I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving. I worked on this chapter when I could in between making Apple Crisp (yum). Enjoy!
ZOEY
When I woke up the stiffness in my chest and midsection was immense. It hurt to move and the bandages didn't help either. I saw my cat sleeping at the foot of the bed and Neferet was still beside me.
"Why did this bullpoopie have to happen?" I groaned remembering the events of the day before. I noticed the dark curtains were drawn to keep out the light and I knew it was still early. I reached over and grabbed a glass of water that was set aside if I needed to drink. My throat felt parched and it hurt to swallow. Neferet stirred, her green eyes opened slowly and brightened when she saw I was awake. A small smile pulled at the corners of her mouth.
"You're awake." She murmured stroking the side of my face.
"You stayed the whole time." She smiled sheepishly.
"It didn't feel right leaving you here alone. I know I could have sent in Kalona but I needed to see you were okay first." She said.
"Thanks." I whispered. She shrugged and checked the bandages.
"You've healed quicker than the nurse and I thought. You may be able to leave today." She said unwrapping them to see the damage. I wasn't ready to see the nasty scar or what was left of it. If there was anything left of it. I hadn't just drank a fledglings or Vampyre blood. It was the blood of a High Priestess. There was more power to it than anyone could have imagined, filled with the influence of the Goddess herself. I looked and saw a thin red line that was jagged. It didn't look like it hurt but when Neferet touched it I winced. She looked at me worriedly.
"You've healed but you will still be sore." She murmured. She went to tell the nurse she thought I was okay to go. When she returned she had a smile.
"Can I leave and continue classes?" I asked. She nodded. She helped me up but kept a firm hold on my elbow in case I collapsed as we made our way to the girl's dorm. I still wore my bloody shirt which I wished they had changed me out of, even if it was in those god awful gowns. Eesh. When I reached the dorm Aphrodite, Erin, Shaunee and Stevie Rae lunged at me and almost tackled me if Neferet hadn't been behind me, her hands on my sides steadying me. I gasped when they all hit me. They pulled away.
"Sorry Z, didn't mean to hurt ya." Stevie Rae said and hugged me gentler. "It's good you're up now."
"Yeah, we thought you were hamburger meat." Erin said.
"Ditto." Shaunee agreed. I rolled my eyes at their analogy.
"Thanks guys." I said sarcastically. Aphrodite snorted.
"Welcome back, now the Herd of Nerd is complete." She said but the smile took away the bite in her words. She gestured to my shirt with her chin. "Looks like it's stained a little." We all laughed even Neferet did at her comment.
"I'll leave you guys to make sure she is settled. Take it easy. Don't push yourself in Equestrian Studies either." Neferet said. Her voice was laced with worry.
"We will, don't worry." Stevie Rae said with a bright smile. Neferet smiled at her.
"Thank you Stevie Rae. I will see you guys in class." Neferet said and walked out the door.
NEFERET
She hated leaving Zoey but she knew her friends would take care of her. Stevie Rae especially. They were inseparable when they had met. She walked through the hallway acknowledging those who walked past. She wished she could protect her but unless the Bull got his way, she and Zoey would never be at peace.
"I need to figure this out. She can't get hurt again, she may not make it this time." She whispered to herself. She had no intention of walking anywhere but when she looked up she saw the statue of Nyx.
"What do I do? I can't let any of my fledglings or Professors get hurt." She murmured to the Goddess. She shivered as a breeze flew in the temple. Warmth and reassurance surged in her like a wave. "Thank you." She prayed to the Goddess for a few moments and left feeling better than she had in a while. She went to her classroom to prepare for her classes and longed to be with Zoey again.
ZOEY
After my friends had helped me out of my shirt and sent their elements to strengthen me to ease the pain the scar may cause when water touched it. When I emerged feeling refreshed in a t-shirt, sweatpants they began talking about normal stuff.
"So are you going to sleep with Neferet from now on?" Erin asked.
"Don't know, if they bother me I will but if not then I will stay here." I replied with a shrug.
"It's okay if you do. Since she's Imprinted with you she is technically your Warrior type person." Shaunee said.
"She needs to calm her overactive Priestess brain and breath. Maybe one of you Grandmother's cleansing rituals." Aphrodite said after drinking her Fiji water. Someone knocked on my door.
"Who is it?" Stevie Rae asked.
"Damien!" He said.
"Come in!" I added. He came in and hugged me gently.
"So what have you guys been talking about? Sounding pretty good to me." He asked.
"Zoey calming her overactive ass down." Aphrodite supplied. "Can you get the stuff you got last time for cleansing rituals?"
