Chapter 3: The Girl with the Golden Marks

I was finally able to get back to sleep when I heard her sweet soothing voice. It was Nyx. Just like when I first got Marked and then hit my head on Grandma's lavender farm, I caught my first glimpse of the Goddess. Of course I was having an out-of-body experience, but still. And she was the most beautiful being there was. Her body was a shimmer of violet, and her voice was nothing like I'd heard before.

She had an incredible mother-like feeling towards me, and I instantly knew that she had something special planned for me. But never would I have guessed in a million years that I would have to go against two powerful people. How was I going to do this?

I can't do this. I'm not strong enough. I'm just not brave enough.

Yes, you are, Zoey Redbird.

And then it happened. I had another out-of-body experience. I suddenly felt light as if I were nothing but air, and there was a tingling sensation running through me. I knew that I was flying and looked down to see where I was taking myself. The smell of saltwater rushed to me, and I could see sand and palm trees. I was at the beach. Well I could use a vacation (even if I just astral projected myself).

But this encountering with Nyx was so much different. Sure she would pick a serene place to converse, but there was no sign of her anywhere. That wasn't like her to just be a no-show.

"Nyx? Where are you?"

The voice giggled and suddenly she appeared, standing in the still water of the beach.

"So we meet again, Zoey Redbird."

I nodded my head. Somewhere in the back of my mind I was hoping and waiting that Nyx would appear to me. There was so much that I had to tell her; about Neferet, and Kalona rising, everything!

And I also needed her advice, her guidance to what I should do. I needed Nyx along with my friends to help me get through this. But then I thought better of it. My friends and I didn't have any experience with fighting evil. So how in the world were we going to battle Neferet and Kalona?

Sure, I had an affinity for all five of the elements, but was that enough? Yes, I will admit that I kicked some major fledgling butt when I had to rescue Heath, but that was it. For all I knew that was just pure luck.

I put aside my own dilemma to focus on the Goddess.

"Hello," I greeted, my voice sounding shaky.

"What seems to be the problem, Zoeybird?"

Instead of avoiding the question, I decided to go with nothing but the truth. There was no time to beat around the bush when the whole world was at stake.

"I don't know what to do, Goddess," I admitted.

"This is a very crucial moment in your life, I understand. But you have to be my strong, my child."

"I know that, but…I don't know how stay strong. Neferet is too powerful, even if I do hold the powers of all five elements. And now with--"

"No more."

She didn't yell at me, but did it in a stern voice.

"No more, Zoeybird. You are strong. I believe in you."

I was silent for a long time, unsure of what to say. But the next words that came from my Goddess were ones that I never would have suspected as being true.

"What if I told you that you are not the only special fledglings that has come to us in so many years? Zoeybird, do you believe that there is someone as equally unique as you?"

I didn't know how to respond or where she was going with this so I said, "Yes."

Of course I would have answered on a positive note. The Goddess would never lie to her children and I wouldn't lie to her. After all I was special to her, but so was someone else.

"You will require much needed assistance," she continued to tell me.

"I know, so that's where my friends come in," I told her.

She only shook her head. "I understand that, and they will need you greatly. But my dear Zoeybird, this calamity goes far beyond anything you have ever have to face. But rest assure because 'they' will lead you."

I frowned. "They? Who's 'they'?"

And just as confused as Nyx wanted you to be, she ended our conversation by saying,"In time you'll know. 'They' are crafty creatures and once you encounter the person I speak of, she'll know what to do. Together along with your friends, I am positive that you'll restore order to the world and our beloved House of Night."

And just like that, Nyx was gone. My beautiful beach scene vanished as well. Everything around me seemed to be melting until there was nothing but darkness. And I was soon engulfed in the same thing. I woke with a start, sweat dripping from my forehead. Glancing around, I saw that everyone else was asleep. I sat up, pulling my knees to my chest.

What was I going to do?

I pondered silently until I heard it again; meow. It was that annoying cat once more. I looked off and saw it staring me. And I just knew that this cat was no ordinary feline, because if I hadn't known any better, I could swear that cat was gesturing toward me with its tail as if to follow it. Slowly getting up, I stood on my two feet.

"What are you doing?" I quietly wondered.

As if the cat could talk, it slipped around a corner. To know where it was going, I went after it. Maybe it belonged to a local zoo somewhere and once the world isn't in so much danger, I'll return it. Slowly I was tracking it. The strange animal led me deeper into the tunnels, farther than I had ever gone.

"This cat is gonna get me lost," I muttered.

And then suddenly it disappeared. Looking around, I saw no sight of it. I checked my own surroundings, and realized that I had no idea of where I was.

"Great."

There was little light from what the street lamps provided above. Pulling out my cell phone, I used that for more illuminating light.

"How do I get back?"

I began to wander the confusing tunnels, but everywhere I went, it only seemed like I was making myself even more lost. Damn that cat! The light from my cell phone was starting to weaken because my battery was dying.

"No, no, no! Please don't die!"

A few sputtering flicks and it was gone. Damn! I thought. Now what? I tried focusing my eyes as best as I could, but who was I kidding? I didn't have the night vision of a cat. I had to get back to my friends so that when everyone was al rested, we could devise a plan to stop Neferet. We couldn't fight evil in dank, dirty tunnels.

I leaned against a pipe and thought back to my odd dream. What was Nyz talking about? They will lead you? And who is this other person that has the same powers as me? There was a tinge of jealously in me. Someone else out there was as unique as myself. I thought that I was the only one who possessed an affinity for all five elements, but I guess not. I sighed. What am I going to do?

I gave the tunnels one more look around, until I saw it; a thin stream of light. Could that be my way back? I decided to take that chance and head for the mysterious light. I rounded the oncoming corner and couldn't believe what I saw; it was another girl. Her back was to me but she was wearing a red hooded cloak, and accompanying her were those two cats. I silently hid, observing her.

"So did you find her?" she asked.

The cats didn't say anything, but it seemed as if she understand them since she was nodding her head.

"I see," the girl went on. "She will need my help. She can't do this alone." The girl suddenly stood up, brushing at her cloak.

Slowly turning around, I tensed up and was in complete awe of her. Her hood dropped from her head. The girl's hair was lavender and it went well with her bright blue eyes. Her skin was so pale that it seemed almost translucent. But the one thing that surprised me the most were markings. Instead of the usual sapphire; they were a heavenly gold, framing her eyes and cheeks and even traveling down the sides of her neck, dipping into the center of her chest. Her Mark was gold as well and completely filled in.

I was so entranced by her, that I hadn't realized what she said to me.

And those words were, "Hello, Zoey Redbird."