Chapter Eight
Erin
Erin rushed through the halls of the school, desperately trying to find where her martial arts class was. Since her and Shaunee ended their friendship, Erin had gotten a new schedule so she didn't have to be with her all day.
Erin had heard all about Professor Notevila. Apparently, she was Erik's new girlfriend and therefore Shaylin hated her. But she'd also heard, while secretly spying on Damien and Zoey's conversation, that she just let everyone slack off all class.
So when Erin got to the room and saw people doing actual martial arts, she was shocked. One of those I-think-I-should-be-in-the-Olympics kids was leading the class. Professor Notevila was just sitting there laughing at everyone.
"Sorry I'm late, Professor Notevila," Erin said to her. "I couldn't figure out where this was."
"I couldn't either the first time," she agreed. "And please, call me Ima."
Erin nodded. "So, should I go to the changeroom and get ready?"
"You look tired," Ima said. "If you don't wanna participate today, it's fine with me."
"Oh." Erin smiled and sat down next to her. She took out her iPhone and started playing DoodleJump.
"Oh, Erin," Ima said after a while. "I forgot to tell you that there's a special ritual going on for the school and we, the professors, would like you to perform it."
"Me?" Erin asked. "Shouldn't it be Zoey? She has an affinity for all the elements. I just have water."
Ima shook her head and laughed. "Erin, I don't think you realize how special and important you are. You have an affinity for water. That's amazing. You are blessed by Nyx. You could be a High Priestess."
Erin couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. "Thanks. But there's a ton of special fledglings here. My water affinity is nothing compared to the red fledglings or the other members of Zoey's group."
"You say Zoey's group like you're not a part of it," Ima pointed out.
Erin bit her lip. "Well, I'm having a falling out with practically everybody. They all think I'm too shallow. I just care about how I look, that's all. And I don't seem them yelling at Aphrodite, and she's a hag from Hell."
Ima put her arm around Erin. "Erin, you are beautiful, special, smart and important. If your friends don't see that, then why are you friends with them? Your friends may be powerful, but you are too. Don't forget that you can do well without them.
"Look at me. My mark is the bottom of a shoe because I've been stepped on all my life. But now, I'm done with the people that were mean to me. I'm becoming an independent, strong woman. You have that option too."
Erin nodded. Everything Ima was saying was so true! "Thanks Ima."
"No problem," Ima said. "And if you decide to move out of the tunnels, I can score you a nice room."
Erin flipped through the Victoria's Secret catalogue in her room. She really wanted to go shopping. She'd suggested it to Shaylin a couple of times, but ever since her fight with Erik, Shaylin was not in the mood. Erin looked over to where Shaylin had taken over Shaunee's bed. She was staring at the walls.
"Shaylin," Erin said. "I think we need to get you out of here."
Shaylin moaned and rolled over to face her. "I don't wanna leave. This is the only place I'm happy."
"Are you sure the mall won't make you happy?" Erin asked, holding up the catalogue.
"Those all look like things Ima would be wearing for Erik," Shaylin muttered. She grabbed one of the pink fluffy pillows and put it on her face. "Ugh. Life sucks."
Erin stood up and dragged Shaylin off the bed. "Come on. We're going to the mall. I'll buy you a cute outfit and make you look hot so Erik can see what he's missing out on."
Erin and Shaylin had just gotten to the door when they heard a voice ask "Where are you going?" Erin turned around and saw it was Shaunee.
"We're going to the mall," Erin replied coolly.
"Without your marks being covered?" Shaunee accused.
"It's only nine in the morning," Erin retorted. "Only old ladies are gonna be there. No one's gonna care, anyway."
"You're being stupid and selfish," Shaunee said. "Both of you are our responsibility. If you get caught sneaking out, Neferet will blame all of us."
"I've had it with you!" Erin yelled, stepping right up near Shaunee. "I'm not your responsibility. I am an independent, strong woman! I can make my own decisions. Nobody here appreciates me, so why do you care if I get in trouble?" Erin shook her head. "You know what? I'm going back to the House of Night."
"You're just gonna leave us?" Shaunee yelled. "You're water! You're part of the circle!"
"Aphrodikey can be water," Erin said, storming off to her room, Shaylin behind her. They packed all their things while Shaunee was telling the other people. Good, Erin thought. Let her tell them. I hope they realize that they can't step all over me anymore.
"You don't wanna do this, Erin," Zoey said, walking into the room. "Please don't leave. We can work this out."
"I'm tired of being unappreciated." Erin didn't even look at her. "I'm going no matter what."
"You're gonna regret this," Zoey warned.
"The only thing I regret is not doing this sooner," Erin said with a fake smile. "P.S., I've been chosen to lead the next ritual for the school. I can be a High Priestess too." And with that, Erin grabbed all her bags and left the room with Zoey gaping after her.
Erin left with Shaylin in the Range Rover. Someone could come pick it up at the school. The entire ride they were quiet.
"Ima said she could get us a good room," Erin mumbled as she pulled into the school. "Everything will be okay."
Shaylin nodded. They went straight to Ima's room. Much to Shaylin's dismay, they could hear Erik in there too. Shaylin stood outside in the hall.
"Erin!" Ima exclaimed as she opened the door. "What do you want at this hour?"
