Betrayed: Chapter 8 (Part 1)
ZeldaQueen: *tiredly* This chapter? This chapter is possibly the worst one yet. Have a drink on hand, ladies and gentlemen
Projection Room Voices: Starting Media in 3...2...1...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 8
ZeldaQueen: Zoey heads out of the teachers' dining hall and realizes that oopsies, she never brought up the red-eyed ghosts thing. You know, the thing she hasn't thought about for a few chapters now. She doesn't want to go back though, because the whole thing makes her uneasy. But there totally isn't anything up with Neferet. Nope.
She ponders everything she has to do regarding the Dark Daughters as well as the disappearance of the high school kid and starts to get nervous. She then remembers that she has a Vamp Sociology report due on Monday that she has to get done. We get a gratuitous mention of how she could turn in the assignment later because Neferet gives her privileges, but she just wants to be normal, darn it, so she's going to turn in her paper at the same time as everyone else!
She goes to her locker for her textbook, all while going on about how nothing weird is going to happen at this point in time, certainly not, no sireebob. And then she finds there's a haiku in her locker from Blake. Cue her heart going a-flutter as she whispers his name. And then we skip ahead, and I know it's long, but this section needs to be sporked. It honestly cannot be summarized
---------------------------------
"I'm serious, Stevie Rae. If I tell you, you have to swear you won't say anything to anyone. And when I say anyone I especially mean Damien and the Twins.”
"Dang, Zoey, you can trust me. I said I swear. What do you want me to do, open a vein?”
ZeldaQueen: You know, considering how Zoey's obviously all bothered and sensitive over her bloodlust, that strikes me as rather rude
I didn't say anything.
"Zoey, you really can trust me. Promise.”
I studied my best friend's face. I needed to talk to someone-someone who was not a vamp. I searched inside myself, to the core of what Neferet would call my intuition. It felt right to confide in Stevie Rae. It felt safe.
ZeldaQueen: I love how she does all of this soul-searching to confide in her for this, but just talked about the red-eyed vampires like they were punks at the mall
"Sorry. I know I can trust you. I'm just … I don't know." I shook my head, frustrated by my own confusion. "Okay, weird stuff has happened today.”
ZeldaQueen: Wait, today? Today? The events of this entire book thus far have taken place in one day?
You know what, I'm honestly too tired to check. Given how the last book went though, I wouldn't be surprised
"You mean more than the normal weirdness that goes on around here?”
ZeldaQueen: What weirdness? The only things that seem exceptionally weird are the red-eyed vampire ghosts, and everyone seems determined to ignore those!
"Yeah. Loren Blake came into the library today while I was there. He was the first person I talked to about the Prefect Council idea and my new ideas for the Dark Daughters.”
"Loren Blake? As in the most gorgeous vamp any of us have ever seen? Goodness. I better sit down." Stevie Rae collapsed
on her bed.
ZeldaQueen: And what's the first thing Stevie Rae asks? What he wanted? Why he was striking up a conversation with someone he never met before? No, she asks if he's the gorgeous vampire. *hates*
"That's who I mean.”
"I can't believe you haven't said anything about this until now. You must have been dying.”
ZeldaQueen: Yes, I know that when a good-looking guy carries a conversation with me, I just am dying until I'm able to gossip about it with my friends
"Well, that's not all. He … uh ... touched me. And more than once. Okay, actually I saw him more than once today. Alone. And I think he wrote me a poem.”
ZeldaQueen: That sounds incredibly pervy. I'm pretty sure most teenagers would notice that, if only for the accidental innuendo
"What!”
"Yeah, at first I was sure it was perfectly innocent and I was imagining anything else. In the library we just talked about the ideas I had for the Dark Daughters. I didn't think it meant anything. But, well, he touched my Mark.”
ZeldaQueen: Again!
"Which one?" Stevie Rae asked. Her eyes were huge and round and she looked like she was going to explode.
ZeldaQueen: *explodes* WELL I WOULD HOPE IT WOULD BE THE ONE ON HIS FACE, AS ALL OF HER OTHERS ARE ON HER BACK AND SHOULDERS, WHICH WOULD IMPLY THAT HE WOULD BE GROPING UNDER HER SHIRT IN THE LIBRARY!!!
Okay. I'm sorry. I must save my temper
"The one on my face. That time.”
"What do you mean that time!”
ZeldaQueen: I hope you all have your drinks, ladies and gentlemen
"Well, after I got done with brushing Persephone I wasn't in any hurry to get back to the dorm. So I went for a walk over by the west wall. Loren was there.”
"Ohmydearsweetlord. What happened?”
"I think we flirted.”
"You think!”
"We were laughing and smiling at each other.”
"Sounds like flirting to me. God, he is so totally gorgeous."
ZeldaQueen: Are these girls incapable of going for two sentences without talking about the looks of a man? Yes, Cast ladies, we have established that this man is ultra-firey-Adonis-cupcake-sparkly hot. It does not change the fact that he is a total sleaze who is coming on to an underage girl!!!
Actually, the fact that these girls are so giggly and cheerful about it makes this all even creepier, because all it reads like is that a sleazy guy is taking advantage of them, and they're too naive to realize it
"Tell me about it. When he smiles at me I can hardly breathe. And get this-he recited a poem to me," I said. "It was a haiku a man wrote about looking at his naked lover in the moonlight."
ZeldaQueen: ...Classy
"You have got to be kidding!" Stevie Rae started fanning herself with her hand. "Get to the touching part.”
ZeldaQueen: BZUH? Why is she so cheerful about this?!? Am I the only one who wouldn't want to hear about how my underage friend was being touched by a man nine years her senior?
I took a deep breath. "It was really confusing. Everything was going really well. Like I said, we were laughing and talking. Then he said he was out there by himself because that's how he gets inspired to write haiku -”
"Which is insanely romantic!”
ZeldaQueen: That's right girls. If a guy writes poetry, he's Deep and it's totally romantic if he wants you to take off your shirt so he can touch your shoulders and back
I nodded and continued. "I know. Anyway, I told him I hadn't meant to mess up his inspiration and bother him, and he said that more things inspired him than just the night. And he asked me if I'd be his inspiration.”
"Holy shit.”
"Exactly what I thought.”
"Naturally you said you'd be happy to inspire him."
ZeldaQueen: (Zoey, if she were sane) "No, I backed away and called a teacher for sexual harassment"
"Naturally," I said.
"And ..." Stevie Rae prompted eagerly.
ZeldaQueen: *groans* I swear, if these people aren't ceaselessly drooling over someone themselves, they're drooling over other people drooling over others.
Say that ten times fast
"And he asked to see my Mark. The one on my shoulders and back.”
"He did not.”
"He did.”
ZeldaQueen: (Stevie Rae, if she were sane) "The pervert!"
"Man, I would have peeled off my shirt faster than you can say Bubba loves trucks!”
ZeldaQueen: !!!???!!!
WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH THESE PEOPLE?????
I laughed. "Well, I didn't take my shirt off, but I slid my jacket down. Actually, he helped me.”
"Are you telling me Loren Blake, Vampyre Poet Laureate and hottest f-ing male on two feet, helped you off with your jacket like an old-time gentleman?”
ZeldaQueen: *getting hysterical* Yes, because if a man is being sleazy and trying to get an underage girl to take off his top, you should focus on what a gentleman he is because he helped you take your fucking jacket off.
*breathes heavily* To calm myself, I'm going to wonder how Stevie Rae verbally censored herself like that
"Yeah. Like this." I demonstrated by pushing my jacket down around my elbows. "And then I don't exactly know what came over me, but all of a sudden I wasn't all nervous and stupid-acting. I took the strap of my tank off for him. Like this." I pushed my tank strap down, exposing my back and shoulder and a good part of my breast (relieved all over again that I had on my good black bra).
