AN: Yay! I'm finally using another person's perspective. :) Hope you all enjoy.

Also, this is another reminder to vote for my poll on my profile.

CHAPTER NINE

Amethyst-Chan

Despite the striking heat, I felt cold. I hugged the towel around my small body and allowed Professor Volante lead my and Cherry out of the girls' dorm. As soon as I stepped out of the door I could feel everyone's eyes on me. It was these Marks. These weird tatoos that I had woken up with. These weren't normal. Tatoos were suppose to be blue, just like our Mark, and they were suppose to only appear on our faces, but these things covered my entire body. In the light of the strikingly bright sun, the tatoos glistened like newly shined gold bricks.

I wanted to shrink away, feeling my self-consciousness take over, but it quickly vanished when I was covered by an over-sized black cloak, I tried to peak through the hood that covered my face, but soft hands kept it down.

"It's alright sweet pea." The familiar voice of Rhinestone above me. "I'll lead you away, just keep yourself under the cloak so you won't draw anymore attention." I felt eternally grateful. I wish I could hide myself every other time I felt exposed to the world. I could hear Cherry's frantic barking somewhere behind me, but when I turned to look back, I couldn't see anything but black cloth. I could also hear soft murmurs as I walked away from the burning building. They're talking about me, I thought, hugging myself tighter. They are all talking about me. I squeezed my eyes shut, and wished I could disappear. I was use to being invisible, and not talking to people, but people talking about me was just too much.

"Now, now," Rhinestone said, stopping and holding my shoulders. "Keep yourself together, don't think negative things."

" Huh?" I asked, looking up in surprise. How can she tell what I'm thinking?, I thought. Can she- My thoughts were cut off when I felt my hands slip through my arms. I gasped at the horrible feeling of being pulled apart in all directions.

"It's alright," she said reassuringly, pulling my hood down a little farther so that I couldn't see any light at all. "You're fine, you're alright. Stay here with my sweet pea, don't fly off. You gotta stay here so that we can help you."

"B-but it hurts," I gasped. I couldn't feel my limbs ,and I felt the only thing that was keeping me together was this cloak. I could hear more shouts and screams coming from the other side of the campus and behind me where the girls dorm was, along with the sound of the ground splitting open.

"What's going on?" I asked, my voice shaking in fear. "Why is everyone screaming?"

"By the Goddess," Rhinestone whispered, sounding astonished.

"Please make it stop," I gasped, a sudden pressure on my head, or what I thought was my head.

"You have to calm down," she instructed. "Think about your family. Think about how much they love you, and all your childhood memories back home."

I missed my family. It wasn't Rhinestone's fault, she didn't know, or at least, she should've. Adult vampyres are suppose to know everything. My dad and my grandparents died in a house fire in our apartment building only a couple weeks after we moved to Canada. I was at school with my little brother, and we came home to the devastation. So it was just me, my mom and my brother. We had to move to a smaller apartment where my mom slept on the couch. These thoughts weren't helping, and I could feel myself falling farther and farther apart. My brother and I had to share a room, but I didn't care. We decorated the room together with things we had in common, like Manga, and video games. I had to get a job in order to help my mom pay the bills, but I didn't mind. It was only a fast food job, and my bro met me after every shift and we ate a meal together with my employee discount. Sometimes my mom even came when she wasn't working.

"Good girl," Rhinestone sighed, satisfied, patting my shoulder. And it was my shoulder. I could feel my limbs again, and the pressure was gone from my head.

"What's happened to me?" I whispered, staring down, but I couldn't see my feet.

"It will be explained," she said softly, urging me forward. "You don't need to worry." How can I not worry?, I thought. I'm even more different that I already was. I don't want to stand out like this, I just want to fall back into the shadows...why can't I have that? The sound glass breaking followed the short silence after the ground stopped shaking. I then heard a large amount of water fall and hit the ground, and more screaming.

"What's happening?" I demanded, wanting to remove the hood.

"It's alright child," she whispered, her hand on my head. "There have been no additional injuries."

"Additional?" I repeated incredulously. "You mean other people were hurt?

Rhinestone was a bit hesitant with her answer. "Yes."

"Was anyone...killed?" I whispered, too afraid to speak any louder. She didn't reply this time, but I followed her guide without anymore questions.


Melinda

If it wasn't for the feeling of the floor below me, I would've thought I was dead. I couldn't feel my any sold limbs. I could feel myself mentally, but I was in a thousand pieces. I had no eyes, but I could see when I focused. I was surrounded by charred furniture, and the wall had crumbled away to show the beams of the structure holding the room up. There were footstep, and the door fell off its hinges, slapping me, and sending me across the floor in ripples. Cross Lady stood just inside the room, and teachers passed on either side of her to survey to the room. One found Tonya laying awkwardly against the far wall, and lifted her into his arms.

