14
Zoey

“NO!” Aphrodite shrieked and stopped short, making Stevie Rae and me run smack into the back of her. “OMG, why are the two of you all up on me?”

“’Cause you stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, genius.” Stevie Rae stated the obvious.

We’d exited the House of Night main school building through the covered side entrance because even though it was January and there was only a little weak light making its way through the winter clouds, I heart me some Stevie Rae and didn’t want to see her fry like nasty overdone toast. At that moment, Aphrodite was standing, hands on hips, staring at the loaded school bus (with blackout windows, of course) that was waiting for us.

“Seriously? A bus? Isn’t the point of being in-charge grown-ups that we do not ever have to ride in one of those tacky yellow things again?”

“Ooooh! Photo op!” Stevie Rae cheered as she pulled out her phone and then neatly turned Aphrodite and me around so that the bus was in the background of our selfie. “I always get more likes when I post a pic with you two. ’Specially when—”

“Oh, nuh-uh.” Aphrodite flipped her hair and tried to walk away.

“—Aphrodite does something bitchy like that hair flip I just caught,” continued Stevie Rae.

“OMG! Finally! We’ve been waiting out here forever.” Other Jack stuck his head out of the open door to the bus. Then he saw that Stevie Rae was selfie-ing and he skipped down the bus steps to pose in the background, photobombing as Aphrodite glared and Stevie Rae quickly took a few more pictures.

“If you don’t edit those before you post them I’m coming after you,” Aphrodite said as she glared at Stevie Rae.

“Add a side-eye like that and I’ll get more likes than a picture of a fluffy kitty in a teacup.” Stevie Rae giggled and bumped Aphrodite with her hip. “Oh, loosen up. This is a big day for the House of Night and for Z in particular.”

“Big day or not, I don’t understand why we can’t follow the damn bus in one of the school town cars.”

“We’re going on the bus like all the other teachers and kids from all the other human schools,” Jack said firmly. “We’re supposed to be normal, remember?”

“You know how I feel about normal,” Aphrodite said. “It’s overrated.”

“Yeah, well, I’d usually agree with you about that, but not today. Not the very first time the House of Night has been included in a human high school swim meet in Tulsa’s history,” I said.

“If they really wanted to be inclusive, they’d hold it after sunset,” grumbled Aphrodite, still not moving closer to the bus.

“The finals are at night, but we have to do the prelims during the day like everyone else,” said Jack.

“Yeah, that supercool YWCA at 21st and Lewis even blacked out their windows for us. They’re bein’ real welcomin’ even if it did practically take an act of God-dess.” She wiggled her brows and giggled before continuing, “To make them relax enough to let us compete.”

“Stevie Rae’s right,” I said. “I have jumped through every hoop they asked of me—” My words broke off as I smacked my forehead with my palm. “Ah, hell! I left the folder with those forms that we had to sign and notarize on my desk.”

“No biggie. We can just send one of the kids back to get it. Aphrodite’s takin’ forever to get on the dang bus anyways.” Stevie Rae hurried to the bus and stuck her head inside. I watched her look around before she targeted some kid named Kacie and told her to run back to my office and retrieve the file. A cute girl with a blue fledgling Mark, light-brown skin, and lots of thick hair expertly dyed Beychella blond hurried past us.

“Kacie? I don’t recognize the name or the girl,” I said as Stevie Rae rejoined us.

“That’s Kacie Lockwood,” said Jack. “She might just be the fastest swimmer on the team.”

“Oh, is she the kid who just transferred in from the Chicago House of Night?” I asked Stevie Rae.

“Yeah, it’s a kinda sweet story, really. She was newly Marked when Rephaim and I were at the Chicago House of Night, and she was the first kid I mentored. When she found out I was stayin’ here and Kramisha was gonna take my place in Chicago, Kacie called me and asked if she could transfer down here. She’s only been in Tulsa for a few days.”

“That is nice,” I said.

“What’s wrong with her?” Aphrodite asked.

“Nothin’!” Stevie Rae said.

“Well, at least not much of anything,” said Jack softly.

“Um-hum. That’s what I thought,” Aphrodite said.

“Is Kacie a problem?” I asked Stevie Rae.

“No, High Priestess, I am not.”

The voice came from behind us and the four of us turned to see Kacie standing there offering my folder to me. Her eyes immediately caught my attention—big and dark, they seemed to hold secrets and a sparkle that said they also held a dose of humor (or attitude).

