I don't own the House of Night. No matter how much I want to.
Chapter Nine: All Hell Breaks Loose, Literally
Zoey POV
All was silent for one heartbreaking moment before the pain filled cries began. Lenobia breached the circle wall and came to stand by me almost immediately, Shekinah followed her and stood before; her expression revealed pain and sorrow before all emotions were cut off.
"What is the meaning of this Ms Redbird?" I opened my mouth to speak but Neferet cut me off.
"Oh, it's clear what has happened. Zoey Redbird is in league with a dark force and not with our beloved Nyx" Aphrodite hissed at Neferet in a feral manner; I can't be sure but from where I was standing it looked like Neferet took a step back. Aphrodite, don't break the circle! I whispered in her mind. But she insulted you! Only I get to do that! She whined. Stay! I commanded again. I felt her mind give in and accept my order. I turned to Shekinah and began to speak the words that would change mine and my friends' lives forever.
"I'm not the one who is in league with a dark force, Neferet is! You've noticed how evil she has become! You asked me about her behaviour! She's the one who has turned from Nyx!"
"Lies! All lies!" Neferet screeched from outside the circle where she was pacing. It looked like she couldn't enter the circle. I grinned in sudden realisation.
"Stevie-Rae, order the red fledglings into the circle now!" Stevie-Rae nodded and gave the order. All of the red fledglings grouped around her like a flock of lost sheep. Lenobia looked confused.
"Why did you just do that Zoey?" she asked quietly.
"Neferet can't enter the circle" I replied. Shekinah went pale as she turned and observed Neferet's frantic pacing around the edge.
"You can't enter, can you?" I asked Neferet. She stood right at the very edge of the circle and tried to enter but she could not. A deep growl erupted from her throat and the shadows around her thickened and intensified. Shekinah gave a gasp of shock and seemed like she wanted to run to Neferet before I grabbed her arm.
"She has chosen a different side to us. You cannot save her" whispered Lenobia. The high priestess of Nyx bowed her head and cried. Neferet, upon seeing this, burst out into an evil laugh.
"Save me? Why would you need to save me? I am more powerful than I ever was when I served that pathetic goddess and now my new master will rise from the earth!" She laughed again, louder and more screechy than before. It was like somebody had run fingernails down the blackboard of my soul.
"You used to love Nyx! What happened to you Neferet? Please tell me!" Shekinah was begging her now.
"Love? You dare speak to me about love? After you left, I became weak, crippled by love. Kalona took my weakness and gave me power. He took my love and gave me the knowledge of revenge" I turned to look at Shekinah and felt a horrible truth sink into my mind.
"Shekinah, what did she mean when she said 'after you left'?" I asked her quietly.
"Do you really need to ask that Zoey? Neferet was to me, what Aphrodite is to you. I loved her" The last part was said so quietly I struggled to hear it.
"Hah, if you loved me you wouldn't have left! Well, now my master's time is at hand. Archer strike your mark!" She gestured into the shadows and that new kid, Stark, stepped forward. We hadn't really talked much beyond 'Hi, nice dog' but he had died a few days ago I remembered then. A red crescent was visible on his forehead and he lifted up his bow with a calm precision. He sighted down the shaft of the arrow and released. Aphrodite, futilely stepped in front of me, but the arrow was not aimed for me. I heard a gasp from behind me and I turned to see Stevie-Rae slip to the ground in a silent heap. Blood flowed in a never-ending cascade from the wound. The earth looked like it was bleeding. Ate, Shekinah's main warrior dude, ran to the circle, to Shekinah, but a limb of shadow sliced through his body and he fell to the ground, motionless. Shekinah cried out in pain and the earth beneath us began to rumble and shake. Cracks appeared below our feet and the raven mockers, a sick combination of man and bird, fluttered around the disturbance. The rock blasted outwards and Kalona rose up into the air before gently gliding down to stand beside Neferet. She bowed to him and whispered,
"My master, you are finally here" He nodded and my mind suddenly just focused on him. It felt like he was a magnet and I just couldn't stop myself from turning to look at him. All around me, silence fell and I presume everyone was caught in his spell. I continued to look but Aphrodite's beautiful blonde hair obscured my vision. Her hair began to spark memories deep within me; memories I held close to my heart. After Grandma had been injured and Aphrodite had stayed with me until I fell asleep, before that when she stayed by my side even though my friends didn't, kissing her soft silk lips, running my hands through that beautiful hair and her telling me that I 'better not mess it up'. Kalona's beauty seemed faded and fake to me and all I could think was Aphrodite is more beautiful than you are. His spell broke and I walked around to face Aphrodite. Her eyes flickered to my face and met my eyes. I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her, putting my face into the crook of her neck and inhaling softly. She stiffened as I touched her but she relaxed and I felt her arms slink around my waist. Her head bent down and she kissed along my cheekbone before whispering in my ear,
"I love you"
AN: Aww, isn't that so sweet? As always, thanks to everyone who reviewed. This story now has more than fifty reviews! Special thanks go to NiamhusRaticus for the cheerleading, Hazelstar for the sympathetic shoulder and helpful advice, daretotry12 for the constant reviewing and support, TheAngel'sWings for the constructive criticism and, well, I could go on for ever. I'll try to update as soon as possible. Oh, by the way, try not to kill me for eliminating Stark from the 'Boyfriend Game' but what I'm trying to make clear is the fact that Zoey and Aphrodite are meant to be with each other and, to be honest with you, I'm not a big Stark fan. Of course this changes the plot of the books quite significantly. Tell me in your reviews or message me about what you would like to happen after I finish the 'Untamed' part of 'What We Are'.
