Chapter Seven

Hey guys! HIDDEN is finally out. I just bought it today, and I'm on chapter seven, but I just had to stop reading to update REVEALED for you guys. For those of you who haven't read it... as Stevie Rae would say, ohmygoodness! It's. Frigging. Epic. Also, I watched the video chat with PC. Cast and Kristin Cast on Goodreads, and book 11 will actually be called REVEALED! That's amazing!

Now, onto chapter seven of REVEALED!

Aurox

Aurox sat up and stared at the rising sun outside of the window, blurriness blocking his ability to see clearly. He was still groggy- this was the best sleep he'd had in a long time, as he'd learned not to take sleep lightly. Of course, all he'd dreamed about, as usual, was Zoey- her beautiful strong lips, her gorgeous brown eyes, her strong sharp voice, her tall, proud stance that reminded him so of Nyx.

He blinked again and realized that the plane wasn't moving. With shock, he turned and looked at Aphrodite, who was asleep at his side. He looked behind him at Darius, who was wide awake, looking down at a magazine. "Have we landed?"

Darius looked up at him in surprise. "Yes. I'd decided to let the two of you sleep," he said softly. "You've been asleep the whole plane ride, Aurox."

"I have?" Confusion brought him fully awake as he blinked away the last of his grogginess. "I thought... We were just..." He ran a tired hand through his hair as he sighed.

"You thought wrong," Darius said, not unkindly. "Wake my queen for me."

Aurox turned to Aphrodite. She looked so peaceful sleeping. All the stress had left her face, making her look strong and regal like a Prophetess of Nyx should look. He pressed his hand to her arm, shaking her gently. "Aphrodite. Wake up." Her eyes fluttered open gently, and she stared up at him.

"Aurox?" Her voice cracked, but there seemed to be relief in it.

"Yes," he told her. "It's time to leave." As soon as the words left his lips, the plane's intercom buzzed and the pilot told them the doors of the plane were now open. He rose to his feet, helping Darius with the bags as Aphrodite got her bearings. When she was finally fully awake, they all walked off the plane and into a sweltering Tehran, Iran. The province was strangely beautiful. The sun shone brilliantly in the sky, and to his surprise it was not the barren desert he had expected. The city had several buildings and people walking around, and he even saw a House of Night in the distance. His heart jolted as he caught sight of a tall, beautiful cathedral beside the House that looked just like the cathedral he'd seen in his dream. He knew deep in his heart that the cathedral was intertwined with his destiny; it was the place that would reveal everything about saving Zoey.

Aphrodite stretched and rolled her eyes. "Okay, this plan was kinda dumb. What the fuck are we even supposed to do now that we're here?"

"Look for the Sacred Lands," Darius responded immediately.

"So they're just gonna pop up like, 'we're the Sacred Lands, come here and play Candyland with us?'" Aphrodite rolled her eyes again, this time ten times harder. "I don't think so."

"Trust in Nyx, my queen," Darius said, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist. "If you have faith in her, you will be taken far."

Aurox was staring past them at the strange cathedral when a scarlet Mark appeared before him. He squinted at the skin around it- dark caramel skin, with soulful brown eyes and long hair. He swore the tattoo was a representation of Nyx herself, and he knew beyond all doubt that this woman was touched by the Goddess. He felt in his soul like he'd seen her somewhere before, but he couldn't put his finger on where.

"Merry meet, Aphrodite," the woman said softly, nodding to her.

Aphrodite stared openmouthed at her, and when she finally did speak it wasn't in response to the greeting. Instead she said, "You... I thought you were dead..."

"I thought I was dead, too," the woman said honestly, running a hand through her hair. "I did not know that Nyx would return me to my body. I assume you are here to stop Neferet?"

Aurox's body jerked. "How did you know about Neferet?" he cried.

"I do not believe I know you, child," the woman said.

"Aurox," he said. "My name is Aurox."

"Merry meet, Aurox," she said.

"Merry meet..." He paused. He couldn't complete the greeting if he didn't know the woman's name.

