“Damn, girl. You know we have no clue what it is,” Shaunee said.
“It is a lot of things—but mostly my mother and all the crap she’s done to me. And by letting her go I mean I finally got it. I finally understood that no matter how much I want her to love me and to be a good mom—hell, even an average mom—however much I want that, it’s out of my control. It doesn’t matter what I say or do. I can’t fix her. I can only fix how I react to her—or I’m doomed, through my own decisions and my own actions to repeat her bullshit awful life. That’s it. Then Nyx showed up and this happened and a bunch more.”
“Well put, Aphrodite. Zoeybird, that nice Detective Marx said that you needed to speak with me.” Grandma appeared from the hallway that led to the Field House.
“I do.” I drew a deep breath and blurted, “You know how Other Jack came through from the other House of Night world?”
“Yes.”
“Someone else we recognize came through from that world. It’s Kevin, Grandma. He’s a red vampyre.”
“Oh, dear. Oh, oh, dear.” She swayed a little and Stark rushed to take her arm.
“Steady, there, Grandma. It’ll be okay. We’re going to find him and bring him here. Just like Other Jack is here.”
“Is he like those poor young fledglings? They are all so upset. It’s just terrible what they’re going through.”
“I don’t know what he’s like, Grandma,” I said. “I only saw him for a second, but he called my name. He definitely recognized me.”
“Zoey, there you are!” Marx rushed up from the Field House side of the entrance. “I’m getting crazy reports from downtown. Seems a few red vampyres, the same ones that were in our tunnels, committed suicide.”
“Oh, Goddess, no!” Grandma’s legs buckled and only Stark’s strong arm around her kept her from falling to the floor.
Marx moved to Grandma’s side. “No, no, not your grandson! I’m sorry, Mrs. Redbird. I should have led with that. One of the officers who saw Kevin in the tunnel earlier was there. He said none of these vampyres were your brother.” “Committed suicide? What the hell?” Stark said.
“I know what the hell,” Aphrodite said. “It goes along with this.” She pointed to her incredible Mark. “And to why the red fledglings from the other world are awake and aware. Come on inside. I’ll tell you everything. Oh, and don’t expect Damien to join us anytime soon. He and Other Jack are having a thing.” She held up her hand and “shh, shh, shh’d” me when I tried to get more info about the thing.
“Boy-on-boy action. That’s all I’m gonna say because I’m pretty sure they won’t let me watch. Even though I’m pretty sure I’d like to watch. So, to tell you more, I’d have to make up the details, and my brain is busy.” She shrugged. “Anyway, come on. I have some unbelievable shit to tell you.”
“This should certainly be interesting,” Grandma said, already sounding more like herself.
“Would you do me the honor of taking my arm, Sylvia?” Stark held his arm out for her, looking every bit the gentleman. Grandma smiled at him and took it, the color coming back into her smooth cheeks.
I loved him so much at that moment that it was difficult for me to breathe.
25
Zoey
“Wow. Just wow.” I couldn’t stop staring at Aphrodite’s Mark. We were all in the conference room attached to the administrative offices, and everyone—Stark, Shaunee, Marx, and Lenobia—was gawking at Aphrodite, too.
“Let me make sure I have this straight—the vamps and fledglings from the other world are cured, for lack of a better word,” Marx said.
“They are,” Aphrodite said. “Well, a better way of putting it is that they have been restored. Their humanity, that is.”
“And that is why they began committing suicide—because their humanity has been returned and they cannot live with the things they’ve done,” Grandma said. “That does make a terrible sort of sense.”
Stark touched her shoulder gently. “Hey, that doesn’t mean Kevin will commit suicide.”
“I understand that, child, but it does mean he is suffering.”
I looked at Marx. “We need to find him.”
“I have all of TPD combing downtown looking for places he could be hiding. Give me a sec and I’ll radio that they are to hold their fire and not let them commit suicide by cop like those other three just did.”
“U-we-tsi-a-ge-ya, I must leave.”
“Grandma? You can’t go back to the lavender farm. There’s just too much snow,” I said.
“Oh, no, Zoeybird. I must leave this room and go to Nyx’s Temple. There I will cleanse and then begin the prayer vigil for Kevin. That is—if I have your permission to do so.”
“Of course, Grandma! If you need anything just ask one of the priestesses in the meditation chamber.” I went to her and took her hand. “Are you okay?”
“I will be when we bring Kevin home.” She patted my hand and then kissed my cheek. “You do your part, and I will do mine.” Then, slowly, as if her age had suddenly caught up with her, Grandma shuffled from the room.
I went to the phone on the admin desk and punched the number for Nyx’s Temple. The priestess answered on the second ring. “This is Zoey. My grandma’s on her way to the temple. Give her anything she needs and keep an eye on her. Not stalker-ish, though. Just be sure she’s okay. Call me if she needs anything at all. Thank you.” I put the phone down and took my seat again. “Okay, where were we?”
“I’m assuming you want your brother and any other red vampyre we find brought here right away?” Marx continued.
“Yes. Please,” I said.
“Okay, no problem.” He started to step out into the hall to do so, but paused and looked back at Aphrodite. “Is their bite still infectious?”
“No. They’re like regular red fledglings and vampyres now,” she said. “Hey, uh, Marx, could you do something for me, please?”
“If I can.”
“Would you go to St. John’s and tell my mother she’s been cured—or there’s been a mistake and she was always okay—whatever. Just let her know she’s not turning into anything and not dying.”
“You went to the hospital? To see that horrible woman? Really?” Shaunee said.
“Is your mother crazy?” Aphrodite shot the question at Shaunee.
“No. She’s just apathetic.”
“Then don’t talk to me about going to see her. I’m not proud of the things I said to her, and I won’t do it again. But I’m not going to pretend like I’m sorry. I’m not. I’m just sorry I let her hurt me for so long.” Her gaze went back to Marx. “Will you talk to her for me?”
“Are you sure you don’t want to? I’d go with you,” he said.
“I am absolutely sure. Actually, one of my new goals is never to talk to my mother again in this lifetime.”
“All righty then. I’ll stop by St. John’s on the way downtown. If you’ll excuse me. My men need to be briefed on the latest.”
He left the room and we went back to staring at Aphrodite’s Mark.
“So, what now?” she asked.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital with him to tell your mom she’s going to be okay?” I asked.