Found

by P. C. Cast

  “As well as which body part belongs to which person,” said Kevin.

  “Does he have any leads on where Batshit might be?” I asked.

  “Batshit?” Stark said, his lip curling up into the beginnings of a smile.

  “Oh, yeah, that’s what we’re calling our Neferet. Aphrodite thought it’d be less confusing that way,” I said.

  “And accurate,” added Stark. “No, he says that with the electricity out, the street cameras weren’t working.”

  “What about the security cameras at the apartment building?”

  “They were fake,” Stark said with a scowl. “Cheap-ass landlord just got himself into some major shit for trying to pinch pennies. If the system had been for real, it would’ve had backup batteries and still been recording. We could’ve at least seen from what direction they came and went.”

  “And whether Batshit was waiting outside for them,” I said. “Though Aphrodite’s vision made it clear that Other Neferet, Other Lynette, and Batshit are all going to end up in your world. Sorry, Kev.”

  “I’d bet my favorite bow tie that Batshit is still in this world though” said Damien.

  “Because of the slaughter at the apartment?” I asked.

  “The apartment slaughter is indicative of why she’s still here. She’s been trapped in that tomb for a year. She and those loathsome tendrils have to be ravenous.”

  I nodded. “Yeah, that’s why they’re so much littler than they were before.”

  “She knows this world—especially this city,” Damien continued. “She’ll be here, feeding, for as long as it takes for her to regain all of her strength. Then she’ll follow Other Neferet to Kevin’s world. They may even be allies and have it all planned out.”

  “I would normally agree with you,” I told Damien, “but Aphrodite’s vision and some insight by Kacie is pointing to the two Neferets not being allies.”

  “Kacie?” James asked, still towel drying his hair that looked so identical to my Stark’s adorable scruffy blondish mess that I had to look away as I answered him.

  “Ice Cream Shoes,” I said.

  “Oh, yeah. She’s an interesting vampyre,” said James.

  “I believe she is a young prophetess in the making,” said Damien.

  “I do too,” I said. “Hey, where’s Rephaim? We’re gonna need his input on Aphrodite’s vision.”

  “He’ll be along soon,” said Stark. “He stayed to help TPD with the rest of the tarps.”

  James put the towel around his shoulders and asked, “The wet and the cold don’t seem to bother Rephaim at all, so he’s definitely not human. What is he?”

  “A raven,” Damien said with a grin.

  James’s brow furrowed.

  “It’s a long story,” I said. “And just part of what we need to talk about. Okay, Damien and Stark, do you two think you can find some dry clothes for Kevin and James and show them to a couple of the dorm rooms?” I looked from my Other World brother to my Warrior’s twin. “Are the dorms okay? I think there’s one professor’s room that’s empty if you’d rather stay there.”

  Kevin spoke right up. “Nah, I’m cool with the dorm. As long as the curtains are blackout.”

  Damien grimaced as he wrung out the bottom of his soaked sweater. “We have special dorm rooms for red vamps and fledglings—in case something happens like the ice storm and they’re stuck here and can’t get back to the depot tunnels,” he explained. “The windows to those dorm rooms are totally blacked out and they have thick velvet curtains. That’s where Jack and I are staying right now. I’ll show you to an empty room.”

  “Thanks!” Kev said.

  James hesitated, looking abashed. “Oh, um, that’s fine with me, but I don’t want to make Jack—that’s his name, right?”

  Damien nodded. “You are correct.”

  “I don’t want to make Jack nervous or give him a PTSD setback.” James picked nervously at the damp towel in his hands, but he kept speaking, his attention focused on Damien. “Back home we’ve been dealing with the aftermath of our Red Army having their humanity restored, and it’s been tough for them. So, I understand that seeing someone from his old world might not be good for your partner.”

  “Thank you for acknowledging that,” said Damien sincerely.

  Stark said, “That’s a good point. The professors’ quarters are in the same building as the infirmary, and James really should get those bandages on his arm changed. They’re soaking wet. So, Kev can go with Damien to the dorm and James can come with us.”