"I don't see her Evangeline," A teacher I didn't know whispered, looking around anxiously.

"She's here," she smiled, getting down on her knees. She put her hand just on top of the puddle of water in front of her. I could feel a sensation of warmth from her. "Good work Melinda Bree," she said softly. "Now you must pull yourself together." How?, I thought, staring at her. I couldn't do it. I didn't even know if a piece of me was across the room or not. I was water. I wasn't flesh and bone anymore. I couldn't do it.

"Just concentrate," she instructed. "Just focus on gathering yourself together. You don't need to gather all the water in the room, just in one section. You are Water Melinda, so you can create a body for yourself out of any water." Create a body?, I repeated silently. Great, now I gotta pull a Frankenstein for myself, except I won't make myself look like a monster...I hope. Taking what felt like an unnecessary breath, I concentrated. I thought of my crazy brown hair, I thought of my odd shaped head and face, and my skinny neck. I felt the water move, and gather together in a weird blob. I thought of my thin torso that stayed the same size no matter how much food I shoved down my throat. My small shoulders, and gangly arms, and my slim legs. The blob took a more defined shape, and before I realized it, I wasn't staring out from the water puddle, but a pair of eyes set in my head.

"Whoa...," I shivered, laying on my back. Cross Lady smiled, and pulled out a large black cloak.

"Put this on," she instructed, helping me to sit up. I stared at my Marks as she help me put my arms through the sleeves, and do up the front.

"Why me?" I grumbled.

"Why not you?" she countered with amusement.

"Because I hate vampyres," I replied bluntly. Her expression didn't twitch at all at my words. "I hate everything about them, and I don't think too highly of your Goddess either."

"And yet she has given you the greatest honour," she smiled, helping me to stand. "How ironic."

"Being an even bigger freak than before is not an honour," I snapped, as she covered by face with and extremely large hood.

"Come now, Melinda Bree," she said, taking a hold of my arm. "I shall guide you, but don't remove your hood." I never promised that I would, in fact I didn't say anything more. I just followed her. It seemed eerily quiet. Only the sound of our footsteps assured me that I hadn't gone completely deaf. My legs were shaky and weak, and if I wasn't afraid of falling, I would have pulled myself free of Cross Lady's grip. When we stepped outside, it was quiet too. I could tell it was still daylight out, but was surprised that there were no kids out.

"They were taken to the dining hall," Cross Lady said, as if reading my thoughts. "Every student that wasn't injured."

"How many were injured?" I asked.

"A few," she replied without hesitation. I couldn't help but feel like she was hiding something from me, and got even more fed up with everything that had happened to me in only my first day at this stupid school when I tripped over something.

"Damn it," I cursed, throwing my hood off.

"Melinda-" Cross Lady gasped, but was cut off by my horrified scream. I had tripped over a hunk of earth that stuck out of the ground, but was stabbed me with senseless fear was the body laying next to it. It wasn't human, and I should have been a little less freaked, but the tiny white form made my heart ache.

"Faith..." I was surprised I could even talk. I wretched my arm free of Cross Lady's grip and fell to my knees, beside her. Her fur was stained with blood, one ear missing, and there was an awkward dent in her head.

"Melinda...," Cross Lady whispered, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"No!" I shouted, my voice vibrating in pain. I shrugged her off, and turned on her with raging eyes. "How could this have happened? Why did she have to die?"

"Melinda, I'm sorry," she sighed, her eyes filled with sympathy.

"No you're not!" I screamed, jumping to my feet, tears building up behind my eyes. "The only normal thing that happened to me today, and now she's gone! I didn't even have her for a day! Do you get that? No you don't!" I was so overtaken by grief, I could've sworn I felt something pawing my leg. That poor little kitten. Those cute, big, blue, curious eyes, her soft pure white fur. I'd never get to see them again.

"Mew!" cried a small voice.

"Now I'm hallucinating!" I shouted, tears spilling over. "Why am I being tortured like this?"

"Melinda," she said softly, looking down at my feet. I followed the crazy lady's gaze, and gasped. A pair of big, blue, curious eyes were staring up at me.

"Oh Faith!" I cried, dropping to my knees and scooping her up. Oh the relief I felt. The pain was gone, but the tears were there, but they poured over in joy. I looked over at the cat body and noticed it was actually bigger than Faith. How could I have mistaken her for Faith? I she was very strong, and wouldn't let anything harm her.

