Zoey's Goodbye
Disclaimer: Don't own HON:( That belongs to PC and Kristen Cast;)
Author's Note: Hm...well, this is my very first House of Night fic/one-shot:) I love the series, and I thought; "Hm...might as well give it a shot!" The summary goes like this: What if - at the end of Tempted - Zoey had died. And she was in the Otherworld with Heath and there was no coming back? Well, you know Zoey - and she wouldn't just leave her friends hanging. So Nyx lets her send her friends one last goodbye. WARNING: I heart Zoey/Stark!
Okay, I know that it's super long. But just think of it like an entire story on one thing. And pleaseee don't just skim; it's interesting to read the super long paragraphs because they don't go on and on about unimportant details. And if you don't like sad endings...don't read. Thanks!
Heath's voice did it. My memory rushed back. The sadness knocked me on my knees. He was up and running toward me so that he caught me in his arms as I fell.
"But you don't belong here! You're dead!" I sobbed against his chest.
"Zo, babe, this is the Otherworld. It's not me that doesn't belong here - it's you."
Memory crashed over me with despair and darkness and reality as my world shattered, and everything went black.
When I came around, I was still in Heath's arms. For a minute - since I was still kind of out of it - it was easy to pretend that Heath and I were both alive and okay. Maybe in the back of his truck by a lake somewhere, or relaxing in the fields on my Grandma Redbird's farm. In any case, things were totally normal and stress-free. We weren't imprinted, I wasn't Marked, and I hadn't just witnessed his horrifying death.
But then, Heath had to talk and ruin everything. Stupid boy.
"Zo, babe, are you there? Are you okay? Talk to me."
"Don't talk." I mumbled.
Despite himself, I heard Heath chuckle. I felt his warm breath against my face. He seemed so solid and warm and real. It was impossible that he was dead. Impossible.
"Why not?" he asked.
"I'm pretending that none of this ever happened and we were somewhere stress free." I whispered, my eyes still closed.
You are.
The goddess's voice made me sit straight up, and open my eyes wider than an owl's. I stood up just as quickly, Heath following my lead.
"Goddess!" I said happily, looking at Nyx from head to toe.
She looked just like she had that day that I first saw her. Her black raven's hair waving in the wind, a beautiful white dress, and a face that was so beautiful, you could never describe it.
Hello, u-we-tsi-a-ge-ya. Nyx said, using the Cherokee word for daughter.
"Nyx, what's going on here? Why is Zoey here?" Heath asked, looking back and worth between me and Nyx like he wasn't sure which one of us to look at like a complete boob. (Hee hee...boob).
My u-we-tsi-a-ge-ya v-hna-i Sv-no-yi...Daughter of Night... is here because this is where she is meant to be. Now, this is where she belongs.
"What do you mean?" I barely whispered.
I mean, my beloved child, that your spirit no longer dwells in the human world. This - my world - is now your world, as well.
"You mean I died?" I blurted out.
Yes, my daughter. You have entered my realm permanently.
"How? I didn't feel anything hit me or any weird death-y experience." I said, beginning to totally freak out.
My child, when you saw that your Imprint had been killed by Kalona, your spirit shattered. As with most other High Priestesses, the absense of your spirit from your body destroyed you.
"No...no, I can't be dead. Goddess, there must be a mistake! I can't leave everyone on Earth! What about Kalona and Neferet? Who's gonna stop them if I'm gone?" And what about Stark?
My child, it was your time to leave. There will be another to destroy Kalona and Neferet. They will not rule. I know what will be, and that is not destined to happen. But you must remain in the Otherworld.
"Why can't I go back as a Red Fledgling or something then?" I asked, almost whining.
Zoeybird, it is not your destiny.
Hmph...destiny. So what? My destiny was to finally find where I belong, a real best friend, and the most perfect Warrior ever and then just die? What the heck?
"But...I can't leave them all hanging like that on Earth." I muttered.
"Maybe...maybe you could let Zoey go say goodbye?" Heath suggested.
I was almost startled at the sound of Heath's voice - honestly, I'd kind of forgotten he was there. Whoops.
Maybe... Nyx allowed.
"Please." I begged. "Just let me say goodbye."
Very well, my child. It is night on Earth right now. Your spirit has until sunrise to travel the human world and say your goodbyes.
"Thank you." I said earnestly. "Thank you."
And with that - leaving Nyx and Heath and the Otherworld behind - I zoomed off like an uber cool spirit-flying-thing back down to Earth.
The first place I found myself in was Tulsa. I was in the infirmary at the House of Night. It was completely empty.
Except for a sleeping form on one of the beds.
I almost didn't believe that it was Stevie Rae. It was night and she was asleep. But then I remembered...she'd hurt herself on that rooftop. And she was probably still recovering. On a normal day, I probably just would have let her sleep.
But this wasn't a normal day. I only had one night left on Earth.
I shook my best friend awake until I heard her mutter, "Five more minutes, Mama."
