Page 151 of Lost

Aphrodite spoke before I could. “Because they are an abomination of what is natural. They are missing their humanity.”

The sprite startled in surprise, which sent ripples through the other Old Magick beings. Then her almond-shaped eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“Truly? Or are they simply a force that opposes you? We do not meddle in the squabbles of mortals, even should those mortals be as long-lived as vampyres—red or blue.”

“I was once one of them,” Kevin said. “My humanity was returned to me through great sacrifice in my sister’s world. But even with my blood, which ties me to the land, I felt their hunger and their never-ending rage. It is not natural. It is not in opposition to us. It is in opposition to nature and the world.”

“Go down there and see for yourself,” I said. “You’ll understand once you look more closely at them.”

“Don’t listen to these children.” Neferet stood, smoothing back her long auburn hair and straightening her shoulders. For that moment she looked every bit like a High Priestess, beloved of Nyx. “The red vampyres are simply my soldiers. They are, indeed, less evolved than blue vampyres, but they are mine. Given to me by Nyx. I speak for the Goddess—not these Oathbreakers.”

Oak’s laughter was visible, sending glittering tendrils of lilting sound all around us.

“Neferet, I see you. I know you. You have not spoken for Nyx for more than a century.”The sprite turned and commanded.“Air sprites! Go to the red ones on the field. Fill them. Know them. Then tell me what you learn.”

Like a mini fireworks explosion, a group of the sprites shot off, falling down to the field and onto the milling groups of red vampyres, who began shouting in anger and fear, and trying to swat them as if they were insects.

It only took seconds. The air sprites returned and Oak met them. They engulfed her, obscuring the tree sprite from our view. And then she was back, floating before us, her expression grim. When she spoke I could see her sharp, pointed teeth. Her eyes blazed with anger.

“Abomination of nature indeed!

Your call to make right this horror we shall heed.”

Kevin and I breathed twin sighs of relief as we recognized the singsong tone the sprite used whenever she had decided to make a deal.

“Thank you so much—” I began.

“But as the abomination is not of our making

There must be a payment for our taking.”

“That’s me,” Aphrodite said. She took a step toward the glassless window and the hovering sprites. “I will pay the price to return humanity to the red vampyres.”

“Prophetess, there is much here that must be made right

And though your humanity shines bright

It might not bring with it enough light.”

“Aphrodite, be careful.” I spoke to her low and fast. “Be sure you know the exact price you have to pay.”

Her blue eyes found me, and I saw the lonely truth within them. This Aphrodite seemed like mine, but I suddenly understood that inside she was much, much more broken.

“I know what I have to do and I’m fine with it. I’m better than fine with it. I’m glad of it.” She turned to Kevin and stepped into his arms, tiptoeing to kiss him. I heard her whisper, “I love you. Forgive me.” Then she moved away from him and even closer to the window. “I understand. I’ll pay the price. You have my oath as a Prophetess of Nyx. Isn’t my blood enough to fix them—all of them?”

“It is, indeed.

You are all that we need.”

“Hang on. Wait. No. This doesn’t feel right,” Kevin said.

He started to reach out to Aphrodite, but I snagged his wrist first.

“You can’t stop this,” I said.

Aphrodite looked over her shoulder at me. “Tell your Aphrodite that I made it right.”

My eyes filled with tears that leaked down my cheeks. “I will. Thank you.”