Page 153 of Lost

“It’s what Neferet’s becoming. And it’s real bad,” I said. “But you can defeat her. You just have to work together with my brother, Kevin.” I nodded to Kev, who paid no attention. He was staring down at the field—at Aphrodite. “Also Dragon and Anastasia Lankford, and all the rest of the High Priestesses and Warriors Neferet banished or forced to flee and become the Resistance. They’ll help you—and you’ll need them.”

“Zo, we gotta go. The sprites are gone and Aphrodite is alone down there,” Kevin said.

“I know. Air will take us back down.”

Kevin held his hand out to me, but before I could take it Stark stepped between us.

“Wait, don’t go yet. Who are you? No,whatare you? Why do I feel like I know you? I met the other Zoey once, just before she was killed, but she didn’t have your powers—or at least I don’t think she did. I didn’t get to know her hardly at all.”

“You do know me, but not in this world. In this world Neferet ruined that for us. I’m the same Zoey you met, just older and I hope a lot wiser. What am I? A High Priestess who believes we’re stronger, better, morehumanetogether—and that means red vampyres, blue vampyres,andhumans. They aren’t our refrigerators. They’re not that different from us. Hell, Stark, we used to be them. But you already know that because you are a good man—a truly good man. Nyx knows you. She trusts you. You can do great things in this world. You can be a big part of the healing that needs to take place between humans and vampyres. You have to listen to your gut, though. And trust the Goddess.”

“You’ll help me too, right?”

I smiled sadly at him. “No, Stark. I have to go home.”

“But will I ever see you again?”

“Look for me under the Hanging Tree in the Goddess Grove. But don’t be in a rush to get there. Live a long, happy life. Love passionately and often. And may you always blessed be, my love.” I put my arms around him and pulled him into my embrace, kissing him like I wanted to kissmyStark.

Then I went to Kevin and took his hand. I didn’t look at Stark again. I couldn’t—not if I was really going to leave. “Air! Come to us again please. Take us down to the football field.”

Together, Kevin and I stepped out into the arms of the night air where it held us close until gently placing us on the field.

“Aphrodite!” Kevin cried, as he caught sight of her. She was crumpled on her side and laying there very still while a Warrior stood over her, keeping the gawking crowds back as the other Warriors hurriedly helped the teams and the cheerleaders from the field.

Kevin sprinted to her, getting there first. I could have run with him, but I knew what I was going to find and, perhaps selfishly, I wanted just one more moment not to feel the heartbreak.

When I reached them, I wasn’t shocked to recognize that the vampyre Warrior who had been standing over Aphrodite was Darius.

Kevin had pulled Aphrodite into his lap and was cradling her like a child. I knelt beside him.

“It’s okay. It’s okay. I’ve got you. Everything’s going to be okay now.” Kevin was talking to her softly as he rocked back and forth, and tears slipped silently down his face.

Aphrodite’s eyes fluttered open. I couldn’t believe she was still alive. She was so pale her skin seemed translucent. Her breath came in wheezing gasps.

“Kev.” Her voice was so soft we had to lean in to hear her.

“Ssh, don’t talk. I’ll get you some help,” Kevin said.

“Too late. I was waiting to say goodbye to you.” Her face crumbled then. “Don’t want to go, but I have to. Scared, Kev. I’m scared.”

“Hey, hey! No. You’re gonna be—”

I touched his arm. “That won’t help her. She’s dying, Kevin.”

Raw despair shimmered in his eyes, but he nodded and lifted Aphrodite in his arms until she was almost sitting.

“You don’t have anything to be scared of. You did it. You saved all of them.”

“It worked?”

“Yeah, you were fantastic. And now you’re going to go see Nyx. Zoey says it’s great there with her, right, Zo?”

I leaned close and took Aphrodite’s cold, limp hand. “It’s more beautiful than I can describe. You’re going to love it. I promise. The me from this world is there. Find me, ’kay?”

Aphrodite nodded, tried to smile at me, and failed.

“And I’ll come find you someday—just in case your Darius isn’t up there waiting for you,” Kevin said.