As always, I have to give major props to Kristine for her outstanding beta skills. I couldn't do this without you!
Also, I woud like to thank all of you for your reviews. It warms my heart to know that you like my story.
"To repeat this special bulletin, a Broken Arrow teenager, another high school football player, has been reported as missing. His name is Heath Luck."
The local anchorwoman, Chera Kimiko recapped the latest news on Heath's disappearance. My eyes were glued to the picture of Heath on the screen as bold letters darted across the screen urging anyone with information to contact the local police department for information about this boy.
I felt, more than saw, Zoey go limp beside me. I quickly wrapped my arm around her waist and helped her to the love seat. It was the closest thing around. Her eyes flew to the screen as Chera Kimiko spoke again. She confirmed that Heath's truck was found just outside the House of Night. My thoughts brought me to the night I first saw him as he sat with Zoey on the Western wall. I wondered if that's where his truck was located at.
The report also stated that Neferet had told local police officers that he didn't enter the school grounds and hasn't been seen by anyone. Chera Kimiko also added that it might be a vampyre abducting the human boys judging by the way the other two were found with multiple bites and lacerations.
"Someone get me a bowl, I'm gonna be sick!" Zoey managed to yell. Shaunee had a large bowl within seconds and thrust it into her lap. I pulled her hair away from her face as she proceeded to puke into the large bowl.
After what seemed like forever, Zoey's head emerged from the large bowl. She looked green as ever. I ran my thumb across her neck in small light circles, while holding up her hair.
"Here, Zoey, it'll help if you swish this around in your mouth," Erin said softly handing her a cup of water. Zoey took it without looking away from the bowl. She took a long pull from the cup and spit back into the bowl.
With the taste out of her mouth she pushed the bowl away as she recoiled against the couch. "Ugh, take it away," she exclaimed.
Letting her hair fall down her back, I quickly removed the bowl from her lap. Damien immediately grabbed it and headed for the kitchen.
I half expected her to break down and to start crying over Heath. But what she did floored me. Instead of becoming an emotional wreck, she sat straight up, brushed her damp hair behind her ear, and stared blankly at the large screen. She had the look of determination once again. Without warning she announced, "I have to see Neferet." She stood up to leave.
As she stood, I was flooded with the guilt I felt for leaving her last night. I wasn't here for her when she found out about those two guys earlier this week, I wasn't there for her last night, and I'll be damned if I am not going to stand by her side while she waits for new about Heath. She needed me, she needed her friends, and we would be there for her.
"I'll go with you," I exclaimed as I stood up next to her.
She smiled up at me, pleased that I wanted to be with her, unlike last night. "Thanks, but first I need to brush my teeth and put on some shoes." I looked down at her feet and noticed she only had on a pair of socks. "I'll run up to my room and be right back."
As she started to move away from me, I felt the need to go with her but knew that she needed just a few moments to herself. So I resisted the urge to follow and sat back down on the couch in protest. The Twins made a move to follow her too but she rebutted and told them to give her a few minutes alone. They understood immediately and sat back down as well. We would all give her a little bit of space. She turned around again and headed up the stairs to her room.
"I feel so bad for Zoey," Damien mumbled softly. I don't know if he intended on everyone hearing him. He didn't look up but continued, "First it was the two boys earlier this week, then Stevie Rae, and now Heath. I don't know how she's still standing." A small, sad sigh left his mouth as he stared off towards the stairs. My heart sank when he put everything that had happened this week into one sentence. I have thought about it but when it was actually said out loud; she had been through along this past week. She has had to face so much death in such a short amount of time. She had been through so much, she was strong and resilient, but how much can one person take. As I stared in the same direction as Damien, I realized that she was an amazingly strong and courageous person. When she was stressed, it only amplified her willingness to fight. My feelings for her grew in the five minutes it took for her finally come down the stairs.
"Ready?" I asked, looking at her face for any signs of sadness. Instead I found determination etched on her face as she closed the gap between us.
