Awakened (House of Night #8)(23)

"Oh, that's just a bunch of bull," Stevie Rae said. Neferet's emerald eyes skewered her.

"Have you never cared for someone, only to find out later that he was truly a monster in disguise?"

Stevie Rae felt all the blood drain from her face. She answered the only way she knew how--with the truth. "In my life, monsters don't disguise themselves."

"You did not answer my question, young Priestess."

Stevie Rae lifted her chin. "I'll answer your question. No, I've never cared for someone and not known what he was from the beginning. And if you're talkin' 'bout Dallas, I knew he might have issues, but I never expected him to turn to Darkness and go all crazy."

Neferet's smile was sly. "Yes, I heard about Dallas. So sad ... so sad." "Neferet, I still need to understand the ruling of the High Council. As Sword Master and Leader of the Sons of Erebus at this House of Night, I am entitled to be kept informed regarding anything that might compromise the security of our school, whether I am in mourning or not," Dragon said, looking pale but determined.

"You are quite right, Sword Master. It is really very simple. When the immortal's soul returned to his body, he confessed to me that he killed the human boy because he thought Heath's hatred for me was a threat." Neferet shook her head, looking sad and contrite. "The poor child had somehow convinced himself that I was to blame for the deaths of Professor Nolan and Loren Blake. Kalona believed that by executing Heath, he was protecting me." She shook her head. "He had been apart from this world for too long. He truly did not understand the human could pose no threat to me. His action in executing Heath was simply a misguided Warrior protecting his High Priestess, which is why the High Council and I have been so merciful in his punishment. As some of you are already aware, Kalona was flogged one hundred strokes and then banished from vampyre society and my side for one full century."

There was a long stretch of silence, then Penthasilea said, "It seems like this entire debacle has been one tragic misunderstanding after another, but surely we have all paid enough for what has happened in the past. What is important now is that the school reconvene and we all get on with our lives."

"I bow to your wisdom and experience, Professor Penthasilea," Neferet said, inclining her head respectfully. Then she turned to face Dragon. "This has, indeed, been a difficult time for many of us, but you have paid the greatest price, Sword Master. So it is you I must look to for absolution for my mistakes, both personal and professional. Can you possibly lead the House of Night into a new era, creating a Phoenix from the ashes of our heartache?"

Stevie Rae wanted to scream at Dragon that Neferet was fooling them all-- that what had happened at the House of Night wasn't a tragic mistake, it was a tragic misuse of power by Neferet and Kalona. But her heart sank as she watched Dragon bow his head and in an utterly heartbroken and defeated voice say, "I would like us all to move on, for if we do not, I'm afraid I will not survive the loss of my mate." Lenobia looked like she wanted to speak up, but when Dragon began to sob brokenly, she kept silent and moved to his side to comfort him.

That leaves me to stand up to Neferet, Stevie Rae thought, and glanced at Kramisha, who was watching Neferet with a barely veiled what-the-f*ck look. Okay, so that leaves me and Kramisha to stand up to Neferet, Stevie Rae corrected inside her head. She squared her shoulders and readied herself for the epic confrontation that was sure to come when she called bullshit on the fallen High Priestess.

At that moment a weird noise drifted into the Council Chamber from the window that had been left open to the crisp night air. It was a horrible, mournful sound, and it caused the small hairs on Stevie Rae's arms to lift.

"What is that?" Stevie Rae said, her head turned --along with everyone else's--to the open window.

"I never heard nothin' like it," Kramisha said. "And it gives me the creeps."

"It's an animal. And it's in pain." Dragon instantly pulled himself together, his expression shifted, and he was, once again, a Warrior and not a heartbroken mate. He got to his feet and crossed the Council Chamber to the window.

"A cat?" Penthasilea said, looking distressed.

"I can't see it from here. It's coming from the east side of campus," Dragon said, turning from the window and heading to the door purposefully.

"Oh, Goddess! I think I know the sound." Tragic and broken, Neferet's voice had them all turning their attention back to her. "It's the howling of a dog, and the only canine on this campus is Stark's Labrador, Duchess. Has something happened to Stark?"

Stevie Rae watched Neferet press one slim hand against her throat, as if to hold back the pounding of her heart at the terrible thought that something could have happened to Stark. Stevie Rae wanted to slap her. Neferet could have received a dang Academy Award for Best Fake Tragic Performance by a Lead Bitch. That's it. She wasn't going to let her get away with this crap.

But Stevie Rae didn't get a chance to confront Neferet. The moment Dragon opened the door to the hallway a cacophony of sound flooded everyone. Fledglings were rushing toward the Council Chamber. Most of them were crying and shouting, but above all of the noise--above even the horrible howling--one sound became distinctly recognizable: that of a person keening in grief.

Within the grief, Stevie Rae recognized the voice.