“High Priestess Zoey Redbird and Prophetess Aphrodite LaFont, this is Kacie Lockwood, formerly of the Chicago House of Night,” Stevie Rae introduced.

“Are those Kate Spade’s ice cream wedges from last season?” asked Aphrodite before I could say anything to the kid.

Kacie lifted one dark brow. “Good eye.”

“I’m an expert. And in this particular case I approve of wearing leftovers in honor of our much-missed Ms. Spade.”

“Leftovers?” Stevie Rae said.

“Things that were new last season,” said Jack.

“Try to keep up,” said Aphrodite.

“Welcome to the Tulsa House of Night, Kacie,” I said.

“Thanks, High Priestess,” she said.

“I want to know more of the answer to that question,” said Aphrodite.

When we all just stared at Aphrodite, she rolled her eyes.

“Z asked if this kid is a problem,” Aphrodite said.

“Oh, that’s easy to answer,” said Kacie. “I’m not a problem. School is. HP Stevie Rae gets that, so she also gets me. Most of the other priestesses and professors did not. That’s why I transferred here.”

“HP?” I asked.

Kacie shifted her attention from Aphrodite to me. “It’s short for High Priestess.”

“Ohmygoddess! I thought you were giving a nod to Stevie Rae’s love for all things Harry Potter,” said Jack. “But High Priestess makes a lot more sense.”

“Jack, you make me smile.” Stevie Rae put her arm around him.

Kacie’s attention was still focused on me. She spoke up as she met and held my gaze—and, again, I was struck by the intelligence and humor I saw in her eyes—and this time I enjoyed the glint of attitude. “HP Zoey, I want you to know this place you’ve created here at this House of Night—it’s the first time I’ve ever liked school.”

“I get that,” I said. “I wasn’t a big fan of school, either. It can definitely suck—especially high school.”

“High school in America is usually not much more than the institutionalization of a mind-numbing, racist, misogynistic shitshow. Even the Chicago House of Night was pretty much crap, though Stevie Rae was changing that. So, uh, thanks for running a better place here. And I’m not sorry for saying shitshow, even though I hear you don’t cuss much. That is all.” She flashed me a smile and turned to get on the bus.

Stevie Rae cleared her throat, which had Kacie pausing.

“Ooopsie,” the kid came back to me. “Here’s your folder.”

Kacie handed it to me, but as she did it slipped from her fingers and like a flock of paper birds the carefully filled-out forms took flight on the afternoon breeze.

“Shit! I’ll get them!” Kacie took off, grabbing each paper and shoving it back into the folder before she ran after another.

Stevie Rae sighed. “Kacie’s too smart for her age.”

“You mean too smart-mouthed.” I grinned at my bestie.

“Yeah, that too,” Stevie Rae nodded as we watched Kacie chase papers.

“She is a really talented swimmer, even if she does tend to intimidate the other kids because of how outspoken she is,” said Jack.

“Smart mouth, excellent fashion sense, and good hair. I like her,” said Aphrodite. “She’s also gorgeous, which never hurts.”

“When I first met her, I though she looked like what would happen if Beyoncé and JLo had a baby,” said Stevie Rae.

“Bestie, you read my mind. I was thinking her hair is Beyoncé blond,” I said.

“I have just happened to notice that she has a shoe collection that’s right up there with Aphrodite and Kramisha,” said Jack.

“Brains and beauty—a fantastic combo,” agreed Aphrodite. “We’ll need to keep an eye on her.”

“Yep. That’s a big part of why I said yes to her transfer,” said Stevie Rae.

“I’ll be sure the Dark Daughters welcome her,” I said.

“That’s real nice of you, Z. I was gonna ask you to introduce her next full moon ritual, but I was worried ’bout showing favoritism. This adulting stuff is confusin’ sometimes.”

“Right?” Jack said. “I volunteered to coach the swim team because before I was Marked, swim class was my personal high school nightmare. My young self was so, so shy about my body and my coach was a raging homophobe who lived for third-hour PE so he could humiliate me. Daily. I was that wretched man’s target until the day I was Marked. I want to give kids a better experience than I had, but I also don’t want to show favoritism or hurt a kid’s feelings—but they still need discipline and guidance. It’s really hard.”

