Chapter 8
Ruby opened her eyes and blinked, her mind trying to piece together what she was seeing. Instead of piles of bodies lying all over the place, there was nothing! Aside from the blood-soaked earth, not a trace of the horrible battle remained. A terrifying thought swept through her, and she extended her hand and touched warm flesh. "Peter?" she asked, fearing the worst.
"Mm-mmph! Mumph-muhum," a mumbled voice answered. A quick wetness tickled the bottom of her palm, and she looked over to see her hand over Peter's mouth. "Okay, I can take a hint. I talk too much," he said when she removed her hand and covered his mouth with hers instead.
"Yes, you do," Austin agreed as he sat up, hugging Kat to him like she was his lifeline to the world. She just held him tightly, afraid he'd disappear if she let go. As the others regained consciousness they began searching for any other survivors. Acilacia looked around for her mother, but Isis had vanished. That was the nature of gods and goddesses, always coming and going when it suited their fancy. She was about to stand up when a tall figure stood in front of her and extended his hand.
"Need a hand, m'lady?" a deep voice wondered. It stirred up memories in Acilacia's mind of a forgotten love and wasted years. Her eyes traveled up the man's muscular body to his golden-yellow eyes, which caught hold of her soul and held on tight. She accepted his hand, and as their skin touched, the soulmate-sparks propelled her into his arms. Words were not necessary as their minds opened up to each other.
"Oh Hunter," she whispered into his ear, his blood-red hair tickling her face. Angel stood in front of Julian, his hands around her waist, watching the scene between her great-grandfather and her friend.
"Are you jealous of their love?" Julian whispered, his lips brushing her neck in the barest of kisses. She pulled him around her like a living blanket, breathing in the sweet smell of darkness. It reminded her of chocolate and coffee with a dash of vanilla.
"Who needs a soulmate? I have a Shadow Man." Teia was busy introducing her father to a few people. Rastaban smiled kindly at Dahlia, recognizing his childhood friend Tiamat in the young woman's eyes and regal bearing. Yes, she was definitely a princess. His obsidian-black eyes had no pupils, but their eerie coldness was forgotten when his broad smile lit up his face, softening his features. Black hair stuck up in soft spikes, occasionally falling into his eyes. While he looked thirty, the 'shifter before them was actually thousands of years old, dragons being immortal. Blaise was already assessing him.
"Hey Ang', can we go home now?" Kat begged, wanting to leave this mysterious place of war and death.
"Not until we figure out what the hell is going on." At that moment three women stepped into view from behind the trees, and all eyes were immediately glued to their figures.
"Unity," the young girl greeted them. Her long white dress shimmered in the moonlight, a white veil shading her violet eyes; a trait which all the women shared. Silvery-blonde hair was pulled back into an elegant braid, which was wrapped around her head like a crown. She looked strikingly similar to Iliana Harman.
"Unity," Skye returned the greeting. The woman smiled and moved to stand beside the girl, brown-leather dress rustling like leaves in the wind. Her coffee skin had a warm glow in the moonlight, black hair in a bun on top of her head. The old woman behind her was clothed all in black, but stood tall like the matriarch they knew her to be. Her white hair fell in thin strands around her pale chin.
"Who are you?" Amy asked politely, her voice no louder than a whisper. It was clear that these women were witches.
"We are the Maiden, Mother, and Crone. The three Fates," the woman replied sweetly, her voice musical like wind chimes.
"You're real?" Faith accidentally said out loud, clapping a hand over her mouth before she got in trouble. She recalled that the Maiden, Mother, and Crone were positions in the Inner Circle, and had been patterned after the three Fates who controlled everyone's destiny.
"Of course we're real," the Maiden giggled, putting a small hand on Faith's shoulder. She looked about twelve, but had to be much older.
"Why are you here?" Daemon wanted to know. Silver was staring at the Crone, who looked strangely familiar to her. Something about a hill and her destiny. Oh well, she'd figure it out eventually. The Mother folded her hands and sighed, eyes fixed on the ground for a moment.
"We're here to explain the prophecy."
"We're listening," Leah assured her, Sage's arm firmly around her waist. A few people leaned closer to hear what was about to be said. The Crone stepped forward and gazed at the motley crew, eyes sharp and clear despite her eternal old age.
