"She only told you because she wants something from you. She's hateful, Zoey. Don't ever think she's not," Erin said. "Please do not tell me that you're thinking of letting her back into the Dark Daughters," Stevie Rae said. I shook my head. "No. And even if I wanted to, which I don't," I added quickly, "according to my own new rules she doesn't qualify for membership. A Dark Daughter or Son has to uphold our ideals by her or his behavior." Shaunee snorted. "No damn way that hag knows how to be authentic, faithful, wise, earnest, and sincere about anything ex cept her own hateful plans."

"For world dominance," Erin added. "And don't think they're exaggerating," Stevie Rae told me. "Stevie Rae, she is not my friend. I just ... I dunno ..." I floundered, trying to put the instinct that so often whispered to me and goaded me to do, or not to do, things into words. "I guess I really do feel sorry for her sometimes. And I also think I under stand her a little. Aphrodite just wants to be accepted, but she goes about it all wrong. She thinks manipulation and lies mixed with control can force people to like her. It's what she saw at home, and that's what made her like she is now."

"Sorry, Zoey, but that's bullshit," Shaunee said. "She's way too old to be acting a fool because she has a screwed-up mommy."

"Please. Just please with the blame-my-mommy-'cause-I'm-a-bitch crap," Erin said. "Not to be mean or anything, but you have a screwed-up mama, too, Zoey, and you didn't let her, or your step-loser of a dad, mess you up," Stevie Rae said. "And Damien has a mama who doesn't like him anymore because he's g*y."

"Yeah, and he didn't turn into a hateful slut hag," Shaunee said. "Actually, he's the opposite. He's like ... he's like ..." She paused, looking to Erin for help. "Twin, what's the Julie Andrews charac ter's name in The Sound of Music?"

"Maria. And you're right, Twin. Damien is like that goody-goody nun. He needs to loosen up some or he's never gonna get any."

"I cannot believe you guys are discussing my love life," Damien said. We all jumped guiltily and muttered, "Sorry." He shook his head while Stevie Rae and I scooted over so he could sit beside us. "And I'll have you know I don't just want to `get some' as you guys so nastily put it. I want a lasting relation ship with someone I really care about, and I'm willing to wait for that."

"Ja, fr?ulein," Shaunee whispered. "Maria," Erin muttered. Stevie Rae tried to hide her giggle in a cough. Damien narrowed his eyes at the three of them. I decided that was my cue to talk. "It worked." I said quietly. "They closed the bridge." I pulled his cell phone out of my pocket and gave it back to him. He checked to make sure it was off and nodded. "I know, I saw the news and came right over." Damien glanced at the digital clock on the DVD player that sat in the entertain ment center with the TV, then he grinned at me. "It's three twenty. We did it."

The five of us smiled at each other. It's true; I was relieved, but I still had a nagging worried feeling I couldn't seem to get rid of that was more than just the stress about Heath. Maybe I needed a fourth brown pop. "Okay, well, that's taken care of. So why are we sitting around here talking about my love life?" Damien said. "Or lack thereof," Shaunee whispered to Erin, who tried un successfully (with Stevie Rae) not to laugh. Ignoring them, Damien stood up and looked at me. "Well, let's go. "Huh?" He rolled his eyes heavenward and shook his head. "Must I do everything? You have a ritual to perform tomorrow, which means we have a rec hall to transform. Did you think Aphrodite was go ing to volunteer to get things set up for you?"

"I guess I hadn't thought about it." Like I'd had time? "Well, think about it now." He yanked on my hand and pulled me to my feet. "We have work to do." I grabbed my brown pop and we all followed the Damien whirlwind out into a very cold, cloudy Saturday afternoon. The rain had stopped, but the clouds were even darker. "Looks like snow," I said, squinting up at the slate-colored sky. "Oh, man, I wish. I'd love some snow!" Stevie Rae twirled around with her arms outstretched, looking like a little girl. "Move to Connecticut. You'll have more snow than you can stand. It gets pretty damn tiresome after months and months of cold and wet. Please. It's why we northeasterners are so grumpy," Shaunee said pleasantly. "I don't care what you say. You can't ruin it for me. Snow is magic. I think it makes the earth look like it has a fluffy white blanket pulled over it." She spread her arms wide and yelled, "I want it to snow!"