Hello there! This is yet another important chapter. You will start to gain some insight as to what is going to be the climax of the story. I had to write it in Neferet's(ewww!) point of view because it just wouldn't make sense coming from Zoey's. But don't worry, Zoey and her friends are coming back in the next chapter. I may even write a chapter from someone else's perspective, like Stevie Rae. Well, here we go!
Neferet
Neferet sank back into her chair, seething. How could she have let that stupid fledgling out her? She'd done everything right. She was even getting the Vampyre High Council to believe that she was, indeed, Nyx. Sure, it was taking a little time, but that was to be expected.
Now, all her plans were ruined. There was no way that the council would believe Neferet over Thanatos. Thanatos had been on the council for as long as Neferet could remember. The entire council was practically family, they had been together so long. Before Neferet had gotten smart and was still working with Nyx she'd wanted to be a part of that council one day. Now, she could see just how weak and powerless they really were.
She needed to act fast. It had only been two days, and she knew for a fact that Thanatos was still at the Tulsa House of Night and hadn't contacted the High Council. Neferet had put another - this time undetectable - spell around the perimeter of the House of Night. She knew that Zoey and her pack had gone back to the tunnels and hadn't been back yet. She also had her red fledglings in the House of Night that would come tell her things.
Her consort - thought she wasn't sure if she could call him that yet -, the white bull, had come to see her once since her true nature had been revealed. It hadn't been a long visit, but it let her know that he still wanted her with him and would try to protect her. After all, they wanted the same thing, and he needed her in order to get it. She thought about their meeting while she sipped on a cup of blood, wishing she had the fresh stuff instead of the refrigerated kind.
She'd been staying at an apartment that she bought a long time ago just for an occasion such as this. She kept it off the books so that if she was ever discovered she could hide from everyone. The only one who had come with her was Skylar, her cat.
Pacing back and forth while thinking about her next move and casting every idea she had aside, she felt a sudden change in the air. She'd felt this many times before, but she was never as happy to feel it as she was that time.
"Oh, my lord! I am as delighted as ever to see you!" She bowed down before him - not the formal bow a vampyre gives his High Priestess, but rather a bow of deep respect, one that had her on her knees in front of him.
Arise, my cold-hearted one. the bull whispered in her mind. She did as he said, wondering how it was possible for him to fit in her little living room. She hadn't picked this apartment out for luxury, the vampyres would assume that she would be somewhere like that. Instead, she picked a small apartment right outside of Tulsa. It consisted of one small bedroom, bathroom, living room, and kitchen. It had a balcony, but Neferet didn't like it very much. It made her feel something she hadn't felt in a long time: afraid.
It wasn't like she was afraid of being up so high on the balcony. No, she would never be afraid of something like that. She was immortal now, and that meant that if she fell it would not hurt her, let alone kill her. No, she feared being on the balcony because it was out in the open. Who knew how many people Thanatos had sent out to find her? If they spotted her, she might be able to make a quick getaway, but she wouldn't be able to go through with her plans to get Zoey back, however that would be.
Neferet said nothing as the white bull looked at her. She had failed him. She let him down by letting Zoey's group prove she was not following Nyx's path anymore.
Finally, the white bull whispered, We have some planning to do.
"What shall we do?" she asked. She had come up with many things before he arrived, but none of them would work. It seemed as soon as she thought of something to try, she thought of something that could hinder the plan, or realize that it just wouldn't work at all.
I have some things that must be done. Do not worry, he said when he saw the expression on her face. I am doing these things alone. I think I may have something that will help you.
Neferet slung her long, dark hair behind her shoulders. She knew she could count on her bull! "May I accompany you, my lord?"
No. He didn't say it in a demeaning manner, like Neferet thought he would. Instead, he said it as if she was a child who needed to stay home while its parents went out. But I do require something of you.
Neferet knew what he meant just by the way he said it. "Oh, yes, my lord." She walked over to him, pulled her arm up, and sliced a long gash in it with her fingernail. She held the gash up to his mouth. He didn't drink like she thought he would. "My lord?"
Consort. he whispered. Call me consort.
Neferet gave a shiver. She'd asked him before if she could call him her consort, but he had never given her an answer. She didn't have much time to think about it before he licked the blood that had been running down her arm. This time, she shivered violently.
She heard the moan coming from the white bull in her mind. This is how it is supposed to be, she thought.
Yes, the white bull agreed. She was so used to keeping her thoughts hidden from everyone that she was surprised when he agreed with her. This is how it is supposed to be. The both of us, together, shivering in ecstasy.