"You are part of the prophecy." Someone coughed while others giggled, but most were too surprised to do anything but stare.
"How so?" Nalaria wondered, putting a comforting hand on Norei's shaking shoulders to steady them. Truth be told, none of them were feeling particularly strong at that moment.
"Twilight has fallen, the Night will not yield. Starlight shines on the bloody battlefield. The Goddess commands them; they hear her voice. Children of the Starlight: Destiny's Choice," the Maiden recited.
"We're the Starlight in the prophecy. We're Circle Starlight," Angel pieced it together. The Fates nodded, small smiles tugging at the corners of their mouths. They were clearly pleased that someone had figured it out.
"Yes. Each of you came here because we chose you to survive the Millenium War," the Mother added.
"Wait. We're the only Night People who survived the Millenium?" Blaise asked fearfully, Thea's face clear in her mind. She would never forgive herself if anything had happened to her. The Maiden giggled and patted Blaise's arm with her small hand.
"Don't worry about your cousin. We sent her away on purpose to save her and her soulmate."
"My brother?" Dahlia wondered, her voice cracking.
"Your parents sent him to a safe-house until after the Millenium just in case you didn't survive. He, Raksha, Winfrith, and Nissa are all safe." The three Johnsons all breathed out a sigh when they heard the good news about their last cousin, Nissa. Dahlia smiled while Lyca gave her shoulders a small squeeze. Acilacia didn't need to worry about her daughter or son-in- law. As a Luna and made-Lune, they were separate and apart from the Night World. Even Sasha's father was exempt from the Millenium War, he being a Lune; the male equivalent to the Luna.
"But other than those people, we're the only ones left?" Marik pressed. The Fates nodded sadly.
"Your Circle is the last stronghold of the Night World," the Mother told them, a sad smile on her face.
"But why?" Julie demanded, her hazel-green eyes snapping in clear ferocity. She didn't want her life controlled by anyone other than herself. Patrick agreed with her, and held her close so that they would be seen as two people with the same thought. The Crone looked steadily into Julie's eyes for a moment before shifting to Patrick. One by one the old woman gazed into all their eyes, stopping at Hunter Redfern: Ex-leader of the Night World and until recently, a casualty of the blue fire.
"The humans might be killing the Earth and each other, but there are enough of them who want the destruction to stop. We're giving them a thousand years to work it out."
"What about us?" Rastaban brought up.
"Circle Starlight will be the "policemen" of the Day World. You will be our eyes and ears until their time is up. If the humans have done as some promised and reformed, their race will continue for another thousand years. If not, the Night World will get another chance."
"But only the vampires can live that long," Melody sadly pointed out.
"Not anymore. Because you are the Watchers and Chroniclers, we have made all of you truly immortal. You cannot die or be killed for as long as humans rule the world. Nor will you age," the Mother informed them.
"But why us?" Hunter rephrased the question. Acilacia knew he really meant "why me?", but she also wanted to know why CS had been chosen.
"You all risked possible execution to remain neutral, and any of you could've survived whether Daybreak or Midnight won. This is your reward."
"Survival and guaranteed immortality? Yeah, that sounds like a really good deal," Jake reasoned.
"That's why you sent me back. Because I'd died protecting this Circle's neutrality," Silver realized. The Crone just nodded, pleased the young 'shifter had figured it out.
"And Hunter?" Acil asked, her hand clenched tightly around her soulmate's palm. The Maiden stared up at the two vampires, her purple eyes burning into their green and yellow ones.
"We decided to give him another chance." Her voice was flat and unemotional, and Hunter closed his eyes and bowed his head.
"Thank you," he whispered as the girl smiled brightly again.
"So what happened to the other Daybreakers?" Poppy wanted to know. Even though she and James had left, a lot of those people had been their friends. It would be awful if they were all dead.
"They became a part of the race which they fought so valiantly to protect," the Mother answered.
"They're humans?" Mike didn't even try to keep the shock out of his voice. The Mother only looked at him.
