Page 61 of Lost

“Silence! My Prophetess is having a vision!” Neferet moved quickly from behind the podium to the edge of the stage right in front of Aphrodite. “Speak, my Prophetess! Your High Priestess is here and will listen!”

Aphrodite moaned, and then stifled a scream. Clutching her head, she put all of her energy into her voice so that it would carry to the remotest corners of the auditorium.

“I see a field. In it is winter wheat that has been cut into huge round bales. There are blue vampyres there. They are hollowing out the bales and putting fledglings, vampyres, and humans within to sneak them without. They are the Resistance!”

“Where, Aphrodite, my dear? Look around you—where are you?”

“The Red Army is there! They are attacking! They are killing us! They are eating us!” Aphrodite sobbed.

“I know it is difficult, but concentrate! Focus! You are the Goddess’ eyes and ears. Tell me where you are!”

“Sapulpa! No! No, no, no, no! Get them away from us! They’re killing us!” Aphrodite swayed and sobbed.

Neferet’s voice sliced through Aphrodite’s sobs. “Prophetess! In the name of Nyx, focus! Where are you in Sapulpa?”

“I see a street sign! It says Lone Star Road! We are in a field in Sapulpa beside Lone Star Road and we are being killed!” Then Aphrodite drew a deep breath and screamed with everything in her before closing her eyes and faking a spectacular fainting spell.

* * *

Other Kevin

Kevin moved on instinct. He lunged forward, reached out, and caught Aphrodite before she hit the ground. Around him the auditorium exploded in noise, but as he cradled Aphrodite in his arms it seemed they were suspended in a little bubble of stillness.

The beautiful Prophetess’ eyes fluttered and then opened. And then they widened with shock. She turned her head toward him so that no one else could hear her, and she hissed through her teeth at him. “It was you! Last night in the garden. It was you!”

“Shh, relax. I’ve got you,” Kevin soothed.

“Back the hell off!” she whispered. “Today you stink, even though you definitely didn’t last night! And you’re fucking pulling my hair!”

His gaze met hers. She wasn’t in pain—that was obvious. And she definitely wasn’t acting like she’d just fainted. And Kevin realized the truth. “You didn’t have a vision!” he whispered.

“I did!” She kept her head turned so that it almost rested on his chest, careful no one else could hear. “Just not today. Who are you to judge? You’re not even a real red vampyre!”

“I am! Just not the kind you’re used to.”

“Sure you are. Does Neferet know about you?”

Instead of answering Kevin shot back at her with his own question. “Does Neferet know aboutyou? That you’re withholding visions from her?”

“Prove it. If you think anyone will believe a red vampyre over a Prophetess of Nyx, you’re as stupid as the rest of your stinking kind.” Aphrodite turned in Kevin’s arms and screamed in panic as she struggled to get free from him. “Aaaaah! Don’t eat me! Get your hands off me! Help!”

“I got her, Lieutenant.” Stark was there, moving Kevin aside and helping Aphrodite to her feet.

But she even pulled away from Stark, shaking off his help to stagger toward the stage and Neferet.

“D-did I tell you something of value, High Priestess?” Aphrodite’s voice still carried throughout the auditorium, especially as the crowd had shut up and were gawking at her.

Neferet rushed to the edge of the stage and bent to take Aphrodite’s hands in her own. “Yes! You did well, my dear! I knew Nyx would send me a sign, and I am truly blessed that she sent me two in one day.” The High Priestess dropped one of Aphrodite’s hands, but kept the other in hers as she faced the auditorium, making it look like she was raising her Prophetess’ arm in a victory salute. “We now know that we must send our soldiers to a Sapulpa field beside Lone Star Road.” She turned her brilliant smile on Aphrodite. “Could you tell when the battle will happen?”

“No, Neferet. That is impossible to tell unless there is a clock in my vision, or if I can get a glimpse of the moon, but my visions usually foretell events that take place within just a few days. I also can’t tell exactly which field on Lone Star Road is the exact one where the Resistance will be hiding fledglings in the hay bales. My visions are simply too chaotic. High Priestess, I am sorry I cannot be more precise.” Kevin watched Aphrodite curtsy gracefully to Neferet with a bowed head. She did look sorry, and very, very beautiful.

Kevin knew what he was watching was complete bullshit—at least on Aphrodite’s end.Her acting skills are impressive. She could even be a bigger star than Erik Night.

“You did wonderfully. And this is an easy fix.” Neferet’s smile took in the auditorium filled with soldiers. “Tonight General Stark will lead soldiers and officers from the Red Army to Sapulpa where they will locate the Resistance infestation and wipe out the traitors. My Prophetess, the lovely, Goddess-blessed Aphrodite, will be joining General Stark and my Red Army on this combat mission.” Neferet looked down at Aphrodite beatifically. “Surely you will recognize the correct field when you see it, won’t you my dear?”

Kevin saw Aphrodite’s face blanch a sickening white, and he felt nauseous along with her. Aphrodite staged her vision so that Neferet wouldn’t follow through on the threat she made last night and force her to join the Red Army, and still the High Priestess managed to twist a knife in her Prophetess’ back. Aphrodite opened and closed her mouth. Kevin could tell she was struggling with her response, and he got it—he understood her turmoil. If she said she couldn’t help, Aphrodite would be publicly letting Neferet down—and that was something no one did without serious consequences. Neferet had already decided to send Aphrodite to the Red Army. She just used Aphrodite’s vision to make it seem logical instead of spiteful.

“I’ll do my best, Neferet,” Aphrodite said woodenly.