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 announced that we're having a big open house and job fair and basically inviting all of Tulsa. It's a charity for Street Cats, too, and a way to make Neferet look as crazy as she is and us look, well, not crazy," I added, thinking so there, you hateful hag! "Anyway, it's this coming Saturday, and Thanatos asked me to ask you if you'd help us coordinate with Sister Mary Angela. I told her I thought you'd be totally cool with that, so call me as soon as you can and I'll give you the details, 'kay? I love you, Grandma! I really, really love you! Bye."

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 cannot control the beast. Not if Neferet sacrifices to awaken it," Thanatos said.