Hey, whoa, whats this about? Dragons strong hand steadied Stevie Rae when she stumbled because of their collision. Did you say beast stuff?
She did. Kramisha pointed at the notebook page in Stevie Raes hand. Two poems come to me, one the day Stevie Rae tangled with them bulls, and the second just a little while ago. She dont want to pay them no mind.
I didnt say I wasnt going to pay them any mind. I just want to take care of my own business my own self without every dang body in the universe nosing around.
Do you consider me every dang body? Dragon asked.
Stevie Rae forced herself to meet his gaze. No, course not.
And you are in agreement with me that Kramishas poems are important.
Well, yeah.
Then you cant just ignore them. Dragon rested his hand on Stevie Raes shoulder. I know how it feels to want to keep your life private, but youve stepped into a position where there are more important things than your privacy.
I know that, but I can deal with this myself.
You didnt deal with the bulls, Kramisha said. They still happened.
Theyre gone, arent they? So I did deal with them just fine.
I remember seeing you after your battle with the bull. You were gravely injured. Had you understood Kramishas warning the cost to you might not have been so great. And then there is the fact that a Raven Mocker appeared, and he might even be the creature Rephaim. That monster is still out there somewhere and a danger to all of us. So, you must understand, young priestess, that a forewarning meant for you cannot be kept private because it touches the lives of others.
Stevie Rae stared into Dragons eyes. His words were strong. His tone was kind. But was that suspicion and anger she saw in his expression, or was it just the grief that had been shadowing him since the death of his wife?
While she hesitated, Dragon continued, A beast killed Anastasia. We cannot allow any other innocent to be touched by these creatures of Darkness if we can prevent it. You know I speak truth, Stevie Rae.
I-I know, she stuttered, trying to order her words. Rephaim killed Anastasia the night Darius shot him from the sky. No one will ever forget thatI can never forget that, especially now that things have changed. Its been weeks and I havent seen him. At all. Our Imprint is still there. I can feel it, but I havent felt anything from him.
And that lack of feeling made the decision for Stevie Rae. Okay, youre right. I need help with this. Maybe this is the way it was meant to be, she thought as she handed Dragon the poems. Maybe Dragon will discover my secret, and when he does it will all be destroyed: Rephaim, our Imprint, and my heart. But at least itll be over.
As Dragon read the poetry Stevie Rae watched his expression get darker. When he finally looked from the page and into her eyes, there was no mistaking his worry.
The second bull you conjured, the black one that vanquished the evil bull, what type of connection did you have with him?
Stevie Rae tried not to show how relieved she was that Dragon was focusing on the bulls and not questioning her about Rephaim.
I dont know if you could really call it a connection, but I thought he was beautiful. He was black, but there was no Darkness about him. He was incrediblelike the night sky, or the earth.
The earth Dragon seemed to be thinking aloud. If the bull reminds you of your element, perhaps that is enough for the two of you to remain connected.
But we know hes good, Kramisha said. Theys no mystery bout that. The poems cant be talkin bout him.
So? Stevie Rae couldnt hide her irritation. Kramisha was like a dang dog with a soup bone. She just wouldnt leave it alone.
So, the poem, specially the last one, is all about trusting the truth. We already know hes good. You can trust the black bull. Why do you need a poem to tell you that?
Kramisha, like I tried to tell you before, I do not know.
I just dont think theys talkin bout the black bull, Kramisha said.
What else could they be talkin about? I dont know any other beasts. Stevie Rae said the words fast, as if speed could take away the lie.
You said Dallas has an unusual new affinity, and that he has seemed to go mad. Is that correct? Dragon asked.
Yeah, basically, Stevie Rae said.
The beast reference could be symbolic of Dallas. The poem might mean that you need to trust the humanity that is still within him, Dragon said.
I dont know about that, Stevie Rae said. He was one hot mess and super crazy last time I saw him. I mean he was saying some seriously weird stuff about that Raven Mocker he saw.
Council Meeting is being called to session! Lenobias voice drifted down the hallway from the open door to the Council Chamber.
