**AN: Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far! And if anyone ever wants me to read their story I'd be more than welcome to. Just leave a comment or PM me and I'll check it out =) Also, I do not own the House of Night series, any of its books, characters, or affiliates. Just to be on the safe side: This chapter contains quotes from Chapter 3, pages 30-34 of "Betrayed"; I of course, do not own those quotes. Happy Reading! NC**

Loren

I woke up to the bright moon shining through the window into my loft. Something wet and sticky was pressing against my face and I didn't like it. My hand reached up to touch the unwanted guest on my cheek. Ah! No! I hastily snatched the drool soaked paper off the side of my face, reading the haiku scrolling across it.

"Brush strokes of copper

Silken waves of raven black

Give in to your thirst"

The final "t" lay smudged in a pool of drool. Great. I, Professor Loren Blake, just stayed up half the day writing haikus about a student, Zoey Redbird. I traveled down the river of blotched ink.

"Flames in stubborn eyes

Bronze valleys of temptation

Desire is burning"

On and on the haikus went, flowing evenly down both sides of the paper in my hand and on those that littered the floor. Some free-verse, some rhyming, but most were in my favorite style: the five-seven-five haiku format. Damn it, I thought. Eyes barely open, I glanced at my alarm clock. Dear Goddess! I jumped out of bed and ran across the room to my closet. I could not be late. I didn't have a first hour class, but normally I aided Sappho in the library. I was part time as it was, and if I ever hoped to get a full time position, being late wasn't allowed. I threw on the first things I could find. Black dress slacks trailed up my legs to meet an untucked, white, button up shirt. I dashed out my front door, and ran across the school grounds.

Once I was in the building, I slowed to a graceful steady pace, catching my breath and calming my racing heart. It wasn't out of exhaustion from the run, but fear of being late and Neferet finding out. That's the last thing I needed. Neferet felt odd to me, and I could never quite place my finger on those odd calculating smiles. Like the other day at parent night, something, and I really could not tell what, but something made me feel like she wanted Zoey's parents to abandon her like that. It's definitely not something I would want to believe, but my gut instinct was telling me something was not all right about her.

I slid through the doors of the media center and almost turned around and left. You're a professor, stop acting like a child! I thought to myself, as I squared my shoulders and marched forward. She's just a student, like any other. As I got closer to Zoey, the desire to flee became stronger and stronger. Maybe I'll just leave…

I stopped as the orange tuft of fur on her lap, uncurled itself and hissed. Caught. Well, I can't walk away now. I mustered all of my smooth poet's voice, "You look completely engrossed in that." She looked over her shoulder, probably expecting someone, well, not me, and her face froze in shock. Zoey didn't say anything at first, so I took the opportunity to break the awkward silence, "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you. It was just so unusual to see a student writing feverishly in long hand, rather than pecking away at computer keys, that I thought you might be writing poetry. You see, I prefer to write poetry longhand. The computer is just too impersonal." Alright, now I sound like a complete idiot.

I watched as she continued to stare and then her brain started to piece back together. She took on the look of confusion, "I—uh—I'm not writing poetry."

No, now I'm a complete idiot. Cleary she didn't want to talk to me. I faked a smile, hoping it wasn't the grimace I felt I was giving, "Oh, well. Doesn't hurt to check. Nice talking to you." Run. Get out of there fast. I felt my face turning bright red.

"Uh, I think computers are impersonal, too. I've never really written poetry, but when I write something important I like to do it like this," I turned in time to see her lift her pen awkwardly.

"Well, maybe you should try writing poetry. Sounds like you might have the soul of a poet." I briefly contemplated the lines and verses now working as a carpet to my loft. I noticed her bronzed skin took on a light pink tinge at the complement. The awkward silence started drawing back in, so I held my hand out to her, "Usually about this time of day I come by and give Sappho a break. I'm not a full time professor because I'm only here for one school year." In reality, I only have a one year contract. One of those "let's just see how this goes" kind of things. "I just teach two classes, so I have extra time. I'm Loren Blake, vampyre poet laureate."

She reached her arm out and I noticed the slender curve of her wrists, the delicate fingers, the manicured nails. Her dainty fingers wrapped around my forearm in the traditional vampyre greeting and I felt the warmth of her skin on mine. Tiny, Cherokee temptress. Or maybe Cherokee princess? Not the kind that waited in an ivory tower for someone to come save them. No, Zoey wasn't coming off as the damsel in distress girl. She was more of an ancient princess. One who fought alongside her people. Someone with fire and passion, like that of the Romans, Greeks, Egyptians.

"I know," she said before turning a gorgeous shade of pink. "What I mean is I know who you are. You're the first male poet laureate they've named in two hundred years." Something seemed to click in her brain, and her hand hurriedly left my forearm. My skin tingled were she had touched, and I immediately felt her absence. "I'm Zoey Redbird," she brushed a long strand of her raven black hair from her face, examining me with the same stubborn eyes that flitted throughout my poetry.

"I know who you are too. You're the first fledgling to have a colored-in, expanded Mark, as well as the only vamp, fledgling or adult, to have an affinity for all five elements. It's nice to finally meet you face to face," My mouth moved before I could think about what I was saying. To cover up my blunder, I smiled and said, "Neferet's told me a lot about you."

"She has?" Zoey's voice cracked a little and her hazel eyes widened in fear. I wonder what she's afraid Neferet told me?

