by P. C. Cast
Aphrodite sat very still, breathing slowly and steadily, as she readied herself for what was to come, but in the middle of one of her slow, steady breaths she caught a whiff of death and decay. Annoyed at the disgusting smell, she craned her head around, sniffing delicately, and, sure enough, sitting two rows behind her in an aisle seat just like hers was that young red vampyre Stark had been babysitting. Aphrodite shot Bow Boy an annoyed look. Red vampyres weren’t allowed to sit in the floor seats of the auditorium or they’d reek up the place. Only officers from the Red Army were allowed to attend briefings, and then they were supposed to remain in the mezzanine. But there was Stark, all full of himself in his general’s uniform of solid black, breaking the rules. Again. And letting some stinky red vamp kid sit right there next to him.
Aphrodite swore to herself that when she was back in Neferet’s good graces, she was going to do everything she could to undermine Stark’s influence on the High Priestess. Not because he was particularly dangerous, but because he was particularly annoying.
“Room! Atten … tion!” commanded Artus, the Swordmaster of the Tulsa House of Night.
As the room stood, Aphrodite averted her eyes from Artus. Neferet’s Swordmaster wasn’t just ugly, old, and scarred. There was something off about him—something that made Aphrodite uncomfortable at a visceral level.
And then Neferet swept onto the stage, commanding the attention of everyone in the packed room. She was wearing a long, formfitting silk dress the color of new blood. Over her left breast in exquisite silver embroidery rested an image of Nyx cupping a crescent moon. The only jewelry she wore was a coronet of diamonds and rubies. One of the rubies dropped like a fat tear from the delicate crown to touch the top of the sapphire crescent moon tattooed in the middle of her forehead.
Aphrodite had to give it to her—Neferet knew how to command the attention of a crowd of males. She looked like a silver-screen goddess come to life, which proved once again one of Aphrodite’s biggest disappointments in life—not everything that looks like it’s filled with beauty and light on the outside is actually filled with beauty or light.
“You may be seated,” Neferet said after taking her time to get to her glass podium.
Aphrodite sat and tried not to roll her eyes. Every instant of Neferet’s briefing was scripted by her—from what she was wearing to how long she made her soldiers stand to the clear podium, which gave her audience an unhindered view of her flawless body.
Not that Aphrodite could blame her for that. Neferet was beautiful to look at, and as another great beauty, Aphrodite knew how easy it was to manipulate males. Might as well use what we have!
Then Neferet launched into her speech, and Aphrodite had no energy to waste on anything except deciding when her own performance should begin.
“I come before you today with grave news. I believe the tide of the war is turning.”
There were sounds of pleased agreement from the throng of officers and soldiers present.
“I see my armies misunderstand me, which I find highly upsetting. The tide is not turning favorably! Do none of my officers understand that?” Her anger-filled voice echoed off the walls, electrifying the room with a charge of power and leaving no doubt about Neferet’s level of irritation. Her only answer was the rustle of anxious bodies.
And then one of her generals stood. Aphrodite muffled a sarcastic snort. Of course Loren Blake would feel the need to say something. Goddess, did that smarmy vamp ever stop talking?
“High Priestess, may I have permission to speak?”
“Of course, General Blake. I am always willing to consider the wise counsel of my officers.”
Blake’s smile was too intimate for the venue, but everyone knew Neferet’s generals were often also her lovers—and practically every male in the room aspired to be her lover—so, whatever.
“High Priestess, you know I mean no disrespect. I am your loyal servant, but maybe your officers don’t understand because what we’re seeing in the field is the opposite. The militias of our neighboring states have stopped crossing into our territory. There hasn’t been a major human uprising within the area under our control for months. The only real problem we’re still having is with the Goddess-be-damned Resistance, and we’re working hard on tracking every one of them down and exterminating them. If anything, the tide has turned for us—for the better.”
