Here's my version of Burned!
Chapter 1
Stark
"I could have saved her," he said looking at Aphrodite with tears running down his face.
"I could have."
"There was nothing you could have done to save her," she said putting her hand on his shoulder.
"No I could have if I haven't acted like a jerk and walked off she would have been alive right now," he yelled and started to cry again.
"We have to get her to the infirmary," Darius spoke strong but you could tell the sadness in his voice.
"I don't want to let her go," Stark spoke so sadly it almost came as a whisper.
"Neither do we," Damien said softly.
"Yea we don't want to let her go either but there's nothing we can do," Erin replied.
"No matter how much we love her," Shaunee spoke replying to Erin.
"I can't," Stark said again in a whisper.
"She is still breathing," Darius said touching Zoey's wrist, "but if we get her to the infirmary she can get well."
"Ok Stark," Aphrodite said ignoring how everybody was surprised by how she used his name.
"Ok," he whispered.
He picked her up wedding style and started walking her to the infirmary with tears dripping on her torso.
"I love you Zoey I always will no matter what," Stark said so softly that nobody heard him. They arrived in the infirmary in a couple of minutes. Everybody was silent until they met a member of the council. She was a beautiful tall slender woman that looked about twenty years old with long black silk-like hair that went down to her waist.
"May I help you," she asked, "My name is Achlys a member of the council I've heard about the accident with Zoey I am very sorry."
"She is still breathing can you help her," Aphrodite asked.
"Maybe we can I'm not sure the only High Priestess healer we have is Neferet," she replied, "I will go get her."
"No! I mean its ok is there anything you can do without getting Neferet," Aphrodite asked with way to much worry in her voice.
"Yes we can probably treat her, but it would take her longer to heal are you sure that you don't want me to get Neferet," Achlys asked.
"No we are sure," Erin said.
"Positive," Shaunee replied.
"Ok, then lay her down right here," Achlys said pointing at a bed by the west wall of the infirmary. Stark brought her over to the bed that Achlys said to put her on. He traced the now empty crescent moon on her forehead. Then leaned down slowly and kissed it.
"Do you really believe that Kalona is Erebus come to earth," Damien said slowly making sure not to startle her with his questioning. She turned to Damien and let out a long sigh.
"No, I do not believe that he is Erebus," Achlys said being careful to choose her words right, "I can sense the evil in him no matter how hard he tries to cover it up."
"Do the other members of the council believe him," Jack asked almost crying.
"Unfortunately they do," Achlys answered.
"Then how in the hell are we going to convince them that he is an evil Fallen Angel," Aphrodite said with her usual haggish attitude.
"Shut up and let her talk," Shaunee yelled.
"Yea hag," Erin finished.
"You guys I don't think this is a good time to be arguing," Damien said softly.
Stark sat by Zoey side watching her as she slept. He was horrified by how he could have saved her if he wouldn't have acted like a jerk and walked away like an idiot.
"Stark let the Priestess sleep she need her rest," Darius told him. Stark followed the rest out the room and stopped to see Achlys.
"Please tell me if she wakes up," he asked.
"I will," she replied.
Zoey
"Heath what do you mean I don't belong here you're the one that is dead," I asked him loudly. Heath cocked his head to the side like he was confused.
"I know I'm dead but you're not so what are you doing in the otherworld?" I thought about it and thought about how when Loren died it hurt me so bad, which must have happened with me. Ohmygod. I'm dead. When Heath died it hurt me so bad I died, but I don't feel dead but maybe that's why I feel so good I looked at my hand. Oh. My. God. Where are all my tattoos I turned my head and looked at my shoulder and of course my tattoos weren't there.
"Zo, are you ok," Heath asked waving his hand in front of my eyes.
I got back from my own little tattoo crisis and said "Yea I'm ok."
"Zo, you need to get back to your world," Heath said.
"But what about you?"
"Like I said Zo I'm happy here."