ZeldaQueen: *raises eyebrow* Am I imagining the implication that she would have done that same thing if she didn't have her bra on?
"That's when he touched me. Again.”
ZeldaQueen: That still sounds dirty!!!
"Where?”
"He traced the pattern of my Mark on my back and shoulder. He told me that I look like an ancient vampyre queen and recited the poem to me.”
"Holy shit," Stevie Rae said again.
I plopped down on my bed facing her and sighed, pulling the strap of my tank back up. "Yeah, it was amazing for a little while. I was sure we connected. Really connected. I think he almost kissed me. Actually, I know he wanted to. And then, out of nowhere, he changed. He got all polite and formal and thanked me for showing him my Mark and then he walked away.”
ZeldaQueen: And it was actually a surprise to you that he didn't go ahead and kiss an underage student of his?
"Well, that's no big surprise.”
"It sure as hell was to me. I mean, one second he was staring into my eyes and sending major signals that he wanted me and the next-nothing.”
ZeldaQueen: JESUS CHRIST, IT REALLY IS A SURPRISE FOR HER! THIS IS THE GIRL NYX CHOSE TO BE HER EYES AND EARS ON EARTH???
Okay people, I'd like to think that someone with logic would look at that situation and see three possible reasons as to why Blake would seemingly lean in for a kiss with Zoey but back off. The first is that he really does love her, but is holding back on kissing because she's sixteen and thus legally a minor and thus would almost certainly ruin his life and probably cause a good bit of mudslinging at her own. The second is that he's a sleazeball who is playing with her feelings. The third is that he doesn't feel anything romantic for her, and it all really is in her head. Looking at those three scenarios, do you get anything good implied about what would happen if Zoey and Blake went ahead and kissed?
And yet she doesn't. Not now, not then, not ever in this book.
To quotedas_mervin... DUMBASS! *SLAP*
"Zoey, you're a student. He's a teacher. This is a vamp school and a whole different world from life at a normal high school, but some things don't change. Students are off-limits to teachers.”
ZeldaQueen: YES. Thank you! High time somebody remembered that!
I chewed at my lip. "He's only a part-time, temporary teacher."
Stevie Rae rolled her eyes. "As if that matters.”
ZeldaQueen: Again, perfectly valid point. The reason? He's still a teacher! If he's part-time and temporary, the only thing that changes is that you theoretically would have more chances to pursue a legitimate relationship while he's not employed at your school and thus not your teacher! Of course, there's still the itty-bitty age factor, so the point is moot
"That's not all that happened. I just found this poem in my locker.” I handed her the piece of paper with the haiku on it.
Stevie Rae sucked air. "Ohmygoodness.
ZeldaQueen: That's an interesting form of syllable emphasis
This is so romantic I could die.
ZeldaQueen: *waves ax* I'll help!
How? How did he touch the Mark on your back?”
ZeldaQueen: *alarmed* How do you think? I mean, there's only so many digits a person has to touch a specific spot like that, and if she didn't think it was his fingers, that leaves things like his toes or his nose or his... *goes ill*
I hate my mind sometimes. I really do
"Jeesh, how do you think? With his finger. He traced the pattern." I swear I could still feel the heat of that touch.
"He recited a love poem to you, touched your Mark, and then wrote a poem for you …" She sighed dreamily. "It's like you're Romeo and Juliet with the whole forbidden lovers thing."
ZeldaQueen: OH LOOK, A LITERARY FAIL!
Stevie Rae, have you ever read Romeo and Juliet? Or seen any vaguely relevant adaptation? Because it's pretty well-known what happens to them. You want to know?
THEY DIE, YOU IDIOT!!!
And why do they both die?
BECAUSE OF THAT "FORBIDDEN LOVERS THING"!!!
In the middle of fanning herself dramatically she stopped and sat straight up again. "Ah oh, what about Erik?”
ZeldaQueen: Oh yes, Erik. Brought up as an afterthought. Never mind any feelings he has. He's just an icky boy, after all
"What do you mean, what about Erik?”
ZeldaQueen: *stares*
She really said that.
After all the times she slammed Aphrodite for being so horrible to him. After how she went on and on and on in the first book about how hot and sweet and sexy and fantastic she thought he was. After she spent the second chapter of this book fantasizing about him and imagining herself and him in a medieval, fairy-tale story. AFTER ALL OF THAT, SHE HAS THE UNMITIGATED GALL TO SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT??? "Oh yes, what about Erik?" He's only THE GUY YOU'RE DATING, YOU FUCKING IDIOT!!!
I'm sorry. I can't get over this. He really is a nice guy and he was treated so horribly by Aphrodite and pretty much treated as eye candy by everyone else and he starts dating Zoey and she actually...GAH!!!
I need to move on, or we'll be here all day
"He's your boyfriend, Zoey.”
ZeldaQueen: Well I'm glad someone remembered that!
"Not officially," I said sheepishly.
ZeldaQueen: Fucking A. I wish to kill this twat. I wish to bitch slap her and leave her hanging out on a clothesline overnight.
One month, ladies and gentlemen! She was with Erik for one month! One month of kissing and cuddling. And yes, I know there are points where the line between whether or not two people are in a relationship is blurred. This? I would not call it blurred in any regard. For cripes sake, it was just the day after they kissed that Zoey bitched about how he was looking at Aphrodite during the ritual instead of at her!
"Well, shoot, what does the kid have to do to make it `official'? Get down on one knee? It's been pretty obvious this past month that y'all are dating.”
ZeldaQueen: You know what's sad? It's this late into the conversation that this very relevant point is brought up. Yes. Zoey and Erik have been going around together for a month. Zoey internally referred to him as her boyfriend! Apparently it's pretty well-known, given how Zoey is the Queen Bee here and Erik himself is damned popular! And yet it takes this long for someone to bring up to Zoey that hello, she's already seeing someone?
"I know," I said miserably.
ZeldaQueen: Yes, that's going to make me pity Zoey. She feels bad that she's seriously considering stringing her boyfriend along. After all, it means she might actually have to make a choice, as opposed to dragging two hot guys around.
Oh, and what's this supposed to mean, anyway? Zoey insists that she and Erik aren't "officially" dating, but admits that it's obvious that they are? So does she consider them dating or not? I swear, if she pulled the "well, it's not official" card just because she thinks she can trade up for someone hotter than Erik, I will have many harsh words
"So do you like Loren more than you like Erik?”
ZeldaQueen: *laughs* Oh lord, if she gives a definite answer to this, I'll pay each and every one of my viewers fifty bucks
"No! Yes. Oh, hell, I don't know.
ZeldaQueen: What did I tell you? Sorry, everyone
It's like Loren's in a whole other world.
ZeldaQueen: There's an entire world of sleazy guys who hit on underage girls?
And it's not like he and I can really date, or whatever." But I wasn't so sure about the whatever.
ZeldaQueen: *head desk* Are you fucking serious?
Could Loren and I see each other secretly? Did I want to?
As if she could read my thoughts Stevie Rae said, "You could sneak around and see Loren.”
ZeldaQueen: *laughing hysterically* Not making this up, folks! Hand to God! Zoey and her best friend are seriously thinking about her having an affair with her teacher!!!
"This is ridiculous. He probably doesn't even feel like that about me.” But even as I said the words I remembered the heat of his body and the desire in his dark eyes.
ZeldaQueen: AND IT GETS EVEN BETTER! Not only does she seriously consider it, the only reason she dismisses the notion is because she keeps insisting that oh no, he doesn't think of her like that!
"What if he does, Z?" Stevie Rae was studying me carefully.
ZeldanQueen: THEN HE'S A CREEPY WHO HITS ON UNDERAGE STUDENTS! DO YOU REALLY WANT YOUR FRIEND TO DATE SOMEONE LIKE THAT?
"You know, you're different than the rest of us. No one has ever been Marked like you before. No one has ever had an affinity for each of the five elements. Maybe the same rules don't apply to you.
