Tempted (House of Night #6)(42)

What did you see? Damien asked her. Aphrodite glanced at me, and I nodded almost imperceptibly. Kalona burning up vamps and people. Burning them? Shaunee spoke right up. Sounds like something I should be able to discourage. I am Miss Fire. Right you are, Twin, Erin said. Brain sharers--you weren't in the vision. Aphrodite jabbed her syrupy fork at the Twins. Fire and blood and horror and whatnot were. You two were probably shopping. Shaunee and Erin narrowed their eyes at Aphrodite. Where was Zoey? Damien asked. Aphrodite's gaze found mine as she answered. Zoey was there. In one of my visions that was a good thing. In the other, not so good. What's that supposed to mean? Jack asked. The vision was confusing. Seemed like what I saw was a double-edged sword. To me it was obvious that she was stalling, and I was just opening my mouth to tell her to go ahead and tell them everything when Kramisha, who was sitting down the table to my right, raised her arm and waved around the piece of paper she was holding.

I know what it means, she said. Or I know part a what it means. I wrote this before I went to bed last night. She smiled at Sister Mary Angela. After we finished watching that nun movie. I'm glad you liked it, dear, Sister Mary Angela said. I did, but I still think them kids was bad. What are you flailing around? Aphrodite asked. You could be a little patient, Kramisha said. And show some manners. It's for Zoey anyway. Here, pass it down to her. The piece of paper was passed from person to person till it got to me. As everyone had probably suspected, it was one of Kramisha's poems. I stifled a sigh. As if reading my mind, Aphrodite said, Please tell me it's not another one of those prophetic poems. Goddess, they give me a headache. Better stock up on Tylenol, I said. I read the first line to myself, blinked, and then looked up at Aphrodite.

What did you say just a second ago? Something about a sword? She said you bein' there with Kalona was a double-edged sword. That's what made me give you the poem now, 'stead of waitin' for a more private time. Kramisha's sharp gaze found Erik, then she added, I have more sense than some people 'bout puttin' my business all out in public. That's the first line of this poem, A double-edged sword,' I said. That's spooky, said Stevie Rae. Yep, I said, staring at the poem. Spooky is a good word for it. What do you want to do about it? Damien asked me. I want to take the poem and, with the help of my friends, figure it out. But I want to do it at home, I said simply. Damien smiled and nodded. Home. That sounds good. I looked at Aphrodite. What do you think? I think I miss the Vichy shower in my room, she said. Darius? I asked. We have to go back before we can focus on going forward.

Shaunee and Erin? They glanced at each other, and then Erin said, Home. Definitely. Stevie Rae? Well, I have somethin' to tell y'all before you make any big decisions. Okay, go ahead, I said. I watched Stevie Rae suck in a big, long breath and then blow it out through her pursed lips, like she was taking an asthma test. Her words followed her breath and she spoke quickly and clearly, letting what she said carry throughout the room. There're more red fledglings than just the kids here. They didn't change when I did like these guys. They're still bad. I think--I think they might still be connected to Neferet. She turned to me and her eyes begged me to understand. I didn't say anything to you 'cause I wanted to give them a chance. I thought that they'd find their humanity again if they were just left alone and could think through things on their own, or if maybe I could help them.

I'm sorry, Z. I didn't mean to cause any problems and I never wanted to lie to you. I couldn't be pissed at Stevie Rae. All I could do was feel relieved that she'd finally told me the truth. Sometimes you can't tell your friends everything you'd like to tell them, I said. Stevie Rae let out her breath on a sob. Oh, Z! You don't hate me? Of course not, I said. I've had to keep some pretty crappy secrets, so I get it. Where are they? Damien's question would have seemed harsh, but his voice was gentle, his warm brown eyes filled with understanding. They're in the depot tunnels. That's why I just sealed off the dirt tunnel that I made to get everyone here. I didn't want any of the others following us and causing the nuns problems. You should have warned us last night, Darius said. We would have posted guards while everyone was sleeping.

There were rogue red fledglings at the other end of your tunnel? Sister Mary Angela's hand found the rosary that hung around her neck. Oh, Sister, you weren't in any danger. Darius, we didn't need to post guards, promise! she quickly explained. Those other kids are affected by daylight big-time. They never move around while the sun's up, not even in the tunnels. Darius's frown said he still would have posted a guard. Sister Mary Angela didn't say anything, but I saw her fingers worrying her rosary beads. It was then that I noticed none of the red fledglings were speaking. I glanced at the only other red vampyre in existence. Did you know about these other fledglings? Me? Hell no. I would've told you right away, Stark said. I should have told you right away. I'm real sorry I didn't, Stevie Rae said. Sometimes the truth can get buried and it's hard to figure out how to uncover it, I told her, and then I looked around the room at the other red fledglings.

You guys all knew, didn't you? Kramisha spoke up. We knew. We don't like them other kids. They's bad news. They smell bad, too, little Shannoncompton said from a ways down the table. They suck, Dallas said. And they remind us of how it used to be. That's something we don't like to remember, said muscle-y Johnny B. I turned my attention back to Stevie Rae. Is there anything else you want to tell me? Well, I don't think it's smart for us to go back to the depot tunnels right now, so going home to the House of Night sounds good to me, too. Then it's settled. We go home, I said.