by P. C. Cast
“You said you’d be in a hurry, so I left the keys in the Polaris. It’s parked beside the car castle,” Tina replied. “I’ve also packed it with a few supplies. Since they built that cave the Resistance has quadrupled in size.”
“Thank you, my friend. I am sorry to bother you at this hour. Go back to your rest. I shall take it from here.”
“I don’t need to send Babos out again, do I?” Tina asked.
I watched Grandma smile into the video intercom. “Not if you trust me.”
The gate buzzed open. “That I do. Good day, Sylvia.”
“Wado, Tina,” replied Grandma.
“What does wado mean?” asked Rephaim as Grandma drove through the gate and down a long, tree-lined lane.
“It means thank you,” said Grandma. “Child, I hope you are here long enough for me to teach you some of your language, but if not, would you do me a personal favor?”
“Anything, Grandma Redbird.”
“Get my double in your world to teach you, and tell her she’s been errant in her tribal instruction.”
“I will do that!” Rephaim said.
“Ooooh! Can I learn too?” Stevie Rae asked.
“Is she family?” Grandma asked me.
“Absolutely,” I said.
“Then yes, you may,” Grandma said, pulling in next to the Polaris, which was parked right where Tina said it would be.
“ ‘Car castle’ sure fits it,” Stevie Rae said as we looked up at the stone garage with a pergola on the top of it as well as balustrades.
“Well, Tina is nothing if not interesting,” Grandma said. “Hurry, now. Dawn isn’t far away. Oh, can any of the three of you drive one of those things? I can in a pinch, but we’ll be going fast over unpaved, bumpy paths, and my skills aren’t up to that.”
“Heck yeah, I can drive any ATV. I have brothers,” said Stevie Rae, and we all climbed into the Polaris, which I discovered was basically a tricked-out golf cart that could go fast.
“I have a brother, but I couldn’t drive this thing,” I said.
“Z, not to be mean or anything, but I might be a better Okie than you.”
“I don’t doubt it.”
Grandma chuckled and said, “Head up that dirt road. Take a left when we get to the top of the first ridge and then turn right and keep turning right as the paths split. I’ll tell you when to slow down.”
“Easy-peasy!” Stevie Rae said. “Hang on, y’all!”
The Polaris roared to life and we hung on. Dodging spiderwebs and giant ruts like a pro, Stevie Rae guided it up, up, up, winding along the face of a ridge as the weather got colder, foggier, and just plain weirder the farther we climbed. When the poor visibility caused Stevie Rae to slow way down, Grandma shouted over the engine.
“Stop for a moment, please, child!”
Stevie Rae put the ATV into park. Then Grandma did something very strange. She stood up so that her head poked through the roll bars that pretended to be a roof, and shouted into the grayness that foretold dawn.
“Oak! It is me, Sylvia Redbird! I give you my promise that those with me mean no harm to my grandson or his people.”
There was a pregnant pause, and then Oak’s gentle voice replied from within the rustling winter-brown leaves of the trees surrounding us.
“I see you, Wise Woman, and I recognize those who are with you. You may pass in peace.”
And, just like that, the night warmed, and the icy fog surrounding us lifted, though mere yards from us I could see the fog thickened again, hiding the ridge in ice and mist.
“Okay, it’s safe to go on now,” said Grandma. “It’s not much farther, though. Keep a lookout for a large tree fallen across the path.”
“Will do!” Stevie Rae put the Polaris into gear and floored it.
I leaned close to Grandma so she could hear me over the engine. “So, Kevin did this? Protecting this ridge was one of the reasons he used Old Magick?”
“Yes. He had to. Stark was leading the Red Army directly to the Resistance. There were innocents here. They would all have been slaughtered.”
I nodded, beginning to understand the depth of Kevin’s need. I couldn’t blame him for calling the sprites. I probably would have done the same had I been in his place.
“Fallen tree, dead ahead!” Stevie Rae called as our headlights illuminated the felled log. “And we have about fifteen minutes before it’s dawn.”
