Betrayed

said quietly, making sure my voice didn't carry to the obviously listening kids in the room. "So it would be nice if we could lose some of the bickering.”
    "Don't kid yourself. We're not on the same side—not even close." Then, with a laugh that was more like a snarl, she stalked off.
    I watched her leave and just before she went out the front door she glanced back at me, met my eyes, and winked.
    What was that about? She'd looked almost playful, like we were friends and just kidding around. But that wasn't possible. Was it? "She gives me the creeps," Stevie Rae said.
    "Aphrodite has issues," I said, and the three of them looked at me like I'd just said Hitler really hadn't been that bad. "You guys, I really want the new Dark Daughters to be a group that brings people together, not one that's stuck-up and so exclusive that only a few from a chosen clique can join." They just stared at me. "It was her warning that saved my grandma and several other people today.”
    "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 except 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 understand 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 gay.”
    "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 character'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 relationship with someone I really care about, and I'm willing to wait for that.”
    "Ja, fräulein," 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 entertainment 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 unsuccessfully (with Stevie Rae) not to laugh.
    Ignoring them, Damien stood up and looked at me. "Well, let's go.
    "Huh?”
    He rolled his eyes