Tempted (House of Night #6)(51)

I mean, George Clooney's hot and all, but he's too old, and I wouldn't want to, like, do him. So I didn't get why practically everyone else wanted to do Kalona. How about the rest of you? I asked the rest of them. Like you said before, Kalona exploded from the ground. That's just bizarre. Denio paused, looked at Aphrodite, and then continued. Plus, some of us have known for a while that Neferet wasn't everything she seemed to be. Yeah, you knew it, but you didn't do anything about it. Aphrodite's voice wasn't hateful or pissed. She was just making a statement, an awful but true statement. Denio lifted her chin. I did do something about it. She gestured at her bandaged arm. It was just too late. Nothing's felt right to me since Professor Nolan was killed, Ian said from his room. The stuff with Kalona and the Raven Mockers was more of that same feeling.

I saw what he was doing to my friends, T.J. called from the last room down the hall. They were like zombies and believed anything he said. When I tried to talk to them about anything, like asking how we could be sure he was really Erebus come to earth, they'd get pissed or laugh at me. I didn't like him from the very beginning. And those damn bird things were evil. I don't know why everyone couldn't see it. Neither do I, but that's something we're going to figure out, I said. Right now y'all don't worry about any of this. Kalona is gone, and so's Neferet and the Raven Mockers. Just get well. Okay? Okay! they yelled back at me, sounding way healthier than they had when we first saw them. On the other hand, channeling all five elements had me feeling like poo, and I was glad Stark grabbed my elbow and lent me his strength as we left the building.

Unbelievably, the ice and rain had stopped. The clouds that had blanketed the sky for days actually had breaks in them through which I glimpsed sections of a starry night. My gaze moved to the center of the school grounds. The fire that had completely consumed Anastasia's pyre was beginning to die, though Dragon was still on his knees in front of it; Lenobia stood beside him, one hand resting on his shoulder. The circle made of red fledglings, plus Erik, Heath, and Jack, stretched all the way around the smoldering funeral pyre. They stood quietly, bearing witness to their respect for Dragon and his beloved. I motioned for my group to follow me a little way into the shadows and huddle up. We gotta talk, but we don't need to do that with an audience. Stevie Rae, can you delegate getting rooms ready for your kids to someone? Sure, Kramisha is so organized she's almost OCD. Plus, she was a sixth-former when she died and un-died. She knows all sorts of stuff about this place. Good. Put her on it. I turned to Darius. The bodies of the Raven Mockers have to be gotten rid of--now. If we're lucky, this storm is finally clearing, which means humans are going to start to stir as soon as it's light. They can't find those creatures. I'll take care of it, Darius said. I'll get the red fledgling males to help me. What are you going to do with the bodies? Stevie Rae asked. Burn them, Shaunee answered, then she looked at me. If that's okay with you. It's perfect, I said. Just don't burn them anywhere around Anastasia's pyre. That would be too much for Dragon to handle. Burn them at the east wall. Right where their disgusting father exploded from the earth. Aphrodite's gaze went to Shaunee. The old oak that broke apart when Kalona escaped, can you make it burn? I can make anything burn, Shaunee said. Go with Darius and the guys then, and make sure every feather of those creatures is burned beyond anyone's recognition.

Then the two of you meet the rest of us in my room. Agreed? Agreed, Darius and Shaunee said together. I thought it was weird that Erin hadn't said anything to her Twin, but as Shaunee started to follow Darius over to the circling red fledglings, she called, I'll fill you in on anything you miss, Twin. Of course you will, Twin, Shaunee said, smiling over her shoulder at Erin. Okay, we really need Lenobia with us. I looked over to where the Horse Mistress stood beside Dragon. But I don't know how to pull her away from that. Just tell him, Damien said. I gave him my question mark look. Dragon understands how dangerous Kalona and Neferet are. He'll understand that we need Lenobia. Damien's gaze went over to the vampyre, who was still on his knees. He's going to stay there and grieve until he feels right leaving. We can't change that or hurry him up.

So just tell him we need Lenobia. You're a smart kid, you know it? I said. Affirmative, he said with a smile. All right. I drew a long, weary breath. Stevie Rae--explain to Kramisha what she needs to do. The rest of you guys can meet in my room. I'll be there as soon as I get Lenobia. Z, I'm going to tell Jack to help Kramisha, Damien said. I raised my brows at him. Your room's only so big. Plus, I can fill him in on stuff later. Right now we need to get our heads on straight. I nodded and started trudging toward Lenobia and Dragon. Around me I could see Darius and Stevie Rae pulling kids aside and speaking quietly to them.

Damien petted Duchess's head while he talked to his boyfriend. Through it all Stark stayed by my side. I didn't have to look for him. I could feel him. I knew if I stumbled, he would make sure I didn't fall. I also knew he understood better than anyone else exactly how much channeling the elements in the infirmary had taken from me. As if reading my mind, he whispered, You'll be able to sit down soon. And I'll find something for you to eat and drink. Thank you, I whispered back. He took my hand and together we went to Lenobia and Dragon. The cats were quiet, though both were pressed against Dragon's body. His bruised and battered face was wet with tears, but he'd stopped crying. Dragon, I need Lenobia to come with me for a little while. I don't want to leave you here alone, but I really do need to talk to her. He looked up at me.