In my dream the Island was so blue and beautiful it dazzled me. I was standing on... a castle roof! A really old castle by the look of it as well. The roof space was massive, and the only barrier was the stone teeth around the edges. Fruit trees round the bottom of the garden, this was heaven! The beauty took my breath away.
I walked slowly to the opposite edge of the roof and looked down at the glistening blue sea. Then that moment it dawned on me I wasn't alone. I couldn't turn around to look at him to look at kalona after that memory...He was so tempting. At that moment he said " So, my little A-ya it seems I cannot escape you even when I flee your presence", my body froze at his voice I wasn't shocked just their was something about him that just...his voice interrupted my thought's. "I've been waiting for you, my A-ya" he paused " It seems you are sleeping alone. Were you someone else it would be more difficult for you to be touched by me." That was it I'd had enough, "That is none of your business!" I said. "Yes you are correct. All of these sons of man who swarm around you , eager to bask in your presence, are completely beneath my concern." I didn't bother to make a issue about him twisting my words. I was too busy trying to wake up. "You chase me away yet you find me in your dreams. What does that say about you A-ya?"
"THAT IS NOT MY NAME! Not in this lifetime!"
"Not in this lifetime you say, that means you've accepted you were fashioned by the Ani Yunwiya to love me. Maybe that's why you keep coming to me in your dreams,because even though your waking mind resists me, your soul, your spirit, your very essence yearns to be with me." I knew the truth of the legend and I knew very well I was the reincarnation of A-ya, and Kalona couldn't resist A-ya.
Truth I reminded myself use the truth!
"Yes" I admitted " I know I am the reincarnation of A-ya." I drew in deep breath and slowly turned around to face kalona. He was so beautiful, Mesmerizing. As usual he was totally under dressed he was only wearing jeans and the sun was glistening of his bronze chest . I continued to talk "But I am today's reincarnation of her, which mean I make my own choices."he stared into my eyes lovingly and said "I know" those two simple words were the most seductive thing he'd ever said...I know. He continued " You and I will either be each other salvation or each other doom." "which shall it be? Salvation or doom?"
"I can only speak for myself." I made my voice stay calm,and was even able to add a touch of sarcasm to it, though I could feel the cool stone of the balcony balustrade pressing against my back like the walls of a prison cell against my back. "but both sound pretty bad. Salvation? Jeesh, you're reminding me of the People of Faith, and since they consider you a fallen angel, that's doesn't make you much of an expert on salvation. Doom? Well, seriously, you're still reminding me of the People of Faith. Since when did you become so boringly religious?"
in two steps he closed the gap between us. His arms became bars,caging me between the stone balustrade and him. His wings shivered,opening around him so that he eclipsed the sun with his own dark brilliance. I could feel the terrible ,wonderful chill that always emanated from him. It should have repelled me, but it didn't . that awful coldness drew me at a soul deep level. I wanted to press myself against him and be carried away by the sweet pain he could bring .
"Boring? Little A-ya, my lost love, for centuries mortals have been calling me many things, but boring is not one of them."
Kalona towered over me. There was just so much of him! And there was all that naked skin... I wrenched my gaze from his chest and looked up into his eyes. He was smiling down at me, perfectly relaxed and completely in control. He was so darn hot I could hardly breathe. Sure, stark heath and even Erik were cute guys- exceptionally cute guys, actually. But they were nothing compared to Kalona's immortal beauty. He was a masterpiece, the statue of a god that personified physical Perfection, only he was even more attractive because he was alive-he was here-he was here for me.
"I-I want you to step back" I tried unsuccessfully to keep my voice from shaking.
"Is that truly what you want, Zoey?"
His use of my name jolted through me, affecting me much more than when he called me A-ya. My finger's pressed hard into the stone of the castles I tried to ground myself and not fall under his spell. I drew a deep breath and got ready to lie and tell him yes, I sure as hell did want him to step back.
Use the power of truth. The words whispered through my mind. What was the truth? That I had to fight myself not to leap into his arms? That I couldn't stop thinking about A-ya's surrender to him? Or that other truth- that I wished I was just a normal kid whose most stressful problems were homework and mean girls?
Tell the Truth.
I blinked. I could tell the truth.
"Right now what I really want is to sleep. I want to be normal. I want to worry about school and paying my car insurance and how stupidly expensive gas is right now. And I'd seriously appreciate it if you could do anything about those things" I held his gaze with my own, letting that one sliver of truth lend me strength.
His smile was young and mischievous. "Why don't you come to me, Zoey?"
"Well see, that wouldn't actually give me any of those thing's I just mentioned."
"I could give you so much more than those mundane things."
"Yeah I'm sure you could, but none of it would be normal, and right now what I'd truly like more than anything is a very big dose of normal."
He met my gaze, and I could tell that he was waiting for me to falter, for me t get all nervous or even worse panic. But I had told him the truth, and that was a small shining victory for me, one that lent me power. It was Kalona who finally looked away,Kalona who vice was suddenly halting and unsure. "I don't have to be like this. For you, I could be more." his eyes met mine again. "I could choose a different path were you by my side."
I tried not to show the flood of emotions his words had caused within me as he touched the part of me that A-ya had awakened.
Find the truth,my mind insisted; and gain, I found it and spoke it. "I wish I could believe you, but I don't . You're gorgeous and magical , but your also a liar. I don't trust you."
"but you could," he said
" No" I said honestly "I don't think I could"
"try give me a chance. Come to me let me prove myself to you. Truly, my love, say one small word yes." He bent and in a movement that was graceful and strong and Seductive, the fallen immortal whispered into my ear, allowing his lips to only brush my skin enough to send chills skittering through my body. "Give yourself to me and I promise I will fulfil your deepest dreams."
My breath was coming fast and I pressed my palms harder against the stone against my back. At that instant, I only wanted to say one word...yes. I knew what would happen if I did. I'd already experienced that kind of surrender through A-ya.
He chuckled, a sound that was deep and confident. " go on my lost love. One word yes, and your life will be changed forever."
His lips weren't by my ear any more. Instead his gaze had captured mine again. He was smiling into my eyes. He was young and perfect, powerful and kind.
And I wanted to say yes so badly I was afraid to speak.
"Love me" He murmured. " Love only me."
Through my desire for him my mind processed what he was saying, and finally I found another word apart from yes, Neferet... but I couldn't say it so I replied "yes"
Kalona pulled me into his embrace kissing me and desire passed through me. "I knew you would come to your senses Zoey."
Then Nyx's voice appeared in my head, What have you done you stupid girl! I KNOW YOU LOVE HIM AND I KNOW ITS HARD BUT SEE REASON! She paused I see how this can work to your advantage...stay with him and think what to do. She left my head and I felt a strange burning round my legs I looked down... I had another mark? Its was of Kalona.