I woke up in a meadow and I looked over and saw Zoey, yet I couldn't remember why we were here. It made me frustrated, someone needed us to remember her. Someone important, someone we lost before. I wasn't going to lose her again.

"Zoey? Percy? Can you hear me, Zoey? Percy?" A male voice said in an insistent tone, intruding on this vision. I shook my head ignoring him and nudged Zoey a bit who looked at me and looked confused.

Suddenly a calming voice of a Goddess I hadn't heard from in a while started to call our names. I looked over and smiled when I saw our Goddess. She smiled back at me then looked at Zoey.

"Nyx!" Zoey exclaimed then she got a worried expression. "Are we dead?"

I chuckled and shook my head, "We are not dead, Nyx just needs to speak with us."

Zoey looked embarrassed and looked down a bit, Nyx smiled at her. "Don't be sorry my daughter. You have done very well. I am pleased with you." She used her hand so that Zoey was looking up then looked at us both. "Now, it's time for you two to wake. I wish to remind you, Zoey-Bird that the elements can restore as well as destroy."

Zoey went to thank her but suddenly we were jolted awake and when I opened my eyes to the snow that was falling on my face I saw Detective Marx sitting near us. I sat up and as did Zoey she looked at him and rubbed her eyes.

"Heath?" She asked and Marx used his head to show Heath being moved into an ambulance. "Is he . . ." Zoey started to ask but couldn't finish.

"He's fine, just banged up. He's lost a lot of blood and they've already given him something for the pain." Marx answered and I felt my head spinning.

"Banged up?" I asked and rubbed my neck, still frustrated I couldn't remember. "What happened to Heath?"

"Multiple lacerations, just like those other two kids. Good thing you both found him and called me before he bled to death." He then squeezed our shoulder and I had to fight myself from flinching. A paramedic tried to move Marx from our side but he just shook his head. "I'll take care of them, they just need to get back to the House of Night and they'll be find."

The paramedic had a look that just told me everything I needed to know about the type of person she was and Marx helped us up. I felt a bit dizzy and I still had that nagging feeling of I was forgetting something really important.

"Can you guys walk to my car?" He asked and to my surprise we both nodded.

I guess it shouldn't have been such a surprise, as my body was feeling better and it was only my brain that felt mushy. Marx's "car" was huge, it was an all-weather truck with giant wheels and a roll bar. Me and Marx both helped Zoey into the front seat and I climbed into the back. Suddenly I heard Zoey gasp and she looked at Marx. "Persephone! Is she okay?" She asked before Marx could close the door.

I looked over and saw that Marx was a bit confused for a second then he just smiled. "The mare?" Zoey nodded and he nodded as well. "She's just fine. An officer is walking her to the police stables downtown until the roads are clear enough to get a trailer back to the House of Night." His grin widened and he looked over at me as he spoke to Zoey. "I guess you're both braver than the Tulsa police force. None of them volunteered to ride her back."

I chuckled a bit then smiled, "Yeah, I remember having to ask her if we could ride her, she really only trusted Zoey to hold the reins."

Marx smiled as the doors got closed and he put the truck into four-wheel drive and navigated slowly through the drifts of snow away from the depot. There must have been ten cop cars, along with a fire truck and two ambulances parked with lights flashing red and blue and white.

"What happened here tonight?" Marx asked anyone and I tried to remember- but it felt like there was a lock on the memories and it made me frustrated.

"I don't remember," I said and sighed. "I think something is wrong, my memory is messed up."

"Mine too." Zoey said and I saw Marx nod in the mirror.

"Okay, start with the last thing you can easily remember." He said and Zoey spoke up.

"Me and Percy were grooming Persephone and Mars, talking to our friends about the dream I had told you about." She said and Marx nodded along to show he was listening. "My boyfriend Erik suggested that I was imprinted with Heath and then he instructed me on how to find him."

"You and Heath imprinted?" He asked and I nodded. "Well even if you have to drink the boy's blood for that to happen, which I'm sure was an accident, it's lucky that you too did imprint."

"Yeah, I guess it is." Zoey said and she then looked back at me. "Percy- do you know how to get memories back?"

I chuckled a bit, "Hope who ever took your memories is okay with you having them again?" I asked which caused Marx to chuckle a bit.

"You've had experience with this Percy?" He asked and I chuckled.

"Yeah, you could say that." I then thought back to what led me to meat the rest of the seven. "A couple months ago I woke up near the west coast- I'm from the east coast- but I woke up with no memory other then my name, and the name Annabeth." Marx got this look of concern. "The goddess Hera- or she was actually Juno when she did this. Erased me and my friend Jason's memory and made us switch places without us knowing. I eventually was given my memories back."

