Hey everyone! Sorry that it took me so long to post this chapter. You see my cousin and I are really big Alice in Wonderland junkies and there is this awesome Manga called Hearts no Kuni no Alice (Alice in the Country of Hearts), which I have become hooked on. I've been reading it and so I haven't really written in a while but now I have to wait for the next chapter to come out so I'm back to writing again. I'm sorry if this chapter is a little disconnected. It was written over a period of a few days and so if it doesn't flow like my other chapters please forgive me. Enjoy.

Chapter Twelve

The Mirror of Souls

Zoey sat on Aphrodite's bed, her legs crossed Indian style with her eyes closed. She, Shaunee, Erin, and Aphrodite were all having a sleepover in Aphrodite's room. It surprised Zoey when Aphrodite invited the twins and that the twins accepted the invitation because those three didn't get along on a daily basis. Aphrodite sat behind Zoey on her knees and was brushing the High Priestess's hair. After today's episode she had decided that Zoey needed girl time. It wasn't that she wanted Zoey necessarily away from Loren; it's just that she didn't want Zoey under just one person's supervision. Aphrodite had had a vision not long after Zoey had calmed down back in her room with the group. It didn't settle any one, and it only seemed to make Zoey more concerned.

Zoey relaxed due to the pampering that she was receiving. She imagined though, that it was Loren who was brushing her hair just as he had this morning. She played the tune in her mind that he had hummed and she then found herself in peace. The world seemed so much simpler inside of that melody. It was almost as if every fear melted away because of the tune. If only life were that easy. Giving up and succumbing to darkness, and dying is easy; living and pushing through for tomorrow is harder.

She was awoken from her thoughts by the sound of Erin's voice.

"Zoey, did you hear what I said." Erin asked as she stared at her friend.

Zoey opened her eyes slowly, and then found Erin before her.

"No, I'm sorry, my mind was off somewhere else."

Erin made a sound of annoyance and then brushed it off, which confused Zoey.

"Erik is out in the hall. He wants to talk to you." Shaunee clarified.

Zoey let out a sigh and then got up off the bed. She headed towards the door and then slowly opened it.

Erik stood out in the hall, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. Zoey wrapped her night cover more tightly around her body, making sure that none of her cleavage was visible to her horrid ex. Unfortunately, by her hugging the cover closer it only emphasized the loveliness of her curves, which made it hard for Erik to look at her without being disrespectful.

He bowed before her, which shocked her. This meant that he knew he had done wrong and so he was being a kiss ass.

"You wanted to see me." Zoey stated quite coldly.

He gave her a look of confusion, for he was somewhat hurt by the tone of her voice.

"Come on, Professor Night, out with it. You're wasting my time by not stating your business. You've already put a damper on my day, so please be respectful and not waste my time any further."

He was surprised by how much she sounded like a High Priestess.

"About earlier." Erik murmured, feeling stupid that he couldn't seem stronger.

Zoey was just so intimidating right now.

"Yes. You've gotten your pay back. Are you happy now Erik? I hurt you and now you've hurt me. Are you satisfied? Did it please you to see me tremble? To hear me scream? Did it fill you with delight to know that you were the one that awoke A-ya within me?"

"No, of course not, Zoey. I didn't take any pleasure in it, but I did it for you. I did it for us."

Erik stepped forward and took both of her hands in his and looked into her eyes. He wanted them to be together again.

Zoey pulled her hands away and then backed against the door so that one of her hands was gripping the knob.

"Tell me who gave you the mirror!" She yelled at him as she began to turn the knob.

"You won't come with me if I tell you."

"Then I can't trust you. You blew your chance, Erik. Goodnight."

Zoey opened the door and threw herself inside. She slammed the door behind her and then locked it. She slid down against it, not crying, but breathing heavily. She heard footsteps walking away, which could only mean that Erik was leaving. She needed Erik gone for good, but he was one of the best drama teachers this school could get their hands on and so she couldn't fire him without just cause. This was personal, and she couldn't do anything until A-ya caused trouble.