“You know, I’ve been thinking about teachers’ pets and showing favoritism a lot, especially since I’ve been teaching that advanced spells and rituals class,” I said. “And I’ve decided to hell with it. There’s nothing wrong with picking out the kids who are super talented or smart or athletic—or whatever—and giving them extra attention, or even just extra encouragement. As long as we remember to give all the kids opportunities to shine. What do you guys think?”

Aphrodite shrugged. “It’s a proven fact pretty kids get called on more.”

“I’m so glad I was a cute kid. My childhood could’ve been even worse.” Jack shuddered.

“Yeah, I read a study on that and it made me call on the ugly kids on purpose,” said Stevie Rae. Then she smacked her hand over her mouth and through it muttered. “Sorry. Callin’ ’em ugly is so not cool.”

“Not cool, but true,” said Aphrodite.

I opened my mouth to say something profound, and stopped short as Kacie rushed up to me. Her cheeks were pink, and her full lips trembled slightly.

“Sorry about that,” she said, obviously embarrassed. “I really can do things without messing up.”

I smiled warmly at her. “It was just an accident.” I liked that she spoke her mind. Too many fledglings, especially newly Marked fledglings, were either too timid to speak out or were content to be herd animals.

“I hate it when I do something stupid without meaning to,” she said.

“Relax, Ice Cream Shoes,” Aphrodite said. “Your sense of style has earned you a second chance.”

“Hey, thanks, Aphrodite. You’re not as horrible as people say you are.” Kacie grinned and got on the bus.

I was trying not to laugh when I glanced at Aphrodite—who looked weird. Not mad. Not amused. Not annoyed. Just … weird.

“Hey, you okay?” I asked.

“Yeah. I’m fine.” Aphrodite rubbed her forehead before flipping back her hair. “Are we going to go or what?”

“Yep! I’m ready now,” I said.

“Oh, goodie! Stevie Rae, will you sit in the back with me?” Jack jumped up and down and clapped his hands.

“Ohmygoodness, ’course I will! The back seats are the bounciest!” Stevie Rae followed Jack onto the bus.

Before she stepped onto the bus, Aphrodite turned to look at me. “And I’m not sitting in the back seat—no matter how much the bumpkin whines and begs.”

“Neither am I. Just don’t look her in the eyes and sit in the front seat. Fast,” I whispered—and we both laughed.

The Midtown Tulsa YWCA’s parking lot was crammed with yellow buses whose black lettering proclaimed that there were teams here from Tulsa Public Schools as well as Broken Arrow, Jenks, Union, Bishop Kelley, and even Bixby and Coweta. The Y had arranged a special parking spot for our bus near a temporary tarp tunnel that led to the front of the building and was thoroughly covered so that we could all unload without worrying about the sun frying any of us.

“Ready for this?” Aphrodite asked me.

“Absolutely,” I said while I shook my head no. I stood and faced the kids on the bus, who were all watching me expectantly. “Aphrodite, Stevie Rae, and I are going to go inside and be sure we’re registered and whatever else we have to do. You guys wait here with Coach Jack.”

“Remember, you’re representing all fledglings and your High Priestesses. So act right,” said Aphrodite.

“But most of all, have fun,” said Stevie Rae as she joined us at the front of the bus.

“From what Coach Jack has told me, this team is talented and just plain awesome enough to do both—act right and have fun,” I said, meeting the gaze of each of the kids. I saw nerves in their eyes, but also excitement—and I especially loved how their Marks blazed from their foreheads. No Tulsa House of Night fledgling was going to have to cover his or her Mark to mix with humans. Not ever again. “They’re going to stare at you, but don’t take it personally. There will be a lot of people here—kids and adults—who have never been this close to so many vampyres and fledglings. They’re going to be curious.”

“They might also be mean,” said Jack from where he stood at the back of the bus.

“Because ignorance makes some folks real mean,” said Stevie Rae.

“And, let’s face facts—there’s a lot of ignorance in Oklahoma,” Aphrodite said.

“Aphrodite! Be nice!” Stevie Rae said.

“What? Okies keep voting in the same idiots who keep lining their own pockets and being apathetic about education and health care. Seriously. Don’t get me started on stupid Okie politics, ’cause you know I know what I’m talking about,” said Aphrodite, one blond brow lifting into her hairline.

“But we’re here to educate people about how we’re all basically the same,” I added.

