“Excuse me, Zoey.”
Reluctantly, I moved out of Stark’s embrace to face Anastasia. The High Priestess looked somber, but her voice was calm and confident. “I have all of the fledglings confined to their dorms, so they will be out of harm’s way. Your grandmother is with the girls in their dorm, helping to keep them calm. Dragon has ordered half of the Sons of Erebus Warriors to stand guard at the dorms, and the others will be here, outside the circle.”
I followed her gaze to a group of armed Warriors taking position around the rear grounds.
Just as I was thinking that I wished there were more of them, Dragon joined us, saying, “I still cannot reach Dallas and the soldiers you ordered to clean out the depot tunnels.”
“Dallas is alive over here?” Stark asked.
Kevin and Shaunee were walking past us, and he paused to answer Stark. “Yeah, but he’s not a very good guy.”
Stark snorted. “Same Dallas—different world. Looks like it’s a good thing he’s not here. Plus, he might distract Stevie Rae.”
“What’s up with that?” Kev asked.
“Once upon a time, before Dallas chose to be a turd, he and Stevie Rae were together,” I explained.
Stevie Rae joined us, with Rephaim beside her. “Did I hear y’all say Dallas’s name?”
“Yeah,” I said. “He’s alive in this world.”
“And a douchebag,” said Kevin.
“Same Dallas—different world,” Stevie Rae echoed Stark and me.
“Where is he?” Rephaim asked, glaring around at the Warriors.
“Not here,” Dragon said. “He and a group of soldiers Anastasia was admonishing are cleaning out the depot. They are also not answering my phone calls.”
“Hey, Shaunee said something about Erin being with Dallas, and she’s MIA too,” said Kevin.
Anastasia sighed. “I thought one of the professors told me she just saw him over by the Field House. Well, no matter. Dragon, when this is over and we’ve raised Kalona, please find Dallas and his compatriots and explain to them that if they do not want to follow my leadership then they will no longer be welcome at this House of Night—and I will inform the Vampyre High Council that they are rogue.”
The hairs on the back of my neck started to prickle. “Why are they in trouble?”
“They still support Neferet and her war,” said Dragon grimly.
I’d opened my mouth to say that my gut was telling me we needed to keep an eye on them, when Neferet breezed up with Lynette at her side.
“It seems they have excellent taste,” Neferet said. “Though I assure you, I have had no contact with them. Dallas and his ilk are even more tedious than this House of Night. They are fit for nothing except to be soldiers of war, and I have had my fill of war.”
“So, basically, you just stir the shit pot and then leave others to clean it up,” said Kevin.
“A disgusting way to put it, though not entirely inaccurate.” Neferet shrugged. “Young vampyre, before you judge me you should understand that the world I grew up in was divided into two types of people—those with power, and those who were controlled by the people with power. I decided one hundred years before you were born never to be in the latter group again. Vilify me if you must, after we defeat the true villain here.”
“Who you set free,” Kevin said.
Neferet looked from Kevin to the rest of us. “You do realize I did nothing extraordinary to free her, don’t you? I fed her. That’s it. Sprites could have been summoned to do the same thing. Actually, pouring fresh blood into that grotto would have probably allowed her to feed enough to break free. I do understand it was a mistake to loose her, but had I not done it, someone would have. You think I don’t know about the humans who began worshiping her? So, keep your blame to yourselves. It helps nothing.”
She had a point, though I was reluctant to agree with her. Instead, I changed the subject. “Anastasia, I’m ready to begin. Are you?”
“Yes, Zoey.”
“Let’s get nearer the circle and I’ll go over what we’re going to do. Do you have the music ready?”
Anastasia nodded and lifted a small remote. “All I have to do is press this and it will begin.”
I know it seemed a little weird to have music and such when what we were doing was so serious, but I’d decided that we needed to mimic what had been done to raise our Kalona, which had begun as a cleansing ritual for the school. Traditionally, the High Priestess who called the elements and cast the circle would enter it dancing joyously to music as the vampyre who was playing the part of her Consort would speak the lines of a poem that was reflective of the ritual.
