House of Night 09 - Destined

still in a deep but surprisingly respectful discussion with Thanatos about Imprinting. Aphrodite’s point was that an Imprint wasn’t based on sexuality. Thanatos was insisting, much to Aphrodite’s consternation (’cause she’d Imprinted with Stevie Rae, even though it hadn’t lasted very long) that sexual attraction went hand in hand with Imprinting.
    Thanatos finally ended the discussion with, “Aphrodite, whether you admit a thing or not does not make it more or less true.”
    “I’m going to be sure Zoey gets to second hour,” Aphrodite said, sounding disgruntled.
    “You do that, young Prophetess.” Thanatos had a smile in her voice, if not on her face. “And thank you for such a lively discussion today. I’ll look forward to another one like it tomorrow.”
    Aphrodite nodded and frowned, and just out of earshot of Thanatos said, “Lively discussion my gorgeous ass. I’m not discussing shit about lesbian Imprints again. Ever.”
    “I don’t think that’s what she meant, Aphrodite,” I said, careful to keep the smile from my face, too. “But she was right, it made for a good class—way more interesting than regular vamp soc with all of Neferet’s issues.”
    Aphrodite opened the door. “I’m so glad I could amuse the masses and—” And we stepped into the middle of chaos.
    “Bring it, birdboy!” Dallas was shouting. “You can’t hide behind Stevie Rae forever!” Muscley Johnny B was pinning his arms and holding Dallas back, but he was struggling like crazy.
    “I’m not hiding, you arrogant fool!” Rephaim yelled. Stevie Rae had a vise-like grip on his arm and was trying to pull him down the sidewalk away from Dallas.
    “I’ll get Darius and Stark,” Aphrodite said, and sprinted away.
    “Okay, look, you guys, stop it!” I stepped between the two guys and their growing groups.
    “Butt the hell out, Zoey! This ain’t your fight.” Dallas turned his venom on me. “You think you’re so much better than everyone else, but you don’t mean shit to us.” He jerked his head toward the group of his red fledglings who were standing close by, just watching and smiling.
    I was surprised by how much what he said hurt my feelings. “I don’t think I’m better than everyone else!”
    “Don’t let him get to you, Z. He’s nothing but a mean, sad little boy all dressed up like a vampyre,” Stevie Rae said.
    “And you’re nothing but a slut!” Dallas shouted at Stevie Rae.
    “I told you to stop calling her that!” Rephaim tried to pull away from Stevie Rae.
    “Everyone knows you’re just pissed because she’s not with you anymore,” I told Dallas, thinking what a total and complete jerk he’d turned out to be.
    “No, I’m pissed because she’s with a freak of nature!” His words shot back at me. I noticed even though he was struggling and yelling, his gaze kept going back to a spot low on the wall he was inching closer and closer to. I followed his gaze and saw a single electrical outlet on the wall—one of the industrial three-pronged things.
    Ah, hell!
    “I’m not a freak!” Rephaim looked like he was going to explode. “I’m human!”
    “Really? How ’bout we wait around until the sun comes up and let’s just see how human you are.” Dallas sneered and moved closer to the wall.
    As nonchalantly as I could, I took a couple steps toward the outlet and wondered frantically which element would be the best to summon if I needed to fight electricity.
    “That suits me fine,” Rephaim was saying. “Whether it’s from a human’s eye or a bird’s I’ll be glad to watch you burn up!”
    “In your dreams, you asshole!” Dallas surged forward, toward the outlet, almost getting away from Johnny B and making me stumble and fall back.
    And then strong hands caught me and strong arms kept me from tumbling onto my butt. All in one motion Stark steadied me on my feet and moved me behind him and against the wall. Then he faced Dallas.
    “Walk away.” Stark didn’t raise his voice. He sounded calm and cold and completely dangerous.
    “This isn’t your fight,” Dallas said, but he’d already stopped struggling against Johnny B.
    “If Zoey’s in it, it’s my fight. And you need to understand I’ll win. Every time. So, walk away.”
    “This ends now!” Sounding like a general commanding runaway troops, Dragon Lankford and several Sons of Erebus Warriors, including Darius, burst onto the scene making a big show of standing between Dallas and Rephaim. The