wolfgoddess77

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

The next day started with what I looked back on later as suspicious normalcy. Stevie Rae and I ate breakfast, still whispering good gossip about how hot Erik was and trying to figure out what I'd wear on our date Saturday. We didn't even see Aphrodite or the hag triplets, Warlike, Terrible, and Wasp.

You Judgemental Bastards: 189

Lay off; they haven’t done a thing to you!

Vamp Soc class was so interesting—we'd moved from the Amazons to learning about an ancient Greek vampyre festival called Correia—that I'd stopped thinking about the Dark Daughters ritual planned for that evening, and for a little while I'd actually quit worrying about what I was going to do about Aphrodite.

Priorities. Zoey has them. OH, WAIT.

Drama class was good, too. I decided to do one of Kate's soliloquies from The Taming of the Shrew (I've loved that play ever since I saw the old movie starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton). Then as I was leaving class Neferet snagged me in the hall and asked how far I'd read in the upper level Vamp Soc book. I'd had to tell her that I really hadn't read much (translation: I hadn't read any) yet, and I was totally distracted by her obvious disappointment in me when I hurried into English class.

Zoey really should have warned Neferet about what a horrible student she was. She won’t even do normal schoolwork of pay attention in class; why would she do extra work? Neferet’s disappointment is more than warranted.

I'd just taken my seat between Damien and Stevie Rae when all hell broke loose, and everything vaguely resembling anything normal about the day ended.

Penthesilea was reading "You Go and I'll Stay a While Chapter Four” of A Night to Remember. It's a really good book, and we were all listening, as usual,

‘As usual’. I don’t buy that for a second, especially given that I just got finished saying how Zoey never bothered to do any of her work.

then that stupid Elliott kid started coughing.

You Judgemental Bastards: 190

‘That stupid Elliott kid’. Bitch.

Jeesh, the kid was totally and completely annoying.

You Judgemental Bastards: 191

Zoey. You know that a fledgling getting sick probably means that they’re rejecting the change and they’re going to die. But what’s your reaction? “GAWD, I HATE HIM, HE’S SO ANNOYING!”

Somewhere in the middle of the chapter and the obnoxious coughing I started to smell something.

You Judgemental Bastards: 192

For the ‘obnoxious’ part.

It was rich and sweet, delicious, and elusive.

Zoey, how stupid are you? It’s blood! ‘Elusive’, my ass. I think Zoey’s single brain cell has given up the ghost and sputtered out.

Automatically, I inhaled deeply, still trying to concentrate on the book.

Elliott's coughing got worse, and with the rest of the class, I turned to give him a dirty look. I mean, please. Could he not get a cough drop or a drink or whatever?

You Judgemental Bastards: 193

I’m starting to wonder if Zoey might not be a sociopath. Maybe not full-blown serial killer, bunny-boiling sociopathy, but borderline, if nothing else.

And then I saw the blood.

See? I told you it was blood.

Elliott wasn't in his usual slouched and sleeping position. He was sitting straight up, staring at his hand, which was covered with fresh blood.

I don’t know why you needed to clarify that it was fresh. I think we all would have assumed that.

As I watched him, he coughed again, making a nasty, wet sound that reminded me of the day I'd been Marked.

“Oh, Elliott’s dying? Better talk about ME!”

Only when Elliott coughed, bright scarlet blood spewed from his mouth.

"Wh—?" he gurgled.

"Get Neferet!" Penthesilea snapped the command as she jerked open one of her desk drawers, yanked out a neatly folded towel, and moved quickly down the aisle to Elliott.

What the… Do all the teachers have towels stashed away in their desks in case one of their students randomly kicks the bucket? That’s disturbing.

The kid who was sitting closest to the door took off.

In utter silence we watched Penthesilea make it to Elliott just in time for his next bloody cough, which she caught in the towel. He clutched the towel to his face, hacking and spitting and gagging. When he finally looked up, bloody tears were running down his pale, round face, and blood was running from his nose like it was a faucet someone had left on. When he turned his head to look up at Penthesilea, I could see that there was a red stream coming from his ear, too.

"No!" Elliott said with more emotion than I'd ever heard him show. "No! I don't want to die!”

"Sssh," Penthesilea soothed,

Why is she hissing at him?

smoothing his orange hair back from his sweaty face. "Your pain will end soon.”

"But—but, no I—" He started to protest again, in a whiny voice that sounded more like his own,

You Judgemental Bastards: 194

You are literally watching him die before your very eyes, and you’re still being a bitch towards him.

then he was interrupted by another round of hacking coughs. He gagged again, this time puking blood into the already soaked towel.

