“Sometimes you can’t tell your friends everything you’d like to tell them,” I said.
Stevie Rae let out her breath on a sob. “Oh, Z! You don’t hate me?”
“Of course not,” I said. “I’ve had to keep some pretty crappy secrets, so I get it.”
“Where are they?” Damien’s question would have seemed harsh, but his voice was gentle, his warm brown eyes filled with understanding.
“They’re in the depot tunnels. That’s why I just sealed off the dirt tunnel that I made to get everyone here. I didn’t want any of the others following us and causing the nuns problems.”
“You should have warned us last night,” Darius said. “We would have posted guards while everyone was sleeping.”
“There were rogue red fledglings at the other end of your tunnel?” Sister Mary Angela’s hand found the rosary that hung around her neck.
“Oh, Sister, you weren’t in any danger. Darius, we didn’t need to post guards, promise!” she quickly explained. “Those other kids are affected by daylight big-time. They never move around while the sun’s up, not even in the tunnels.”
Darius’s frown said he still would have posted a guard. Sister Mary Angela didn’t say anything, but I saw her fingers worrying her rosary beads. It was then that I noticed none of the red fledglings were speaking. I glanced at the only other red vampyre in existence. “Did you know about these other fledglings?”
“Me? Hell no. I would’ve told you right away,” Stark said.
“I should have told you right away. I’m real sorry I didn’t,” Stevie Rae said.
“Sometimes the truth can get buried and it’s hard to figure out how to uncover it,” I told her, and then I looked around the room at the other red fledglings. “You guys all knew, didn’t you?”
Kramisha spoke up. “We knew. We don’t like them other kids. They’s bad news.”
“They smell bad, too,” little Shannoncompton said from a ways down the table.
“They suck,” Dallas said. “And they remind us of how it used to be.”
“That’s something we don’t like to remember,” said muscle-y Johnny B.
I turned my attention back to Stevie Rae. “Is there anything else you want to tell me?”
“Well, I don’t think it’s smart for us to go back to the depot tunnels right now, so going home to the House of Night sounds good to me, too.”
“Then it’s settled. We go home,” I said.
CHAPTER 20
Zoey
“I’m all for getting back where we belong, but your grandma should stay here,” Aphrodite said suddenly. “We don’t know what all we’re going to have to deal with at the House of Night.”
“Did your visions show you something else?” I asked, noticing that she was looking at Stevie Rae instead of me.
Aphrodite shook her head slowly. “No, I told you everything I saw in my visions. I just have a feeling, that’s all.”
Stevie Rae laughed nervously. “Well, heck, Aphrodite, we’re all feelin’ jumpy and on edge, which makes total sense. We just chased away some major booger monsters, but that’s no reason to freak Zoey out.”
“I’m not freaking her out, bumpkin,” Aphrodite said. “I’m just being careful.”
“It is wise to anticipate dangers,” Darius said thoughtfully.
Since there was nothing wrong with being careful, I opened my mouth to agree with both of them when Stevie Rae turned to Darius and in a cold, flat voice said, “Just because you’ve sworn your Warrior’s Oath to her doesn’t mean you have to agree with everything she says.”
“What?” Stark said. “You gave Aphrodite your Oath?”
“Really?” Damien said.
“Wow, too cool,” Jack said.
Erik snorted from the table behind us. “I’m shocked Zoey let you and didn’t just add you to her private collection.”
By that time I’d had enough. I yelled over at him, “Oh, go to hell, Erik!”
“Zoey!” Sister Mary Angela gasped.
“Sorry,” I muttered.
“Don’t be sorry,” Aphrodite said, glaring at Stevie Rae. “Hell isn’t a bad word. It’s a place. And some people do need to be sent there.”
“What?” Stevie Rae said innocently. “You didn’t want everyone to know about you and Darius?”
“My business is my business,” Aphrodite said.
“Just like I was sayin’ before,” Kramisha nodded sagely. “It just ain’t right to put your personal business all out in public.” She turned her dark eyes on Stevie Rae. “I know you our High Priestess and all, so I don’t mean no disrespect, but I think you was raised better than that.”
Stevie Rae looked instantly contrite. “You’re right, Kramisha. I guess I didn’t think it was that big a deal. I mean, everyone would know sooner or later.” She smiled at me and shrugged her shoulders. “A Warrior’s Oath isn’t exactly somethin’ you can hide.” She turned to Aphrodite. “Sorry, I wasn’t tryin’ to be mean.”
“I’m not interested in your apology. I’m not Zoey. I’m not going to automatically believe everything you say.”
“Okay, enough!” I shouted. Anger and frustration added power to my words, and I saw several kids flinch. “All of you need to listen up and get something straight. We can’t fight big, world-ending evil if we’re bickering with each other! Stevie Rae and Aphrodite—get over the fact that you’re Imprinted and learn not to embarrass each other.” I saw hurt in Aphrodite’s eyes and shock in Stevie Rae’s, but I kept going. “Stevie Rae, don’t keep important stuff from me, even if you think you have a good reason to.” I looked squarely at Erik, who had turned around in his chair so he could stare at me. “And Erik, we have lots bigger problems than you being pissed I dumped you.” I heard Stark chuckle and I rounded on him. “You don’t get a free pass, either.”
Stark raised his hands like he was surrendering. “I’m just laughing because Erik the Great got put in his place.”
“Which is real crappy of you since you can feel how much this whole thing with you and Erik and Heath has hurt my feelings.”
Stark’s cocky smile faded.
“Darius, it’s an icy mess out there, but do you think you can drive the Hummer back to the House of Night?” I asked.
“I do,” said the warrior.
“Who’s good on a horse?” Instantly several hands went up like I was a mean teacher and they were all scared of being in trouble. “Shaunee, you and Erin can ride the horse you got here on.” I looked around at the kids still holding up their hands. “Johnny B, can you and Kramisha double on the other mare?”
“Yep, we can,” he said. Kramisha nodded briskly, and they both put down their hands.
“Stark, you can ride behind me on Persephone,” I said without looking at him. “Damien, Jack, Aphrodite, Shannoncompton, Venus, and…” I stared at a brunette red fledgling whose name I absolutely could not remember.
“Sophie,” Stevie Rae said hesitantly, like she was scared I might snap her head off.
“And Sophie. You guys go with Darius in the Hummer.” I looked at Stevie Rae. “Can you be sure the rest of the red fledglings and Erik get to the House of Night safely?”
“If that’s what you want me to do, then that’s what I’ll do,” she said.
“Good. Finish breakfast and then let’s go home.” I stood up and took in all the nuns with one long look. “I appreciate you helping us more than I’ll ever be able to tell you. As long as I’m alive, the Benedictine Sisters will have a High Priestess as a friend.” Then I turned to leave. As I passed Stark, I saw him start to get up, but I caught his eyes and shook my head. “I’m going to say bye to Grandma—by myself.” I could see that I’d hurt him, but he only saluted me respectfully and said, “As you wish, my lady.”
Ignoring the silence I left in my wake, I walked out of the room, alone.
“So, u-we-tsi-a-ge-ya, you made everyone angry?” Grandma said after listening to me rant while I paced back and forth beside her bed.
“Well, not everyone. I hurt some people’s feelings instead of making them mad.”
Grandma studied me for a long time. When she finally spoke her words were typically simple but straight to the point. “That is unlike you, so you must have had a good reason for acting so out of character.”