than we are apart."

Beside the Bug, he stopped and pulled her all the way into his arms. Bending, he murmured against her lips, "That' right, girl. We are are stronger together." Then he kissed her with a fierce possession that surprised Stevie Rae. Before she really knew it, she was kissing him back-and liking the hot way his hard, familiar, completely stronger together." Then he kissed her with a fierce possession that surprised Stevie Rae. Before she really knew it, she was kissing him back-and liking the hot way his hard, familiar, completely normal normal body was making her feel. body was making her feel.

"Could y'all please get a room?" Kramisha called to them as she crawled into the little backseat of the Bug.

Stevie Rae giggled, weirdly light-headed, especially as the thought Get real-you can't even kiss the other one Get real-you can't even kiss the other one whispered through her mind. whispered through her mind.

Dallas reluctantly let her step out of his arms so she could move to the driver's side of the Bug. Over the roof, he caught her gaze, and said softly, "A room sounds good to me."

Stevie Rae felt her cheeks get hot, and another giggle escaped her mouth. She and Dallas ducked inside the car. From the backseat, Kramisha grumbled, "I heard that mess about a room soundin' good, Dallas, and all I'm sayin' is, you two best keep your minds out the gutter and on the bad kids who like to rip out people's throats."

"I said room, not gutter," Dallas grinned c.o.c.kily over the seat at Kramisha.

"And I can mult.i.task," Stevie Rae added with another giggle.

"Whatever. Let's just go. I got me a weird feelin' 'bout this," Kramisha said.

Instantly serious, Stevie Rae glanced at Kramisha in the rearview mirror as she pulled out of the parking lot. "A weird feelin'? Did you write another poem, I mean besides the ones you already showed me?"

"No. And I ain't talkin' 'bout those bad kids."

Stevie Rae frowned at Kramisha's reflection.

"What else could you be talkin' 'bout?" Dallas asked.