"We'll come, too," Damien announced opening his hands to include the small group huddled around her in protection. A look flashed across her face as if she was going to protest but suddenly it changed into a comfortable smile.
"Okay, let's go," she simply stated, as we all made our way out of the common room.
As we were about to reach to door, it swung open and Neferet stepped through the door. She was followed by two gentlemen dressed in blue, down jackets, brown slacks, and huge cowboy hats. They had a fresh coat of snow covering their shoulders that started to melt as soon as they were in the heated common room.
"Ah, Zoey, good. This saves me from having to look for you. The two detectives have some rather bad news and they'd also like to speak with you for a moment." Neferet's calm voice was laced with concern for Zoey as she gestured towards the two detectives. I wondered if these were the same detectives that delivered the news of the other two missing boys.
Zoey's boldness surprised me, yet again, as she gazed passed Neferet and addressed both detectives directly, "I already heard on the news that Heath's missing. If there's any way I can help, I will."
The tall, lanky detective raised his hand toward the library. "Could we use the library again?" he asked looking up at Neferet.
"Of course," she said.
Zoey started to follow them into the library and paused. She spun around as her eyes bore into mine, silently pleading with me not to leave. It tugged at my heart to know she did need me to be with her.
Without a word from her I answered, "We'll be here." It was simple and direct. I would be here for her.
"All of us," Damien added offering her a warm smile.
She nodded and disappeared into the library. The door closed behind her and all we could hear were muffled voices as the detectives, we assumed, started to ask questions.
"Are they the same detectives that came earlier this week?" I asked.
"Yes," Shaunee said softly.
"They questioned her twice just because she knew the other two boys," Erin added. I had guessed as much, but it was still nice to hear.
"They thought she had something to do with the first boy, but when the second one went missing during class, she was excluded from the line up, so to speak. Since she knew all three, I guess they are still fishing for excuses to blame her," Damien spoke quietly but quickly. It explained the look the short, stocky detective gave her when she said she already heard the news.
"But she didn't do anything," I blurted out in anger, a little too loudly, causing a few heads to turn in our direction.
"We know that, but they don't. They just want to know what's going on. With the way the two boys died, it seems like it is a vampyre killing kids in Tulsa, but we know better. It just doesn't make sense. Vampyres don't feed off humans. Well not the way they described, anyway. So they're looking to blame anyone. And since Zoey is connected to all three, it makes her the logical target." Damien paused long enough for me to calm my initial anger towards the two men in the other room.
"Thanks, Damien. Sorry for getting upset. I have missed so much this past week. So much has happened in my absence. I just feel so left out of the loop that it's driving me crazy." I paused closing my eyes while running my hands through my hair in frustration. I hated feeling so helpless and useless. I felt a hand on my shoulder and opened my eyes to see Damien staring up at me with a sad, half smile.
"Everything will be ok, Erik. Zoey is strong and she was well taken care of when you were away. We all made sure of that. All you can do now is be there for her." He let go of my shoulder and walked back to Jack.
My eyes shifted to the closed library door as I waited patiently for Zoey to exit the room.
Within five minutes the door opened. Neferet was escorting the short, stocky detective from the room; a scowl still on his face. I looked past and noticed that Zoey and the other detective still in the room. He was hunched close to her without touching. He appeared to be whispering something to her. Neferet then re-entered the library and called for the other detective. He snapped up and walked out of the room. While he passed us, he gave all of us a welcome, but unexpected, warm smile. The difference between the two detectives astounded me. The short one had scowled, stomping past us, while the tall one smiled kindly. I knew that humans looked at us differently, especially when they don't understand our way of life or just didn't like us, period. But it appeared that the tall one, dare I say, accepted us for who we were and what we would become.
My focus returned to Zoey. I just caught sight of her before the door closed again behind Neferet.
Damien, the Twins, and I exchanged looks and then, all at once, looked at the closed door once again.
