Zoe was trying to figure out if today was the day to hold the thermometer against the light bulb and pretend to be sick. On the one hand, she could skip dealing with the idiots at school, she could sleep in a little, and she could put off the biology test she hadn't bothered to study for. On the other hand, she'd still have to take the test, she was honest enough to admit that she wouldn't study today, either, and she actually felt pretty good for a change.
She heard a knock at the door downstairs, but figured it must be Jon's idiot friend Karyn come to walk with him to school. God knows why he can't see she's totally into him, she thought as she leaned more in favor of a pretend fever.
She heard a male voice booming downstairs. Huh, she thought to herself, Definitely not Karyn. She was almost curious enough to get out of bed. Almost. That light bulb trick was only good once a year; no sense in wasting it.
Suddenly, a beautiful, terrifying, enchanting note rang out, something that called to her even as its mezzosoprano note filled her with fear. That did it. She was totally going to see what was happening, even if it meant she had to take that tes--
"Come to me, Songmistress," an unearthly voice sang in her ear, in her mind.
"I come, O Herald," Zoe mechanically responded as she rose from her bed and walked into the hallway.