The poem wasn’t a necessity, and neither was the music, so I’d done away with one and kept the other, hoping it would help us set our intention and concentrate. There would be no one playing my Consort because Neferet was going to be within the circle taking his place.
I remembered clearly the night Kalona had broken free. Erik had played the Consort role. It had been his blood that was shed before all hell broke loose and Stark, newly resurrected and completely not himself, had been ordered by Neferet to shoot Stevie Rae. Her blood had been the sacrifice that had risen Kalona.
The irony wasn’t lost on me that tonight it would be a different Neferet whose blood would awaken an immortal—as she was going to have to take Stevie Rae’s place.
I was standing in the middle of what would be our circle, before the giant oak that looked exactly as ours had before Kalona had burst out of the ground beneath it. I swallowed and licked my lips. My hands were fisted at my side to keep them from shaking with nerves. “Okay, here’s what’s going to happen. At first, it’ll be kinda like a regular cleansing ritual. Anastasia will start the music, and I’ll dance to the center of our circle. Try to let the music relax you as you use it to focus. Our intention is to raise an immortal to battle Darkness alongside our Light.”
“Do you not think you should change your clothes?” Neferet asked, looking me up and down. She was wearing a gorgeous cashmere dress that hugged her curves and left her arms bare. It was the exact color of her eyes. I was wearing jeans and my current fav peasant top from Free People.
I shook my head. “No, Neferet, I don’t. The elements don’t care what I’m wearing. Nyx doesn’t care what I’m wearing. You do know that all that extra stuff is just for show, don’t you?”
Lynette chimed in: “Looking your best is always important.”
“Neferet, don’t you want your human to wait inside the dorm with my grandma? She’d be safer there,” I said.
“Lynette stays with me. Always,” Neferet said.
Anastasia said, “Then she’ll need to be quiet and remain outside the circle.”
“Will you keep her safe?” Neferet asked.
“Of course,” said Anastasia.
Panic flashed across Lynette’s face, but Neferet patted her shoulder gently. “It will be fine, dearest. Remain with Anastasia. She and I have our differences, but she is a High Priestess who keeps her word. You will be safe.”
“So, to continue,” I drew their attention back to me. “I’ll come in with the music. As in a regular ritual, I’ll call the elements. As always, Damien is air. Shaunee,” I paused and nodded at her, “are you sure you’re okay to represent fire?”
“Absolutely,” she said without any hesitation. “I can do it.”
“All right. That’s good because we need a superstrong circle. So, that means Kacie will be water and Stevie Rae earth, of course. And I’ll invoke spirit.” I met my brother’s gaze. “Kev, I’d like you to be inside the circle with me, and I want you to move to each element with me too. It can’t hurt to have double the affinities.”
“I’ll have your back,” he said.
“Rephaim,” I continued. “You’ll need to be inside the circle too. When I cut Neferet, her blood will drip on
the base of the tree. When it does that, I’ll need you to call Kalona. Then, hopefully, he’ll bust up out of the tree like he did in our world. Our circle will still be intact in case he’s, um, disoriented.” I had a flash of memory about the first time I’d seen our Kalona and how mesmerizing he’d been, literally causing fledglings and vampyres to fall to their knees and worship him. I was counting on the fact that that was only a thing with bad Kalona, but just in case, I planned to be safely inside a very strong circle with the elements invoked and ready to persuade him not to be an immortal douchebag—if necessary.
I also had an alternative plan that Stark and I had discussed. I met his gaze. He touched the bow he’d slung across his shoulder and nodded just enough for me to see.
“So, questions?”
“I do not think this is going to be pleasant for me,” said Neferet.
Aphrodite snorted. “Ya think? And that’s not a question. I have one you should’ve asked, though. What are we going to do with Neferet’s disgusting snake things?”
Lynette’s response was immediate. “They aren’t disgusting. Nor are they snakes. They’re affectionate and a lot more loyal than most people!”