She smiled lightly. "I am Shekinah, High Priestess of Vampyres."

Kalona

Kalona gasped as he watched him fall from the sky. He never thought he would have to see the Consort of Nyx again, but here he was again, right before him. Pain shivered through him, and then anger that he got to champion Nyx when Kalona couldn't. With a heavy heart that was, admittedly, laden with fear, he stood at attention, waiting for Erebus to tell them why he was here.

"There has been great Darkness committed here this night!" His voice was like a rising sun, gaining power as it gone on. It was deep and powerful, Light-laden. He knew Erebus was using his old magick so that his voice was magnified for all the fledglings and vampyres to hear. "Light and Darkness are set to battle soon, and a mere fledgling or vampyre cannot battle Darkness itself."

"I can," Kalona snapped, anger filling him. "I am not a vampyre."

Erebus's cold gaze skewered him. "Kalona," he said. "Fallen Warrior and Guardian of Nyx."

"Guardian?" he asked, confused. "I'd never been a Guardian."

"Had you?" he questioned. "Nyx made it clear that you were her Guardian at some point. I knew you were in love with her. But we will not discuss such trivial matters at this point. Nyx has made it clear that she forgives you, which is why I am here. I will stand with you and fight the Darkness that her fallen Tsi Sgili daughter Neferet has brought into this world." Erebus's proud, muscular body faced the entire crowd of fledglings and vampyres- which had now grown to include Stevie Rae, Rephaim, Shaunee, Erin, and Kramisha, who, to his surprise, had filled-in Marks that resembled an ink pen. Erebus's gaze turned toward Stevie Rae and Rephaim, who were so close they were almost pressed into each other, and smiled slightly. "Ah, so you are the Red High Priestess, and you are her Consort."

"Yes," they both said at the same time. Stevie Rae stood proudly, her shoulders arched, her chin up, her stance resembling an ancient warrior queen. Pride for her swelled up in his heart, and he smiled.

"I see Nyx in you. The Goddess's fingerprint is all over you." He smiled. "Anybody who is on her side is on my side."

"Why, exactly, are you here?" Lenobia asked. Her voice was calm and kind, but the words that came from it were more than a little rude.

"I am here to join you, of course. Nyx thought you should have someone to fight against Darkness himself- and since the black bull only appears at apocalyptic times, and I am the second closest to Light, it only makes sense that she would want me." Erebus seemed to look at Kalona. But the glance could've been his imagination.

"Okay, well, you can stay with us at the tunnels." Stevie Rae smiled at him. "Anyone who is allied with Nyx is allied with me."

"Okay. I have heard much about these... tunnels." He smiled back, his grin making him look like Kalona.

"They dirty," Kramisha muttered. "And it ain't no more space for that many more people, if we planning on having the whole fledgling population down there."

"That is fine- I will make do." Erebus stood firm and tall like an ancient warrior god. "I did not come here expecting special treatment, so don't give it. Treat me like you would any other vampyre." He stood normally, and Kalona noticed all the female attention he was getting. His golden wings seemed to shimmer with the light from the sun. Unexpectedly, Kalona felt a sharp stab of jealousy.

"Kalona." He was surprised to hear his name rolling off Stevie Rae's lips. His eyes flickered to her. Rephaim stared at her, confused. "I need to talk to you," she said.

He nodded slightly and moved closer to her as the rest of the fledglings and vampyres dispersed, some falling behind so they could talk to the Consort of Nyx. He no longer cared about their affection. All he cared about was his Goddess- serving her, fulfilling her roles, and being the best he could for her.

Rephaim stepped away to give them a second to talk, his eyes wistful.

Stevie Rae stood only a few feet away from him, her hands on her hips. She pursed her lips and glared at him. "Now, Kalona, I know you feel jealous of Erebus," she said unexpectedly. "But you have to get used to him. Nyx sent him here to show us something. What that is, we'll find out soon enough."

"I know." His voice was rough with emotion. "But he is such an antagonist towards me. I can see that he hates me- it's plain on his face. I wish Nyx were here."

