AN: This is a "sequel" to the Casts' Tempted that I wrote prior to the release of Burned. I do not own The House of Night Series.
Stark
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no…" He clutched her body closer to his chest, rocking back and forth. "No, no, no, no, no." He had seen her, just a moment ago, alive and now… now her eyes were blank, just a shell.
"Stark?" Darius's voice. "Stark, we need to move her." Stark continued to shake his head, rocking her back and forth like a small child.
"Zoey? Come on, please, please wake up…" he begged, "Zoey please?" His voice cracked. "Come on Z. You and I aren't finished yet; we still have our whole lives. Please Z, please just wake up. Please?" But Zoey's face remained blank, unmoving. Stark's vision swam as the tears welled up. "Please Zoey?" he begged in a voice so beaten he didn't recognize it. But it was useless, and he knew it. He had felt her soul shatter like glass; he felt his failure to save her.
He looked at her, begging for some hint that he was wrong, that she was in there and any second she would hear him and come back. Her hair was half strewn across her face, her mouth slightly open, but her eyes… goddess! Those beautiful hazel eyes were empty. The mischievous glint at the mention of brown pop was gone, the fire that burned when she was angry was extinguished, it was the blank cold stare of a familiar stranger.
He felt a strong hand on his shoulder and looked up into Darius's face. "Warrior, I know that you grieve, but Zoey is still alive. And if we want to save her she needs to be moved into the high council's chamber." All Stark could do was nod numbly and climb to his feet. Darius quietly offered to take her, but Stark had failed her so he figured he owed her at least this decency.
If I hadn't have ran off like a moron she might still be here. He looked down into her eyes again, willing her to come back. Stark looked around at Zoey's friends: Aphrodite kneeled on the ground beside him with the same vacant expression, her mouth agape. The twins were sobbing quietly while Damien comforted Jack. Darius pulled the shocked-silent Aphrodite up and half dragged her back inside with the group trailing slowly behind him.
He knew he was walking, following Darius's footsteps, but as to any general direction or scenery, Stark was oblivious. They encountered the same guard from earlier, who at first opening his mouth to make a remark to Stark about finally finding his lady, quickly shut it upon assessing the situation. The difference was instantaneous. His face turned grave and serious, and after one quick nod of his head he said, "I shall summon the council immediately," then turned on his heel and marched down an empty corridor.
When they reached the chamber, Stark laid her limp body gently on the council's table. Settling into one of the chairs, he let his head fall on the cold surface beside her and clutched at her hand like a drowning man. That's what it feels like, he thought.
"Oh goddess!" Erce strode up to the front of the room, Duantia on her heels. "What happened?" She pushed up her sleeves, her face suddenly all business.
"Kalona" Stark's voice was barely a whisper. "Her soul shattered because Kalona killed her consort, Heath." Because I was a moron, and left her. Because I failed to be a decent warrior.
"Her tattoos are gone." Duantia eyes were huge; she looked as if someone had just sucker punched her in the stomach.
"I need exact details. Tell me word for word what happened?" Erce's medical voice chimed in. Darius, sensing the other warrior's distress, recounted the tale Stark had told him earlier.
"And then Kalona flew off…" he finished.
"I have honestly heard of very few cases such as this, and those that I have heard of were not very successful." Erce said bluntly. "But I believe that there might be a chance of her survival, but speed is of the essence. Zoey's body will only last about seven days tops. After that, her body will become too weak and she will reject the change."
"How do we get her back from the Otherworld?" Stark's voice was still no higher than a mumble.
"I believe one of you will have to go in after her."
"How?" Aphrodite finally spoke from within the circle of Darius's arms. Her eyes were red and puffy; a few tears still ran their path down her face.
"It is not a question of how to get there, but a question of how to return. Of that I do not know."
"I'll go," Stark spoke from his spot next to Zoey.
"Warrior, it is unwise for you to take this on with no knowledge of how to return." Leave it to Darius to always be reasonable.
"I'll find a way to bring her back." Or die trying, he though ironically.
Stark stood and gathered his bow and arrow, aiming it at the wall beside them. Wouldn't it be just my luck if somehow I managed to hit someone, he thought bitterly. What to aim for though? If he went for his heart, there would be no returning. He had never aimed for a soul before, but there's a first time for everything I guess. He pulled the chord back and thought desperately about his own soul.
"Stark, no!" Darius lunged forward, but it was too late. Stark heard the familiar twang of the bow and the whoosh of the arrow as his fingers released the taut line. The arrow flew a few feet and the shimmered, reappearing in front of him. He felt the blow hurdle through his body. There was no pain, just an odd snipping sensation he assumed was his soul being snatched from his body. Sure enough, moments later Stark opened his eyes to see his own body on the floor of the chamber he had been in moments ago.
