Hunted

doesn’t want the attention of the High Council,” Aphrodite said.
    “Or he does want their attention—as in presenting Neferet as the new vamp High Priestess, but they are gathering their power so they can be sure of the Council’s vote.”
    There was a dead silence in the room as everyone stared in horror at me.
    “We cannot allow that to happen,” Darius finally spoke.
    “We won’t,” I said firmly, hoping we’d somehow be able to back up my statement. “Hey, is Kalona still saying he’s Erebus come to earth?” I asked.
    “Yeah,” Erin said.
    “And even though it sounds stupid, everyone believes him,” Shaunee said.
    “Did you actually see Kalona today?” I asked Shaunee. “I mean, except for when we first got here?”
    She shook her head, “Nope.”
    I looked from her to Erin.
    “Ditto. I didn’t see him either,” she said.
    “Didn’t see him,” Damien said.
    “Neither did I, and I say good riddance,” Aphrodite said.
    “Yeah, but you might be the only one,” I said slowly. I looked from the Twins to Damien. “We’ve already said that Kalona has some kind of mojo crap he uses on everyone. It even works on us, or at least it does unless we don’t look him in the eye and fight it real hard—and we were ready for him. We knew he was evil. Hell, it took me seeing him almost choke Darius to death for me to stop panting over him.”
    “That bastard choked you?” Aphrodite said. “Damn, that pisses me off! Oh, and abbreviated herd of nerd, in case you didn’t get it the first time, get this: I’m not in the least bit affected by the mojo the winged freak lays on you. I don’t like him. At all.”
    “That’s right,” I said. “I noticed that earlier today. You really don’t feel drawn to him at all.”
    “What’s to be drawn to? He’s a big old bully. And he’s never dressed properly. And I really don’t like birds. I mean, the bird flu is supposed to be a seriously unattractive way to die. So, no. He’s got nothing for me.”
    “I wonder why his stuff doesn’t work on you?” I mused aloud.
    “ ’Cause she’s abby-normal?” Shaunee said.
    “A serious freak in a human skin suit?” Erin added.
    “How about because I’m exceptionally intuitive, and I see through his bullshit? Oh, that also means I see through yours, too,” Aphrodite said.
    “She might have something there,” Damien said, sounding excited. “We’ve all felt his draw, but we can resist him, unlike the other fledglings, right?”
    We nodded.
    “Well, we’re all into the elements—have been physically and intuitively touched by them, much more so than the other fledglings. Maybe our extrasensory abilities give us the power to resist Kalona’s allure.”
    “The red fledglings said they weren’t drawn to him at all, just like Aphrodite,” I said. “And they all have psychic abilities.”
    “That sounds logical, and it works for fledglings, but what about adult vampyres?” Darius said.
    “Don’t your psychic abilities vary, just like ours do?” Aphrodite said. “Sure, fledglings say all vamps can do the mind thing, but it’s not really true, is it?”
    “No, it isn’t really true, though many of us are highly intuitive,” Darius said.
    “Are you?” I asked.
    Darius smiled. “Only when it comes to protecting those I have sworn to defend.”
    “But that means there is something especially intuitive about you,” Damien said, still sounding excited. “Okay, so what other vamps at this House of Night are the most psychic?”
    “Neferet,” we all said together.
    “We already know that. She’s made her decision for Kalona, so we’re not going to count her right now. Who else?”
    “Damien! I think you are on to something!” I said. Everyone stared at me, but I was staring at the extra cats in the room.
    And, as per usual, Damien got it right away. “Dragon, Professor Anastasia, and Professor Lenobia! They’re who I’d consider as the most intuitive after Neferet.”
    “It’s no coincidence their cats are here with us,” Darius said.
    “They’re a sign, sent to us to let us know we’re on the right track,” Damien said.
    “Then that’s the second reason we can’t get out of here tonight,” I said.
    “The second reason?” Aphrodite said.
    “The first is that there’s no way I can control the elements long enough to keep all those Raven Mockers from seeing us; I’m just too tired. And the second is if Dragon and Professor Anastasia and Professor Lenobia can