They weren't in the room long when Neferet opened the door with Zoey in tow just behind her. She abruptly stopped and turned to embrace Zoey in a motherly hug. It was endearing to watch as she hugged Zoey. I could see that she really did care for her. Neferet said her goodbyes and left the room. Once again we huddled around Zoey waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"Are you okay?" I asked softly, placing my arm around her shoulders again and I pulled her closer to me as she nestled into my chest. Loving the feeling of her next to my body, I squeezed a little tighter.
Without lifting her head, she whispered against my chest, "Yeah, I think so." I'm sure she was tired of everyone asking how she was doing, but I needed to know for sure if she was going to be okay. She and Heath had a long history and I knew she still had some feelings for guy. You don't go that long knowing someone, date them, and then, one day, just decide not to have any feelings for them.
Damien's voice brought me out of my thoughts.
"Did the cops have any news about Heath?" he asked.
She lifted her head to glance at Damien. "Nothing more than what we already heard. Or if they do, they weren't telling me."
"Is there anything we can do?" Shaunee asked stepping closer to Zoey.
She shook her head 'no' and put it back on my chest. "Let's just watch local TV and see what the ten o'clock news says."
Everyone mumbled their agreement and settled back in their usual spots.
I pulled us both back to the love seat never breaking contact. I don't even know what was on the TV. My eyes were only on Zoey. She lay curled up in my arms, staring blankly at the screen. Every once in a while she would fidget and reposition herself. I adjusted for her until she found her comfortable position. I would feather kisses on top of her head, hoping to tell her, through my gestures, that I was sorry all this was happening to her. I didn't want to keep asking her if she was alright. I knew deep down she would tell me; at least I hope she would.
I looked up at the large screen to see we were actually watching a Will and Grace Marathon. Great, it was one of my least favorite shows. I'm glad I wasn't paying attention.
When the ten o'clock came back on, Zoey instantly sat up from her rested position and focused on the TV. She was intently watching for any sign or news pertaining to Heath. Of course, he was the lead story but it soon followed with the normal weather report and the powerful storm that was sweeping through town, knocking down power lines and causing blackouts.
Zoey became antsy next to me as the news was winding up. Her eye brows pulled together in thought. I knew her mind was on Heath, but really, what could she do? She had no clue where he was or how to find him.
She shot up from my side causing my arm to drop from around her shoulders. "I have to go."
"Go where, Z?" I asked suddenly not wanting her to be alone. I wanted to be there for her, it was the least I could do. Hell it was the only thing I could do.
"I'm going to the stables." I gave her a questionable look. It was the first time she had ever wanted to go to the stables, outside of class. I was skeptical of her sudden desire to go to the stables. She continued, "Lenobia said that I could brush Persephone anytime I wanted to," she shrugged her shoulders. "Brushing her makes me feel calm, and right now I could use some calm."
If that's where she wanted to go, then we will go. "Well, okay. I like horses. Let's go groom Persephone," I said swiftly.
I was about to stand when she put a hand up to stop my movement. "I need to be alone," she said in a rushed, harsh tone. I knew she would need time alone but I didn't think I had the strength to leave her alone. Not yet, anyway.
She sat down next to me, intertwining our hands as she spoke, "I'm sorry. It's just that I need time to think, and that's something I have to do alone." I could see the sincerity of her words. It didn't make them any easier to swallow. I would do anything for her right now and if she needed space than I would give her space. It killed me, but I would do it for her.
I stared into her eyes trying to convey to her who much it pained me to let her go, wishing for the life of me to actually tell her that. Instead I offered what I could compromise with. "How about I walk you to the stable, and then come back here and keep an eye on the news for you till you get through thinking?" It wasn't really a question. More like a statement.
It seemed to please her. "I'd like that." She gave me a warm smile, and I stood up beside her. I reached out to grab Zoey's hand, forgoing a jacket as we walked out the door.
Reviews make me write faster... soooo review!