Chapter 3

Kalona

"Help me save her."

"Gladly, Kalona."

"How can I do that?"

Return to her what you took."

"But he is dead."

"His body is dead. His soul is not. You don't have much to save him though."

"But how?"

"You must die without dying."

"But I cannot die."

"Let me finish. The price that you must pay is a death within your blood, but you, physically may not die."

Her words made sense to him. He would gladly pay that price for Zoey, but for a human boy that Zoey loved more than him? No, he could not afford to think like this, Zoey's life was too fragile.

"My immortality."

"Yes, Nyx said, flashing him a grim smile.

"Fine. I'll do it. On one condition. I get to protect Zoey. Not as her Warrior, but to protect you in the form of her."

"All right."

Kalona felt a whirling sensation, and found himself kneeling over the human boy, Heath.

All Kalona could feel was someone ripping something out of his soul, his... blood. But Heath was moving, and Kalona knew that what he was doing was right. A scream finally managed to escape his lips, when he saw Zoey trying to attack him. He knew that she would ruin what he was trying to do for her, but he couldn't stop her. Yet somehow, when she came within five yards, Zoey was knocked back.

Kalona tried to help her, to comfort her, but the pain rendered him immobile.

Finally, the pain had subsided. The boy stirred, and Kalona could feel a smile dancing across his lips, but it quickly faded ass he realized something important.

Kalona was no longer an immortal.

Shaunee

Hey sweetie. It's me, Tony. Where are you? Why haven't you been answering my phone calls? Are you trying to break up with me? The voicemail paused, as if Tony was just realizing something. Oh, right, you're in Italy... pretend I didn't say any of that. I finally got used to your schedule, and you changed it! Call me anytime, I'll answer you... unless I'm asleep, but I'll still answer it for you... I love you, bye

Shaunee sighed. She loved Tony, she really did, but she couldn't tell anyone about him because he was human, and humans and fledglings don't mix. Except with Heath and Zoey. But they've known each other since they were little kids. Besides, Zoey was a High Priestess. Shaunee was not.

"What's up twin?" Erin said, jumping into the room. Shaunee wondered how long she'd been there.

"Nothing."

"You look stressed twin. Tell me what it is."

"Nothing. I'm just worried about Zoey." Shaunee thought that she saw Erin's shoulder's drop, something that only happened when she was disappointed. But that couldn't be it. Erin didn't know about Tony.

Shaunee hated lying to Erin. She'd meant to tell her, but every time she tried, she thought of some lie to cover it up.

"Let's walk outside," Erin suggested.

"Okay."

They walked beside each other, as they always did, and Shaunee froze, taking in the sight before her, as Erin began to speak.

"Let's go get Aphrodite."

Stevie Rae

Stevie Rae had to get to Rephaim, but how?

"Stevie Rae, what's wrong?"

"It's Rephaim, he's hurt."

"Stevie Rae, can you give him strength from the Earth?"

"Yeah, sure, but I need to get to him now."

"Where is he?"

"I don't know," she cried.

"Well then try."

"Okay," Stevie Rae said, trying to focus on figuring out where Rephaim was.

"Do you know where he is?"

"The gazebo, in the park, by the big tree," she said, trying to name everything that she saw, and then there was a face. "Neferet."

"What about Neferet?"

"She's killing him!""Give him strength from the earth, and I'll get you there as fast as I can."

"Okay." Dallas picked her up and took her out to the car. "Earth, come to me. Help Rephaim by giving him strength and courage to beat Neferet's bitchy self." As soon as she finished speaking, she felt instantly better, stronger, and more alert.

"There it is," Dallas said, surprising Stevie Rae at the speed, until she realized that 10 minutes had passed.

"Stevie Rae," Rephaim called, "get out of here."

"No," She said, walking towards him. "I came here to save you, not abandon you."

"She'll kill you." A tear formed at Rephaim's eye. "I love you too much for that."

As soon as the words left his mouth, a barrier of light formed around him, and Neferet disappeared. Stevie Rae ran to him, but stopped when she realized that there was an outline on his forehead.