Zoey sighed and she closed her eyes a bit before she let out a gasp of pain. Marx then shot his eyes at her. "Deep, calming breaths. I said whatever was easy for either of you to remember."

"No, it's okay. I'm okay. I want to do this." Zoey said and Marx nodded concern all over his face.

"Okay." He said and looked out the windshield. "You knew Heath was in trouble, and you knew where he was. So, why didn't you just call me and tell me to go to the depot?"

That caused me to try and remember, why didn't we just call him? What did we know that stopped us from calling him in the first place? As I tried to remember a seething pain filled my head and I let out a shaky breath. Something definitely messed with my mind. But what did, was the question. The pain caused me to block out sound and when I heard noise again Marx was asking us a question.

"So, I guess the question is: what have you done to piss off a High Priestess?" He asked us both and suddenly I remembered the chat me and Zoey had with Nyx. The elements can restore as well as destroy. I then realized she said this because she knew me and Zoey would be missing, I was about to tell Zoey that maybe she could use the elements when she suddenly spoke up.

"Stop the truck!" Zoey yelled and then Marx looked at her.

"We're almost at the school, Zoey." Marx said calmly, trying to calm her down.

"Now! I'm going to be sick!"

We slid to a stop on the empty road. Zoey quickly opened her door and I got out as well to help her if need be. Marx stood beside her holding up her hair sounding so much like a dad towards her. I rubbed her back as she threw up and she then took a gulp of air when she stopped heaving. Marx handed her a handkerchief so she could wipe her face. Zoey muttered a thank you then when I looked around I saw where we were. The east wall.

"It's the east wall of the school," Zoey said looking around.

"Yeah, I thought I'd take you the back way, give you both more time to collect yourself, and maybe restore some of that memory." Marx said and I then looked at Zoey who looked like she realized something.

"Detective Marx, I need a minute here with Percy." She said and Marx nodded.
"I'll be in the truck, watching you. If you need me, call."

Zoey smiled then she looked at me when Marx started to walk back to the truck. Zoey motioned for me to follow and that's when I realized we were walking towards the oaks. ONce we were near them she turned to me grabbing my hands and closing her eyes. I decided to follow suit and close my eyes listening to her.

"Wind, I call you to me and Percy. This time I ask that you blow clean any dark taint that has touched our minds." I felt a gust of wind that seemed to fill my mind as it battled with whatever was blocking our memories. "Fire, I call you to us and ask that you burn from our minds any darkness that has touched it." Heat filled my head and it reminded me of a hot wash cloth that my mom would give to me when I was feeling ill. "Water, I call you to us and ask that you wash from our minds the darkness that has touched it." The relaxing coolness of water washed through my mind and I couldn't help but smile. "Earth, I call you to us and ask that your nurtiuting strength take from our minds the darkness that has touched it." I smiled as I felt the strength of earth pass through me and into my mind. "And, spirit, I ask that you heal what darkness has destroyed in our minds, and restore my memories!" Something snapped within me as I felt a red hot sensation fill my mind and I dropped down to my knees and let out a shaky breath.

"Zoey! Percy! MY God, are you okay?" I heard Marx yell as he helped us both up once again. My eyes opened easily and I smiled as I remembered exactly what happened and looked at Zoey who had the same smile.

"We're more than okay. We remember everything." Zoey said to him with a big smile.

We both shared a look with each other silently agreeing to bend the truth to Marx. We don't want Neferet to think we remember what she wanted to make us forget. We decided to take turns spinning the story, leaving out the parts of the "resurrected" fledglings who didn't make the change, and how I cut off one of their heads before running off. Instead we replaced those parts with a story of a street person who was either on something, or wasn't in a sound mind. Once we were both done with the story Marx had a frown. I could tell he wasn't convinced- or that we were not telling the full truth.

He sighed and shook his head looking at us, "I can tell you two aren't telling me the full truth, but what is a lie is hard to tell."

I then nodded and looked at him, "Detective, will you trust us if we tell you we are not giving you the full truth because we are not sure how the full truth even happened in the first place?"

"And if we tell you, you'll be in a lot of danger." Zoey continued and Marx sighed.

"When a demigod and a powerful vampyre fledgling tell you what they are doing is to keep you out of danger I guess you really can only trust their judgment." Marx said and kept his eyes on the road as we all had gotten back into his truck. "But what about you two? You're just kids, why should you two be put in danger."

