Page 150 of Lost

“Is that not the red vampyre lieutenant you trusted?” Kevin flinched as Neferet gestured toward him. “The one that lying bitch of a Prophetess said you assigned to her? No wonder your last mission failed, General Stark. He’s not a red vampyre! He doesn’t even have a Mark. He’s part of the Resistance!”

I couldn’t stop my gaze from going down to the field. The Red Army hadn’t attacked, but they had moved out on the field. I could see blue vampyre soldiers trying to keep them contained as they waited for Neferet’s kill command. The two football teams had formed a circular group in the middle of the field—players on the outside, cheerleaders, referees, and coaches on the inside. I couldn’t find Heath, but I was absolutely certain he would be one of the first to meet his death if Stark didn’t side with us.

Beside me Kevin wiped the cover-up off his red Mark. “Wrong again, Neferet. I’m what all those soldiers down there could be if their humanity was returned to them, which is exactly what Zoey, Aphrodite, and I intend to do today.” He turned to Stark. “I’m sorry I lied to you, but I have a message for you from William Chidsey. He’s ashamed you’re siding with Neferet. He knows you know better.”

Stark’s face blanched white at the mention of his beloved mentor’s name. “William is dead.”

“In this world, yes,” I said. “But that only means he’s joined the Goddess. Do you really think he’d be proud of the things you’ve done in Neferet’s name?”

Without replying Stark lifted the microphone to his lips and pressed the speak button.

“This is General Stark. Neferet’s kill order is rescinded. I repeat—stand down. Stand down now. Maintain control of the Red Army and await my orders. Wave if you copy!”

He paused, and we all stared down at the field where first one, then another and another blue vampyre officer standing between the humans on the field and the milling red soldiers stepped forward and waved their acknowledgment.

I was watching the officers when a jolt of recognition hit me. I was sure I knew one of them. Even from this distance his powerful body and the way he carried himself was obvious.That’s Darius. I know it is!

Stark keyed the mic again. “Excellent. New orders will come shortly. Humans—remain where you are. You are safe.” He released the button. “Prove that you’re telling the truth, Zoey Redbird.”

“No!” Neferet shrieked. Raising her hands in claws she rushed at Stark, who easily sidestepped, trapping her arms behind her back as he shoved her into a chair.

“Be quiet and sit there or I’ll gag and tie you. I’ve been listening to your will and following your orders for months, believing I was doing the will of our Goddess. Now it’s your turn to listen. Let’s see once and for all exactly who is following Nyx and who is a lying Oathbreaker.” He nodded to me. “Show me.”

“Let’s face the window and call them together,” I said to Kevin.

“I’m with you, Zo.”

“Me too,” said Aphrodite.

We walked to the wall that used to be glass and was now open to the magnificent sky.

“You start,” I told Kevin. “They know you better in this world.”

I felt him draw a deep breath and let it out slowly, then his strong, confident voice echoed from the room out into the night.

“Old Magick sprites, elemental beings as old as the earth, I am the one you know as Redbird Boy. I need your aid. Oak! I ask that you and your elementals come to me. There is an abomination you must make right!”

“Good job,” I whispered to him.

“Thanks. Aphrodite helped me practice.” He grinned down at her and it made my heart squeeze to see the love that blazed between them.

I drew a deep breath, just as Kevin had done, and let it out slowly. Then I raised my voice to join my brother’s call.

“Old Magick sprites, I am the one from far away that you call Redbird Girl. I join my brother in beseeching your aid. Oak! I ask that you and your elements of air, fire, water, and earth come to me. You must know about this abomination of nature!”

We waited and my stomach turned upside down a few times. I had enough time to think about IBS and wish that being a fully Changed adult High Priestess cured it.

Then the sky in front of us began to shimmer and—with a strange soundingPop!—sprites suddenly materialized. I sucked air and heard Kevin and Aphrodite’s gasp echoed by the full stadium below us.

I’d never seen so many sprites—not even on Skye when I conjured them with Queen Sgiach’s help. They filled the sky over the stadium, and they were glorious. They came in so many shapes and sizes that my mortal mind couldn’t process them. Many of them looked like birds—with the heads of women. Some seemed more insectile, like enormous butterflies and dragonflies—every bit of their bodies were iridescent and glistened like wet pearls.

From the middle of the enormous group, Oak drifted to us as the sprites parted to allow her through. She was bigger than she’d been when she’d led us to this world, and she looked wilder, somehow less humanoid and more the personification of a tree.

“Redbird Boy and Redbird Girl, your call is a surprise. I find that intriguing. What is this abomination of which you speak?”

“Look down on the field,” I said. “And reallyseethe red vampyres. Smell them. Observe their insatiable hunger.”

“And why should I do that?”the sprite asked.