His response, although flattering, was unexpected. Sure, he had shown her that he fancied her, but he had never come right out and said something so…affectionate. At least, coming from the white bull it was affectionate.
He stopped loping up the blood from her arm and looked into her eyes. She licked her arm as he watched, causing the gash to heal up. She hadn't wanted him to stop drinking from her, but she knew that there were more important things at hand. They had to figure out a way to get Thanatos, Zoey, and the rest of those damn rats out of their way.
I have made a decision. the while bull announced, cutting off Neferet's thoughts.
Usually, Neferet was quiet while the white bull told her things. Today was different. For the first time in a long time, she was nervous and jittery. She'd been in control of everything in her life from the moment she changed into a full vampyre. Now, her life and its future was in the hands of the white bull. He would be her only savior. "And that is…?"
The white bull gave a little chuckle. You've become impatient, my cold one. It makes my decision all the more right.
"Forgive me, consort. I do not mean to be disrespectful."
Yet again, he gave a little laugh. Oh, do not be sorry. You have become comfortable with me, which is only right to be with your consort. I have lived a long time with no one by my side. No one but shadows and coldness. I have decided that you will join me in my life. We will complete each other. I shall help you get out of this…predicament.
She knew she could count on the white bull! She had been hoping since the moment she left the House of Night that he would appear and help her. So many things had been running through her mind, things that left her feeling anxious. She didn't like that feeling. She wanted to be in control again.
I have gained some information. Vital information. I am in need of some power. Some that I will get from you, but you must trust me.
"I trust you completely. With my very life." Neferet meant every word she said.
The white bull took a step toward her. I have brought you a gift. Look out on the balcony. Conceal yourself in Darkness so that no one will see you.
Neferet wanted to do as he asked, but she had doubts. "I'm afraid that if there is someone watching they will sense the power coming from me."
I will cloud that power for you, consort. Step out on the balcony and claim your gift from me. he whispered.
She took a deep breath and commanded Darkness to cover her, to hide her from unwanted eyes. She had no idea what the white bull had brought her, but she trusted him completely and would do as he said. Whatever it was, she had a feeling that it would help them with their quest for the world. Just thinking about it made her giddy. Soon, the world would be what they wanted: filled with Darkness, Darkness that was controlled by them. She pictured standing next to her consort while the world bowed down at their feet.
Neferet stepped out on the balcony, not needed to look around for her gift, for she could see it as soon as she opened the door. A young man lay there, his leg broken, keeping him from trying to run away. When he heard the door open, he looked up. He could not see Neferet, but he knew something had to be there to open the door. He must have been expecting the white bull because he let out a little whine.
She dragged the man in the door. As soon as she touched him the Darkness that had been clouding her appearance lapped onto him to do the same. No one would be able to see either of them.
Once inside, Neferet thanked Darkness for shielding her and gave it a little blood to keep it satisfied. The young man had lost consciousness when Darkness touched him, and he lay in a heap at Neferet's feet.
"What is this for, consort?" she asked.
I must drink from you, almost to full consumption. Neferet gave a little gasp, but the white bull continued. I will not kill you, cold one. I just need to gain some power from you. I have enough on my own to do as I wish, but I will not be able to do it for long without some outside help. This will benefit both of us. Let me drink from you, and then you may drink this one to replenish yourself.
Although Neferet didn't like being so vulnerable to anyone, she knew that this was the price to pay to be the white bull's consort.
Skylar jumped in Neferet's lap, making her come back to the present. She had done what the white bull said, but she hadn't heard from him since. He'd come to her right after she had fled, and now it had been two nights since he had been there.
"Oh, Skye." she whispered. "What shall we do?"
Her cat had long ago figured out that Neferet wasn't the High Priestess she pretended to be. If she hadn't known better, she would say that Skylar knew she was turning to Darkness before she did. Of course, cats did have great instincts, so it wouldn't surprise her if he did.
Before Skye could give her any indication that he was listening to her, he leaped off her lap and ran into the bathroom. She was wondering why as she felt the familiar shimmer of Darkness that meant the white bull was there.
She got up and walked, silently, into the living room. The white bull was standing there, exactly where he had been before. If Neferet hadn't been so used to seeing the bull, she wouldn't have known that he wore an expression of happiness on his face.
"Consort," she whispered, hurrying to him. "Have you done what it was you needed to do?"
