i woke up before the moon was even out. it was 4 in the afternoon and I was up. I got up and took a quick shower. I put my uniform on and a pair of ripped jeans, I put my eye liner on and I brushed my hair. I put on my IPod and started dancing around my room. I heard a knock on the door and opened it. It was Tristan and he looked nervouse.

"I'm not really supposed to be here but I couldn't sleep," He whispered.

"Me either," I said as I let him in.

"What are you listening to?" He asked.

"Uh, Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne," I replied.

"So, eighties girl huh?" He snickered.

"Yep, and how about you?" I said sitting down on my bed.

"Well, I like a little bit of everything. From hip-hop to rock to pop," He stated.

"Eh, I'm a rock girl. But, I love Eminem!" I said.

"Have you ever loved someone so much, you'd give an arm for? Not the expression no, literally, give an arm for? When they know they're your heart and you know you were their armour and you will destroy anyone who would try to harm 'her," He sang as he sat down next to me.

"Wow, no wonder you picked song writing and singing," I said.

"And what about you and your brother? Why did you pick acting?" Tristan asked.

I looked down and sighed. "My brother was always good at acting and performing in front of a crowd. But I wasn't. When my parents found out that Erik had been marked they were glad. As for me, well, they had my whole future planned out. I would go to Dartmouth and learn how to perform in front of a crowd and be the singer in the family, but, I got marked the same day as him and they were not thrilled. They wanted me to stay with them. They wanted me to die! But Erik forced them to let me go. And ever since I have been displease my parents and it's working," I replied. "I dreamt of a Moroccan marketplace--
Miles of Arabian Desert,
Chanting voices from towering mosques,
Hot wind sweeping the cries of street vendors
Into my swollen ears,
The perfume of fresh exotic flowers
Assail my senses
And I am awake.

A silent, robed figure steps out of the shadows
And into the street.
Eyes peer out at me from a furtive face.
A hand is raised to beckon
And suddenly he turns away.
Weaving between carts and dogs
I follow.
Tall walls of sandstone
Rise up on each side,
Darkening the streets.
Brown robes whisk around a corner;
A hand stretches out to entice," I performed to him.

"That was beautiful," he said inching closer to me.

"That is one of my favorite poems," I replied.

"You know what's even more beautiful?" Tristan questioned.

"What?" I answered.

"You in the moonlight," He whispered.

I looked into his blue eyes and I saw them smile. I kissed him passionately and looked at the time. 5:45!

"Come on! We're gonna be late to breakfast!" I yelled as I grabbed him and ran down stairs and to the dining hall.

We got our trays and picked what we wanted. We went our separate ways. When I got to my table everyone was talking about the ritual tonight.

"We have to go with you!" Erin was shouting.

"No guys, I have to do this myself," Zoey explained.

Stevie Ray turned to me. "You have to invite us to the ritual tonight! Zoey's gonna try to take over the dark daughters and sons and she needs our help!"

"I'm sorry but I can't do that," I replied taking a bite of a piece of watermelon.

"Aren't you a dark daughter?" Damien asked me.

"No, I'm not. I mean I'm "in" it but I dropped out but I can't technically do that without the leaders consent. Does that make any sense?" I explained.

Damien nodded and went back to arguing with Zoey. "Hunn, we got to help you with this,"

"No, I want and need to do this on my own," Zoey replied as she got up and left.

"PMSing much?" I whispered.

"Where is the ritual tonight?" Stevie Ray asked.

"I don't know. You'll have to ask the leader," I sneered.

"Aphrodite? No way!" Shaunee exclaimed.

"We might not have to," Stevie Ray said.

Everybody stared at her.

"I could be the "refrigerator" and text everyone where the ritual is," She said.

"Good idea!" Damien said and hugged her.

"Yes, well, I'm gonna go to my first hour. See you later," I said and slumped off to Soc. 415.


I was getting ready for the ritual. My hair was in a bun and I was wearing a dark purple dress. I put my heels on and left for the Rec. hall. I got to the Rec. hall just in time to see them leaving. It was exactly 4 o'clock.

"You're late," Aphrodite hissed at me.

"No I'm not. It's exactly four," I showed her the time on my phone.

She snorted. "Get back in line,"

I nodded and went to the back. Erik and Zoey were there also. We went to the eastern wall and went through the portal to the outside world. We headed down to the Philbrook Museum. We went inside and made a circle in the lobby. Aphrodite went on a gazebo.

"I will cast a circle and call the spirits of our ancestors to dance within it with us," She preached.

Aphrodite walked around the circle, lighting each of the candles. When she was finished she went to the table, sitting in the center of the circle and grabbed a braided piece of grass and held it over the purple candle. It lit quickly and she let it burn for a while. I sniffed the air and bared my teeth at her. It was sweet grass! Sweet grass as allowed to burn only after sage was burned. Erik snuck a peak at me and gave me a confused look. Sweet grass attracted spirits but not good ones. Evil ones.