Neferet entered the room with two tall, powerful-looking vampyre men close behind her. They carried a flat stretcher and a blanket; Neferet was carrying only a vial filled with milky-colored liquid. Not two breaths behind them, Dragon Lankford burst into the room.

"That's his mentor,” Stevie Rae whispered almost soundlessly. I nodded, remembering when Penthesilea had chastised Elliott for letting Dragon down.

I hope you feel ashamed of yourself for that. Because you sure as hell should.

Neferet handed Dragon the vial she'd been holding. Then she stood behind Elliott. She put her hands on his shoulders. Instantly, his gagging and coughing subsided.

What is with these short, choppy sentences?

"Drink this quickly, Elliott," Dragon told him. When he started to weakly shake his head no, he added gently, "It will make your pain end.”

Well, doesn’t that sound ominous?

"Will—will you stay with me?" Elliott gasped.

"Of course,” Dragon said. "I won't let you be alone for even a moment.”

"Will you call my mom?" Elliott whispered.

"I will.”

How is that PCK can make me feel sympathy for characters I’m supposed to hate, and hate the characters I’m supposed to like? It’s all backwards.

Elliott closed his eyes for a second, and then, with shaking hands he held the vial to his lips and drank. Neferet nodded to the two men, and they picked him up and lay him on the stretcher as if he was a doll and not a dying kid. With Dragon by his side, they hurried from the room. Before Neferet followed them she turned to face the shocked classroom of third formers.

"I could tell you that Elliott will be fine—that he will recover, but that would be a lie." Her voice was serene, but filled with commanding strength. "The truth is his body has rejected the Change. In minutes he will die the permanent death and will not mature into a vampyre.

Wait, what? The permanent death? As opposed to the impermanent death? Is this supposed to imply that mature vampires are dead?

I could tell you not to worry, that it won't happen to you. But this would be a lie, too. On average, one out of every ten of you will not make the Change. Some fledglings die early in their third former year, as is Elliott. Some of you will be stronger and last until your sixth former year, and then sicken and die suddenly. I tell you this not so that you will live in fear. I tell you for two reasons. First, I want you to know that as your High Priestess I will not lie to you, but will help ease your passing into the next world if that time comes.

Which is why, instead of being with Elliott and comforting him as he dies, you’re standing here monologuing. You suck, Neferet.

And second, I want you to live as you would be remembered if you would die tomorrow, because you might.

And they’re not supposed to live in fear? I would!

Then if you do die your spirit can rest peacefully knowing that you leave behind an honorable memory.

Funny you say this, since everyone is supposed to immediately forget the person who dies and move on as if they never existed in the first place.

If you do not die, then you will have set the foundation for a long life rich with integrity." She looked straight into my eyes as she finished, saying, "I ask that Nyx's blessing comfort you today, and that you remember death is a natural part of life, even a vampyre life.

Speshul Snowflake: 214

Why are you looking at Zoey? She’s probably the least affected by Elliott’s death, given how much she was complaining about him as he was dying.

For someday we all must return to the bosom of the Goddess.” She closed the door behind her with a sound that seemed to echo finality.

Well, that was dramatic.

Penthesilea worked quickly and efficiently. Matter-of-factly she cleaned up the spatters of blood that stained Elliot's desk. When all evidence of the dying kid was gone, she returned to the front of the class and led us in a moment of silence for Elliott. Then she picked up the book and began reading where she'd left off.

See what I mean? It’s like it never happened. The least she could do is cancel the rest of the class. I can’t imagine anyone would be able to focus after watching someone bleed out right in front of them.

I tried to listen. I tried to block out the vision of Elliott bleeding out through his eyes and ears and nose and mouth.

Oh, like you fucking care!

And I also tried not to think about the fact that the delicious smell I'd noticed had been, without a doubt, Elliott's lifeblood pouring from his dying body.

Uh, yeah. Good to see you’re finally catching on, you moron.

* * *

I know things are supposed to go on as usual after a fledgling dies,

‘Honorable memory’ who?

but apparently it was unusual for two kids to die so close together, and everyone was unnaturally quiet for the rest of the day. Lunch was silent and depressing, and I noticed that most of the food was picked at rather than eaten.

Now this is a more realistic reaction to someone’s death. Too bad it won’t last.

The Twins didn't even bicker with Damien, which might have been a nice change if I hadn't known the awful reason behind it.

You Judgemental Bastards: 195

Why are these people your friends? You’re horrible!

When Stevie Rae made some lame excuse to leave lunch early and go back to the room before fifth hour started, I was more than happy to say I'd go with her.

Who cares what her excuse was? And where do you get off calling it lame? I don’t think it’s quite enough to warrant a judgement point, but Zoey still sucks.

