AN: Of course I don't own or claim to own any of the Casts' amazing characters and situations..

I really hope you enjoy my story!

BTW: This is right after the end of the real Burned. I couldn't wait, so I've decided to start the next book on my own xD

R&R ;)

Awakened

Stark

Zoey said it was all over. Stark wanted to believe that with all of his heart, but he knew it was nowhere close to being done. Not with Kalona and Neferet still at large. Well, if Kalona got back to the real world. There was no room for hope in his brain that Kalona would be trapped, he knew Kalona's body and soul was banished from Nyx's realm. He could only hope Crazy One and Crazy Two would let Zoey have a normal life surrounded by her loved ones for at least a little while. Well. Not all of her loved ones. Heath….

He didn't want to think about him right now.

Stark was in so much pain. He knew he needed to be strong and reassuring for Zoey, like in Nyx's grove just moments ago. Everything just hurt so much. Even though he'd made it back to his body he knew he wouldn't live much longer if the pain didn't stop soon.

"Why won't he wake up? He is there, isn't he?" Stark heard a familiar panicked voice.

"He's there Z, trust me. I can sense him." Another familiar, yet bitchy voice responded to the first.

"What do you mean, 'sense him'?" Zoey responded.

"What I mean, is that there is more to being a Prophetess than just getting those lousy visions everyone knows I love so much. As in, I can sense whether or not someone's soul is in their body. And Stark is definitely there" She said as she pulled her hand away from his wrist. It was pretty clear voice #2 was Aphrodite.

"Well then why won't he respond?" Zoey said, frustrated.

"He's probably in a lot of pain. What with being turned into hamburger and all" Aphrodite said in a voice filled with her usual sarcasm. Stark felt Zoey's irritation level rise. Aphrodite had the ability to do that to pretty much everyone. Except Darius that is.

Stark heard Zoey mumble something indiscernible. Then suddenly he was filled with strength that he knew could have only come from Zoey summoning spirit to aid him.

Well it'd worked alright. He already felt a little better and had a clearer sense of everything he hadn't felt a moment ago.

"Water, fire, earth, air and spirit, come to me." Zoey was summoning all of the elements. Was he really worth all of this? He was her Warrior, her Guardian. He should be protecting her, not the other way around. But right now, he was the one who needed saving.

"Please, my elements, my five dependable forces Nyx has blessedme with the ability to control. I need some help. My Warrior/Guardian is seriously wounded and he needs assistance. Strengthen him; fill him with your energy you have let me use so many times before." Stark could feel Zoey absorbing power. Before he had been aware of her, but not as much as now. He could sense more than her feelings…it was hard to explain but he knew there was more of a connection between them before they had ventured to the Otherworld.

He knew Zoey was powerful. But maybe, just maybe, she'd gotten stronger after their experience in Nyx's realm. He was feeling better. A lot better. Obviously Seoras had been slicing away at him for who knows how long, and Stark had accepted that he'd probably be scarred for life, not just mentally, but physically. Anything to get Zoey back.

Stark was vaguely aware of the silence that had come over the group of people in the room. He heard a few sharp gasps. He was confused, was he dying again? He decided to try and open his eyes to investigate for himself.

What he saw shocked him. Moments ago, Aphrodite had said he looked like hamburger meat. Bitch. Kind of. Obviously he couldn't have looked that great after having Sgiach's Guardian hacking at him for so long. But when he looked down at his body, all he saw was naked, unblemished skin. All of his scars and marks had disappeared, along with the bloody mess Seoras had left there. Was this all Zoey's doing? Did she have healing abilities like Neferet? She must. How else could he look and feel so good after almost dying moments ago.

Then he realized something. Where was Zoey? He knew she was in the room. He could feel her presence. But as he looked around at all the faces, he couldn't find the one his heart truly loved. He searched inside himself, searching for her. She was drained, he could tell very simply. Maybe she'd fallen on the ground? He didn't like to think of her laying on the ground in pain because of him. He jumped up immediately and scanned the floor around the stone he had been laying on.

She wasn't there. A sigh of relief escaped his lips. He continued his search of the entire room, paying closer attention this time.

There she was! He felt stupid for not noticing her before! She was in Darius' arms. I guess she really had fallen. Obviously his fellow Warrior wasn't going to just let her collapse onto the hard stone floor that didn't look too comfortable for his queen. He still couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy at seeing her in the arms of another man.

"Well don't you look healthy and non-burger-like" Aphrodite commented sarcastically.

"If that's your way of saying 'welcome back' then thanks." Stark replied without taking his eyes from Zoey's unconscious body. He couldn't stand it any longer. He strode over to where Darius stood and gave him the look that said 'I'll take it from here.' He reached for her.

"Before you make your reunion with your queen that I know all of you have waited for so eagerly, there are a few things we need to speak of, Guardian." Sgiach's voice suddenly broke the spell Zoey had placed over him just by being there, breathing and very much a soul and body combo.

"Alright, what do we need to discuss? But first I'd like to say thank you, I never would have gotten Zoey back without your help." Stark placed his fist over his heart and bowed in respect to the Warrior queen.

Sgiach smiled, "I had nothing to do with it, and you completed your quest of your own doing. You, young Guardian are off to a good start with you and your queen's future relationship." Stark noticed how she put a slight emphasis on the word 'relationship' that obviously nobody else took note of.

"I would also like to know if you and your friends are planning on staying very much longer. You see, me and my warriors have a tournament of sorts we need to start within the next few days." Sgiach added with a devilish smile that meant this was obviously a bloody sort of entertainment they probably didn't need to witness.

"Well Zoey obviously isn't really up for much travel at the moment so I think we should stay and rest, at least a day or two longer, and then we'll be out of your royal hair." Again, Stark put his fist over his heart to show his new respect he held for this beastly queen of warriors.

"That is acceptable." Sgiach snapped her fingers, signaling towards one of the warriors that had been watching silently in the shadows of the majestic throne room. "Take these women and their Warriors to their chambers."

Without wanting to wait a moment longer, Stark took Zoey into his arms and followed the Warrior, feeling Aphrodite and Darius close behind. He didn't care what happened next, all he cared about at that moment was the Zoey, his queen; his love was in his arms, safe and whole. He was feeling more honorable and fulfilled than he had in days.

AN: Alright. End of Chapter One.

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