“Regardless,” I said. “Aphrodite has a point. They can’t come inside our circle.”
“Children, conceal yourselves so as not to offend these simpletons and remain with our Lynette.”
“Whatever.” Aphrodite rolled her eyes. “Z, where do you want me?”
“Last time you were able to cross the circle barrier when we needed you,” I said. “This time I think you should be inside it with us.”
“Will do,” she said.
“And we’ll be outside the circle?” James asked.
I nodded. “You and Stark keep your bows ready, but don’t draw them, and position yourself around the circle with Dragon. Remember to look protective and not menacing. This Kalona is supposed to be good, and we don’t want to seem threatening and be mistaken for forces of Darkness.”
Anastasia clasped her hands in front of her and said, “Then why the show of force at all? Perhaps we should have our Warriors back off.”
“You know, that’s not a bad idea,” I agreed. “Dragon, please have the Sons of Erebus move away and not draw any weapons.”
He didn’t look happy, but he nodded and went to the circle of watching Warriors and relayed the order. They dispersed, finding shadowy spots near the school where they silently waited and watched.
“Okay, take your places and let’s do this,” I said.
My circle was a well-oiled machine. Shaunee fit right in, and even though she was still a fledgling and didn’t actually know any of us—except Kevin—she seemed at ease and more excited than nervous.
I, on the other hand, was just nervous. I took my place outside the circle and nodded to Anastasia, who started the music.
I easily recognized the hauntingly beautiful tune of Loreena McKennitt’s “The Mummers’ Dance,” which was especially perfect because it was just the orchestral version, which allowed all of us to focus on the beat of the drums and the pulse of the music.
As always, as soon as I began to move with the tempo, my nerves slipped away. As I swayed and twirled to the music, I felt myself enter the presence of our Goddess and I was filled with confidence and intention. I danced a full pass around the outside circumference of the circle and loved that my people were swaying with me. When I danced into the circle, I could see that Aphrodite and Kevin, Rephaim, and even Neferet were twirling with the music as well, and for a moment I saw real joy on Neferet’s face—something I’d never before witnessed. I glanced outside the circle to see Lynette standing beside Anastasia. Both women were also swaying to the music and Lynette was grinning happily at Neferet.
Let her be different, I sent an unexpected prayer to Nyx. Let this Neferet actually know love and happiness and forgiveness.
I moved to take my place before Damien with Kevin by my side and the music faded away, leaving only its memory pulsing through our veins. Then I began my invocation—starting, as always, with air and my friend Damien.
“Wind, you are as dear to me and familiar as the breath of life. Tonight, I need your strength to cleanse anything stagnant from us. I ask that you come to me, wind!” As I spoke the invocation that was traditional for a ritual cleansing, Kevin touched the match Damien gave him to his yellow candle. It lit instantly as the first element of our circle rushed to us, lifting our hair and circling precociously around Damien.
From there Kev and I moved deosil to Shaunee, who grinned at my brother before eagerly lifting her red candle.
“Fire, you warm and cleanse. Tonight, we need your cleansing power to burn Darkness from us. Come to me, fire!”
Kevin didn’t have to light the match. Shaunee’s candle burst into a bright, beautiful flame.
She sucked in a breath, and her gaze met mine. “It’s incredible!” she said.
“Yes, it is,” I said.
“And so are you,” Kevin added before moving clockwise to Kacie and her blue candle.
I shot a look at him and was glad to see a happy smile on his face. Shaunee and Kevin, huh? I like it. I like it a lot!
We paused before Kacie. “Water, we go to you dirty and rise from you clean. Tonight I ask that you wash us free of any Darkness that might want to cling to us. Come to me, water!” Kev lit the match Kacie had ready and touched it to her candle, and we were rewarded with the scent of spring rains.
We moved quickly to the northernmost point of the circle where Stevie Rae stood with her back to the huge oak. She lifted her green candle and we shared a smile before I invoked her faithful element.