“Yeah. Hold your heads high because even though we’re all basically the same we’re definitely superior to anyone ignorant enough to be mean just because of physical or religious differences,” Aphrodite said. “Well, and, we’re also literally superior, but we should probably keep that underwraps for today.”

“That’s right!” Stevie Rae smiled and nodded enthusiastically. “We’re not all hat and no cowboy!”

“What in the hell are you talking about?” Aphrodite said.

“Okay, let’s go!” I turned Aphrodite by her shoulders and pushed her from the bus. “Coach Jack, someone will come back and get you and the team as soon as we’re registered.”

“No problem. I’ve planned a little minimeditation to get us ready. Just take your time.” Jack waved us away.

“He’s a real good coach,” said Stevie Rae as we followed Aphrodite into the big brick building.

“He’s a sweetheart,” I said. “I don’t even think of him as ‘other’ Jack anymore. He’s just our Jack.”

“Yeah, it’s great having him back—even though technically it isn’t actually really him,” Stevie Rae said.

“It’s nice seeing Damien so happy again,” said Aphrodite. I noticed that her voice had gone somber and her eyes were suddenly a lot less sparkly.

“Yeah, it sure is. I wonder where Damien is today? It’s not like him to miss Jack’s first meet,” I said.

“Jack said Damien had to be at the depot for a special delivery of the velvet chairs that go with the reserved tables near the stage. He’s tryin’ to get the restaurant reopened by next month, and he’s stressin’ pretty hard over it,” said Stevie Rae.

“Does he need more help?” I asked.

“I don’t think so. Jack said everythin’s handled, but Damien’s a nervous mess.”

“Queen Damien will be fine once his opus opens. Can you smell that?” Aphrodite paused and sniffed as we entered the building.

“Chlorine?” I said.

“Well, yeah, but I was talking about hormones. There must be thousands of kids in there.” Aphrodite shuddered and jerked her perfect chin at the glass wall separating the lobby from the Olympic-sized pool and viewing stands that were currently crowded with a couple hundred kids, their parents, and coaches.

“Hundreds, not thousands. And when did you get so old?” I said.

“I was born old,” said Aphrodite.

“OMG! Vampyres!” A squeal came from the registration desk a few yards in front of us. A young black girl with a neon-red ponytail dressed in an orange-and-black cheerleading uniform that proclaimed hornets across the front of it was literally clapping her hands and jumping up and down as she stared at us with dark eyes glistening excitedly.

“Cheerleaders … Jesus,” Aphrodite muttered.

I ignored Aphrodite, planted what I hoped was a professional smile on my face, and went to stand in front of the cheerleader. “Hi, I’m Zoey Redbird, High Priestess of the House of—”

“OMG everyone knows who you are! It’s so cool you’re here! Everyone thinks so. Well, except for our parents. But whatever. They’re all old and out of it. They still vote Republican,” she scrunched up her face like she’d sucked a lemon.

“Exactly what I was just saying,” agreed Aphrodite.

“It’s cray, right?” said the cheerleader. “But y’all know better ’cause you’re not old. You’re super young. How old are you anyway?” the cheerleader babbled, suddenly reminding me of my old bestie, Kayla, and her nonstop high school word diarrhea (which I hadn’t missed at all).

“I’m eighteen,” I said. “Here’s our paperwork. Everything is in order. Our team’s waiting in the bus. Where should I tell them to change?”

“I’ll show ’em to the locker rooms,” said the cheerleader, beaming a big smile at me. “And welcome. My cousin was Marked five years ago. We were super close, but no one would let me call her or nothin’ after she left for the House of Night, so I think what you’re doin’ is amazing—mixing fledglings with humans.”

“If your cousin was Marked today you’d be able to stay in contact with her,” said Stevie Rae. “That’s ’cause of what High Priestess Zoey is doin’ here in Tulsa.”

“That’s real brave of you,” said the cheerleader. She stuck her hand out. “I’m Bridget, captain of Booker T. Washington’s varsity cheer squad—Go Hornets! If y’all need anything just holler for me and I’ll fix you right up.”

“Thanks, Bridget.” I smiled at the kid as I shook her hand. “Right now, all we need is a place for our team to change and for someone to let us know where we’re supposed to sit.”

“Oh, sure! Like I said, I’ll show your team to the locker rooms. Do ya see that center front section of the bleachers?”

