Disclaimer: I don't own the 'House of Night' nor do I own the mirror thing from 'Heroes'; I readily admit I stole that idea.
Azuri-chan: Nothing graphic here. Just emotional self-loathing, am-I-worth-it stuff.
Chapter Twenty-one: And What is Not?
Zoey POV
A soft mattress supported my body, and the aches of lying on a stone slab for hours on end had all but disappeared. A pair of warm arms encircled me protectively and I felt a soft breath flutter over my ear every now and then. The scent of vanilla wafted around my nose and I instinctively burrowed deeper into the set of arms holding me; Aphrodite's arms. I felt her shoulder muscles shift underneath my head as her arms moved to hold me closer. Her long hair fell on my face and my eyes twitched open as she brushed it away. I opened my eyes and stared into the black depths that looked back. You are mine Zoey; remember that said the Beast with Aphrodite's voice. A scream built in my throat and I woke up, trying to escape the arms that held me. Unfortunately, the arms seemed to be expecting this and they tightened their grip.
"Shh, Zoey. Shh. I've got you, you're okay" a voice crooned in my ear; Aphrodite's voice. But what if it was another trick again? What if it wasn't her? What if it was the Beast again? I didn't want to open my eyes, in case I saw those dark irises gazing back at me. Worry, fear and panic built up inside of me and I continued to struggle until I felt the soft touch of Aphrodite's mind brush mine. Our imprint was open again. Shh, Zoey. It's okay. It's me. I love you Zoey; I won't let you go ever again, I promise. Pure, unadulterated love was sent by Aphrodite through our bond. I stopped struggling and opened my eyes. Blue irises looked deeply into my eyes and I relaxed into Aphrodite's arms. Contentment and calm filled me as I gazed into her eyes.
"Aphrodite?" I whispered.
"Yeah it's me, you dork" replied Aphrodite, smiling with tears running down her cheeks. I reached up and brushed away her tears. I felt disconnected but an unbearable sadness seeped into every part of my being as I watched Aphrodite cry and knowing I was the cause of it. I moved my hand away from her cheek and her eyes narrowed before she quickly moved her right hand from my waist and grabbed my retreating hand. Don't you dare martyr yourself about this Zoey. It's that bitch who's to blame. Not you. Never you, her mental voice was laced with steel. But Aphrodite- I started but her growl cut me off. "No. You. Are. Not. To. Blame. Deal with it, Zoey" She then hooked an arm underneath my legs and pulled me closer until she was practically cradling me. Her arms moved to form a protective circle that met at the base of my back; her thumb lightly stroked the skin that had been revealed as my t-shirt had been hitched up. I sighed and leant my head on her shoulder. Sometimes there were times when you just couldn't argue with Aphrodite; it seemed that this was one of those times. Damn right!, Crowed Aphrodite and I smiled, glad that she would never change. She smiled as well and bent her head so our foreheads were pressing against each other. It suddenly registered that I was clean, and I had changed clothes. A surge of embarrassment and pain swept through me. I pulled back from Aphrodite and worry entered her eyes as she frowned.
"Aphrodite, who, who changed me? And washed me?" I'm sure a slight note of hysteria had entered my voice: I was praying to Nyx that it hadn't been Aphrodite, that she hadn't seen what had been done to me, oh gods, let her not have seen that. A look of exasperation flitted across her face.
