Hidden (House of Night #10)(80)

"Okay! That's enough!" Thanatos's command came as Stark and Darius rejoined Kalona and were closing on Aurox. The Warriors halted, though Aurox thought they did so reluctantly.

"Spirit, earth, water, fire, air-I thank each of you for your powerful presence. You may depart now, and until next time, merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!" Thanatos closed the circle. As one, all of the candles flamed high and then went out.

"Huh, it worked," Zoey spoke into the silence.

Using his shirt, Aurox wiped the blood from his nose and mouth. He didn't actually think about what he was doing-he just followed his legs as they strode over to Zoey. Then his arms were lifting her and his body was twirling her around and around as his voice shouted, "You did it! It worked!"

A burst of laughter escaped from her, but as soon as he put her down she was stepping away from him, moving to stand by Stark's side.

"It wasn't just me who did it. It was all of us." She took Stark's hand and, ignoring Aurox, smiled at everyone else. "You guys were all awesome."

"Okay, yeah, the circle worked," Stark said. "But how does that translate to helping him get Grandma out of Neferet's penthouse? Neferet isn't gonna let you cast a circle up there."

"Well, I didn't think that far ahead," Zoey said.

"Must you see Aurox to strengthen him with the elements?" Kalona asked.

"Actually, no," Zoey said. "It's harder, and I don't know how long we could keep it up, but we don't have to see someone to send our element to him."

"I believe a spell of protection is the answer." Thanatos spoke slowly, reasoning aloud. "Surround the Mayo building. I will open the circle and cast the spell, binding it with salt. Zoey, as long as spirit is at the center of the circle, in the heart of the building, the circle should hold."

"The lobby of the Mayo is big. There's a bar and a restaurant in it," Aphrodite said. "Food's pretty good, and they actually have a decent champagne list, and it's dark and romantic."

"I care because?" Zoey asked.

"Because you and I can sit there, in a corner booth. I can sip good champagne. You can read a boringly huge textbook while you really are lighting a smaller, less obvious version of that purple candle and zapping bull boy with all of the elements."

"Where will we be?" Stark asked, not looking happy at all.

"Outside, watching over the nerd herd so that some street crazy doesn't stagger into, say, Queen Damien and cause him to shriek, drop his candle, and f**k everything up," Aphrodite said.

"I would not drop my candle," Damien said.

"What if he smelled really, really bad and you thought he had lice?" Aphrodite asked.

"Eeew," Damien said and shuddered.

"Told you so," Aphrodite said.

"Aurox, can you do it?" Zoey asked.

He met her gaze and didn't hesitate. "Yes. I can do it. I will do it. As long as the elements can strengthen me." Aurox paused and couldn't stop a smile of pure joy. "Me! I am more than a beast. I am more than Darkness." He turned from Zoey to Thanatos. "You said I had a choice. I choose Light and the path of the Goddess."

Thanatos returned his smile. "Yes, child. Yes, I believe you have. I also believe Nyx has heard you."

"Well, he's definitely talkin' loud enough for the Goddess to hear," Stevie Rae said, but she smiled at him, too.

Zoey wasn't smiling, though. She'd turned to Kalona. "Can you really catch Grandma? It sounds ridiculous and super scary. I mean, Aurox is going to throw her off the roof of the Mayo."

Kalona spread his wings. They surrounded the group and brushed against the ceiling of the basement. The immortal's wounds had opened during the fight, and blood ran freely down his body. Aurox thought he looked like an avenging god.

"I will catch her and once I have her, Sylvia Redbird will be completely safe."

Zoey nodded. "I'm counting on that. Okay, then, that's our plan."

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Zoey

Waiting until dusk was hell. Keeping my mouth shut when the rest of the depot fledglings woke up slowly and shuffled sleepily around, taking their time, eating cereal and talking about school and homework and other crap that was totally not saving Grandma made my head pound and my stomach clench.

And then, of course, add to everything the fact that Aurox was crouched up in Tower #1, hiding out, waiting until we come back and pick him up right before we start the whole circle-casting-save-Grandma plan because, as Aphrodite said, "We can't let anyone see him. If Neferet gets one tiny word that Bull Boy stuck his face back at the House of Night and we didn't totally f**k him up, well, then paint a giant target on him and call Grandma toast."

So, yeah, I had one humongous headache and I was working on some serious IBS.

"Have a brown pop," Stark said, sliding a chair over next to where I was sitting at one of the kitchen tables.

"Already had one," I said.

"Have another." He leaned into me, kissed my cheek, and whispered, "You're tapping your foot like a crazy person and the other kids are looking at you like you might explode."

"I might." I nuzzled him, using that as an excuse to whisper back.

"Count Chocula, Z?" Stevie Rae asked with exaggerated perkiness.