Okay, so, which way's north, earth girl? I asked Stevie Rae. She marched over to stand opposite the entrance to the hallway. This is definitely north. All right. The rest of you guys know what to do, I said. Like pros they moved into place: Damien taking the position in the east for air, Shaunee south for fire, Erin west for water, and Stevie Rae firmly stationed in the north for earth. When they were ready I took my place in the center of the circle. Beginning with Damien in the east, I called each element into our circle, moving deasil, or clockwise, until I finished by calling spirit to me. I'd closed my eyes during the casting, and when the circle was complete, I opened them to see a glowing silver thread binding the five of us.

I threw back my head, raised my arms, and shouted with the joy of being touched by all five elements. It's good to be home! My friends laughed, happy and whole, fulfilled by their elements and, even if just for a moment, able to forget the chaos and hardship that surrounded us. But not the pain. I wouldn't forget the reason I'd cast the circle, even though it was easy to get caught up in the thrill of the elements. I centered and calmed myself. In a strong, confident voice, I began to speak. Air, fire, water, earth, and spirit--I have called you here to our circle for one specific reason. Our fledgling friends at the House of Night have been hurt. I'm not a healer. I'm really not even technically a High Priestess. I paused and glanced out of the circle, meeting Stark's gaze. He winked at me. I smiled and continued. But my purpose is clear.

I would like you to please touch these hurt kids. I can't heal them, but I can ask that you soothe and strengthen them, so that they can heal themselves. Actually, I think that's what all of us want--a chance to fix ourselves. In the name of Nyx, and through the power of your elements, fill these fledglings! Concentrating with my mind, body, and soul, I tossed out my hands, imagining I was hurling the elements through me and out at the wounded kids. I heard the exclamations of surprise and pleasure, and even some gasps of pain as the five elements swirled around the infirmary, infilling the fledglings. I stayed there, being a living conduit for the elements until my arms ached and sweat poured down my body. Zoey! I said, Enough!' You've helped them. Close the circle. I heard Stark, and realized that he had been talking to me for a while, but I'd been concentrating so hard and for so long that he literally had to shout to finally break through to me.

Wearily, I dropped my hands and whispered sincere thanks and goodbyes to the five elements, and then I somehow lost my legs and fell to the floor smack on my butt.

Chapter Twenty-four

No, I do not need a bed in the infirmary, I repeated for the third time to Stark, who kept hovering around me looking way too worried. And there are no extra beds here anyway. Hey, I'm feeling lots better, Denio called. You can have my bed, Z. Thanks, but no thanks, I told her. And then I stuck my hand out to Stark. Just help me stand up, would ya? He frowned dubiously at me, but helped me up. I stood very still so that no one was aware that the room was spinning like a crazy mini-tornado around me. I think she looks worse than I feel, said Drew from his pallet on the floor. She can hear you, I said. And I'm fine. I let my slightly blurry vision wander from wounded kid to wounded kid.

They were all looking better, which gave me a great sense of relief. I checked be sure the hurt kids aren't writhing in pain and dying horribly off my mental to-do list. Time for the next list item. I stifled a sigh because I didn't want to waste the oxygen. Okay, things are better here. So, Stevie Rae, we need to figure out where the red fledglings will be staying when the sun comes up before the sun comes up. Good idea, Z, said Stevie Rae, who was sitting on the floor next to Drew. I remembered then that she'd had kind of a thing for the kid before she'd died and un-died, and I acknowledged to myself that seeing her flirting with him, when I thought she probably had a thing for that red fledgling kid named Dallas, gave me a little moment of selfish glee. It might be borderline mean of me, but it would sure be nice if my BFF and I could talk about how to juggle multiple-guy problems.

Z? Do ya think that's a good idea? Oh, sorry, what? I realized Stevie Rae had been talking away at me while I'd been hoping she'd accumulate a zillion (or at least two) boyfriends. I said the red fledglings could stay in empty dorm rooms. There should be enough, even if they have to sleep three to a room. We could be sure their windows are covered. It's not as good as being underground, but it'll do, at least until this stupid ice storm stops and we can figure something else out. Okay, then let's get that going. And while the room situation is being fixed, we--I enunciated the word carefully, taking in my circle plus Aphrodite, Darius, and Stark--need to have a talk with Lenobia. My gang nodded, everyone apparently clued in to the fact that we needed to quickly be brought up to speed on what had happened at the House of Night while we were gone.