"Of course she has. She's incredibly proud of you." I jerked my head towards the seat beside her, "I don't want to interrupt your work, but do you mind if I sit with you for a little while?"

Part of me wanted her beautiful face to take on a look of disgust and say, "Yes, I mind." Maybe even mention cradle robbing. But instead she said, "Yeah, sure. I need a break. I think my butt's asleep."

What? I laughed, full out loud happy carefree laughter for the first time in weeks. "Well then, would you like to stand while I sit?"

"No, I'll—uh—just shift my weight."

I chuckled again, "So if it's not too personal, may I ask what you're working so diligently on?" I snuck a peek at the swirling red ink letters on the top page of her notebook.

She was silent for a while, unconsciously worrying her bottom lip. I thought for a moment that maybe she didn't really want to share what she was doing with me. I felt the tiniest bit of heartbreak that she didn't want to tell me. But really? Who would expect her to unload all of her thoughts on a total almost stranger? I sighed, "Zoey? If you don't want to tell me what you're working on, that's fine. I really didn't mean to bother you."

I moved to stand, when she shook her head from her daze. "No! It's okay." She inhaled deeply before continuing, "Sorry—guess I was still thinking about my research." She seemed to hesitate before she launched into her speech, "I want to change the Dark Daughters. I think it needs a foundation—some clear rules and guidelines." Zoey gave me the full presentation on all of her plans for the Dark Daughters and Sons. She was clearly excited about all of it, and I had to admit, they were great ideas.

"I like it, I think it's a great idea," I told her after she finished explaining her ideas on adding a prefect system.

"Really? You're not just saying that?"

"There's something about me you should know. I don't lie." I smiled at her, willing her to trust me with more than just these small secrets.

"Well, thanks then." Her words were soft, but I could hear them as clear as bells. "I want the Dark Daughters to stand for more than just a social group. I want them to set examples—do the right things. So I thought that each of us would have to swear to uphold five ideals representing the five elements."

Truly a little genius. Zoey would make an excellent high priestess one day. "What did you have in mind?" I asked.

"The Dark Daughters and Sons should swear to be authentic for air, faithful for fire, wise for water, empathetic for earth, and sincere for spirit." And there it was, that bursting flame in her eyes. She truly wanted and believed in this with all of her heart. My eyes caught her swirling sapphire tattoos, and my fingers darted out to trail down them before I could stop.

"Beautiful and intelligent and innocent," I murmured. Zoey trembled, and I couldn't help but hope it was because of me. "The best part of beauty is that which no picture can express," I quoted.

I had to have jumped at least ten feet in the air when she spoke. "So sorry to interrupt, but I really do need to check out the next three books in this series for Professor Anastasia." I spun around, please goddess don't let it be…

Aphrodite, the former leader of the Dark Daughters who loved to cause havoc and believed she owned the school, grinned at me, three thick books in her tiny arms. Not good, I thought. I gently took the books from her, not looking at her or Zoey. Luckily Sappho came strolling back in and saved me. I ran out of the media center without looking back. Look what you've gone and done now! You knew she was off limits! My mind screamed at me.

I turned a corner and nearly bumped head first into someone. "Ah, just the man I was waiting for," Neferet's calculating smile held me entranced. "Come with me." How did she hear about it so fast? I had just left the media center and Aphrodite wouldn't have been able to beat me to her. Neferet pulled me into her classroom and closed the door after a quick peek down the hall. I sat down at the nearest desk, waiting for her to begin my torture. "Loren, I need a favor." I looked her up and down, she looked frazzled and… terrified?

I jumped up, "Neferet? What is it? What's wrong?"

Neferet started to cry and finally choked out, "It's my fledglings. First Aphrodite and now Zoey." My heart froze. What could Zoey and Aphrodite have in common?

"Neferet, what about Zoey?"

She seemed to catch that I had only mentioned Zoey and not Aphrodite. I would have to be much more careful around her. "Aphrodite has angered the goddess and her gifts have been revoked!" She broke into a fresh wave of tears. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders, rubbing her back. "And Z-Z-Zoey, she's, she's evil!" My hands stopped moving and I had to force them into motion again. "Aphrodite didn't summon the dark spirits at the ritual. It was Zoey. She's not full vampyre. I don't know what she is. And I can't find out. She's intelligent, more so than any of the other fledglings around here. The other professors can't sense her false innocence. I think… I think she has been dabbling with dark gifts." She cried into my shoulder for a moment before sniffling, "I don't know what to do. I can't prove it. I can't get close enough to her. She knows I can read her thoughts." Her face suddenly lit up, "but you can." I started to shake my head in protest, but she said, "Really, all you would have to do is convince her that you're someone important to her. Flirt with her, romance her, I know it doesn't sound appealing but if it will save innocent lives?" I knew I was trapped. I tried to think of anything that would get me out of this.

But there wasn't a way out. "Fine. I'll do it. But I'm not romancing her. You'll have to deal with me being a trusted friend or something." I could see the disappointment on her face, before she quickly hid it.

"Thank you. You're doing the right thing," she smiled and wiped away the last of her tears. "Well, I better be going. Lunch starts soon." As she closed the door behind her, I couldn't help the feeling that I had been played. Oh, I would do some investigating, but I was going to do it so I got answers to Zoey and Neferet.