“Earth, you shelter us and feed us. Tonight, I ask that you also strengthen us and help us stand against any Darkness that might try to come against us. Come to me, earth!” When Kevin lit the green candle, birdsong whistled around us and I smelled the sweet scent of jasmine.
We moved to the center of the circle where Rephaim, Aphrodite, and Neferet waited. They formed a little minicircle around us as I lifted my purple spirit candle and said, “Spirit, you are what makes us human. You are always with us—from beginning to end and beyond. Tonight, I ask that you fill all within this circle with Light and allow no Darkness to penetrate. Come to me, spirit!” When my brother lit my candle, I felt the wonderful inrush of hope and happiness and love that spirit brought with it. With new confidence, I carefully placed my pillar candle on the ground and then looked around my circle.
Stretching along the circumference was a glowing silver rope that bound us together. It was thick and bright and undeniably strong, imbued with the five elements.
“I have never seen anything like that,” said Neferet, sounding honestly in awe.
I turned to her. “Let’s go to the tree.”
She nodded and swept back her thick auburn hair with a trembling hand.
With Neferet beside me and Kevin, Aphrodite, and Rephaim following, we walked to Stevie Rae, who stood directly in front of the thick old oak. Once there, Neferet turned to face me so that her back was to the tree as well.
“Rephaim, I’m going to cut Neferet’s hand and after it’s bled onto the ground, that’s when you call Kalona.”
“I understand,” he said.
“You can do it, Rephaim!” said Stevie Rae.
I faced Neferet. I didn’t have to say anything. She had been a High Priestess for considerably longer than I’d been alive. This definitely wasn’t her first ritual, though I did wonder briefly how it felt for her to be in the center of what was obviously a circle infused with power granted by a goddess she’d forsaken.
Mentally, I shook myself. Focus—this is far from over.
Aphrodite handed me a ceremonial dagger that was razor sharp. I pressed it against the meaty part of Neferet’s hand, just below her thumb as I had to Erik’s hand that night so long ago. The blade
sliced her skin easily, welling with scarlet. Neferet didn’t flinch or grimace, she only held her arm out and turned her hand over, palm down, so that blood began to drip on the thick roots of the tree that were exposed through the sparse winter grass.
After it had dripped for several minutes so that there were dark stains spattering the roots, I nodded to Rephaim. He, too, faced the tree and spoke in a deep, strong voice that filled our circle.
“Kalona of the Silver Wings, I call to you! I am Rephaim—son from another world—though my love for you is strong in any world. We have need of you, Warrior of Light! Come forth!”
We waited. And waited. And waited.
Surreptitiously, I moved to the side as Neferet’s blood continued to drip onto the oak’s roots.
“Try again,” I told Rephaim.
He nodded, cleared his throat, and repeated, “Kalona of the Silver Wings, I call to you! I am Rephaim—son from another world—though my love for you is strong in any world. We have need of you, Warrior of Light! Come forth!”
Still we waited. Still there was no answer.
I moved another step farther away from Neferet and told Rephaim. “Something is going to happen in just a second. When it does I want you to call him again, only this time use words from the prophecy. Do you remember them?”
“I do.”
“Well enough to change some of them to reflect the fact that you’re calling him now, and it’s not just an old, stale poem?”
His face brightened. “I do, Z. I memorized it well.”
“Good. Get ready.”
“What’s going—” Neferet began, but I turned and met Stark’s gaze outside the glowing circle and nodded.
Quick as a striking viper, Stark lifted an arrow, drew, and as he fired he said, “I aim for the true mark, the one who is neither foe nor friend, and by her blood he shall be free!”
Stark’s arrow caught Neferet in the chest, exactly where his arrow—in another world and another time—had caught Stevie Rae. Neferet dropped to the ground, clutching the quill that decorated her chest as blood gushed from her body and covered the ground. I knew it wasn’t fatal—just as Stevie Rae’s injury hadn’t been—but Neferet had no way of knowing that. Neither did Lynette. Her scream was heartbreaking. I glanced outside the circle to see that Anastasia had her arms around the woman who clutched her own chest as she shrieked in agony.
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