Author's Note: I just want to thank everybody for reading and reviewing the last chapter. I'm sorry for the long wait. I hope I still have readers out there and I'm really trying to not have these long waits between chapters. Anyway, please enjoy :)
Disclaimer: I do not own the House of Night series, or its' characters. They belong to P.C. And Kristin Cast. I also don't own the Sweep series, or its' characters. Those belong to Cate Tiernan. All I have is this story.
~ Chapter Four ~
Zoey
The man came up from behind me...I didn't see him coming...The car door slammed shut...I heard Stark screaming my name...They did something to me, the two men who grabbed me. I had been drifting in and out of consciousness. It had felt like I was stuck deep in a ball-pit, hearing snippets of conversations but unable to come to the surface. The car stayed at the regulation speed, it never sped up or slowed down. I had lain on the floor in the backseat. The man who had grabbed me kept his foot lightly on my stomach. He spoke to the man driving.
"What are we going to do now, Ciaran?" he had asked.
"Now, we deliver her and I go see my daughter," the man, Ciaran, answered. At the word 'daughter', an image of the brown hair, hazel eyed girl from my dream had flashed through my mind. Things had gotten fuzzy after that and I passed out again.
I came to in a nearly dark room. There were only two candles in sconces on the wall. Nothing else was really in the room, except for the uncomfortable chair I was sitting in, in the center of the room. I tried to move my arms, but they were bound and stung like a cold tentacle was wrapped around them, binding me to the chair. Looking down, I saw what was really holding me. Darkness. It writhed and squeezed like it was a living thing. I swallowed down my fear, and glanced around the room again.
The door directly in front of me suddenly opened. It opened slowly, as if the person behind it wanted to keep the suspense. I could only catch a glimpse of a long hallway lit by torches on the wall, before she appeared in the doorway.
Neferet.
She looked just the same as the last time I saw her, though a little bit more bloated with power. Her eyes flashed red for a minute before returning to green. She took a few steps into the room.
I turned to the elements. "Spirit, come to me," I murmured, without really moving my lips. I didn't want to alert Neferet to what I was doing. I waited to feel spirit, to feel its' comforting presence. It never came. The element I always felt closest to, always so eager to please, didn't respond. I couldn't feel it at all.
I opened my eyes, looking at Neferet in disbelief. What did she do?
Neferet smiled. "The elements are no help to you here. Your powers are contained and blocked. You're about as powerless as that chair," she explained.
I sat up straighter in the chair. "I have to applaud you, Neferet." I told her. Her eyebrows rose in either surprise or speculation, I didn't know which. "You did a wonderful job of luring me here and getting some stranger to kidnap me. I guess it's easy to get someone to do your bidding after you've seduced them."
My insult didn't seem to faze her. She stepped forward again, starting to walk around me slowly. "I've come to expect your childish outbursts; they make this game all the more fun," Neferet articulated. As she passed behind me, her hand ran along the back of the chair and her fingers brushed against me, causing me to shiver. "In fact, feel free to talk as much as you want. It will be good entertainment. Of course, nothing will be better than watching your death."
"It's funny how you think you're going to get away with this," I said.
She came back around to stand in front of me. "Aren't I?" She grinned a fey smile, completely lethal.
"My friends are looking for me," I warned her. I resisted the urge to move my arms; the Darkness will only hold on tighter. "If I die, they'll know it was you. Stark will never let you get away with this."
"Oh, my dear priestess," Neferet leaned down close to me, looking me squarely in the eye. "I believe that your friends are a bit preoccupied at the moment. Your warrior won't be saving you this time."
"What did you do to them?" I stopped myself from yelling, but I was screaming on the inside. Stark. Stevie Rae. Damien. All of my friends possibly in danger or hurt...because of me.
"You really shouldn't be worrying about them, Zoey," Neferet told me. "Not when you're the one in immediate danger."
I was scared that this was it. That this was the moment when she was finally going to kill me. I tried to lock away my fear, so that I could be brave in the face of death. I couldn't let Stark know how scared I was; I had to be brave. Stark was going to be able to know when I die, but if I could just spare him a little bit, then I'll be okay.
"Time to see if this will work," Neferet said, mostly to herself. Before I could say or do anything, she pulled out a ceremonial dagger from her waist. It was silver, except for the handle which was white marble and a bull's horns decorating the end of the dagger.
