Page 83 of Lost

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Other Kevin

Kevin told her everything. He started with the fact that he’d been different since he was Marked—that’d he’d managed to retain some of his humanity even after he Changed into the youngest red vampyre in history. He told her about getting pulled into an alternate House of Night world, and what happened to the other red vamps and red fledglings who went over there with him.

And then Kevin told her about her own Other World twin—or at least as much about that other Aphrodite as he knew—that it was her sacrifice that had saved the red fledglings in her world, and that it was her gift from Nyx that saved him and the red vampyres who were still alive and in Zo’s world.

Kevin also told her about Neferet—how she’d become immortal and almost destroyed first Tulsa, and then that entire world—and how Zoey and her group had outsmarted and imprisoned her. For good.

Then silence filled the inside of their vehicle. He glanced at Aphrodite. She wasn’t drinking. She was staring at him with an expression that was wide-eyed but indecipherable.

Finally, she spoke. “So, the Zoey who is your sister over there, she and I work together at the Tulsa House of Night?”

“Well, yeah, but it’s more than that. You two are friends. Good friends.”

She kept staring at him, and as he took his gaze off the road for another quick glance, he saw a grimace of pain flash across her face. Then, very quietly, Aphrodite said, “That’s why Neferet thought you looked familiar. And now that I’m looking—I see the resemblance too. You’re Zoey Redbird’s brother.TheZoey Redbird who was killed more than a year ago.”

“Yep, that’s what I’ve been telling you. Only she’s alive in that Other World. So, you knew her before she died?”

“No. Not really.”

“But you say we look alike—and Neferet kinda recognized me too. Zo must have made some kind of impression on you.”

“Yes. She did. Or at least her death did.” Then Aphrodite pointed to the Quick Trip on the corner of Fifth and Denver. “Pull into that parking lot. I need to tell you something and I don’t want you to freak and cause a wreck.”

“Hey, you don’t need to worry about me. I don’t freak easily.”

“Just do it,” she said.

He pulled into the parking lot.

When he put the Humvee in park, Aphrodite turned in her seat so that she could look into his face. “Okay,” she said, “I don’t want to tell you this, but chances are you’re going to find out anyway. I’m pretty sure Anastasia knows.” Aphrodite shrugged, and looked defeated. “And I hate lying. I don’t even particularly like omitting. So, here goes. I didn’t know your sister. Neferet disbanded the Dark Daughters before Zoey came to the House of Night. I didn’t have any reason to get to know her because once the Dark Daughters weren’t a thing, there wasn’t any reason for fledglings to suck up to me. Then I made the Change and didn’t have any reason to hang out with fledglings anyway. But I remember her face because I had a vision about her. And Neferet remembers her face because I told her about the vision.” Aphrodite paused as if she was having difficulty choosing her words. Then she blurted, “In the vision I was Neferet. I saw a fledgling, one that wasn’t even a vampyre yet, cause Neferet’s death.”

Kevin felt sick. “That fledgling was my sister?”

“Yes.”

“So, Zo was right when she told me that she was sure the Neferet in our world had killed her and made it look like human People of Faith did it as a hate crime.”

He hadn’t phrased it as a question, but Aphrodite answered him. “Yes. Neferet killed Zoey because of my vision.”

Kevin didn’t know what to say. He looked away from Aphrodite, focusing on the steady flow of mostly trucks that pulled in and out of the Quick Trip.

“Did you like me over there?”

Aphrodite’s question surprised Kevin into an automatic response. “Yes. I more than liked you.”

“And I’m assuming I liked you too?”

“You kissed me goodbye and told me to find you over here.”

“Okay, look, you must be telling me at leastmostlythe truth. You’re obviously different than the rest of the red vamps. And you didn’t stink last night, so you must also be telling the truth about that.” She shuddered delicately. “And that nasty blood crap you use as perfume. But you’re sixteen. A kid.”

“I’ll be seventeen in August,” he added quickly.

“Whatever. You’re still a kid. And you’re telling me your sister and I are friends over thereandyou and I had a thing. That just doesn’t sound like me. Any version of me. No offense.”

“I’m not a kid. I’m a lieutenant in the Red Army who has seen more death than even you have—only with me it wasrealdeath, happening in front of me. I stopped being a kid a long time ago. And you need to definething.We didn’t hook up or anything like that. But we did have a connection, and I promise you that kiss was more than just a peck on my cheek. Oh, and over there you’re not just friends with my sister. You’re respected and loved by a lot of people. You’re friends with everyone.”