Stevie Rae continued as if she hadnt heard her. I think being polite is a real good idea, and introductions are always polite. Yall already know Venus, she said, and then moved on quickly. So Ill start with Elliott.
A redheaded kid stepped forward. Okay, dying and un-dying hadnt improved this kid any. He was still pudgy and pale with a frizzy ball of carrot-colored, uncombed hair sticking up in odd places on his head. Im Elliott, he said.
Everyone nodded at him. Next is Montoya, Stevie Rae said.
A short, Hispanic guy who looked seriously thuggish with his sagging pants and his multiple piercings nodded his head, sending his thick dark hair waving around his face. Hi, he said with just a touch of an accent and a surprisingly cute, warm smile. And thats Shannon Compton. Stevie Rae ran her first and last name together, so that it sounded like Shannoncompton.
Shannoncompton? Hey, didnt you read the spotlight piece in The Vagina Monologues last year at the school performance? Damien asked.
Her pretty face brightened. Yeah, that was me.
I remember because I just love The Vagina Monologues. Theyre so empowering, Damien said. And then right after the show youum His voice trailed off and he fidgeted.
I died? Shannoncompton added helpfully.
Yeah, exactly, Damien said.
Oh, gosh, thats too bad, Jack said.
Aphrodite sighed. Shes not dead anymore, morons.
And this is Sophie. Stevie Rae said quickly, frowning at Aphrodite, who was already sounding tipsy. A tall brunette stepped a little forward and gave us a tentative friendly smile. Hi, she said.
We waved and muttered hellos. I was actually feeling better about the red fledglings now that they were becoming individualsand not individuals who were trying to chomp on us. Or at least at that moment they werent.
Dallas is next. Stevie Rae pointed to a kid standing behind Venus. At the sound of his name he kinda slouched around her and mumbled what sounded like a version of hi. He would have been totally unremarkable looking if it hadnt been for the quick intelligence in his eyes and the kinda flirty smile he threw Stevie Rae. Hm, I thought, wonder if somethings going on there? Dallas was born in Houston, which we all think is odd and confusing, Stevie Rae was saying.
The kid shrugged. Its a gross story my dad tells about him and my mom making me in Dallas. I never wanted the details.
Ugh, parent sex, Shaunee said.
Completely disgusting, Erin agreed.
I could see a little laugh ripple through the group of red fledglings at the Twins comments, making the tension that had been hanging between our two groups begin to really loosen up.
Next is Anthony, who everyone calls Ant.
Ant waved awkwardly at us and said hi. Well, it was obvious why everyone called him Ant. He was one of those little kids. You know, the ones that look, like, ten when theyre really fourteen and supposed to have gone through puberty already. Then, as if to provide the biggest contrast possible, Stevie Rae moved on to the next kid. This is Johnny B.
Johnny B was tall and built. He reminded me of Heath with his athletic body and the easy confidence with which he held himself. Hey, he said, flashing white teeth and obviously checking out the Twins, who raised their brows at him and checked him out right back.
Next is Gerarty. Shes the best artist Ive ever known. Shes started to decorate parts of the tunnels. Its gonna look majorly cool when she gets done. Stevie Rae beamed at yet another blonde, only Gerarty wasnt all tall and Barbie-like. She was pretty, but her blond hair was more dishwater than platinum, and cut in a seventies shag. She nodded at us and looked uncomfortable.
And last but not least is Kramisha.
A black girl twitched out of the group. It was a testament to how distracted Id been with Venus and Aphrodite and Stevie Rae that I hadnt noticed her before then. She had on a form-fitting bright yellow shirt cut low to show the top of her black lace bra and a pair of high-waisted, skintight cropped jeans that were cinched up with a wide leather belt that matched her chunky gold shoes. Her hair was cut geometrically into a short poof on her head, and half of it was dyed bright orange.
Lets get it straight right now that Im not sharin my bed with no one, Kramisha said, weaving her head around and looking bored and pissed off at the same time.
Kramisha, I told you about a zillion times, dont make an issue outta somethin that isnt one, Stevie Rae said.
I just want to be clear about myself, Kramisha said.