"It was the only way to save them. Time is now acting as if there was never a Night World. Whatever race they were and however many centuries they had lived doesn't matter now. You all are the only ones to keep your powers. Circle Midnight is gone forever, and Circle Daybreak is now completely human and mortal."
"All right, we'll be your police-people," Angel agreed, eager to settle her affairs and go home. The Fates smiled kindly and vanished into thin air. A single piece of parchment fluttered to the ground, faded-ink writing covering most of it. At the same time, a silver goblet winked into existence. Gems of ruby, emerald, sapphire, topaz, diamond, opal, and others were shining in the moonlight. Dark-red liquid glistened inside the cup, but Angel knew it was more than blood.
"This is a ceremony," Dahlia realized as she scanned the page while leaning over her friend's shoulder.
"So let's perform it," Skye encouraged. The entire group stood in a tight circle, eyes fixed on Angel as she began to read:
"The ceremony begins; We'll tell what we know. Blood of our ancestors; Magick of old." She passed the paper to Blaise, who recited:
"Hearts are light; Spirits draw near. Our will is strong; We show no fear." Amy read next:
"Our Circle, our family; In them we trust. We do what we can; Live as we must." Melody had the last part:
"Whenever we're needed; We will heed the call. This Cup of Life; Will bind us all." Angel took the cup and drank from it, the warm liquid tingling all the way down her throat. As the cup was passed around to everyone, mist began to collect and rise in the center of the circle. It surrounded them all and seemed to pulse with its own energy, tugging at their souls. When the cup reached Amber she took a sip, and then the world was opened to her. Smells of the earth, air, a faint water source, and her friends assailed her nostrils like expensive perfumes. She could see everyone's auras clearly now, and the rainbow colors twisted together to bind them all into one being; one life force. She was pleased to see her own ice-blue aura among the dancing colors. Memories not her own flooded into her mind, the good mixed in with the bad. There was one where she was sucking the life out of a human man, another where she was running through the forest in a large pack of wolves, and still another where she felt safe in the company of her sister witches. As the cup made its way around the circle, more people's auras came into focus. Now the energy was building, quickening their pulses and breathing; letting them know something was about to happen. Then, as if someone had cued them in, they all shouted in one loud voice:
"In Circle Starlight, the Night World lives on. We are survivors, the few and the strong!" Their dancing auras intensified in color and shot into the center of the ring. Everyone gasped as the light and energy shot into their bodies, binding them forever to each other. Colors shifted before their eyes as all the auras merged into one blinding ray of pure, white light. When at last the light faded, Ruby looked down and saw a pendant hanging by a short silver chain from her neck. The pendant was of a rainbow pentagram, but if she tilted it the right way it shone the color of her sky- blue aura.
"Now that was cool," Derrick commented, the now-rising sun lighting up his pendant. Hunter gazed down at the star around his neck and the picked up Acil, swinging her in a circle. Both of them had ear-to-ear grins plastered across their faces.
"Well Angel, we really should be going," Acil told her as the couple descended to gather her things. When they came out again Acilacia waved to everyone as they left, giving her address to Amber so they could keep in touch. When the lamia looked at her book, she realized the address was for Moscow, Russia. "We're going to see Sasha." The couple walked hand-in-hand down the road.
'I'm so proud of you, Angel Redfern,' Hunter's voice whispered in her mind. The young woman smiled at the praise.
"We should be heading back too," Kalli brought up as she shooed her sisters downstairs to pack. One by one the various sub-groups headed off in their separate directions, all of them promising to write or call so they could see one another again someday. Amber wrote down all the phone numbers and addresses in her book, keeping a permanent record of the group. Bobbi, Mike, Luke, and Melody left for Virginia, eager to get back to their own beds. Kalli, Moonlight, and Crystal began the drive back to Hampton Bay. Jake and Lilli were hoping to catch a plane to Florida while Chandra and Dagan wanted to take Faith back to Quebec. Dahlia just wanted to see her house in Las Vegas again. Rastaban took Teia, Raven, and Jezabell with him to Europe. Nalaria and Norei wanted to hop a plane to Africa. Angel finally told the others to pack up while Julian got the cars. Daemon was busy getting some of the food when Jason came in.
"Hey Daemon, do you really want to be immortal?" he asked, rubbing his foot back and forth across the floor. A little surprised at the blunt question, the witch stopped his packing and turned to face the younger man.
