Id felt a prickle of unease skitter down my spine at the shocked expression on Aphrodites face, which turned out to be an accurate premonition of weirdness to come. But then I turned my attention to my gawking friends. Damien, I made my voice sharp. Stevie Rae needs a shirt. Can you find her one?
The laundry basket. Therere clean shirts in it, Stevie Rae said between gulps. She sounded and looked more like herself again. With a shaky hand she gestured to a pile of stuff. Damien nodded and hurried across the room.
Let me see your wrist, Darius said to Aphrodite.
Without speaking shed turned her back to the staring Twins and Jack and gave her arm to Darius, so I had been the only one who really saw what he did. The warrior lifted her wrist to his mouth. Without taking his eyes from hers, his tongue snaked out and ran over the ridge of bite marks that were still dripping scarlet. Her breath caught, and I saw that she was trembling, but the moment his tongue touched the wound the bleeding began to clot. I had been watching closely, so I didnt miss the way Dariuss eyes had widened suddenly in surprise.
Well, shit, I heard Aphrodite say softly to him. Its true, isnt it?
It is true, he answered her in a low voice meant for her alone.
Shit! Aphrodite repeated, looking upset.
Darius smiled, and I saw a definite glint of amusement in his eyes. Then he kissed her wrist gently and said, No matter; it will not affect us.
Promise? she whispered.
I give you my word. You did well, my beauty. Your blood saved her life.
For a moment I saw Aphrodites unguarded expression. She shook her head slightly and her smile was tinged with honest wonder and more than a little sarcasm. And why the hell I have to keep saving Stevie Raes country-bumpkin ass I do not know. All I can say is that I used to be really, really bad, so I have an unbelievable amount of shit I have to make up for. She cleared her throat and ran the back of her hand shakily across her forehead.
Do you need something to drink? I asked, wondering what the hell the two of them were talking about, but not wanting to ask just then because they obviously didnt want the whole room to know.
Yes. Stevie Rae surprised me by answering for her.
Heres a shirt, Damien said. Hed approached the bed, saw that Stevie Rae, who had gone from gulping to sipping from the glass, was partially naked, and averted his eyes.
Thanks. I gave him a quick smile, took the shirt from him, and tossed it to Stevie Rae. Then I looked back at the Twins. The swallows of blood had begun to work in my body, and the exhaustion that had pressed down on me since Id had to call all five of the elements and control them while we escaped from the House of Night finally had lessened enough for me to think again. Okay, guys, bring the blood and wine over here. Do you have another glass for Aphrodite?
Before they could answer Aphrodite spoke up. Uh, no blood for me. I have one word for that: disgusting. But I will take the booze.
We didnt bring another glass, Erin said. Shell have to drink out of the bottle like a peasant.
Sorry, kinda, Shaunee said insincerely, handing Aphrodite the bottle. So, as a human, can you explain to us what its like to get your blood sucked by a vamp?
Yeah, inquiring minds want to know cause you looked like you were liking it, and we didnt know you swung that way, Erin said.
Did you brain-sharers not pay any attention in Vamp Soc class? Aphrodite said before she tipped up the bottle and drank from it.
Well, Ive read the physiology section of The Fledging Handbook. Damien said. Vampyre saliva has coagulants, anticoagulants, and endorphins that act on the pleasure zones of the brain, human and vamp. You know, Aphrodite is right. You two really should pay better attention in class. Schools supposed to be more than a social event. He finished primly while Jack nodded enthusiastically.
You know, Twin, what with all the drama going on abovethe release of an evil fallen angel and his goonsand the House of Night pretty much in panic mode, there might not be school for a while, Shaunee said.
Excellent point, Twin, Erin said. Which means we wont need Queen Damien and his tutorness for a while.
So we could, I dunno, hold him down and pull out his hair? What do you think? Shaunee said.
Sounds fun, Erin said.
Great. Im drinking cheap red wine out of a bottle. Miss Teen Country Vamp just bit meagain. And now Im going to be witness to a nerd herd rumble. Sounding much more like her bitchy self, Aphrodite sighed dramatically and plopped down on the end of the bed next to Darius. Well, at least being human means I can probably get drunk. Maybe I can stay that way for the next ten years or so.