Fine. Youre clear. Stevie Rae paused and looked up at me expectantly. Okay, thats my group.
And these are the extent of the red fledglings? Darius asked before I could launch into my introductions.
Stevie Rae chewed the inside of her cheek and didnt meet Dariuss eyes. Yeah, these are all of my red fledglings.
Ah oh, thats her Im-not-telling-the-whole-truth look. I knew it, but when she met my eyes, hers so clearly begged me not to say anything that I decided to keep my mouth shut and get the whole story when we werent the focus of everybodys attention.
But me putting off questioning Stevie Rae didnt put off the feeling that had come back, alarm bells ringing inside my head, loud and clear, at her evasion. There was definitely something going on with the red fledglings, and I didnt think that something was going to be good.
I cleared my throat. Well, Im Zoey Redbird. I tried to sound polite and normal in a situation that didnt feel either.
Ive told yall about Zoey. She has an affinity for all five elements, and its through her powers that I was able to Change and we were all given our humanity back, Stevie Rae said. I noticed she was looking directly at Venus.
Well, it wasnt just through me that happened. My friends had a lot to do with it, too. I nodded at Aphrodite, who was still drinking directly from the bottle of wine. You guys obviously know Aphrodite. Shes a human now, but lets just say shes not normal, I said, completely avoiding the subject of her fresh Imprint with Stevie Rae.
Aphrodite snorted, but didnt say anything.
This is Erin and Shaunee, the Twins. Erin has an affinity for water, Shaunees affinity is fire. The Twins nodded and said hi.
Damien and Jack are a couple, I said. Damiens affinity is air. Jack is our audiovisual guy.
Hi, Damien said.
Hey there, Jack said. He lifted the bag he was still carrying. I made sandwiches. Anyone hungry?
Can someone explain why that dogs in here? Venus said, totally ignoring Jacks friendly overture.
Shes here cause shes mine, Jack said. She stays with me. He reached down and petted Duchesss soft ears.
Duchess stays with Jack, I said firmly, giving Venus a hard look and thinking that I could happily strangle her with Duchesss leash before I continued with the intros. And this is Erik Night.
I remember you from drama class, Shannoncompton said, her cheeks turning pink. Youre really famous.
Hi, Shannon. Erik smiled easily at her. Nice to see you again.
I remember you, too. You were with Aphrodite, Venus said.
Not anymore, Aphrodite said quickly, giving Darius a look.
Obviously. Youre not a fledgling anymore, Venus said in a silky voice that sounded way too interested. When did you Change?
Just a few days ago, he said. I was on my way to the Europe an acting academy when Shekinah asked that I take Professor Nolans place temporarily at the House of Night.
Wow, I knew that High Priestess looked familiar. That was actually Shekinah! Shannoncompton said. I saw her just before she started toward that winged guy and She stopped talking and picked at her lip worriedly.
And she was killed by Neferet, I bluntly finished for her.
Was she? Do you know that for certain? Darius asked.
Shes dead and I saw Neferet do it. I think she killed her with her mind, I said.
Queen Tsi Sgili, Damien murmured. Its true then.
I need all of this explained to me, Darius said curtly.
And this is our Son of Erebus warrior, Darius, I said.
Hes right, Stevie Rae said. We need what happened tonight explained to us.
Not just tonights happenings, Darius said. His gaze rested on the group of unusual fledglings. I need information if I am to protect you. I must know everything that has been going on.
Agreed, I said, glad beyond words that we had an experienced Son of Erebus in our group.
We could eat and talk, Jack said. When I looked at him, he gave me a big smile. It always helps to eat with each other. A meal makes things better.
Unless youre the meal, I heard Aphrodite mutter.
Jacks right, Stevie Rae said. Why dont yall go grab some of the egg crates we have in the kitchen and some bags of chips and whatnot. Lets eat while we talk.
Would the whatnot be more blood? Venus said.
Yes, it would, Stevie Rae said matter-of-factly, clearly not wanting to make a big deal out of the blood issue.
Fine. Ill go get some more, Venus said.
Hey, while youre getting blood, grab me another bottle of wine, Aphrodite said.
You know Im not into charity, so youll be paying me back, Venus said.