"Jason, think about it. We'll never have to worry about getting sick or hurt, we'll never grow old, and we can't die. And if humans don't behave, then the Night World will take over and we'll just live out our natural lives." The wolf still seemed uneasy. It wasn't that he didn't like being immortal, it just felt weird to him.
"A thousand years is a long time. What if I get tired of living after a few hundred years?"
"I will hit you upside your head with a frying pan," Amber stated from the doorway. Daemon stifled a laugh while Jason grinned sheepishly.
"Promise?" Marik came up behind Amber, his hand playing lightly across her back.
"If she doesn't, I will," he promised. All four of them laughed and quickly finished packing the food into various coolers. Leah walked in to find Sage putting the last of his things into a duffel bag while Ruby and Peter were getting their suitcases in order.
"Hi Leah, you going home?" Sage asked politely, zipping up his bag.
"Yeah, Dahlia wants to get going." Ruby tugged on Peter's sleeve, realizing they should leave the two Old-Souls alone. He just stared at her in puzzlement as she dragged him out the door. Sometimes he could be so dense, but that was guys for you.
"Well I guess this is goodbye then," Sage was saying as he bit his lip. Leah just nodded, her eyes focused on the ground.
"I guess so." Suddenly they dropped their suitcases and held each other tight, Leah crying and Sage with tears in his eyes.
"Come with me, Leah. I'll take care of you," he promised, whispering sweetly in her ear.
"But what about Dahlia and the others? I can't just leave them after all this time," she replied through her tears.
"Oh yes you can," a contralto voice argued from the doorway. Lyca stood there with her arms folded across her stomach and a mischievous light in her brown eyes. "Go with him. You two deserve each other."
"But what about-" Leah began to protest when Lyca shushed her.
"I'll tell Dahlia and Skye your decision. And we'll still see each other every once in a while. I want you to be happy, Leah." The other girl could only nod, a shy smile lighting up her face. Lyca kissed her on the cheek and then turned to Sage. "You take good care of her," she ordered him. Sage smiled and nodded as Lyca left the room to head home with her other two companions. Leah and Sage headed to the car, and Ruby smiled brightly when she saw them together. Peter still looked confused, but he was happy for his best friend.
"We're going home!" Kat yelled to the sun as she danced in the dew-covered grass. Austin smiled at his kitty-witch, reveling in her sweet innocence. He had often thought of living the later years of his "natural" life without her by his side. Now he had at least a millennia to be with her. Giving in to the happy mood she was spreading, he joined her in a mini- celebration dance. All too soon everyone else was ready, so they reluctantly stopped their dancing. Rain hugged Amber and Derrick before she and Delvain began the long trek back to the nearest town where they hoped to board a bus bound for Boston, and eventually get a plane back to England.
"We'll write!" they promised as their figures disappeared down the road. Following Angel, Blaise, and Julian, the rest of the group got into their cars and began to head home. At the edge of the valley Angel stopped her Ferrari and got out while the rest of the caravan halted and then stood with her, gazing down at the blood-covered grass far below them.
"Gone. In just one night the entire Night World is gone," Angel sighed, a sad look on her face.
"Fate can be a cruel mistress sometimes," Sage told her. Leah stood
by his side, blue-gray eyes focused on the empty land below them. They had been the last ones to leave the secluded cabin, the Night Raiders having left an hour before for Rhode Island. Patrick and Julie had been with them, their place in the group reinstated now that they no longer had to fear the Council or its rules. After a little while the group returned to their cars to go home. They and the others are the survivors, the believers, and the warriors.
They are Children of the Starlight: Destiny's choice.
Here ends the account of the last days before the Millenium, written in the words of the Chronicler of Circle Starlight, Amber Marie Johnson. I hereby affirm that the words are true and accurate, and that the events of which I have written took place from December 25, 1999 to January 1, 2000. Circle Starlight is the last part of the Night World that is still in existence today. We have been charged as the Watchers and Chroniclers of the human race, recording their progress until the year 3000, when they will be judged again by the three Fates. So if any of you humans are reading this, know one thing:
The Children of the Starlight are watching you!
