Then the two of you meet the rest of us in my room. Agreed? Agreed, Darius and Shaunee said together. I thought it was weird that Erin hadn't said anything to her Twin, but as Shaunee started to follow Darius over to the circling red fledglings, she called, I'll fill you in on anything you miss, Twin. Of course you will, Twin, Shaunee said, smiling over her shoulder at Erin. Okay, we really need Lenobia with us. I looked over to where the Horse Mistress stood beside Dragon. But I don't know how to pull her away from that. Just tell him, Damien said. I gave him my question mark look. Dragon understands how dangerous Kalona and Neferet are. He'll understand that we need Lenobia. Damien's gaze went over to the vampyre, who was still on his knees. He's going to stay there and grieve until he feels right leaving. We can't change that or hurry him up.

So just tell him we need Lenobia. You're a smart kid, you know it? I said. Affirmative, he said with a smile. All right. I drew a long, weary breath. Stevie Rae--explain to Kramisha what she needs to do. The rest of you guys can meet in my room. I'll be there as soon as I get Lenobia. Z, I'm going to tell Jack to help Kramisha, Damien said. I raised my brows at him. Your room's only so big. Plus, I can fill him in on stuff later. Right now we need to get our heads on straight. I nodded and started trudging toward Lenobia and Dragon. Around me I could see Darius and Stevie Rae pulling kids aside and speaking quietly to them.

Damien petted Duchess's head while he talked to his boyfriend. Through it all Stark stayed by my side. I didn't have to look for him. I could feel him. I knew if I stumbled, he would make sure I didn't fall. I also knew he understood better than anyone else exactly how much channeling the elements in the infirmary had taken from me. As if reading my mind, he whispered, You'll be able to sit down soon. And I'll find something for you to eat and drink. Thank you, I whispered back. He took my hand and together we went to Lenobia and Dragon. The cats were quiet, though both were pressed against Dragon's body. His bruised and battered face was wet with tears, but he'd stopped crying. Dragon, I need Lenobia to come with me for a little while. I don't want to leave you here alone, but I really do need to talk to her. He looked up at me.

I thought I'd never seen anyone so sad. I won't be alone. Shadowfax and Guinevere will be with me, and our Goddess will be with me, he said. His gaze returned to the pyre. I'm not ready to leave Anastasia yet. Lenobia squeezed his shoulder. I will return soon, my friend, she said. I will be here, Dragon said. I'll wait with Dragon. Kramisha doesn't really need me. She already has enough fledglings to boss around, Jack said to me. He and Damien had joined us. Duchess stopped several feet away and was lying on the grass with her nose on her paws. The cats paid no attention to her. I'd like to stay with you, that is, if you don't mind, he finished, speaking to Dragon nervously. Thank you, Jack, Dragon said, his voice catching on a sob. Jack nodded, wiped his eyes and, without saying anything else, sat next to Dragon and began gently petting Shadowfax.

Well done you, I said softly to Jack. I'm proud of you, Damien whispered to Jack and kissed him gently on the cheek, which made Jack smile through his tears. Okay, I said. Let's meet in my room. Lenobia, Zoey has to take a detour through the kitchen, Stark said abruptly. She and I will meet you in the dorm as soon as possible. Lenobia nodded absently, already walking toward the dorms with Damien, Erin, and Aphrodite. Why are--, I started, but Stark cut me off. Just trust me. This is what you need. He took my elbow and guided me toward the center of the school building where the entry hall led to the cafeteria. We were almost to the doors when he said, Go on in to the cafeteria. I gotta grab something and then I'll be right with you. Too tired to question him, I went in. It was weird how deserted everything was. The lobby was lit by half the gaslights that usually blazed at this time of night.

I glanced up at a clock. It was a little past midnight. School should be going on. There should be fledglings and vamp professors all over. I wished the place was packed. I wished I could turn back time and make the past two months disappear so I could go back to worrying about Aphrodite being a mean girl and Erik being an untouchable hottie. I wanted to go back to a time when I didn't know anything about Kalona or A-ya or death and destruction. I wanted normal. I wanted it so bad I felt sick. I walked slowly into the cafeteria, which was also completely empty, and darker than the hallway had been. There were no yummy food smells, no clusters of kids gossiping about other kids, no professors giving dirty looks to kids sneaking Doritos. I stumbled over to the picnic bench?like booth I usually shared with my friends and let my knees give out, sitting heavily on the well-polished wood.