Tempted (House of Night #6)(79)

Come to me. I will shield you. Rephaim opened his wing. Without any hesitation Stevie Rae stepped into his embrace, burying her head in the feathers of his chest, and wrapping her arms around him. He enfolded her with his wing and lifted her. Get me to the tree! Then he was running, lurching, and limping, but running across the rooft op. The backs of Stevie Rae's arms were exposed, as was some of her neck and shoulders, and as he ran she burned. With a detached, out-of-body feeling she wondered what that terrible noise was that rang in her ears, and then she realized it was her voice. She was screaming her pain and terror and anger. At the edge of the roof he yelled, Hold on. I'm jumping to the tree. The Raven Mocker leaped. His body tumbled, spiraling because of his lack of balance, and they crashed into the tree. Adrenaline helped Stevie Rae keep her hold on him and, feeling thankful his body was so light, she lifted him, putting herself between Rephaim and the tree. With the bark to her back she told him, Try to hold on to the tree while I slide us down. Then they were falling again as the rough bark ripped Stevie Rae's already blistered and bleeding back. She closed her eyes and felt for the earth, finding it serene and waiting below her. Earth, come to me! Open and shield me! There was a great ripping sound and the ground at the base of the tree broke open just in time for Stevie Rae and Rephaim to slip within a cool, dark pouch in the earth.

Chapter Thirty-six

When Aphrodite started screaming, Zoey knew only one thing to do. Spirit, come to me! she commanded. Spirit instantly filled her with its serene presence. Help Aphrodite calm down. She felt the element leave her, and almost immediately Aphrodite's shrieks quieted to gasps and sobs. Darius, I need Lenobia's cell number. Now! Darius was holding Aphrodite in his arms, but he obeyed Zoey, pulling his phone from his jeans pocket and tossing it to her. It's in the contacts. Willing her hands not to shake, Zoey pulled up the contact list and punched Lenobia's name. She answered on the first ring. Darius? It's Zoey. We have an emergency. Where's Stevie Rae? She went to the depot to try to reason with the other red fledglings. I expected her back by now, though, as it is almost dawn. She's in trouble. Burning! Aphrodite sobbed. She's burning! She's outside somewhere. Aphrodite says she's burning. Oh, Goddess! Can she tell anything else? I could already hear by the change in Lenobia's voice that she was on the move. Aphrodite, can you tell where Stevie Rae is? N-no. Just outside. She doesn't know where she is, only that she's outside. I'll find her, Lenobia said. Call me if Aphrodite can tell us anything else. You call me as soon as Stevie Rae's safe, I said, not able to consider any other outcome. Lenobia disconnected the line. Let's get Aphrodite inside where we can deal with this better, Erce said. She led the way out of the boat and into an enclosed building, only this building wasn't airport hangarlike.

It was old and made of stone. I only had time to be relieved that Stark was shielded from the sun as Darius carried Aphrodite from the boat and we all hurried with Erce through an arched breezeway. Stark stayed at my side as we jogged to keep up with Erce. Aphrodite is Imprinted with Stevie Rae--she's the other red vampyre, I explained. Erce nodded, holding open a huge wooden door and motioning for Darius to carry Aphrodite within. Lenobia told me of their Imprint. What can you do to help her? We entered a huge hallway. I got the impression of amazing opulence, unbelievably high ceilings, and chandeliers, chandeliers, chandeliers; then Erce hurried us through the hall and into a side parlor. Put her on the chaise over there. We crowded around the chaise, silently watching Aphrodite. Erce turned to me and in a low voice said, There is nothing that can be done for a human if their Imprinted vampyre is suffering. She will feel Stevie Rae's pain until the crisis is over, or until she is dead. She? I squeaked. As in Stevie Rae or Aphrodite? Either or both. Vampyres can survive events that will kill their consorts. Well, shit, Heath murmured. My hands! Aphrodite sobbed. They're burning! I couldn't stand it anymore and went to her. She was still mostly in Darius's arms. The warrior was sitting on the chaise, holding her tightly and speaking softly to her. His face was pale and grim. His eyes begged me to help her. I took one of Aphrodite's hands in mine. It felt abnormally warm. You're not burning. Look at me, Aphrodite. It's not happening to you. It's happening to Stevie Rae. Yeah, I know how you feel. Heath was there beside me, crouching down on one knee and holding Aphrodite's other hand.

It sucks to be Imprinted and then have something bad happen to your vam-pyre. But it's not you. It feels like it is, but it's not. This isn't about Stevie Rae doing the nasty with someone else, Aphrodite said, her voice all strangely tremble-y and weak. Heath was unfazed. What happens doesn't matter. What matters is that it hurts you, and it does. You have to remember that you're not really her, even though it feels like you're so attached that you are a part of her. He seemed to get through to Aphrodite, and she stared up at him. But I didn't want this. She hiccupped a little sob. I didn't want to be connected to Stevie Rae, and you want the thing with Zoey. Heath gripped her hand, and I saw her hold on to him for all she was worth. Everyone was watching them, but I think I was the only one who felt like an outsider. Want it or not, it's too much sometimes. You have to learn to save some stuff inside you for yourself. You have to know you don't really share a soul with her, no matter what the Imprint says. That's it! Aphrodite pulled her hand from mine and covered Heath's with it. It feels like I'm sharing my soul. And I can't stand it. Yes, you can. Just remember it's a feeling. It's not real. I backed away a few steps. Aphrodite, you're safe. We're all here with you. Damien touched her shoulder. Yeah, it's okay. And your hair still looks really good, Jack said. I heard Aphrodite laugh--a little escaped bubble of normalcy in the middle of unbelievable turmoil. Then she said, Wait, it's better all of a sudden. Good, 'cause you can't die on us, Shaunee said. Yeah, we need your shopping expertise, Erin said. The Twins tried to sound all nonchalant and unaffected, but it was obvious they were worried about Aphrodite. Aphrodite will be fine. She'll make it through this, Stark said. He had moved to my side, as always. He was a steady presence there, a voice of calm in the storm.