I dont have enough wine for that. We all looked up as a red fledgling entered the room, followed by several others who clustered behind her in the shadows. And that isnt cheap red wine. I dont do cheap anything.
Everyone else turned their attention to the red fledgling as she spoke, but Id been watching Aphrodite gripe at the Twins (and was getting ready to step in and tell everyone to shut up), so I saw the brief flash of what looked like a mixture of embarrassment and discomfort cross Aphrodites face before she got a handle on her expression and said coolly, Nerd herd, this is Venus. Dorkamese Twins and Damien, you should remember my ex-roommate who died about six months or so ago.
Actually, it seems reports of my death were premature, the pretty blonde said smoothly. Then something totally bizarre happened. Venus paused and sniffed the air. I mean she literally lifted her chin and took several short, sharp sniffs in Aphrodites general direction. The red fledglings that still clustered together behind her followed her lead, and I watched them sniff, too. Then Venuss blue eyes widened and in a very amused voice she said, Wellwellwellhow interesting.
Venus, do not Stevie Rae began, but Aphrodite cut her off.
No. It doesnt matter. Everyone might as well know.
With a mean smile the blonde continued. I was just going to say how interesting it is that Stevie Rae and Aphrodite have Imprinted.
CHAPTER 4
I had to clamp my jaws shut to keep from gasping along with the Twins.
Ohmigod! Imprinted! Really? Jack blurted.
Aphrodite shrugged. Apparently. I thought she looked way too nonchalant, and she was totally avoiding even glancing in Stevie Raes direction, but I think almost everyone else in the room was fooled by her whatever attitude.
Well, spank me and call me your baby! Shaunee said.
Make that a double spanking, Twin, Erin chimed in. And then the two of them burst into semi-hysterical giggles.
I think its interesting. Damien spoke up so he could be heard over the cackling Twins.
Me, too, Jack said. In a freaky, ohmigod way.
Sounds like Karma has finally caught up with Aphrodite, Venus said with a sneer that made her beauty turn reptilian.
Venus, Aphrodite just saved my life. Again. And its really not right that youre being ugly to her, Stevie Rae said.
Aphrodite finally looked at Stevie Rae. Do not start doing that.
Doin what? Stevie Rae asked.
Standing up for me! We may have somefuckinghow Imprinted, and thats bad enough. But Do. Not. Go. All. BFF. On. Me! she said slowly and distinctly.
Your bein hateful will not change this, Stevie Rae said.
Look, Im just going to play like this never happened. A wave of giggles from the Twins had Aphrodite glaring their way. Dorkamese Twins, I will figure out a way to smother both of you while you sleep if you do not stop laughing at me.
Naturally, the Twins erupted into louder guffaws.
Turning her back on them, Aphrodite faced me. So, like I was saying before I was rudely interrupted times ten: pain-in-the-ass Venus, this is Zoey, the super fledgling Im sure youve heard so much about, and Darius, the Son of Erebus warrior who you will not be sneaking around with, and Jack. He wont be sneaking around with you, either, but mostly because hes gay as a French pastry. His other half is Damien, the guy who is staring at me like a fucking science project. You already know that the Twins are the laughing heads over there.
I could feel Venuss eyes on me, so I managed to tear my gaze from Aphrodite (Imprinted! To Stevie Rae!) to look at her. Sure enough, she was staring at me with an intense expression that made me instantly defensive. I was still trying to decide whether my negative reaction to Venus was because she was (obviously) a bitch, because she had been skulking around the tunnels with Erik, or because I had a bad feeling about the red fledglings in general when she spoke up.
Zoey and I have already met, but it was unofficial. Seems last time I saw her she was trying to kill us.
I put a hand on my hip and met her cold, blue-eyed stare. While were taking this trip down Memory Lane, you might want to get a clue. I wasnt trying to kill anyone. I was trying to save a human kid you guys were trying to eat. Unlike you, I would have much rather been at IHOP munching on chocolate chip pancakes than football players.
That doesnt make the girl you killed any less dead, Venus said as the red fledglings behind her stirred restlessly.
Z? You killed someone? Jack asked.