"Mew!" she squealed, rubbing against my face. I couldn't believe it. She was okay. She was really alive. Her fur was matted with dirt and grass, but she was still in one piece.

"Oh, I'm never leaving you out of my sight again," I sniffed, holding her close.

"I'm sorry to cut you off," Cross Lady began.

"Then don't," I snapped, turning daggers on her.

"You have to come with me to the infirmary," she said, her face calm. "That's where the others are."

"Others?" I asked, lifting an eyebrow, which took some effort.

"You, Amethyst-Chan and Tonya aren't the only ones," she explained, kneeling beside me. "You three are Water, Air and Fire, but there is also Earth and Spirit."

"So five of us," I nodded, petting Faith. "Just like in the Circle?"

"Precisely," she nodded. "And you were all chosen for a reason. I know you don't like us, or believe in anything we do, but look at the miracles you have performed. No one has ever had your level of control over this element, or given such a great gift as you have."

"You sound like Professor Panda," I muttered, cuddling a now squealing Faith.

"Just look," she said with a smile, motioning to the scene around us. I couldn't really define the smile. It was kind of a bitter-sweet one. One that held marvel, but held sorrow beneath it. I swallowed a lump in my throat, and finally took in my surroundings. I swear my hear stopped for a second. It was unbelievable, it was impossible, yet there it was. Five large towers of earth towered among the chaos throughout the House of Night. They were positioned just like they were in my painting, except there wasn't any special significance about them. No element shadows, just hunks of rock. One had shot up grazing the Girl's dorm, another pierced through the centre of the boy's dorm, another came up right behind the goddess's temple, another came up behind the stables, and the last was standing where the central fountain had once been.

"No way...," I breathed, stumbling to my feet.

"Don't you see Melinda Bree," Cross Lady said quietly, standing as well, but more gracefully. "You and the others hold extraordinary powers. Powers that will save us all."


Melinda

The infirmary was filled with kids. Cross Lady lied. It was more than a few. They were crying, and moaning, and one was even hyperventilating. I didn't see what was wrong with them, because Cross Lady had me put my hood back on. It was probably because of my freakish tatoos, but I didn't care. It only added to my freak factor. I was lead along with Faith nestled in my arms.

"In here," Cross Lady instructed as I heard a door open. I walked through carefully, and was met by muffled sobs. The door closed behind us with a small click, blocking out the sounds outside. "Alright, you can take it off now." She didn't need to tell me twice. I whipped off my hood, and took in a deep breath of fresh air, then chocked on it. Destiny was crying on Tonya's shoulder, and the look on her face was so...sad. She looked like she was going to start crying along with her. One look at me however, and it quickly vanished. Her Mark was gone and replaced by a pair of firey wings that spread down her face, the colour of blazing bronze.

"We just need to find the last one," I heard Cross Lady whisper to Rhinestone, but didn't here anymore when I was nearly knocked over by Amethyst.

"Oh you're okay!" she gasped, snot trailing down her nose. "Oh, I was so worried."

"You'll be lonely too if you don't clean up your snot fest," I said, leaning back so she wouldn't get any on me. She quickly wiped her face on the sleeves of her cloak. "Why's Destiny crying?" I whispered to her, hoping no one else heard me.

"She's Earth," Amethyst explained in the same tone. "She was the one who created those large pillars."

"Oh," I nodded. That's some power, I thought.

"Melinda?" Destiny sniffed, looking up. Her forehead was covered with a large pair of wings made of vines that disappeared up under her hair and looped down to her cheeks and neck.

"You okay?" I asked, sitting down on one of the chairs that had been set out.

"Yeah, I'm okay," she nodded, wiping her eyes. "I just hurt so many people...I didn't mean to."

"I told you, don't blame yourself," Tonya snapped. "It's not your fault. You couldn't control yourself. Just like I couldn't control myself either. I almost burned down the dorm."

"You're welcome," I half smiled, covering most of Faith's body with my long sleeves.

"I would've been just fine." Tonya glared at me. "I was getting the hang of it."

"Of burning things endlessly. Oh yes, you get a gold star for that one," I nodded, "but if it was all an act, then you should get an Oscar." She gritted her teeth, biting back any retorts she was going to throw at me. She's got some good self control, I thought, giving her props.

"Evangeline!" Professor Volante practically knocked down the door when he rushed in, a grave look on his face. Cherry followed him into the room and she trotted over to me, whimpering as she rested head on my lap.

"It's okay girl," I smiled, scratching her head. I half expected Faith and Cherry to growl and hiss at each other, but they laid there in silence.

