Neferet shook her head, looking sad and tragically beautiful. I feel sorry for you, Stevie Rae. You used to be such a sweet, loving fledgling. I do not know what happened to you.
Stevie Rae felt rage rush through her. Her body trembled with the force of it. You know better than anyone on this earth what happened to me. She couldnt help herself. The anger was too much. Stevie Rae started to move toward Neferet. At that moment she wanted nothing so much as to wrap her hands around the vampyres throat and press and press and press until she no longer breathedwas no longer a threat.
But Damien didnt loosen his hold on her hand. That link of touch and trust between them, as well as Damiens broken whisper, held her back. She didnt do it. I saw it happen and she didnt do it.
Stevie Rae hesitated, glancing down at Damien. What do you mean, honey?
I was way over there. Just outside the field house door. Duchess wouldnt let me jog. She kept pulling me back toward here. I finally gave in to her. Damiens voice was rough and he spoke in sharp bursts of words. She made me worried. So I was looking. I saw it. He started to sob again. I saw Jack fall from the top of the ladder and land on the sword. There was no one around him. No one at all.
Stevie Rae turned to Damien and pulled him into her arms. As she did so she felt two more pairs of arms enfolding them as the Twins joined their circle, holding them tightly.
Neferet was with us in the Council Chamber when this horrible accident happened, Dragon said solemnly, touching Jacks hair gently. She was not responsible for this death.
Stevie Rae couldnt look at Jacks poor broken body, so she was watching Neferet when Dragon spoke. Only she saw the flash of smug victory that passed over her face, quickly replaced by a practiced look of sadness and concern.
She killed him. I dont know how, and I cant prove it right now, but she did. Then, as quickly as that thought formed, another came on its heels: Zoey would believe me. Shed help me figure out how to expose Neferet.
Zoey has to come back.
CHAPTER NINE
Zoey
So, Stark and I had done it.
I dont feel any different, I told the nearest tree. I mean, except for feeling closer to Stark and kinda sore in unmentionable places, that is. I walked over to a little stream that bubbled cheerily through the grove and peered down. The sun was in the process of setting, but it had been an unusually clear, cold day on the island and the sky still held enough of its dramatic coral and gold light that I could see my reflection. I studied myself. I looked like, well, me. Okay, so technically Id done it once before, but that had been a whole different thing. I sighed. Loren Blake had been a giant mistake. James Stark was totally different, as was the commitment wed made to each other. So, shouldnt I look different now that I am in a Real Relationship? I squinted at my reflection. Didnt I look older? More experienced? Wiser?
Actually, no. The squint just made me look nearsighted. And Aphrodite would probably say itll give me wrinkles, too.
A little pang went through me as I remembered saying bye to Aphrodite and Darius the night before. Shed been predictably sarcastic, and more than a little bitchy about me not going back to Tulsa with her, but our hug had been tight and genuine, and I knew Id miss her. I already missed her. I missed Stevie Rae and Damien, Jack and the Twins, too.
And Nala, I told my reflection.
But did I miss them enough to go back to the real world? Enough to face everything from resuming school to possibly fighting Darkness and Neferet?
No. No, you dont. Saying it made it even truer. I could feel some of the I miss them being diluted by the serenity of Sgiachs island. Its magick here. If I could send for my cat, I swear Id stay forever.
Sgiachs laughter was soft and musical. Why is it we tend to miss our pets more than we miss people? She was smiling as she joined me at the stream.
I think its cause we cant Skype them. I mean, I know I can go back to the castle and talk to Stevie Rae, but Ive tried doing the computer video thing with Nala. She just looks confused and even more disgruntled than she usually does, which is pretty darn disgruntled.
If cats understood technology and had opposable thumbs, theyd rule the world, said the queen.
I laughed. Dont let Nala hear you say that. She does rule her world.
Youre right. Mab believes she rules her world, as well.
Mab was Sgiachs giant, long-haired black and white tuxedo cat who I was just getting to know. I think she was possibly, like, a thousand years old and mostly stayed only semi-conscious and barely moving on the end of the queens bed. Stark and I had started calling her Dead Cat, but not within Sgiachs hearing.
