Hey everyone, sorry for the super late update! I have final exams next week, so I've been busying studying and stuff. Urgh. But anyways, the new chapter is up! I hope you all enjoy it and don't forget to review! ^-^ ~Meg


Erik didn't let go of Zoey's body for what seemed like hours until Damien finally rested his hand on his shoulder. Erik looked up, his eyes red and puffy from extensive sobs and cries. He blinked, wiped his nose with his sleeve and mentally shook himself. He tried to keep from looking at his dead girlfriend's corpse, but he couldn't help himself.

Zoey's body was twisted and demented, her eyes still slightly open and still dripping with the remnants of blood that hadn't gotten a chance to escape her still warm body. Her overall facial expression was content, pleased almost. Almost as if she were glad she had got to leave so early, had got to cast all her worries away and leave him all alone... Erik felt another wave of tears start to come, but Damien's gentle nudge kept him from losing it.

He turned to face the boy, the Twins and Aphrodite standing behind him. The Twins were wiping snot from their noses, still whimpering. Damien himself was flushed pink and his face was damp, but the tears had clearly stopped rolling down minutes ago. Erik shifted his gaze to Aphrodite. His old girlfriend was the only one who hadn't cried, the only one who had been strong enough to fight back her emotions. Erik felt like he had failed his job as the man of the group.

He stood up, taking a deep breath and slowly letting go of Zoey's hand. His stomach clenched so hard he had to grind his teeth together when he let go. Her hand, elegant and beautiful, fell limply off the side of the bed, swinging for a moment before freezing in place. He almost expected her to open one eye and laugh at him for thinking she'd ever leave him. His lower lip quivered, but he gradually turned to face the rest of the group.

"We should call Neferet," he said weakly, not looking at anyone in particular.

"Already taken care of. She should, she should be here in a moment. Jack went to get her," Damien murmured.

Erik blinked. He had been so wound up in Zoey's death that he hadn't noticed Jack come in, let alone hear his hysterical sobs, or even notice when he left.

The Twins were clutching each other's hands and looking at Zoey, clearly avoiding looking at her face.

"Do you think," Shaunee began, sniffling.

"She's with Nyx now?" Erin blinked rapidly, keeping more tears from spilling out from behind their blue depths.

Erik nodded more to himself than to the Twins, trying to reassure himself that wherever she was now, she was no longer in pain. He had heard that it was excruciatingly painful to go through the rejection of the Change even with the medicine Neferet gave, but without it? Erik shivered visibly; terrified at the thought of how much pain Zoey must have been in. And all he could do was sit by her side and let her squeeze his hand. His heart ached at the thought of being so helpless.

His mind shifted to Neferet and the red fledglings and Stevie Rae. A few nights ago they had found out about Stevie Rae and her fledglings via Zoey herself. That was the night they had turned their back on her. Aphrodite had lost her Mark in order to give Stevie Rae her humanity back. Is it possible that Zoey would become a red fledgling with Stevie Rae? If that was true, then Neferet had to take her away from him... And even worse, Zoey would be a monster before she realized who she was and more importantly, what she was.

But Erik wasn't sure. All the students that had become red fledglings had died with the help of Neferet's concoctions in their system. What if that was the only way to turn them into a red fledgling? Was there no hope of him ever seeing Zoey again, to be able to brush her hair off her face, to kiss her so gently she barely felt it?

There was a small noise from behind him and Erik looked up to see Neferet standing directly behind him, her eyes blank of emotion. The corner of her mouth curled upward ever so slightly in the faintest of smiles, but as soon as it had appeared it was gone.

"Erik..." Neferet said softly and swiftly, "Please give me some space."

Erik nodded solemnly, rage starting to form in the pit of his stomach and disperse the gloom that had enveloped his heart. He didn't want anyone to touch her; he didn't want anybody to mess with her fragile body. But nonetheless he backed a few steps away but still kept his gaze on Zoey.

Jack had returned, his sobs having turned into nervous hiccups. The Twins and Damien had stopped crying, and were now attempting to dry their faces. Aphrodite was still in silent shock.

Neferet bent down gracefully and took out a damp cloth. She cleaned off Zoey's face until all the blood was wiped clean. She then produced a small vial from her pocket and popped the cap off. She put one hand underneath Zoey's chin and was about to pour the liquid in when Erik interrupted her.

"What is in the vial, High Priestess?"

Neferet turned her head to look at Erik.

"It's to stop the blood from continuing to seep out. It will also help the muscles relax so that her body will remain flexible for a longer period of time.

'Bull shit...' Erik thought. "Yes, High Priestess."

Neferet turned back to Zoey and finished the vial off, pouring it into her mouth. She massaged her neck so as to get the liquid to go down her throat and into her stomach. She then stood up, gathered the girl in her arms, and strode towards the door. She paused for a moment.

"I will be bringing her away, now. You may mourn for two days and then continue your classes. That is all."

Everyone watched Neferet carry Zoey's limp body princess-style away and out of the room. All was silent except for the click of the closing door. One of Jack's nervous hiccups broke the silence.

"I can't believe," Erin said softly.

"She's gone..." Shaunee murmured.

Damien looked at Erik, "Erik, if you ever need to-"

Before he could finish, Erik interrupted. "I'm going downstairs to eat lunch," he said hastily, wiping his eyes with his sleeve before half-running half-tripping out the door.

Damien watched the older guy leave and blinked. He turned his head downcast and fiddled with his hands. Jack scurried up to him and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before holding tightly onto his hand. The Twins joined the group as well and clung to each other and Damien. Aphrodite merely stood beside the group awkwardly.

"Well," she said steadily, voice not cracking at all, "I say we go join Erik for lunch. I'm starved."