Thank you everyone for the reviews. I will continuing what I am doing, perhaps using Stevie Rae's point of view a bit less unless something is happening. It seemed like most people weren't too enthused about Rephaim's point of view so I will only do him once in a while, unless the reviews demand more. Reviews are like food to me so please review!

Chapter 4

Because of the time difference between Sgiach's Island and Italy, it was late morning (about 11pm for humans) by the time we reached the High Council. Unlike the last time we had been there, we didn't have to be pulled into the hangar and have a blacked out boat because it was already dark. I recognized Erce when she came to meet us.

"Merry meet, Zoey Redbird," Erce said, giving me the respectful bow. "You have no idea how much it pleases the Council that you have returned."

"Merry meet, Erce," I repeated, copying the gesture. "I look forward to speaking with them."

"As with last time, Zoey, Neferet and her consort will be attending the meeting. Do you remember the rules I told you of?" she asked and I nodded. "Good. The Prophetess will be, of course, permitted to enter. And Zoey? Stay calm. The Council is still speaking among themselves about the next Vampyre High Priestess. It will not be looked kindly upon if you lose your temper."

"Of course, thank you, Erce," I responded, not wanting to think about the disastrous results if I lost my temper in the chamber. When Erce left me, it didn't take long for Stark to take her place.

He wrapped an arm around my waist. "Do not be afraid to tell of what happened in Nyx's realm, my queen, for it is the only way that Kalona and Neferet might be brought to justice."

"When did you become so wise?" I asked with a small smile. I turned to look at him and saw that he was smiling back.

"Perhaps since I looked upon the face of Nyx," he responded, smiling though he was completely serious.

"Hey! We're here," Aphrodite shouted back at us. I jerked and looked at the front of the boat. Sure enough, we had landed at the island.

"Come on," Stark said, tugging me along.

The cathedral where the High Council met was as aweing as it had been last time that I was here. The enormous lights shed light over nearly the whole area, hanging from thick bronze chains. Hogwarts, I thought again to myself. The marble chairs were, of course, in the same place as last time and Kalona and Neferet were in the same place as well. It was as if I had stepped back in time to the first council meeting I had attended.

As though I didn't have control over my eyes, they were drawn to Kalona. He looked, as always, magnificent and jaw-dropping with his beauty but this time I could sense his weariness, even from looking at the back of him. He wasn't held like he usually was—his wings were extended but not so proudly, more like it was his duty. I couldn't see his face from the front, only the right side of it. His jaw was tensed.

"Zoey and Stark, you'll be in the same place as last time," Erce said, gesturing to our seats. "And those are for the rest of you." Erce directed the rest of my friends to the back row of seats. Once seated, I allowed myself to look back at Kalona. He was looking back at me now, a curious expression on his flawless face. Was it my imagination or was I beginning to see the beginnings on a smile on his lips? No, it must have been my imagination because a moment later his expression was neutral as ever. Without any more smiles, or beginnings of ones, Kalona turned back to look at the front of the chamber.

"The Vampyre High Council!" A voice called and, without even thinking, I stood up as did Stark and, I'm sure, all my friends, though they were completely silent. It was then that the seven vampyres entered the chamber. All women, all exquisitely beautiful and looking as if they were ageless. With less difficulty then last night, I kept my eyes trained on the Council members rather than Neferet and Kalona as the High Council members took their seats.

"The High Council is convened for this session. I, Duantia, call us to order. May Nyx lend her wisdom and guidance to us," Duantia began.

Remembering what I had to say, I said with everyone else, "May Nyx lend her wisdom and guidance to us."

"We would like to start this session with listening to Zoey Redbird's account of what happened in the last few days.

"Merry meet," I said, standing up.

"Priestess Zoey, if you would start from the beginning, at the death of your consort."