  “Sounds good to me. Jack already knows me, so I shouldn’t upset him, right?” Kevin asked Damien.

  “Jack really isn’t that fragile. I think it was just a shock to see James so suddenly earlier. I’m sure he’ll be fine with you, Kev.” Damien looked Kevin up and down. “You’re too big and muscular to wear anything Jack and I have, but I have a very comfy bathrobe you can borrow while we give your clothes a quick wash and a dry.”

  “Okay,” said my brother. “I’ll follow you.”

  “And James will come with us,” I said. “Right now, the TPD is searching for clues about where Batshit might be hiding, so, let’s take a couple hours to dry off, change, and grab something to eat—then we’ll meet in the Council Chamber. I’ll let Stevie Rae, Aphrodite, and Kacie know.”

  “And G-ma,” said Kevin.

  “Right—and Grandma. No way am I forgetting her,” I said.

  “Is it wrong that I hope she brings cookies?” Kevin asked.

  I shook my head and smiled at him. “Cookies are never wrong—especially Grandma’s lavender chocolate chip cookies.”

  It was all kinds of weird walking to the section of the House of Night that held the professors’ quarters with Stark on one side of me and James on the other. Fledglings passed us in the hallway, gawking openly at the two Starks, and I realized that I needed to make a school-wide announcement to explain the Other Stark. As we dashed outside through the pouring rain, I was trying to decide if it would be better to tell the students James was Stark’s relative or tell them the truth and take the chance that a precocious fledgling might try to open the door between worlds “for fun.”

  I decided that I definitely needed help making that decision and tabled it for the moment.

  Stark and I showed James to the empty professor’s room down the hall from the one we shared and promised to bring him some dry clothes.

  James opened the door as we turned to leave. “Hey, Stark,” he paused before he went inside his room. “Why didn’t you come with Zoey when she crossed over? You’re her Warrior. There was a battle going on. She needed protecting.”

  Stark cocked his head and James mirrored his expression. Then Stark’s lip curved up in his cocky smile, and I knew what he was going to say before he answered.

  “I didn’t go because Z wouldn’t let me. She knew I’d put her mission at risk because I’d be too easily recognizable.”

  James pursed his lips. “There’s no way I’d let my High Priestess do something so dangerous without me,” he said, sounding so much like my Stark once had that I laughed.

  “That could be why you’re not an Oathbound Warrior to a High Priestess,” I said. “You need to realize that a Warrior doesn’t boss his priestess around.”

  Stark added. “Yeah, he honors and protects her. Sometimes that means he has to trust that she can take care of herself.” His arm slid around my shoulders. “This High Priestess can call on five elements. Plus, she had Rephaim and her brother with her. She was in good hands.”

  “And she didn’t need to be rescued,” I said.

  James snorted.

  “You really should go to the infirmary and have that bandage changed,” said Stark.

  “I will,” James said and disappeared inside the room.

  “He has a lot to learn,” Stark said as we heade
d to our room.

  “Please. He’s exactly like you used to be,” I said.

  Stark kissed the top of my head. “Which is why I know he has a lot to learn. We’re really going to the Other World?”

  “Sadly, yes. Only I don’t know how the hell we’re going to get there.” We’d come to our room, and instead of going in, I paused outside. “Hey, I’m going to Nyx’s Temple. I need to do some serious praying before we meet and go over Aphrodite’s vision and what we have to do because of it.”

  “How can I help?”

  I smiled up at him, very, very glad I was with the mature Stark who had learned to respect me and to control his jealousy. “Would you send a group text to Aphrodite, Stevie Rae, Kacie, and Grandma letting them know we’re meeting in the Council Room in two hours?”

  “Absolutely. Say hi to Nyx for me.”

  I kissed him soundly and said, “Always.”