"On this Samhain night, hear my ancient call all you spirits of our ancestors. On this Samhain night, let my voice carry with this smoke to the Otherworld where bright spirits play in the sweet grass mists of memory. On this Samhain night I do not call the spirits of our human ancestors. No, I let them sleep; I have no need for them in life or death. On this Samhain night I call magical ancestors-mystical ancestors-those who were once more than human, and who, are more than human," Aphrodite said.

I watched as the smoke began to swirl and take form. They looked smokey and transparent. Aphrodite put down the grass and picked up the goblet.

"I greet you ancestral spirits, and I ask that you accept our offering of wine and blood so that you may remember what it is to taste life," Aphrodite preached."I greet you ancestral spirits and within the protection of my circle I-"

"Zo! I knew I'd find you if I tried hard enough!"

I turned around to see a human boy run up to Zoey. "Heath! What the hell are you doing here!" She exclaimed.

"Well, you didn't call me back," Heath started. "I missed you, Zo!"

"Heath, you need to go-"

"No. Let him stay," Aphrodite said.

"What? No, go! Now!" I yelled.

"You are not the leader of the dark daughters!" She shouted at me.

"Get him out of here," I heard Erik say. Heath turned to me and Erik.

"Who're you?" Heath asked.

"Heath you need to get out of here," Zoey said.

"No. I came to see my girlfriend, and I'm gonna see my girlfriend," Heath stated.

"I'm not your girlfriend," Zoey growled.

"Aw, Zo, you're just saying that," Heath replied slurring his words.

"Are you stupid?" Erik asked.

"Look, you blood sucking fuck, I-" I cut him off.

"Never call my brother a bloodsucking fuck! Your "girlfriend" is a bloodsucker too!" I screamed at him but he didn't pay attention.

"Come up here human," Aphrodite said.

She let her hand run down her body, nastly and with the other hand beckoned him. "Come her human. Let me taste you,"

It was like he was entranced because he lurched forward to her. Erik and Zoey grabbed his arms. I morphed into a wolf and went in front of him.

"Stop it heath! I want you to go. Now. You don't belong here," Zoey announced.

Heath pulled his eyes from Aphrodite, jerked his arm away from Erik, practically growled at him and turned to Zoey. "You're cheating on me!" As he said this he stepped on my tail and I yelped but I didn't turn back into a human.

"Can you not listen? It's impossible for me to cheat on you. We are not together! Now, get out of-" Zoey was cut off.

"If he refusses our summon, then we shall go to him," Aphrodite said.

The spirits circled the edge of the circle trying to get to Heath.

"Stop them Aphrodite! If you don't they'll kill him!" Damien yelled.

"I won't stop them. If they want him, they can have him. better him than me- or any of the rest of us," She sneered.

"It's up to you Zoey!" Stevie ray yelled.

"Stevie Ray!" Zoey yelled back.

I didn't listen to the rest of the conversation. I growled at a spirit that was making it's way towards Heath.

"Keep him here," Zoey told Erik and I.

I stepped in front of Heath and barked at the spirits. They backed away and stopped their retreat. Then they started forward again. one of them crawled up my leg. I howled in aggony and tried to shake it off me. Another one crawled up my other leg and as I howled I heard Heath scream in pain. I looked behind me Heath's jean were ripped and his skin started to weep blood. Erik smacked at the spirits but when one of them stuck on to them his clothes would tear and his skin would tear open. My legs were bleeding and my tail was too. I made my way to Erik and growled at the spirits. they froze for a minute and half of them began attacking me!

"Clair no!" Erik screamed.

I yelped at the pain that surged throughout my body. The spirits were tearing up my back and face. I fell in agony and didn't get back up. Suddenly, I felt all the spirits rush from e. I looked at the center of the circle and could see Zoey standing in the middle of the spirits. All I could hear was whispers. I closed my eyes, ready to fall asleep but pried them open. i saw Zoey standing alone in the circle, saying bye to the elements and saying thanks. Then I saw her mark. She had tattoos winding down her face and onto her shoulders. Aphrodite said something an then Neferte was there.

Neferet walked to Erik and touched his woundes. "These will heal," I heard her say. Then, she turned to Heath. I looked at Zoey who looked uneasy. I heard Neferet say something and Zoey reply thanks. I whimpered trying to stand up but i quickly fell to the ground again. Neferet ran over to me and kneeled beside me. She put her hand over most of my wounds and I felt the blood begin to dry. She stood up and so did I, slowly.

"I am proud of you Clair Night. Defending this boy and your brother from evil spirits was hard. And then, taing half of the attack was very thoughtful of you. I'm proud of you and Nyx is as well," She said to me.

I morphed into a human and bowed to her.

"Zoey Redbird, You earned the position of the leader of the dark daughters and sons and high priestess in training with your quick thinking," Neferet said to Zoey as she handed her Aphrodite's necklace.


reviews anyone?