A/N: If you do not like these pairings or plot then do not read.

DISCLAIMER: All is owned by P.C and Kristen Cast.

CHAPTER 4

GLOW.

A week had gone by and there was no sign of any kind evil or Neferet.

Nikkie sat on a bench, reading a book her mother gave her for her birthday.

Seemingly lost in the fantasy world that the author created, Nikkie twirled a lock of hair around her finger, absorbed in the romantic scene between the two lovers. Nikkie imagined the lead character, Kane, to be Erik and the lead female, Penelope to be Nikkie herself.

Both of them locked in a fiery kiss in the battlefield, the rain pouring down on them in their most vulnerable moment; his arms crushing her slender body to his own muscular one.

Nikkie's body became heated and she squirmed with the pleasant feelings shooting down her body.

"Fantasizing?" A deep voice called to her, yet it was one that Nikkie didn't recognize, looking back, silver eyes stared into amber.

"You must be Kalona." Nikkie pronounced his name the way the ancient Cherokee maidens would have. Bowing ever so slightly. "It's nice to meet you."

"Please, do not bow. I do not require such a noble act of salutation. A handshake will do." Kalona spoke rather bemusedly.

"Oh. Yeah. Sure." Nikkie stuttered and held her arm out, thinking she was a complete idiot.

Kalona stretched one finely muscled arm and gripped her forearm as Nikkie's fingers tightened around his.

They're eyes met and Kalona felt the power of Light swirling within this young fledgling and the touch of the Goddess, which he had not felt in a millennium.

His eyes roamed over the fledgling with admiration and care, taking in every feature and every crevice of her face, the shadows that cast over Nikkie's exotic skin, creating an air of mystery to this girl who he had carried in his arms.

"Uh. .ehh. . .I wanted to thank you Kalona, for helping me when I fainted. It's not every day you see a half naked guy with wings on his back." Nikkie stuttered and her creamy cheeks went a dusky rose.

"Clearly." Kalona said, sarcasm dripping from that one word, a dark eyebrow rose questioningly at her.

"Oh jeez. . .I'm so sorry. I say things without thinking!" Nikkie said, releasing their grip and she ran her hand through the thick waves of hair that cascaded around her in a black sea.

"It's alright, young one. I take no offence. You were merely startled by my appearance and since you did not meet me at the welcoming party the school committee had planned for you. Thanatos thought it best that you not cross paths with me until the right time, it wouldn't have been exactly 'fun' for you to meet a being such as I." Kalona explained the unanswered question in Nikkie's head.

"Oh, well that clears things up a whole lot more. Thanks. But if you will excuse me, I have a Drama class to attend." Nikkie smiled. "It was nice meeting you, Kalona. You're not as scary as you look." Nikkie smiled brightly to the immortal before taking her leave.

Kalona felt the shock of her parting words in the pit of his stomach. 'You're not as scary as you look.' Does this youngling presume to mean that Kalona, Fallen Warrior of Nyx was not as eerie as many made him to be? Could she see through his mask of bravado and see the wounded man cowering beneath it? Could she see what Nyx saw?

Vulnerability?

Kalona thought he was just reading too much into her comment and pushed those thoughts from his mind and continued on his way to Thanatos' office to report his findings outside the walls of this House of Night.

Erik stood in front of his class and smiled, just as he started his lecture, a timid knock interrupted him. "Yes?" Erik called out and swiveled his blue gaze to the now-opened door and there stood Nikkie. She looked much better today, healthier.

"Ah, Nikkie, just take a seat. . ." He looked over at the empty seat next to Zoey and shrugged his shoulders, which Zoey answered with a happy smile. ". . Over there next to Zoey, someone you know at least." Erik said and Nikkie answered his concern with a breathtaking smile before walking across the room and seating herself next to her classmate.

Zoey quickly relayed everything back to Nikkie and then they continued to listen to Erik as he talked about acting and how complicated it actually was. "Now, acting is not all about reading lines from a script. You have to have emotion, you can't be like: 'Romeo, Romeo, where for art thou, Romeo?'" Erik said blandly, his expression the same, making a few students laugh. "No way! You want to live the part. Say you were Juliet, you'd want to feel a burning love, a passionate excitement, like you're a little kid at Christmas, or you just saw the love of your life, and knew that they were the one. Because that is exactly how Juliet feels." Erik said, passionately, excitement brewing in his eyes as he taught his affinity.

Nikkie was scribbling down scentences and scentences as her creativity flowed, almost writing an entire paragraph until a nosy blonde snatched the paper. "Oh, Professor Night, Nikkie was passing notes during your lecture and I believe that is against school regulations." Her posh tone made Nikkie burst with rage as she lied through her pearly white teeth.

"She's lying Eri-Professor Night! I wasn't passing notes." Nikkie shouted. Zoey echoed her response.

Erik frowned slightly and stepped down from the stage and walked towards the blonde and took the paper. "Thank you Olivia, but don't call out in my class again, or you'll be dealing with High Priestess Thanatos. Is that clear?" Erik spoke in his sternest 'Professor' voice, making Olivia pale.

Erik scanned the paper, his eyes widening. He looked up at Nikkie, blanching. "Stand on the stage and read this Nikkie." Erik handed the paper back to her.

Nikkie was absolutely stunned, not moving. Zoey prodded her, finally pushing her into action.

Mechanically, she walked to the front of the stairs and stood on the stage, feeling anxiety creep down her spine. "Okay. . " She whispered to herself. Unfolding the paper, Nikkie cleared her throat and began to read. "'Dark's cool embrace wrapped around me like a cloak, the pain in my head somehow comforting, I felt the power course through my veins as if I were a different being. Yet at that moment, suspended in time. I never once closed my eyes. I never once wavered from his otherworldly gaze. I felt a passion roaring in my head, a voice screaming at me to show him exactly what I could do, eyes of the clear sky and hair that reflected the Night and mystery. His voice a soft caress against my heated skin; then he disappeared, gone from my gaze, vanished from my presence. His mysterious air evaporated around me, leaving no trace of his magickal being behind. Gone, was my mystery man.'" Nikkie's voice trembled with overflowing emotion as she remembered the day she was Marked. Nikkie put the paper down and looked at the audience before her.

They stood and clapped, whooping.

"That was amazing, Nikkie. That monologue was fantastic." Erik said, his voice breathless, as if her performance literally stole his breath.

"Whoo! Go Nikkie!"

"ENCORE!"

"That was hawt!"

Nikke giggled and stepped down from the stage, quickly taking her seat. Zoey winked at her and gave her a trademark dorky thumbs up, which Nikkie reciprocated just as dorky.

Erik stared at her with those beautiful eyes. As their gazes met, blue darkened and turned almost black with need.

Nikkie stared at him and smiled, a slow smile that showed happiness, relief and freedom.

'You see, my heartless one, there is a new fledgling at the Tulsa House of Night, who possesses a rare gift that I want to control.' The white bull's voice rumbled in Neferet's mind, arousing her body with his painful aura.

"Yes, my lord. But for what reason do you feel the need to possess this fledgling alone?" Neferet asked, staring into her master's cold, dead eyes.

'That is for later in future. For now, I need to corrupt her in our ways.' The white bull spoke.

"Yes my lord. What would you have me do?"

'Dazzle her. Show her the power you possess by joining me. She is young and easily deceived, so take this matter slow. When you think she is ready, bring her forth to me.'

"Yes, my Consort. I shall."

The white bull faded into the distance and Neferet started planning the task of taking the new fledgling girl, Nikkie Thermopoulos.