Hidden

“I may know where Neferet has taken Sylvia Redbird,” Kalona said. We all stared at him expectantly. “She has a penthouse suite at the Mayo Hotel. The entire balcony is hers. The walls are solid marble and leak no sounds. She has all the privacy that her wealth can purchase. She could have taken Sylvia Redbird there.”

“How could she have done that?” I asked, even though I wanted very much to believe finding Grandma was as easy as following Neferet to her penthouse. “Grandma wouldn’t have just walked in there with her, and even though the mayor and City Council seem to be kissing her butt, no way is the staff of the Mayo going to ignore the fact that she’s dragging an old woman through their lobby.”

“You have seen her move silently, invisibly. I daresay you can appear and disappear fairly easily yourself, Zoey Redbird,” Thanatos said.

“Well, yeah, I can. Sorta. But I don’t think I can make someone else invisible.”

“Neferet can,” Aurox said solemnly. “That and much more. Your goddess has gifted her with power. The white bull has gifted her with power. And what power she hasn’t been gifted with, she steals through pain and death and deception. She is bloated with it.”

“It would be a mistake to underestimate Neferet,” Thanatos agreed.

“Then we need to go to her penthouse and make her let Grandma go,” I said.

“Hang on,” Stark said. “How do we know he’s not making this all up as a way to get us to go after Neferet?”

“I am not Neferet’s creature!” Aurox cried.

“You sure as hell were two nights ago. Dragon Lankford is dead because of it,” Stark shot back at him.

“Stark has a point,” Stevie Rae said. “Try callin’ your grandma.”

Glad I had something to do, I pulled out my phone and punched Grandma’s number. As it rang, Thanatos said, “If she does not answer, sound normal. Leave her a message about the open house. If Neferet has taken her, she may have access to Sylvia’s phone as well.”

I nodded and felt my stomach sink when she didn’t answer and Grandma’s familiar voice said she wasn’t available, but that she would call right back. I took a deep breath, and after the beep tried to sound as normal as possible.

“Hey there, Grandma, sorry to be calling you so late. I’m glad you have your phone on silent, though, so I’m not waking you up.” My voice started to shake, but before I could fall totally apart and burst into tears Stark’s strong arm slid around my shoulders. I leaned into him and spoke quickly, hoping I sounded perky and not hysterical. “I don’t know if you saw the news yet, but Thanatos a

Stark took the phone from me and pressed the END call button. Then he pulled me into his arms as I did, indeed, burst into tears. During my shaking and snotting I felt another hand touch my back and recognized the calm presence of earth. Then another hand touched me, and air brushed softly against me. Yet another hand joined the others, and fire warmed me. Spirit, that was already present, settled within me, calming my tears and allowing me to pull back from Stark enough to smile shakily at my friends.

“Thanks, guys. I’m better now,” I said.

“Well, you will be after you blow your nose,” Stark gently kidded as he handed me a balled up tissue from his pocket.

“You’re a mess, Z. That’s for damn sure,” Aphrodite said. She was shaking her head, but she was also standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the rest of my circle—showing solidarity—showing support.

“I am not lying.” I looked from my friends to see that Aurox had stood. He was facing Thanatos. Darius and Kalona had positioned themselves protectively between him and the High Priestess. Aurox turned his head and his eyes met mine. I was shocked to see tears standing in them. He looked almost as devastated as I felt. Then he faced the High Priestess and begged, “Chain me up. Lock me away. I will take whatever punishment you mete out to me, but please, for the sake of Sylvia Redbird, believe me. I am not in league with Neferet. I despise her. I hate that she created me from death and pain. In order to control me, she must have Darkness take over my body and awaken the creature within. High Priestess, you know that is true.”

“From what evidence we have uncovered it would seem that is the truth,” Thanatos said.

“Then listen to me. I give you my oath—Neferet has taken Zoey’s grandmother.”

“You only have this one chance.” I stepped from the circle of my friends and walked over to Aurox. “If you are lying to us. If you have anything to do with Grandma being hurt I will use all five of the elements and all of my Goddess-given powers to destroy you, no matter what you are. No matter who you are. You have my oath on that.”

“Accepted,” he said, bowing his head to me.

“Bound,” Thanatos said. “All beings with spirits have a choice. I hope you are making the correct one, Aurox.”

“I am,” he said.

“Yes, we have your oath on that,” Thanatos said, then she gazed around at the rest of us. “We need to get into Neferet’s penthouse.”

“I can go,” Aurox said.

“No!” Stark, Darius, Kalona, and I yelled together.

“I can get into her damn penthouse,” Aphrodite said. “That bitch believes I’m as big a bitch as she is, and while in some ways that might be semi-true, Neferet measures everyone’s loyalty by her own, which is non-existent. She’s always wanted to use me, and she can’t hear my thoughts. I can get in.”

“She may let you in, but she would never allow you to see whether she has taken Grandma Redbird prisoner,” Aurox said.

“He speaks the truth. She would cloak her prisoner’s presence from Aphrodite,” Thanatos said.

“Not from me. She would never believe it necessary. Neferet will be angry at me for failing to stop the reveal ritual, but she will allow me in at least long enough for me to discover if she holds Grandma Redbird,” Aurox said.

“Or long enough to manipulate you,” Darius said.

“And wake up that thing that sleeps inside you,” Stark added.

“Aurox, you ca

“That may be why she captured Zoey’s grandmother,” Darius said, sending me an apologetic look. “Perhaps she needs a greater sacrifice than a Warrior’s cat to regain control of Aurox.”

“No! I, no…” Aurox said brokenly, his shoulders sagged and he put his face in his hands.

All I could do was shake my head back and forth, back and forth. Stark took my hand and squeezed it. “We won’t let that happen. We’re going to get Grandma back.”

“But how?” My words came out between sobs.

“I will go.” Kalona was staring at me as he spoke. “I will not simply enter Neferet’s home. If she is holding Sylvia Redbird prisoner, I will find her and rescue her. Darkness ca

“Well, maybe. If she lets you in the front door,” Stark said. “Last time I checked, she doesn’t like you much.”

“Neferet loathes me, but that does not change the fact that she desires me.”

“Really? That’s not how it looks to everyone else. Neferet’s moved on,” Stark continued. “Her Consort’s the white bull.”