"I don't want to leave you here."
"You have to Zo!" Heath said, "Call upon your Goddess now."
"But I don't want to leave you here," I repeated stubbornly.
"You have to Zo," Heath repeated.
"I'm not leaving you here Heath!" I yelled way too loudly.
"Zo like I said earlier I'm happy here," Heath replied gently compared to my yelling, "You want me to be happy right?"
"Yea, yea I do."
"Then it would make me happier if you went out there and kick some Kalona and Neferet butt." I smiled at how happy he looked.
"Ok," he asked.
"Ok," I replied.
"Then call upon Nyx," he said. He went back to where he was sitting at the pond.
"Ok Nyx I never called you to come to me, I only called upon you to speak to me so here it goes." I took a deep sigh and looked up at the beautiful blue sky and I sat down on the feathery grass.
"Nyx please tell me or come to me whichever one you want and show me how to get back home."
A couple seconds I called upon all the elements and they came swirling around me I forgot about Heath, Stark, Erik, Kalona, Neferet, and all of my friends and just focused on the elements and Nyx. Then a bright light appeared in the goddesses shape.
"Nyx," I yelled with tears in my eyes.
"Yes u-we-tsi-a-ge-ya, it is I," Nyx said looking more beautiful than ever.
"How do I get back home," I asked with excitement in my voice.
"Zoeybird I will take you home but it can only be you," she said softly.
"I understand," I said ignoring the sadness of leaving Heath behind that was growing in the back of my throat.
"Ok Zoeybird are you ready?" She asked and I nodded and before I could blink I saw a white flash of light.
Stark
Stark felt her. He felt her wake up. He got up out of the bed slipped some jeans on and ran out the door running to the infirmary and slowed down at the door. Achlys was sitting in an office talking to some other council members. Stark walked over to the bed were Zoey was lying and rubbed his hand against her arm.
"I love you Zoey," he said quietly. He kissed her hand and sat in the chair next to her bed.
"I thought you were going to sleep for the night," Achyls said walking into the room.
"Nah, I can't sleep with knowing Zoey is hurt," he replied.
"Oh ok well feel free to read any of the magazines," she said, "You can turn on the TV but I would rather you not because she needs her rest."
"Ok," he replied, "good night."
"Good night," she called back. He held Zoey's hand and watched her sleep for about an hour then fell asleep himself. He woke up two hours later then started to read sports illustrated he flipped a couple of pages and read "Tragic birthday of the death of world famous archer William Chidsey" He closed the book and tried to hide the pain that he was felling even though there was no one there except sleeping Zoey. He laid back and tried to go to sleep but all he could think about was when he saw Kalona snap Heath's neck he noticed he couldn't think about going to sleep if that was all he could think about. He sat back in the chair and thought about how happy he would be when Zoey woke up.
Zoey
When I woke up the first thing I saw was Stark sitting there looking at nothing in particular.
"Stark," I said as loud as I could but it still came out as a scratchy whisper (which is very unattractive at that).
"Zoey!" he said excitingly grabbing his phone out of his back pocket.
"No, don't call them," I whispered.
"But Zoey they're your friends they would kill me if I don't."
"Just blame it on me ok," I replied.
"Ok my Lady," he answered, "Can I at least get Achlys?"
"Who?"
"She is a member of the council that lives in the room next to the infirmary," he answered.
"Oh ok, I guess," I whispered with some of my voice coming back. He ran to the room next to the infirmary and knocked on the door.
"Who is it," Achlys called from behind the door.
"It's me Zoey is awake," Stark replied. Achlys opened up the door and walked to infirmary.
"Hello Zoey," Achlys spoke like we met before.
"Hi," I said not know what else to say, "You must be Achlys?"
"Yes, yes I am," she said. I don't know how I didn't notice it when she first walked in but she is breathtakingly beautiful her long black hair was silky down to her waist and she looked about twenty but she is probably going on her two hundredth year. I stopped mind babbling just long enough to notice that I was staring at her like I was a psychotic moron.
