Tempted

by P. C. Cast

Chapter Twenty-nine

  Oh, don't be so hateful, Aphrodite, Stevie Rae said. You know all fledglings get passports as soon as they're Marked. It's part of the whole I'm an emancipated teen' thing. Good thing I have a passport, Heath said. Even though I'm not Marked. To stop myself from yelling "You're not going--you'll get killed for sure" at Heath and embarrassing the bejesus outta him, I made myself focus on logistics. Anyone know how we're getting to Italy? First class, I hope, Aphrodite muttered. That will be the easy part. We'll simply take the House of Night's jet, Lenobia said. Or rather, you and your group will. I'll authorize it, but I won't be going. You won't go with us? My stomach dropped. Lenobia was wise and so well thought of in the vamp community that even Shekinah had respected her. We needed her to go with us. I needed her to go with us! She can't, Jack said. We looked at him in surprise. She has to stay here with Dragon and be sure the school doesn't go completely over to the Dark Side, 'cause whatever it is Kalona can do, he's still doing it even though he's not here.

  Lenobia smiled at Jack. You're absolutely right. I can't leave the House of Night right now. Her gaze went around the room, touching on each of us and finally coming to rest on me. You can lead them. You've been leading them. Just keep doing what you've been doing. But I've messed up! More than once! And I don't even know if I can trust myself around Kalona! I wanted to shriek. Instead, I tried to speak in my grown-up voice.

  But someone has to tell the High Council what's really going on with Neferet and Kalona. I can't do that. I'm just a fledgling. No, Zoey, you're our High Priestess, the first fledgling High Priestess, and they will listen to you because Nyx is with you. It's obvious to me. It was obvious to Shekinah. It will be obvious to them, as well. I wasn't so sure, but everyone was giving me big smiles of encouragement, which really just made me want to barf my guts up. Rather than puking or my second choice, bursting into tears, I said, When do we leave? As soon as possible, Lenobia said. We have no idea how much damage Kalona is doing right now.

  Think of the disaster he wrought here in only a matter of days. It's almost dawn. We're going to have to wait for the sun to set. Stark's voice was tight with frustration. Because I would imagine now that the ice storm is over, the sun will actually be visible, and that means Stevie Rae and I will fry getting to the plane. You leave here at sunset, Lenobia said. Until then, pack, eat, and rest. I'll take care of the arrangements. I don't think Zoey should stay on San Clemente Island, Stark said. He turned to Darius for support. Don't you agree it's a bad idea for her to stay exactly where Aphrodite saw her drowning? Stark, she also saw me getting decapitated right here in Tulsa. It didn't happen, though, because my friends didn't turn their backs on me. Where I am isn't as important as the fact that I know I'm in danger, and I'm surrounded by people who have my back.

  But she saw me with you! If I can't protect you, who can? I can, Darius said. Air can, too, Damien said. Fire can kick some butt, Shaunee said. I got water, and I'm sure as hell not letting Zoey drown, Erin said indignantly. Earth will always protect Zoey, Stevie Rae said, though her expressive eyes seemed sad. I'm annoyingly human, but I'm still mean. If someone gets by Darius, you, and the nerd of herd, they'll have to go through me, too, said Aphrodite. Add one more annoying to that human, fledgling, and vamp soup, Heath said. See, I told Stark as I blinked hard to keep the tears that had filled my eyes from overflowing. It's not all on you. We're in this together. Stark's gaze held mine, and I could see how tortured he was. To have an oath-bound High Priestess be killed was every warrior's nightmare. Just the mention that Aphrodite had seen him there, and then seen me being killed anyway, had been enough to completely shake Stark's confidence.

  It really will be okay. I promise, I said. He nodded and then looked away, like he couldn't bear to meet my gaze any longer. All right. Let's get busy. Pack light. You won't have time to carry around a bunch of baggage. Each of you take a book bag with your essentials, Lenobia said. I saw Aphrodite blanch in horror and had to cough to hide a giggle. I'll meet you in the cafeteria at sunset. She started to leave, then paused at the door. Zoey, be sure you're not sleeping alone. Let's keep Kalona out of your head as much as possible. We don't want him to have any idea you're coming after him. I swallowed hard, but nodded. Yeah, okay. Blessed be, she said. Blessed be, we all chimed in, even Heath. Lenobia closed the door, and no one said anything for a few moments. I think we were all a little stunned and hadn't quite grasped the fact that we were actually going to Italy to speak before the Vampyre High Council.

