Tempted (House of Night #6)(80)

But what's happening to Stevie Rae? I whispered to him. He put his arm around me and squeezed. A beautiful vampyre with bright red hair entered the room, carrying a tray with an icy pitcher, a glass, and several folded, damp towels. She went straight to Erce, who was standing close to the chaise. Erce motioned for her to put the tray on the nearest coffee table. I noticed the new vamp reached into her pocket, brought out a pill bottle, and handed it to Erce before leaving the room as quietly as she'd entered it. Erce shook a pill out of the bottle and approached Aphrodite. I'd moved before I realized what I was doing, and found myself grabbing her wrist. What are you giving her? Erce met my gaze. Something to calm her, to decrease her anxiety. But what if she loses contact with Stevie Rae because of it? Would you have two dead friends or one? Choose, High Priestess. I swallowed down my shriek of primal rage. I didn't want to lose either of my friends! But my mind understood that my best friend was an ocean and half a continent away, and Aphrodite dying with her was absolutely unnecessary. I let loose of Erce's wrist. Here, child. Take this. Erce gave Aphrodite the pill and helped Darius hold the glass of ice water to her lips. Aphrodite took the pill and gulped the water like she'd been running a marathon. Goddess, I hope it's Xanax, she said tremulously. I thought things were getting better. Aphrodite had quit crying and my gang had dispersed themselves to well-upholstered chairs in the room. Except for Heath and Stark. Stark was by my side. Heath was still holding Aphrodite's hand. He and Darius were talking quietly to her. Then Aphrodite cried out and pulled away from Heath and out of Darius's arms, curling herself into a fetal position. I'm burning! Heath looked back at me. Can't you help her? I'm channeling spirit. That's all I can do. Stevie Rae's back in Oklahoma: I can't help her! I practically screamed at Heath, my frustration spilling over into anger. Stark put his arm around me. It's okay. It's going to be okay. I don't know how, I said. How can both of them make it through this? How can a bad guy become the Warrior of a High Priestess? he countered, and smiled. Nyx-- she has her hand on both of them. Trust your Goddess. So I stood there, channeling spirit, watching Aphrodite's agony and trusting in my Goddess. Suddenly Aphrodite screamed, grabbed at her back, cried, Open and shield me! And then she collapsed, sobbing with relief in Darius's arms. I approached her hesitantly and bent so I could see her face.

Hey, are you okay? Is Stevie Rae alive? Aphrodite's tearstained face lifted so she could meet my eyes. It's over. She's in contact with earth again. She's alive. Oh, thank the Goddess! I said. I touched her shoulder lightly. Are you okay, too? I think so. No. Wait, I don't know. I feel strange. Like my skin isn't quite right. Her vampyre has been damaged, Erce said in a barely audible voice. Stevie Rae may be safe now, but something is terribly wrong with her. Drink this, love, Darius said, taking a fresh glass from Erce and lifting it to Aphrodite's lips. This will help. Aphrodite gulped the water. It was a good thing Darius was helping her hold the glass, because she was shaking so hard there's no way she could have kept from spilling the water without his help. Then she lay back, resting in his arms, breathing in shallow gulps, like she couldn't take a deep breath without causing herself too much pain. I hurt all over, I heard her whisper to Darius. I walked to Erce, took her wrist, and pulled her out of Aphrodite's hearing range. Isn't there a vamp healer you could send for? I asked. She isn't a vampyre, Priestess, Erce said gently. Our healer could not help her. But she's like this because of a vampyre. That is the chance every consort takes. Their fate is bound to their vampyre. Most often a consort dies long before the vampyre, and that is difficult enough. This situation occurs less often. Stevie Rae isn't dead, I whispered severely.

Not yet she isn't, but by watching her consort I would say she is in grave danger. She's a consort by mistake, I muttered. Aphrodite didn't mean for this to happen. Neither did Stevie Rae. Intentional or not, it is still binding, Erce said. Oh my Goddess! Aphrodite sat straight up, pulling completely away from Darius. Her face was a mask of shock that morphed slowly to reflect first pain and then denial, and then she shivered once, so violently that I could hear her teeth chattering, before covering her face with her hands and dissolving into heart-wrenching tears. Darius looked beseechingly at me. Steeling myself for hearing that Stevie Rae was dead, I went to Aphrodite and sat beside her on the chaise. Aphrodite? I tried unsuccessfully to keep the tears from my voice. How could Stevie Rae really be dead? What was I going to do now, a world away from her and completely in over my head? Is Stevie Rae dead? I could hear the Twins crying, and I saw Damien take Jack in his arms. Aphrodite lifted her face from her hands, and I was shocked to see her old, sarcastic grin shine through her tears. Dead? Hell no, she's not dead. She's just Imprinted with someone else!

Chapter Thirty-seven

The earth swallowed her, and for a moment it seemed like everything would be okay. The cool darkness was a relief for her burned skin, and she moaned softly. Red One? Stevie Rae? It wasn't until he spoke that she realized she was still locked in Rephaim's arms. She unwrapped herself from him and moved away, only to cry out in pain as her back touched the earthen wall of the pocket in the ground her element had opened to shield her, and then closed again. Are you well? I-I cannot see you, Rephaim said. I'm okay. I think. Her voice surprised her. It sounded so weak, so outside the norm that it was her first hint that even though she'd escaped the sun, she might not have escaped its effects. I cannot see anything, he said. It's because the earth sealed itself over us to shield me from the sun. We're trapped here? His voice wasn't panicky, but it wasn't exactly calm either. No, I can get us out whenever I want, she explained. Then, on second thought, she added, And, well, the earth over us isn't very deep. If I drop dead you could dig out pretty easily. How are you? That wing must really hurt. Do you feel as if you might die? he asked, ignoring her question about his wing. I don't think so. Okay, actually, I don't know. I feel kinda funny. Funny? Explain that. Like I'm not really attached to my body. Does your body hurt? Stevie Rae thought about it, and was surprised by what she discovered. No. Actually, I don't hurt at all. It was weird, though, that her voice kept getting weaker and weaker. Suddenly his hand was touching her face, sliding down to her neck and arm and-- Ouch! You're hurting me. You're burned badly. I can feel it. You need help. Can't leave here or I'll finish burning up, she said, wondering why the earth seemed to be spinning around beneath her.