I followed her pointing finger to see an empty place in the middle of the section. It looked kinda like a missing tooth.

“I see it.”

“We reserved it for House of Night fans. See ya inside and good luck.” Bridget started to turn away and then added. “Hey, what’s your school mascot?”

I stared at her. Ah, hell! The House of Night didn’t have a school mascot!

Into the uncomfortably growing silence Stevie Rae spoke up. “We’re the Ravens. Our colors are black and purple.”

“Cool! See ya!” Bridget hurried past us and out the front doors. She jogged through the tunnel to our bus. The three of us watched her disappear inside—and reappear in a few seconds with Jack and the rest of the team following her in a neat line.

The team entered the building, staring around Bridget at me, looking like a flock of wide-eyed baby birds. I nodded encouragement and Jack made a shooing motion at them so that they followed Bridget, with him bringing up the rear.

“Good luck!” I called as Jack passed us.

“Yeah, good luck House of Night Ravens!” Stevie Rae cheered.

Coach Jack stopped like he’d run into a linebacker. “Go ahead guys! I’ll catch you in a sec.” Jack faced me with his hands on his slim hips. “Ravens? Since when?”

“It was a sudden inspiration. They asked and I was the only one with an answer. You don’t mind, do ya?” Stevie Rae said.

“Well, I kinda thought the House of Night Swimming Seals would be nice,” Jack said wistfully.

“Ssssswimming Ssssseals?” Aphrodite lisped.

“That’s mean,” said Jack. “You know I have a lisp sometimes.”

“Uh, yeah. That’s why it’s so funny,” said Aphrodite.

Stevie Rae turned to me. “You’re not mad about me naming us the Ravens, are you?”

“No! I’m glad you thought of something.”

“Ravens.” Aphrodite continued to laugh until she snorted.

“Everyone’s staring at us,” Stevie Rae said. “And not in a good way.”

Aphrodite’s laughter cut off like she’d thrown a switch.

Stevie Rae was right. Jack had caught us with the door to the swim meet area open just before we stepped through to head to our reserved seats, and every head that wasn’t at least partially underwater was turned in our direction.

“Gotta go!” said Jack and he disappeared into the bowels of the building, hurrying after his team.

I straightened my spine, lifted my chin, and plastered a smile on my face. “Smile and look like none of this bothers you,” I whispered between my teeth.

From my side vision I could see Aphrodite and Stevie Rae following my lead. They lifted their chins and smiled like they were oh-so-pleased to see all the gawking faces.

There were about a dozen seats with big black reserved for hon signs on them.

“Hell! We should’ve brought fans,” I said as the three of us sat in the middle of the empty seats.

“It’s okay. This is just the trials,” said Stevie Rae.

“Yeah, we’ll round up a bunch of ‘fans,’” Aphrodite air quoted, “for the finals.”

“Z, if the House of Night is gonna be participating in sports with the human kids, I think we should start a pep club or whatnot,” said Stevie Rae.

“I agree,” I said. “You’re in charge of that.”

“Why me?”

“Your idea,” I said.

“And your Raven.” Aphrodite peered around me at Stevie Rae. “Don’t think I didn’t catch that you named our school mascot after your birdboy. Ya know, we coulda been the House of Night Warriors.”

“Or the Ssswimming Ssseals.” I couldn’t help myself. “But I like Ravens,” I added quickly before she and Stevie Rae could devolve into bickering.

“Thank you, Z,” said Stevie Rae, sending Aphrodite a narrow-eyed look. “And I did think of Warriors. For ’bout two-point-five seconds, but it could be taken as Native American Warriors and that’s cultural appropriation and racist—so no.”

“Good point,” I said. “Ooooo, here they come!”

Led by Coach Jack, our team entered the pool area and the gawkers shifted their attention from us to them. I stood and began to clap and cheer—Stevie Rae and Aphrodite instantly joining me—and I was happily surprised to see cheerleader Bridget and her entire squad stand and clap as well.

“Wow. They look really good,” I said. “Where’d they get those uniforms?”

“Me, of course. Note the expensive material and the excellent mixture of our school colors,” Aphrodite said smugly.

“They’re gonna look great with a big raven and ‘HoN’ emblazoned on the back of those warm-ups!” said Stevie Rae.

Aphrodite snorted. Again.