"How are you felling," Achlys asked.
"Alright, I guess," I answered, "I feel like I slept for like three days straight."
"Well are you tired," Achlys asked.
"No not really, can I go backed to my room?"
"Sure but make sure you get some sleep ok," She answered.
Stark helped me up to my feet. I swayed a little but got my balance back in a few seconds. We walked to the room and got there pretty fast. I opened my door and sat on my bed with Stark sitting next to me looking like his mom had just died.
"Are you ok," I asked gently being careful not to startle him.
"Ok yea I'm fine," he said sarcastically.
"What's the matter," I asked sadly because I already knew what he was going to say next.
"You scared me," he said so softly I could barely hear him.
"I know and I'm sorry."
"You deserve a better warrior than me."
"It doesn't matter what I deserve or don't deserve, I want you."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Why, why would you want a warrior that failed you?"
"You didn't fail me."
"Yea I could have saved you and Heath."
"No you couldn't have done anything Kalona could have killed you too and I couldn't stand to lose both of you," I said, "And stop saying you failed me because you didn't ok!"
"Ok," he answered, "Can I tell you something?"
"Anything," I said.
"Promise you won't laugh," he asked looking uncomfortable.
"Promise now what," I said eagerly.
He turned and looked at me then slid his hand into mine and twined our fingers together. He looked at me with a twinkle in his eyes.
"I love you Zoey," Stark said looking like he just posted that he was gay (which he is totally not) on MySpace.
"Stark are you sure you mean it with me almost dying," I started to say before I realized that he was serious.
"I'm sure," he said looking like I have slapped him in the face.
"Well Stark I don't know what to say."
"Say you love me too, I know you care about me," he replied.
"I do, I do love you Stark."
"I do too and I can't stand to lose you."
"Me neither, I couldn't live without you Stark and that's why we have to stay away from Kalona and Neferet."
"Ok," he said even though it wasn't a question. He slid over next to me cupped my face in his hand. "I'm glad your back."
"Me too," I replied.
"So…… are you sleeping alone tonight," he asked.
"Huh, and have Kalona get in my dreams again not likely," I said sarcastically.
"Ok I guess I'm the only guy left here so are you ready to go to sleep because I'm tired."
"I suppose but that's not funny I already miss Heath."
"It's ok he's happy," Stark replied. Apparently he saw the pain in my eyes because he leaned across and whispered in my ear "Don't worry everything's ok." Then kissed me so gently as if he thought I might break. I nodded and laid down on my side of the bed facing his side "are you ok?" he asked lying down on his side of the bed. "Yea I'm fine," I replied. He got under the blanket and put his arm around me and pulled me closer to him. "Good night," he told me "good night," I replied.
Zoey
When I got up in the morning I felt all over somewhat better, Stark was sitting next to me watching TV totally nonchalant about everything else. I sat up and wiped my eyes off with my hands and yawned.
"Good morning/night," Stark said looking well refreshed.
"Good morning/night," I said yawning.
He leaned over and kissed me on the forehead. I leaned over and laid my head on his chest. He put his arm across me and again pulled me closer.
"You know we can't stay here forever," I said.
"I'm very aware my Lady."
"How did you sleep," I asked him.
"Good, you?"
"Alright," I replied.
"We better get dressed," he said.
"Yep," I replied getting up and ready to get dressed when Stark pulled me in his arms and kissed me. The kiss was filled with sweetness and passion and it took my breath away. I stopped kissing him smiled then went to get dressed. When I looked in the mirror I expected to see a plain empty crescent on my forehead and instead I had all my tattoos back I was so excited I screamed. Stark ran in the bathroom and sighed when he saw that I was ok. "I got my tattoos back!" I said enthusiastically. "Why do you scream like that when you know I'm going to come running in?" He asked. "Sorry," I answered. "It's ok.