"Well, I was going on a walk to think and clear my head. Well, I was feeling pretty good. It was then that I saw Kalona and my consort, Heath. I thought they were speaking but then that was weird because Kalona was holding Heath, like, a palm on each side of his head. I didn't know what was happening but it…well, it scared me. It didn't look like a friendly conversation at all. So I called Spirit to me and then…" I hesitated, trying to gulp down my tears. I hadn't cried at all in all this time but here, now that I was recounting the death of Heath, all those tears would flooding in my eyes and threatening to spill free. I quickly wiped my eyes. "Sorry. Well, then Kalona…he…I can only describe it as that it looked like a simply twist of Heath's head and he broke it then, killing Heath. So I threw Spirit at him." I hesitated again. This time, not because of tears because I wasn't sure exactly what to say next.

"I guess my soul shattered then? Well, I found myself in Nyx's Realm and I knew Heath was dead and so did he. I saw him there and he was…fine. But he said that something bad was there, coming after us, so he led us into a sacred grove. He saw he could feel Nyx there but I…I felt nothing. It felt like every other clump of trees to me. We would sleep and then would have to keep moving farther and farther into the grove, Heath said to keep us away from the badness. I was becoming…restless. I couldn't stop moving, I couldn't rest, and I couldn't stop thinking that somehow…" I cast a quick look at Kalona. He was looking forward emotionlessly. "I couldn't stop thinking that Heath's death was my fault and it killed me. It made me so restless. Heath said I had to pull myself together but I couldn't—I felt too separate from the pieces of my soul even though I knew they were around me. It was like they were haunting me, always flitting at the edge of my vision. All this time, Heath had to keep telling me what had happened because I kept forgetting things.

I shivered. I went on to say how Heath had said he had to leave me, and then how Stark appeared to me. How Stark had led her to the edge of the grove. How Stark had challenged Kalona, who he knew had been following me, and how Kalona had attacked him and then how they had fought.

"Kalona had opened up a hole, one that Stark could not get out of, and then they fought down there too. Seeing that Stark was having trouble against Kanlona, I went back to the grove and finally called my soul together. When I went back to the hole, the fighting hadn't stopped. I got intot he hole as fast as I could, but Kalona hit Stark in the middle of his chest with the spear that he had, driving it through. Kalona tried to leave but I wouldn't let him, I used air to keep him in the hole. I told him I was collecting the life debt he owed me for killing his consort but he refused, saying I couldn't make him." I remembered, it was then that Nyx appeared. Because of Nyx, Kalona had to bring Stark back to life and then Kalona was forbidden in her realm in both body and spirit. I had healed him then, with a kiss and the elements. I only told the Council that I had used the elements, though, and as I did my tattoos were restored.

When I finally finished my long story, it seemed as if the Council as well as the others in the chamber were stunned to silence. All except Neferet and Kalona though, of course. Neferet looked calm, an almost mocking smirk on her beautiful face. Kalona looked as expressionless as he had before.

"I see. Guardian Stark, would you like to add anything?" Duantia asked Stark at my side. Stark stood and nodded, quickly telling what had happened to him and the rest of our friends from the moment that my soul had shattered until he had found me in the grove. I had known that it was Stark's words that made Heath move on but that didn't make it hurt any less. Of course, I knew Stark's reasons and I thanked him but the feelings of how it had been when Heath left me…

I didn't even realize Stark had finished and sat down until I heard Neferet speaking.

"Duantia, you cannot honestly believe that my Erebus went to Nyx's realm just to hunt down Zoey Redbird. You think it made him happy that he had to kill Zoey's consort to protect me? He is my warrior, after all, and it is his duty to protect me. I regret to say that the death of Heath was necessary to protect me. Though Kalona was protecting me, the regret of hurting Zoey was what hurt him too and forced his soul to Nyx's realm, where he was following Zoey to merely watch over her. He stayed above the grove, because he believed he could watch over Zoey better from above the grove and encourage her to repair her soul without her seeing him and therefore, angering her. In addition, Kalona never attacked Stark or vice versa, it was something made up by Zoey and Stark," Neferet said, smoothly and never faltering.

Duantia looked on interestedly. "Kalona is all that true?" she asked the immortal. Kalona hesitated and his dark amber eyes sought mine. Tell the truth, I tried to tell him with my own eyes. I thought he could understand what I was trying to tell him, even though he couldn't hear the words, because he looked torn. Finally, he looked back at Duantia.