She looked around the room and saw that her friends were looking at her. They had heard everything that she had said, and were somewhat shocked. Aphrodite knew better than the twins, though. Soon, Zoey would soon be acting more like a High Priestess. It was a destiny and it was unavoidable. If she wanted to be taken seriously she needed to show her place.

When it came time to go to bed Zoey thought back to what had happened after Drama class.

Just as Zoey was about to leave Erik's hand grasped her shoulder firmly.

"We need to talk." Erik whispered in her ear, which made her uneasy.

She didn't question him. She simply nodded her head and followed him. He led her into his office and had her sit down. He pulled a package wrapped in brown paper from underneath a pile of papers and then began to unwrap it. She sat quietly and watched Erik prepare whatever it was that he was going to do. Zoey wondered what was inside of the package, but remained silent.

"I have something to show you." Erik murmured with a hint of darkness in his tone.

She stared at him as he pulled back the paper from the object. Her eyes intently focused on the glass that was being uncovered and once the paper had been completely pulled away she froze in fear.

In the mirror was A-ya. A woman that looked fairly similar to her but with a smile that was almost catlike. Erik had the Mirror of Souls. Her soul was A-ya from the story that Grandma Redbird had told her.

She found herself falling out of the chair and staring up at Erik from her spot on the floor. He had put the mirror down and he was staring at her with eyes of love.

"How did you get that?" Zoey asked with fear hinged in her voice.

"A friend gave it to me." He responded nonchalantly.

"Why did you do this to me, Erik?"

He didn't respond. He merely looked at her and then crawled onto the floor beside her. He tried to touch her but she pulled away. Erik wasn't satisfied with her reaction and so he used his strength to force her to him. He began to kiss his fiercely, hoping that she would respond with a similar passion, but she did not. She sat there, not moving and not saying a word. When he pulled back from her he looked into her eyes and realized that something had changed within in her and that he was the one who had brought the horrid change upon her.

Zoey fell asleep that night with an odd feeling in the pit of her stomach. Something was changing within her. As she slept, she dreamed of a world that she had never seen before. She stood in a field of grass that overlooked the ocean. The wind whipped her long black around her, almost as if it were surrounding her. She looked across the field and found a man with large wings. He was staring at her, almost as if he were contemplating whether to approach her or how to approach her.

She felt so vulnerable and so alone. She ached for Loren to wake her up for the air of the dream had suddenly changed to something dark. The man began to walk towards her at a steady pace. She wished that she knew a way around him, but there really was none. This was this man's world and she had found herself a prisoner.

"A-ya." The man whispered as he neared her.

He continued to chant that name over and over until he was standing before her.

"Kalona." Zoey gasped as she stumbled backwards.

She shut her eyes tight and wished for a world where Kalona did not exist.

"My A-ya." Kalona whispered as he crouched down beside her and then took her face in his hands.

"Why won't you look at me, A-ya?" He asked as he placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Go away, Kalona." Zoey yelled, but not forcefully enough for him to believe that she truly wanted him to leave.

"You don't really mean that, A-ya." He laughed as he continued to kiss her face.

"Yes, I do. I have enough problems already. First Erik, and now you. I don't have enough sanity to deal with this."

She pulled away from him and opened her eyes. She saw how handsome Kalona was but she wouldn't let him fool her. He couldn't seduce her, for her love was far too strong for Loren.

"I'll make those troubles go away, A-ya. That's why I have come for you."

She shook her head in disagreement.

"My name isn't A-ya. I'm Zoey."

"Is that what you wish to be called."

"Yes."

"Then come with me, Zoey."

"Never."

She woke from the dream with tears in her eyes. The others were sound asleep, but she wouldn't be able to sleep anymore now that Kalona was here. She let her head fall against the pillows and stared at the ceiling.

"I love you, Loren." She whispered and then sighed heavily.