Page 98 of Lost

“Wait, I don’t have to live in the tunnels?”

“Not as long as you’re my personal soldier, you don’t.”

Kevin felt like his heart was going to explode with gratitude. “Aphrodite, thank you. Thank you so much!”

She waved away his thanks. “What can I say, I’m a giver. Plus, I want to know more about this other world and your sister, and I can’t do that if you’re stuck in the middle of a horde of smelly monsters.” They’d made the short trip from Utica Square to the House of Night, and Aphrodite pointed at a parking spot that was up front and well lit. “Park there.”

“Okay, but no way we can sneak onto campus from there.”

“We’re not sneaking,” she said.

“But everyone will know I’m here.”

“Everyone will definitely know, and they’ll get used to seeing you around. That’ll help you and the Resistance, won’t it?”

“Yes! Definitely.”

“Good. Maybe it’ll also help balance out some of the bad that I’ve done by telling my visions to Neferet.”

“It’s a start, that’s for sure,” Kevin said. He parked and looked at her. “What now?”

“Now is the easy part. I’ll handle everything. You just follow my lead.Literally.Walk behind me and be sure you stay several feet behind. Look subservient and not too bright. And when we get stopped, because I promise you we will, I’ll do the talking. You don’t even look up. Pretend you’re a clueless, but not too feral, red vampyre. Can you do that?”

“I’ve been doing that for about a year now,” he said.

“Then you’ve had plenty of practice.” She sat and stared at him, and when he just stared back she rolled her eyes. “Kev, you’re supposed to be grabbing all of ‘my’ bags,” she air-quoted. “And then opening my door for me. Remember, you’re my personal soldier. I should never touch a door, lift a thing, open a bottle of champagne, blah, blah, when you’re around.”

“Oh, sorry. Okay, got it!” He jumped out of the Hummer, grabbed the four bags, and juggled them awkwardly as he rushed around to open her door.

She stretched her long legs out and then frowned at her knee-high Jimmy Choo boots. “Fuck! I forgot I broke that heel. Well, I’ll just use it to help my acting. Here.” She surprised him by holding out her hand, which he took and helped her climb out of the Hummer. Then she wiped her hand on her skinny jeans. “You’re going to have to get a lot better at personal hygiene.”

“I’m actually a clean, neat person. I had to pretend not to care about dirt and grime and dried blood and other gross stuff when I lived in the tunnels.”

“You don’t live in the tunnels anymore. Clean up,” she grumped as she started hobbling toward the sidewalk that curved through the little side courtyard where a fountain musically cascaded and eventually opened to the main schoolyard.

“Will do,” he said, hurrying to catch up with her.

She shot an annoyed look at him. “You’re supposed to be behind me looking subservient.”

“Oh, right. Forgot. Won’t happen again, Prophetess,” he bowed several times and backed up.

“That was good. Keep that bowing stuff up.”

“Do you want me to call you mistress, or is Prophetess okay?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Prophetess is fine. Mistress sounds entirely too old. Now shush and look pathetic.”

With Kevin following, Aphrodite clomp-limped through the courtyard, exiting into the schoolyard. It was just after dinnertime. Fledglings were scattered about the school grounds. Gaslights domed in art deco copper cast dancing shadows across wide sidewalks and winter grass. Cats trotted around, some stalking mice, some following their chosen fledgling or vampyre. Students lit candles at the feet of Nyx’s statue and prayed to the Goddess. A group of female fledglings were getting a fencing lesson from a vampyre Kevin didn’t recognize.

Everything seemed normal, but the difference between this heavily controlled, segregated House of Night and Zoey’s school was enormous. Everyone here looked subdued or worried, frightened or desperate, and Kevin’s heart ached with homesickness for a place he’d barely known, but which had felt so right.

Aphrodite turned to the right, heading to the part of the cluster of castle-like buildings that made up the professors’ quarters. She followed the gentle curve of the sidewalk, approaching two fledglings who had spread yoga mats on the grass and were in the middle of a graceful flow.

As Aphrodite got closer to the two fledglings, their heads turned in her direction. They recognized Aphrodite—that much was clear—and they put their heads together as they stared at her.

Then they saw Kevin and their eyes widened. One was a spectacularly beautiful black girl he recognized instantly as Shaunee, and the other a sexy blond wearing nude-colored yoga tights and a tiny, bright red sports bra. Both left zero to the imagination.Holy crap! This has to be that Erin fledgling Zo told me about—the water to Shaunee’s fire!They gawked at him as Aphrodite walked past them, whispering back and forth to each other, giggling under their breath. When he drew near them Kevin clearly heard what they were saying—which meant so did Aphrodite.

“Hey, Twin, check it out,” said Erin.