Neferet walked closer to me and flipped my right hand over, palm facing up. She slashed the dagger across my palm. The pain was intense, and I gritted my teeth against it. She slit her own left palm, and then, in a flash, had pressed our bleeding cuts together. All I could do was stare, horrified, as she began muttering something.
"What are you-" I stopped with a gasp. One minute, I felt the elements swirl around me. Air's soft caress, fire's warmth, water's coolness, earth's sweet aroma, and spirit's calmness. Then, it felt like my powers were being pulled away from me, draining me. I was being drained of my powers and they were being absorbed... My eyes widened, glancing up at Neferet. She didn't see me; her were closed, feeling my magick seep into her. She threw her head back and laughed.
The whole thing left me feeling winded and lightheaded. Neferet left shortly after that, saying something about that being only the first session. I don't know, I was barely focused on her. I only had enough energy to send one thought and I prayed to the goddess that it was enough.
Stark! Help! Stark...
Stark
Stark continued his way along the side of the road. He had found the car about a half mile after he left the others. It was stopped at a red light, and when it turned green, it kept pace with the other cars. He couldn't really run out into the street up to the car in heavy traffic. So, he stayed on the sidewalk, inconspicuously following the car. The car left the main part of town, and he soon lost it again. Stark wasn't even sure if he was going the right way. Zoey must be unconscious, because he wasn't getting any strong feelings from her, just a feather light touch of her presence.
That was the wrong thought to think, because he all but panicked. He picked up his pace and gripped his bow harder that he thought it might snap like a twig. He couldn't, wouldn't think about that. Zoey is alive. She's resilient, strong, and she has her magick. The elements will protect her; nobody will touch her. Zoey will not die.
More determined than ever, Stark kept on walking. The last house he past was a ways behind him, and the street, now, took a sharp turn to the right and got lost in the midst of trees. This road had to lead to somewhere. When it did, Stark was going to find her.
Stark came around the corner and stopped dead in his tracks. There, a few feet in front of him, loomed a dark shape against the night. The car. "Zoey!" he screamed, and ran to the vehicle.
He got to the car, and immediately started yanking on the rear door. Expecting it to be locked, he was surprised when it opened easily. Inside the car was still, quiet, and empty. The keys still hung from the ignition.
Stark laid his head down on the seat and tried to think. If they ditched the car, where would they go? The woods were the only possibility. Why would they walk along the road instead of taking the car, unless... His heart in his throat, Stark grabbed the keys and rushed to the back of the car. He stuck the key in the lock, turned it, and popped the trunk open. He could breathe normally again when he saw the trunk was empty. But it meant that Zoey was out there somewhere.
Frustrated, he threw the keys as hard as he could. He walked back around the car. Stark placed his arm on top of the open door and leaned his forehead against it. If he could just have a clue to tell him where she was or just that she was okay. Anything, anything at all.
As he was staring into the backseat, something caught his eye that he didn't see before on the floor. Stark leaned forward to get a closer look. His eyes widened as he recognized the seer stone Queen Sgiach gave to Zoey as they were leaving the Isle of Skye. The chain was broken, but that was easily replaced; Zoey wasn't. He snatched up the stone. Suddenly, an onslaught of emotions hit him.
Stark! Help! Stark... Zoey.
She was awake, and she was calling him. He glanced around to pinpoint where it was coming from. There, to the left of the car, into the woods. Stark stuffed the seer stone into his pocket for safe keeping, slamming the car door shut. He picked his bow up from where he set it on the ground, and ran into the woods.
I'm coming, Z. Just hold on, I'm coming.
The Warehouse
"Who would have thought it was going to be this easy?"
The female voice floated through the dark corridor toward the group of witches and vampyres who huddled by the door. They could hear someone in boots moving around, followed by the rustle of wings.
"Selene, don't be rude, invite our guests inside." This male voice was closer, almost directly behind the group.
"Of course, where are my manners?" the female voice said back, and a moment later, her footsteps echoed down the hall. She was holding a torch that allowed the group to see a little better. The woman had brown-black hair and her face was twisted up in a cruel smile. The witches instantly recognized her as Selene Belltower. "Hello, so nice of you to join us. I believe some of you have already met my friend, Kalona."
The vampyres turned around and saw Kalona standing there like a beautiful, deadly angel, his ebony wings ruffling behind him. "Let's move our little gathering to a different room, so that we can to get to know each other better." Kalona began walking, urging the group forward. Selene took up the rear, murmuring spells on any stragglers.