I just chuckled and smiled a bit, "With all do respect Detective, I have been in danger since the time I was born. My father broke an oath on the river of styx when he had me and because my father is Poseidon my scent smelt like a three course meal to monsters." I sighed and frowned, "My mother had to marry a horrible man that never treated her with any respect because hs smell masked my own and kept me safe, well until I was twelve and my pre-algebra teacher substitute tried to kill me and I was scent to Camp Half-Blood the first time. Being marked is the one thing that has kept the monsters from coming after me while I've been here."

Marx looked back at me in the revere mirror and he had this look of concern and wonder on his face. "Do you mind if I ask how you being Marked has kept the monsters away?"

I shook my head and smiled, "Not at all, the simple answer is that my scent changed when I was marked. The long answer is that there is a long standing agreement that any of Nyx's children can not be affected by anything in the godly world- which is what helps change the scent, that and or biology changes with the change."

Zoey looked back at me and she looked concerned, "So if you weren't changed?"

"I'd probably attract tens to hundreds of monsters by now." I said flatly and she shook her head.

"Anyway my point was, I am well adjusted to being in danger and I also promised that I'd keep our friends safe." I said and Marx nodded with a frown. "If I felt like you wouldn't be endangered by what we didn't tell you, we would have told you. You have proven to be a friend to us."

Marx sighed as he stopped the truck and muttered something as he went around to help Zoey out. I got out following suit and putting my hands in my pockets as I got out of the truck. I walked over as Zoey got out her side and as soon as she got out Marx put his hands on our heads and ruffled our hair.

"All right, we'll do it your way. Of course, it's not like I have a choice." Marx said clearly a bit annoyed, rightfully so he really didn't have a choice.

Me and Zoey walked into the building smiling, but that quickly went away when we realized we needed to find a way to block our friends' minds from Neferet's mind reading. But I didn't feel panicked as we took in the warm air that smelt of incense and oil. The gaslight's soothing light reminded me of our friends welcoming nature.

"Zoey! Percy!" I heard our friends say together and a bunch of footsteps coming our way.

In an instint I was wrapped around in a hug and met with hair that smelt of pine- Annabeth. I smiled and hugged her tightly and we all chuckled as we were then brought into a group hug.

"You gave us quite the scare!" Annabeth explained hugging me tightly when she let go of me I saw she had some tears in her eyes.

"We're sorry, we didn't mean to upset everyone," Zoey said and that's when I realized Neferet was there. I mentally asked water to block my mind and gave a smile nodding with Zoey.

"Well, I suppose there's no harm done. We're all just so glad you both are safely home." Neferet said with a smile and both me and Zoey smiled back.

"Well, Zoey and Percy are both quite the heroes." Marx said approvingly. "If Zoey hadn't been tuned into the boy, she couldn't have asked Percy for help and called us to thhat depot in time to get him to the hospital."

"Yes, well, that's a little problem that she and I already have plans to fix, but will disgust more thoroughly later." She said giving Zoey a stone look- yet it looked to be only for show. "Detective, did you catch the person who has been taking the boys?"

"No, he escaped before we arrived, but from Percy and Zoey's accounts on what happened tonight I am not certain it is one person who was doing it all." Marx explained and we smiled a bit. "It seems to be a group that maybe is trying to frame vampyres, ruin the already shaky relationship with the public. We'll be looking into the evidence to see if there are any leads we can follow."

"Ah that is unfortunate yet extremely fortunate." Neferet said surprise and content across her face.

"Yes, we are lucky these two fledglings have impeccable memories." Marx said and put his hands on mine and Zoey's shoulders.

Neferet smiled and then pulled me and Zoey in for a hug, and her tone shifted from a kind motherly tone, to one of malice. "If you speak against me I will make sure no human or fledgling or vampyre will believe you."

If only she knew I thought to myself my mind immediately going to Dragon and Anastasia, suddenly I heard Zoey gasp and she then looked at Neferet. "Neferet can you please look at my back? It's important," Zoey said and I smiled remembering what Zoey whispered into my ear before we went into our story for Marx.

Neferet looked confused at the others and I just smiled along with Neferet. "Zoey, I'm not sure what-" Neferet said her tone between worry and embarrassment.

"Jeesh, just look." Zoey turned around lifting the bottom of her sweatshirt making sure to keep her front covered.

I moved so I could see if her mark truly spread and smiled as I saw the inticic lace designed on her back. All of our friends gasped in awe and there were many happy mutterings as our friends witnessed her new markings.

"Z! Your Mark has spread." Erik said and tentatively traced some of her new markings with a proud look on his face.

"It's awesome," Shaunee said with the biggest smile on her face.

"Totally cool!" Erin exclaimed.

"Spectacular," Damien said then went to look at Zoey. "They're the same labyrinth pattern as your other marks."