We walked along the sidewalk in the thick dark of another cloudy night. Tonight the gaslights didn't feel cheerful and warm. Instead they seemed cold and not bright enough.

"No one liked Elliott, and somehow I think that makes it worse," Stevie Rae said.

How do you know that? You can’t possibly know what every single student felt about him. Just because you didn’t like him doesn’t mean no one did.

"It was weirdly easier with Elizabeth. At least we could feel honestly sorry she was gone.”

"I know what you mean. I feel upset, but I know I'm really upset that I saw what can happen to us and now I can't get it out of my mind, and not upset that the kid's dead.”

Could you at least have the decency to use his name?

"At least it happens fast," she said softly.

I shivered. "I wonder if it hurts.”

"They give you something—that white stuff Elliott drank. It makes it stop hurting, but it lets you be conscious till the end. And Neferet always helps with the actual dying.”

Jesus, that makes it sound like she kills them! And that stuff sounds terrifying. Imagine that—you’re dying, and all you want to do is close your eyes and drift off, but because you drank what was in that bottle, you’re forced to stay awake through it all. That is the stuff of nightmares.

"It's scary, isn't it?" I said.

"Yeah.”

We didn't say anything for a while. Then the moon peeped through the clouds, painting the leaves of the tree with an eerie silver watercolor, and reminding me suddenly of Aphrodite and her ritual.

"Any chance Aphrodite will cancel the Samhain ritual tonight?"

HOW MANY GODDAMN RITUALS DO YOU PEOPLE DO?!

"No way. The Dark Daughters' rituals are never cancelled.”

"Well, hell," I said. Then I glanced at Stevie Rae. "He was their refrigerator.”

Still a stupid name.

She gave me a startled look. "Elliott?”

"Yeah, it was really gross, and he acted all drugged and weird.

Maybe he was drugged. Ever think of that? And you know damn well it wasn’t gross. You loved it.

He must have been starting to reject the Change even then." There was an uncomfortable silence, and then I added, "I didn't want to say anything to you before, especially after you told me about…well…you know. Are you sure Aphrodite won't cancel tonight? I mean, what with Elizabeth and now Elliott.”

Zoey, words cannot express how despicable you are. You’re using the deaths of not one, but two kids as an excuse that you might be able to weasel out of going. Just don’t go! You’re not obligated to go to this stupid thing! But no. You don’t have the courage to woman up and say you aren’t going; you’re just going to stand back and hope something else causes them to cancel.

"It won't matter. And the Dark Daughters don't care about the kid they use as a refrigerator. They'll just get someone else.” She hesitated. "Zoey, I've been thinking. Maybe you shouldn't go tonight. I heard what Aphrodite said to you yesterday. She's going to make sure no one accepts you. She'll be really, really mean.”

Oh, boo-hoo! Aphrodite’s mean! What are you, seven?

"I'll be okay, Stevie Rae.”

"No, I have a bad feeling about it. You don't have a plan yet, do you?”

Nope. She can’t be bothered with things like plans.

"Well, no. I'm still in the reconnoitering stage,” I said, trying to lighten up the conversation.

Have some respect for the dead, Zoey.

"Reconnoiter later. Today's been too awful. Everyone's upset. I think you should wait.”

"I can't just not show up, especially after what Aphrodite said to me yesterday. She'll think she told me and now she can intimidate me.”

This is so fucking stupid! You obviously don’t want to go! So don’t go! Stop thinking you have something to prove, you pig-headed dolt!

Stevie Rae took a deep breath. "Well, then I think you should take me with you.” I started to shake my head but she kept right on talking. "You're a Dark Daughter now. Technically, you can invite people to the rituals. So invite me. I'll go and watch your back.”

Minuscule points to Stevie Rae here, for trying to overcome her fear and being brave enough to go.

I thought about drinking blood and liking it so much that it was obvious, even to Warlike and Terrible. And I tried, and failed, not to think about the scent of blood—Heath's and Erik's and even Elliott's. Stevie Rae would find out someday how blood affected me, but it wouldn't be tonight. Actually, if I could help it, it wouldn't be anytime soon. I didn't want to chance losing her or the Twins or Damien—and I was afraid I would. Yes, they knew I was "special,”

Speshul Snowflake: 214

and they accepted me because that uniqueness meant High Priestess to them, and that was good.

Speshul Snowflake: 215

My bloodlust was not so good. Would they accept it as easily?

YES. THEY WOULD. This aversion you have to trusting people who are supposedly your friends is getting to be more than a little ridiculous. If they ever find out you have so little faith in them, shit’s going to explode in your face, mark my words. You have absolutely no reason to think they won’t stick with you.