By world you mean your bedroom?
Exactly, Sgiach said.
Both of us laughed, and then the queen walked over to a large moss-covered boulder not far from the stream. She sat gracefully and patted the chair-sized area next to her. I joined her, wondering vaguely if my movements would ever be graceful and regal like hersand doubting it.
You could send for your Nala. Vampyre familiars fly as companion animals. It would only be a matter of showing her vaccination record to get her into Skye.
Wow, seriously?
Seriously. Of course that means you would need to commit yourself to staying here for at least several months. Cats dont travel particularly welland moving them from one time zone to another, and then back again, really isnt good for them.
I looked into Sgiachs eyes and said exactly what I was thinking, The longer I stay here the more Im sure that I dont want to leave, but I know its probably irresponsible of me to hide from the real world like that. I meanI hurried on when I saw the concern grow in her gazeits not like Skye isnt real and all. And I know Ive been through a bunch of bad stuff lately, so its okay for me to take a break. But I am still in school. I suppose I do have to go back. Eventually.
Would you feel that way if school came to you?
What do you mean?
Since youve come into my life Ive begun to reflect on the worldor rather on how disassociated Ive become from it. Yes, I have the internet. Yes, I have satellite TV. But I dont have new followers. I dont have student Warriors and young Guardians. Or at least I didnt until you and Stark arrived. I find that Ive missed the energy and input from young minds. Sgiach looked away from me and deeper into the grove. Your arrival here has awakened something that was sleeping on my island. I feel a change coming in the world, greater than the influence of modern science or technology. I can ignore it and let my island go back to sleep, perhaps to become completely separate from the world and its problems, perhaps even to be lost to the mists of timelike Avalon and the Amazons. Or I can open myself to it, meeting the challenges it might bring. The queen met my gaze again. I choose to allow my island to awaken. It is time Skyes House of Night accepted new blood.
Youre going to take down the protective spell?
Her smile was wry. No, as long as I live and, hopefully, as long as my successor and, eventually her successors, live, Skye will remain protected and separate from the modern world. But I did think I would put out a Warriors Call. At one time Skye trained the best and brightest of the Sons of Erebus.
But then you broke from the Vampyre High Council, right?
Correct. Perhaps I could begin, slowly, to mend that break, especially if I had a young High Priestess as one of my trainees.
I felt a stirring of excitement. Me? You mean me?
I do, indeed. You and your Guardian have a connection to this Isle. Id like to see where that connection takes us.
Wow, Im seriously honored. Thank you so much. My mind was whirring! If Skye became an active House of Night it wouldnt be like Id be hiding from everyone here. It would be more like Id transferred to another school. I thought about Damien and the rest of the gang and wondered if theyd think about coming to Skye, too.
Would there be a place here for fledglings who arent Warriors in training? I asked.
We could discuss that. Sgiach paused, seemed to come to a decision, and added, You do know, dont you, that this island is rich in magickal tradition that encompasses more than just Warrior training and my Guardians?
No. I mean, yes. Like its obvious that youre magick, and youre basically this island.
Ive been here so long that many do see me as the island, but I am more the caretaker of its magick than the possessor of it.
What do you mean?
Find out for yourself, young queen. You have an affinity for each of the elements. Reach out and see what the island has to teach you.
When uncertainty had me hesitating, Sgiach coaxed, Try the first element, air. Simply call it to you and observe.
Okay. Well, here goes. I stood up and moved a couple of feet from Sgiach, into a mossy area that was kinda clear of rocks. I took three deep, cleansing breaths, settling into the familiar feeling of being centered. Instinctively, I turned my face to the east and called: Air, please come to me.