"She is here." Stevie Rae patted his shoulder gently. "She's with us in our hearts, if we choose to accept her."

"Well, I do." Kalona stared up to the heavens, question in his eyes. "I accept the Goddess into my heart."

With a golden explosion, a bunch of rainbow colors seemed to expand from within him. Dark light faded from him, and it was replaced by a true, brilliant Light. His soul was now completely pure, even though it would always have a shadow on it.

"Kalona..." Stevie Rae gasped. "You..."

"What is it?"

"Your wings... they're gone!"

Shaunee

After they'd left when Erebus had appeared, she went straight to the front of the House of Night and waited for Nisroc. It was like a daily habit- a routine that she would never fall out of. She smiled as she saw his body expand, as he fell out of the sky.

"Nisroc!" Shaunee threw her arms around him, as she laughed softly to herself at the relief of seeing his face. "I missed you."

"I've missed you, too, Shaunee," Nisroc whispered, blinking to himself. "I've... missed you too." He disentangled himself from her arms, looking confused.

"What's wrong?" Shaunee touched his arm warmly. "I'm here to help."

"Shaunee Cole," he whispered. "You've shown me Light and love, and for that... I thank you."

"Well, you're welcome," she told him. "Of course I showed you love. You needed it."

"But why?" He looked genuinely confused. "Why would someone love a Raven Mocker like me? I'm a creature of Darkness. I have no heart. How can I even be loved?"

"It's possible," she told him. "I've seen it happen, with Rephaim and Stevie Rae." She blushed at the notion that she and Nisroc was a couple. Now that was just ridiculous. She was certain that love story would always be invalid.

"That's good to know." He turned from her, facing the dark sky, his eyes alight with a sudden flame she'd never seen there. "I don't know why, but Shaunee... you make me come alive. You make me feel a way I've never felt about any mortal before. I feel so different with you."

"I feel different, too," she whispered bitterly. "I feel like I can finally be... myself. Instead of holding onto someone else."

"What do you mean?" He cocked his head to one side. Attentive and listening, as always.

"I had a... Twin, named Erin." Shaunee stared at the rising moon. "She was white, and obviously I'm black, but other than that we were soul sisters. We did all the same things, liked all the same types of boys and clothes. We were perfect." She hated the longing she felt. "But Erin and I aren't Twins anymore. We're friends, but we're not Twins. Twin was a title of shallowness, and I don't want it anymore."

"That's good," he said, to her surprise. "I don't think you want to be shallow. I don't see shallow when I look at you, Shaunee."

Pride burned boomingly within her, and she smiled in spite of herself. Finally Nisroc was accepting her- she was worried about getting accepted by a Raven Mocker.

"What do you see when you look at me?" His animalistic whisper sent chills up and down her spine, but they were not chills of fear- they were chills of pleasure.

She closed her eyes and prayed up to Nyx: Please let me say this right. Then she spoke, knowing that the words that came out of her mouth were Goddess-touched. "Nisroc, when I look at you I don't see a Raven Mocker, or even one of Kalona's sons. I see a boy who has been on the side of Darkness for so long that Light itself is a mystery to him. I see a boy trapped in ice, an ice that can only be destroyed with fire." She smiled softly. "And that just happens to be my affinity."

He breathed, his breath ragged with emotion. "Is this what it feels like?"

"What?" she asked, confused.

"Is this what it feels like? Love?"

Her body hummed with warmth, and she felt that flicker of recognition that reminded her so of Tanner that her whole body shivered. She saw him in the Raven Mocker. Could Nisroc be Tanner reincarnated?

She didn't stop herself from moving slightly closer to him as she realized that the shiver wasn't just from him. It was getting cold outside. The wind was picking up, and the temperature had already been pretty low. She closed her eyes and leaned into Nisroc, letting the warmth of his feathers guard her from the Darkness that had entered her life.

Funny how the person who was shielding her from that Darkness was a Dark creature himself.

XOXO,

Casey