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CHAPTER FOUR

  Zoey

  Okay, I know I'm a teenager and all, but I suck at using Skype. Actually, I'm kinda moronic about technology in general. Casting a circle-yep.

  Communing with any of the five elements-definitely. Figuring out how to synch my iPhone with a new computer-uh, probably not. Just thinking about tweeting gave me a headache and made me really miss Jack.

  "Here, it ain't that hard. You just gotta click that. " Kramisha reached over my shoulder and snagged the magic mouse. "And then that, and that's it.

  We's all on Skype and the camera's workin' now. "

  I looked up to see Stevie Rae and everyone else, including Dragon, Lenobia, and Erik all gawking at me.

  Stevie Rae, at least, grinned and mouthed a quick, "Easy-peasy. "

  "What exactly is the point behind-" Dragon began, but Neferet's entrance to the Council Room cut him off. And, thankfully, it was at that moment that the commanding voice of the Leader of the Vampyre High Council carried clear and strong through Damien's computer.

  "Merry meet, Zoey Redbird," Duantia said. "I am pleased to speak with you again. " I fisted my hand over my heart and bowed respectfully. "Merry meet, Duantia. Thank you for making time for this call. "

  "Merry meet, Duantia," Neferet said, stepping up beside me and bowing formally. I saw her shoot a quick, questioning look at Dragon before she smiled silkily and continued. "I must apologize. I knew nothing about this call. I was only expecting a simple school Council Meeting. " Then she skewered me with her emerald eyes. "Are you responsible for this, Zoey?"

  "Yeah, definitely. I would have told you earlier, but you just now got here," I said, smiling and sounding super cheerful. Before Neferet could respond I turned my attention to Duantia. "I wanted to make sure the High Council heard all the details about Nyx's amazing appearance at the school yesterday and," I paused, nodding to Neferet as if I was including her, "I knew Neferet would be eager to share with you as well. "

  "Actually, we know very little, which is one of the reasons I was looking forward to this call. " Duantia looked from me to Neferet. "I tried to contact you during the day, after I instructed Dragon to allow the red fledglings and Zoey's group to begin attending classes today, but I could not reach you, High Priestess. "

  I could feel Neferet bristle, but she only said, "I was secluded in deep prayer. "

  "All the more reason for this call," Duantia said.

  "What Nyx did was a miracle. " I gestured for Stevie Rae to come into camera range. "This is Stevie Rae, the first Red High Priestess. " Stevie Rae fisted her hand over her heart and bowed deeply. "I'm real pleased to meet you, ma'am. "

  "Merry meet, Stevie Rae. I have heard much of you and the red fledglings. And, of course, I have already met the Red Warrior, Stark. Nyx is, indeed, generous with her miracles. "

  "Um, thank you, but, well, us bein' red and all isn't the miracle. " Stevie Rae glanced at me and added, "Well, at least it's not the miracle Zoey's talkin' 'bout. " She cleared her throat and then said, "Nyx's miracle has to do with my Consort, Rephaim. " Duantia's eyes widened. "Is that not the name of one of the creatures called Raven Mocker?"

  "Yes. " Dragon's voice was as hard as his face. "It is the name of the creature who killed my Anastasia. "

  "I do not understand," Duantia said. "How could that abomination be called Consort?" Quickly, before Neferet could chime in something awful I started babbling, "Rephaim used to be a Raven Mocker, and Dragon is right, back then he did kill Anastasia. " I glanced up at Dragon, but it was real hard to meet his eyes. "Rephaim asked Nyx's forgiveness for that. "

  "And for everything bad he'd done when he was Kalona's son," Stevie Rae added.

  "Blanket forgiveness is-"

  Neferet began, but I cut her off saying, "Blanket forgiveness is a gift that can be given by our Goddess, which is exactly what she did last night," I said. Then I looked at Stevie Rae. "Tell the High Council Leader what you did. " Stevie Rae nodded and swallowed hard, then she said, "A few weeks ago I found Rephaim almost dead. He'd been shot from the sky. I didn't turn him in. " She looked from the computer screen and Duantia up to Dragon and said pleadingly, "I didn't mean to hurt anyone or do anythin'

  wrong. "

  "That abomination killed my mate," Dragon said. "The same night he was shot from the sky and should have died. "

  "Professor Lankford, please allow the Red High Priestess to continue her confession," Duantia said.