“Go ahead and put it in park close to the tree,” Grandma said. Then she stood again and shouted, “I’m trying to harvest mustard plants by the light of the moon. That’s when they are most potent!”
“Huh?” I said.
“Sssh, we shouldn’t have to wait long before—”
From the trees above us, camo-wearing vampyres repelled to the ground. All of them had crossbows, with arrows nocked and pointed at us. One vampyre separated himself from the group. I recognized him before I could see his Mark. There was only one Warrior who held himself with that confidence, moved with that controlled, lithe grace, and held a huge longsword as if it was a feather.
“Dragon!” I couldn’t stop my mouth from shouting.
“Ohmygoodness! It’s so great to see you!” said Stevie Rae. She actually started to get out of the Polaris, no doubt to give him a big ol’ Oklahoma hello hug, but Dragon’s narrowed eyes and the longsword he kept trained on her definitely dampened her enthusiasm. It also had Rephaim moving protectively to his mate’s side.
But it was my grandma who beat all of us out of the vehicle. She went to Dragon, ignoring his longsword.
“Merry meet, friend Dragon. I bring allies from another world—the world Kevin told you of.” Grandma half turned, motioning for me to join her, which I did—moving carefully so I didn’t accidentally provoke anyone to shish kebab me. “This is my granddaughter—”
“Zoey Redbird!” Stepping from the thick forest shadows, Anastasia Lankford walked to me, smiling brightly. “Merry meet. It is lovely to see you alive and well.”
“Right back at you, Anastasia.” My eyes began filling with happy tears, and I couldn’t stop myself from hugging her tightly. “I’ve missed you.”
“Me too!” said Stevie Rae. “Can I have a hug?”
Anastasia looked from me to Stevie Rae, her eyes widening at the intricate red Mark that framed her face.
“Oh, sorry. Maybe you didn’t know me in this world? My name is Stevie Rae Johnson.”
“I do recall a young fledgling, but she rejected the Change early in her first year at the House of Night and was not in any of my classes.”
“Yeah,” Stevie Rae sighed. “That happened in my world too, but then I came back.”
“A female red vampyre. It is very odd,” said Dragon.
“Well, Dragon, if ya think I’m odd, just wait a few minutes till sunrise and check out what happens to Rephaim!” said Stevie Rae.
“Stevie Rae, I will hug you,” said Anastasia.
“Yeah!” Stevie Rae flew into her arms, and as she held Anastasia tight, she grinned over her shoulder at Dragon. “You’re next, Swordmaster.”
Dragon’s reply was a grunt.
Then Rephaim stepped before Anastasia and I held my breath. He knelt to one knee and gazed up at the priestess with eyes that were shining with unshed tears. “Anastasia Lankford, I pledge my protection to you.”
“Why, thank you, young man.” Anastasia smiled down at him, though I could see she was confused. “You and I must have also known one another in your world.”
“We did. But not for long. I should have protected you there. I will protect you here.”
“That’s great, boy. But you will have to stand in line behind me,” said Dragon.
“Oh, Bryan. A priestess can never have too many protectors, especially not in these very dangerous times.” Anastasia held out her hand, and Rephaim
took it, kissing it formally. “I gladly accept your offer of protection, though I hope I never have to use it.”
“Thank you, priestess. Thank you,” said Rephaim, getting to his feet.
“I hate to break up this lovely reunion, but dawn is almost here and we really need to get Stevie Rae inside and Rephaim somewhere he feels safe to make his change,” I said.
“All right.” Dragon spoke with his familiar grumpy reluctance. “Johnny B, conceal the Polaris.”
My grandma pointed to the back of the ATV. “Tina sent supplies. They are in the container in the back. And, before you ask, yes—I brought more cookies.”
Dragon smiled then. “Sylvia, you are Goddess-sent.”
“I am, indeed,” Grandma said cheekily.
“Drew, help Johnny B unload and carry the supplies to the cave. The rest of you stay here and be sure the Red Army doesn’t get past the sprites.”
“We saw them leave,” I said, trying not to gawk at this world’s version of Johnny B and Drew.
“Yes, a convoy passed us just as we were pulling onto Lone Star,” said Grandma. “What happened here today?”