Ruby opened her eyes and blinked, her mind trying to piece together what she was seeing. Instead of piles of bodies lying all over the place, there was nothing! Aside from the blood-soaked earth, not a trace of the horrible battle remained. A terrifying thought swept through her, and she extended her hand and touched warm flesh. "Peter?" she asked, fearing the worst.
"Mm-mmph! Mumph-muhum," a mumbled voice answered. A quick wetness tickled the bottom of her palm, and she looked over to see her hand over Peter's mouth. "Okay, I can take a hint. I talk too much," he said when she removed her hand and covered his mouth with hers instead.
"Yes, you do," Austin agreed as he sat up, hugging Kat to him like she was his lifeline to the world. She just held him tightly, afraid he'd disappear if she let go. As the others regained consciousness they began searching for any other survivors. Acilacia looked around for her mother, but Isis had vanished. That was the nature of gods and goddesses, always coming and going when it suited their fancy. She was about to stand up when a tall figure stood in front of her and extended his hand.
"Need a hand, m'lady?" a deep voice wondered. It stirred up memories in Acilacia's mind of a forgotten love and wasted years. Her eyes traveled up the man's muscular body to his golden-yellow eyes, which caught hold of her soul and held on tight. She accepted his hand, and as their skin touched, the soulmate-sparks propelled her into his arms. Words were not necessary as their minds opened up to each other.
"Oh Hunter," she whispered into his ear, his blood-red hair tickling her face. Angel stood in front of Julian, his hands around her waist, watching the scene between her great-grandfather and her friend.
"Are you jealous of their love?" Julian whispered, his lips brushing her neck in the barest of kisses. She pulled him around her like a living blanket, breathing in the sweet smell of darkness. It reminded her of chocolate and coffee with a dash of vanilla.
"Who needs a soulmate? I have a Shadow Man." Teia was busy introducing her father to a few people. Rastaban smiled kindly at Dahlia, recognizing his childhood friend Tiamat in the young woman's eyes and regal bearing. Yes, she was definitely a princess. His obsidian-black eyes had no pupils, but their eerie coldness was forgotten when his broad smile lit up his face, softening his features. Black hair stuck up in soft spikes, occasionally falling into his eyes. While he looked thirty, the 'shifter before them was actually thousands of years old, dragons being immortal. Blaise was already assessing him.
"Hey Ang', can we go home now?" Kat begged, wanting to leave this mysterious place of war and death.
"Not until we figure out what the hell is going on." At that moment three women stepped into view from behind the trees, and all eyes were immediately glued to their figures.
"Unity," the young girl greeted them. Her long white dress shimmered in the moonlight, a white veil shading her violet eyes; a trait which all the women shared. Silvery-blonde hair was pulled back into an elegant braid, which was wrapped around her head like a crown. She looked strikingly similar to Iliana Harman.
"Unity," Skye returned the greeting. The woman smiled and moved to stand beside the girl, brown-leather dress rustling like leaves in the wind. Her coffee skin had a warm glow in the moonlight, black hair in a bun on top of her head. The old woman behind her was clothed all in black, but stood tall like the matriarch they knew her to be. Her white hair fell in thin strands around her pale chin.
"Who are you?" Amy asked politely, her voice no louder than a whisper. It was clear that these women were witches.
"We are the Maiden, Mother, and Crone. The three Fates," the woman replied sweetly, her voice musical like wind chimes.
"You're real?" Faith accidentally said out loud, clapping a hand over her mouth before she got in trouble. She recalled that the Maiden, Mother, and Crone were positions in the Inner Circle, and had been patterned after the three Fates who controlled everyone's destiny.
"Of course we're real," the Maiden giggled, putting a small hand on Faith's shoulder. She looked about twelve, but had to be much older.
"Why are you here?" Daemon wanted to know. Silver was staring at the Crone, who looked strangely familiar to her. Something about a hill and her destiny. Oh well, she'd figure it out eventually. The Mother folded her hands and sighed, eyes fixed on the ground for a moment.
"We're here to explain the prophecy."
"We're listening," Leah assured her, Sage's arm firmly around her waist. A few people leaned closer to hear what was about to be said. The Crone stepped forward and gazed at the motley crew, eyes sharp and clear despite her eternal old age.