  I saw Dragon's jaw clench and his lip lift slightly in a sneer, but Stevie Rae's words drew my attention back to her.

  "Dragon's right. Rephaim would have died that night if I hadn't saved him. I didn't tell anyone about him. Well, except my momma, and that was later. Anyway, I took care of him instead. I saved his life. And then he saved my life in return-twice. Once from the white bull of Darkness. "

  "He faced Darkness for you?" Duantia sounded shocked.

  "Yes. "

  "Actually, he turned away from Darkness for her. " I took up the story. "And last night he asked forgiveness from Nyx and pledged himself to her path. "

  "Then the Goddess made him a boy!" Stevie Rae said with such enthusiasm that even Duantia's lips twitched up in a smile.

  "Only from sunset to sunrise," Neferet added, in a throw-cold-water-on-the-moment voice. "During the day he is condemned to be a raven-a beast-with no memory of his humanity. "

  "That was his consequence for the bad stuff in his past," Stevie Rae explained.

  "And now, during the time he's a boy, Rephaim wants to come to school like any other fledgling," I said.

  "Remarkable," Duantia said.

  "The creature does not belong at this school," Dragon said.

  "The creature isn't at this school," I said. "The boy is. The same boy Nyx forgave. The same boy Stevie Rae has chosen as her Consort. The same boy who tried to swear himself into your service. "

  "Dragon, you rejected him?" Duantia asked.

  "I did," Dragon said tightly.

  "And that is why I expelled them all," Neferet said in a calm, reasonable, adult voice. "My Sword Master cannot tolerate his presence, and rightly so. When Zoey's group decided to turn their all egiance from us to Stevie Rae and the Raven Mocker I saw no choice except that they all had to go. "

  "He isn't a Raven Mocker anymore. " Stevie Rae sounded totally pissed-off.

  "And yet he is still the being who murdered my mate. " Dragon's voice was a lash.

  "Hold!" Duantia's command shot from the computer. Even from thousands of miles away and through Skype, the power in her voice was a tangible presence in the room. "Neferet, let me be certain that I am absolutely clear about last night's events. Our Goddess, Nyx, appeared at your House of Night and forgave the Raven Mocker, Rephaim, and then gifted him with the form of a human boy during the night, and as penance cursed him with a bestial form of a raven during the day?"

  "Yes," Neferet said.

  Duantia shook her head slowly. "Neferet, there is a part of me-the remnants of a very young me, mind you-that understands your response to such unusual events, though you were mistaken. Simply put, you cannot expel a group of fledglings who have done nothing more than stand by their friends. Especially not this group of fledglings," Duantia said. "This group has been far too goddess-touched to be cast away. "

  "That kinda brings up the second thing I need to talk to you about," I said. "Because of the differences between red fledglings and regular fledglings, it's really better that they were expelled. " I frowned. "Wait, that didn't come out right. "

  "What she means is we can't rest right unless we're underground," Stevie Rae explained for me. "And there isn't much underground here. "

  "So during daylight they'd like to stay in the tunnels under the Tulsa depot, and at night during the week they'd like to be bussed here for classes.

  There aren't very many red fledglings in Stevie Rae's group, and except for me no blue fledglings left the school at all, so I
'm thinking between me, a Red High Priestess, and two Changed Warriors, we should be able to handle ourselves okay over there. " I fixed my face into a giant smile and beamed up at Neferet. "And I know Neferet is such an awesome High Priestess that she'll be able to handle all the changes going on over here. " There was a long silence during which Neferet and I locked gazes. Finally Duantia said, "Neferet, what say you?" I caught a glimpse of smugness in her expression before Neferet turned to the camera. "After listening to your wisdom, Duantia, I do see that I made my decision too hastily last night. As someone who is, myself, newly forgiven by Nyx, I can only strive to emulate the Goddess's benevolence.