"Shaylin and I moved out of the tunnels," Erin said. "You said you could get us a good room, right?"
Ima handed her a key. "Aphrodite's old room." Erin turned away but Ima stopped her. "Erin? I'm proud of you."
Erin nodded. "Yeah, me too."
Chapter Nine
Zoey
"What do I do?" I complained to Stark. "How are we supposed to have a circle if we're missing water?"
Stark kissed my forehead. "You're stressing out a lot, I can feel it. Why don't you just get Aphrodite to fill in?"
I bit my lip. "That's what I was thinking, but what if water zaps her?"
"Then we'll just have to find someone that water doesn't zap."
"Yeah, you're right." I sighed. Everything had gotten so hectic lately. First Kramisha wrote this confusing poem, then Aphrodite had another vision about my death, and now we lost a part of our circle. All I wanted to do was go to see Grandma and relax with my boyfriend.
"Rise and shine!" Stevie Rae cried, skipping into our room. "Are y'all ready to go to school?"
"Why are you so cheerful?" Stark asked.
"Because Rephaim gave me this." She held up a black feather. "It's a token of his love."
"Do you have some sort of bird fetish or something?" Stark mumbled. I tried not to laugh.
"The bus is here, bitches!" Damien yelled into the room. "Let's go."
We all made our way to the lame short bus Neferet kept sending for us. The ride to school was quiet, everyone still reminiscing about how Erin and Shaylin left us. When we pulled up to the school, we all shuffled to first period with Thanatos.
"How are all of you today?" Thanatos asked as she did attendance. Practically everyone groaned.
"It seems like we're just missing Erin Bates and Shaylin Ruede," Thanatos said. "Zoey? Where are they?"
"I don't know," I mumbled. "They left our group yesterday and moved in here."
"Sorry we're late." We all turned to see Erin and Shaylin walking into the room. "Neferet was talking to us."
I couldn't help but gasp when I saw what they were wearing. Erin was wearing a long, expensive-looking blue dress, and Shaylin was wearing a matching one in red. I couldn't help noticing that the dresses matched their marks.
"Well, at least you're here," Thanatos pointed out. "Find yourselves a seat."
Erin and Shaylin walked right over to where the bad red fledglings were. The fledglings smiled at them and gave them kind greetings. The entire class I could feel Dallas staring at me with a smug smile on his face.
When the bell rang, I was relieved that I could finally go to drama. Then I realized that Shaylin was in my class. I should talk to her, I thought. I'm the High Priestess. I need to find out what's going on with her and Erin.
"Shaylin!" I called, running up to her in the hall. "Hey, how are you?"
She gave me a dirty look. "I'm fine, thank you very much."
"Did you guys get here safely?" I asked, putting on my polite voice.
She spun around to face me. "What do you want, Zoey? We're not coming back to the tunnels."
"I just wanted to know if you guys were okay," I said. "And I wanted to say I'm sorry for everything."
Shaylin nodded. "Well, I appreciate your apology, but it doesn't change anything." And then she rushed to drama class.
When I walked into the drama classroom, I saw Shaylin talking to Erik. And they weren't even yelling at each other, they were actually smiling and laughing. When the bell rang, symbolizing the start of second period, Erik kissed Shaylin's hand before she went to her new desk at the front.
Drama and Lit went by in a blur. I soon found myself standing in the gym for fourth period, martial arts. Professor Notevila didn't show up until twenty minutes after class started. I saw her hiding a Starbucks bag behind her.
"Good afternoon, class," she said. "I mean, good night. I'm still not used to being nocturnal."
Damien raised his hand. "How are you not used to being nocturnal? Were you diurnal?"
"When I was a human," Professor Notevila said, laughing nervously.
"Wasn't that hundreds of years ago?" Damien pointed out.
Professor Notevila turned red. "Damien, go do one hundred push ups. The rest of you can just make karate noises and run around."
While running around making karate noises, I realized that Professor Notevila was really suspicious. Anytime anyone questioned her, she'd make them do push ups. Her mark looked like it was drawn in blue eyeliner pencil. She was fat, and weren't vampyres supposed to be fit, otherwise they'd die? And I couldn't help thinking she looked familiar.
At lunch when I found my table, I realized everyone was still acting quiet. Stevie Rae was playing with her food. Rephaim was playing with her hair. Damien was reading the dictionary and Shaunee was shoveling lasagna in her mouth. Stark was reading Green Eggs and Ham.
"I talked to Shaylin today," I said, trying to get everyone's attention. "She said she and Erin weren't coming back. And then at drama her and Erik were smiling and flirting. It was weird."
Shaunee stood up. "I'm going to the library." She left swiftly.
"Aw, she's still upset 'bout Erin," Stevie Rae said. "I still can't believe Erin left."
"Did you notice those dresses her and Shaylin were wearing?" Damien asked. "They were gorgeous! I wonder where I can get one."
"You're a dude," Stark pointed out.
Damien shot him a look. "So?"
"Guys, we need to figure out what we're gonna do!" I cried, exasperated. "Shaylin and Erin were talking to Neferet today. Obviously she must have something to do with this."
"I think we should just apologize to them," Stevie Rae said. "Tell them how important they are to us."
"I already apologized," I mumbled.
Stevie Rae looked right in my eyes as she said "Then we need to fight to get them back."