Do you mind if I keep this? Dragon lifted the piece of paper as they started down the hall. Ill copy it, and then return it to you, but Id like a chance to study and consider the poetry more thoroughly.
Yeah, thats okay with me, Stevie Rae said.
Well, Im glad we got your brain workin on this, Dragon, Kramisha said.
Me, too, Stevie Rae said, trying to sound like she was telling the truth.
Dragon paused. I wont share this with everybody, only those vampyres I believe could help us understand the poetrys meaning. I understand your wish for privacy.
Ill tell Zoey about it as soon as she gets back tomorrow, Stevie Rae said.
Dragon frowned. I do think you should share the poetry with Zoey, but sadly, she will not be returning to the House of Night tomorrow.
What? Why not?
Apparently Stark isnt well enough to travel, so Sgiach has given them permission to remain on Skye indefinitely.
Did Zoey tell you that? Stevie Rae couldnt believe her BFF had called Dragon and not her. What was Z thinking?
No, she and Stark spoke with Jack.
Oh, the Celebration Ritual. Stevie Rae nodded in understanding. Z hadnt been keeping anything from her. Jack had been uber-exuberant about the Ritual hed appointed himself in charge of music, food, and decorations forhed probably called her with an entire list of questions like: Whats your favorite color? and Doritos or Ruffles?
Gay boy is majorly obsessed. I bet he lost his damn mind when he found out Z aint comin home tomorrow.
Actually, hes using the extra time to keep practicing that song he wants to sing, and hes decorating, Dragon said.
Goddess help us, Kramisha said. If he tries to hang rainbows and unicorns everywhere and make all of us wear them feather boasagainIm just gonna say ah hell no.
Origami swords, Dragon said.
Excuse me? Stevie Rae was sure she couldnt have heard him right.
Dragon chuckled. Jack came by the Field House and borrowed a claymore so he could have a real example to work from. In honor of Stark, hes going to use origami swords hung with fishing line. He said theyll look like the song.
Cause theyll be defying gravity. Stevie Rae couldnt help giggling. She did heart her some Jack. He was just too cute for words.
I hope he dont do them in pink paper. That just aint right.
Theyd reached the door to the Council Chamber, and before they entered the already full room, Stevie Rae heard Dragon say, Not pink. Purple. I saw him carrying a ream of purple paper.
Stevie Rae was still grinning when Lenobia called the Council Meeting to order. In the days that followed, she would remember her grin and wish she could hold on to the image of Jack making purple swords out of paper and singing Defying Gravity, eternally looking on the bright side of life, eternally sweet, eternally happy, and, most important, eternally safe.
CHAPTER SIX
Jack
Duch, what is it, beautiful girl? Why are you acting so psycho today? Jack pulled the pile of purple origami papers from under the blond Lab and put them up out of dog-butt reach on the wooden stool he was using as an outside table and sword stand. The big dog huffed, thumped her tail on the ground, and scooted closer to Jack. He sighed and gave her a loving but exasperated look. You dont have to be attached to my side. Everythings fine. Im just decorating.
She is being more than a little codependent today, Damien said, folding his legs and sitting on the grass beside Jack.
Jack stopped working on the paper sword hed been folding into shape and stroked Duchesss soft head. Do you think she can sense that S-T-A-R-K is still not feeling one hundred percent? Do you think she knows hes not coming back tomorrow?
Well, maybe. She is extraordinarily intelligent, but my guess is shes more worried about you climbing up there than Stark being tired and tardy.
Jack fluttered his fingers at the eight-foot ladder that sat open and ready not far from them. Oh, theres nothing for Duch or you to be worried about. That ladder is perfectly safe. It even has an extra hold-it-open latch that makes it totally steady.
I dont know. Its awful high up there. Damien gave the top rungs of the ladder a wary look.
Nah, its not so bad. Plus, its not like Im climbing up to the topor at least not much. This poor tree has limbs that are hangy-downy now. You know, ever since he burst up from under it. Jack said the last sentence in a stage whisper.
