Lynette tried to tell herself it didn’t matter. That the lives of five frivolous, entitled young women weren’t worth risking their mission, but she couldn’t help wishing that she and Neferet were back at Balmacara Mains, sitting before the fireplace, with the aroma of Mrs. Muir’s freshly baked bread wafting around them.
The five women were watching Neferet with expressions so eager that Lynette almost began to relax. Almost.
Neferet continued. “I will need you to swear to absolute secrecy about my presence in your world. By speaking you could upset the very nature of the universe.”
The five started to nod, but once again Neferet cut them off.
“My handmaid and I will need somewhere close to stay. I would prefer that the facility befit my status. I will need money and transportation as well as other things—elements for the spell I will cast to break the seal that entombs your goddess. I will need willing, attractive feeders who also must be sworn to secrecy, or are disposable.” Neferet’s voice changed as she spoke the end of the sentence, leaving no doubt that disposable was synonymous with killable. “And, finally, I will need information. As I said, I am not from your world. In order to create the perfect spell to loose your goddess, I must learn everything I can about how she was able to be imprisoned.”
“Vampyres did it—not us!” the air girl, Jenna blurted.
“Well, yes, of course,” said Neferet. “But I need details.”
“Details are easy to get,” said Vanessa. “The House of Night’s new High Priestess, Zoey Redbird, is super open about everything.”
Amber nodded and her long, blond hair bounced around her shoulders. “Yeah, she even lets humans roam around on the House of Night campus. If we can’t answer your questions, it’ll be real easy for us to get the answers for you.”
“Then, do you agree to my terms?” Neferet asked.
The five girls shared a look, then Vanessa turned back to Neferet. She cleared her throat and said, “Um, if we say yes, do you promise that you really are here to release our Neferet?”
Lynette didn’t have to see the dark tendrils that were Neferet’s children to feel them reflecting their mistress’s irritation, but the vampyre appeared calm when she answered the girl.
“Vanessa, I give you my oath that I am here to release your Neferet from the vile prison that is trapping her.”
“Ohmygod, yeah!” Vanessa almost squealed as she bounced up and down on the balls of her feet like an overgrown cheerleader. “Then, hell yes, we promise to help you! You’re gonna love our house. We’re all seniors at TU, but our place is closer to here than campus—like, within walking distance of here.”
Jenna’s face scrunched unattractively. “The neighborhood around TU isn’t the greatest.”
“Right, so my dad bought us a house in Maple Ridge,” said Vanessa. “It’s practically our own House of Night.”
Neferet glanced at Lynette and, for the first time, the girls noticed her. “Maple Ridge—do you know it?”
“Of course. It’s a historic neighborhood not far from here,” she said.
“Wait. Who is that?” Vanessa asked, staring at Lynette.
“This is Lynette. She is my handmaid,” Neferet said, gesturing gracefully to Lynette, who nodded slightly at the girls.
Vanessa was already looking away from Lynette dismissively as she spoke. “You mean maid, like servant?”
“Servant?” Neferet said. “No. A handmaid is …” the vampyre paused, searching for the correct analogy. “A high-level assistant.” As she spoke she turned to Lynette and winked. Quickly.
“Yes, my lady. Exactly,” Lynette said, curtsying low.
“Oh. I get it,” Vanessa said without looking at Lynette.
“And the five of you live in this home alone?” Neferet asked.
Vanessa nodded. “Totally! Well, I mean, Juanita comes in to clean twice a week—or more often if we, like, have a party and need her.”
“You will suspend her services for as long as I am staying with you,” said Neferet.
Lynette could see that didn’t go over well with Vanessa, but the girl didn’t comment.
“Now I need two things—suitable rooms where my handmaid and I may rest and refresh, and a feeder.” Neferet’s emerald eyes scanned the small group of girls hungrily.
Lynette enjoyed watching them squirm.
“Well, um, there’s a whole feeder registry,” Vanessa said.
“Yes, but none of them will do, as they are registered and therefore not disposable. No matter.” Neferet made a dismissive gesture with her long, elegant fingers. “Show me to your house and I shall find a feeder myself while my fog still blankets the city.”
Kelsey, the girl wearing the blue robe of water, stared at Neferet in starstruck wonder. “You brought this fog here?”
“Yes, child.” Neferet waved her hand around the concealing mist that encircled the group, shrouding it from the cameras that watched the grotto. “This is but a parlor trick.”
“Wow,” Kelsey said.
“This is gonna be awesome,” said Vanessa. “Come this way, please, um, Neferet.”
“You five may call me ‘my lady,’ ” Neferet corrected her.
“Uh, yeah. My lady. The house is just down the street off Norfolk and Twentieth.”
“Lovely. You lead. My handmaid and I shall follow,” said Neferet.
The young women headed for the sidewalk that ran along Twenty-First Street, heading west, toward the river and into the thickest part of the fog. Neferet followed with Lynette at her side.
“They’re very naive and not particularly bright,” Lynette said, keeping her voice pitched for Neferet’s ears alone.
“Yes. They’re absolutely perfect,” agreed Neferet.
3
Other Stark
Other Kevin yawned enormously and stretched so hard that his hands brushed the top of the limo and his spine cracked. “You think Sgiach is actually gonna let us on the island?”
Other Stark looked up from the Dean Koontz book he was reading. “Oh, you’re alive again.”
“Dude, I don’t actually die when the sun’s up. You know that, right?”
“Of course I know that. Doesn’t change the fact that you red vamps look dead while you sleep. You mind if I roll down the window now that the sun’s set? Some fresh air