Two big doors appeared up on the left, thrown open to show a wide, mostly empty room. It was lit by torches hung on the walls and there was one chair in the back center of the room. One lone window sat above the chair. More raven mockers lined the room. Two figures approached the doorway; a male vampyre with red marks like Stevie Rae, and a female fledgling with a red crescent moon on her forehead.
They all piled into the room, and more red fledglings appeared, grabbing them and taking their bags, cell phones, and other possessions.
"Guys, your elements, now!" Stevie Rae whispered fiercely. She focused on her element, earth, and saw Damien, Erin, and Shaunee doing the same. She had to concentrate hard, because it felt like she was working through a barrier.
"Goddess, protect us." Hunter started murmuring protection spells and he glanced over a Sky, who was doing the same thing. He tried to catch his other covenants' attention, to get them to do it, too. Alisa, Bree, and Robbie did.
Kalona was staring at them, eyes narrowed. He leaned toward Selene. "The circle is gaining power," he muttered, nodding his head toward Stevie Rae and her friends.
"Oh, no, no, no," Selene tisked. "That can't happen." She walked over to the group and stopped. She stared at them for a moment, taking them all in, and she raised her hands.
"Clathna, berrin, ne ith rah."
Hunter's eyes widened as he recognized the words. He started to her. "No, stop!" But the male red vampyre grabbed him, forcing him back. Selene didn't blink.
"Clathna ter, ne feath ullna stath. Morach bis, mea cern, cern mea." Selene continued, sweeping her arms toward Stevie Rae and her friends. "Clathna berrin, ne ith rah!" Stevie Rae, Damien, Erin, and Shaunee fell to their hands and knees, helpless under Selene's will.
Kalona stepped in and around the fallen ones. Looking down to where his son, Rephaim, was attending to Stevie Rae, Kalona grabbed his son up and away from the girl. His amber eyes landed on Hunter.
"Don't bother with the spells; they won't work," Kalona informed him. Hunter returned his steady gaze with one of his own, his lips falling silent of the spells. The others stopped as well.
"Separate them," Selene ordered the red fledglings. Four of them stepped forward, each taking one of the four under the binding spell, except Stevie Rae, and depositing them in each corner of the room. Then it was the witches' turn. Selene pulled Robbie away and pushed him down with Erin, along with Darius. Sky and Aphrodite went to the back right corner of the room. Alisa to Shaunee, and, lastly, Hunter to Damien at the front left corner of the room. Jack, Mary K., Bree, Stevie Rae, and Rephaim stayed where they were, no one ordering them around.
Selene tapped her finger against her cheek, pretending to be deep in thought. "Mmm, what to do with you five?" She made a slow, languid circle around them.
Stevie Rae was still on the floor, struggling to get out from the binding spell. Rephaim wanted to go to her, but Kalona stood in front of him, blocking his way. Bree stood stubbornly, not willing to show her fear. Mary K. had her arms wrapped around herself and was trying to will herself to stop shaking. Jack put his hand on her arm discreetly, going for comfort. They looked at each other, and then back to Kalona and Selene.
"I'll take them," Kalona spoke up. He didn't wait for Selene. He moved a resistant Bree and an immobile Stevie Rae to one side of the chair in front of the window. Rephaim to the front of the chair, and Mary K. and Jack to the other side of it. Kalona sat down comfortably and gazed at the five surrounding him, his own personal play things.
There was a tense short silence that no one dared to move or breathe loudly. Then, there was a collective gasp from the four incapacitated ones as Selene released them from her binding spell.
"Are you okay?" Hunter asked Damien, as he helped him to sit up. "Binding spells are some serious spells, believe me."
"I'm fine," Damien replied. Having the ability to control his body taken away was disconcerting and he was glad to have it back, though he still felt a little weak. He glanced around the room, trying to take everything in.
Hunter suddenly jerked when he heard a familiar voice inside his head. Hunter, I need you. It was Morgan. Ciaran. Please come. Hurry!
Damien was studying him, wondering what happened. Hunter averted Damien's studious gaze, trying to get his emotions in check.
"So, what? Now we just sit here and stare at each other until you decide to kill us," came Sky's voice from across the room.
"Oh, the decision has already been made," Selene said. "You all will die. It's only a matter of when."
Kalona laughed after a minute of silence. "But that's all in good time," he reassured, his hand sliding through Bree's hair.
"What do you want?" Hunter asked.
"Silence." Kalona stated. He gave a small nod of his head, and a raven mocker suddenly plunged a metal pipe into Alisa's side. She fell to the floor with a cry of pain.