I was used to the element responding. I was used to it stirring the breeze around me like an eager puppy, but all of my experience with my affinities didnt prepare me for what happened next. Air didnt just respondit engulfed me. It swirled around me powerfully, feeling strangely tangible, which should have really been crazy because air isnt tangible. Its unseen yet everywhere. And then I gasped because I realized air had become tangible! Wafting around me, in the midst of the blustering wind that had sprung to me at my call, were the forms of beautiful beings. They were bright and ethereal, a little see-through. As I gawked at them they changed formsometimes looking like lovely women, sometimes looking like butterflies, and then theyd change and look more like gorgeous fall leaves drifting in a wind of their own.
What are they? I asked in a hushed voice. Of its own accord, I lifted my hand and watched the leaves change to brilliantly colored hummingbirds, which settled on my outstretched palm.
Air sprites. They used to be everywhere, but theyve left the modern world. They prefer the ancient groves and the old ways. And this island has both. Sgiach smiled and opened her own hand to a sprite that took on the form of a tiny woman with dragonfly wings and danced, weaving in and out of her fingers. Its good to see them come to you. There are rarely so many of them in one place, even here in the grove. Try another element.
This time she didnt need to coax me further. I turned to the south and called, Fire, please come to me!
Like brilliant fireworks, sprites burst into being all around me, tickling my body with the controlled warmth of their flames and making me giggle. They remind me of Fourth of July sparklers!
Sgiachs smile matched mine. I rarely see the flame sprites. Im much closer to water and airflame almost never shows itself to me.
Shame on you, I scolded. You guys should let Sgiach see youshes one of the good guys!
Instantly the sprites around me started to flutter crazily. I could feel the distress radiating from them.
Oh, no! Tell them youre teasing them. Flame is terribly sensitive and volatile. I dont want them to cause an accident, Sgiach said.
Hey, guys, sorry! I was just kidding. Everythings fine, really. I breathed a sigh of relief as the flame sprites settled back into less frantic flickering and fluttering. I glanced at Sgiach. Is it safe to call the other elements?
Of course, just be careful what you say. Your affinity is powerful, even without being in a place rich in old magick like this grove.
Will do. I drew three more cleansing breaths and was sure I recentered myself. Then I turned clockwise to face the west. Water, please come to me. And found myself washed in the element. Cool, slick sprites brushed against my skin, shimmering with aqua iridescence. They frolicked around, making me think of mermaids and dolphins, jellyfish and seahorses. This is seriously super cool!
Water sprites are especially strong on Skye, Sgiach said, caressing a little starfish-shaped creature that swam around her.
I turned to the north. Earth, come to me! The grove came alive. The trees glowed with glee, and from their gnarled, ancient trunks emerged woodland beings that reminded me of things that should be in Rivendell with Tolkiens elvesor maybe even Avatars 3-D jungle.
I pulled my attention to the center of my impromptu circle and called the final element, Spirit, please come to me, too.
This time Sgiach gasped. I have never seen all five groups of sprites together like this. It is magnificent.
Ohmygoddess! Its incredible!
The air around me, already alive with gossamer beings, was filled with such radiance that it suddenly brought Nyx to mind, and the brilliance of her smile.
Do you want to experience more? Sgiach asked me.
Of course, I said without hesitation.
Come here, then. Give me your hand. Surrounded by the ancient sprites that personified the elements, I approached Sgiach and held my hand out to her.
She took my right hand in her left and turned it so that my palm faced up. Do you trust me?
Yes. I trust you, I said.
Good. It will only hurt for a moment.
With a blindingly fast motion, she slashed the hard, sharp nail of her right pointer finger across the meaty pad of my palm. I didnt flinch. Didnt move. But I did suck in a bunch of air. Though she was rightit hurt only for a moment.
Sgiach turned my palm over and the blood began dripping from my hand, but before it could touch the mossy ground beneath us, the queen caught the scarlet drops. Cupping them in her own palm, she let them pool and then, speaking words that I felt more than heard but did not understand at all, she flung the blood, scattering it in a circle around us.
Then something truly amazing happened.
Each sprite that my blood drops touched, for an instant, became flesh. They were no longer ethereal elementals, only wisps and trails of air, fire, water, earth, and spirit. What my blood touched became realityliving, breathing birds and fairies, merfolk and forest nymphs.