Sorry to take so long with some of these chapters. Work has been busy and my husband has kept the laptop out of reach the past few days. I hope to have a chapter or two up this weekend, if not on Monday.

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters as they belong to P.C and Kristin Cast. I simply borrow them and place them in my own story.

Resurrection

Chapter 11

"Children of Nyx, listen!" she commanded as she walked into visibility from the bight light. Nyx was wearing not her usual flowing gown with beads and jewels, her hair in tight knots. She was dressed in buckskin pants with leather boots with large buckles, a feluna bodice with a white long, billowing sleeved shirt underneath and a thick leather belt around her waist. She looked ready to head into battle. She had two swords strapped to her back. One I had recognized in our History class. It was the sword of the Vampire. It was an impressive two-handed sword forged from high-carbon spring steel and tempered over hot coals. Its blade was 31.5" long and featured three "blood grooves." It had a polished ebony wood grip and brass accents. It was remarkable. The second sword I had also recognized as the Sword of Merlin. It was intricately detailed and had a host of animal totems decorating the blade. The wave-cut and serrated edges only add to the menacing look of this truly unique weapon. I was in awe staring at both weapons. Nyx obviously believed we were in great danger to come to us prepared as she was. She even had a sword tucked into a case attached to her belt. I wasn't sure what sword it was either. "There is great danger lurking ahead. I have come to help aid you."

"My Goddess" Neferet said as she flung herself to the ground and graveled at Nyx's feet. Nyx looked down to her with loving eyes.

"My child, Neferet, stand." Nyx took her hand and placed it on Neferet's chin to draw her eyes up then motioned for her to stand. "Do not gravel in front of me. I am not your master, but your mother." Nyx took Neferet in a strong hold. "I have been waiting for you to return and it brings my heart joy that you have returned."

"Thank you Goddess. I have missed you." Neferet's face was sad. She started to cry a bit while standing there in Nyx presence.

Nyx looked to me and moved away from Neferet. "My u-we-tsi a-ge-hu-tsa." She kissed my forehead and placed both of her hands on my face. "Such a brave and honest soul you have. I was right to have made you my chosen one."

I couldn't help but to feel a bit of regret in her words. I was thrilled to be chosen by a Goddess, my Goddess, but the responsibility was becoming more than I could bear. You know that saying from Spiderman, with great power comes great responsibility. I didn't want more responsibility. I wanted to be a normal kid again. I was so tired of having to be face to face with evil. I hated how everyone seemed to look to me for answers, answers which I didn't really have. I was just lucky enough to have a Grandma that knew most of the answers and friends that were great at helping me solve problems.

"I sense something is bothering you tremendously Zoey. Tell me about your concerns." Nyx said as she grabbed my hand.

"I'm not just if I'm cut out for all of this." I said solemnly.

"Cut out for what Zoey?" she asked.

"This, all of this." I raised my hands up and shook my head. "You can't really expect me to follow through with killing Erik and possibly Stevie Rae if it came down to it." I really wanted to say, "Are you sure you chose the right girl to be chosen with such great gifts."

"Zoeybird" she called me by the name my Dad and my Grandma called me, "I chose you for your heart and your fighting soul. You may not realize it now, but you are extremely special and will bring such wonderful things to this generation of Vampires. Do you not see how special you are to me?"

I had to stand there for a minute to think about her question. Was I really that special? Sure, I had an affinity for all of the elements, I could get angry like a Morrigan and fly and my body would be covered in flames. Sometimes when I thought about it, it terrified me how much I had changed in the past few months. I was no longer the Zoey Redbird I was before being marked. "Why did you choose me Nyx?"

"Why? Zoey, you come from a long line of very powerful individuals. You were chosen because of your heart and your bravery. You are very strong Zoey, you are just afraid to unleash your full powers. You have tested, but I can sense you're not fully aware of what your capable of. I came here tonight in hopes that I could reassure you and my other children and to open your mind to your gifts that I have given you."

"But I know how to use my gifts. I just don't understand why you gave them to me. Why I have been marked so special. No other fledgling or vampire has marks as I do."

"That is because I have a special plan for you Zoeybird. You will find out soon." Nyx smiled and lead me back towards the group. "Do not fret. I am with you. Nothing will come to harm you."

I sure hope so. Having Nyx there was a blessing. She was in her physical form. You would think that the Goddess of Night would be dark and mean and mysterious. However, she was a vision of beauty, like the Goddess Aphrodite (no, not Aphrodite Aphrodite, but the Roman Goddess of Love herself). She was warm, inviting and extremely loving. Nyx turned to the rest of my friends and began to speak of what was to come and what we had to do.

