by P. C. Cast
Lynette forced herself not to laugh. “I apologize. I didn’t realize you were so old. You all are still in college, aren’t you?”
Amber was sitting on a chair that was a twin to Vanessa’s. She lifted the hand that wasn’t holding a glass of wine and counted off. “One, we aren’t old. You are. Two, yes, we’re still in college. Our parents wanted us to have the full experience and not rush through.”
“Oh, my mistake. Sorry. Exactly how long have you five been at TU?” Lynette pitched her voice to sound authentically interested, which was easy. She’d been catering to the rich and powerful for most of her adult life, and one thing was consistently true about them—most were entitled assholes who believed their money made them special and oh, so interesting.
“This will be our seventh and final year ruling the TU women’s studies program,” said Amber as four heads nodded in agreement.
“Well, except for poor Kelsey,” said Jordan. “She’s two years younger. Her parents forced her to graduate in five years.”
On a plainer chair farther from the fireplace, Kelsey laughed nervously. “Yeah, they can be unreasonable.”
Vanessa scoffed. “Unreasonable? They’re ridiculous.”
Thankfully, the front door opened then, and the girls stood and hurried to the foyer as Neferet breezed past them. She paused only long enough to wipe a scarlet trail of blood from her cheek with a finger and ask, “Lynette, is everything prepared?”
Lynette curtsied low, making a special show of respect in front of the vapid girls. “Yes, my goddess. All awaits you in the courtyard by the fountain as you instructed.”
Neferet licked the blood from her finger. “Good.” Then she continued through the house.
“You didn’t tell her that we filled two of those four bowls,” pouted Vanessa.
“She’s a goddess. I don’t have to tell her. She will know. Now, where will we have the best view of the courtyard fountain?” said Lynette.
“From the courtyard, of course,” said Vanessa, rolling her eyes.
Lynette skewered her with her gaze—well and truly sick of the spoiled child. “I have watched the goddess summon the sprites. They require a payment. Their last was the life of one of the watching humans. If you are prepared to make that sacrifice, then go ahead, join the goddess in the courtyard.”
Vanessa sighed. “Fine. We can watch from the dayroom upstairs. There’s a balcony we can go out on, but it’s really cold tonight.”
“That’s perfect, and should you go out on the balcony to observe, Neferet will know you are there and also know that you are prepared for what you must do tomorrow night,” said Lynette.
Amber spoke up. “Bestie, I think we should go out on the balcony. I mean, Nettie already told us that we have to be nakey tomorrow in the middle of the night at Woodward Park. It really is good practice. Plus, it’ll show Neferet how tough we are.”
Vanessa nodded slowly. “You’re right. Okay, let’s go.” She glared at Lynette as she led her posse up the wide stairwell. “But,” she said, “there better be something good to see.”
“You can watch and then decide how good it is,” said Lynette. And while you watch, I’ll work hard at not throwing you from the balcony.
“Oh. My. God. She’s naked!” Jenna pointed as the five of them stood at the edge of the balcony, shivering and staring below.
Neferet stood a few yards away from the long, rectangular koi pond, the center of which was decorated by a bronze statue of a graceful woman pouring water from an urn—or she would be pouring water had the little pond not been frozen. Over the water feature was a pergola, draped with miniature lanterns, which Lynette had made sure were lit so that the five young women would be able to clearly observe Neferet’s power.
Neferet had stopped at the stone bench where Lynette had left the soap, towel, and basin of water, as well as the tray holding the four offering bowls. Jenna had been right, Neferet had already stepped out of the disguise clothes she abhorred and was drying her face. She dropped the towel to the ground and pulled off the blonde wig, allowing her mass of auburn hair to cascade down her back. As she turned to lift the tray, they got a perfect view of Neferet, and the girls gasped.
Lynette didn’t blame them. She had seen Neferet naked many times and her lady’s perfection still shocked her.
“If in the Louvre, she would outshine Venus de Milo,” murmured Lynette.