"Yeah, we can do it tonight after the Full Moon Ritual." He replied. We nodded.
"Great. We meet where we did last time I guess." Stevie Rae said with a mischievous smile. We continued to talk about random matters until we decided it was time to get ready for classes. I got into a sweater and long pants with my flats while Stevie Rae took a shower. I applied minimal makeup not wanting to look like a raccoon with excessive eyeliner. We walked down to the Dining Hall with the Twins, Aphrodite and met up with Damien later on. We sat at our usual booth, me with my Count Chocula that made me release some energy.
After breakfast we went to our 1st hour classes. I walked in and sat and waited for class to start. Fledglings began coming in, nodding at me as they did. When the bell rang Neferet walked in wearing a purple silk dress with the Goddess's symbol on her breast. She bounced into a lecture about the Bulls to inform what they really met.
"At a time it could mean greatness and a feeling you can't get enough of." She spoke her voice was laced with regret. "But like everything, it has a price." Her eyes fell on me and I knew she regretted everything that has happened. Someone raised their hand.
"Yes?" Neferet asked.
"This is for Zoey." The girl said. She turned toward me since she sat in front of me.
"Are you really Imprinted with her?" She asked. There was no accusation, hatred or sneer. It was more wonder and questioning. I looked at Neferet and met her gaze. She nodded once.
"Yeah." I replied. The girl smiled.
"You stopped the evil." She whispered and turned back in her seat.
"I ask you not to give her special treatment. Yes, she is beautifully gifted by our Goddess and closer to me." Neferet said meeting all of the kids eyes. Her eyes meant mine last. "She is very special. To Nyx, and everyone." She added but hidden in that was 'She's special to me' which made me halfway smile.
After my first 5 classes I had gotten questions about the Imprint which at first didn't bother me but now I ground me teeth when it was even mentioned. I could tell Neferet felt was I was feeling but shut the thought out. After tacking Persephone and leading her into the ring, Lenobia stopped me a moment.
"Something is troubling you." She said her silver eyes flashing. I nodded once.
"Yeah, tired of people making a big deal of my Imprint." I muttered. Lenobia smiled making her look years younger.
"It's going to be the talk of for a while. They know it's not recommended for fledglings and Adult Vamps, much less Professors to Imprint. They wonder if you did it for attention or for some reason. But ignore it and it shall pass." She said. I nodded and she gave me a leg up on Persephone who was getting anxious to be off. We did some barrel racing stuff in class which I seriously loved. After brushing Persephone I went to the Full Moon Ritual. Damien was waiting with everyone else with his satchel or 'man purse' as the Twins called it.
"Got the stuff?" I asked him. He nodded with a smile.
"Yup." He replied patting the bag. We walked into the Full Moon Ritual after being greeted by a Vamp I didn't recognize. I felt my soul lift with spirit, bonfires burn around me, streams flowing near me, winds tousling my hair and the smell of lavender fields. Neferet looked gorgeous as she honored the elements and the Goddess.
"As you remember, I used to be in alliegance with Darkness. With the White Bull." She said her voice sad and full of regret. Her eyes met mine and I realized her eyes were filled with tears. "It was upon my greatest regret I did. There is no excuse for my behavior and I only hope I can regain the trust of you, my fledglings and Professors, and the Goddess herself. It took a certain fledgling to help me find the light again." She walked around the circle her long purple dress flowing behind her as she walked. She stopped before me.
"I thank you Zoey, Chosen One of Nyx, for helping me find the light again." She said placing her hands on my shoulders. She removed them and bowed to me respectfully. She smiled at me before moving to the middle of the circle again finishing the ritual. Stevie Rae nudged me when she left and I could tell she had a small smile.
After the ritual was over we stood outside a tree in a quiet space. I spoke the prayer I remembered doing when I was little and used the sage to cleanse my friends.
"Nyx, I ask you to please help things return to normal soon. All of the kids and Professors have been through a great deal and could use some good things for a while." I spoke. "I also ask to help cleanse my friends and I of the evil or any lingering stresses and help us overcome them as well as relax. I know it may seem like a lot but we just need some good right now."
"I would like to add to help protect Z against the Bull of Darkness, he's been here and gored her once. I would appreciate if you gave Aphrodite a vision or some warning to help keep Z alive. Thank you Ma'am." Stevie Rae added and I heard Aphrodite snort. I closed our circle thanking the Goddess for listening and went to the Dining Hall for dinner. To my delight, Spaghetti was on the menu and I had a large helping of it.
