Hidden (House of Night #10)(89)

"Chaos burns-people, vampyres, society. The victor who emerges from those ashes controls the world. I will be that victor." Feeling smug and empowered, Neferet smiled.

"But you already had power. You were High Priestess of the House of Night. You were beloved by your Goddess. Why cast that aside?"

Neferet narrowed her eyes at Sylvia. "Power does not equate to control. How much power does your Great Earth Goddess wield if she cannot do something as simple as control whether or not I take your life? I learned long ago that control is true power."

Sylvia shook her head, finally looking and sounding as weary as she should be. "You cannot truly control anyone except yourself, Tsi Sgili. It might appear otherwise, but we all make our own choices."

"Really? Let us test that theory. I assume you would prefer to live." Neferet paused, waiting expectantly for Sylvia's response.

"I would." Sylvia's words were a whisper.

"Well, I believe I can control whether you live or die. Now, let's see who has the most power." Neferet raised her wrist. With a quick, practiced movement she slashed one pointed fingernail through the vein that pulsed near the surface there. "I grow weary of this conversation." Neferet's tone changed to singsong as her blood flowed.

"Come, children, taste my rage

Use my power to close her cage!"

Her loyal tendrils of Darkness slithered to her, eagerly feeding from her wrist. Refortified, they circled back to Sylvia. The old woman lifted her arms defensively, but as she did so several of her bracelets broke, raining turquoise and silver through the closing bars of her cage, and falling harmlessly in the growing pool of her blood.

When the old woman tried to begin her song again, her words were cut short as pulsing tendrils filled the skin left naked and unprotected on her arms.

Sylvia Redbird gasped in pain renewed. Neferet laughed.

Kalona

Humans don't look up. That was one thing that had not changed as the world aged. Man had conquered the sky, and yet unless there was a brilliant sunset or a full, gleaming moon to gaze upon, humans rarely glanced above their heads. Kalona did not understand it, but he was grateful for it. He circled the Mayo, sighting Damien, Stevie Rae, Shaylin, and Shaunee. Then he returned to the ONEOK Plaza building, landing beside Thanatos.

"The four are in place."

Thanatos nodded. "Good. Zoey has gone within. It is time to begin." She reached within her voluminous velvet robe and brought out a large, dark bag and a long box of wooden matches.

Kalona gestured to the bag. "Salt to bind?"

"Indeed, it is a large building. I need a lot of salt."

The immortal nodded, thinking that he'd actually come to appreciate Thanatos's dry sense of humor. "Let's hope there is some luck in that bag as well."

"Luck? I didn't think immortals believed in it."

"We're rescuing a human, not an immortal. Humans cross their fingers and toes and wish each other good luck. I am simply following suit," he said. "Plus, I believe we can use all the help we can get. If that means a little luck, then I will take it."

"As will I." Thanatos held out her hand to him. "No matter what the outcome of tonight, I know that you will keep your oath to me, and through me, to Nyx. I wish you to blessed be, Kalona."

He grasped her forearm and bowed his head to her respectfully. "Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again, High Priestess."

Kalona took to the sky as Thanatos crossed Fifth Street and entered the dark alley where Damien, guarded by Stark, waited. Perching on one of the east wall's stone buttress, Kalona watched from above. He was surprised that Thanatos's voice carried so clearly to him-and then his surprise turned to vigilance. The power in the High Priestess's spell was tangible, and if he could hear it, so too might a human.

"Come, air, to this night's circle I call

protect, defend, be present-hear all."

Thanatos struck the match and the yellow candle leaped to life, illuminating Damien's somber face. Stark stood in front of him, bow and arrow in hand. Kalona hovered overhead as the High Priestess retraced her steps, moving quickly out of the alley and to the front of the Mayo. Hand buried in her robes, Thanatos was spilling a trail of salt. The lights on the decorative foyer entrance caught the tiny crystals, and from above it looked as if she were leaving a path of diamonds behind her.

Thanatos walked to the small, round table at which Darius and Shaunee were sitting. The young fledgling had placed her large purse before her, so that it blocked the view of her red pillar candle from passersby.

"Come, fire, to this night's circle I plead

vigilant, strong, to fulfill our need."

The match burst into flame before Thanatos could strike it, lighting the red candle in an audible whoosh!

Kalona scowled. It was good that the elements were manifesting, but he wished they would be less noisy about it.

With salt trailing her, Thanatos walked quickly around the building to the sidewalk that ran beside the street called Cheyenne. As on the alley side of the building, there were buttresses halfway up its nine stories, and that was where Kalona perched, gazing down at the small fledgling who sat cross-legged in the middle of a hedgerow. Shaylin had hidden herself so well that Thanatos almost walked past her. Kalona nodded to himself in approval of the child. "Young," he muttered, "but wily. Nyx was not wrong to gift that one."