Vanessa scoffed. “Well, of course she would. That statue is super old, and has, like, no arms. But of course you’d compare her to that. The truth is she’s even more gorgeous than any of the Kardashians.”
That pronouncement had the other four gasping again. Lynette wasn’t sure if she wanted to throw up or laugh in their faces. Instead, she reminded herself that tomorrow night would come soon enough, and simply said, “Keep watching. It’s about to get interesting.”
Lynette could tell that Vanessa wanted to say something sarcastic, but Kelsey was pointing below. “What is she doing?”
From the edge of the balcony, Lynette saw Neferet standing in front of the koi pond, facing the villa. She bent, placing the offering tray on the dark, frozen surface—and it was then that Lynette realized that the tendrils had swarmed over the ice. Looking like ink, they held the tray and guided it to the center of the little pond.
“The goddess is sending out the offerings to the four elements,” Lynette said. “Watch and you’ll see them be accepted.”
As if Lynette had called the sprites, the pond came alive. One blue, webbed arm lifted through the ice and pulled the tray and its contents under. Lynette wondered briefly what the hibernating koi might be thinking, but then the night around Neferet exploded with fey, and Lynette could only answer the questions being fired at her by the five awestruck girls.
“OMG, what are they?” Amber whispered.
Lynette realized she needn’t have worried about lighting the courtyard. It was ablaze with sprites. They flitted around Neferet, bathing her naked skin in their shimmering light. There weren’t as many as had come to her in Scotland, and Lynette didn’t see Oak among them, but that made their show no less magickal—no less impressive.
“The sprites have many different names—elements, fey …” Lynette explained. “But what they are is pure magick that manifests in the form of creatures who embody each of the four elements.”
“What about spirit?” Vanessa asked.
“I’ve never seen a spirit sprite. I think it’s because it’s around us all the time and doesn’t need to manifest physically. And also, Neferet embodies that element.”
“I wish I could hear what she was saying,” said Kelsey.
Neferet was speaking, and though her voice didn’t lift to the balcony, the power of it did. It brushed over Lynette’s skin and had the five girls rubbing their arms and shivering.
“She’s telling the sprites that she wants to make a deal,” Lynette said. “This is the part where they barter.”
“Barter? Can’t she just command them to do whatever she wants them to do?” Amber said.
Vanessa added, “Or isn’t she that powerful.”
Lynette couldn’t keep the disdain from her voice as she answered the clueless young woman. “Those sprites are part of the magick that made this world. They are not beholden to any goddess. They are dangerous and extremely powerful and should be treated with respect. For every service they perform they require a payment. That’s just the way it is.”
“Huh. I’ll have to ask our Neferet about that,” said Vanessa.
“Please do,” Lynette said. And added silently, though I doubt you’ll get a chance. I almost wish I were staying here long enough to witness her answer.
“Hey, she just picked up that little knife,” said Kelsey.
“It’s a sgian dubh,” corrected Lynette. “The goddess brought it from our Highlands. Watch closely. This will be the
payment part.”
The sprites had formed a circle around Neferet, illuminating her incredible beauty. She lifted the sgian dubh and pressed it against the meaty part of the palm of her hand, just below her thumb. With one swift motion, she sliced into her skin.
Five gasps echoed across the balcony.
“She actually cut herself !” Jordan said.
“Of course she did,” said Vanessa—as if she hadn’t gasped in shock with the rest of them. “She’s a goddess. Her blood has to be super special.”
That’s the first correct thing you’ve said all day, Lynette thought, but she didn’t bother speaking to Vanessa. She didn’t want to be educated. Vanessa wanted to be coddled.
Neferet had closed her bleeding hand, capturing the pool of scarlet that was welling there. Then, with a grace that was mesmerizing, Neferet spun in a circle and as she did, she opened her hand and flicked her wrist so that blood rained around her.
