Chosen (House of Night #3)(42)

"Hey, you'll be safe. I promise." Loren took my chin in his hands and tilted my face up. Nervous anticipation made my breath go all quick and my stomach feel all fluttery. I'd tried to put him out of my mind, tried not to think about his kisses and the way he made my blood pound when he looked at me, but the truth was that even knowing how much my being with Loren would hurt Erik, and with the stress of Stevie Rae and Aphrodite and the horror of what had happened to Professor Nolan, I could still feel the imprint of his lips on mine. I wanted him to kiss me again and again and again.

"I believe you," I whispered. Right then I swear I would have believed anything he said to me.

"It pleases me to see you wearing my earrings."

Before I could say anything, he bent and kissed me, long and deep. His tongue met mine and I could taste wine and a seductive hint of blood in his mouth. After what seemed like a long time he lifted his mouth from mine. His eyes were dark and he was breathing deeply.

"I need to get you back to your dorm before I'm tempted to keep you beside me forever," he said. I used all the brilliance of my wit and managed to breathlessly say, "Okay." He took my arm again, like he had supported me on the way in. This time the touch felt hot and intimate. Our bodies brushed against each other as we walked through the gloomy morning to the girls' dorm. He led me up the front stairs and opened the door. The big dayroom was deserted. I glanced at the clock and could hardly believe it was a little after nine a.m.

Loren lifted my hand quickly to his mouth, kissing it warmly before he dropped it. "A thousand times good night. A thousand times the worse, to want thy light. Love goes toward love as schoolboys from their books, but love from love, toward school with heavy looks."

I vaguely recognized the lines from Romeo and Juliet. Was he telling me he loved me? My face flushed with nerves and excitement.

"Good-bye," I said softly. "Thank you for taking care of me."

"It was my pleasure, my lady," he said. "Adieu." He bowed to me, closing his fist over his heart in a respectful vampyre salute from a warrior to his High Priestess, and then he was gone. In a haze of leftover shock and the lightheadedness Loren's kisses made me feel, I practically stumbled up the stairs and to my room. I thought about going to see Aphrodite, but I was on the edge of total exhaustion and there was only one thing I had enough energy to do before I passed out. First, I dug into my wastepaper basket and found the two halves of the horrid birthmas card Mom and the step-loser had sent me. I felt a sick jolt in my stomach as I held the edges together and saw that I'd remembered right. It had been a cross with a note staked to the middle of it. Yes. It did remind me eerily of what had been done to Professor Nolan.

Before I could change my mind, I took out my cell phone, drew a deep breath, and dialed the number. Mom answered on the third ring.

"Hello! It's a blessed morning!" she said perkily. Clearly she hadn't checked the caller I.D.

"Mom, it's me."

As I expected, her tone instantly changed. "Zoey? What's happened now?" I was too tired to play our usual mother-daughter games. "Where was John late last night?"

"What ever do you mean, Zoey?"

"Mom, I don't have time for this crap. Just tell me. After you two left Utica Square, what did you do?"

"I don't think I like your tone, young lady."

I stifled an urge to scream in frustration. "Mom, this is important. Very important. As in life and death."

"You're always so dramatic," she said. Then she gave a nervous little fake laugh. "Your father came home with me, of course. We watched a football game on TV and then we went to bed."

"What time did he leave for work this morning?"

"What a silly question! He left about an hour and a half ago, as usual. Zoey, what is this about?" I hesitated. Could I tell her? What had Neferet said about calling the police? Surely what had happened to Professor Nolan would be plastered all over the news later today. But not yet. Not now. And I knew darn well my mother couldn't be trusted to keep anything quiet.

"Zoey? Are you going to answer me?"

"Just watch the news. You'll see what it's about," I said.

"What have you done?" I realized she didn't sound worried or upset, only resigned.

"Nothing. It's not me. You better look closer to home for who did what. And remember, I don't live at your home anymore."

Her voice turned brittle. "That's right. You most certainly do not. I don't know why you're even calling here. Didn't you and your hateful grandmother say you weren't going to talk to me anymore?"

"Your mother is not hateful," I said automatically.

"She is to me!" my mother snapped.

"Never mind. You're right. I shouldn't have called. Have a good life, Mom." I said, and hung up on her. Mom had been right about one thing. I should never have called her. The card was probably just a coincidence anyway. I mean, there are only about a gazillion religious specialty stores in Tulsa and Broken Arrow. They all carry those crappy cards. And they all tend to look the same-either doves and waves washing over footprints in the sand, or crosses and blood and nails. It didn't necessarily mean anything. Did it?

My head felt as woozy as my stomach felt sick. I needed to think, and I couldn't think while I was so tired. I'd sleep and then try to figure out what I should do. Instead of throwing the card away, I put the two halves in the top drawer of my desk. Then I yanked off my clothes and pulled on my most comfortable pair of sweats. Nala was already snoring on my pillow. I snuggled next to her, closed my eyes, forced my mind to clear of terrible images and unspeakable questions, and instead concentrated on my cat's purring until I finally drifted off into an exhausted sleep.