  Or at least I was going to speak. Ah, hell. I was going to have to speak in front of the Vampyre High Council. Or maybe I'd get up there, in front of all those old, powerful vamps and have raging diarrhea and poo myself. Yep. That would certainly make an impression on the Council. Unique would be just one of the words they'd call me. Jack's question stopped my semi-hysterical mind babble. What are we gonna do with Duchess and the cats? I looked down at Nala, purring away beside me, and said, Uh-oh. We can't take them, Stark said. There's no way. Then sounding more like himself he added, They're gonna be pissed when we get back, though. Especially those cats. Cats can carry a grudge. Aphrodite snorted. You're telling me. Have you met my cat? Speaking of, I'm going to go spend some quality time with her while I grab something to eat and pack.

  She gave Darius a coy smile. If you'd like to get in on that quality time, you're invited. I don't have to be asked twice, he said. Blessed be, Priestess, he told me before taking her hand heading to her room to do Goddess-was-the-only-one-who-wanted-to-know what. We better get our stuff taken care of, too, Damien said. I can't believe we're supposed to take one book bag of clothes. Where are all my shoes going to go? Jack asked. I think we're only supposed to take one pair of shoes, Heath said helpfully. Jack was still gasping in horror as he and Damien left. That left me with Stark and Heath and Stevie Rae. Before things could get mega-awkward, Stark surprised me by saying, Heath, would you sleep with Zoey? Hey, man, as far as I'm concerned, I'd like to always sleep with Zoey. I punched his arm, but he still grinned like a dork. What are you going to do? I asked Stark.

  He wouldn't meet my eyes. I want to check the perimeter before dawn, and I'll see if Lenobia needs help settling things. Then I'll get something to eat. Where are you going to sleep? In the dark. He turned to me, bowed formally with his right fist over his chest. Blessed be, my lady. Before I could say anything else to him, he left. I was stunned silent. He's freaked 'cause of Aphrodite's vision, Stevie Rae said, getting off my bed and going to rummage through the drawers that used to be hers before she died and un-died. I was glad I'd made Neferet and the vamps give me some of her stuff back, so she actually had things to rummage through. Don't let Stark hurt your feelings, Zo, Heath said. He's pissed at himself, not at you. Heath, I appreciate you wanting to make me feel better, but it's just too weird to have you be on Stark's side.

  Hey, I'm on your side, baby! He bumped me with his shoulder, and then stretched all long and obvious before reaching an arm around me. Uh, Heath, could you do me a big ol' favor? Stevie Rae asked. Sure! Could you go down to the kitchen--that's through the common room and to the right--and try to scare up somethin' for us to eat? They always have a bunch of sandwich stuff in the fridges. You can search for chips, but the closest you'll come is probably pretzels or those good-for-you baked chips. Yuck, Heath and I said at the same time. So is that okay? Would you do that? Yeah, Stevie Rae, no problem. Heath hugged me and gave me a sloppy kiss on my forehead before bounding out of bed. At the door he grinned back at Stevie Rae and said, But next time you want to talk to Zo alone, all you have to do is say so. I'm human and I play football, but I'm really not stupid.

  I'll keep that in mind for next time, she said. He winked at me and took off. Goddess, he has a lot of energy, I said. Z, I can't go with y'all to Italy, Stevie Rae blurted out with no preamble whatsoever. What? You have to! You're earth. I need the whole circle there. You've circled without me before. Aphrodite can step in if you help her. She can't be earth. It za
ps her, I said. But I know you've given her spirit before, and it worked fine. Just give her spirit again. Stevie Rae, I need you. My BFF bowed her head and looked completely defeated. Please, please don't say that. I have to stay. I don't have any choice. The red fledglings need me even more than you do. Not any more they don't, I said earnestly. They're here at the school, with a whole bunch of adult vamps. Even if the adult vamps are acting all weird, their presence will be enough to keep your kids from rejecting the Change.

  It's not just that. It's not just them. Oh, no! Stevie Rae, you are not still thinking about those bad fledglings. I'm their High Priestess, she said quietly, pleading with her eyes for me to understand. They're my responsibility. While you're gone, before you have to go down there and do something awful to them, I can try once more to reach them--to get them to turn back to their humanity. Stevie Rae-- Zoey! Listen to me! It's a choice. I made the right one. Stark made the right one. The kids here are all on the right path, too, and we used to be bad. Like you said, you know how horrible it used to be for us, but that's changed. We're different now because we're choosing to be different. I can't help believing that those other kids can choose good, too. Just let me try. I don't know. What if they hurt you? Stevie Rae laughed, and her short blond curls bounced around her shoulders.