Oh, yes. I have. he whispered in her mind. He did, indeed, sound happy.
A dark smile formed on Neferet's face. She knew that any expression she wore could change everything about her. She was very good at manipulating people, so changing everything about herself was something that she learned to do a long time ago. At that moment, she knew that if one were to look at her, they would see her true nature.
"How shall we proceed?" she asked.
First, my cold-hearted one, tell me: how are you feeling?
His question surprised her. She was so used to the white bull doing what he wanted, not caring about anyone else, including her. She knew that he was serious about becoming her consort, but it hadn't occurred to her that that would change anything about their relationship. He already treated her like a queen, but now he treated her like she was in charge.
"I am fine, love." she said. She had never called him that before, but she wanted to test the waters. If he said something about it, she wouldn't call him that again.
If it bothered him, he didn't say anything about it. In fact, it seemed he hardly noticed what she said. Good. You will need all of your power tonight.
Neferet felt giddy about using her powers, especially if it was something that she needed to be really strong for. There was just something about commanding things to do your bidding that she couldn't explain. It was something that she had never felt when she was still on Nyx's side.
"What will we be doing tonight?" she asked.
I have some things to explain to you. Some very…strange things. Nonetheless, it seems that things have worked out in our favor.
If the white bull could smile, he would have. Neferet could tell just by the tone of his voice that he was smiling inwardly.
It seems that Nyx has put Zoey up to something that will doom her.
"The Goddess has chosen to end Zoey's life?" How could that possibly be? she thought. Nyx was the one who had marked Zoey to put an end to the Darkness she had turned to. She'd picked Zoey to do her bidding, just as Neferet picked Darkness to do hers.
The white bull snorted. Of course not. She didn't choose to do it; she just didn't think it would turn out that way.
Neferet didn't understand. "My love, what do you mean? What is going on here?"
Nyx came up with a plan to get Kalona out of Zoey and her friends' way. It just so happens that I was at the House of Night when she showed herself to the gang. Neferet couldn't believe her ears. The Goddess had shown herself? That was very out of character. She was going to point that out, but the white bull continued.
Before she could explain to Zoey what she wanted her to do, they cast a circle, so I could not hear what they were saying. However, it was very easy to pluck the plan from Zoey's warrior's mind. Nyx wanted Zoey to tap into the part of her that is A-ya and seduce Kalona.
Well, this was a first. Neferet knew that Zoey would do anything for her Goddess, but she never thought it would go that far. Even though she had a new consort, Neferet could not help that she was jealous of Zoey. She had laid with Kalona before and knew how well he was in bed.
From there, Nyx would take over her body and tell Kalona to ask forgiveness. He did, and now he is back in her kingdom. However, he did leave a piece of himself with Zoey…
Neferet didn't get his meaning at first. She gasped when she finally got it. "How can that be possible? Zoey is a fledgling, and like every fledgling or vampyre, she is not able to reproduce."
He laughed. I thought of this, myself. It is impossible, yet it has happened. Here is my theory: I believe that because a part of Zoey's soul was A-ya, she was part human, and that part of her is what allowed her to become pregnant. I do not know if I am right; it is just a theory.
It sounded plausible to Neferet.
Here is where you come into play, my cold one. With your power that I gained, I was able to spy on Kalona and Zoey. It seems that they have had a spell put on them that binds them together because of the child. In order to prove that Zoey is wrong about you - and evil, herself - you must gain some of her blood. I do not care how you get it, just do it.
With our powers combined, you and I will put a spell on that child of hers. There is no way to get rid of the child. She will have to give birth to it. We will make the child evil; fill it with Darkness. It already has the potential to be on our side, given its father was filled with Darkness when it was created.
Not only will the child be on our side when it is born - and play a special part in our taking over the world - but it will also kill Zoey while she is giving birth to it. When we put this spell on it, it will no longer be in the shape of man. It will be like Aurox - half man, half bull.
This next part we have to get exactly right. When the time comes for the baby to be born, you must do another spell. This is the one that will change its form. I will help you, of course. When it changes, its horns will form. They will rip her from the inside, out.
Neferet shivered with anticipation. She knew that he had not explained everything to her - she could sense it - but she knew that he didn't have time to tell her everything. Besides, she already had all the information she needed. She knew that once Zoey had the child, she would be able to sway the council into believing that Zoey was the one who was consorted with Darkness because she had Darkness' child.
So, climbing onto the back of her lovely white bull, Neferet and Darkness set off to begin their plan.
