"And I was lucky enough to catch Erik Night at the airport. I know it is unusual to have a recently Changed vampyre teach so soon, but it is only temporary and we really are working under extenuating circumstances. Besides, the fledglings know Erik. He will be a good transition for them from their beloved Professor Nolan."

Ohmgod, Erik is back and I'm taking a class he's going to be teaching. I didn't know if I wanted to cheer or puke, so I settled for silence and an upset stomach.

"As for the barrier spell Neferet erected around the school--it will not be resumed. While I agree with her immediate actions in casting it--after all, there were few of the Sons of Erebus present and a murder had just been committed--those emergency actions are no longer appropriate. To seal off the school would be tantamount to the declaration of a siege state, and that is something we definitely wish to avoid. And, of course, we are fully protected by the Sons of Erebus." She nodded to Ate, who returned the gesture with a bow of acknowledgment. "All in all, I would like your lives to go on as normally as possible. Those of you with ties to the human community, exercise those relationships. Remember the lesson our ancestors learned with their precious blood: Fear and bigotry are bred from isolation and ignorance."

Okay, I do not know what the hell came over me, but suddenly I realized I had an idea, and as if of its own free will, my hand dorkishly raised over my head like it thought we were in the middle of class and we (meaning my hand and my mouth minus my brain) had just discovered a brilliant answer.

"Zoey, do you have something to add?" Shekinah asked.

Oh, hell no! is what I should have said. Instead my mouth blurted, "Priestess, I was wondering if this might be a good time to implement an idea I've had for the Dark Daughters to get involved with a local human charity."

"Go on. I am intrigued, young lady."

I gulped. "Well, I thought the Dark Daughters could contact the people who run Street Cats. It's, uh, a charity that shelters homeless cats and finds them homes. I, well, I thought it might be a good way to mix with the human community," I finished lamely.

Shekinah's smile was luminous. "A cat charity--how perfect! Yes, Zoey, I think yours is an excellent idea. Tomorrow you will be excused from your early classes so that you may begin contacting the Street Cat people."

"Priestess, I must insist the fledgling does not travel into the community alone," Ate said quickly. "Not until we know who exactly is responsible for the crimes against our people."

"But the humans won't know we're fledglings," Aphrodite said.

Everyone's eyes went to her, and I watched her spine straighten and her chin lift.

"And you are?" Shekinah asked.

"My name is Aphrodite, Priestess," she said.

I watched Shekinah closely, waiting to see a reaction that said she knew about the rumors Neferet had spread about Aphrodite--that Nyx had turned her back on her and taken away her powers, et cetera, et cetera, but the priestess's curious expression didn't change. She simply said, "What is your affinity, Aphrodite?"

I froze. Crap! She didn't have an affinity anymore!

"Earth is the element Nyx gave me," Aphrodite said. "But my greatest gift from the Goddess is my ability to see visions of future danger."

Shekinah nodded. "That's right, I have heard of your visions, Aphrodite. Go on, then. What is it you have to say?" A huge wave of relief washed through me. Aphrodite had fielded the affinity question and, thanks to her use of tense, hadn't actually lied.

"I was just thinking that humans don't know when we leave the school anyway, because we cover our Marks. The only people who would really know that a bunch of fledglings are volunteering to help Street Cats would be the Street Cats people, and what are the chances that they're involved in the murders?" She paused and shrugged. "So we should be safe."

"She has a point, Ate," Shekinah said.

"I still believe the fledglings should be shadowed by a warrior," Ate said stubbornly.

"That would call attention to us," Aphrodite said.

"Not if the warrior covered his Mark, too," Darius said.

This time everyone turned to look at Darius, who was still standing like a very muscular and attractive mountain over by the door.

"And what is your name, Warrior?"

"Darius, Priestess." He fisted his hand over his heart and bowed to her.

"So, Darius, you are saying you would be willing to cover your Mark?" Shekinah said. I felt as surprised as she sounded. Fledglings had to cover their Marks when they left school--it was a rule of the House of Night. And it made sense. Honestly, teenagers can act stupid sometimes (especially boy teenagers), and no way would it be a good thing for a bunch of loitering fledglings (boys mostly) to be targeted by human kids (or worse --cops or overprotective parents). But once a fledgling has gone through the Change and her Mark has been filled in and expanded, no damn way is she going to ever cover it up. It was about pride and solidarity and being grown. But here was Darius, clearly young and not long Marked, volunteering to do something that most vamps, especially most vamp guys, would normally say no way to.