My gut clenched. Since I'd arrived at the House of Night I had been struggling to fit in. All I really wanted was to make this new place my home-to have friends I considered family. I didn't want to be different and I didn't want to play by different rules. I shook my head and said through clenched teeth, "I don't want it to be like this, Stevie Rae. I just want to be normal.”
"I know," Stevie Rae said softly. "But you are different. Everyone knows that. Plus, don't you want Loren to like you?”
I sighed. "I'm not sure what I want, except that I know I don't want anyone to find out about Loren and me.”
"My lips are sealed." Stevie Rae, little Okie dork that she is, pantomimed zipping her lips closed and throwing the key away over her shoulder.
ZeldaQueen: Ha ha, aren't Oklahoma people so quirky and cutesy?
"No one's gonna get a word from me," she mumbled through half-sealed lips.
"Hell! That reminds me, Aphrodite saw Loren touching me."
ZeldaQueen: How did we make this topic jump?
"That hag followed you out to the wall!" Stevie Rae squeaked.
"No no no. No one saw us out there. Aphrodite walked into the media center when he was touching my face.”
"Ah, crap.”
"Ah, crap, is right. And there's more. Remember when I missed part of Spanish 'cause I wanted to talk to Neferet? I didn't talk to her. I got to her class and the door was cracked, so I could overhear what was going on inside. Aphrodite was in there.”
"That bitch was telling on you!”
ZeldaQueen: No people, it would be a good thing if Aphrodite reported unethical behavior between a teacher and a student. I wish Aphrodite had told on them. I'm firmly convinced she's the only one in this series with any sense
"I'm not sure. I only heard a little of what they were saying.”
"I'll bet you were totally freaked when Neferet pulled you out of the dining hall to eat with her.”
"Totally," I agreed.
"No wonder you looked so sick. Jeesh, it all makes sense now." Then her eyes got even bigger. "Did Aphrodite get you in trouble with Neferet?”
"No. When Neferet talked to me tonight she said that Aphrodite's visions are false because Nyx has withdrawn her gift. So whatever Aphrodite told her, Neferet didn't believe.”
ZeldaQueen: ...And is Zoey still not getting what's going on here? Why would Aphrodite bring up visions of death and destruction if she was telling Neferet what she saw right in front of her face?
"Good." Stevie Rae looked like she'd like to break Aphrodite in half.
"No, not good. Neferet's reaction was too harsh. She made Aphrodite sob. Seriously, Stevie Rae, Aphrodite was destroyed by what Neferet said to her. Plus, Neferet didn't even sound like herself.”
"Zoey, I cannot believe we're going over this again. You've got to quit feeling sorry for Aphrodite.”
ZeldaQueen: That's right, young lady, you just stop feeling empathy for someone who was emotionally abused by her parents and then gaslit and lied to by her once-trusted teacher!
I swear, when these people aren't being dumb as rocks, they're scary as heck!
"Stevie Rae, you're not getting the point. This isn't about Aphrodite, it's about Neferet. She was cruel. Even if Aphrodite was ratting me out and exaggerating what she saw, Neferet's response was wrong. And I'm getting a bad feeling about it.”
"You're getting a bad feeling about Neferet?”
ZeldaQueen: I love how the Deus Ex Machina thing gets more concern than the fact that the teacher was yelling at someone until she cried
"Yes … no ... I don't know. It's not just Neferet. It's like it's a mixture of stuff-everything coming down at once. Chris .. . Loren … Aphrodite … Neferet … something's off, Stevie Rae.”
ZeldaQueen: *bored* Oh really? When did you come to that conclusion?
I'm dead serious. This is honestly the first time these people were all mentioned in the same breath. She has no reason to suspect that their situations are in any way related. Oh yeah, Deus Ex Machina feeling, whatever
She looked confused, and I realized she needed an Okie analogy to get it.
ZeldaQueen: Because people from Oklahoma are of a vastly different culture from the rest of the world and are so stupid, they need things compared in their own terms!
I hate this book. I hate these characters
"You know how it feels right before a tornado hits? I mean when the sky's still clear, but the wind's starting to cool off and change direction. You know something's coming, but you don't always know what. That's how things feel to me right now.”
"Like a storm's comin'?”
ZeldaQueen: Um, yeah. Hence why she compared her feeling to a storm coming. Jeez Stevie Rae, try to keep up
"Yep. A big one.”
"So you want me to...?”
"Help me be a storm watcher.”
"I can do that.”
ZeldaQueen: *singing* Woah, woah, woah, I can do that!
"Thanks.”
"But first can we be movie watchers? Damien just ordered Moulin Rouge from Netflix. He's bringing it over, and the Twins managed to get their hands on some honest-to- God real chips and non-fat-free dips" She glanced at her Elvis clock. "They're probably downstairs right now pissed because they've been waiting for us.”
ZeldaQueen: Yeah! Priorities people! Who cares about some potential vampire conspiracy going on? There's mMoulin Rouge to be watched!
I loved the fact that I could unload what felt like earth-shattering stuff to Stevie Rae and one second she could be "ohmygoodness-ing" and the next talking about something as simple as movies and chips. She made me feel normal and grounded and like everything wasn't so overwhelming and confusing.
ZeldaQueen: Really? I get the feeling she's a feather-headed idiot who can't focus on something that doesn't have cute guys involved
I smiled at her. "Moulin Rouge? Doesn't that have Ewan McGregor in it?”
"Definitely. I hope we get to see his butt.”
ZeldaQueen: See what I mean?
And you know, if it weren't for the fact that every other word out of these twerps' mouths was about hot guys, that might have actually been a halfway funny joke about McGregor's notorious tendencies to get naked in movies
"You talked me into it. Let's go.
ZeldaQueen: (Zoey) "Hot men! That's all that matters, right?"
And remember-”
"Jeesh! I know I know. Don't say anything about any of this to anyone.” She paused and waggled her brows. "So just let me say it one more time. Loren Blake has the hots for you!”
ZeldaQueen: Someone, save me from this book!
"Are you done now?”
"Yeah." She grinned mischievously
ZeldaQueen: *bored* Ha, ha, that little scamp
-----------------------------
ZeldaQueen: Right. Now, I must get my thoughts together into a coherent state. Heads up, ladies and gentlemen, this is going to be a long rant. I really am sorry, but I can't leave this. So, strap in and hold on to those drinks.
First -
WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE???
Right. Which leads us to point two.
Guys, I really don't want to sound like I'm hating on girls who are experiencing their first sexual awakening or are enjoying some harmless flirting or taking charge and trying to pursue a relationship or enjoying being with a guy. I'm fine. I don't mind sexy.
What bothers me is how utterly stupid and unfeeling these twats are about the whole thing.
Let's start with how they're acting like this is all such fun, so romantic, so on and so forth. So they think it's great that a teacher is suddenly coming on to Zoey, big-time. Okay, I've had hot teachers. I've had fantasies about hot teachers. I don't wonder why said hot teachers won't kiss me.
Let us pull out something fairly important - legal issues. This right here is about Arizona state law. Here's a few key points.
First, the age of consent is eighteen. Zoey is sixteen. Therefore, under Arizona law, she is a minor.
Second, the term "sexual contact". I quote - "Sexual contact" means any direct or indirect touching, fondling or manipulating of any part of the genitals, anus or female breast by any part of the body or by any object or causing a person to engage in such contact. Zoe just doesn't shut up about how her breast is one of the things that was exposed when she took off her top for Blake, and how it was a good thing she was wearing that bra.
Third, Sexual Conduct With A Minor is described thusly - "A person commits sexual conduct with a minor by intentionally or knowingly engaging in sexual intercourse or oral sexual contact with any person who is under eighteen years of age"
Sexual conduct with a minor is a class 2 felony.
