Tempted (House of Night #6)(18)

Now those human eyes were open again and trained on her. I don't know how to answer that. I am a red vampyre, if that's what you mean. The first red vampyre. She thought briefly about Stark and his completed red tattoos, which made him the second red vampyre, and wondered where he was going to fit in their world, but no way was she going to mention him to the Raven Mocker. You are the Red One. Well, okay, I guess I am. My father said the Red One was powerful. I am powerful, Stevie Rae said with no hesitation. Then she held his gaze and continued, Your father? You mean Kalona? Yes. He's gone, ya know. I know. He looked away from her then. I should be with him. No offense, but from what I know of your daddy, I think it's best that you're here and he's not. He isn't exactly a nice guy. Not to mention Neferet has gone completely batshit crazy, and the two of them are like peas in a nasty pod.

You talk a lot, he said and then grimaced painfully. Yeah, it's a habit. A nervous habit, but she didn't add that. Look, you need to rest. I'm gonna go. Plus, the sun started to come up five minutes ago, and that means I need to be inside. The only reason I can walk around at all out there is because the sky's so full of clouds. She tied the trash bag closed and scooted the water bucket and dipper within his reach--if he was able to do any reaching. So, bye. I'll, um, see ya later. She started to hurry away, but his voice stopped her. What will you do with me? I haven't figured that part out yet. She sighed and fidgeted, picking nervously at her fingernails.

Look, I think you're safe here for at least one day. The storm isn't letting up and the nuns aren't going to be messin' around out here. All of the fledglings will probably stay inside until sunset. By that time I should know what to do with you. I still do not understand why you don't tell the others about me. Yeah. Well, that makes two of us. Try to rest. I'll be back. Her hand was on the door latch when he spoke again. My name is Rephaim. Stevie Rae smiled over her shoulder at him. Hi. I'm Stevie Rae. Nice to meet ya, Rephaim.

Rephaim watched the Red One leave the building. He counted one hundred breaths after the door clicked closed, and then he began shifting his body until he'd forced himself into a sitting position. Now that he was fully conscious he wanted to take inventory of his injuries. His ankle was not broken. It pained him, but he could move it. His ribs were bruised but, again, he didn't think any of them were broken. The bullet wound in his chest was serious, but the Red One had cleaned it and packed it with moss. If it didn't fester and putrefy, he would heal. He could move his right arm, though it was difficult, and it felt unnaturally stiff as well as weak.

Finally, he shifted his attention to his wing. Rephaim closed his eyes and probed with his mind, following sinew and ligaments, muscle and bone, through his back and down the length of his shattered pinion. He gasped, almost unable to breathe, as he truly comprehended the full extent of the damage the bullet, and then the terrible, ripping fall had done. He would never fly again. The reality of the thought was so horrible that his mind skittered away from it. He would think of the Red One instead and try to remember everything Father had told him about her powers. Maybe he would find some clue in his memory that would explain her unusual behavior.

Why had she not killed him? Perhaps she still would--or at least perhaps she would betray his presence to her friends. If she did, so be it. Life as he had known it was over for him. He would welcome the chance to die battling anyone who tried to keep him prisoner. But it hadn't seemed she'd been imprisoning him. He thought hard, forcing his mind to work through pain and exhaustion and despair. Stevie Rae. That had been the name she'd given him. What was her motive in saving him if not to imprison and use him? Torture. It made sense that she had kept him alive so that she and her allies could force him to tell her all he knew about Father. What other reason could she have for not killing him? He would have done the same had he been lucky enough to have been in her place. They will discover that the son of an immortal will not be easily broken, he thought.

Stressed beyond the reserves of even his great strength, Rephaim collapsed. He tried to position himself so that he could attain some relief from the agony that wracked his body with every beat of his heart, but it was impossible. Only time could relieve his physical pain. Nothing would relieve the soul-deep pain of never being able to fly again--of never being whole. She should have killed me, he thought. Perhaps I can goad her into it if she returns alone. And if she comes back with her allies and attempts to torture my father's secrets from me, I will not be the only one to shriek in pain. Father? Where are you? Why did you desert me? That was the thought foremost in his mind when unconsciousness finally claimed Rephaim again and, at last, he slept.

Chapter Nine

Hey, remember you promised the nun you'd go to bed. And I'm pretty sure that didn't mean going to his bed. Heath jerked his chin at the door to Stark's room. I raised my brows at Heath. He sighed. I said I'd share you with the stupid vamps if I had to, but I didn't say I'd like it. I shook my head. You're not sharing me with anyone tonight. I'm just going to make sure Stark's okay, then go to my own bed. Alone. By myself. Got it? Got it. He grinned and then kissed me softly. See you soon, Zo. See you soon, Heath. I watched him walk away down the hall. He was tall and muscular and looked every inch the star quarterback. He was all set to go to OU on a full-ride scholarship next year, and then, after college, he was going to be either a cop or a fireman. Whichever he chose there was one thing for certain--Heath would be one of the good guys.