  She clearly has special plans for Zoey and her group. Perhaps a resting place separate from us would be best. Of course they must still abide by the rules of this House of Night, and acknowledge me as their rightful High Priestess. "

  "Uh, not necessarily," I said, ignoring Neferet's piercing look and concentrating on Duantia. "The time I spent on Skye with Queen Sgiach really meant a lot to me. She and I got close. Sgiach even said she'd like me to mentor under her, that she would start opening up Skye to the modern world. Right now I can't be on Skye with her, but I'd still like to follow in her footsteps. " I drew a deep breath and finished in a rush, "So, I want to officially declare the Tulsa Depot outside of the jurisdiction of the House of Night, like Sgiach has declared Skye. " I looked directly at Neferet. "And just like Sgiach, I won't get in your business if you don't get in mine. "

  "You dare declare yourself a queen?" Neferet sounded stunned.

  "Well, I didn't. But Sgiach did and so did her Guardian. Plus, Stark has been accepted as a Guardian. In the Otherworld he had the sword and everything. He's my Warrior, so kinda by default that means I'm being declared a queen. A little one, though," I added.

  "This does not feel right to me," Neferet said.

  "I agree with Neferet," Dragon said.

  I stared at him, trying to telegraph: Really? Are you really saying you agree with Neferet after all you know about her? But Dragon looked past me as if he couldn't see me.

  "I must consult the High Council on this matter, Zoey Redbird. We do not support the idea of vampyre queens. Vampyres are Priestesses and Warriors and Professors, and the various life paths that spring from those callings. That has long been our tradition. "

  "But Sgiach is a queen," I insisted. "She has been for centuries. That has to be long enough to be a tradition, too. "

  "Not a vampyre tradition!" Duantia's raised voice made the little hairs on my arms lift. The Leader of the High Council drew a deep breath, obviously steadying herself, before she continued in a calmer tone. "Sgiach is barely considered vampyre. She has maintained her existence separate from us for many centuries. We have an uneasy truce with her by default. We cannot enter her isle. She will not leave it. " Duantia paused and lifted a brow. "Has that changed, Zoey? Is Sgiach planning on leaving Skye?"

  "No," I said. "But she did tell me she was going to consider taking in students again. "

  "allowing outsiders to come and go from Skye would be extraordinary. " The way Duantia said it made me think she didn't believe "extraordinary" was synonymous with "a good thing. "

  "I believe opening up to outsiders is something we all must do in these changing times," Neferet said.

  Everyone stared at her. Even Duantia was speechless.

  "Because I feel so strongly about it I have decided to open the doors of my House of Night in the form of some of the more menial jobs, to local humans. I think it wise and responsible, especially in these hard economic times. I hope Sgiach follows suit. "

  "That is an excellent idea, Neferet," Duantia said. "As you are aware, humans have had a steady presence here on San Clemente Island for the past several centuries. " The Vampyre High Priestess smiled. "Since we have become civilized and modern. "

  "As the Tulsa House of Night would like to become, as well," Neferet said.

  "Well, then. That is decided. The Tulsa House of Night will employ local humans. Rephaim, the red fledglings, and Zoey's group of students will attend school at the Tulsa House of Night while resting in the tunnels under the depot during the day. I will make a note to speak to the Tulsa City Council about the purchase of the depot. "

  "And what of Zoey's status as queen and the depot's all egiance to me and this House of Night?" Neferet asked.

  I held my breath.

  "As I already ruled, I will consult the full High Council on a matter as serious as a young and gifted fledgling being considered a queen, even if just a queen in training. Until a decision can be made, Zoey Redbird and the Tulsa Depot are to be an extension of the Tulsa House of Night. "

  "And thus I remain their High Priestess," Neferet said.

  Stevie Rae cleared her throat. Our eyes turned to her. "Uh, not to be mean or anything, but if Z's not gonna be called queen, and we have to have a High Priestess, I'm next in line. My red fledglings need someone like them to understand them. And that's me. So, call us a branch of the House of Night if ya want, but if there's a High Priestess over us, then she's gonna be me. "

  "You make a valid point, young Priestess," Duantia said with no hesitation, which made me wonder if she'd just been waiting for Stevie Rae to object. "Stevie Rae, until the matter of Zoey Redbird's standing is settled, you are acting High Priestess of the depot extension of the Tulsa House of Night. "

  "Thank you, ma'am," Stevie Rae said. "And I didn't mean to sound disrespectful. " Duantia's sharp features softened as she smiled. "You did not sound disrespectful. You sounded like a High Priestess. Now, if there are no further items of business, I will adjourn to update the other Council Members on these events and decisions. "

  "I'm done," I said.

