My voice was magnified by the incredible power of the five elements and it blasted the night.
“Spirit, earth, water, fire, air—I do call.
We seek the power of storm winds tonight.
Fire, I need your fierceness—flames thick and tall.
Air, mix with fire, strong and well—join our fight!
Water, bring flood and fury unstoppable.
Earth, you know our need is urgent and true—
Wash all away with power nautical.
Quake and shake, then we bid this world adieu!
Elements true, filled with power and might
I focus your immensity here—now.
We quit our world for another tonight,
Intent to banish Darkness we do vow.
Four joined by five—love shall open that door
We leave this world through spirit’s mighty roar!”
Then I hurled my candle at the broken base of the tree. It hit the bark and shattered. Purple fire spread like a giant cobweb and it took the shape of a door! Against the closed door, air howled—fire blazed—water geysered—and earth shook the tree so violently that the door flew open and exposed a spinning vortex of stars.
“Let’s go!” I shouted and ran forward, past Stevie Rae. Stark was only a step behind me, and after him, my circle followed. As we all entered the doorway, the rainbow of colors that had held our circle together whirled around us, creating a protective shield that was as beautiful as it was powerful. The last thing I heard was my House of Night break out in a joyous victory cheer. Then I was swallowed by cold and disoriented by flashes of light and color and I heard nothing at all, but I ducked my head down and continued to blindly run forward, falling into what felt like oblivion.
It seemed like entirely too long before my feet hit solid ground. I tucked and rolled and then laid on my back, trying to catch my breath. I was dizzy, and my eyes were watering so badly that I couldn’t see.
“Zoey? Zoey! Oh, Goddess! It is you! Stevie Rae! Rephaim!” The voice was familiar, but my brain was having a tough time registering more than that. I felt someone smooth the hair back from my face. “Zoey, can you hear me?”
I blinked over and over, and finally managed to make my hand lift to rub at my eyes. The next time I blinked, a face slowly came into focus.
“Anastasia!” I thought I shouted her name, but my voice was a whisper as I struggled to sit.
“Hey, I’ve got you. You made it. You’re here. Just breathe. The disorientation will pass.”
I closed my eyes and nodded—took several slow, long breaths in and out, in and out. When I opened my eyes again, the earth wasn’t spinning, and I could see. I sat, barely needing Anastasia’s help now.
“My circle?” I sounded more normal as I tried to look around Anastasia.
She moved as Stark crawled on his hands and knees to me and pulled me into his arms. “You did it!” he said. “Look! We’re all here.”
He was right. Everyone was pale and they were still on the ground. I could see Dragon sprinting to us from the direction of the field house, followed by several other vampyres and my grandma from this world. I looked at Anastasia and said, “Kevin and James—I mean, your Stark—should be here soon too.”
“It must be bad,” said Anastasia.
I nodded, still shaky, but my voice was strong and a lot calmer than I felt. “The worst. Your Neferet is here—and mine is on her way.”
Dragon skidded to a halt in time to hear me.
His mate looked up at him. “Gather all the generals. Call every priestess in the area. We need to get ready.”
28
Other Kevin
The power of Zoey’s spell still reverberated around Kevin in the cheers from the gathered fledglings when Travis, Lenobia’s human Consort, whistled so loud and sharp that it quickly silenced the kids.
“High Priestess Lenobia needs you now!” Travis shouted across the school grounds. “Frightened humans are gathering in the Field House. While she, the professors, and the senior fledglings are setting the protective spells around the perimeter, you’re needed to make up cots, ready the movie screen in the auditorium, and start popping a lot of bags of popcorn. Let’s try to make our neighbors feel at home and do everything we can to lessen their fear.”
Kevin was impressed by how quickly the fledglings responded. Setting off in small groups, some headed inside to the auditorium and kitchen, and others walked briskly along the sidewalk that led to the Field House.
Travis saluted Kevin, who returned his salute with a wave.
“I should’ve made time to see Lenobia and Travis—and the horses,” said James. “I miss them in our world.”
“Yeah, me too,” said Kevin. “Maybe next trip.”
James snorted. “Not really interested in doing this again.”
“Really? That’s not what kissing Ice Cream Shoes says.”
James’s gaze snapped to Kevin. “I, uh, didn’t plan on liking her.”
“But you do, right?”
“It’s new. I don’t really know her that well yet. She’s actually pretty great. I just, um—”
Kevin put his hand on James’s shoulder. “Dude, it’s a yes or no question.”
“Oh. Then yes. I do like her. A lot.”
“Thought so. Better leave your world-hopping options open then. Come on. Time to return to ours.”
“Where are you doing it?”
“Right here’s good with me. You?”
James shrugged. “You’re in charge of this part. I’m just glad I only have to cut myself once to get there.”
“Yeah, I don’t blame you. Want me to cut you this time, or you going to do it yourself?” Kevin asked as they walked to the oak and the place where the power was most concentrated at the House of Night.
“I’ll do it. No problem.”
Kevin stopped in front of the strange-looking tree and cracked his knuckles. “It’s weird as hell that there’s literally nothing left from