I was glad to see that as our team warmed up, the gawkers relaxed. Sure, people still stared at us and the human kids were pretty much keeping their distance from our fledglings, but at least the main focus was the meet—or at least it mostly was.

Stevie Rae’s sigh was bittersweet. “Rephaim would love to see this. He never got to play sports, ’cause, well—”

“He was a half-bird/half-boy monster?” Aphrodite offered with exaggerated innocence.

“Yes, but you coulda put it nicer,” said Stevie Rae.

“Do you ever wish you and Rephaim had stayed in the Other World?” I heard the question blurt from my mouth before I could stop it. Aphrodite and Stevie Rae swiveled their heads to stare at me.

“That’s harsh,” said Aphrodite.

I held up my hands in surrender. “No, no! I didn’t mean I wanted her to! I was only curious. It’s just that Rephaim gets to be a boy all the time over there.” I bumped Aphrodite with my shoulder. “Stop it.”

“Oh, I know you didn’t mean nothing, Z. To tell the truth, Rephaim and I talked ’bout it and we decided that this is our home—even if he is a bird half the time. Plus, Nyx made him stay a bird during the day because he needed to atone. Rephaim is too honorable to skip out on that,” she said.

I felt a huge weight lift from my chest that I hadn’t wanted to admit was there. “Is it selfish of me to say that I’m really glad?” I asked.

“Nah, Z. It’s honest—that’s all. Don’t worry. Rephaim and I aren’t goin’ anywhere. This T-Town is our T-Town.”

“I don’t think I realized it until now, but I was worried,” I said.

“Z, if Rephaim and I weren’t happy here, I woulda said somethin’ to you.”

“You didn’t tell me that you were miserably homesick in Chicago,” I countered.

“True,” Stevie Rae said. “But I learned my lesson ’bout that. I mess up, but I usually don’t make the same mess twice.”

“Would you two please make out later?” Aphrodite said, rolling her eyes.

“You know, Aphrodite, you’ve been super grumpy recently. Are you and Darius having issues? And that’s a rhetorical question—so, don’t answer. Just check your attitude.” Stevie Rae crossed her arms and purposefully turned her back to Aphrodite.

“Darius and I are just fine!” Aphrodite said, a little too quickly.

I lowered my voice and leaned closer to my friend and prophetess. “Hey, she’s right. My gut says there’s something going on with you.”

Aphrodite started to glare at me, but the glare changed to a sad sigh. Keeping her voice low, for my ears alone, she said, “I’m worried about him.”

“Him?” I asked, even though I had a pretty good idea that she wasn’t talking about Darius.

“Your other brother, of course. I just died over there. He just lost me. He must be utterly devastated. I’m worried. Aren’t you?”

“I am. But he has a great support system over there. Other Anastasia and Other Grandma Redbird will help him.”

She snorted and looked dubious.

“Aphrodite, there’s nothing I can do from here, and believe me, I’ve thought about it a lot. I’d love to come and go between the worlds like there’s a revolving door—but that’s not reality. Reality is that to open the door to that world I have to use Old Magick, lots of it, and I honestly do not believe that’s safe.”

“I know all of that, but it doesn’t stop me from worrying about him.”

“Yeah, me either. I—”

“All swimmers line up for the four-by-one-hundred-meter freestyle relay!” the announcer interrupted me.

“Hey, look! There’s our team!” Stevie Rae pointed and clapped enthusiastically.

The pool had cleared while Aphrodite and I had been talking. Teams were lined up behind their swim platforms—four kids deep. Coach Jack was standing beside our four kids clapping them on their backs and looking very coach-like and encouraging.

I shot Aphrodite a let’s talk about this later look and then said, “I don’t know anything about competitive swimming. How many laps do each of them have to swim?”

“Two,” said Aphrodite.

“You know swimmin’?” asked Stevie Rae.

“Um, take a look at those tiny speedos and all that gorgeous naked male muscle. Of course I know swimming,” said Aphrodite. “Four kids will each swim two laps. The first and the last kid are usually the fastest.”

“Oh, look! Kacie’s last in line. She is superfast! This is gonna be a great race!” Stevie Rae stood up and cheered. “Go House of Night Ravens! Woo-hoo!”

When the gawkers turned to gawk at Stevie Rae, I stood beside her and joined her cheer.

“Go Ravens! Swim fast! You can do it!” I yelled.