"Did you find Spirit?" she asked, hurrying over to him.

"Yes," he nodded, "but that's not what I wanted to tell you." They moved into the corner, speaking in hushed voice. I turned to Amethyst to say something to her, but she was watching them tentatively, as if trying to figure out what they were saying.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Listening," she replied in a hushed voice. "They said 3 boys died in the dorm when the pillar broke through, and 4 are badly injured."

"Did they say who died?" I urged. She looked at me finally, her eyes glazed with tears. Oh no, I thought. Not someone we know... The door opened just then, and a guy teacher whom I've never seen before came in with another person who was covered with a black cloak. She was taller than him, which was surprising, since I hadn't seen any girls that tall so far today.

"So you do you think that is?" I asked, forgetting about the dead boys.

"Don't know...," she shrugged, not looking at all interested. She was watching Destiny finally dry up her tears.

"I brought Spirit," the male teacher announced, leading the person to the last empty chair. She didn't sit though, she staid standing, and kept her hood on.

"Let me see," Cross Lady said, coming over to her. Boy was she tall. Cross Lady had was a full foot shorter. "Remove your hood." Obediently, the hood was thrown back, and I only stared in shock. Would these twists ever end? I thought. The person under the hood wasn't a girl(which explained a lot), but Vince. I couldn't see his tatoos because his hair was brushed down in his face, but I could see parts of a wispy mist design in dark amethyst on his cheek,. His one visible blue eye seemed to glow brighter than usual.

" A boy?" Tonya looked at him incredulously. "Spirit is a boy?"

"Apparently so," Amethyst said, blinking at him in surprise.

"Please sit down," Cross Lady said, her face unchanging. "I'll explain everything."

"I prefer to stand, thank you," he replied, his eyes moving to a wall.

"Alright," Cross Lady nodded, moving so she stood before the five of us. "Where do I begin?" I glanced to Amethyst, wondering if she'd ask about the dead boys.

"How about telling us about the deaths we caused?" I asked when she showed no sign of doing so. Cross Lady's face went black in surprise, and I heard Destiny hiccup.

"Deaths," Cross Lady repeated in a quiet voice.

"Yes, who died?" I repeated, not dropping my gaze. I could feel Amethyst staring at me. Cross Lady sighed, a looked down to the floor.

"There were unfortunately 5 deaths today," she said firmly, looking up at us again. "That is, not counting the few cats that died as well." The room was eerily quiet. Destiny looked like she was holding her breath. "Their names were Abigale Thorn, Wesley Miles, Coralina, Harvey Briggs...and Zach Attack." I nearly fell out of seat when Destiny screamed. She was crying again, but harder than I thought possible. Tonya held her tightly, trying to comfort her the best she could. So that's who...,I thought, glancing at Amethyst. It was Destiny's boyfriend. I could feel my heart racing. We did this, I thought, my head spinning. We caused all these things to happen. Well, Tonya and Destiny caused more damage than we did, but still. It was only fair to blame all of us.

"It's all my fault!" Destiny was wailing now, soaking up Tonya's cloak with snot and tears.

"No it's not," she sighed soothingly.

"It was Nyx's," I said flatly, staring down at my lap, but I felt everyone's shocked gazes on me. "It's true. If she hadn't did this to us, no one would've died. So in the grand scheme of things, it's her fault."

"In the grand scheme of things, this was to happen to save our future," Cross Lady said, her voice unwavering.

"So your saying their lives were a necessary sacrifice?" I countered, glaring up at her. "That they are the only first casualties of a war to come? What kind of sick game are you trying to play?"

"Melinda, don't talk to her like that," Amethyst gasped, the most shocked out of all of the.

"I can talk to her anyway I like," I snapped, turning on her. "She's no High Priestess of mine. And this so called 'Goddess' is not mine either. I don't want any of this shit."

"Oh, so everything revolves around you?" Tonya asked in a very sarcastic voice.

"No, that's how your world works, with all your little people following you like a queen bee," I shrugged. She didn't bother me. The only thing that did was being forced to be here and listen to these stupid explanations.

"Please, no fighting," Cross Lady spoke up finally. "I will not have you fighting amongst yourselves when you need to focus on fighting the evil."

"You can count me out," I said, scratching Faith's head. "I fight for no one."

"Not even yourself?" she asked, lifting an eyebrow.

"I'm not that selfish."

"Then perhaps for the person you care about the most?" That'd obviously be Gonzo, I thought. But he's a big boy, he can fight for himself, but I would feel horrible if he died because of something I didn't do. I'd probably feel as horrible as Destiny looks. I glared up at Cross Lady, defiance being obvious.