The sprites went mad. They didn’t allow one drop to touch the ground, but instead darted about, catching them in their greedy, open mouths.
Amber jolted half a step back. “Do you see those fangs?”
“Oh,” Lynette said nonchalantly, “Didn’t I tell you how they killed the human in Scotland?” She didn’t wait for a response but continued. “They ate her.”
Vanessa shivered. “Now that is cool.”
The instant the last drop of blood was gobbled up, the dark sky above them opened and cold rain began to fall.
“Oh, shit! My hair!” Vanessa said.
“We can go inside now,” Lynette said. “The goddess has done what she needed to do.”
Amber frowned. “You mean she did all that to make it rain?”
“Honey, how cold has it been lately?” Lynette asked with exaggerated patience.
“Real cold,” Amber said, rolling her eyes.
“And what happens when it’s been ‘real cold,’ ” Lynette air quoted and allowed her voice to sound as petulant as Amber’s, “and then it warms up a little—just enough for it to rain before getting ‘real cold’ again?”
“OMG, she made an ice storm!” Vanessa said. Then she added, “That’s gonna suck for us tomorrow night.”
“It’s also going to keep everyone away from Woodward Park and, hopefully, even knock out the electricity so those cameras don’t report anything to the House of Night,” said Lynette.
“Oh, well. Then I guess we’ll just have to deal,” said Vanessa.
Lynette nodded. “Nothing good comes easily.”
Amber snorted. “Cliché much?”
“Do you know how sayings become clichés?” Lynette said as she walked from the balcony with the girls following her like annoying hens.
“Yeah, because it’s repeated over and over,” said Amber.
“Yes. And it’s repeated over and over because it’s true. I suggest you all get a good night’s rest. Tomorrow is going to be exciting.”
“Yeah, well, since we’re not old we can stay up past bedtime,” said Kelsey, which made first Vanessa, and then the others laugh.
“Good one, Kelsey!” Vanessa said.
Lynette paid them no mind and headed toward the bathroom to warm Neferet’s bath and pour her a glass of her favorite wine.
“Hey, where are you going, Nettie? There’s a serious mess to clean up in the kitchen,” Vanessa shouted after her.
Lynette turned then and met Vanessa’s mean, blue-eyed gaze. “I am in the service of my goddess. She will want a bath and wine—immediately. Do you want to explain to her why those things aren’t ready?”
Vanessa shifted her weight restlessly from foot to foot. “I could do that. I could do the bath thing and get her some wine.”
“No, child, you could not.” Neferet’s voice rang up the stairwell as she ascended, still completely naked, her long hair her only covering. She smelled of wilderness and blood, and her eyes still glinted with power. “You are not my handmaid. I have been patient with you because I understand you have never before been in the presence of a goddess, but you will not disrespect my handmaid again because if you do, I will drink you dry.”
“B-but, you’d have to answer to our goddess for that,” stammered Vanessa.
“Actually, I would not. Goddesses answer to no one. Now, either clean the kitchen or rest, as my handmaid advised.”
Vanessa closed her mouth. Her lips formed a tight little line, but she nodded and, with the other girls, headed toward the bedrooms.
“Oh, and Vanessa?” Neferet called.
Vanessa stopped and turned.
“Her name is Lynette, not Nettie. I find nicknames offensive. Do not call her that again.”
Vanessa’s head jerked up and down as she nodded.
Neferet’s face transformed from ferocious vampyre to beatific goddess with her smile. “That’s better, isn’t it? Thank you for being so understanding and such excellent hostesses. I give you my word you will be repaid in kind tomorrow night.”
11
Other Kevin
As Aphrodite left the boundary of the grove, her smile lit Kevin’s heart. “Hello, handsome. It’s really good to see you.”
“Aphrodite!” He closed the distance between them in seconds and reached out to take her into his arms, but even though she looked solid and beautiful and really, truly there, he was met with nothing but air.
Kevin stepped back, looking around frantically. “Aphrodite?”
