Ok I know it's been an extremely long time since I updated this Fanfiction, but I think I've finally come up with a chapter that will do it justice. I hope you all enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I do NOT own the House of Night! The wonderful book series belongs to P.C. and Kristin Cast!
"How dare she!" I hissed, stepping through the large oak doors that led to my bedroom chambers. I paced back and forth, trying to keep my growing anger in check. It would not do for me to lose control, even if the rage did give me power. I clenched my fists, focusing on centering that power within me. Shekinah would have to be destroyed. She had already made that more than clear in the small amount of time she'd been here.
Patiance, My Queen, Kalona gently spoke to me. His voice wrapped around me, caressing me like a lover and mixing with my fury.
I turned towards the full length mirror that sat next to the wall on the other side of the room. I needed to see it, the power we were creating in this moment. I looked at myself and felt my breath catch. The figure before me was definitely me, but my appearance was that of a stranger. My eyes were a brighter green if that were possible and my skin seemed to be glowing with an unearthly beauty. Wisps' of black smoke danced around me and I let out a sensual moan of pleasure.
You're becoming stronger, Kalona's voice reached out to me again.
"Not strong enough!" I said frustrated. "The power never stays with me."
It needs a sacrifice to stay, my love. It needs blood, Kalona answered me.
"I've already given it a sacrifice," I said, beginning to pace again. A small pain stabbed at my heart as I thought of Loren, but I pushed aside.
Kalona chuckled softly as if he had known my thought. He never truly loved you anyway, He reminded me. If he truly loved you he would never have agreed to seduce Zoey so easily. He would never have imprinted with her.
Anger flashed through me again, but this time my anger was for Zoey Redbird. If it hadn't been for Zoey I would never have had to sacrifice Loren to begin with. But the whelp was catching on to us and her powers were growing too quickly. I had needed the distraction. I needed her helpless and alone. Her friends had been turned easily enough and so far Zoey had been scared enough to keep her mouth shut. I needed to make sure it stayed shut.
Shekinah was already suspicious. I would have to do something about that. My mind circled back to the meeting. She had walked in here undermining my authority, and yet, she had asked Zoey, a child, and my fledgling, what she thought should be done. I could not afford for Zoey to have any allies here.
"Shekinah is hindering our plans," I said, stopping just beside the window. I gazed out at the grounds. I could see the shadows of Kalona's sons filling the trees. Nothing more than spirits, but growing stronger as I did. How long would it take Shekinah to realize they were there? She had already mentioned feeling the fear I had poured into the school walls. How long would it take her to feel the power of death that was slowly building around it and me?
She is a small hindrance at best, and lies have never failed us before, Kalona said thoughtfully.
"Our lies aren't working for us this time. She doesn't believe that the humans murdered Patricia and Loren," I said, tapping my fingers on the window sill. Shekinah was a strong High Priestess of great strength. It was hard for me to hear anything going on inside her mind and I would be foolish to try. To dig inside her mind would be against our code of ethics and I had no doubt that Shekinah would feel my presence there. But, I didn't need to read her mind to know that she was suspicious of the events that were taking place here. I had seen it in her eyes.
Perhaps, then, her focus needs to be redirected, Kalona suggested. Give her the source of darkness she desires to find.
"Zoey," I whispered. I bit my bottom lip, pondering his words carefully. Nyx had obviously thought she was helping Zoey by sending Shekinah here, and so far she had been. But I knew better than anyone that a little poison could go a long way and a small seed of doubt about my fledgling might be enough to lead her astray.
Zoey, Kalona repeated. I could almost hear the scheming behind his voice.
I turned back to the mirror. The darkness that had surrounded me was already fading, taking its power away with it.
"How much more blood?" I asked, gazing at my reflection.
When the earth bleeds it will be enough. Until then, another sacrifice will strengthen you.
I nodded. It wouldn't take long for another child to die, in fact if everything was going according to plan, a was child dying right now. Stark. I had brought him here for one purpose and one purpose only, to release Kalona. He would die and his blood and death would strengthen us, and when he returned he would belong to me. Eventually they would all belong to me. The fledglings, and the High Council would all do my bidding and bow before me and my consort. And the humans? The humans would pay for centuries of crimes against our people.
A knock at the door broke through the silence of the room and I smiled. "Come in," I called, adjusting my expression to fit the circumstances.
"Priestess," a Son of Erebus Warrior saluted me. He was tall and muscled and had obviously just run half way across campus to reach me. "We need your assistance. A child is rejecting the change in the field house."
"Lead the way," I said worriedly, quickly rushing from the room as a High Priestess of Nyx.