I remember, Aphrodite said. And you should remember that I pay my debts.
Yeah, thats how you used to be, but seems youve made a change, she said.
No shit? You mean you just now noticed I turned human?
Not what I was talking about. So just replace the wine, she added before leaving the room.
Hey, werent yall roomies? Stevie Rae asked Aphrodite.
Aphrodite ignored Stevie Rae and I had the urge to shake her and yell, Not talking to her or looking at her is not going to break your Imprint with her.
Yes, they were, Erik said into the dead air, reminding me that because he and Aphrodite used to be together, he would know her roommate, maybe too well.
Yeah, well, things change. Aphrodite found her voice.
People change, I said, pulling my gaze from Erik.
Aphrodite met my eyes. Her lips curled up in a sad, sarcastic smile. And that is too damn true, she said.
CHAPTER 5
So we have p.b. and j., bologna, and processed American cheese slices. Jack said the processed American cheese slices part like he was reluctantly offering us worms and mud. And my personal gourmet Top Chef concoction: mayonnaise, peanut butter, and lettuce on wheat bread.
Okay, Jack. Nasty, Shaunee said.
Have you lost your damn mind? Erin said.
Gay white boy is weird, Kramisha said, snagging one of the bologna and cheese sandwiches.
The Twins nodded and made yep noises as Kramisha joined them on a nearby egg crate.
Jack looked mortally offended. I think theyre good, and you guys should try things before you disrespect them.
Ill try one of them, said Shannoncompton sweetly.
Thanks. Jack grinned and handed her a sandwich wrapped in a paper towel.
There was the rustling of a lot of paper as all of us crowded into Stevie Raes room, grabbed sandwiches, and passed bags of chips around. I was surprised to see the amount of food and chips and brown pop (yea for brown pop!). It made a weird, surreal mixture with the bottles of red wine and bags of blood that were being shared. I sat on the bed with Aphrodite and Darius and Stevie Rae, who was looking better and better. For a second, with the normal sounds of kids eating and talking, it was easy to imagine that we were just in a kind of ratty building at the House of Night and forget that we were in a tunnel under the city and that all of our lives were in the process of never being the same. For a second, we were nothing but a group of kids, some friends, some not, and we were just hanging out together.
Tell me what you know of the creature that rose from the earth and the bird beings that followed him. Dariuss words made the whole just-hanging-out façade crumple like a house of cards.? Jcrate.
Sadly, we dont know as much about him as I wish we did, and what we do know comes from my grandma. I swallowed down the tightness in my throat that mentioning her caused. Grandmas in a coma, so she cant help us right now.
Oh, Z! Im so sorry! What happened? Stevie Rae cried, touching my arm.
The official version is she was in a car accident. The truth is that the accident was caused by the Raven Mockers because she knew too much about them, I said.
Raven Mockersthose are the beings that came out of the earth after the winged man appeared? Darius said.
I nodded. Theyre his childrenwhat happened after he raped the women of my grandmas people more than a thousand years ago. When Kalona broke out of the ground their bodies were returned to them.
And you know these things because they are creatures from Cherokee legend? Darius said.
Actually, we know these things because in the vision Aphrodite had a couple days ago she was shown what we figured out was a prophecy about Kalona returning. It was written in Grandmas handwriting, so we called hertold her about it. She recognized the references and came to the House of Night to help us. I paused, steadying my voice. Thats why the Raven Mockers attacked her.
I really wish we had that prophecy, Damien said. Id like to take a look at it again now that Kalona has actually been set free.
Thats easy enough, Aphrodite said. She took a long drink from her bottle of wine, hiccupped a little, and then recited:
Ancient one sleeping, waiting to arise
When earths power bleeds sacred red
The mark strikes true; Queen Tsi Sgili will devise
He shall be washed from his entombing bed
Through the hand of the dead he is free
Terrible beauty, monstrous sight
Ruled again they shall be
Women shall kneel to his dark might
Kalonas song sounds sweet
As we slaughter with cold heat.
Wow! Well done, you! Jack said, clapping his hands.
Aphrodite inclined her head regally and said, Thank youThank youIt was nothing. Really. And then went back to her wine.