Page 6 of Lost

“I’m a lieutenant in Neferet’s Red Army. Our only mission right now is to find and eliminate every member of the Resistance.”

“You being a lieutenant might help. Do you have access to information like where Neferet believes the Resistance is hiding and how they smuggle people out of the Midwest to safety?”

“Not really. Strategy is left to Neferet, the generals in the Blue Army, and the Sons of Erebus Warriors. Even us red vamps who manage to retain enough of our humanity to be made officers aren’t included in planning. Basically, Neferet’s Warriors use us like we’re mindless weapons. When I first made the Change, I overheard General Stark talking about the Red Army. He called us expendables.”

“General Stark sounds despicable.”

“In this world, yep, he is. In Zo’s world he’s her Oathbound Warrior and mate—a really good guy.”

That had Grandma Redbird looking thoughtful.

“And General Stark isn’t wrong. All he has to do is just point the Red Army in a direction and set us loose.” Kevin shuddered. “Most red vampyres are mindless eating machines bent on devouring everything in their path.”

“That is actually good for us,” G-ma said.

“Huh?” Kevin said, sounding a lot like his sister.

“Well, if this General Stark is a good guy in Zoeybird’s world, then at his core there is goodness. Perhaps he can be reached. And you’re an officer. You have access to come and go easily from the House of Night, correct?”

“Yeah, I guess. But only between sunset and sunrise. During the day we’re all banished to the tunnels under the depot.”

“But no one at the House of Night—not one vampyre—would imagine that you are on the side of the Resistance.”

Kevin sat up straighter. “You’re right, G-ma! That wouldn’t even occur to them. They don’t usually include officers of the Red Army in their strategy meetings, but they wouldn’t notice if I was there, just standing around waiting to be given orders.” He grinned. “I could learn all sorts of stuff!” He hesitated, and his grin slid away. “Except I don’t smell right, and they would notice that.”

G-ma’s eyes glittered mischievously. “Let me worry about that, u-we-tsi.”

“Ugh, okay. So, is that our plan? You make me stinky again, and I spy on the House of Night and find out stuff about the Resistance? Then we’ll have to figure out where they are hiding before the army finds them and tell the Resistance whatever I learn.”

“Finding them is not a problem.”

“G-ma! Are you part of the Resistance?”

“As Martin Luther King Jr. put it so succinctly, ‘The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people, but the silence over that by the good people.’ I will not be silenced.”

“Holy shit, G-ma, youarepart of the Resistance!”

“I am proud to say, yes, I am.”

“They’d kill you if they caught you. Sheesh, G-ma. Neferet wouldn’t care that you’re just one old woman. You’d die,” Kevin said.

“I am aware of that, but, Kevin, if I stood by and did nothing my spirit would die.”

Kevin sighed heavily. “Mine too. That’s why I came back. I have to do something, and I think I’m the only one who can.”

“That’s very brave of you, u-we-tsi.”

“Nah, doing the right thing isn’t brave. It’s just what decent people do,” Kevin said.

“Indeed.”

“I want you to take me to them,” Kevin said firmly.

“Them?”

“The Resistance. I want to talk with them—tell them what happened to me in Zo’s world.”

“I’m not sure that will work. They may only see an enemy when they look at you,” G-ma said. “What might work better is for you to spy—report to me—and I’ll take them the information.”