“It’s what didn’t happen that’s important,” Anastasia said. “Your grandson saved two groups of human refugees and blue fledglings.”
“Oh, thank the Great Earth Mother,” murmured Grandma prayerfully.
“Exactly,” agreed Anastasia. “Now, please follow me. As your grandma knows, it isn’t far to the cave from here, but it is a steep climb.
We trudged along after Anastasia and Dragon. I kept staring at the two of them, thinking how unbelievably awesome it was to see their linked hands and their heads tilted toward each other. For a moment I wanted nothing more than to summon the sprite and figure out a payment that would allow them and Other Kevin, Other Stark, Other Aphrodite, and the rest of the good guys here, to go back to my world with us and forget about all the death and Darkness over here.
But I knew that wouldn’t be right. This world needs good guys too.
“It’s tempting, isn’t it, Z?” Stevie Rae spoke softly from beside me.
“Are you reading my mind?”
She grinned. “It’s not hard to do. I’m thinkin’ the same thing—how great it would be to have Dragon and Anastasia back with us.”
“It would be, but only for us. For this world—not so much.”
“Sometimes it sucks to not be selfish,” she said.
“Yep,” I said.
Then we didn’t talk at all because we had to climb single file up a rocky path that seemed to end nowhere—until we turned a narrow corner and saw the opening of a cave. Scents of simmering stew drifted from within, along with the muffled voices of women and children.
“Wow, this is awesomesauce!” said Stevie Rae. And then she gasped and turned quickly to Rephaim. “Uh-oh! And I didn’t even warn them.”
“Warn who about what?” Dragon said, instantly alert.
“Well, um, remember when I told you to just wait and see what happens to Rephaim at sunrise? Okay, don’t freak. I’ll explain everything after he flies away.”
“What is happening!” Dragon spoke forcefully, moving to stand protectively to block as much of the cave entrance as he could, longsword raised.
“There is no danger, friend Dragon,” Grandma said. “Rephaim is simply not quite as he seems—like most of us.”
“Sun’s rising now!” Stevie Rae ducked her head, cringing against a sun I couldn’t even see yet.
“She needs to be inside that cave!” I said.
I was taking off my jacket to throw over Stevie Rae’s exposed head when Dragon moved so that she could duck past him, where she stopped just inside the cave and turned to stare at Rephaim.
We all turned to stare at Rephaim.
He’d taken off his shirt and was looking around frantically, which made me wonder what happened to his pants and underwear if he was still wearing them when he changed into a raven.
But nothing happened. Nothing at all.
“I am not judging you, but your mate strips every sunrise? Why?” Anastasia asked Stevie Rae.
Stevie Rae didn’t answer. All she could do was stare at Rephaim.
“Are you sure it is sunrise now?” Grandma asked gently. “It is difficult to tell with the tree coverage.”
“Yes.” Stevie Rae’s voice was shaky. “There’s no doubt. Sunrise happened three minutes ago.”
Rephaim held out his arms, staring at his very human hands. “It is not happening. I am not changing!” He looked up, meeting my eyes. “Why? I do not understand.”
“Neither do I,” said Dragon.
“Rephaim changes into a raven every sunrise to sunset,” I explained, though my voice quivered, as I felt shaky too.
“Why? What type of creature is he?” asked Dragon.
“He used to be something called a Raven Mocker,” I said. “But they are ancient, evil creatures, and he turned from Darkness when he fell in love with Stevie Rae. Nyx forgave him, giving him the body you see him in now.”
“But I had a penance to pay for the evil deeds I once did,” Rephaim said. And though he answered Dragon, his gaze had found and remained on Stevie Rae. “So, when the sun is risen I return to the form of a beast. Only not here. Not now.”
“Perhaps that is because you committed no evil deeds in this world,” Anastasia said. “Nyx has no reason for you to serve penance here.”
I wish I could’ve explained to Anastasia how ironic her words were—and how cathartic for Rephaim—but I knew I couldn’t. So, all I did was watch through very watery eyes as Rephaim went to Stevie Rae, took her into his arms, and held her tightly as she cried happy tears all over his very bare and very human chest.
