Awakened (House of Night #8)(45)

"Hey, you're not in this alone."

"Thanks, Stevie Rae. I know I'm not. And anyway, this really isn't about me. It's really about doing what's right for Heath and Jack and Anastasia and whoever else Neferet and her evil horde decide to mow down next."

"Yeah, you can say that, but evil has taken a pretty dang big toll on you lately."

"That's true, but I'm still standing. A bunch of other folks aren't." I wiped my face with my sleeve again, wishing I had a Kleenex. "Speaking of evil and death and whatnot: have you seen Kalona? No way did Neferet really have him whipped and banished. He's gotta be all into everything with her. That means if she's in Tulsa, he's in Tulsa."

"Well, rumor has it she really did have him whipped," Stevie Rae said.

I snorted. "That figures. He's supposed to be her Consort, so she has him beaten. Wow. I kinda knew he liked pain, but even I'm surprised that he agreed to that."

"Well, uh, rumor has it he didn't exactly agree to it."

"Oh, please. Neferet is scary, but she can't order around an immortal."

"Looks like she can order around this one. She has some kinda hold over him because he failed in his, uh, dastardly mission to annihilate you."

I could hear the humor that Stevie Rae was trying to add to her voice and I attempted a little laugh for her benefit, but I think both of us knew the funny didn't begin to overcome the horrible. "Well, ya know, being bossed around by Neferet is something Kalona isn't gonna like, and it's about time he got a big old dose of not liking something," I said.

"I hear you. I think Kalona's probably here somewhere lurkin' around all in her nasty shadow, and by that I mean her crotch," said Stevie Rae.

"Eeeew!" That did make me laugh, and Stevie Rae's giggle joined mine. For a moment we were BFFs again, being cracked up by the proliferation of skank in our world. Sadly, too soon the less amusing parts of our world intruded and our laughter dried up way faster than it used to. I sighed and said, "So, during all this rumor listening and stuff you didn't actually happen to see Kalona, did you?"

"Nope, but I'm keepin' my eyes open."

"Good, 'cause catching that jerk with Neferet after she's told the High Council she's banished him for a hundred years would definitely be a step toward proving she's not what everyone thinks," I said. "Oh, while you're keeping your eyes open, remember to have them pointed up. Wherever Kalona is, those gross birdboys of his will eventually show, too. No way do I think they've all suddenly disappeared."

"Okay. Yeah. Got it."

"And didn't Stark tell me that there actually was a Raven Mocker spotted in Tulsa?" I paused, trying to remember what he had said.

"Yeah, there was one seen once, but not since then."

Stevie Rae's voice sounded weird, all tight like she was having trouble talking. Hell, who could blame her? I'd basically left her holding the ball there at my House of Night. Just thinking about what she'd gone through with Jack and Damien made me feel sick.

"Hey, be careful, 'kay? I couldn't stand it if anything happened to you," I said.

"Don't worry. I'll be careful." "Good. So, sunset is in just a little over two hours.

As soon as Stark's up we'll get our stuff together and be on the first plane home," I heard myself say, even though it made my stomach feel sick.

"Oh, Z! I'm so glad! Besides needin' you back here, I've missed you so much."

I smiled into the phone. "I've missed you, too. And it'll be good to be home," I lied.

"So text me when you know what time y'all will get in. If I'm not in my coffin I'll be there to meet ya."

"Stevie Rae, you do not sleep in a coffin," I said.

"I might as well 'cause I'm seriously dead to the world when the sun's up."

"Yeah, Stark, too."

"Hey, how is your boy? Feelin' better?"

"He's good." I paused and added, "Real good, actually."

True to form, Stevie Rae's BFF radar heard between the lines. "Oh, nuh uh. Y'all did not?"

"What if I said we did?" I could feel my cheeks getting warm.

"Then I'd say a big ol' Oklahoma yee haw!"

"Well yee haw away then."

"Details. I want some serious details," she said, and then gave a giant yawn.

"You'll get details," I said. "Almost dawn there?"

"A little past, actually. I'm fadin' fast, Z."

"No problem. Get some sleep. I'll see ya soon, Stevie Rae." "Later, 'gator," she said around another yawn.

I ended the call and went over to stare at Stark where he slept like a dead guy in our canopied bed. That I was totally in love with Stark wasn't in question, but just then I would really, really have liked it if I could shake his shoulder and have him wake up like a normal guy. But I knew it would be useless to even try to get him up early. Today the sun was unusually shiny on Skye--I mean, super bright with not one speck of clouds. No way Stark would be able to communicate decently with me for--I glanced at the clock--two and a half more hours.

Well, at least that gave me time to pack and also to find the queen and break the news to her--that I was gonna leave this place that felt so right, so much like a home to me, this place that Sgiach had decided to bring back into the real world again, at least kinda sorta, because of what I'd brought back into her life.