  "Yep, me, too," Stevie Rae said.

  "I believe what we have already accomplished is quite enough for one day," Neferet said.

  "excellent. Then I bid you farewell, and wish you all to blessed be. "

  The computer made the weird Skype cutoff noise and the screen went blank.

  "Well, that was quite interesting," Lenobia said.

  I realized after she'd spoken that she hadn't said anything for the entire Skype call. It made me wonder about her. I mean, she'd clearly been on my side before against Neferet, but then again, so had Dragon.

  "Yes, interesting is one word to describe what that was," Neferet said.

  "Congratulations, High Priestess," I said to Stevie Rae.

  "Yeah, congrats," Erik said.

  "You was already our High Priestess, but it's nice they made it official," Kramisha said.

  "I don't want him in my class. " Dragon spoke abruptly, totally cutting through the well-wishing.

  I started to open my mouth to defend Rephaim's right to go to fencing class or whatever, even though it still felt really weird to be defending Rephaim at all, but Stevie Rae's response surprised and silenced me.

  "I think you're right. I know this is hard for you, Dragon. How 'bout I ask Darius and Stark to teach some extra classes on knife stuff and whatnot?

  Rephaim can take those classes. "

  "That is actually a good idea," Lenobia said. "As every fledgling must take some sort of self-defense class, with the unexpected addition of the red fledglings your classes will be overfilled. "

  "Yeah, we was supposed to be dead. Bein' undead will screw up class size for sure," Kramisha said.

  Neferet sighed heavily and then said, "Every fledgling must take a self-defense class because of the attack of the Raven Mockers. Am I the only one who sees the terrible irony in what all of you are saying?"

  "I see it-and more," Dragon said.

  "And I see that you keep stirrin' the shit pot," Stevie Rae said. She'd turned and was standing toe-to-toe with Neferet. She didn't blink. She didn't back down. My BFF looked tough and strong and way older than her years.

  Stevie Rae looked like a High Priestess.

  A High Priestess who was
making dangerous enemies.

  "Duantia decided Rephaim and the rest of us can stay," I said as I stood up, stepping between Stevie Rae and Neferet. "I think what we need to do is to figure out a way we can do that without causing a bunch of stress and trouble. " I looked at Dragon, trying to find within his anger-filled eyes the wise, kind Sword Master I'd known. "We've all had enough of that to last us a long time, don't you think?"

  "I'll be in the field house with the normal fledglings," Dragon said and then he pushed through the room.

  "Stevie Rae, you can tell Stark and Darius that they may hold class in the stables," Lenobia said.

  "I'm glad to hear you're in such an accommodating mood, Professor Lenobia," Neferet said. "The first of the humans I am hiring will be a stable hand to aid you with all of the-" she paused and her gaze cut to Stevie Rae, Kramisha, and me. "Sewage in the stables. "

  "Manure. " Lenobia's reply was swift. "I don't have sewage in my stables. I have manure. And I don't need any help with it. "

  "Ah, but you will accept the help, because it is the right thing to do, and because the High Council just endorsed it. Won't you?"

  "I will do what I believe is right. "

  "Then you will do as I expected. " Neferet turned a dismissive back to Lenobia. "Zoey and Stevie Rae, the red fledglings should resume the class schedule they were following before they died," she said matter-of-factly. "And you two should join them. Whether you're abnormally Changed," she flicked her fingers at Stevie Rae, "or just abnormal fledglings," she shifted her attention to Kramisha and me, "it matters little. You need to be in class. You're all much too young to be truly interesting without being better educated. Second hour should be underway by now. Get to class. This Council Meeting is now adjourned. "

  Without so much as a "blessed be" she swept from the room.

  "She is one hot mess," Kramisha said.

  "Crazy times ten," Stevie Rae said.

