Tempted (House of Night #6)(46)

I heard Stevie Rae's horrified gasp echoed by everyone surrounding us, but Darius didn't hesitate. Are there any Raven Mockers left alive here? None. May their souls rot eternally in the deepest depths of the Otherworld, Lenobia said bitterly. Did anyone else die? I asked. No, though there are several wounded. They've filled the infirmary. Neferet was our only real healer, and now that she . . . Lenobia's voice trailed off. Then Zoey needs to get to the wounded, Stark said. Lenobia and I wrinkled our foreheads questioningly at him. Me? But I'm-- You're the closest thing we have to a High Priestess. If there are hurt fledglings and vampyres at the House of Night, they need their High Priestess, Stark said simply.

Especially if she has an affinity for spirit. You could definitely help soothe the wounded, Darius added. You are correct, of course, Lenobia said, brushing her long white-blond hair back from her face. I'm sorry. Stasia's death has taken a toll on me. I'm not thinking clearly. She smiled at me, but it was really more of a grimace of upturned lips than a true smile. Your help is welcome and needed, Zoey. I'll do whatever I can. I put pretend confidence in my voice, but the truth was, just the thought of hurt people was making my stomach sick. We'll all help out. Stevie Rae spoke up. If one affinity can help, maybe five can help times five.

Perhaps, Lenobia said, still looking defeated and sad. It'll bring hope back in. I glanced down in surprise to see Aphrodite move to Darius's side and wrap her arm through his. Lenobia gave her a skeptical look. I think you'll see things have changed at the House of Night, Aphrodite. That's okay. We're getting good with change, Aphrodite said. Yeah, change is almost our same, Kramisha said. Several of the other kids made sounds of agreement. I was so proud of them I almost burst into tears. I think we're all ready to be home, I said. Home. Lenobia repeated the word in a sad, soft voice. Then follow me into what home has become. She turned, made a clucking sound, and, as one, the three horses followed her without any direction from us. From the main entrance of the school we moved through the parking lot, which was where Darius motioned for Heath to park the Hummer, and we all paused to dismount and regroup.

The edge of the professor's building and the infirmary blocked our view of the center of the school grounds so, eerily, all we could see were the dancing shadows made by the flames. Except for the crackling of fire consuming wood, the school was absolutely silent. It's bad, Shaunee said softly. What do you mean? I asked. I can feel sadness through the flames. It's bad, she repeated. Shaunee is correct, Lenobia said. I'll take the horses to the stable. Do you want to come with me, or would you rather . . . Her voice faded as her gaze was drawn to the flickering shadows the firelight cast against the boughs of the ancient oaks that grew throughout the center of the school grounds. We'll go in there, I said, motioning toward the heart of the school. Might as well face it. I'll follow as soon as the horses are cared for, Lenobia said.

She disappeared into the darkness with the horses at her heels. Stark's hand was warm and steady on my shoulder. Remember, Kalona is gone, and so is Neferet. That leaves fledglings and vamps for you to handle, which should be simple after what you've gone through, he said. Heath stepped up to flank my other side. He's right. Even dealing with hurt fledglings and vamps isn't as bad as Neferet and Kalona. It is our home, no matter what has happened, said Darius. Yeah, home. It's about time we took it back, Aphrodite said. Let's see what kind of mess Neferet left for us, I said abruptly. I stepped away from Stark and Heath, leading everyone to the sidewalk that went around the pretty fountain and garden area outside the professors' entrance and the castle-like round wooden doors, beside the turret that was really a media center. Finally, the central grounds of the school came into view.

Oh, Goddess! Aphrodite gasped. My feet stopped without me consciously telling them to. The scene was just so awful that I couldn't make myself move forward. The funeral pyre was an enormous mound of firewood that had been placed under and around a wooden picnic bench. I knew it was a picnic bench because even though it was burning, the structure was still completely recognizable, as was the body that lay on top of the table. Professor Anastasia, the beautiful wife of our Fencing Master, Dragon Lankford, had been dressed in something long and flowing and covered by a white linen shroud. Horribly, her body could still be seen through it. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her long hair fell toward the ground, lifting and crackling in the fire. A terrible noise, like a heartbroken child's cry, pierced the night, and my gaze, which had been fixed on the grisly pyre, shifted to a place near the head of the bench. Dragon Lankford was there on his knees. His head was bowed and his long hair swept forward, though it didn't hide the fact that he was weeping.

Beside him a huge cat I recognized as Shadowfax, his Maine Coon, leaned into him, staring up into his face. In his arms was a delicate white cat who was yowling and struggling to get free, apparently willing to hurl herself onto the pyre with her vampyre. Guinevere, I whispered. That's Anastasia's cat. I pressed my hand to my mouth, trying to hold in the sob that was building there. Shaunee stepped quickly away from us and walked over to the pyre, standing way closer than any of us could have. At the same time, Erin moved to Dragon's side. As Shaunee raised her arms and called loudly, Fire! Come to me! I heard Erin's softer voice asking water to join her. While the pyre and the body were suddenly engulfed in camouflaging flames, Dragon was surrounded by a cool mist that reminded me of tears. Damien moved close to Erin. Wind, come to me, he said. I watched him direct a soft breeze to blow away the terrible smell of burning flesh. Stevie Rae joined Damien. Earth, come to me, she said. Instantly the breeze that had blown away the scent of death was filled with the delicate sweetness of a meadow, bringing to mind images of springtime, growing things, and the verdant meadows of our Goddess.