Now, I realize that there are people who will argue that my points are blowing things out of proportion. I would like to point out, however, that even if sexual conduct didn't necessarily occur, it still would look close enough to it to piss people off. While we aren't given specific dates, we can assume that this series is taking place in present times. You know, in a time when people are pretty darned paranoid about teachers or caretakers taking advantage of their children. Even if a person isn't actually charged with something like sexual conduct with a minor, even if they fall under suspicion, it can be enough to ruin their lives.
Now, I realize that there are those who would raise the argument that Blake is a vampire, and thus shielded or exempt from human laws. To that, I say "bullshit". While vampires have their own culture, there is no grounds for them to have their own laws. They were born in the country, they do not have their own civilization, and for part of their lives, they were human as well. I see no basis at all for them to argue that they are exempt from human laws. Even if you argue that the vampire world would condone what Blake is doing and protect him from human authorities, word would still get out. We're supposed to believe that relations between humans and vampires are already sticky. Just imagine how it would look. We're dealing with a world where parents have to drop their children off into the care of complete strangers. Now picture how terrified they'd be if they thought there was the possibility that the adult vampires would come on to their children. I believe it was just last chapter that Neferet cited the Tulsa race riots? Those were incited by mere speculation that a black boy raped a white girl. And even if people argue that Zoey's parents have abandoned her and thus wouldn't care about their daughter being taken advantage of, just try to tell me that something like that wouldn't be fantastic ammo for her stepfather to use against vampires. And he would be justified!
And, of course, the situation wouldn't be without potential consequences for Zoey, if they were caught. She's the Queen Bee, favorite of Neferet, and the leader of the Dark Daughters. No one, as of this point, has seen her actually control the five elements. Now, imagine that she's caught in a relationship with a teacher. Just try to tell me that there wouldn't be some rumors that she only got everything she has by fooling around. The "sleeping with a teacher for good grades" thing is one of the biggest cliches ever! Not to mention how Blake is apparently very popular with the female students. As sick as it is, there would probably also be folks who would blame Zoey for inciting the affair, if Blake suffered for it.
I bring all of those things up for one big reason - Zoey thinks of none of them. I'm dead serious. She doesn't think about how it would look if she and Blake were caught sneaking around. She doesn't think about the implications. She doesn't think about the consequences. She doesn't think about how they both would probably be ruined. She doesn't think about how it would scupper all of her credibility and grand plans to reform the Dark Daughters and integrate the vampires into Tulsa. She doesn't think about what a field day the People of Faith would have. The only thing she does think about is why in the world Blake wouldn't kiss her if he clearly wanted to. You know, the question that I gave a good number of answers for up above? Apparently they all just escape her notice.
Okay, so that's the legal and social fail behind it all. Let's look at another line of fail. Let's look at how this basically goes against what little of Zoey's character we got before this. A few quotes -
"I doubt if there's a teenager alive in America today who isn't aware that most of the adult public think we're giving guys blow jobs like they used to give guys gum (or maybe more appropriately suckers). Okay, that's just bullshit, and it's always made me mad. Of course there are girls who think it's "cool" to give guys head. Uh, they're wrong. Those of us with functioning brains know that it is not cool to be used like that"
Marked, Chapter Seven
"You know, I've never understood why girls think making out with each other is the way to catch a boyfriend"
Marked, Chapter Ten
"like everyone else, [Erik] was looking at Aphrodite. (Which was actually annoying- wasn't he supposed to be sneaking looks at me, too?)"
Marked, Chapter Twenty-Seven
"It was Thursday, and he'd only been gone since Monday, but I missed him like crazy"
[...]
"So I will admit to being preoccupied with visions of Erik as Tristan and me as Isolde (only our passionate love story would have a happy ending)"
Betrayed, Chapter 2
ZeldaQueen: Regarding the first two quotes, alright. We're supposed to believe that Zoey is opinionated on the topic of girls doing things strictly so they can get a guy they think is cool to like them. Fine. I have to ask, what do the Cast ladies think Zoey is doing with Blake?
I'm serious. She knows nothing about him, besides that he does poetry and is good-looking. She doesn't know him at all. All she talks about is how hot it is, and how insanely romantic it is. She thinks Blake is cool. So she shows off her Marks, partially removing her shirt to do so. And Stevie Rae talks about how she would have taken the entire flippin' shirt off, and Zoey just sighs and nods because hey, Stevie Rae is agreeing with her!
The second two quotes are to remind everyone that yes, the character of Erik Night exists. I realize it might be hard to remember, seeing as the Cast ladies seem determined to ignore him, but he is there. He was the one who comforted Zoey and explained bloodlust to her and assured her that she wasn't evil or a monster. He was the one she felt sorry for, because Evil Aphrodite was taking advantage of him. He was the one who, as we can see, she went on about regarding how sexy he is, and how romantic, and so on and so forth. And she doesn't think of him once this entire time. Which brings us to our last bit of fail...
Zoey is an idiot. That's all there is to it. She doesn't think about the legal or social complications pursuing a relationship with Blake would cause. She doesn't think about how she's going to be hurting Erik. She doesn't think it's odd that this teacher has shown up out of the blue and begun hitting on her. She doesn't think about it at all!
"Now ZeldaQueen," I'm sure a lot of you might be saying, "surely that's just because she's in a panic with Blake in her face and all!" Okay, if she forgot all of this while she was with him, or while she was in a highly emotional state, okay I could by her forgetting about everything. I know, I know, people forget stuff that might seem incredibly obvious later. But there's that part - the later part. Zoey doesn't think of it when she's with Blake, but she also doesn't think of any one of those things after she's with him. There isn't one instant besides this one where she sits down and gives serious thought to anything besides "why isn't he making out with me?"
"But ZeldaQueen!" I'm sure a lot of you are chiming in at this point, "there's still the fact that she's sixteen! People are hardly the most logical or responsible beings at that age!"
Right. Regarding that, I do know that when you write a character who is in their teens or a child, you have to write it believably. That's one of the reasons Rose Potter was so unbelievable (one of the reasons, mind you). It was just too hard to swallow that an eleven-year-old could catch on to things so fast. So if Zoey was supposed to be so stupid, or missed some of those things, yes I could buy that.
Except here's the thing - Taran from The Chronicles of Prydain and Harry Potter are both characters in children's literature who were known for screwing up, especially at the start of their adventures.
Taran was called out by and scolded by virtually everyone he traveled with, to the point where the first guy he was with would probably have dropped his sorry ass back home, if it weren't so dangerous to send him there. Every time he wanders off to a dangerous place, every time he makes a bad decision, it is pointed out. His friends didn't coddle him. While they were kinder about some mistakes than others, they still told him when he was being overly stupid or a jerk.
Harry Potter was also constantly being told off by his teachers, Sirius, and his friends for being overly reckless. He suffers punishments and setbacks for his mistakes.
Let us look at Zoey. All her friends ever do is coo about how smart she is. The only time they get angry at her, it's because they think she's being too nice. As we see in the conversation, Stevie Rae only briefly brings up reasons why Zoey is wrong to pursue the relationship, and then goes on to suggest meeting Blake in secret. All of Zoey's teachers and the the freaking goddess Nyx go on about how mature and clever and responsible she is. She's Nyx's "eyes and ears" and the head of a prestigious vampire group, which sets her up to carry a very important vampire title. Even Aphrodite agrees that Zoey is better at heading the Dark Daughters. In short, we're supposed to believe that Zoey is a mature and responsible person. And yet she is honestly unable to grasp any of the many signs that something clearly isn't right about this all.
If that all was too long for you? This is bullshit and it pisses me off mightily.