"With rune symbols spaced between the spirals," Annabeth continued smiling then she shared a look with me. What did you two encounter that caused her to earn these marks. I just smiled at her and looked back at Zoey.

"Congratulations, Zoey. I imagine this means that you continue to be special to your Goddess," Detective Marx said with a smile.

"Thank you, and thank you for everything tonight." Zoe said to him, giving him a smile.

"Of course, it's my job." Marx said, giving both of us a smile, "I'd better be going ma'am. There's a lot of work left to be done tonight. Plus, I imagine Zoey and Percy will be eager to get to bed. Good night, everyone." He bowed a bit to Neferet, gave Zoey and I a wink before he left.

I yawned and everyone looked at me surprised, I gave them all a wink and Zoey yawned as well. "I am really tired." We both said at the same time. "If it's okay, I think we both would like to go to bed." Zoey asked and I nodded.

"Yes, of course." Neferet said smoothly. "That would be just fine."

"And also I'd like to stop by Nyx's Temple on the way to the dorm, if that's okay with you." Zoey asked and Neferet nodded once more.

"You both do have quite a bit to thank Nyx for, stopping by her temple is a good idea."

"We'll go with you two." Nico said walking up to me and Zoey putting a hand on our backs.

"Yeah, Nyx was with us all tonight." Erin said agreeing with Nico.

That's when I spoke up looking at Neferet keeping eye contact with her. "I will thank Nyx, but there's really another reason we want to go to her temple." I didn't wait for her to question either of us. "We're going to light an earth candle for Stevie Rae. We promised her we wouldn't forget her."

Our friends gave murmures of agreements and I saw malice flash over her eyes as she stared me down. She nodded and me and Zoey walked over and hugged her. That's when it was Zoey's turn to whisper to her. "Humans and fledglings and vampyres don't need to believe us about you because Nyc does. This is not over between us."

We both then stepped out of her arms and turned our backs on her. Together the whole herd went outside and crossed the short distance to Nyx's Temple. It had finally stopped snowing, and the moon was peeking between wisps of clouds that looked like silken scarves. We stopped at the beautiful marble statue of the Goddess that stood before her temple.

"Alright," I said and stared at the stature. "We need to block their minds before we tell them anything Z-bird."

"I know," She said and took a deep breath. "Let's light the candle for Stevie Rae first, she needs her earth."

"I'll go get her candle, then you guys can explain what's going on." Erik said in such a confused tone I had to suppress a chuckle.

After a bit Erik came back with a candle and a match, he handed the candle to Zoey and she lit the candle before placing it at Nyx's feet. All of us stayed silent for a bit and then I spoke.

"We will not forget you, Stevie Rae." I said softly and Zoey smiled.

"Hold on to your earth, we'll help you soon." She continued and we motioned everyone to follow us into Nyx's temple.

We all then sat in a circle in the middle of the temple as soon as we both were sure no else was in the temple. We then looked to the rest of the herd and both took deep breaths. "Before we tell you anything that has happened tonight, we need to block everyone's mind from Neferet." Zoey said and soon everyone looked terrified.

That's when Zoey instructed everyone to hold our hands together and she took a deep breath before she decided to call upon the elements. "Air, I ask upon you again tonight to use your winds to create a barrier within our minds from any prying eyes and ears." She said and wind filled the circle finding its way into our minds. "Water, I ask upon you again tonight to use your washing rivers and create a moat to protect our minds from unwanted visitors." We heard the sound of rushing water and I felt water circling each thought I have. "Fire, I ask upon you again tonight to use your heat and repel any force trying to enter our minds." I felt a rush of heat fill my body and I heard so many others let out a gasp. "Earth, I ask upon you again tonight to give our minds your nurturing strength to repel any force trying to break our barriers." I smiled and held onto Annabeth's hand a bit tighter as I felt the calming force of Earth's strength fill my mind, aiding air, water, and fire's barriers. "Spirit, I ask upon you again tonight to help make these barriers permanente until the danger has passed." She said and a wave of peace fell over my mind and I felt each of the elements almost turn into stone as they created a barrier around my mind and thoughts. We all opened our minds and I saw as the elements dissipated away from the middle of our circle.

Zoey smiled and then we all looked at everyone. "Now that we all are protected, it's time to tell you what we learned."

"Because we are a team, and I am going to need everyone's help, Stevie Rae is not just my friend- she's our friend." Zoey continued and everyone looked around slightly worried. "So do you all promise to trust us as we tell you what happened at the depot?"

Everyone nodded and we got their complete full attention. We had our protection and we now we're building a plan, we just needed to hope the strings of fate were on our side. Yet, I had a feeling we were going to be okay if we all just stayed together.