Moving stealthily, Neferet crossed the park, heading for the only other light in the area—a large metal brazier beside which stood a single Son of Erebus Warrior who was currently warming his hands over the open flame. He was several yards away from the top of the tomb, and as Neferet circled silently around, trying to see if he was truly alone, she understood why. The nearer she got to the tomb, the more uneasy she felt. Neferet knew should she get too close, the spirits of the bison would emerge, ready to repel her. But that would warn the Warrior, and that would not do.
Neferet took longer than she planned to observe the area, searching for more Warriors, and when she found none she almost scoffed aloud. This world’s Zoey Redbird might be a powerful High Priestess who commanded all five elements, but she was still an inexperienced child.
I would never leave the guarding of something so precious to a lone Warrior.
Neferet moved closer to the brazier and the Warrior. From the concealment of a thick, winter-bare oak, she murmured to the tendrils that shadowed her everywhere. “Children, kill that Warrior—silently. Feed freely from him but be sure you drag his body far enough away that the girls will not discover it. I have tolerated enough from them and cannot abide silly hysteria. Go, now! And then rejoin me after you have disposed of him, but be certain you remain invisible.”
Like eager kittens the tendrils of Darkness rushed across the frozen grass. Neferet only watched long enough to see one of the thickest of her children rise up, cobra-like, behind the Warrior, so tall that when the tendril hissed, causing the vampyre to whirl around, its ravenous mouth was even with his face. Before the Son of Erebus could make a sound, the tendril entered his mouth and slid down his throat. Without uttering a word, the Warrior crumpled. Satisfied, Neferet took a more direct path across the park, returning quickly to the Garden Center, but before she rejoined the group she detoured to the greenhouse. Silently, she used her preternatural strength to force open the door. No alarm sounded, and Neferet shook her head in disgust. In her Tulsa, security was much better. Lock broken, she gently closed the door and returned to the waiting cluster of women, who were still passing around the bottle of scotch. They did seem in much better spirits and they had stopped their annoying shivering.
As soon as Lynette caught sight of Neferet, she motioned for them to begin disrobing, which they did with only a minimum of complaints.
“Are they not taking off their boots?” Neferet asked.
“My lady, I believe were they barefoot they would be distracted from their circle-casting and would not concentrate on their intent.”
“Ah, I see. Very well, you may keep your unattractive boots on. Now, Dark Sisters, follow me. Be silent. Go immediately to your places and lift your candles as you await spirit to light them and summon your elements.”
“My, uh, lady,” Vanessa hiccuped and giggled. “Um, don’t you want to inspect us to be sure we are pleasing?”
“There is no need, sister spirit,” Neferet said. “I am not your goddess. She who will be freed tonight will inspect you. Do you feel worthy of her?”
“Yes!” The five chorused together.
“Excellent,” said Neferet. “And tell me again, do you come here to be the conduits through which my power will flow willingly?”
“Yes!” they said, even more eagerly.
“I have a question,” said Vanessa.
Neferet stifled her sigh. “Yes?”
“This power you’re going to fill us with—will we feel it?”
“Oh, absolutely,” Neferet assured her truthfully.
Amber took a large swig from the bottle, burped, and added, “Can we keep any of the power?”
“One never knows,” Neferet prevaricated as Amber and Vanessa shared an excited look. “Now, what is your intent that you will focus on all during your ritual?”
“That’s easy.” Vanessa answered with no hesitation. “We think about the fact that we’re here willingly and that we’re the conduits for the power that will free our goddess.”
“Will—will it hurt?” asked Kelsey.
Lynette responded before Neferet could. “Only for a moment. Then you will be free of pain and filled with power.”
“She already told us that!” Jordan snapped at Kelsey.
Kelsey should have chosen her friends better, thought Neferet. Then she said, “We go now to do a great thing, to right a terrible wrong—to free a goddess. The moment we enter the park, begin focusing on your intent. Once the five of you are in position, Vanessa, your spirit sister, will begin casting the circle. I will not be able to be close to the tomb, but you will be able to see me, and be assured that the power I use tonight will not be hindered by a vampyre repel spell. While Lynette is hiding the bag that holds your robes, follow me to your destiny!”
Lynette disappeared around the side of the mansion to where Neferet had noted the presence of a large metal dumpster in which she could burn the robes while Neferet led the women into the Rose Gardens.
They strode through the gardens, the five tipsy girls whispering to each other. Neferet did not feel the need to silence them, however, when she overheard that they were repeating their intentions aloud, over and over. Lynette returned quickly to her side smelling vaguely of smoke as the five willing sacrifices followed behind.
“The robes caught easily?” Neferet kept her voice low, for Lynette’s ears alone.
“Very easily. The dumpster was filled with paper. Everything within will soon be ash,” Lynette whispered. “Were the Warriors difficult to overcome?”
“Not at all, and there was