  Nyx’s Temple always soothed my soul and brought my stress level down about 150 percent. Not that the Goddess appeared and told me what to do. That really wasn’t Nyx’s style. But what she did give me was peace of mind so that I could think clearly and, hopefully, be able to make smart decisions.

  I loved the scent of the temple’s lavender and vanilla candles—especially because I knew that they were Nyx’s favorite. I sat cross-legged before the table laden with offerings to the Goddess, as well as the beautiful golden onyx statue of her that was lit from within, giving the stone life as well as warmth. An open flame that came from a recess in the floor perpetually burned before the table, but there was plenty of room for me to sit between it and the statue.

  I closed my eyes and breathed in the scent of the Goddess, as well as the serenity of her temple. It took me longer than usual to ground and calm myself, which wasn’t too surprising. Neferet had escaped. Other Neferet had fled, and after Aphrodite’s vision, I couldn’t even be thankful for that. We needed Other Kalona and another trip to the Other World. Then there was Kevin—in pain and forced to be around Aphrodite. And James …

  So, yeah, it took me a while to still my mind, but when I finally did, I was able to talk to my Goddess. I’d always spoken to Nyx like she was a friend. I’d had enough of religions where the god was some untouchable being who sat on high in judgment of everyone. When I first swore into the service of Nyx, I’d decided not to do what I’d watched my mother do every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening for years as she herded my siblings and me to church with our pain-in-the-ass step-loser. As she put on her carefully conservative clothes, she’d also dressed in an act—one where she bowed to a god whose followers demanded she reject everything joyous and fun about her personality so she could fit in with a group of women who were so concerned with what people thought of them that they had lost the ability to think for themselves.

  No, I wanted nothing to do with that god.

  When I talked to Nyx, Goddess of Night, it was like speaking to a good friend who was wiser and more loving than even Grandma Redbird—which took some doing.

  “Hi, Nyx. So, crazy stuff is going down again. It’s super bad that Neferet broke out of her tomb. I’m sure you already know this, but apparently, she has lost every bit of whatever had been left of her mind. I don’t know how we’re going to beat her. Again. I would definitely appreciate your help, even if it’s just to coax Other Kalona to give us a hand. I’m not sure how this Other World stuff works, but I figure you might have an in with the version of you that’s over there.” I sighed and picked at the hem of my jeans.

  “Speaking of that Other World, I could also use some help figuring out how to get there again. I’ve been warned over and over about using Old Magick, so I’m gonna avoid that because I definitely do not want to end up like Batshit Neferet.

  “And then there’s Other Stark, who we’re calling James because having two Starks is just too confusing, as well as my brother from that world—who you already know. Kev is super sad about Other Aphrodite. I know you helped him with his immediate grief, but he’s still struggling. If there’s anything I can do to help him, I’d be grateful if you would give me a hint.” I sighed.

  “James needs help too, but I have a feeling I can’t do much about that. Stark—the one who’s my Warrior—had a bunch of growing up to do, which we did together. But I won’t be there to grow up with James. I would really appreciate it if you would help James get a clue, hopefully without things being too, too terrible for him.” I paused and sighed. “Although knowing the stubbornness of the Starks, that might be impossible. So, I’ll just say that I hope he learns fast and leave it at that.” I grinned up at Nyx’s statue. “And thank you for my friends and for the power you have given me. I’ll try to do my best to not mess up. Basically, I want to be a High Priestess you are proud of. Blessed be, Nyx.”

  I breathed out a long sigh, and with it, the last bits of tension unknotted between my shoulder blades. I knew as soon as I left this temple sanctuary and rejoined the world, the stress would start again—and my shoulders would burn again—but for now, for a few precious moments, I felt completely at peace in the presence of my Goddess.

  And then that peace was shattered by a familiar voice. “Oh, hey, I didn’t know you’d be in here.”

  I didn’t need to turn. I’d recognize the voice anywhere—and the words he’d spoken told me which body the voice belonged to.

  “Hi, James.”

