“She’s telling the sprites that she wants to make a deal,” Lynette said. “This is the part where they barter.”
“Barter? Can’t she just command them to do whatever she wants them to do?” Amber said.
Vanessa added, “Or isn’t she that powerful.”
Lynette couldn’t keep the disdain from her voice as she answered the clueless young woman. “Those sprites are part of the magick that made this world. They are not beholden to any goddess. They are dangerous and extremely powerful and should be treated with respect. For every service they perform they require a payment. That’s just the way it is.”
“Huh. I’ll have to ask our Neferet about that,” said Vanessa.
“Please do,” Lynette said. And added silently, though I doubt you’ll get a chance. I almost wish I were staying here long enough to witness her answer.
“Hey, she just picked up that little knife,” said Kelsey.
“It’s a sgian dubh,” corrected Lynette. “The goddess brought it from our Highlands. Watch closely. This will be the payment part.”
The sprites had formed a circle around Neferet, illuminating her incredible beauty. She lifted the sgian dubh and pressed it against the meaty part of the palm of her hand, just below her thumb. With one swift motion, she sliced into her skin.
Five gasps echoed across the balcony.
“She actually cut herself !” Jordan said.
“Of course she did,” said Vanessa—as if she hadn’t gasped in shock with the rest of them. “She’s a goddess. Her blood has to be super special.”
That’s the first correct thing you’ve said all day, Lynette thought, but she didn’t bother speaking to Vanessa. She didn’t want to be educated. Vanessa wanted to be coddled.
Neferet had closed her bleeding hand, capturing the pool of scarlet that was welling there. Then, with a grace that was mesmerizing, Neferet spun in a circle and as she did, she opened her hand and flicked her wrist so that blood rained around her.
The sprites went mad. They didn’t allow one drop to touch the ground, but instead darted about, catching them in their greedy, open mouths.
Amber jolted half a step back. “Do you see those fangs?”
“Oh,” Lynette said nonchalantly, “Didn’t I tell you how they killed the human in Scotland?” She didn’t wait for a response but continued. “They ate her.”
Vanessa shivered. “Now that is cool.”
The instant the last drop of blood was gobbled up, the dark sky above them opened and cold rain began to fall.
“Oh, shit! My hair!” Vanessa said.
“We can go inside now,” Lynette said. “The goddess has done what she needed to do.”
Amber frowned. “You mean she did all that to make it rain?”
“Honey, how cold has it been lately?” Lynette asked with exaggerated patience.
“Real cold,” Amber said, rolling her eyes.
“And what happens when it’s been ‘real cold,’ ” Lynette air quoted and allowed her voice to sound as petulant as Amber’s, “and then it warms up a little—just enough for it to rain before getting ‘real cold’ again?”
“OMG, she made an ice storm!” Vanessa said. Then she added, “That’s gonna suck for us tomorrow night.”
“It’s also going to keep everyone away from Woodward Park and, hopefully, even knock out the electricity so those cameras don’t report anything to the House of Night,” said Lynette.
“Oh, well. Then I guess we’ll just have to deal,” said Vanessa.
Lynette nodded. “Nothing good comes easily.”
Amber snorted. “Cliché much?”
“Do you know how sayings become clichés?” Lynette said as she walked from the balcony with the girls following her like annoying hens.
“Yeah, because it’s repeated over and over,” said Amber.
“Yes. And it’s repeated over and over because it’s true. I suggest you all get a good night’s rest. Tomorrow is going to be exciting.”
“Yeah, well, since we’re not old we can stay up past bedtime,” said Kelsey, which made first Vanessa, and then the others laugh.
“Good one, Kelsey!” Vanessa said.
Lynette paid them no mind and headed toward the bathroom to warm Neferet’s bath and pour her a glass of her favorite wine.
“Hey, where are you going, Nettie? There’s a serious mess to clean up in the kitchen,” Vanessa shouted after her.
Lynette turned then and met Vanessa’s mean, blue-eyed gaze. “I am in the service of my goddess. She will want a bath and wine—immediately. Do you want to explain to her why those things aren’t ready?”
Vanessa shifted her weight restlessly from foot to foot. “I could do that. I could do the bath thing and get her some wine.”
“No, child, you could not.” Neferet’s voice rang up the stairwell as she ascended, still completely naked, her long hair her only covering. She smelled of wilderness and blood, and her eyes still glinted with power. “You are not my handmaid. I have been patient with you because I understand you have never before been in the presence of a goddess, but you will not disrespect my handmaid again because if you do, I will drink you dry.”
“B-but, you’d have to answer to our goddess for that,” stammered Vanessa.
“Actually, I would not. Goddesses answer to no one. Now, either clean the kitchen or rest, as my handmaid advised.”
Vanessa closed her mouth. Her lips formed a tight little line, but she nodded and, with the other girls, headed toward the bedrooms.
“Oh, and Vanessa?” Neferet called.
Vanessa stopped and turned.
“Her name is Lynette, not Nettie. I find nicknames offensive. Do not call her that again.”
Vanessa’s head jerked up and down as she nodded.
Neferet’s face transformed from ferocious vampyre to beatific goddess with her smile. “That’s better, isn’t it? Thank you for being so understanding and such excellent hostesses. I give you my word you will be repaid in kind tomorrow night.”
11
Other Kevin
As Aphrodite left the boundary of the grove, her smile lit Kevin’s heart. “Hello, handsome. It’s really good to see you.”
“Aphrodite!” He closed the distance between them in seconds and reached out to take her into his arms, but even though she looked solid and beautiful and really, truly there, he was met with