"I'll hear you out, but I'm not promising anything," I finally said.

"Fair enough," she nodded, and turned to the rest of them. "I guess I can start with the Elements. Not much is known about them really, but they were the original source to the elements we know today. They weren't exactly children of Nyx, but for centuries they worked with her to make a beautiful paradise of the Otherworld, and to make one of similarity on Earth. They were very powerful, so powerful that there was a time when they caused a lot of destruction. They begged Nyx to be rid of them so they wouldn't hurt people anymore. If they were to die, the elements would disappear from the realms, so she put them into a deep sleep. The sleep was so deep, that they would never be able to wake up in their pure forms again. The only way to revive them, was to wake them into the bodies of strong-willed vampyres chosen by Nyx. You five were chosen by Nyx, and you currently are filled with tan ancient element."

"That much I got," I sighed, sliding a bit in my chair. "I mean, it only makes sense because of the dream, and these tatoos. But why us?"

"As I said," Cross Lady continued. "You were chosen by Nyx. She has her reasons. If we were to know these reason, we'd see no wonder or mystery in her work."

"But why did we cause such destruction?" Destiny sniffed, looking up. "Why did we cause all those things to happen?"

"It was the entities proclaiming their return," she explained. "They are very powerful as I said, and what you saw is only a fraction of what they are capable of. You only noticed the five columns, and the fire, but there were other signs that didn't have a drastic aftermath. The wave of panic that woke us all was the first sign. It was Spirit warning us that we were in the presence of god-like power. There was a tornado around the House of Night. That's why trees were pulled from their roots outside our walls. The school was in the centre of the tornado. Before it was destroyed, the fountain's water reached incredible heights, bathing the entire school of night. We did our best to get all the students to safety, but we were unfortunately not fast enough. There is no need to blame yourselves though, it would've happened no matter who was chosen. The Elements have return to the Earth, and they needed to proclaim it to the world."

"But why have they returned?" Amethyst asked in a shaky voice. "There must be a good reason right?"

"Yes, there is," Cross Lady nodded in agreement, "but what it is I don't know."

"But you said that you guys need saving," I said lifting an eyebrow. "You must know what you need saving from."

"I unfortunately don't," she sighed. "My gift from Nyx is strong intuition and empathy. I know what people feel, here, and in the Otherworld. I can feel Nyx is concerned, but she is confident with her decisions. She trusts that you will be able to handle anything thrown at you."

"We nearly destroy the House of Night, and we are given the job of protecting you," Tonya repeated, not sounding at all happy. "That's very nice."

"And how are we suppose to control these powers?" Amethyst asked.

"Through practice of course," Cross Lady smiled. "Your timetables will now be changed so you can have private tutoring to control your powers. You will be taught by a teacher who has the same affinity as you."

"There are teachers with element affinities?" Amethyst gasped in amazement.

"Is that why they are the ones at the circle casting?" I asked, believing I was catching on.

"Actually, not all the teachers with affinities are in my Circle," Cross Lady explained. "A Circle isn't just made of powerful vampyres, but of those you have a strong bond with. And the five of you all have a deep ancient bond, and the Circle you cast will be incredible."

"We're gonna cast a Circle?" Destiny repeated in wonder.

"Yes," she nodded. "And I've actually thought of the perfect way for you to get into great practice. You five will lead the Dark Daughters."

"What?" Tonya screamed, and octave higher than I thought possible. I know it was mean, but I found pleasure in her distress.

"You five will lead the Dark Daughters, and cast the Circle at every meeting you have," Cross Lady elaborated.

"I'll still be able to cast it right?" Tonya demanded, glaring daggers at her.

"No, you will be standing at the southern point representing fire," she replied, the corners of her lips twitching.

"What?" she shouted again. "Then who's going to?"

"Vince is," she replied simply, smiling at the only boy in the room. We all turned in stared in surprise, and he met none of our gazes. I actually felt sad that he didn't look at me.

"A boy can't summon a Circle!" Tonya growled, completely furious.

"There is always a first for everything," Volante said from the back. I had forgotten we was even there.

"Indeed there is," Cross Lady nodded in agreement.

"So what about the rest of the students?" I asked. "Will they be told?"

"Yes," she nodded. "I'm going to be having an assembly to explain the situation...and to announce the passings we had. While that's being done, you will be taken to the teacher's building to eat and rest."

"What about our dorms?" Destiny asked, wiping her eyes.

"Just eat and rest," she smiled. "Things will be taken care of."