"Every word that she says is true, Priestess," he said. Instantly I picked up on what he was trying to do. He was trying to tell the truth without betraying Neferet.

"Kalona, would you care to specify who you believe is true?" I asked, knowing it was rude to speak up.

"You know who I am speaking of, Zoey," Kalona answered, his eyes meeting mine again. Duantia obviously took that as an answer that he was meaning Neferet and ordered us to that silence.

"Excuse me, Council, and forgive my rudeness please, but do you really believe that Kalona killed Heath to protect Neferet? And that he followed me in the underworld to protect me? First of all, Heath would never do something like attack Neferet and second of all, Kalona and I are not friends. He has no reason to protect me." I was standing and glaring at Kalona and Neferet. The Council were muttering to each other but did not demand that I sit down.

"Of course I have reason to protect you, Priestess. Nyx has chosen you as her own and you are the Tulsa High Priestess," Kalona explained.

"Enough," Duantia finally said. Both Kalona and I sat down. "The Council will take all of this into consideration but for now, Erebus—or Kalona—will not be held accountable for the death of Heath. If we have further need for discussion, the Council will reconvene." Thanatos leaned over to Duantia and handed her a note, as well as whispering something to her.

"Zoey, the Tulsa House of Night jet will arrive at the airport in two hours for your flight home. Everyone may leave but we wish for the human Prophetess to remain behind for a few moments. If the rest of you wish, a Warrior can show you upstairs to a room where you can stay until you can head back to Italy," Duantia said to me. "Neferet, I presume you will be providing your own transportation back to…wherever you are going?" Duantia asked. For a moment, Neferet's moss green eyes flashed dark with anger before she nodded.

"Of course, Duantia," she answered regally.

"Thank you," I said to the Council, bowing respectfully one last time.

"Priestess, if you would follow me," a Warrior said, coming up in front of me. With my nod, he turned and began moving away.

"Come on," I said to Damian, Jack, and the Twins when we walked past them. "Aphrodite, we'll meet you upstairs?" Aphrodite hesitated but nodded, looking nervous. "You'll be fine," I added and she smiled weakly.

Stevie Rae

Stevie Rae was on her way towards the airport when she felt the intense need to go to the museum. The overwhelming feeling of sadness had passed earlier the previous but it still disturbed her.

"Rephaim," she muttered angrily, connecting the need to go to the museum with him. Despite the harshness in the way she said his name, she felt the leaping hope that he would be there and that he would choose her over his father. "Get over him, girl, he's a bird man who killed one of her professors, who was the favorite son of his daddy Kalona, and who was associated with Darkness. Still, Stevie Rae turned her car around and drove towards the museum. Lenobia would be expecting her soon at the airport but she could just say that she got delayed a few minutes.

"Stevie Rae." Rephaim saw Stevie Rae before she had seen him, even with her eyesight in the dark. She would have seen him if she was paying attention, but she wasn't looking at the door of the museum. So his voice startled her, making her jump a bit.

"Rephaim," she answered, stopping and her eyes huge with shock. "Hey," she added, controlling herself a bit. "You came back."

"Didn't I say that I wanted to stay with you?" Rephaim asked, looking wary to move forward. "So I decided to come back."

"What, you sure humans didn't try to shoot you down at the border?" Stevie Rae asked with a smile. Rephaim looked uncertain for a moment and then chuckled.

"No…I missed you," he responded honestly, extending an arm and then dropping it again. Stevie Rae played with the edge of her shirt with her fingers.

"Well, this is awkward but…I missed you too. I was hoping you would come back."

Then Rephaim surprised her further by asking, "Can I give you a hug?" He looked like any gentleman. He was so tentative, so childlike, and, well, cute despite the wings and feathers and beak that Stevie Rae smiled.

"Yeah, I guess you can." Still wary but looking more relaxed Rephaim and crossed the few paces, sweeping her into a strong hug. Stevie Rae had a feeling that he was smelling her hair and she was proved right a moment later when he told her how good she smelled.

Sorry I cut it off when I did, I could have gone much longer but this chapter is already pretty long. It wasn't a very exciting chapter, I know, because of the Council meeting but the next chapters should get more exciting.