But then, this is the same girl who doubted her own grandmother.

"No way, Stevie Rae.”

"But, Zoey, you shouldn't go into that hag pack alone."

You Judgemental Bastards: 196

"I won't be alone. Erik will be there.”

"Yeah, but he used to be Aphrodite's boyfriend. Who knows how good he'll be at standing up to her if she gets real hateful with you.”

I love how Stevie Rae just insinuated that Erik is totally whipped by Aphrodite and can’t do anything to stand against her.

"Honey, I can stand up for myself.”

"I know, but—" She broke off and gave me a funny look. "Z, are you vibrating?”

…okay, Stevie Rae is just as stupid as Zoey.

"Huh? Am I what?" And then I heard it, too, and started laughing. "It's my cell phone.

See why I said that? Who is dumb enough to think that a person is vibrating, rather than their phone?

I stuck it in my purse after it charged up last night." I pulled it out of my purse, glancing at the time on the face dial. "It's past midnight, who the heck…" Flipping the phone open I was shocked to see that I had fifteen new text messages and five missed calls. "Jeesh, someone's been calling and calling, and I didn't even notice.”

I would give this a pass, given that Elliott just died right in front of her, but we’ve already seen how little she cares, so she shouldn’t have been so distracted that she missed that many messages and calls. One or two I could understand, but that’s just ridiculous.

I checked the text messages first, and felt my stomach start to clench as I read them.

Zo call me I stl luv u

Zo call me plz

Got 2 see u

U & Me

Will u call?

I wnt 2 talk 2 u Zo!

Call me bak

…okay, that hurt to read. I’ve always hated chatspeak, with a very few exceptions for certain words.

I didn't need to read any more of them. They were all basically the same. "Ah, crap. They're all from Heath.”

"Your ex?”

I sighed. "Yeah.”

"What does he want?”

"Apparently, me." Reluctantly, I keyed in the code to access my voice messages, and Heath's cute, dopey voice shocked me with how loud and animated he sounded.

You Judgemental Bastards: 197

‘Dopey’, huh?

"Zo! Call me. Like, I know it's late, but…wait. It's not late to you, but it's late to me. But that's okay 'cause I don't care. I just want you to call me. Okay. So. Bye. Call me.”

I groaned and deleted it. The next one sounded even more manic.

"Zoey! Okay. You need to call me. Really. And don't be mad. Hey, I don't even like Kayla. She's lame. I still love you, Zo, only you. So call me. I don't care when. I'll just wake up.”

"Man oh man," Stevie Rae said, easily overhearing Heath's gushing. "The boy's obsessed. No wonder you dumped him.”

Poor Kayla. I know what’s going on here, so I know it’s not really Heath’s fault, since he’s essentially being mind-controlled by the imprint (not even really a spoiler; I think we all saw this coming), but I still really feel bad for her.

"Yeah," I mumbled, quickly deleting the second message. The third was much like the first two, only more desperate. I turned the volume down and tapped my foot impatiently while I went through all five messages, not listening except to see when I could delete and move on to the next one.

I’m pretty sure you don’t have to listen to a voicemail before you can delete it. It’s been a long time since the age of flip phones, so I can’t recall for sure, but I believe that you could delete them at any time, even without listening to them first.

"I gotta go see Neferet," I said, more to myself than to Stevie Rae.

"How come? You need to block him from calling or something?"

What? No! You don’t need to talk to an adult to block someone on a phone! You really are as stupid as Zoey!

"No. Yeah. Something like that. I just need to talk to her about, well, about what I should do.” I avoided Stevie Rae's curious gaze. "I mean, he's already showed up here once. I don't want him to come by again and cause any trouble.”

Why will you not tell her the truth? You might not be blatantly lying as much as Bella Swan did, but you’re just as bad.

"Oh, yeah, that's true. It'd be bad if he ran into Erik.”

Why? Does she expect them to get into a fistfight over Zoey or something?

…oh, what am I saying? Given how much PCK already faps over Zoey, of course they would have two boys physically fighting over her.

"It'd be awful. Okay, I better hurry and try to catch Neferet before fifth hour. I'll see you after school.”

I didn't wait for Stevie Rae's good-bye,

Rude.

but took off in the direction of Neferet's room. Could this day get any worse? Elliott dies and I'm attracted to his blood. I have to go to the Samhain ritual tonight with a bunch of kids who hate me and want to make sure I know it, and I've probably Imprinted my ex-almost-boyfriend.

“Me, me, me, me, me!”

Yep. Today really, really sucked.

Speshul Snowflake: 215
Name Drop: 67
You Judgemental Bastards: 197