P.C. Cast - Burned

Hope shivered through Stark again. He turned to Duantia. “I was wrong before. Neferet should be able to take Kalona to wherever she wants to take him, but I want the same right to take Zoey with me.” He paused and made a gesture that included Aphrodite, Darius, and the other kids who were huddled together not far from them. “ We want to take Zoey with us.”

“Stark, I cannot agree to what would amount to a death sentence for you, too.” Duantia’s voice was compassionate but firm. “Within this next week, Zoey is going to die. The best place for her is here, in our infirmary, being kept comfortable during the time she has left. The best thing for you to do would be to prepare yourself for that outcome and not sacrifice yourself in a futile attempt to save her.”

“You are very young,” Thanatos said. “You have a long and productive life before you. Don’t cut Fate’s thread for you.”

“Zoey will remain here until the end.” Duantia nodded in agreement. “You may, of course, stay by her side.”

“Um, excuse me. I don’t mean to be disrespectful or anything.” Everyone’s attention turned to Zoey’s group of friends, who had, until then, been mostly silent with grief and shock. Damien’s hand was raised like he was in a classroom waiting for the teacher to call on him.

“Who are you, fledgling?” asked Duantia.

“My name is Damien, and I’m one of Zoey’s friends.”

“He also has an affinity for air,” Jack added, wiping a hand across his tear-streaked face.

“Ah, I have been told of you,” Duantia said. “Do you wish to address the Council?”

“He is a fledgling. He should be seen and not heard in Council meetings,” Neferet snapped.

“I didn’t know you spoke for the Vampyre High Council, Neferet,” Aphrodite said.

“She does not,” said Thanatos, giving Neferet a hard look before turning to Damien. “Fledgling, do you wish to address the Council?”

Damien sat up straighter, swallowed hard, and said, “Affirmative.”

Thanatos’s lips twitched with the beginnings of a smile. “Then you may speak. You may also put down your hand, Damien.”

“Oh, thank you.” Damien’s hand hastily retreated. “Well, all I wanted to say, very respectfully, is vampyre law states that, as Zoey’s Oath Bound Warrior, it is Stark’s right to decide where and how she should be protected. At least that’s what I remember from my notes last semester in Vampyre Sociology Class.”

“Zoey is dying.” Duantia’s words were harsh, but her tone was gentle. “You must understand that her Warrior will soon be released from his Oath.”

“I do understand. But she’s not dead yet , and all I’m saying is that her Warrior has the right to be her protector, in anyway he believes is best for her, as long as she is alive.”

“I have to agree with the fledgling,” Thanatos said, nodding respectfully to Damien. “He is absolutely correct in principle. It is law, as well as a Warrior’s Oath Bound responsibility, to decide what is best for his High Priestess’s safety. Zoey Redbird is living; therefore, she is still under her Warrior’s protection.”

“And the rest of my Council? Do you agree with Thanatos?” Duantia asked.

Stark held his breath while the other five High Priestesses either spoke solemn yes es or gave small nods.

“Well done, fledgling Damien,” Thanatos said.

Damien’s cheeks turned pink. “Thank you, Priestess.”

Duantia shook her head. “For my part, I am not as pleased as Thanatos at the prospect of the death of a promising young Warrior.” Then the vampyre shrugged with acquiescence. “But the Council is in agreement. Though it saddens me, I bow to the will of my Council and to our laws. Stark, where is it you would like to take your High Priestess for her last days?”

Before he could respond, Neferet’s cold voice cut in. “Am I to assume this little quorum of agreement means I am also free to leave and to take my consort with me?”

“We already decided upon that, Neferet.” Thanatos’s tone matched her chill for chill. “Under the conditions set, you may return to Capri with your consort’s body.”

“Thank you,” Neferet said shortly. She made a brusque gesture at the Sons of Erebus who had carried Kalona into the Council Chamber on the litter. “Bring Erebus. We are leaving this place.” With the barest of bows to the Council, Neferet strode imperiously from the room.

Everyone was watching her exit when Aphrodite grabbed Stark’s arm, and said urgently, “Stall. Don’t give them an answer about where you want to take Zoey.”

“Now that that interruption is gone, you are free to tell the Council where it is you’d like to take your High Priestess, Stark,” Thanatos said.

“Right now I want to take her to our room in the palace. That is, if you say it’s okay. I really need some time to think about what’s best for Zoey, and I haven’t had a chance to do that.”

“Young but wise.” Thanatos smiled in approval.

“I am pleased it seems you’ve been able to rein in your anger, Warrior,” Duantia said. “May you continue to think clearly and wisely.”

Stark clenched his teeth together and bowed his head respectfully, careful not to meet any of the Council members’ gazes, afraid that they would see the reality of his un-reined anger.

“The Council gives its permission for you to retire to the palace with your wounded High Priestess and your friends. We will ask for your decision about where you wish to take her on the morrow. Please know you may still decide to remain here. If you ask it of us, we will provide sanctuary for all of you, for as long as is necessary.”

“Thank you,” Stark said. He bowed formally to the group of powerful High Priestesses.

“Council is adjourned. We shall reconvene on the morrow. Until then, I truly wish you to blessed be.”

Before even Darius could help him, Stark went to Zoey, lifted her body in his arms, and, holding her close to him, carried her from the Council Chamber.

“Tell me everything you know.” He’d only just laid Zoey’s body on the bed in the suite assigned to them when Stark confronted Aphrodite.

“Well, it’s not much, but it’s enough to make me think the vamps are wrong,” Aphrodite said, snuggling into a big velvet chair beside Darius.

“You mean you know of a case where a Warrior actually brought back his High Priestess from the Otherworld?” Damien asked, as he and Jack pulled chairs from the suite’s living room into the bedroom.

“No. Not exactly.”

“What do you mean, Aphrodite?” Stark paced back and forth in front of Zoey’s bed.

“I mean I don’t give a shit about ancient history. Zoey isn’t some stick-up-her-ass High Priestess from back in the day.”

“People who ignore history end up repeating it,” Damien said softly.

“I didn’t say I was ignoring it, Gay Boy. I said I didn’t give a shit about it.” Aphrodite’s sharp gaze went from Damien to the Twins, who were still standing in the entryway to the bedroom. “Dorkamese Twins, why are you lurking?”

“We aren’t lurking, Hateful,” Shaunee’s voice was little more than a whisper.

“Yeah, we’re respectful-ing ,” Erin added in a twin whisper.

“Oh, for shit’s sake. What are you two talking about?” Aphrodite said.

“It’s disrespecting Zoey’s, um, body to be all talking and stuff around her while she’s—” Shaunee broke off, looking at her twin for help.

Before Erin could, as usual, finish her sentence, Stark said, “No. We aren’t treating her like she’s dead. She’s just not here, that’s all.”