  He walked to the Goddess’s table and took a long match from the ornate holder, struck it, lit a violet tea light and then put it at the base of Nyx’s feet. He looked down at me and crossed then uncrossed his arms as he shifted from foot to foot like he might bolt.

  “Um, I really didn’t mean to interrupt. Should I leave?”

  I stifled a sigh, but silently told Nyx, You know I love you, but sometimes your answers are really annoying. To James, I said, “No, that’s okay. You’re not interrupting. I was done talking with Nyx.”

  He sat beside me on the stone floor, which always felt comfortably warm from the eternal flame.

  “You talk with Nyx?”

  I brushed back my hair and studied him. “Yep. Don’t you?”

  “I pray. Or just sit in her temple and hope she knows I’m here.”

  “She knows you’re here.” As I spoke the words, I felt the truth in them.

  “Good. Then she also knows how sorry I am,” he said softly.

  “About?” And then I realized how intrusive that question was and quickly added, “Never mind. That was rude of me. Not my business what you apologize to Nyx about.”

  He ran his hand through his hair and looked so much like my Warrior that it made my stomach flutter.

  James sighed heavily. “No, that’s okay. It’s not like you don’t already know. I’m really sorry that I supported Neferet.”

  “What do you wish you would’ve done?”

  He answered immediately. “Stood up against her. Spoken out.”

  “Then you would’ve had to join the Resistance and hide from her, or she would’ve killed you. Either way, you wouldn’t have been where you were that day at the stadium. The only reason you were able to stop the Red Army from following her command to kill all those humans was because the soldiers trusted you. They listened to you. No one else could’ve done what you did. And because of that, you gave Kevin and me the time we needed to get the sprites involved.”

  He met my gaze. “You sound just like your brother. I try to tell myself all of that, but I still feel like I let Nyx down by being on Neferet’s side for so long.”

  I remembered that he’d even been Neferet’s lover, and felt a weird stir of jealousy, which I quickly squashed like the stupid, hypocritical bug it was. Instead, I drew a deep breath and let my gaze turn upward to the Goddess. Then I spoke the words that drifted through my mind like the scent of lavender and vanilla perfuming the air around us.

  “When you stood up and spoke
out, you did exactly what we needed you to do when we needed you to do it. You honored the Goddess. You didn’t let her down. You didn’t let your House of Night down. Stop beating yourself up for not doing something sooner.”

  I could feel him staring at me, so I turned my attention from the statue of Nyx to him. Tears welled in his familiar brown eyes and his nose started to turn pink. My heart squeezed, and I reached out and took his hand. “Hey, it’s okay. You can forgive yourself and move on. It’s what our Goddess wants you to do.”

  “For real?” He wiped at a tear that escaped down his cheek.

  “Absolutely, for real,” I assured him.

  And then, before I could say anything else, he leaned forward and kissed me. It was the strangest thing that had ever happened to me—and for the past year and a half my life had been totally filled with strange. It was physically like kissing my Warrior. His lips were the same. The arms that came around me were the same. But his touch was hesitant, not strong and sure and familiar. I’d kissed him once before in his world, but that had been fast and impulsive.

  This was a real kiss.

  I didn’t return it, but I also didn’t pull away. It was the most neutral kiss of my life. Not unpleasant. Just not right.

  James eventually stopped and sat back. He stared at me through tear-glossed eyes.

  “I’m sorry,” he blurted.

  “Don’t be. I’m not mad at you. But, James,” I took his hand in mine again, holding it gently. “I am not what you need to fix your conscience.”

  He pulled his hand from mine. “I didn’t kiss you because I want you to fix my conscience.”

  “Then why did you kiss me?”

  “Because I feel connected to you! There’s something about you that makes me want to be close to you.”

  As carefully as I could I said, “James, that’s because there is something between you and Zoey. Or rather, there could’ve been something between you and Zoey if Neferet hadn’t killed her—but that Zoey isn’t me. She’s dead. What you feel for me is more an echo of what you could have felt for her than real attraction.”