I'm sure there's more, but that's all I've got. I'm tired, I'm cross, and I really need to go snuggle something. We'll finish this chapter in part two. Again, I apologize for how ranty this was, but it had to be said. I'm really, really sorry
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Onward to: Chapter 8 (Part 2)
Back to: Chapter 7
Back to: Table of Contents
Projection Room Voices: Starting Media in 3...2...1...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 8
ZeldaQueen: Zoey heads out of the teachers' dining hall and realizes that oopsies, she never brought up the red-eyed ghosts thing. You know, the thing she hasn't thought about for a few chapters now. She doesn't want to go back though, because the whole thing makes her uneasy. But there totally isn't anything up with Neferet. Nope.
She ponders everything she has to do regarding the Dark Daughters as well as the disappearance of the high school kid and starts to get nervous. She then remembers that she has a Vamp Sociology report due on Monday that she has to get done. We get a gratuitous mention of how she could turn in the assignment later because Neferet gives her privileges, but she just wants to be normal, darn it, so she's going to turn in her paper at the same time as everyone else!
She goes to her locker for her textbook, all while going on about how nothing weird is going to happen at this point in time, certainly not, no sireebob. And then she finds there's a haiku in her locker from Blake. Cue her heart going a-flutter as she whispers his name. And then we skip ahead, and I know it's long, but this section needs to be sporked. It honestly cannot be summarized
---------------------------------
"I'm serious, Stevie Rae. If I tell you, you have to swear you won't say anything to anyone. And when I say anyone I especially mean Damien and the Twins.”
"Dang, Zoey, you can trust me. I said I swear. What do you want me to do, open a vein?”
ZeldaQueen: You know, considering how Zoey's obviously all bothered and sensitive over her bloodlust, that strikes me as rather rude
I didn't say anything.
"Zoey, you really can trust me. Promise.”
I studied my best friend's face. I needed to talk to someone-someone who was not a vamp. I searched inside myself, to the core of what Neferet would call my intuition. It felt right to confide in Stevie Rae. It felt safe.
ZeldaQueen: I love how she does all of this soul-searching to confide in her for this, but just talked about the red-eyed vampires like they were punks at the mall
"Sorry. I know I can trust you. I'm just … I don't know." I shook my head, frustrated by my own confusion. "Okay, weird stuff has happened today.”
ZeldaQueen: Wait, today? Today? The events of this entire book thus far have taken place in one day?
You know what, I'm honestly too tired to check. Given how the last book went though, I wouldn't be surprised
"You mean more than the normal weirdness that goes on around here?”
ZeldaQueen: What weirdness? The only things that seem exceptionally weird are the red-eyed vampire ghosts, and everyone seems determined to ignore those!
"Yeah. Loren Blake came into the library today while I was there. He was the first person I talked to about the Prefect Council idea and my new ideas for the Dark Daughters.”
"Loren Blake? As in the most gorgeous vamp any of us have ever seen? Goodness. I better sit down." Stevie Rae collapsed
on her bed.
ZeldaQueen: And what's the first thing Stevie Rae asks? What he wanted? Why he was striking up a conversation with someone he never met before? No, she asks if he's the gorgeous vampire. *hates*
"That's who I mean.”
"I can't believe you haven't said anything about this until now. You must have been dying.”
ZeldaQueen: Yes, I know that when a good-looking guy carries a conversation with me, I just am dying until I'm able to gossip about it with my friends
"Well, that's not all. He … uh ... touched me. And more than once. Okay, actually I saw him more than once today. Alone. And I think he wrote me a poem.”
ZeldaQueen: That sounds incredibly pervy. I'm pretty sure most teenagers would notice that, if only for the accidental innuendo
"What!”
"Yeah, at first I was sure it was perfectly innocent and I was imagining anything else. In the library we just talked about the ideas I had for the Dark Daughters. I didn't think it meant anything. But, well, he touched my Mark.”
ZeldaQueen: Again!
"Which one?" Stevie Rae asked. Her eyes were huge and round and she looked like she was going to explode.
ZeldaQueen: *explodes* WELL I WOULD HOPE IT WOULD BE THE ONE ON HIS FACE, AS ALL OF HER OTHERS ARE ON HER BACK AND SHOULDERS, WHICH WOULD IMPLY THAT HE WOULD BE GROPING UNDER HER SHIRT IN THE LIBRARY!!!
Okay. I'm sorry. I must save my temper
"The one on my face. That time.”
"What do you mean that time!”
ZeldaQueen: I hope you all have your drinks, ladies and gentlemen
"Well, after I got done with brushing Persephone I wasn't in any hurry to get back to the dorm. So I went for a walk over by the west wall. Loren was there.”
"Ohmydearsweetlord. What happened?”
"I think we flirted.”
"You think!”
"We were laughing and smiling at each other.”
"Sounds like flirting to me. God, he is so totally gorgeous."
ZeldaQueen: Are these girls incapable of going for two sentences without talking about the looks of a man? Yes, Cast ladies, we have established that this man is ultra-firey-Adonis-cupcake-sparkly hot. It does not change the fact that he is a total sleaze who is coming on to an underage girl!!!
Actually, the fact that these girls are so giggly and cheerful about it makes this all even creepier, because all it reads like is that a sleazy guy is taking advantage of them, and they're too naive to realize it
"Tell me about it. When he smiles at me I can hardly breathe. And get this-he recited a poem to me," I said. "It was a haiku a man wrote about looking at his naked lover in the moonlight."
ZeldaQueen: ...Classy
"You have got to be kidding!" Stevie Rae started fanning herself with her hand. "Get to the touching part.”
ZeldaQueen: BZUH? Why is she so cheerful about this?!? Am I the only one who wouldn't want to hear about how my underage friend was being touched by a man nine years her senior?
I took a deep breath. "It was really confusing. Everything was going really well. Like I said, we were laughing and talking. Then he said he was out there by himself because that's how he gets inspired to write haiku -”
"Which is insanely romantic!”
ZeldaQueen: That's right girls. If a guy writes poetry, he's Deep and it's totally romantic if he wants you to take off your shirt so he can touch your shoulders and back
I nodded and continued. "I know. Anyway, I told him I hadn't meant to mess up his inspiration and bother him, and he said that more things inspired him than just the night. And he asked me if I'd be his inspiration.”
"Holy shit.”
"Exactly what I thought.”
"Naturally you said you'd be happy to inspire him."
ZeldaQueen: (Zoey, if she were sane) "No, I backed away and called a teacher for sexual harassment"
"Naturally," I said.
"And ..." Stevie Rae prompted eagerly.
ZeldaQueen: *groans* I swear, if these people aren't ceaselessly drooling over someone themselves, they're drooling over other people drooling over others.
Say that ten times fast
"And he asked to see my Mark. The one on my shoulders and back.”
"He did not.”
"He did.”
ZeldaQueen: (Stevie Rae, if she were sane) "The pervert!"
"Man, I would have peeled off my shirt faster than you can say Bubba loves trucks!”
ZeldaQueen: !!!???!!!
WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH THESE PEOPLE?????
I laughed. "Well, I didn't take my shirt off, but I slid my jacket down. Actually, he helped me.”
"Are you telling me Loren Blake, Vampyre Poet Laureate and hottest f-ing male on two feet, helped you off with your jacket like an old-time gentleman?”
ZeldaQueen: *getting hysterical* Yes, because if a man is being sleazy and trying to get an underage girl to take off his top, you should focus on what a gentleman he is because he helped you take your fucking jacket off.
*breathes heavily* To calm myself, I'm going to wonder how Stevie Rae verbally censored herself like that
"Yeah. Like this." I demonstrated by pushing my jacket down around my elbows. "And then I don't exactly know what came over me, but all of a sudden I wasn't all nervous and stupid-acting. I took the strap of my tank off for him. Like this." I pushed my tank strap down, exposing my back and shoulder and a good part of my breast (relieved all over again that I had on my good black bra).
ZeldaQueen: *raises eyebrow* Am I imagining the implication that she would have done that same thing if she didn't have her bra on?