25
Stevie Rae
“Ohmygoodness, Kev made all of this?” Stevie Rae gawked with Rephaim and Z as they followed Aphrodite into the cave. The opening was modest. Only about half a dozen people could fit comfortably there—if they weren’t too tall or big. But step beyond the entrance and suddenly the cave became a huge underground cathedral with hearth fires burning cheerfully in several places all around the circumference.
“Yes and no,” said Anastasia. “He summoned the Old Magick sprites and paid them with medicine bags from both Sylvia Redbirds—the one in this world and the one in your world. The sprites did the rest.”
“It was a miraculous thing to witness. I am so pleased I played even a small part in it,” said Grandma Redbird.
“Sounds like you played more than a small part, Grandma,” said Zoey. “You paid the price.”
“Ah, but the cost was not high, and I’m sure my counterpart in your world would agree with me that it was well worth it.”
“Well, it’s super cool!” said Stevie Rae. She was holding Rephaim’s hand as if she’d never let him go, and still could hardly believe it was daylight outside, yet there he was—beside her and in human form—smiling down at her. She felt beyond giddy. As the Frankie Ballard song said, it felt like a jolt of sunshine and whiskey.
“Croak! Croak! ” From the entrance, a huge raven dive-bombed toward them, swooping low and circling to land on Anastasia’s raised arm.
“Oh, Tatsuwa! I am so glad you’re here.” The priestess stroked the bird’s dark head as he leaned adoringly into her hand.
“You own a raven?” Rephaim said.
Stevie Rae felt the tension in his body through their joined hands, and she looked up at her tall, handsome, very human lover. She’d never seen him around any other raven, and he was staring at this one with an expression of mixed curiosity and fear.
Anastasia smiled kindly at Rephaim. “Own him? Oh no! One cannot own another being. I simply found Tatsuwa when he was a fledgling. I helped him, and he has chosen to remain close to me.”
“That’s not quite accurate, my love,” said Dragon Lankfo
rd. “He hadn’t fledged yet when you found him.”
“You’re right, Bryan. This lovely boy was knocked out of his nest during a terrible storm almost a year ago. I found him and cared for him until he could fledge.”
“And he repays your kindness with absolute devotion,” finished Dragon.
“I believe I understand how he feels,” Rephaim said, sharing an intimate look with Stevie Rae.
“Well, you weren’t a baby when I found you,” she said.
“No, but I was hurt and helpless and couldn’t fly.” He looked at Anastasia. “Do you think he would mind if I touched him?”
“Tatsuwa belongs to himself. I do not answer for him. Ask him yourself.”
Rephaim squeezed Stevie Rae’s hand before letting it go. Then he approached the big bird. He’d moved his perch from Anastasia’s arm to her shoulder, and he was watching Rephaim with a bright, intelligent gaze. “Hello, Tatsuwa. I am Rephaim. I believe you and I have much in common.” He lifted his hand, offering it to the big bird as if he were a dog. Tatsuwa cocked his head, studying Rephaim, and then he leaned forward, allowing Rephaim to stroke his folded feathers.
“He likes it if you pet him right above his beak,” Anastasia said.
“He’s beautiful.” Rephaim spoke in a hushed voice as he stroked the raven.
“That’s how you look,” Stevie Rae said, coming up beside Rephaim. “Only you’re bigger.”
Rephaim sent her a shocked look. “Bigger? But he’s enormous!”
Stevie Rae grinned. “Do you understand now why Aphrodite is always teasing us about getting you a giant cage?”
“Aphrodite …” Dragon grumbled.
“Uh-oh, what did she do?” Zoey asked.
Before Dragon could answer, his mate spoke. “Just a little thing. She made sure a whole group of fledglings and human children didn’t get slaughtered by that Red Army convoy you passed on the way here. And your brother was with her as well.”
“Yes. He kept me from capturing her and bringing her here,” said Dragon.
“But wait, that’s good, right?” Stevie Rae said. “Kev found her, and she has to be on our side or she wouldn’t have saved those people.”