PROLOGUE
Aurox
For a moment everything shimmered in silver. Just like the power of the elements, the silver mist covering the skin of the bull was overwhelming. He felt a sting deep within and then his body began shifting… then… there he stood. The boy who had been there before, watching, observing.. until tendrils of Darkness had forced him into an action, an attack he hadn't intended.
"Stay away from him!" Stevie Rae snarled at me with hands glowing green, resembling more a Goddess of Wrath than the Red High Priestess she was. Behind her on the floor my eyes found Rephaim, motionless, blood streaming down his face. Slowly it began to dawn on me…it had been me. It wasn't what I had wanted, it wasn't what I had chosen. I couldn't even remember doing that to Rephaim but obviously it must have been me. Or at least some part of me, some part of me I couldn't control. Everybody was staring at me, all kinds of emotions were flaring around me… fear, hate, disdain. And in Stevie Rae's eyes there was fury and a hint of despair. I had to look away from her. I glanced around. With shock I noticed Dragon Lankford lying on the floor, too. What an unnatural position, blood trickling from his mouth, his arms, his legs, his right leg was ripped open so wide you could see the bone in a mess of flesh. Was that me, as well? Did I really do that to him?
"No!" I shouted. I hadn't done this. Surely I would remember it, if I had. Thanatos had told me I could do what I chose. I had not chosen this!
"No! Zoey!" She was the only one I could talk to. She would understand. She would have to understand.
"I chose a different future, I did! I chose a new future!"
Suddenly, before I could feel my own feelings, others invaded. Stark and Darius approached me, filled with fear for their priestess and prophetess, mixed with rage and anger. I didn't want to feed from this feelings, had not intended to use them to fuel another change, but I couldn't help it. All I could do was repeat the words over and over..
"I chose a new future.." Before the bull took over again, all of a sudden I heard Zoey Redbird's voice:
"Heath!" Without actually knowing why, I turned my half-bull, half-boy head and met her eyes. Everything happened fast-forward then. All I knew, suddenly a huge green wall of energy emerged in front of me protecting me from the attacking warriors. But before I could think about it for a second, all consciousness vanished and the bull won.
The only half-conscious memory I have: Zoey is only an inch away from me – my horns directed at her heart – my body storming in her direction. NOOOOO!
And then… everything went black. The next thing I knew was I was alone in a field of lavender, far away from everything. Every being, every external feeling. Just me – a boy, confused and empty.