"That's when he touched me. Again.”
ZeldaQueen: That still sounds dirty!!!
"Where?”
"He traced the pattern of my Mark on my back and shoulder. He told me that I look like an ancient vampyre queen and recited the poem to me.”
"Holy shit," Stevie Rae said again.
I plopped down on my bed facing her and sighed, pulling the strap of my tank back up. "Yeah, it was amazing for a little while. I was sure we connected. Really connected. I think he almost kissed me. Actually, I know he wanted to. And then, out of nowhere, he changed. He got all polite and formal and thanked me for showing him my Mark and then he walked away.”
ZeldaQueen: And it was actually a surprise to you that he didn't go ahead and kiss an underage student of his?
"Well, that's no big surprise.”
"It sure as hell was to me. I mean, one second he was staring into my eyes and sending major signals that he wanted me and the next-nothing.”
ZeldaQueen: JESUS CHRIST, IT REALLY IS A SURPRISE FOR HER! THIS IS THE GIRL NYX CHOSE TO BE HER EYES AND EARS ON EARTH???
Okay people, I'd like to think that someone with logic would look at that situation and see three possible reasons as to why Blake would seemingly lean in for a kiss with Zoey but back off. The first is that he really does love her, but is holding back on kissing because she's sixteen and thus legally a minor and thus would almost certainly ruin his life and probably cause a good bit of mudslinging at her own. The second is that he's a sleazeball who is playing with her feelings. The third is that he doesn't feel anything romantic for her, and it all really is in her head. Looking at those three scenarios, do you get anything good implied about what would happen if Zoey and Blake went ahead and kissed?
And yet she doesn't. Not now, not then, not ever in this book.
To quotedas_mervin... DUMBASS! *SLAP*
"Zoey, you're a student. He's a teacher. This is a vamp school and a whole different world from life at a normal high school, but some things don't change. Students are off-limits to teachers.”
ZeldaQueen: YES. Thank you! High time somebody remembered that!
I chewed at my lip. "He's only a part-time, temporary teacher."
Stevie Rae rolled her eyes. "As if that matters.”
ZeldaQueen: Again, perfectly valid point. The reason? He's still a teacher! If he's part-time and temporary, the only thing that changes is that you theoretically would have more chances to pursue a legitimate relationship while he's not employed at your school and thus not your teacher! Of course, there's still the itty-bitty age factor, so the point is moot
"That's not all that happened. I just found this poem in my locker.” I handed her the piece of paper with the haiku on it.
Stevie Rae sucked air. "Ohmygoodness.
ZeldaQueen: That's an interesting form of syllable emphasis
This is so romantic I could die.
ZeldaQueen: *waves ax* I'll help!
How? How did he touch the Mark on your back?”
ZeldaQueen: *alarmed* How do you think? I mean, there's only so many digits a person has to touch a specific spot like that, and if she didn't think it was his fingers, that leaves things like his toes or his nose or his... *goes ill*
I hate my mind sometimes. I really do
"Jeesh, how do you think? With his finger. He traced the pattern." I swear I could still feel the heat of that touch.
"He recited a love poem to you, touched your Mark, and then wrote a poem for you …" She sighed dreamily. "It's like you're Romeo and Juliet with the whole forbidden lovers thing."
ZeldaQueen: OH LOOK, A LITERARY FAIL!
Stevie Rae, have you ever read Romeo and Juliet? Or seen any vaguely relevant adaptation? Because it's pretty well-known what happens to them. You want to know?
THEY DIE, YOU IDIOT!!!
And why do they both die?
BECAUSE OF THAT "FORBIDDEN LOVERS THING"!!!
In the middle of fanning herself dramatically she stopped and sat straight up again. "Ah oh, what about Erik?”
ZeldaQueen: Oh yes, Erik. Brought up as an afterthought. Never mind any feelings he has. He's just an icky boy, after all
"What do you mean, what about Erik?”
ZeldaQueen: *stares*
She really said that.
After all the times she slammed Aphrodite for being so horrible to him. After how she went on and on and on in the first book about how hot and sweet and sexy and fantastic she thought he was. After she spent the second chapter of this book fantasizing about him and imagining herself and him in a medieval, fairy-tale story. AFTER ALL OF THAT, SHE HAS THE UNMITIGATED GALL TO SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT??? "Oh yes, what about Erik?" He's only THE GUY YOU'RE DATING, YOU FUCKING IDIOT!!!
I'm sorry. I can't get over this. He really is a nice guy and he was treated so horribly by Aphrodite and pretty much treated as eye candy by everyone else and he starts dating Zoey and she actually...GAH!!!
I need to move on, or we'll be here all day
"He's your boyfriend, Zoey.”
ZeldaQueen: Well I'm glad someone remembered that!
"Not officially," I said sheepishly.
ZeldaQueen: Fucking A. I wish to kill this twat. I wish to bitch slap her and leave her hanging out on a clothesline overnight.
One month, ladies and gentlemen! She was with Erik for one month! One month of kissing and cuddling. And yes, I know there are points where the line between whether or not two people are in a relationship is blurred. This? I would not call it blurred in any regard. For cripes sake, it was just the day after they kissed that Zoey bitched about how he was looking at Aphrodite during the ritual instead of at her!
"Well, shoot, what does the kid have to do to make it `official'? Get down on one knee? It's been pretty obvious this past month that y'all are dating.”
ZeldaQueen: You know what's sad? It's this late into the conversation that this very relevant point is brought up. Yes. Zoey and Erik have been going around together for a month. Zoey internally referred to him as her boyfriend! Apparently it's pretty well-known, given how Zoey is the Queen Bee here and Erik himself is damned popular! And yet it takes this long for someone to bring up to Zoey that hello, she's already seeing someone?
"I know," I said miserably.
ZeldaQueen: Yes, that's going to make me pity Zoey. She feels bad that she's seriously considering stringing her boyfriend along. After all, it means she might actually have to make a choice, as opposed to dragging two hot guys around.
Oh, and what's this supposed to mean, anyway? Zoey insists that she and Erik aren't "officially" dating, but admits that it's obvious that they are? So does she consider them dating or not? I swear, if she pulled the "well, it's not official" card just because she thinks she can trade up for someone hotter than Erik, I will have many harsh words
"So do you like Loren more than you like Erik?”
ZeldaQueen: *laughs* Oh lord, if she gives a definite answer to this, I'll pay each and every one of my viewers fifty bucks
"No! Yes. Oh, hell, I don't know.
ZeldaQueen: What did I tell you? Sorry, everyone
It's like Loren's in a whole other world.
ZeldaQueen: There's an entire world of sleazy guys who hit on underage girls?
And it's not like he and I can really date, or whatever." But I wasn't so sure about the whatever.
ZeldaQueen: *head desk* Are you fucking serious?
Could Loren and I see each other secretly? Did I want to?
As if she could read my thoughts Stevie Rae said, "You could sneak around and see Loren.”
ZeldaQueen: *laughing hysterically* Not making this up, folks! Hand to God! Zoey and her best friend are seriously thinking about her having an affair with her teacher!!!
"This is ridiculous. He probably doesn't even feel like that about me.” But even as I said the words I remembered the heat of his body and the desire in his dark eyes.
ZeldaQueen: AND IT GETS EVEN BETTER! Not only does she seriously consider it, the only reason she dismisses the notion is because she keeps insisting that oh no, he doesn't think of her like that!
"What if he does, Z?" Stevie Rae was studying me carefully.
ZeldanQueen: THEN HE'S A CREEPY WHO HITS ON UNDERAGE STUDENTS! DO YOU REALLY WANT YOUR FRIEND TO DATE SOMEONE LIKE THAT?
"You know, you're different than the rest of us. No one has ever been Marked like you before. No one has ever had an affinity for each of the five elements. Maybe the same rules don't apply to you.