  Ah, heck, Z! They can't hurt me. They're inside the earth. If they try anything with me I can call on my element to kick their butts, and they know it. Maybe they were meant to die, and that's why they can't get their humanity back, I said softly. I can't believe that, at least not yet. Stevie Rae went to her old bed and sat across from me, just like she used to before our world started to explode around us. I want to go with you. I really do. Heck, Z, you're in more danger than I am! But I have to do the right thing, and that's to try to reach those other kids and give them one more chance. Do you understand? Yeah, I do. It's just that I've really missed you and I wish you were coming with me. Tears filled Stevie Rae's eyes. I've missed you, too, Z. It's been horrible keeping stuff from you. I was just so scared you wouldn't understand.

  I know what it's like to keep secrets. It sucks. Seriously, that's an understatement, she said. We're still best friends, right? We'll always be best friends, I said. Grinning, she launched herself at me and we hugged so hard that Nala woke up, grumbling at us like she was someone's mom. Heath chose that instant to burst back into the room. Arms filled with food, he stopped and stared. Yes! I have died and gone to girl-on-girl heaven! Ohmygoddess! I said. Heath, you are nasty as roadkill--stinky, disgusting, middle-of-the-summer-opossum roadkill. Eesh, that's disgusting, I said. Well, that's your boyfriend. But I brought food, he said.

  Fine, you're forgiven, I said. Hey, just so you know, I'm sleepin' right here in my old bed. So there won't be any groping and making out going on because I'm not cool with that. Stevie Rae was talking to Heath, but I answered. Uh, I have two words for girls who make out with their boyfriends with other girls in the room: Not okay. So you don't need to worry about that stuff going on over here. I patted my bed. Heath is going to be good because we already talked about how our relationship is based on more than sex. Right, Heath? Stevie Rae and I skewered him with our eyes. Right. Sad and tragic, but right, he admitted reluctantly. Good. Let's eat, then I'll help Z pack, and then we can get some sleep. Finally, Stevie Rae said.

  I was just drifting off to sleep, snugly curled into Heath's strong, familiar arms when it hit me: Heath really couldn't come with us. Heath, I whispered. We gotta talk. Changing your mind about that no-making-out thing? he whispered back. I elbowed him. Ow, what? he said. I don't want you to get mad, but you really can't go with me to Italy. The hell I can't. Your parents will never let you miss that much school. We're on winter break. No, you were on ice storm break. The storm's clearing up. You'll be back at school in a day or so, I said. Then I'll make up my homework when I get back. I tried a different tactic. You've gotta stay here and focus on your grades.

  It's your last semester before you go to college. If you mess up your grades now, you mess up your scholarship. Look, this is simple. Broken Arrow has that online grade book thing, remember? How could I forget something as totally annoying as my parental units being able to gawk at my grades and assignments every single day? Then I clamped my mouth shut because I realized what I'd said. See! I can get my assignments online. I'll stay caught up. You can even help me. Or, better yet, Damien can help me. No offense, Zo, but I think he's a better student than you are. I know he is, but that's beside the point. Your parents will never let you go.

  They can't stop me. I'm eighteen. Heath, please. I already feel bad enough about all the poo I've brought into your life. Don't make me responsible for screwing up your last semester of school, getting you grounded until you leave for college, and putting your life in danger. I've told you before I can take care of myself, he said. Fine, let's compromise. Call your parents when we get up and ask them if you can come to Italy with me. If they say yes, then you come with me. If they say no, you stay here and get your butt back to class. Do I have to tell them about Kalona and that stuff? I don't think it's smart for the general public to know there's a fallen immortal and a crazy ex? High Priestess trying to take over the world. So, no, you don't have to tell them that part. He hesitated and then said, Okay, I can live with that.

  Promise? Promise. Good, because I'll be listening to the whole conversation so you won't be able to bullpoopie me. You know that's not a real word, Zo. It's my real word. Go to sleep, Heath. He tightened his arms around me. I heart you, Zo. I heart you, too. I'll keep you safe. I fell asleep with Heath's arms around me and a smile on my face, my last conscious thought was about how strong he felt and that I'd have to tell him I really appreciated how buff he'd been keeping himself. My next thought was not conscious and it was totally not soothing: What in the hell am I doing on the roof of this castle again?