"You are part of the prophecy." Someone coughed while others giggled, but most were too surprised to do anything but stare.
"How so?" Nalaria wondered, putting a comforting hand on Norei's shaking shoulders to steady them. Truth be told, none of them were feeling particularly strong at that moment.
"Twilight has fallen, the Night will not yield. Starlight shines on the bloody battlefield. The Goddess commands them; they hear her voice. Children of the Starlight: Destiny's Choice," the Maiden recited.
"We're the Starlight in the prophecy. We're Circle Starlight," Angel pieced it together. The Fates nodded, small smiles tugging at the corners of their mouths. They were clearly pleased that someone had figured it out.
"Yes. Each of you came here because we chose you to survive the Millenium War," the Mother added.
"Wait. We're the only Night People who survived the Millenium?" Blaise asked fearfully, Thea's face clear in her mind. She would never forgive herself if anything had happened to her. The Maiden giggled and patted Blaise's arm with her small hand.
"Don't worry about your cousin. We sent her away on purpose to save her and her soulmate."
"My brother?" Dahlia wondered, her voice cracking.
"Your parents sent him to a safe-house until after the Millenium just in case you didn't survive. He, Raksha, Winfrith, and Nissa are all safe." The three Johnsons all breathed out a sigh when they heard the good news about their last cousin, Nissa. Dahlia smiled while Lyca gave her shoulders a small squeeze. Acilacia didn't need to worry about her daughter or son-in- law. As a Luna and made-Lune, they were separate and apart from the Night World. Even Sasha's father was exempt from the Millenium War, he being a Lune; the male equivalent to the Luna.
"But other than those people, we're the only ones left?" Marik pressed. The Fates nodded sadly.
"Your Circle is the last stronghold of the Night World," the Mother told them, a sad smile on her face.
"But why?" Julie demanded, her hazel-green eyes snapping in clear ferocity. She didn't want her life controlled by anyone other than herself. Patrick agreed with her, and held her close so that they would be seen as two people with the same thought. The Crone looked steadily into Julie's eyes for a moment before shifting to Patrick. One by one the old woman gazed into all their eyes, stopping at Hunter Redfern: Ex-leader of the Night World and until recently, a casualty of the blue fire.
"The humans might be killing the Earth and each other, but there are enough of them who want the destruction to stop. We're giving them a thousand years to work it out."
"What about us?" Rastaban brought up.
"Circle Starlight will be the "policemen" of the Day World. You will be our eyes and ears until their time is up. If the humans have done as some promised and reformed, their race will continue for another thousand years. If not, the Night World will get another chance."
"But only the vampires can live that long," Melody sadly pointed out.
"Not anymore. Because you are the Watchers and Chroniclers, we have made all of you truly immortal. You cannot die or be killed for as long as humans rule the world. Nor will you age," the Mother informed them.
"But why us?" Hunter rephrased the question. Acilacia knew he really meant "why me?", but she also wanted to know why CS had been chosen.
"You all risked possible execution to remain neutral, and any of you could've survived whether Daybreak or Midnight won. This is your reward."
"Survival and guaranteed immortality? Yeah, that sounds like a really good deal," Jake reasoned.
"That's why you sent me back. Because I'd died protecting this Circle's neutrality," Silver realized. The Crone just nodded, pleased the young 'shifter had figured it out.
"And Hunter?" Acil asked, her hand clenched tightly around her soulmate's palm. The Maiden stared up at the two vampires, her purple eyes burning into their green and yellow ones.
"We decided to give him another chance." Her voice was flat and unemotional, and Hunter closed his eyes and bowed his head.
"Thank you," he whispered as the girl smiled brightly again.
"So what happened to the other Daybreakers?" Poppy wanted to know. Even though she and James had left, a lot of those people had been their friends. It would be awful if they were all dead.
"They became a part of the race which they fought so valiantly to protect," the Mother answered.
"They're humans?" Mike didn't even try to keep the shock out of his voice. The Mother only looked at him.
"It was the only way to save them. Time is now acting as if there was never a Night World. Whatever race they were and however many centuries they had lived doesn't matter now. You all are the only ones to keep your powers. Circle Midnight is gone forever, and Circle Daybreak is now completely human and mortal."