My gut clenched. Since I'd arrived at the House of Night I had been struggling to fit in. All I really wanted was to make this new place my home-to have friends I considered family. I didn't want to be different and I didn't want to play by different rules. I shook my head and said through clenched teeth, "I don't want it to be like this, Stevie Rae. I just want to be normal.”
"I know," Stevie Rae said softly. "But you are different. Everyone knows that. Plus, don't you want Loren to like you?”
I sighed. "I'm not sure what I want, except that I know I don't want anyone to find out about Loren and me.”
"My lips are sealed." Stevie Rae, little Okie dork that she is, pantomimed zipping her lips closed and throwing the key away over her shoulder.
ZeldaQueen: Ha ha, aren't Oklahoma people so quirky and cutesy?
"No one's gonna get a word from me," she mumbled through half-sealed lips.
"Hell! That reminds me, Aphrodite saw Loren touching me."
ZeldaQueen: How did we make this topic jump?
"That hag followed you out to the wall!" Stevie Rae squeaked.
"No no no. No one saw us out there. Aphrodite walked into the media center when he was touching my face.”
"Ah, crap.”
"Ah, crap, is right. And there's more. Remember when I missed part of Spanish 'cause I wanted to talk to Neferet? I didn't talk to her. I got to her class and the door was cracked, so I could overhear what was going on inside. Aphrodite was in there.”
"That bitch was telling on you!”
ZeldaQueen: No people, it would be a good thing if Aphrodite reported unethical behavior between a teacher and a student. I wish Aphrodite had told on them. I'm firmly convinced she's the only one in this series with any sense
"I'm not sure. I only heard a little of what they were saying.”
"I'll bet you were totally freaked when Neferet pulled you out of the dining hall to eat with her.”
"Totally," I agreed.
"No wonder you looked so sick. Jeesh, it all makes sense now." Then her eyes got even bigger. "Did Aphrodite get you in trouble with Neferet?”
"No. When Neferet talked to me tonight she said that Aphrodite's visions are false because Nyx has withdrawn her gift. So whatever Aphrodite told her, Neferet didn't believe.”
ZeldaQueen: ...And is Zoey still not getting what's going on here? Why would Aphrodite bring up visions of death and destruction if she was telling Neferet what she saw right in front of her face?
"Good." Stevie Rae looked like she'd like to break Aphrodite in half.
"No, not good. Neferet's reaction was too harsh. She made Aphrodite sob. Seriously, Stevie Rae, Aphrodite was destroyed by what Neferet said to her. Plus, Neferet didn't even sound like herself.”
"Zoey, I cannot believe we're going over this again. You've got to quit feeling sorry for Aphrodite.”
ZeldaQueen: That's right, young lady, you just stop feeling empathy for someone who was emotionally abused by her parents and then gaslit and lied to by her once-trusted teacher!
I swear, when these people aren't being dumb as rocks, they're scary as heck!
"Stevie Rae, you're not getting the point. This isn't about Aphrodite, it's about Neferet. She was cruel. Even if Aphrodite was ratting me out and exaggerating what she saw, Neferet's response was wrong. And I'm getting a bad feeling about it.”
"You're getting a bad feeling about Neferet?”
ZeldaQueen: I love how the Deus Ex Machina thing gets more concern than the fact that the teacher was yelling at someone until she cried
"Yes … no ... I don't know. It's not just Neferet. It's like it's a mixture of stuff-everything coming down at once. Chris .. . Loren … Aphrodite … Neferet … something's off, Stevie Rae.”
ZeldaQueen: *bored* Oh really? When did you come to that conclusion?
I'm dead serious. This is honestly the first time these people were all mentioned in the same breath. She has no reason to suspect that their situations are in any way related. Oh yeah, Deus Ex Machina feeling, whatever
She looked confused, and I realized she needed an Okie analogy to get it.
ZeldaQueen: Because people from Oklahoma are of a vastly different culture from the rest of the world and are so stupid, they need things compared in their own terms!
I hate this book. I hate these characters
"You know how it feels right before a tornado hits? I mean when the sky's still clear, but the wind's starting to cool off and change direction. You know something's coming, but you don't always know what. That's how things feel to me right now.”
"Like a storm's comin'?”
ZeldaQueen: Um, yeah. Hence why she compared her feeling to a storm coming. Jeez Stevie Rae, try to keep up
"Yep. A big one.”
"So you want me to...?”
"Help me be a storm watcher.”
"I can do that.”
ZeldaQueen: *singing* Woah, woah, woah, I can do that!
"Thanks.”
"But first can we be movie watchers? Damien just ordered Moulin Rouge from Netflix. He's bringing it over, and the Twins managed to get their hands on some honest-to- God real chips and non-fat-free dips" She glanced at her Elvis clock. "They're probably downstairs right now pissed because they've been waiting for us.”
ZeldaQueen: Yeah! Priorities people! Who cares about some potential vampire conspiracy going on? There's mMoulin Rouge to be watched!
I loved the fact that I could unload what felt like earth-shattering stuff to Stevie Rae and one second she could be "ohmygoodness-ing" and the next talking about something as simple as movies and chips. She made me feel normal and grounded and like everything wasn't so overwhelming and confusing.
ZeldaQueen: Really? I get the feeling she's a feather-headed idiot who can't focus on something that doesn't have cute guys involved
I smiled at her. "Moulin Rouge? Doesn't that have Ewan McGregor in it?”
"Definitely. I hope we get to see his butt.”
ZeldaQueen: See what I mean?
And you know, if it weren't for the fact that every other word out of these twerps' mouths was about hot guys, that might have actually been a halfway funny joke about McGregor's notorious tendencies to get naked in movies
"You talked me into it. Let's go.
ZeldaQueen: (Zoey) "Hot men! That's all that matters, right?"
And remember-”
"Jeesh! I know I know. Don't say anything about any of this to anyone.” She paused and waggled her brows. "So just let me say it one more time. Loren Blake has the hots for you!”
ZeldaQueen: Someone, save me from this book!
"Are you done now?”
"Yeah." She grinned mischievously
ZeldaQueen: *bored* Ha, ha, that little scamp
-----------------------------
ZeldaQueen: Right. Now, I must get my thoughts together into a coherent state. Heads up, ladies and gentlemen, this is going to be a long rant. I really am sorry, but I can't leave this. So, strap in and hold on to those drinks.
First -
WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE???
Right. Which leads us to point two.
Guys, I really don't want to sound like I'm hating on girls who are experiencing their first sexual awakening or are enjoying some harmless flirting or taking charge and trying to pursue a relationship or enjoying being with a guy. I'm fine. I don't mind sexy.
What bothers me is how utterly stupid and unfeeling these twats are about the whole thing.
Let's start with how they're acting like this is all such fun, so romantic, so on and so forth. So they think it's great that a teacher is suddenly coming on to Zoey, big-time. Okay, I've had hot teachers. I've had fantasies about hot teachers. I don't wonder why said hot teachers won't kiss me.
Let us pull out something fairly important - legal issues. This right here is about Arizona state law. Here's a few key points.
First, the age of consent is eighteen. Zoey is sixteen. Therefore, under Arizona law, she is a minor.
Second, the term "sexual contact". I quote - "Sexual contact" means any direct or indirect touching, fondling or manipulating of any part of the genitals, anus or female breast by any part of the body or by any object or causing a person to engage in such contact. Zoe just doesn't shut up about how her breast is one of the things that was exposed when she took off her top for Blake, and how it was a good thing she was wearing that bra.
Third, Sexual Conduct With A Minor is described thusly - "A person commits sexual conduct with a minor by intentionally or knowingly engaging in sexual intercourse or oral sexual contact with any person who is under eighteen years of age"
Sexual conduct with a minor is a class 2 felony.
