Page 142 of Lost

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Zoey

“What happened to TU?” Stevie Rae asked as they pulled into the already packed parking lot. They’d timed it so the Resistance Warriors, who all had their tattoos covered and were wearing either OU or OSU paraphernalia, would enter late, just before kickoff, so that they had an excuse to rush in with the other humans who had to wait for the last minute because vampyres were always seated first—and always in the best seats.

“What do you mean? This is how TU has always been,” said Dragon from the driver’s seat of Grandma Redbird’s van.

“In our world, the campus is a lot bigger and, well, nicer,” I tried to explain as I looked at the sparse old stone buildings that surrounded a super high-tech stadium. “But your stadium is nicer, even after we updated ours.”

“Not much happens academically at TU,” said Anastasia. “It was a wonderful university a few decades ago. Only the brightest and best attended. But they couldn’t compete with OU and OSU’s sports programs, so the university went into decline. Well, as you already noted, except for the stadium. Other teams use it, so that rich man—Bryan, what was his name?”

“Boone Pick, Pick Boone, or something like that.”

“Yes, thank you, my love, him. He donated money to the school, but not for academics, of course. To redo the stadium so that they could host semipro teams. I believe the new stadium seats thirty thousand.”

“Dang,” said Stevie Rae. “Makes me sad. I always wanted to go to TU. They have—well,ourTU has an awesome film studies program.”

“I didn’t know you liked that kind of stuff,” I said.

“Yeah, in high school I really wanted to be a director—you know, like Patty Jenkins. Then I got Marked and died. And undied, and Changed into the first red vampyre High Priestess, so I got kinda sidetracked.”

“If you want to go to TU when we get back, you totally can,” I said.

“Z, that would be awesomesauce! You think I’ll have time, what with being sure the Depot Restaurant gets up and running?”

“We’ll make time. No one should ignore their dreams.”

“Okay, everyone ready?” Dragon asked. He swiveled in his seat to look back at us. Stevie Rae, Rephaim, Anastasia, Dragon, and I all decided to arrive together. The rest of the Resistance, including Kevin and Aphrodite, had divided themselves up in cars and trucks that Tina had supplied from local Resistance members. Kevin and Aphrodite had driven together in their town car, pretending to go straight from their shopping trip in Dallas to the stadium.

“I’m ready!” I mustered as much confidence as I could, though worry gnawed at my stomach. There were just so many things that could happen in such a giant space filled with so many people and an army of ravenous, inhuman vampyres. I mean, what could go wrong besides everything? Then I shook myself mentally.Get it together, girl. Act like a High Priestess.“We’re going to do this,” I said firmly. “Everyone totally understand their parts?”

“We separate and head to the top of the bleachers, each in the direction of the elements we represent,” Anastasia said.

“And then we watch the game and wait,” Dragon said.

“That’s my favorite part!” Stevie Rae gushed. “Boomer Sooner!” Then she looked chagrined. “Uh, I didn’t mean that Aphrodite saving all the red vamps wouldn’t be as cool as a football game, though.”

“They understand,” Rephaim said, kissing her gently.

“I don’t like that we’re all separated,” said Dragon.

“We have these.” I lifted the high-tech walkie-talkie from my pocket. It looked like one of those old flip phones, only it didn’t flip open. There was a button on the side, and when I pressed it I could talk to the others. Each of us had one: Dragon, Anastasia, Stevie Rae, Kevin, and me. I was supposed to give them the signal, and Anastasia would open the call to the elements with air.

“I wish we coulda given one to Aphrodite. She is the one who has to make the sacrifice,” said Stevie Rae.

“It was too risky. She has to report to Neferet. If Neferet makes her stay there in the press box with her, we’d be discovered the second her walkie-talkie bleeps,” said Anastasia.

“But she’ll know when we cast the circle. It should be obvious,” I added.

“I hope so,” muttered Dragon.

I grinned at the grumpy Swordmaster. “You just wait and see. Everyone will know when we cast the circle.”

We climbed out of the van and joined the stream of humans wearing OU red and OSU orange. It was a less rowdy crowd than what was normal for a Bedlam game, but that was no big shock, especially as we all had to pass silent, glowering blue vampyre Warriors. The good news was no one had to pay to get into the game. And I decided that was the only good news, as we entered the stadium and got our first glimpse of the field—and the red vampyres that were grouped around each field exit forming a bizarre blood-colored circle around the players and cheerleaders.

“Oh, Goddess!” Anastasia gasped beside me. “She has them down there on field level.”

“Ready to eat anyone who tries to leave,” said Rephaim.