"All right, we'll be your police-people," Angel agreed, eager to settle her affairs and go home. The Fates smiled kindly and vanished into thin air. A single piece of parchment fluttered to the ground, faded-ink writing covering most of it. At the same time, a silver goblet winked into existence. Gems of ruby, emerald, sapphire, topaz, diamond, opal, and others were shining in the moonlight. Dark-red liquid glistened inside the cup, but Angel knew it was more than blood.
"This is a ceremony," Dahlia realized as she scanned the page while leaning over her friend's shoulder.
"So let's perform it," Skye encouraged. The entire group stood in a tight circle, eyes fixed on Angel as she began to read:
"The ceremony begins; We'll tell what we know. Blood of our ancestors; Magick of old." She passed the paper to Blaise, who recited:
"Hearts are light; Spirits draw near. Our will is strong; We show no fear." Amy read next:
"Our Circle, our family; In them we trust. We do what we can; Live as we must." Melody had the last part:
"Whenever we're needed; We will heed the call. This Cup of Life; Will bind us all." Angel took the cup and drank from it, the warm liquid tingling all the way down her throat. As the cup was passed around to everyone, mist began to collect and rise in the center of the circle. It surrounded them all and seemed to pulse with its own energy, tugging at their souls. When the cup reached Amber she took a sip, and then the world was opened to her. Smells of the earth, air, a faint water source, and her friends assailed her nostrils like expensive perfumes. She could see everyone's auras clearly now, and the rainbow colors twisted together to bind them all into one being; one life force. She was pleased to see her own ice-blue aura among the dancing colors. Memories not her own flooded into her mind, the good mixed in with the bad. There was one where she was sucking the life out of a human man, another where she was running through the forest in a large pack of wolves, and still another where she felt safe in the company of her sister witches. As the cup made its way around the circle, more people's auras came into focus. Now the energy was building, quickening their pulses and breathing; letting them know something was about to happen. Then, as if someone had cued them in, they all shouted in one loud voice:
"In Circle Starlight, the Night World lives on. We are survivors, the few and the strong!" Their dancing auras intensified in color and shot into the center of the ring. Everyone gasped as the light and energy shot into their bodies, binding them forever to each other. Colors shifted before their eyes as all the auras merged into one blinding ray of pure, white light. When at last the light faded, Ruby looked down and saw a pendant hanging by a short silver chain from her neck. The pendant was of a rainbow pentagram, but if she tilted it the right way it shone the color of her sky- blue aura.
"Now that was cool," Derrick commented, the now-rising sun lighting up his pendant. Hunter gazed down at the star around his neck and the picked up Acil, swinging her in a circle. Both of them had ear-to-ear grins plastered across their faces.
"Well Angel, we really should be going," Acil told her as the couple descended to gather her things. When they came out again Acilacia waved to everyone as they left, giving her address to Amber so they could keep in touch. When the lamia looked at her book, she realized the address was for Moscow, Russia. "We're going to see Sasha." The couple walked hand-in-hand down the road.
'I'm so proud of you, Angel Redfern,' Hunter's voice whispered in her mind. The young woman smiled at the praise.
"We should be heading back too," Kalli brought up as she shooed her sisters downstairs to pack. One by one the various sub-groups headed off in their separate directions, all of them promising to write or call so they could see one another again someday. Amber wrote down all the phone numbers and addresses in her book, keeping a permanent record of the group. Bobbi, Mike, Luke, and Melody left for Virginia, eager to get back to their own beds. Kalli, Moonlight, and Crystal began the drive back to Hampton Bay. Jake and Lilli were hoping to catch a plane to Florida while Chandra and Dagan wanted to take Faith back to Quebec. Dahlia just wanted to see her house in Las Vegas again. Rastaban took Teia, Raven, and Jezabell with him to Europe. Nalaria and Norei wanted to hop a plane to Africa. Angel finally told the others to pack up while Julian got the cars. Daemon was busy getting some of the food when Jason came in.
"Hey Daemon, do you really want to be immortal?" he asked, rubbing his foot back and forth across the floor. A little surprised at the blunt question, the witch stopped his packing and turned to face the younger man.