“You may sit, General Blake,” Neferet said with a deceptively warm smile. “What you say would seem true to someone with your limited connection to Nyx, which is why our society will never be ruled by males—they cannot possibly be as intimate with the Goddess as are her priestesses. Most especially her one and only High Priestess—me. You see, Nyx has shown me otherwise. Our neighboring states and the humans that infest them have, indeed, withdrawn from their attempts to enter our territory and take from us what is ours. But they have not withdrawn in peace. They are plotting together to overthrow us!” Neferet spread out her arms dramatically, causing her perfect breasts to press against the silk of her gown and her nipples to be fully outlined and visible.
Aphrodite thought that move was an excellent touch as it had every male eye in the room traveling to her boobs, and every male mind in the room clouding as blood rushed from their brains to the organ that actually controlled them.
There was movement behind her, and Aphrodite turned her head in time to see Stark stand.
“High Priestess, may I have permission to speak?”
“Merry meet, General Stark. I will hear what you have to say.”
“I’ve been feeling like something is off too. I’ve been trying to figure it out, and today I discovered some intel from an unusual source. I think it aligns with what Nyx has shown you.”
Neferet’s smile was the one Aphrodite liked to call her part-honey, part-whore grin, and the Prophetess had to suppress another snort. It looked like Bow Boy would be getting lucky tonight.
“I knew I could count on you, General Stark. Please, share your intel with us.”
Then Stark shocked Aphrodite and the entire room by motioning for the stinking red vampyre kid slumped beside him to stand.
The kid jerked in surprise, and then got awkwardly to his feet and stood at a very stiff attention.
“General Stark, why is a young red vampyre soldier here on the floor of my auditorium?” Neferet’s voice was contemplative, and she looked more curious than upset.
“Because he is my intel, and he isn’t a soldier. He’s a lieutenant—Lieutenant Heffer of General Dominick’s unit.”
The susurrus of the soldiers around her reminded Aphrodite of gossipy old women, and she wondered just who the hell this kid and his general were—and why they had elicited such a reaction from the crowd.
“General Dominick? My Red Army general who is missing?” Neferet said.
Aphrodite blinked in surprise. She hadn’t heard about any missing generals, but she also rarely paid attention to what was going on with the animals that made up Neferet’s disgusting Red Army. They were all boring. And stinky.
“Yes, High Priestess. General Dominick went missing with an entire squad of his soldiers, and they have yet to be found. Except for this lieutenant, and I believe he might know what happened to his unit.” Stark nodded encouragement to the lieutenant, who was standing so stiffly at attention that Aphrodite could practically see the poker sticking up his ass. “I would like to ask your permission for Lieutenant Heffer to give his report to you.”
Neferet’s emerald eyes studied the red vamp kid who was standing stone still beside Stark. “You say his name is Lieutenant Heffer?”
“Yes, High Priestess,” Stark said.
“He looks strangely familiar. General Stark, have you used this red vampyre for intel before?”
Aphrodite wanted to stand up then and call bullshit. No damn way Neferet recognized this red vamp, or any other. Aphrodite had heard the High
Priestess comment often about how the Red Army was a fetid, disgusting but necessary evil—one she wanted little to do with. She wouldn’t recognize one of those soldiers if he’d passed her in the hall every day for a year.
“No, High Priestess, I have not, but I believe you should hear what he has to say.”
“Huh. The familiarity is odd.” Neferet shrugged her smooth shoulders. “Very well, why not? The lieutenant may speak.”
When the kid didn’t say anything, Stark prodded him. “Go on. Tell the High Priestess where your general was heading, and what he told you before he left.”
Aphrodite saw the kid swallow—once, twice, three times. When he began to talk he spoke in short, clipped sentences devoid of emotion as he stared straight ahead.
And as he began to talk, Aphrodite’s eyes widened in shock.
“High Priestess Neferet, my general had intel that the New Mexico state militia was on the move. He heard they were going to cross Texas and enter Oklahoma by using the Red River. The general was heading to Elmer, Oklahoma, to set a trap for them. That is all the info I have, High Priestess. The rest was above my need to know.”