I heard Aphrodite sigh and say, “Okay, novices. Watch how it’s done.” She stood, cupped her hands around her mouth and expertly cheered, “go in hard! come out wet! r-a-v-e-n-s! ravens! ravens! ravens!”

Stevie Rae and I—as well as everyone around us—stared at her.

“What?” she said. “It’s a legit cheer. And my personal fave from my human high school years.”

I looked at Stevie Rae. She looked at me. I shrugged and grinned, and then the three of us shouted, “go in hard! come out wet! r-a-v-e-n-s! ravens! ravens! ravens!”

The starting pistol went off and the line of kids dove into the pool as the crowd cheered them on.

I’d never been to a swim meet before. I hate to admit it, but Heath’s football obsession pretty much dictated my involvement in watching high school sports. In Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, football is a serious sport. Swimming—not so much. But as I watched our relay team cut through the water I decided that I’d been missing out.

“This is cool!” I yelled to Aphrodite over the cheering crowd.

“And it’s climate-controlled,” Aphrodite said. “Even though this humidity is terrible for my hair.”

“Ooooh! Look! We’re leading and Kacie’s next on the platform! go kacie! go ravens!” Stevie Rae shouted.

Maybe it was because I’m a swim meet novice, but I wasn’t watching the kids who were swimming laps. I was watching Kacie—our anchor—as she stood on the platform. The other anchors were cheering their teammates on as the swimmers turned to start their return lap, but Kacie was just standing there. As I watched, she wiped her face, and I could see even from our seats that her hand trembled and she looked pale and was sweating like crazy.

“Hey, does Kacie get nervous at swim meets?” I asked Stevie Rae.

“Not in Chicago, she didn’t. She was captain of the team, even though she was only a first-year fledgling.” Stevie Rae’s gaze went to Kacie on the platform and she frowned. “That’s weird. She doesn’t look good. Maybe she is nervous ’cause it’s a human meet.”

Aphrodite touched my leg, drawing my attention. Her blue eyes were somber and she kept her voice low for my ears alone. “I don’t think that’s it. Get ready to move.”

“Huh?” I said, a terrible clenching beginning in my stomach. “What do you mean by move.”

“If I’m right we’re going to have to get down there to that pool. Fast. And then get outta here. Faster.”

“What’s Aphrodite sayin’?” asked Stevie Rae.

I met my bestie’s gaze as Kacie half dove, half belly-flopped into the pool. “We think your kid’s in trouble.”

Stevie Rae’s eyes got huge as her gaze went to the pool. “Oh, no …”

The first lap went okay. Kacie had been given the lead, thanks to a House of Night kid named Grayson who seemed to swim like the seal Jack wanted to name the team for, but she quickly fell back to second and then third. She was still in third place when she touched the far side of the pool and did that cool flippy turn thing swimmers do.

But she didn’t push off from the pool like everyone else. Instead her head suddenly surfaced just a couple yards from the wall.

Kacie was coughing.

At first it seemed like she’d just messed up and swallowed a bunch of water, but the third time she coughed, scarlet burst from her lips, spraying the water around her. Kacie was treading water, but when she saw the blood I watched shock and fear collide across her face and she went under.

I was on my feet and running down the bleacher stairs two at a time. Stevie Rae and Aphrodite were on my heels.

That’s when the human kids started screaming.

“Ah, hell. Ah, hell. Ah, hell.” I said over and over as I raced to the pool.

“I’ll get her,” Stevie Rae said. Then she dove into the blushing pool.

“What do you want me to do?” asked Aphrodite.

“Help Jack get the swimmers out of the pool and our team to the bus. I’ll take care of the crowd,” I said.

“Got it.” Aphrodite hurried to the side of the pool that had the swimmers’ platforms. All the competitors were milling around there—many were hysterical as they scrambled to get out of the pool while the blushing water turned a darker and darker tint of red. Jack was there with the rest of the coaches trying to calm the kids and help them from the water. “Everyone out of the pool! Find your team or your parent,” Aphrodite shouted.

“And everyone else stay back and let the High Priestesses handle this!” Jack said.

I could hear Aphrodite and Jack directing people away from the pool, but my main attention was on Stevie Rae and Kacie as they surfaced. One look told me what I already knew, even though I was really hoping Kacie had been playing a practical joke of very poor taste on us.

Blood gushed from her eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. Kacie was gagging and retching. Her face had completely blanched of color and her beautiful brown eyes were pink-tinged and wide with fear as Stevie Rae pulled her to me at the side of the pool.

