“I just got off the phone with Detective Marx,” I began. “The rain is not helping. The TPD homicide unit has been working hard, but any trail or tracks left by the tendrils of Darkness have washed away. Basically, they could be anywhere in midtown.”
“And wherever they are is where we’ll find Neferet,” said Stark.
I nodded. “Darius, Marx would like the help of the Sons of Erebus Warriors in searching for Neferet—who we’ll call Batshit—not just to save confusion when we’re talking about the Other World Neferet, but also because it’s accurate.”
“As soon as we’re done here, I’ll organize the Warriors and we’ll start a search grid,” said Darius.
Damien raised a finger, calling our attention to him. “Be sure you check her old penthouse suite at the Mayo. It’s been under renovation for the past year, but she might be looking for somewhere familiar to hide.”
“Good idea,” I said.
Lenobia spoke up. “It would be wise to search the tunnels and then close off the downtown entrances and the newer additions from the depot. It’s like a maze down there, and the last thing we need is for her to start kidnapping people and taking them underground to feed.”
“Another good idea,” I agreed.
“Got it,” said Darius.
“Everyone needs to keep in mind that as soon as she’s recovered all her strength, Batshit is going to be heading to Kev’s world,” said Aphrodite. “My vision was clear about only a few things—but the fact that she joins Other Neferet over there is one.”
“Another is that your daddy in that Other World is gonna be at the showdown,” added Stevie Rae to Rephaim.
“This seems a good time for us to go over the prophetic poem u-we-tsi was kind enough to bring from his world to ours. Might I read it aloud, Zoeybird?”
“Absolutely, Grandma,” I said.
Grandma Redbird stood, strong and sure. She wore her age like a badge of honor, and I hoped that I would someday grow into a woman who was as wise and compassionate.
Grandma passed around copies of the prophecy and then cleared her throat and read from a paper she held before her.
“Ancient one sleeping, waiting to arise,
When the dead joins with fire and water red
Son who is not—his word is key; the raven will devise
He shall hear the call from his sacrificial bed.
By the blood of she who is neither foe nor friend he is free.
Behold a terrible sacrifice to come—a beautiful sight,
Ruled by love they shall be.
The future will not kneel to her dark might.
Kalona’s return is not bittersweet
As he will be welcomed with love and heat.”
No one spoke at first as we all studied the poem. Then Grandma said, “Before we talk about particulars, I wanted to let you know that I shared this with the Wise Woman Council, and we are all in agreement—this Kalona did not Fall as did ours. There is no negative reference to him at all like there was in our world’s prophecy. Coupled with the fact that there are no Raven Mockers in that world, and that Kevin has told me that my ancestral journal in his world only mentioned a being called Silver Wings—and we know our Kalona’s wings turned black when he was ejected from Nyx’s Realm—it is our belief that there you are dealing with a version of Kalona who did not turn to Darkness.”
“But for some reason, he retreated from the world and is sleeping, waiting to arise,” said Rephaim.
“We need to hope that the reason he’s sleepin’ is good and not ’cause he did somethin’ horrific and is basically hidin’,” said Stevie Rae.
Kevin folded his hands in front of him on the table, which I knew was his way to keep from cracking his knuckles nervously. “Well, even though we don’t know why he left the world and Nyx, I don’t think we have much choice. We have to wake him up.” Kevin looked at me. “Where was he entombed in your world?”
“Here,” I said. “At the House of Night. He was buried under that big oak by the east wall.”
“At least he’ll be easy to find,” said James. He glanced at Kacie and continued. “And I think Ice Cream Shoes is going to have to take a trip to my world.”
Kacie shrugged nonchalantly. “I’m cool with it. I like to travel.”
Grandma nodded. “I agree, though Kacie is only part of the equation. She definitely could meet the fire and water red reference, though she is, most happily, not dead.”
Kacie grinned at Grandma. “Yeah, I’m glad about that part too, but the truth is, I was dead not too long ago. Maybe that whole line is about me.”
“That seems logical, dear,” said Grandma.
“Well, the next two lines are obviously about Rephaim,” said Stevie Rae. “And that’s good ’cause even though Other Kalona isn’t his daddy, they still might have a connection. I mean, you and Kev aren’t actually brother and sister in this world, but y’all are close like you are.”
Rephaim added, “I will pray to Father about this. Sometimes he speaks to me through my dreams. Perhaps he can give me insight on what to say to this other version of himself.”
Aphrodite lifted her sunglasses and rubbed her bloodshot eyes before saying, “Okay, guys, I’m gonna say this, and I wish I didn’t have to, but something about the she who is neither foe nor friend line keeps messing with my mind. We need to consider that it might be referring to Other Neferet.”
“Oh, hell no!” blurted James.
“Calm it down right meow, Other Bow Boy,” said Aphrodite. “None of us like it. None of us would trust her. But read it again and tell me if you have a better answer to plug in there.”
I reluctantly added, “Plus, we have the fact that in Aphrodite’s vision it seemed Other Neferet could’ve been on our side.”
“Well, if we have to count on Neferet to help us raise Kalona, we’d better come up with plan B,” said Kevin.
I leaned forward. “Your Neferet isn’t stupid, right James?”
He