Now, I realize that there are people who will argue that my points are blowing things out of proportion. I would like to point out, however, that even if sexual conduct didn't necessarily occur, it still would look close enough to it to piss people off. While we aren't given specific dates, we can assume that this series is taking place in present times. You know, in a time when people are pretty darned paranoid about teachers or caretakers taking advantage of their children. Even if a person isn't actually charged with something like sexual conduct with a minor, even if they fall under suspicion, it can be enough to ruin their lives.
Now, I realize that there are those who would raise the argument that Blake is a vampire, and thus shielded or exempt from human laws. To that, I say "bullshit". While vampires have their own culture, there is no grounds for them to have their own laws. They were born in the country, they do not have their own civilization, and for part of their lives, they were human as well. I see no basis at all for them to argue that they are exempt from human laws. Even if you argue that the vampire world would condone what Blake is doing and protect him from human authorities, word would still get out. We're supposed to believe that relations between humans and vampires are already sticky. Just imagine how it would look. We're dealing with a world where parents have to drop their children off into the care of complete strangers. Now picture how terrified they'd be if they thought there was the possibility that the adult vampires would come on to their children. I believe it was just last chapter that Neferet cited the Tulsa race riots? Those were incited by mere speculation that a black boy raped a white girl. And even if people argue that Zoey's parents have abandoned her and thus wouldn't care about their daughter being taken advantage of, just try to tell me that something like that wouldn't be fantastic ammo for her stepfather to use against vampires. And he would be justified!
And, of course, the situation wouldn't be without potential consequences for Zoey, if they were caught. She's the Queen Bee, favorite of Neferet, and the leader of the Dark Daughters. No one, as of this point, has seen her actually control the five elements. Now, imagine that she's caught in a relationship with a teacher. Just try to tell me that there wouldn't be some rumors that she only got everything she has by fooling around. The "sleeping with a teacher for good grades" thing is one of the biggest cliches ever! Not to mention how Blake is apparently very popular with the female students. As sick as it is, there would probably also be folks who would blame Zoey for inciting the affair, if Blake suffered for it.
I bring all of those things up for one big reason - Zoey thinks of none of them. I'm dead serious. She doesn't think about how it would look if she and Blake were caught sneaking around. She doesn't think about the implications. She doesn't think about the consequences. She doesn't think about how they both would probably be ruined. She doesn't think about how it would scupper all of her credibility and grand plans to reform the Dark Daughters and integrate the vampires into Tulsa. She doesn't think about what a field day the People of Faith would have. The only thing she does think about is why in the world Blake wouldn't kiss her if he clearly wanted to. You know, the question that I gave a good number of answers for up above? Apparently they all just escape her notice.
Okay, so that's the legal and social fail behind it all. Let's look at another line of fail. Let's look at how this basically goes against what little of Zoey's character we got before this. A few quotes -
"I doubt if there's a teenager alive in America today who isn't aware that most of the adult public think we're giving guys blow jobs like they used to give guys gum (or maybe more appropriately suckers). Okay, that's just bullshit, and it's always made me mad. Of course there are girls who think it's "cool" to give guys head. Uh, they're wrong. Those of us with functioning brains know that it is not cool to be used like that"
Marked, Chapter Seven
"You know, I've never understood why girls think making out with each other is the way to catch a boyfriend"
Marked, Chapter Ten
"like everyone else, [Erik] was looking at Aphrodite. (Which was actually annoying- wasn't he supposed to be sneaking looks at me, too?)"
Marked, Chapter Twenty-Seven
"It was Thursday, and he'd only been gone since Monday, but I missed him like crazy"
[...]
"So I will admit to being preoccupied with visions of Erik as Tristan and me as Isolde (only our passionate love story would have a happy ending)"
Betrayed, Chapter 2
ZeldaQueen: Regarding the first two quotes, alright. We're supposed to believe that Zoey is opinionated on the topic of girls doing things strictly so they can get a guy they think is cool to like them. Fine. I have to ask, what do the Cast ladies think Zoey is doing with Blake?
I'm serious. She knows nothing about him, besides that he does poetry and is good-looking. She doesn't know him at all. All she talks about is how hot it is, and how insanely romantic it is. She thinks Blake is cool. So she shows off her Marks, partially removing her shirt to do so. And Stevie Rae talks about how she would have taken the entire flippin' shirt off, and Zoey just sighs and nods because hey, Stevie Rae is agreeing with her!
The second two quotes are to remind everyone that yes, the character of Erik Night exists. I realize it might be hard to remember, seeing as the Cast ladies seem determined to ignore him, but he is there. He was the one who comforted Zoey and explained bloodlust to her and assured her that she wasn't evil or a monster. He was the one she felt sorry for, because Evil Aphrodite was taking advantage of him. He was the one who, as we can see, she went on about regarding how sexy he is, and how romantic, and so on and so forth. And she doesn't think of him once this entire time. Which brings us to our last bit of fail...
Zoey is an idiot. That's all there is to it. She doesn't think about the legal or social complications pursuing a relationship with Blake would cause. She doesn't think about how she's going to be hurting Erik. She doesn't think it's odd that this teacher has shown up out of the blue and begun hitting on her. She doesn't think about it at all!
"Now ZeldaQueen," I'm sure a lot of you might be saying, "surely that's just because she's in a panic with Blake in her face and all!" Okay, if she forgot all of this while she was with him, or while she was in a highly emotional state, okay I could by her forgetting about everything. I know, I know, people forget stuff that might seem incredibly obvious later. But there's that part - the later part. Zoey doesn't think of it when she's with Blake, but she also doesn't think of any one of those things after she's with him. There isn't one instant besides this one where she sits down and gives serious thought to anything besides "why isn't he making out with me?"
"But ZeldaQueen!" I'm sure a lot of you are chiming in at this point, "there's still the fact that she's sixteen! People are hardly the most logical or responsible beings at that age!"
Right. Regarding that, I do know that when you write a character who is in their teens or a child, you have to write it believably. That's one of the reasons Rose Potter was so unbelievable (one of the reasons, mind you). It was just too hard to swallow that an eleven-year-old could catch on to things so fast. So if Zoey was supposed to be so stupid, or missed some of those things, yes I could buy that.
Except here's the thing - Taran from The Chronicles of Prydain and Harry Potter are both characters in children's literature who were known for screwing up, especially at the start of their adventures.
Taran was called out by and scolded by virtually everyone he traveled with, to the point where the first guy he was with would probably have dropped his sorry ass back home, if it weren't so dangerous to send him there. Every time he wanders off to a dangerous place, every time he makes a bad decision, it is pointed out. His friends didn't coddle him. While they were kinder about some mistakes than others, they still told him when he was being overly stupid or a jerk.
Harry Potter was also constantly being told off by his teachers, Sirius, and his friends for being overly reckless. He suffers punishments and setbacks for his mistakes.
Let us look at Zoey. All her friends ever do is coo about how smart she is. The only time they get angry at her, it's because they think she's being too nice. As we see in the conversation, Stevie Rae only briefly brings up reasons why Zoey is wrong to pursue the relationship, and then goes on to suggest meeting Blake in secret. All of Zoey's teachers and the the freaking goddess Nyx go on about how mature and clever and responsible she is. She's Nyx's "eyes and ears" and the head of a prestigious vampire group, which sets her up to carry a very important vampire title. Even Aphrodite agrees that Zoey is better at heading the Dark Daughters. In short, we're supposed to believe that Zoey is a mature and responsible person. And yet she is honestly unable to grasp any of the many signs that something clearly isn't right about this all.
If that all was too long for you? This is bullshit and it pisses me off mightily.
I'm sure there's more, but that's all I've got. I'm tired, I'm cross, and I really need to go snuggle something. We'll finish this chapter in part two. Again, I apologize for how ranty this was, but it had to be said. I'm really, really sorry
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Onward to: Chapter 8 (Part 2)
Back to: Chapter 7
Back to: Table of Contents