An attractive woman rushed up to me. Her calm gaze took in the pool and the dying fledgling. “May I help? My name is Sharon Griffin. I’m a doctor.”

“Thank you, but there’s nothing you can do for our fledgling. Take care of the humans. Some of them are pretty hysterical.”

Doctor Griffin touched my shoulder gently. “I will. I am very sorry this happened here today.” Then she hurried to the far side of the pool.

I drew a deep breath and quickly centered myself, reaching out to touch the element that filled the room.

“Water, I call you to me. Come, water!” The scent of chlorine was suddenly replaced with the comforting smell of salt and sea and sand.

“Fire, I call you to me. Come, fire!” I wasn’t as good at this as Shaunee, but I do have an affinity for all five elements, so even though flames didn’t burst to life around me I felt the air warm with the presence of fire. I continued. “Fire and water—mix here and now. Shield this fledgling—gawking human eyes do not allow!”

There was a great hissing sound as fire joined water in the pool and a wall of concealing mist lifted between the panicked crowd and us. Hidden from the watching humans, I went to my knees at the side of the pool and gently took Kacie from Stevie Rae’s arms.

Kacie was choking and sobbing. “It’s okay. It’s going to be okay,” I told the dying fledgling over and over. I was glad my voice was calm—it was the only thing about me that was. My heart was beating so hard that it hurt my chest, and my stomach was so sick I was worried I might puke.

Stevie Rae slithered from the pool, shedding bloody water everywhere. Immediately she pulled Kacie onto her lap and wrapped her arms around the trembling girl.

“I’m here, Kacie. I’m right here. I’m not goin’ anywhere,” Stevie Rae spoke through the tears that cascaded down her smooth cheeks.

“I-I-I’m s-scared,” Kacie managed to say before she coughed up a flood of blood and water.

I sat beside Stevie Rae and wrapped my arms around them both. “Spirit, please come to me. Fill this precious fledgling. Ease her pain. Ease her fear. Let her know Nyx is here. Surround her with love … always love.”

Instantly I felt the familiar shiver of spirit as it manifested—and then the element I’m closest to left me and poured into Kacie Lockwood.

Her body stopped shaking.

Stevie Rae met my gaze and mouthed thank you before she continued to speak soothingly to her fledgling. “There’s nothin’ to be afraid of. I know Nyx. You’re gonna love her—just like she already loves you.”

Kacie looked up at her mentor.

“P-promise?”

“Absolutely, sweetie. Absolutely. And there’s no school up there.”

“Good …” Kacie spoke the word as her last breath left her. She turned her head into Stevie Rae’s shoulder—sighed—and died.

Aphrodite rushed through the wall of mist—then stopped short and crouched beside us.

“Oh, crap. Well, I can’t say that I’m surprised by this,” she said.

I frowned at Aphrodite. “Hey, that’s a shitty thing to say. This poor kid just died and Stevie Rae is super upset.”

“Sorry. It’ll help if you know why I’m not surprised.”

“Nothin’ will help. Kacie’s dead and almost every damn human here is totally hysterical,” said Stevie Rae, sniffing but keeping a tight hold on Kacie’s slack body.

“You’re upset, so I won’t tell you that you’re wrong. Again. I’ll just tell you why. Remember before we got on the bus Kacie dropped Z’s papers and was all embarrassed?” She didn’t pause for an answer but continued while Stevie Rae and I stared at her like she was a crazy person. “Well, I made some offhand comment about her deserving a second chance, and when I said it I felt my forehead tingle.”

“Aphrodite, have you lost your rabbit-ass mind? This fledgling is dead,” Stevie Rae spoke through her sobs. “And you’re talkin’ about yourself?”

“Oh, for shit’s sake! Not because I’m being selfish. When I felt my forehead tingle it meant a part of my tattoo disappeared.”

I blinked. “You mean this kid—”

“Gets a second chance?” Stevie Rae blurted.

“Yes. That’s exactly what I mean.”

“Ohmygoodness! I’m so glad!” Stevie Rae hugged Kacie’s still body close to her heart.

“So, let’s get this soon-to-be red fledgling back to the House of Night—and then Z can deal with this publicity nightmare,” said Aphrodite.

I nodded in agreement and thought, publicity nightmare is an understatement—ah, hell.