  "But Neferet is a known entity. We understand that when we're dealing with her, we're dealing with a High Priestess who has gone wrong and who is utterly mad," Lenobia said slowly. "It's Dragon that I'm most worried about. "

  "Then you are with us?" I asked the Horse Mistress.

  Lenobia's gray eyes met mine. "I told you once that I've battled evil. I bear the scars of that encounter, both physically and emotionally, and I will never allow evil and Darkness to decimate my life again. I'm with you," she nodded in turn to Stevie Rae and Kramisha, "and you and you because you're on the side of the Goddess. " Then she turned to Erik, who was standing, but who hadn't made a move to leave the room. "And where are you in all of this?"

  "I'm the Tulsa House of Night's Tracker. "

  "We know that, but what side does that put you on?" Stevie Rae asked.

  "I'm on the side that Marks kids and changes their destinies. " Erik evaded.

  "Erik, someday you're gonna have to take a stand," I told him.

  "Hey, just because I'm not battling toe-to-toe with Neferet doesn't mean I haven't taken a stand. "

  "No, it just means it's a weak one," Stevie Rae said.

  "Whatever! You don't know everything, Stevie Rae. " Erik stormed from the room.

  Kramisha snorted. "That is a waste of one pretty boy. "

  It made me sad, but I couldn't disagree with her.

  "I'll begin sectioning off space in the arena for Warrior classes," Lenobia said. "If you round up the two Warriors and let them know they're going to be professors, or at least temporary professors. "

  "Shouldn't be hard to find them," I said. "Stark and Darius are probably in the field house playing with their swords. "

  "I'll come with you," Stevie Rae said.

  "I guess I'll go to second hour," Kramisha said with a heavy sigh.

  As Stevie Rae and I left the room, she snagged my arm and slowed me down so that we were walking by ourselves. "Hey, you know that just

  'cause the High Council and them are call in' me the High Priestess at the depot, it doesn't mean that I want to be the boss of you or anythin' like that. "

  I blinked in surprise at her. "Yeah, of course I know that. And anyway, you're a great High Priestess, and that means you won't be a bossy pain in the butt. "

  She didn't laugh like I thought she would. Instead she tugged on one of her curls, a definite sign she was stressing. "Okay, that's nice to say and all, but I've only been a High Priestess for, like, two seconds. I need to be sure you'll help me. " I hooked her arm with mine and bumped shoulders with her. "You can always be sure of me. You know that. "

  "Even after Rephaim?"

  "Even after Loren and Kalona and Stark?" I countered with.

  She started to grin. "You always gotta one-up me, don't ya?"

  "Sadly, I think I three-uped you," I said, which did make her laugh, but made me sigh.

  We left the part of the House of Night that held the tower-like media center and took a left on the sidewalk that wound around to the field house and stables. It was a cold night, but it was super clear. The sky was filled with stars, which were really easy to see through the winter branches of the big oaks that dotted the campus grounds.

  "So, he's cute, huh?"

  I pretended clueless. "Who? Stark? Definitely. "

  She knocked her shoulder into mine. "I'm talkin' 'bout Rephaim. "

  "Oh, him. Yeah, I guess he's okay. " I hesitated, and almost didn't ask, but then I decided to go ahead. I mean, we were BFFs. And BFFs could ask each other anything. "So, did you see him turn into a bird?"

  I could feel the tension that entered her body, but she sounded almost normal when she said, "Yeah, I did. "

  "What was it like?"

  "Awful. "

  "Did he, uh, stay around? Or did he fly right off?" I couldn't help it. I was totally, morbidly, car-wreck curious.

  "Flew right off. But as soon as the sun set he came back. He says he'll always find his way back to me. "

  "Then he will," I said, hating to hear the worry in her voice.

  "I love him, Z. He really is good. I promise. "

  I was opening my mouth to tell her I believed her when a shout interrupted me. For a second I didn't understand what the voice was saying, all I reacted to was the danger in it. Stevie Rae understood, though.

  "Oh, no! It's Dragon! He's calling Warriors to him!"

  She dropped my arm and began to run toward Dragon's voice. With a terrible sense of foreboding, I sprinted after her.