Loved (House of Night Other World #1)(101)

When no one spoke, she rolled her eyes. “Just ask.”

“Okay,” I said. “Who was on the phone and why did you pour out your favorite drink and your favorite pills? Not that we don’t think it’s an excellent idea, but still.”

“That was the hospital on the phone. It was about my mother.”

Shaunee snorted. “What, did they release her and she had not one friend who could come pick her up? No surprise.”

“Tell her to call Lyft,” Damien said. “You don’t need to deal with her issues anymore.”

“I’m not going to have to. She’s dead.”

“What? How?” I sputtered.

“She OD’d. Apparently, it was an accident. She mixed too many prescription drugs and too much alcohol one last time. She wasn’t hooked up to monitors anymore because she was supposed to go home as soon as the snow cleared. They thought she was sleeping and she’d yelled at the nurses so many times for bothering her that they left her alone. Like she’d demanded. And she died.”

I went to Aphrodite. “Are you okay?”

She looked up at me. Her eyes were clear and her expression was serene. “I am.” Then she lifted a pretend glass and said, “I’d like to offer a toast.” We all grabbed glasses, totally confused about what was going on, but wanting to be supportive. Aphrodite stood. “Sometimes people get exactly what they deserve. Let’s hope it works like that for Z’s brother, too. So, to Other Kevin! Let him get all the goodness he deserves!” “To Other Kevin! Let him get all the goodness he deserves!”

And that was something we could all drink to.



Zoey

I went back to Woodward Park the next night—alone. Stark hadn’t wanted me to go by myself, but I’d insisted. It’d stopped snowing not long after midnight the night before, and the snowplows had worked overtime to get the streets cleared. But it was after dark, and the roads were still crappy enough that the only cars driving by the park were police cruisers and ambulances.

I made my way slowly to Neferet’s grotto. The rowan tree had taken root. It stood straight and strong in the center of what was our circle, fully leafed out and looking as magickal as it truly was. As I passed it, I touched it gently, and spoke a simple prayer to Nyx.

“Please stay close to Other Kevin, Goddess. I know you love him. Please let him know it so completely that he stays strong even when Darkness tries to put out his Light.”

The tree swayed and in the murmuring of its impossibly green leaves I heard the echo of Nyx’s voice fill the world around me, “Trust me, Daughter, to care for my Son.”

I bowed my head and felt a wash of relief that lessened my sadness a little. “Thank you, Nyx.”

Then I went to the wall. I knew what was compelling me. It was her journal—Neferet’s Curse—and the lingering pity I felt for Emily Wheiler.

I rested the palm of my hand on the wall, closed my eyes, and spoke to her.

“They were wrong—that man who abused you, and the others who stood by and let it happen. The vampyres you went to were wrong, too. They should have gotten you help—should have known something was seriously wrong with you. And we were wrong. First, to let you have so much power, and now to be so quick to cast blame on you—so quick that we opened our world to monsters.” I paused and added, “But goodness came of it. I found my brother. Damien found his Jack. Aphrodite found herself. And I learned something important about you. I learned that I feel more pity for you than hate, and that’s a pretty big thing. So, Neferet, for the first time, I can say I honestly hope you find peace. And I wish you to blessed be.”

I took my hand from the wall and turned my back to it as I pulled out my cell phone and punched the old number I’d found earlier that day. He picked up on the second ring.

“Uh, hi, Kevin. This is your sister, Zoey.”



Zoey Redbird didn’t see the thin tendril of Darkness that snaked from the almost-invisible crack in the wall where her hand had just rested. It reached for her, trembling with need. As it came within a hair’s width of her body, its sightless face rippled and its maw-like mouth opened. Pointed teeth glistened with spittle. At that instant, Zoey shifted her stance, allowing the light of the newly risen moon to shine behind her. When the silver beam touched the tendril it quivered, smoked, and slowly—very slowly—it slithered back between the rocks and disappeared.

The end … for now.





An excerpt from


HOUSE OF NIGHT

OTHER WORLD

? book two ?





Stark

“Stevie Rae! There you are! Hey, we need to talk.” Stark rushed across the springy newly green grass toward the statue of Nyx standing proudly in the middle of the House of Night’s main courtyard. Beside Stevie Rae were two young fledglings who had just finished lighting the myriad of votive candles that flickered cheerily around the base of the Goddess. They bowed nervously but respectfully to greet Stark. “Hi, yeah, hi. Nice job with the candles and everything. Okay, time to get to your next class!” Stark waved his hand dismissively and shooed them away.

The two fledglings practically sprinted toward the rear entrance to the school. Stevie Rae scowled at Stark. “Great. You just scared ’em. Don’t you remember what it was like to be newly Marked? Those two have only been here for a week. They’re still cryin’ in their pillows at night for their mamas.”