Aphrodite barely heard Neferet’s delighted response. She was too busy staring at the kid who had just spoken—the red vampyre lieutenant kid whose voice she absolutely recognized as the same guy who had been in the meditation garden the night before!
Except that kid had talked normally, like a real vampyre and not a stinking, red eating machine.
And then another jolt hit her.
Last night he didn’t stink. I know he didn’t. I’m super sensitive to the way those things smell, and I would’ve noticed.
Something completely bizarre was going on, which seemed like an excellent time for Aphrodite to begin her performance. She turned back around to face the stage. Neferet was still gushing and glowing about Stark confirming her weird neurosis, so when Aphrodite struggled to her feet, the High Priestess was completely caught off guard and stopped speaking midsentence.
Aphrodite staggered into the aisle. She pressed one hand to her forehead as if she was trying to keep her head from exploding. The other hand she held out toward Neferet beseechingly.
“Neferet!” Aphrodite gasped and swayed like the floor was pitching and rolling. “I see … I see …”
Around her, men began talking nervously.
“Silence! My Prophetess is having a vision!” Neferet moved quickly from behind the podium to the edge of the stage right in front of Aphrodite. “Speak, my Prophetess! Your High Priestess is here and will listen!”
Aphrodite moaned, and then stifled a scream. Clutching her head, she put all of her energy into her voice so that it would carry to the remotest corners of the auditorium.
“I see a field. In it is winter wheat that has been cut into huge round bales. There are blue vampyres there. They are hollowing out the bales and putting fledglings, vampyres, and humans within to sneak them without. They are the Resistance!”
“Where, Aphrodite, my dear? Look around you—where are you?”
“The Red Army is there! They are attacking! They are killing us! They are eating us!” Aphrodite sobbed.
“I know it is difficult, but concentrate! Focus! You are the Goddess’ eyes and ears. Tell me where you are!”
“Sapulpa! No! No, no, no, no! Get them away from us! They’re killing us!” Aphrodite swayed and sobbed.
Neferet’s voice sliced through Aphrodite’s sobs. “Prophetess! In the name of Nyx, focus! Where are you in Sapulpa?”
“I see a street sign! It says Lone Star Road! We are in a field in Sapulpa beside Lone Star Road and we are being killed!” Then Aphrodite drew a deep breath and screamed with everything in her before closing her eyes and faking a spectacular fainting spell.
* * *
Other Kevin
Kevin moved on instinct. He lunged forward, reached out, and caught Aphrodite before she hit the ground. Around him the auditorium exploded in noise, but as he cradled Aphrodite in his arms it seemed they were suspended in a little bubble of stillness.
The beautiful Prophetess’ eyes fluttered and then opened. And then they widened with shock. She turned her head toward him so that no one else could hear her, and she hissed through her teeth at him. “It was you! Last night in the garden. It was you!”
“Shh, relax. I’ve got you,” Kevin soothed.
“Back the hell off!” she whispered. “Today you stink, even though you definitely didn’t last night! And you’re fucking pulling my hair!”
His gaze met hers. She wasn’t in pain—that was obvious. And she definitely wasn’t acting like she’d just fainted. And Kevin realized the truth. “You didn’t have a vision!” he whispered.
“I did!” She kept her head turned so that it almost rested on his chest, careful no one else could hear. “Just not today. Who are you to judge? You’re not even a real red vampyre!”
“I am! Just not the kind you’re used to.”
“Sure you are. Does Neferet know about you?”
Instead of answering Kevin shot back at her with his own question. “Does Neferet know about you? That you’re withholding visions from her?”
“Prove it. If you think anyone will believe a red vampyre over a Prophetess of Nyx, you’re as stupid as the rest of your stinking kind.” Aphrodite turned in Kevin’s arms and screamed in panic as she struggled to get free from him. “Aaaaah! Don’t eat me! Get your hands off me! Help!”