I opened my mouth to answer, but Venus beat me to it. She did. Elizabeth No Last Name.
I had to, I said simply, speaking to Jack and ignoring Venus and the red fledglings, even though something about them had the little hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. They werent letting Heath and me out of here alive. Then I turned my attention back to Venus. She had an icy beauty. Venus was sleek and sexy in a pair of tight designer jeans and a simple cropped black tank that had a rhinestone skulls head on it. Her hair was long and thick and the kind of blond that looked golden. In other words, she was definitely attractive enough to hang with Aphrodite, which was saying something, because Aphrodite is totally gorgeous. And, like Aphrodite used to be, Venus was obviously a hateful bitch, and probably had been one before she died and un-died. I narrowed my eyes at her. Look, I told you guys to back off and let us out of here. You didnt. I did what I had to then to protect someone I cared aboutand you all should know Id do it again. My eyes shifted from Venus to the fledglings behind her while I stifled the urge to reach for a couple of the elements and have wind and fire put a little added punch to my threat.
Venus glared back at me.
Okay, yall have got to learn to get along. Are you remembering that the entire outside world might be against us, or at least filled with scary booger monsters? Stevie Rae sounded tired but herself. She sat up, gingerly straightening her Dixie Chicks T-shirt and slowly leaning back against the pillows Darius had propped behind her. So, like Tim Gunn on Project Runway would say, lets make it work.
Ooooh, I love that show, Jack gushed.
I heard a couple of the red fledglings mumble agreement and decided Stevie Rae might have had a point during one of our many trash TV arguments: Reality shows could make the world a better place and bring peace to all mankind.
Making it work sounds good to me. Even though my internal alarm was still warning me that all was not sweetness and light with the red fledglings, I smiled at Stevie Rae, who dimpled back at me. Okay, she obviously believed we could figure out a way to get along. So maybe my alarm system was misfiring simply because Venus was a hateful bitch, and not because she and the rest of them were evil incarnate.
Good. So, first, could I please have a refill of that blood and wine? Heavy on the blood part. She held her empty glass out toward the Twins, who gratefully moved closer to Stevie Raes bed and farther away from the group of red fledglings. I noticed Damien and Jack, with Duchess by his side, had also managed to make their way over to where I was standing. Thanks, she said when Erin took her glass. And therere some scissors in the drawer over there so you dont have to rip it open with your teeth. She gave me a little eye roll. While Erin and Shaunee were busy getting Stevie Rae more bloody wine, she studied the little group of red fledglings. Look, we already talked about this. You know yall are gonna have to make nice with Zoey and the rest of the kids. She glanced up at Darius and smiled, Well, kids and vamps, that is.
Hey, excuse me, guys. I need to get through.
Id bristled automatically as Erik pushed through the crowd at the door. If someone (Venus) tried to bite him, someone (me) was gonna kick her ass. Period.
Ignoring the tension in the room, Darius said, What does the radio report is happening in the world above?
Erik shook his head. I cant get anything in. I even went up into the basement. Nothing but static. Couldnt get my cell phone to work, either. I did hear a bunch of thunder and could see flashings of massive lightning. Its still raining, even though its getting colder, which means itll probably turn to ice. Plus, the winds kicked up like crazy. I couldnt tell if the weather was natural, or if Kalona and those bird thi said, &~
Aphrodite saved her by letting Stevie Rae drink her blood, Shaunee said, and then giggled.
Yeah, and now the two of them have Imprinted, Erin finished in a rush, and then joined Shaunees laughter.
Wow, youre kidding. Right? he said, sounding totally shocked.
No, they are not kidding, Venus said smoothly.
Huh. Well. Thats interesting. I watched Eriks lips twitch as he stared at Aphrodite. She totally ignored him and kept drinking straight from the wine bottle she clutched in her hand. He stifled a big laugh with a cough, and then his eyes lit on Venus. He nodded, his normal easygoing, popular self. Hi again, Venus.
Erik, she said, with a feral smile that made me want to squash her like a bug.
Aphrodite was right to start introductions, Stevie Rae said, and before Aphrodite could, she hurried on, And, no, Im not saying that because were Imprinted.
I really wish you would all quit talking about it, Aphrodite muttered.