Page 99 of Lost

“What is it, Twin?”

“Aphrodite’s new lover!” finished the blond, pointing at Kevin. Then they both dissolved into mean laughter.

Aphrodite stopped. She turned, barely glancing at Kevin as she limped past him. “Just one moment.”

Kevin wanted to shout at her,No! Don’t kill them with your laser vision! I might need them later for a circle!But he had to shut up. He had to play his part, so he ducked his head and surreptitiously watched as Aphrodite walked straight up to the two fledglings, who automatically stumbled a couple of steps back. “Repeat that to my face and not to my gorgeous backside.” The Prophetess’ voice had gone to ice.

“Hey, we didn’t mean anything,” said Shaunee.

“Yeah, we were just kidding around,” said Erin.

“You’re the two who call yourselves Twins, aren’t you?” Aphrodite asked.

“Yes,” they answered together.

“I’ll call you Brain Sharers. And because you share one small brain between the two of you, I’ll give you one small break. But next time you insult either me or my personal soldier slash servant, I’m going to volunteer both of you for dinner duty at the tunnels.”

“Dinner duty?” asked Erin.

“What’s that mean?” asked Shaunee.

Aphrodite stepped forward, invading their personal space. “It means you’ll give the feeder humans a break and offer your own blood to red officers—personally—from your necks, though I hear the vein that runs up your thigh is also a very popular feeding spot of choice.” The two fledglings looked horrified, which Aphrodite waved away. “Oh, don’t be so dramatic. They won’t be allowed to drain you completely. Just almost completely.”

“N-Neferet wouldn’t let that happen!” stuttered Erin.

“Want to bet your blood on that, Thing One?”

Erin quickly shook her head.

“What about you, Thing Two?”

“No, thank you.”

“No, thank you,Prophetess, is what you Brain Sharers meant to say.”

“No, thank you, Prophetess,” they intoned nervously together.

“Better. Much better. Now, I think it best if you never speak to me again.”

“Hey, we didn’t mean anything. Really,” said Shaunee.

“Bullshit,” Aphrodite said. “Spineless little girls like you always simper and say you didn’t mean anything when you get caught being bitches. Grow the hell up. You’re not in middle school anymore. This is real life—not the internet, where you can say stupid, hateful crap without any consequences. And, for shit’s sake, do the world a favor and come out as big ol’ lesbians already.”

Erin blushed like crazy as Shaunee’s mouth flopped open in shock.

“Huh. Never mind. Looks like only one of you would be down with that. Or should I say, only one of you wouldgo downwith that.” Aphrodite laughed gaily, flipped back her long hair, and managed to twitch away, even with a broken heel. As she passed Kevin she spoke loudly enough for the Twins to hear. “Come on, Stinky. Finish schlepping my stuff upstairs. And then you need to scamper off and get me some more champagne. Tragically, I think I’m out, and dealing with the Brain Sharers has made me thirsty.”

“Yes, Prophetess. Of course, Prophetess!” Kevin ducked his head and waited for her to get a couple of yards in front of him before he began walking again, thinking,Looks like I’ll have to find another fire and water. Ah, hell…

And as he followed her into the professor’s building, he heard croaking overhead, and looked up in time to see a giant raven circling above him. He opened the thick wooden door and paused. Sure enough, the raven landed on the sidewalk, cocking its head at him.

“Redbird Boy!”it croaked.

“Come here! Hurry!” Kevin motioned at the bird, who hopped inside the little foyer with him.

“Kevin, what the hell is taking you so long?” Aphrodite called from the winding stairway.

“Sorry, be there in just a sec!” He opened the raven’s tube and took out the little pencil and paper, hastily scrawling,I’m with Aphrodite at the HoN. Staying here during daylight. More soon.Then he stuffed the paper and pencil back in the tube and opened the door for the raven, and it took off skyward.