Page 68 of Lost

17

Stark

As soon as the bell rang to release classes for lunch, Stark sprinted from the Field House to the Professors’ Dining Hall. He didn’t give a shit that he drew the attention of every fledgling, vampyre, and human he passed. Stark had afeeling.A damn badfeeling.And it had something to do with Zoey.

Sure enough, she wasn’t in the dining hall.

He slid into the big booth where he and Z and their friends usually ate and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

When thirty minutes had passed, he flagged down a waitress.

“What may I bring you, Stark?”

“I’m good. I’m just waiting for Zoey. But maybe I missed her. Did she already eat?”

“No, I haven’t seen her at all today. Would you like me to take your order anyway?”

“No, I think I’ll wait a little longer. Thanks, though.” She left, and Stark checked his phone. Again. Nothing from Z. He texted her. Again.

You’re still not here. Did I get the placed mixed up?

He pressedSEND, and then quickly texted again.

I’m starting to worry. Call me.

“Hey there, Stark. What looks most delicious for lunch today?” Damien asked as he slid into the booth across from Stark.

“Oh, hi, Damien. I don’t know. I’m waiting for Z.”

“Yeah, I’m waiting for Jack. He’s putting in extra time in the Media Center, trying to catch up on what he didn’t learn back in that wretched Other World.” The waitress came back, and Damien smiled at her. “I’m going to order the tacos for Jack and me. But give it about ten minutes before you put the order in. He’s Other Jack, but he’s just as late as the original Jack was.” Then Damien turned his attention back to Stark. “Did you say you were waiting for Z?”

“Yeah. She’s late too.”

“That’s because she’s not here. I saw her bug pull out of the parking lot about midway through last hour, and I haven’t seen her come back yet.”

“Shit! Are you kidding me?”

“No. Stark, is everything okay?” Damien asked.

“No. Nothing is okay. Sorry, Damien. I gotta go.” It took a lot of effort for Stark not to slam the door behind him when he left the dining hall.

She just drove off and didn’t say anything to me? Again.

This was the third time in just the past few days that Z had told him she was going to be somewhere—or meet him to do something—and she was either a no-show or late. Really late.

Sure, she always had an excuse, like she had to check Neferet’s tomb to be sure nothing weird was going on out there. He understood that. He also understood that Zoey could send someone else to do that. Someone like him. Or Darius. Or Rephaim. Or one of a dozen other Sons of Erebus Warriors who would report to Zoey and otherwise keep their mouths shut should they discover something crazy.

And, of course, she said she kept going to the Depot Restaurant to help with the renovation there. But between Damien, Other Jack, and Stevie Rae, there were already lots of helping hands.

Even worse, whenever Stark tried to check on Z—tried to see what was taking her so long—she wasn’t ever actually where she said she was going to be when she said she was going to be there.

Stark went to the rooms he shared with Zoey first. She wasn’t there. Then he hurried down the stairs and out the arched wooden door that always reminded him of a castle. He paused, his eyes sweeping the school grounds. There were fledglings and human students everywhere. Some were sitting in little groups under the flickering gaslights, sharing lunches. Some were hurrying to the dorms. Others were playing a weird tag game the current senior class had created that somehow involved cats.

His eyes were drawn to the statue of Nyx that stood in the center of the main courtyard. When he recognized one of the High Priestesses in the little group at the Goddess’ feet, he felt a wave of relief and rushed across the brown, winter grass.There she is! Let’s hope she knows something.