"Stevie Rae." I whispered. "I don't have five more minutes. I need to talk to you."
Stevie Rae shot up like a bullet fired out of a gun at the sound of my voice.
"Z?" She asked, confused.
"Hey." I said. "How ya feeling?"
"Like a big ol' pile of poo." She said. "You?"
"I feel...invincable. Free." I said, trying to describe what being dead felt like.
"Z...why are you all light and stuff? It's almost like you're see-through. Like those shirts my cousin Marla buys to wear at the pool so when she 'accidently' gets splashed you can see her boobies big-time." Stevie Rae twanged softly.
I had to laugh at that. It was then that I realized how much I was gonna miss Stevie Rae Johnson.
"Stevie Rae...I didn't come just for any normal conversation. I came to say goodbye." I said, the first of many tears rolling down my face.
"Why? Where are ya going?" She asked.
"Stevie Rae...I died tonight."
And that was it. I started sobbing uncontrollably. I was broken. And all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Zoey together again.
"What?" Stevie Rae asked in disbelief.
"I died. And Nyx let me come and say goodbye." I stuttered. "And I'm gonna miss you so much!"
"Oh...Zoey!"
And then, Stevie Rae was bawling like a big ol' baby too. We hugged, and sat there crying for the longest time. We just cried in each others arms.
"I can't stay long. I just wanted to tell you that. And that I'm gonna miss you so much, Stevie Rae. You were the best friend I ever had. Take care of Nala for me, okay? And tell the Step-Loser to go to heck. Please. And tell my mom and Grandma that I love them, if I don't get to see them tonight. Okay?" I said all of this to Stevie Rae through inconsolable tears.
"Yes Z. I'll do anythin' for ya. You know I love ya more than white bread. In fact, I love ya more than Kenny Chesney!" Stevie Rae sobbed.
It was then that I stood up. "I have to go." I whispered. "I'll be seeing you on the other side, Stevie Rae."
"Okay." Stevie Rae sobbed. "Good...Good...Good-bye, Zoey."
"And Count Chocula's better!" I added as I faded away.
The next stop was back on the island.
I was in one of the bedrooms. I wasn't sure which; they all looked alike. But I did know that inside of it were Erin, Shaunee, Damien, and Jack.
I appeared outside the door, so I didn't just appear out of thin air and freak them out. I opened the door, and all of their heads snapped up.
At first, no one said anything, which was weird for my friends. It was then that I remembered that they had probably all seen my body; my unbreathing body. They already knew I was dead.
What they wanted to know was what the heck I was doing walking into their room.
"Guys!" I cried, running into my huddle of friends for a hug.
My tears and voice broke down the wall, and the once quiet room began uber loud with the sounds of tears and wails. We all hugged a lot before sitting down indian style on the bed.
"What are you doing here, Z?" Damien asked, choked up.
Everyone - all four of them - had red rings around their eyes and super puffed up noses. They had been crying. A lot.
"I died." I whispered.
"We know that." Erin said.
"We wanna know how you're here now." Shaunee finished, Twin-style.
"Nyx let me come and say goodbye." I said.
"You saw Nyx?" Jack asked in awe.
I nodded. "And the Otherworld. And it's so beautiful! I'm with Heath...but I would give anything to come back here."
"So would we." Damien said.
"But what about Kalona?" Shaunee asked.
And then Erin finished with, "Yeah! Who's gonna beat up all the big baddies with you gone?"
"Nyx said that someone else would. I don't know who. But guys, I don't have long." I said, beginning to cry again. "Nyx only gave me tonight. But I wanted to tell ya'll something. You are the best group of friends anyone could ever ask for. You were my family when I had nowhere else to go and no one else to turn to. As weird as you all can be, and as much as you fight, I wouldn't change any of you for the world. Please, keep taking care of each other when I'm gone. And if you ever feel sad...I'm always gonna be watching you guys. Just think of that, kay?"
"Z..." Jack said in awe. "I didn't know you were so deep."
"Gee, thanks." I said, laughing. "I'm going to miss you guys."
"We're gonna miss you too, Z." The Twins said together.
"And we're going to miss you, too." Damien said, speaking for him and Jack.
"Guys, what's with all the noise? Some of us grieve in...silence...Z?"
Aphrodite had come into the room, with similar red eyes and a Rudolph nose.
"Aphrodite!" I said, running over to give her a hug.
Obviously in shock and not knowing what the heck was going on, Aphrodite hugged me back.
Then, I said, "Aphrodite, I don't have long. Nyx is letting me say goodbye."
"So...you really did die?" Aphrodite said in obvious denile.
"Yeah. Sucks, doesn't it?"
"Zoey...thank you." Aphrodite said earnestly.
"For dying?" I asked in confusion. "I thought we were sort of friends now?"
"No, that's not what I meant." Aphrodite sneered. "I meant, thank you. You showed me what it was like...to have a real friend." She nearly whispered the last part.
"You're welcome. And thank you Aphrodite."