"Jason, think about it. We'll never have to worry about getting sick or hurt, we'll never grow old, and we can't die. And if humans don't behave, then the Night World will take over and we'll just live out our natural lives." The wolf still seemed uneasy. It wasn't that he didn't like being immortal, it just felt weird to him.
"A thousand years is a long time. What if I get tired of living after a few hundred years?"
"I will hit you upside your head with a frying pan," Amber stated from the doorway. Daemon stifled a laugh while Jason grinned sheepishly.
"Promise?" Marik came up behind Amber, his hand playing lightly across her back.
"If she doesn't, I will," he promised. All four of them laughed and quickly finished packing the food into various coolers. Leah walked in to find Sage putting the last of his things into a duffel bag while Ruby and Peter were getting their suitcases in order.
"Hi Leah, you going home?" Sage asked politely, zipping up his bag.
"Yeah, Dahlia wants to get going." Ruby tugged on Peter's sleeve, realizing they should leave the two Old-Souls alone. He just stared at her in puzzlement as she dragged him out the door. Sometimes he could be so dense, but that was guys for you.
"Well I guess this is goodbye then," Sage was saying as he bit his lip. Leah just nodded, her eyes focused on the ground.
"I guess so." Suddenly they dropped their suitcases and held each other tight, Leah crying and Sage with tears in his eyes.
"Come with me, Leah. I'll take care of you," he promised, whispering sweetly in her ear.
"But what about Dahlia and the others? I can't just leave them after all this time," she replied through her tears.
"Oh yes you can," a contralto voice argued from the doorway. Lyca stood there with her arms folded across her stomach and a mischievous light in her brown eyes. "Go with him. You two deserve each other."
"But what about-" Leah began to protest when Lyca shushed her.
"I'll tell Dahlia and Skye your decision. And we'll still see each other every once in a while. I want you to be happy, Leah." The other girl could only nod, a shy smile lighting up her face. Lyca kissed her on the cheek and then turned to Sage. "You take good care of her," she ordered him. Sage smiled and nodded as Lyca left the room to head home with her other two companions. Leah and Sage headed to the car, and Ruby smiled brightly when she saw them together. Peter still looked confused, but he was happy for his best friend.
"We're going home!" Kat yelled to the sun as she danced in the dew-covered grass. Austin smiled at his kitty-witch, reveling in her sweet innocence. He had often thought of living the later years of his "natural" life without her by his side. Now he had at least a millennia to be with her. Giving in to the happy mood she was spreading, he joined her in a mini- celebration dance. All too soon everyone else was ready, so they reluctantly stopped their dancing. Rain hugged Amber and Derrick before she and Delvain began the long trek back to the nearest town where they hoped to board a bus bound for Boston, and eventually get a plane back to England.
"We'll write!" they promised as their figures disappeared down the road. Following Angel, Blaise, and Julian, the rest of the group got into their cars and began to head home. At the edge of the valley Angel stopped her Ferrari and got out while the rest of the caravan halted and then stood with her, gazing down at the blood-covered grass far below them.
"Gone. In just one night the entire Night World is gone," Angel sighed, a sad look on her face.
"Fate can be a cruel mistress sometimes," Sage told her. Leah stood
by his side, blue-gray eyes focused on the empty land below them. They had been the last ones to leave the secluded cabin, the Night Raiders having left an hour before for Rhode Island. Patrick and Julie had been with them, their place in the group reinstated now that they no longer had to fear the Council or its rules. After a little while the group returned to their cars to go home. They and the others are the survivors, the believers, and the warriors.
They are Children of the Starlight: Destiny's choice.
Here ends the account of the last days before the Millenium, written in the words of the Chronicler of Circle Starlight, Amber Marie Johnson. I hereby affirm that the words are true and accurate, and that the events of which I have written took place from December 25, 1999 to January 1, 2000. Circle Starlight is the last part of the Night World that is still in existence today. We have been charged as the Watchers and Chroniclers of the human race, recording their progress until the year 3000, when they will be judged again by the three Fates. So if any of you humans are reading this, know one thing:
The Children of the Starlight are watching you!