“I got her, Lieutenant.” Stark was there, moving Kevin aside and helping Aphrodite to her feet.
But she even pulled away from Stark, shaking off his help to stagger toward the stage and Neferet.
“D-did I tell you something of value, High Priestess?” Aphrodite’s voice still carried throughout the auditorium, especially as the crowd had shut up and were gawking at her.
Neferet rushed to the edge of the stage and bent to take Aphrodite’s hands in her own. “Yes! You did well, my dear! I knew Nyx would send me a sign, and I am truly blessed that she sent me two in one day.” The High Priestess dropped one of Aphrodite’s hands, but kept the other in hers as she faced the auditorium, making it look like she was raising her Prophetess’ arm in a victory salute. “We now know that we must send our soldiers to a Sapulpa field beside Lone Star Road.” She turned her brilliant smile on Aphrodite. “Could you tell when the battle will happen?”
“No, Neferet. That is impossible to tell unless there is a clock in my vision, or if I can get a glimpse of the moon, but my visions usually foretell events that take place within just a few days. I also can’t tell exactly which field on Lone Star Road is the exact one where the Resistance will be hiding fledglings in the hay bales. My visions are simply too chaotic. High Priestess, I am sorry I cannot be more precise.” Kevin watched Aphrodite curtsy gracefully to Neferet with a bowed head. She did look sorry, and very, very beautiful.
Kevin knew what he was watching was complete bullshit—at least on Aphrodite’s end. Her acting skills are impressive. She could even be a bigger star than Erik Night.
“You did wonderfully. And this is an easy fix.” Neferet’s smile took in the auditorium filled with soldiers. “Tonight General Stark will lead soldiers and officers from the Red Army to Sapulpa where they will locate the Resistance infestation and wipe out the traitors. My Prophetess, the lovely, Goddess-blessed Aphrodite, will be joining General Stark and my Red Army on this combat mission.” Neferet looked down at Aphrodite beatifically. “Surely you will recognize the correct field when you see it, won’t you my dear?”
Kevin saw Aphrodite’s face blanch a sickening white, and he felt nauseous along with her. Aphrodite staged her vision so that Neferet wouldn’t follow through on the threat she made last night and force her to join the Red Army, and still the High Priestess managed to twist a knife in her Prophetess’ back. Aphrodite opened and closed her mouth. Kevin could te
ll she was struggling with her response, and he got it—he understood her turmoil. If she said she couldn’t help, Aphrodite would be publicly letting Neferet down—and that was something no one did without serious consequences. Neferet had already decided to send Aphrodite to the Red Army. She just used Aphrodite’s vision to make it seem logical instead of spiteful.
“I’ll do my best, Neferet,” Aphrodite said woodenly.
And I’ll do my best to make sure you’re protected, Kevin added silently.
“Of course you will!” Neferet dropped Aphrodite’s hand and threw her arms wide, projecting to the mezzanine level and the officers of the Red Army gathered there. “Red Army officers, are you grateful that my lovely young Prophetess will be joining you?”
“Yes! ” Their response was more of a roar than a word.
Everyone’s eyes turned up to gaze, mostly in disgust, at the clamoring, stinking horde, but Kevin kept his eyes on Aphrodite. She looked absolutely terrified.
As if she felt his gaze, her eyes found his.
It’s okay. I’ll protect you. Kevin mouthed the words.
Aphrodite startled slightly when she understood what he’d said, and then she rolled her eyes at him and fixed her face back into its gorgeous mask of indifference as Neferet continued to speak.
“See, I knew that my Prophetess would raise morale. Officers of my Red and Blue Armies, you will do your best to serve me because by doing so you serve our benevolent Goddess of Night, Nyx. And now, General Stark, please gather the soldiers of your choice. Ready yourselves. And then go to Sapulpa and rid us of the traitors!”