"For what?" she asked.
"For not wanting me dead." I said.
And after hugging each of my friends one last time and saying my final goodbyes, I disappeared once again.
My final stop of the night was - again - on the island, in another room.
It was the one that I knew would be the hardest.
I appeared in the actual room, not bothering to use the door. Like with Stevie Rae, I could hardly believe Stark was in bed at night.
I had planned on going to his bed and waking him up, but he was already awake. Stark had his back and faced turned towards the wall, away from me. I could hear him crying.
"Whoever it is," Stark threatened. "Just go away."
"Okay." I said. "If you really want me to leave..."
Unlike the others - who had shot up like fireworks at the sound of my voice - Stark turned his head towards me slowly, as if refusing to let himself believe that it wasn't all just a cruel dream.
Finally - after what seemed like forever - he whispered one word, soft and slow.
"Zoey?"
"Stark!"
I was bawling again. I'm an awful cryer anyway, but it was different tonight. Tonight, I had every freaking right to cry like a baby.
I laid on Stark's bed with him while I cried, and let him hold me. I didn't have to tell him that I was here to say goodbye. I didn't have to tell him that I was dead. He was my Warrior. He already knew.
Finally - after nearly thirty minutes of a silent cry - we talked.
"Zoey, I am so, so sorry. It was all my fault that you were killed. I turned my back on you. I wasn't fast enough. I'll blame myself forever." Stark whispered hoarsely, sounding young, broken, and scared.
"Stark. Do. Not. Blame. Yourself. I'm serious. It wasn't your fault. My soul was shattered because I saw Kalona kill someone I've known my entire life that I was connected with. It wasn't, like, voluntary. If I could, I would stay here with you forever. Because...I love you." I said softly.
"Zoey, I love you too. But...how can you love me after everything I did?" Stark asked.
"I could ask you the same." I tried to laugh, but it came out sounding uber pathetic.
"Zoey, no. That's not even up for discussion. I love you because...to me, you didn't do anything wrong. To me...you'll always be perfect, and you'll always be my Zoey." Stark said.
"We don't have long." I reminded him.
"I know." Stark said, trying to stop the constant flow of tears. "But we'll make the time we do have count."
And then, Stark kissed me. It was like that kiss we had shared the night of his first death. The night I held him in my arms as he rejected the Change. He'd said...
"I should have kissed more than just your hand. Thought I'd have more time...too late now..."
I looked into his eyes and completely forgot the rest of the world. In that moment, all I knew was that I was holding Stark in my arms, and I was going to lose him very, very soon.
"It's not too late." I told him. I bent and pressed my lips to his. Stark's arms went around me, still strong enough to hold me tight. My tears mixed with his blood, and the kiss was absolutely wonderful and terrible and over too soon.
Stark held me tightly, as if that would stop me from leaving him again. I prayed so hard to Nyx to just let me stay in this moment forever. It was...well, wonderful and terrible and over much too soon.
Becuase - and it seemed to take only a minute, though I'd been in Stark's arms for over three hours - not a moment later, the sun began to rise.
"No!" Stark growled, holding me tighter. "No, Nyx! I won't let you take her!"
We both started crying again, and I held onto him tightly, too. Couldn't Nyx see how much we needed each other?
"I'm going to miss you so much, Stark." I coughed out hoarsly, already feeling Nyx's pull taking me back to the Otherworld.
"No! Zoey, don't leave! Please." Stark begged, seeming broken.
"Please...don't...forget...me."
And then, I was gone, leaving a broken Warrior alone forever.
Being back in the Otherworld seemed like the opposite of what it had the first time.
When I'd first entered it, it had seemed peaceful and wonderful. Now, it just seemed like a curse. It seemed like a prison, and I was trapped there. Trapped there and not allowed to see the ones I loved most ever again.
Nothing is forever, Zoey. Nyx said as she came up behind me. Heath was nowhere in sight.
"Why?" I barely whispered.
You were putting those you loved most in danger. If you had stayed, things would have played out awfully. Jack, your mother, and several others would have died very soon. This way, I am sparing you from the pain I knew you would experience if you lost any of them. I don't want to hurt you, Zoeybird. This way, at least, you'll see Stark and the Twins and Stevie Rae and Damien and Jack and everyone else again one day. Nyx said.
"I always heard that you were supposed to move on from here and be reborn." I said, almost in an accusing voice.
You are different, Zoey Redbird, Daughter of Night. I want you to rule here, alongside me. I didn't give you your powers for nothing Daughter. You can still use them here. And before you know it, your Warrior will be at your side once again.
"Nyx...Warriors, when they lose the High Priestess they're serving..." I began, but the goddess beat me to it.
I know that they perish. But Stark is strong, and he is a Red Vampyre. He will live.
"Okay." I said.
I promise, Zoey. You'll see them all again someday.
And that's that! I hope you enjoyed and please review:) If I get enough reviews, I might post a happy one...o.O Thanks!
~PeachyKeen13