Realms Apart - Chapter One - I Have Seen Your Heart, and It Will Be Mine

That victorious feeling Kalona had felt when he was able to reveal to Neferet that he wasn't bound by their oath, aswell as being able to withold why this was and the price it had cost him was short lived.

Of course he was overjoyed to be free from the clutches of Neferet, but the power-seeking side of him knew only too well that he had transformed a powerful ally into an even more powerful enemy: The Tsi Sgilli Queen. He also hadn't failed to notice that the tendrils of Darkness she influenced had grown more plentiful and malevolent since his absence. He also realised what danger this was to Zoey Redbird.

When Nyx had banished his spirit from her realm, he had found it increasingly difficult to enter Zoey's dreams. Whenever he attempted to draw her essence to him, like he had done so many times before, all he met was an elemental barrier within the otherworld, preventing him from contacting Zoey. It was as if Nyx herself was keeping guardian of Zoeys mind when it was at its most vulnerable. Whatever the cause or purpose of the elemental barrier was, it would prove counterproductive for Zoey today and despite the aversion to the earth he had developed since the Ghigua women had trapped him there for centuries, Kalona was to find Zoey Redbird.

~ Kalona ~

I entered the tulsa tunnels, fiercely ignoring the feeling that my soul was screaming at me to take to the sky and never come back, fearing entrapment again. But I had had enough of elemental barriers. I needed to see Zoey. My soul had been bonded to A-ya's for so long that I knew I could overcome the pain if I wanted to. I purposely strode towards A-ya's room, a dead end tunnel with a dark sheet tossed over the entrance, for privacy, I imagine. But not from me. She can be safe from all others, except me. I peeled back the sheet and felt my breath catch as my eyes found her face. It was peaceful in sleep, so unlike the last time I had seen her, tainted with pain and loss. Her dark hair was regally swept back across the pillow and the full magnificence of her onyx eyes was hidden from me by her delicate eyelids. I stood watching her for a while, reveling that she wasn't returning a scowl or a look laced with anger or worse – hate. I was so fixated on my A-ya that at first I didn't notice him. That was, until my A-ya shivered and he tightened his arms around her. Jealously speared through my heart, knocking my breath away.

James Stark. The words left a bitter taste on my tongue. He was the thing preventing my A-ya from loving me. I know I would be better for A-ya because she was created to love me and I would protect her from anyone. Stark can't even stand in sunlight. I knew this because Rephai-Rephaim. Anger filled my mind and my hands clenched into fists. Never had I thought that one of my own children would be so disloyal and turn their back on me, choosing a vampyre over their own father. Never. Yet I was wrong. Rephaim had joined the Red One and the path of Nyx, but not before he had given me important information about the red vampyres and fledglings. Information which was proving very useful now in my new quest for the future. Jealously and anger produced a dangerous cocktail which made my blood boil. That was when I made my decision. A-ya is mine and I wasn't going to share. My voice barely a whisper, I spoke the vows which would bring me closer to my A-ya.

"I have long been aquainted with Darkness. I command you to bind my soul." Darkness circled Kalona, hissing the price he would have to pay for it to complete his task. Kalona's eyes widened but he gave a stiff nod of approval as the Darkness slithered towards him. I watched as the sticky tendrils of Darkness latched on to Zoey and I forming a thick web between us. Darkness was fashioning a bond so powerful and intricate that it was more intense than an imprint and more pernament than a warrior's oath. The bond was binding our souls together, strengthening my spirit bond with A-ya but also fashioning a new one for A-ya's present and future: Zoey Redbird. As the bond was branded to our souls, a searing pain spread across the inside of my wrist. It was almost unbearable as I fought to stay silent. When the bond was completed the pain reatreated as quickly as it had come. The bond was complete. I was bound to my A-ya through her present self, Zoey Redbird. I leant over her sleeping body and stared at her beautiful sapphire marks. I inched closer to my A-ya, when her lids flew open and I met her her alarmed onyx eyes.

~ Zoey Redbird ~

After an icy breeze had swept over me feeling like it was literally chilling my blood my lids flew open to meet glinting amber eyes. A jolt of shock shuddered though my body. There was only one who had amber eyes and I had known who it would be even before I registered that his manificent wings were held proudly behind him. Panic whipped through me this time. Kalona? But we were underground? In the earth? It was safe? Jumble and unanswered questions swirled around my head and I blinked. My eyes opened again, but only to find nothing was there. I had barely a moment to think about it as I heard shouting and frantic footsteps rushing through the tunnels towards me.

Author's Note: So there was the first chapter! I hope you liked it – but I just wanted to give a massive thankyou to everyone who added 'Realms Apart' to their story updates and an even bigger thankyou to cookievb123 and AnnieHonson who gave me my first two reviews! They really made me smile and write faster, so thanks!