"My children, I come to bear you terrible news. Life as we know it here at this House of Night is in grave danger. You all have faced worse evils than I would have ever expected for such young fledglings and young adult vampires. I came here tonight to tell you that I am with you and will join you in your quest."

Everyone started to tear up. We had all been through a lot recently the past few months. Hell, since I started here it's been drama after drama. We were all pleased to have Nyx by our side, at least we knew we were on the right path.

"I have brought gifts." Nyx smiled warmly. She walked to me first, "Zoey, you are the heart of this group. Without you, they would be nothing but normal fledglings. You have brought immense power to this circle. With that, I give you the Celtic Flame Dagger. I have blessed it so that it would penetrate any evil that plans to do you harm."

The Dagger was exquisite. It had a crooked blade and a brown leather handle with a gold crescent moon hilt. I took it in my hands and it started to glow. Nyx leaned down to whisper in my ear, "You descend from a line of very powerful individuals Zoey. This Dagger calls to you. It is showing you its power."

I looked down at the blade, even in no light the blade shined and sparkled like new. It wasn't too heavy but wasn't really light either. "Thank you" was all I said as I took the dagger and placed it in the loop hole in my pants.

Nyx walked to Neferet, who was standing by my father and clinging to his arm. "Neferet, your mind has been penetrated once, so I give you this to protect you from negative influences." Nyx dropped a small pendent into Neferet's hand. It was an Orgone Protector Pendant, a symbol of psychic protection. Many shaman's used it when dealing with demons and evils that could penetrate the mind. I thought it was a great gift.

Walking past Neferet, Nyx went to Damien who was looking amazed by everything going on around him. He wasn't here last time that Nyx visited the whole group. He was dead and held by Stark and Stevie Rae. While everyone else received gifts from Nyx, Damien had not been given any. "My dear son, what trauma you have been through. I have something very useful for you. I know that you favor a sword in battle as I know from all your teachings with Professor Dragon Lankford. I give you the Beowulf sword."

Damien's eyes got as wide as he took hand of the sword she pulled from the casing on her belt. The Beowulf sword is a high carbon steel blade meant for battle against mortal enemies and monsters as well. The guard and pommel are intricately detailed in antiqued bronze, as is the brown leather scabbard. Featured on the scabbard is a bronzed stag's head decoration and had a fully tanned brown leather strap. "Thank you Goddess! I promise I will not let you down."

Nyx then walked to Jack, "I see you have not used my gift."

"You did not give me one Goddess." Jack looked up to her.

"Oh but I did. I gave you the gift of innocence and truth. You should be able to know if this poor girl tied to this chair is really under negative influence. Have you forgotten that gift?" Nyx raised an eyebrow.

"I guess I did" Jack looked down to his feet, "I'm sorry Goddess, I don't know how to use it."

"Well then, my gift will be to show you. As well as you Erin, come, your gift will be mighty useful as well."

Erin had a gift for restoration, though after that night in the tunnels when Nyx appeared to all of us, I believe it just didn't cross our minds anymore. We were too wrapped up with killing Kalona to think of these small gifts. I guess in hindsight, they would have been very useful.

"Jack, I want you to kneel in front of Stevie Rae. I want you to place your hands on her knees and concentrate, hard. Concentrate on truth, drawing the truth. Concentrate on your mission. Your intuition should tell you if she is faithful or not." Nyx instructed Jack and he did as he was told. He kneeled down to Stevie Rae and placed his hands on her knees. He then bowed his head and closed his eyes to concentrate.

"I'm not feeling anything." Jack said.

"Concentrate!"

"Ok, ok!" Jack said. "Wait!"

Everyone was silent for a long time. "She is not faithful to us. She has been lying." Jack said as he stood up to walk towards me. "I'm sorry Z, but my feelings are telling me that she's been lying all along. She is not the Stevie Rae you knew before."

I could feel the tears filling up in my eyes. This couldn't be.

"This is where you step in Erin." Nyx motioned for her to come towards Stevie Rae. "You have a powerful gift child. The power of Restoration. Since your affinity is for water, and water cleanses us, as do you. You can cleanse the mind and the soul of all evil." Nyx smiled at her.

"How do I do it though?" Erin questioned.

"Concentrate. Concentration is all anything takes. You just need to focus on what you want."

"Ok…" Erin trailed off. She walked to Stevie Rae and put her hands on Stevie Rae's temples. "You were once good, then unwillingly turned to evil. We tried to save you once, and now you've turned away again. I ask to cleanse your soul so that you may be clear of conscience." Erin closed her eyes and began to hum. You could hear the waves crashing around the circle and the smell of sea water. It felt like you were at a secluded beach. The moment Erin let go Stevie Rae's eye flashed open.