Damien cleared his throat and gave the big oak they were sitting under the same wary glance hed shot the ladder. Okay, dont get mad, but I really need to talk to you about choosing this particular spot for Zoeys Celebration Ritual.
Jack held up his hand, palm out, in the universal stop signal. I already know people are going to have issues with this location. Ive just decided that my reasons for it are better than the reasons against it.
Honey, you always have the best intentions, Damien took Jacks hand and held it in both of his. But I think this time you need to consider that you might be the only one who can see anything positive about this place. Professor Nolan and Loren Blake were killed here. Kalona escaped from the earth, ripped open the ground, and split the tree right here. It just doesnt feel very celebratory to me.
Jacks free hand covered Damiens. This is a place of power, right?
Correct, Damien said.
And power isnt negative or positive in its unused form. It only takes on those characteristics when outside forces take over and influence it. Right?
Damien paused, considered, and then reluctantly nodded. Yes, I suppose youre correct again.
Well, I feel that the power in this placethis shattered tree and the area here by the east wallhas been misused. It needs a chance to be used for Light and goodness again. I want to give it that chance; I have to. Something inside me is telling me that I need to be here, getting Zoeys Celebration Ritual ready for her return, even if she and Stark are going to be late.
Damien sighed. You know I wouldnt ever ask you to discount your feelings.
So youll support me in this? Even when everyone is saying your boyfriend is super crazy?
Damien smiled at him. Everyone isnt saying youre super crazy. Theyre saying your zealous need to decorate and organize has tainted your judgment.
Jack giggled. Ill bet they didnt say zealous or tainted.
Their words were synonymous, if inferior.
Thats my Damienthe wordsmith!
And thats my Jackthe optimist. Damien leaned into Jack and kissed him gently on the lips. You do what you need to do here. I know Zoey will be appreciative, when she finally gets home. He paused, smiled sadly into Jacks trusting eyes, and added, Honey, you do understand that Zoey might not be coming back for quite a while? I know what Stark said to you, and I havent talked to Z herself yet, but Aphrodite says Zoey isnt herselfthat she isnt really staying on Skye because of Stark. Shes staying there because shes withdrawn from the world.
I just dont believe that, Damien, Jack said firmly.
I dont want to believe it, either, but the facts are that Zoey isnt coming back with Aphrodite and Darius, and she really isnt talking to anyone about when she is returning. Then theres the whole Heath issue. Zoey comes back to Tulsa, and you know shes going to have to face the fact that Heath isnt herethat hell never be here again.
Its terrible, isnt it? Jack said.
Their eyes met in perfect understanding. Losing someone you love that much would be awful. It has to have changed Zoey.
Of course it has, but shes still our Z. I have a strong feeling that shes going to be home sooner than you think, Jack said.
Damien sighed. I hope youre right.
Hey, even you admit that Im right a bunch. Ill be right about Zoey coming back soon, too. I just know it.
Okay, well, Im going to believe you, mostly because I love your positive attitude.
Jack grinned and gave him a quick kiss. Thank you!
Well, whether Z comes back in a week or a month, Im still not sure its a one-hundred-percent good idea for you to hang paper swords outside from a tree when you dont know when youre going to need those decorations. What if it rains tomorrow?
Oh, Im not going to put them all up, silly! Im just doing a test run on a few of them to be sure I have the folds perfect so theyll hang right.
Is that why you have the claymore here? It looks awfully sharp and, well, exposed leaning against the table like that. Shouldnt the pointed end be down?
Jacks gaze followed Damiens over to where the long silver sword rested, hilt down on the ground, blade up and shining in the flickering gaslights that illuminated the school at night.
Well, Dragon gave me strict instructions, which I mostly listened to even though I kept being distracted by how sad he looked. You know, I dont think hes doing very well. Jack said the last part of the sentence in a hushed voice as if he didnt want Duchess to overhear him.
Damien sighed and threaded his hand with Jacks. I dont think hes doing very well, either.
Yeah, he was telling me stuff about not sticking the pointy part of the sword into the ground cause itd make it dull or something, and all I could think about was how dark the circles were under his eyes, Jack said.