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CHAPTER 12
'Zoey! Over here!'
I almost cried in relief when I heard Damien's voice and saw his hand waving at an empty desk next to him.
'Hi.' I sat down and smiled gratefully at him.
'Are you ready for your first day?'
No.
I nodded. 'Yep.' I wanted to say more, but just then a bell gave five quick rings and as the echo of it died Neferet swept into the room. She was wearing a long black skirt slit up the side to show great stiletto boots, and a deep purple silk sweater. Over her left breast, embroidered in silver, was the image of a goddess with her arms upraised, hands cupping a crescent moon. Her black hair was pulled back into a thick braid. The series of delicate wavelike tattoos that framed her face made her look like an ancient warrior priestess. She smiled at us and I could see that the entire class was as caught as I was by her powerful presence.
'Good evening! I've been looking forward to beginning this unit. Delving into the rich sociology of the Amazons is one of my favorites.' Then she gestured to me. 'It is excellent timing that Zoey Redbird has joined us today. I am Zoey's mentor, so I'll expect my students to welcome her. Damien, would you please get Zoey a textbook? Her cabinet is next to yours. While you explain our locker system to her I want the rest of you to journal about what preconceived impressions you have of the ancient vampyre warriors who are known as the Amazons.'
The typical paper rustling and student whispering commenced while Damien led me to the back of the classroom where there was a wall of cabinets. He opened one that had the number '12' in silver on it. The cabinet contained neat, wide shelves filled with textbooks and supplies.
'At the House of Night there aren't lockers, like at regular schools. Here, first hour is our homeroom and we each have a cabinet of our own. The room will always be open, so you come back here to get books and whatever, just like you would go to a locker in the hall. Here's the sociology book.'
He handed me a thick leather book with the silhouette of a goddess stamped on the front of it along with the title, Vampyre Sociology 101. I grabbed a notebook and a couple of pens. When I shut the cabinet door I hesitated.
'Isn't there a lock or something?'
'No,' Damien lowered his voice. 'They don't need locks here. If someone steals something, the vamps know it. I don't even want to think about what would happen to someone stupid enough to do that.'
We sat back down and I started to write about the only thing I knew about the Amazons—that they were warrior women who didn't have much use for men—but my mind wasn't on my work. Instead, I was wondering why Damien, Stevie Rae, and even Erin and Shaunee all freak out about getting in trouble. I mean, I'm a good kid—okay, not perfect, but still. I've only had detention once so far, and that wasn't my fault. Really. Some turd boy told me to suck his cock. What was I supposed to do? Cry? Giggle? Pout? Umm . no… So instead I bitch-slapped him (although I prefer just using the word smacked), and I got detention for it.
Anyway, detention wasn't actually that bad. I got all my homework done and started the new Gossip Girls book. Clearly detention at the House of Night entailed more than going to a teacher's classroom for forty-five minutes of 'quiet time' after school. I'd have to remember to ask Stevie Rae…
'First, what pieces of the Amazon tradition do we still practice at the House of Night?' Neferet asked, drawing my attention back to class.
Damien raised his hand. 'The bow of respect, with our fist over our heart, comes from the Amazons, and so does the way we shake hands—by gripping forearms.'
'Correct, Damien.'
Huh. That explained the funny handshake.
'So, what preconceived notions do you have about the Amazon warriors?' she asked the class.
A blonde who sat on the other side of the room said, 'The Amazons were heavily matriarchal, as are all vampyre societies.' Jeesh, she sounded smart.
'That's true, Elizabeth, but when people discuss the Amazons, legend tends to add an additional layer to history. What do I mean by that?'
'Well, people—especially humans—think that the Amazons were man-haters,' said Damien.
'Exactly. What we know is that just because a society is matriarchal, as ours is, it does not automatically mean that it is anti-male. Even Nyx has a consort, the god Erebus, to whom she is devoted. The Amazons were unique, though, in that they were a society of vampyre women who chose to be their own warriors and protectors. As most of you already know, our society today is still matriarchal, but we respect and appreciate the Sons of Night, and consider them our protectors and consorts. Now, open your text to Chapter Three and let's look at the greatest of the Amazon warriors, Penthesilea, but be careful to keep legend and history separate in your mind.'
And from there Neferet launched into one of the coolest lectures I'd ever heard. I had no idea an hour had passed; the ringing bell was a total surprise. I'd just shoved my sociology book back into my cubbie (okay, I know that Damien and Neferet called them cabinets, but come on—they totally remind me of the cubbies we used to have in kindergarten) when Neferet called my name. I grabbed a notebook and a pen and hurried over to her desk.
'How are you?' she asked, smiling warmly.
'I'm okay. I'm good.' I said quickly.
She lifted an eyebrow at me.
'Well, I suppose I'm nervous and confused.'
'Of course you are. It's a lot to take in, and changing schools is always difficult—let alone changing schools and lives.' She glanced over my shoulder. 'Damien, would you walk Zoey to Drama class?'
'Sure,' Damien said.
'Zoey, I'll see you tonight at Ritual. Oh, and has Aphrodite issued a formal invitation for you to join the Dark Daughters in their private ceremony afterward?'
'Yes.'
'I wanted to double-check with you and make sure that you feel fine about attending. I would, of course, understand your reticence, but I encourage you to go; I want you to take advantage of every opportunity here, and the Dark Daughters is an exclusive organization. It is a compliment that they already seem interested in you as a possible pledge.'
'I'm fine with going.' I forced my voice and my smile to be nonchalant. Obviously she expected me to go, and the last thing I wanted was for Neferet to be disappointed in me. Plus, no way in hell was I going to do anything that might make Aphrodite think I was scared of her.
'Well done.' Neferet said with enthusiasm. She squeezed my arm and I automatically smiled at her. 'If you need me my office is in the same wing as the infirmary.' She glanced at my forehead. 'I see the stitches have almost completely dissolved. That's excellent. Does your head still hurt?'
My hand automatically found its way up to my temple. I could only feel the prickle of a stitch or two today when there had been at least ten yesterday. Very, very weird. And, even weirder, I hadn't thought about the cut once this morning.
I also realized I hadn't thought about my mom or Heath or even Grandma Redbird.…
'No,' I said, suddenly realizing Neferet and Damien were waiting for me to answer. 'No, my head doesn't hurt at all.'
'Good! Well, you two better go before you're late. I know you'll love Drama. I think Professor Nolan has just begun working on monologues.'
I was halfway down the hall, hurrying to keep up with Damien when it hit me.
'How did she know I was going to take Drama? I just decided it this morning.'
'Adult vamps know way too much sometimes,' Damien whispered. 'Scratch that. Adult vamps know way too much all the time, especially when that vamp is a High Priestess.'
