Hunted

actually see through Kalona’s bullpoopie, then maybe they can help us get rid of him.”
    “The world is falling apart. It’s really okay to cuss a little,” Aphrodite said.
    “The world falling apart isn’t an excuse to take up bad habits,” I said, sounding weirdly like my grandma.
    “So it is agreed: We stay here one more day. Zoey, you must sleep. Tomorrow you all attend classes as you normally would,” Darius said.
    “Yeah, agreed,” I said. “Damien, can you get Dragon alone long enough to see if he might be on our side?”
    “I should be able to during my fencing class tomorrow.”
    “Who has Professor Anastasia’s Spells and Rituals class?”
    The Twins raised their hands like good students.
    “Can you guys check her out?”
    “Definitely,” Erin said.
    “Will do,” Shaunee said.
    “I’ll talk to Lenobia,” I said.
    “And Darius and I will scout out where all those nasty Raven Mockers are stationed around the walls,” Aphrodite said.
    “Be careful,” I told her.
    “She will be,” Darius said.
    “I think no matter what, we should leave tomorrow. Staying here any longer than absolutely necessary feels wrong,” I said.
    “Agreed. If your strength has returned,” Darius said.
    “It better,” I said.
    There was a pause, and then Darius told me solemnly, “When we escape, Kalona will come after you. He will hunt you until he finds you.”
    “How do you know that for sure?” Aphrodite said.
    “Tell them what he calls you,” Darius said to me.
    I sighed. “He calls me A-ya.”
    “Oh!” Erin said.
    “Shit!” Shaunee finished.
    “Now that’s seriously bad news,” Damien said.
    “He really believes you’re the maiden the Ghigua women used to trap him more than a thousand years ago?” Aphrodite said.
    “Apparently.”
    “Do you think it would help if you told him you’re no maiden?” Aphrodite flashed me a cocky grin.
    I rolled my eyes at her and then, because Aphrodite’s not so subtle mention of my un-virgin state made my thoughts inadvertently start to drift to the guys in my life, I added, “Hey, I wonder why Stark’s so under Kalona’s spell. He has a major gift from Nyx, and before he died he seemed really intuitive.”
    “Stark is an absolute asshole,” Shaunee said.
    “Yeah, between what we heard from the other kids, and what went on with Becca, we can definitely say he’s seriously bad news,” Erin said.
    “Dying and then un-dying might have messed him up, but my vote is that he was a jerk before he croaked and then uncroaked,” Aphrodite said. “We all need to stay far, far away from him. I think his badness is right up there with Kalona and Neferet.”
    “Yeah, he’s like a Raven Mocker without the wings,” Erin said.
    “Eesh,” Shaunee agreed.
    I didn’t say anything. I just sat there and felt really tired and really guilty. I’d kissed him. Again. And my friends all thought he was a monster, probably because he was a monster. And if he’s such bad news, which it seriously looks like he is, how the hell could I think there is anything good left in him?
    “Okay, Z has to sleep,” Damien said, getting up with Cameron still in his arms. “We know what we’re supposed to do, so let’s do it and then get out of here.” Damien hugged me. “Forget about Kramisha’s poem,” he whispered. “You can’t save everyone, especially if he doesn’t want to be saved.”
    I hugged him back, but didn’t say anything.
    “Getting back to those tunnels sounds good to me. We all need to be away from this place.” Damien smiled sadly at me and left the room with the Twins, who called goodbyes to me, too, as their cat trotted after them.
    “Come on.” Aphrodite took Darius’s hand and pulled him off the bed. “You’re not going back to your room tonight.”
    “I’m not?” he said, smiling warmly at her.
    “No, you’re not. There seems to be a scarcity of Sons of Erebus around here, so I’m going to keep my eyes, and a few other parts of my body, on you.”
    “Puke,” I said, but I couldn’t help grinning at them.
    “You just sleep,” Aphrodite told me. “You’ll need all your strength to deal with the guy mess waiting for you. I have a feeling Erik and Heath are going to be a bigger drain than controlling the elements.”
    “Hey, thanks, Aphrodite,” I said sarcastically.
    “Don’t mention it. I’m all about helping you out.”
    “Good night, Priestess. I wish you a restful sleep,” Darius said right before Aphrodite