"I did" she said; confirming my worst fear. I immediately tried to wriggle away but she held onto me tightly. How could she hold onto me, after seeing what Nef-, that woman, had done to me? Why wasn't she getting as far from me as possible? Nef-, that woman, had tainted me, darkened me, definitely done something to me to bring out the beast. A deepening sense of outrage was transmitted by Aphrodite and I also felt some, wait, that couldn't be right, fear for me? "Stop struggling Zoey. I need you to listen to what I have to say, and you can't do that while you're trying to pull an escape; so stop wriggling!" Her tone was what I had often imagined a strict, Victorian teacher using on some unruly child before caning them. I stopped wriggling. "Yes, I washed you. Yes, I dressed you. Even though Shekinah and Lenobia seemed to think they'd be better suited to the task; I did it. And do you want to know why?" Her eyes bored fiercely into mine. "I did it because you are mine. My friend, my family, my imprint, my mate, my lover. You are everything to me Zoey. Nothing about you could ever make me let you go. Nothing whatsoever. Not even if you grew a disgusting wart on your chin would I let you go" Her grip relaxed and she whispered in my ear, "I promise I won't" Nearly all of my self-loathing disappeared as I felt the pure force of her certainty in her tone. It seemed like I wouldn't be getting rid of Aphrodite for awhile then. That thought alone filled me with happiness and love. Or, as Shaunee and Erin would probably say 'You are so whipped'.
"I'm sorry, Aphrodite, for ever thinking you would" I whispered back and I wrapped my arms around her, hugging her with all the strength I possessed. She hugged me back and I tucked my face into the crook of her neck. The weak scent of her blood pounding beneath my face was enough to set me on edge and I tried to move away before Aphrodite became my talking, walking, wise-cracking fridge. However, she just held on and said to me,
"Go on. You need the blood, especially after what's happened" I turned my head back towards her neck and let my teeth scrape lightly along her skin. She shuddered in anticipation. I suddenly bit into her neck and her body arched into mine as much as it could. Warm, ambrosial blood filled my mouth and I swallowed it. Aphrodite's blood tasted like, like, a crackling fire in midwinter or cookie-dough ice cream on a hot day! I only took a little bit more before I gently disengaged my teeth and licked her wound, thinking Heal. Her wound stopped bleeding and I curled up on her lap. Her right hand moved back to rubbing the small of my back and we rested in a little bubble of calm for a couple of minutes. That is, until another thought occurred to me.
"Aphrodite?" I asked, looking up her peaceful face; her eyes were closed in happiness.
"Mmmmm, trying to enjoy the moment here Zoey" She cracked open an eye. "But, what is it?"
"When I was unconscious, I got these, um, visions of you and what you were doing" I felt her stiffen underneath me.
"Go on" her voice had taken a dark tone and both her eyes were open.
"Well, um, I was wondering if you could tell me…"
"Yesssss?" the's' was drawn out like the sound of a viper preparing to attack.
"What exactly is going on between Stevie-Rae and Venus?" I asked, innocently. Aphrodite first looked gobsmacked and then a look of sheer disbelief crossed her face. The corners of my lips quirked and I was trying very hard not to laugh. Okay, I was failing at this, I admit. I burst out into laughter and Aphrodite started to laugh too. We both sat there, literally crying from laughter. Any nerves or tension either of us had left just evaporated into thin air. Aphrodite wiped tears of laughter from her eyes.
"Oh, Zoey. Thanks for that. I needed that" She turned to look at me and smiled before leaning forward and kissing me lightly on the lips. "I love you Zoey" she whispered as our foreheads touched.
"I love you too" I whispered back; leaning forward to kiss her again.
AN: Okay, I realise that this kind of does nothing for the plot but I felt that I couldn't keep heaping depressing plot points on these two without giving them a break of sorts in which to sort out some personal issues they may have. I admit that Aphrodite maybe less witchlike than usual but, I think that in this case, Zoey is not the only one who is 'whipped'. Again, I apologise for the wait. I have posted the first chapter of the prequel to 'What We Are'. I've called it 'Mortal Coil' and in the first chapter I've explained the origin of the name. So, anyone who has read this, if you want to, you know, go and read 'Mortal Coil'; a review would be much appreciated.
'What We Are' has 187 reviews! 13 away from 200… Please, help me break this barrier. In author news, I had a German oral today (please withhold snickers) and I have picked my A-levels, which is slightly scary I admit. It seems like only yesterday, I was an enthusiastic, naïve young thing just entering the 'Big girls school' and now I look in the mirror and see that I have degenerated into a cynical, lazy sod…Oh, what happened? Anyway, please read and review! Constructive criticism, flamers and people who just want to say 'Hi!' are welcome.