Page 78 of Lost

“The other one?”

“Yeah, there are two of them.”

“Not today. Today there’s only one. Aphrodite, look. They’re opening the others. They’re all empty!” Kevin made no attempt to hide the joy and relief he was feeling.

“Why are you happy?”

He turned his gaze from the empty bales to Aphrodite, who was staring at him, and not the scene unfolding with zero violence in front of them. He met her eyes. And he told her the truth.

“Because I don’t want anyone else to die.”

“But you’re a red vampyre. All you care about is eating and death.”

“Is that really how you see me?” Kevin asked.

“Why didn’t you stink yesterday?”

“Because I—”

Knock! Knock! Knock!Kevin and Aphrodite jumped when Stark banged on his window.

“You two can come out. Looks like we’re early,” Stark shouted through the window before turning back to the group of soldiers who were trying to reassemble the hollowed-out bales.

Aphrodite sighed. “Bring the bottle.”

“Hey, why don’t you stay in here? I’ll go out and say something about you not feeling great.”

“And have Bow Boy squeal to Neferet that I hid in the Hummer even when no battle was going on? That would be the perfect excuse for her to send me out with the Red Army again. No, I’ll get out.”

Kevin hurried out of the Hummer and jogged around to her side, opening the door for her.

“Thanks. I appreciate the good manners. Someone raised you right.”

“You’re welcome. Mostly my sister.”

“There’s that sister again. Maybe I’ll meet her someday,” Aphrodite said as she held out her hand.

Kevin took it and held it carefully in his as he helped her out of the vehicle. “I have a very good feeling you two would be friends.”

Aphrodite snorted. “Then she must be a pain in the ass.”

“Oh, you have no idea,” Kevin said.