“Oh, shit. Sorry,” she said from beside him, still looking like he could reach out and touch her. “I should’ve warned you. I look like me, but since I’m actually, well, dead, I’m really just spirit and spirit doesn’t have a physical body—at least not here it doesn’t.”
Kevin ran his hand through his hair. “I guess that makes sense.” Then he stood there helplessly, not sure of what he should do next.
“Hey,” she spoke softly and moved closer to him. “It’s okay. I know this is weird for you, but I’m still me—and I still love you.”
Automatically, Kevin started to reach for her again, but he caught himself and instead fisted his hands at his sides. “I love you too. Goddess, I’ve missed you so damn much.”
Her expression was so filled with love that Kevin’s heart squeezed. “I love you too, and I know you’ve been in pain. I wish I could help. I tried, but I don’t know if it did any good.”
“You mean when the champagne bottle popped!”
“Yeah,” she nodded, calling his attention to her thick mane of haphazardly curly hair that framed her face and swept down her back.
“I thought it was you! Grandma Redbird told me to expect a sign and you actually gave me one. Did—did you hear me talking to you too?”
“I did that night. I do hear you sometimes, but I think it depends on where I am in Nyx’s Realm. It’s a big place.”
Kevin was studying her, trying to memorize every inch, and as he did he realized that many of those inches looked different than when she was alive. Her hair was the first difference. It was way more relaxed than he’d ever seen it. Actually, it looked kind of wild and messy and even a little frizzy. As far as he could tell she wasn’t wearing any makeup—at all. Her clothes were super different. She had on a long skirt made of layers of pastel fabric mixed with what he was pretty sure his g-ma would call vintage lace. Her shirt was a simple aqua-blue tee that was just a shade lighter than her eyes and she had it tied up so that he caught a glimpse of skin. She wasn’t wearing any jewelry or—he realized with a start—shoes.
“Hey, just because I don’t always hear you doesn’t mean I don’t listen for you. I want you to know you can talk to me for as long as you need to. And I’ll try to send you little signs.”
“Okay, uh, thanks.” He wiped a hand across his face and started over. “Sorry, it’s just … you look different. Good, but different,” he added quickly.
She glanced down at herself and shrugged. “I don’t pay attention to the things I used to obsess over.” When she looked up at him, she grinned impishly with more cheeky joy than he’d ever seen before. “This no-shoes thing is obviously new to me. It makes you even taller.” Then she peered around him. “Is that why Stark is back there gawking at me with his mouth flopped open?”
Kevin looked over his shoulder at Stark, who hastily closed his mouth. “Dude, are you staring like a tourist?”
Stark scowled and walked to them. “To not be a tourist here means something very permanent. Uh, hi,” he said to Aphrodite, nodding awkwardly. “You look good. Different, but still good.”
“Thanks. That’s what Kev just said. You don’t look so great. You’re bleeding.”
He grimaced at his bloody mess of an arm. “Yeah. It’s the cost we paid to get here. At least it doesn’t hurt right now.”
She lifted one of her shoulders. “Well, Bow Boy, every choice you make in life has a payment and a consequence. The difference here is that you knew the payment first. Wonder what the consequence will be?”
“Hopefully, that we stop the Neferets from ruining our worlds,” Stark muttered.
“You’re no less grumpy than I remembered. That’s a shame.” Then she refocused on Kevin. “So, you being here has something to do with Neferet?”
“You don’t know why we’re here?”
“No! I just felt your call. I thought you were dead. Here’s something you won’t hear me say often—I’m glad I was wrong.”
“But would that be such a bad thing? We could be together then.”
“Hey, I want you to listen to me closely—I do not want you to die young. I want you to live a full, long, happy life. I want you to love passionately and often—to form your own kind of family—to experience the world and to fulfill your destiny. Do you hear me?”
Kevin stared down at his feet. “I hear you. It’s just—don’t you miss me at all?”
“Kev, look at me.”
His gaze lifted.