Hunted (House of Night #5)(72)

"That bastard choked you?" Aphrodite said. "Damn, that pisses me off! Oh, and abbreviated herd of nerd, in case you didn't get it the first time, get this: I'm not in the least bit affected by the mojo the winged freak lays on you. I don't like him. At all."

"That's right," I said. "I noticed that earlier today. You really don't feel drawn to him at all."

"What's to be drawn to? He's a big old bully. And he's never dressed properly. And I really don't like birds. I mean, the bird flu is supposed to be a seriously unattractive way to die. So, no. He's got nothing for me." "I wonder why his stuff doesn't work on you?" I mused aloud.

"'Cause she's abby-normal?" Shaunee said.

"A serious freak in a human skin suit?" Erin added.

"How about because I'm exceptionally intuitive, and I see through his bullshit? Oh, that also means I see through yours, too," Aphrodite said.

"She might have something there," Damien said, sounding excited. "We've all felt his draw, but we can resist him, unlike the other fledglings, right?"

We nodded.

"Well, we're all into the elements--have been physically and intuitively touched by them, much more so than the other fledglings. Maybe our extrasensory abilities give us the power to resist Kalona's allure."

"The red fledglings said they weren't drawn to him at all, just like Aphrodite," I said. "And they all have psychic abilities."

"That sounds logical, and it works for fledglings, but what about adult vampyres?" Darius said.

"Don't your psychic abilities vary, just like ours do?" Aphrodite said. "Sure, fledglings say all vamps can do the mind thing, but it's not really true, is it?"

"No, it isn't really true, though many of us are highly intuitive," Darius said.

"Are you?" I asked.

Darius smiled. "Only when it comes to protecting those I have sworn to defend."

"But that means there is something especially intuitive about you," Damien said, still sounding excited. "Okay, so what other vamps at this House of Night are the most psychic?"

"Neferet," we all said together.

"We already know that. She's made her decision for Kalona, so we're not going to count her right now. Who else?"

"Damien! I think you are on to something!" I said. Everyone stared at me, but I was staring at the extra cats in the room.

And, as per usual, Damien got it right away. "Dragon, Professor Anastasia, and Professor Lenobia! They're who I'd consider as the most intuitive after Neferet."

"It's no coincidence their cats are here with us," Darius said.

"They're a sign, sent to us to let us know we're on the right track," Damien said.

"Then that's the second reason we can't get out of here to night," I said.

"The second reason?" Aphrodite said.

"The first is that there's no way I can control the elements long enough to keep all those Raven Mockers from seeing us; I'm just too tired. And the second is if Dragon and Professor Anastasia and Professor Lenobia can actually see through Kalona's bullpoopie, then maybe they can help us get rid of him."

"The world is falling apart. It's really okay to cuss a little," Aphrodite said. "The world falling apart isn't an excuse to take up bad habits," I said, sounding weirdly like my grandma.

"So it is agreed: We stay here one more day. Zoey, you must sleep. Tomorrow you all attend classes as you normally would," Darius said.

"Yeah, agreed," I said. "Damien, can you get Dragon alone long enough to see if he might be on our side?"

"I should be able to during my fencing class tomorrow."

"Who has Professor Anastasia's Spells and Rituals class?"

The Twins raised their hands like good students.

"Can you guys check her out?"

"Definitely," Erin said.

"Will do," Shaunee said.

"I'll talk to Lenobia," I said.

"And Darius and I will scout out where all those nasty Raven Mockers are stationed around the walls," Aphrodite said.

"Be careful," I told her.

"She will be," Darius said.

"I think no matter what, we should leave tomorrow. Staying here any longer than absolutely necessary feels wrong," I said.

"Agreed. If your strength has returned," Darius said.

"It better," I said.

There was a pause, and then Darius told me solemnly, "When we escape, Kalona will come after you. He will hunt you until he finds you."

"How do you know that for sure?" Aphrodite said.

"Tell them what he calls you," Darius said to me.

I sighed. "He calls me A-ya."

"Oh!" Erin said.

"Shit!" Shaunee finished.

"Now that's seriously bad news," Damien said.

"He really believes you're the maiden the Ghigua women used to trap him more than a thousand years ago?" Aphrodite said.

"Apparently."

"Do you think it would help if you told him you're no maiden?" Aphrodite flashed me a cocky grin.