Chapter four: Always and Forever

I was resting on my bed, in my bedroom, staring at the ceiling with a purring Lela rested beside my head on my pillow. It was about noon time but that was like our midnight being we were sleeping during the day and went about our lives at night. Rebecca was sleeping with her back toward me, her cat curled up on her hip swaying his tail in his sleep. Tonight was some parent night thing where fledglings' parents would be allowed to come and visit their child. Guess it meant a lot seeing as each one of us only had 50% chance of becoming vampyres and truly outliving our parents for years; centuries to come. Although, looking at Rebecca I remembered how she said she had no family aside from Professor Penthesilia so I guess that family thing was a bit painful for even her.

I sat up and glanced at the clock. 12:33. I couldn't sleep for some reason, which was a reason I knew. I was scared that if I look out the window or something I'd not only get blinded by the irritating sun but that moment of blindness would lead to some random bullet to the face. I was paranoid? Maybe, but I had every right to be damnit! I was now a simple target to my step-father, I mean I told them; something I was always so scared to do. Anastasia was the first person I told, and then she helped me be able to tell Thanatos which I later heard she told Zoey. That's why I couldn't leave the campus, there was more security and I had to be with my roommate whenever not in class.

With a sigh, I rubbed my face then turned the clock away so I didn't have the time staring me down like 'go to sleep'. With the sound of a light thud-thud, I glanced over seeing Rebecca's feline walking to his food bowl and nibbling away. When I looked up Rebecca was now on her back with her head turned toward me and from what I could see she was looking over at me with half sleepy eyes. I simply waved and stood as she sat up rubbing her right eye not even caring to cover her wide yawn. Lela, noticing I wasn't on my pillow decided to stretch out across it like she owned the thing. I think I need some more pillows soon, that cat stole it.

"Why are you up?" I looked over at my roommate as she turned the light on. We tend to keep the room super dark by covering the windows with dark fleece blankets that way no light gets in at all unless we move them. Which we only open them at night when the moon is out and we want the moonlight in our room or just to feel like with the moon peering down so was Nyx, watching over us. I gave a simple shrug because how was I going to explain that what had me up was actually a nightmare (or is it 'day-mare' now?) I had earlier.

In the horrible dream I was just talking to someone; I couldn't make out who the person was, but we were talking. Then the next thing I knew these two unseen hands grabbed my throat wanting to squeeze the life out of me. The way I was attacked was pure anger and pure hate. The last thing I remember was a woman's scream and then in the dream I was laying there dying of a crushed windpipe but the hands were gone from my neck and my vision was slowly going dark. I didn't want to worry Rebecca with that so I didn't tell her but instead acted like it was something like a bout with insomnia or that I just couldn't sleep. "It's nothing," was all I said before heading to the door.

I stepped out and ran smack into Kalona, the immortal guy with large black wings. Rubbing my head I looked up as he stared down at me. Did I forget to mention he was the one guarding the girls' dorms? And of course if he dared to touch one of us he'd be breaking his oath to Thanatos. I saw his wings flutter a bit. "What are you doing up? You should remain in your room,"

"Wing-dude, I'm just heading the kitchen to get something to eat," He crossed his arms seemingly refusing to let me pass him. I simply shrugged and brushed by him only for him to snap out a wing to block me. "Kalona, I can't leave the campus, not my room,"

"Why do you need to venture to the kitchen?"

"It holds the tiny cereal boxes in there," I replied.

"Let her by Kalona," I peered pass his wing seeing Thanatos walking up the stairs. She was wearing PJ pants with a night shirt with a silk robe fluttering behind her as she came to the top step. Kalona slowly folded his wing back up. "I was actually on my way to get you, Ali."

"What did I do something wrong?" I raised a brow over at the High Priestess. She shook her head and motioned for me to follow her. I glanced at Kalona then moved over toward our grim death looking priestess following her back down the stairs. "So… what did you need me for?"

"It's not me who needs you, you need to talk to the detective that can help put your step-father away," I froze and turned pale when she mentioned a detective. I wasn't feeling very comfortable with talking to one because what if I was in the wrong for not talking sooner? Would I be arrested too? I'll be honest that scared me to think about it. "Don't worry, Zoey and me will be there,"

"O-Okay then…" I shook the nervous feeling and followed her again, keeping back a few paces with my head down because of the sun outside. Thanatos was even nearly shutting her own eyes. Only because the sun was an irritation to us, we didn't burn in the sunlight like those bullshit story vampyres and we certainly did not sparkle like a certain "vampire". The only Vamps that would be hurt in the sun is the Red Vampyres because they were dead, their bodies are just reanimated. It's not the same body in which they were born with. So red vamps were to remain out of sunlight no matter what and I found it odd how they were not allowed into homes or even rooms without being welcomed inside by the resident of that place. Guess that means don't put out the welcome mat if you don't want a red vampyre walking in.

When I peered up, Thanatos had opened the door to head inside the school close to her office location. Stepping inside, I heard a grumpy mee-ow-uf and had to look down to find Nala peering up at me with a lazy look that said 'what are you looking at?' right before she sneezed.

"She complains and sneezes a lot," my head shot up to see Zoey leaning on the wall looking at me with a smile on her face. Zoey was also in her sleepwear but her outfit was of a slight V-neck black top with grey and white sweatpants and on her feet were those black and white NIKE flip flop sandals or whatever they were. I could see that her toe nails were painted a light red too. When I looked back to her face my eyes first stopped on this thing she had around her neck. It looked like a stone. "There something on your mind there, Ali?"

"What's that stone you have on? Is there something special about it?" I asked pointed to it. Her hand reached up grasping the stone as she smirked a bit before she went about explaining it.

"This is a Seer's Stone given to me by a vampyre queen; I guess one could think of it as an old magick finder. When I first looked through it I ended up flat on my back which Sgiach had said was normal."

"Wait is Sgiach the Vampyre Queen?" Zoey nodded and then motioned for us to head into Thanatos's office. When I stepped inside there standing by the window was a tall and thin detective wearing a long, light brown coat. He had a thin face paired with lazy looking brown eyes. From the opening on his coat I could see he had on a dark suit with a blue and black tie. His dark hair was slicked back and was as well groomed as the goatee on his chin. I shuffled to the left by Thanatos's desk as Zoey stepped in closing the door behind her. I don't know why but I felt almost trapped because of some odd fear.

"Hello, Ms. Flair, I'm Detective Stevenson and I was called here by your High Priestess here about that you have information upon a cold case that happened years ago," I stared for a moment and opened my mouth only giving some meep sound only to feel my mentor lightly nudge my side.

"I-I-I mean yes sir," He nodded and pulled out a pad and pen from his coat, flipping to a clean page before glancing back up at me standing there tense as stone. I felt like a trapped statue. Damn what was I so scarred of?

"So tell me what you know,"

"Carl Henderson… is Samantha Henderson's murderer… I was nine and that day he was drunk, all she was doing was getting something to drink and he attacked her, I witnessed everything…" I slumped back against the wall sliding down until I was seated on the floor, shaking. "He carried her out to the car, then came back and grabbed my arm pulling me to the car and tossing me in the backseat…" My voice was starting to crack as each memory came flooding back like some fucked up nightmare. Arms hugging around my knees, I began shaking in fear and horror. Each memory kept playing over and over in slow motion. From the horrified look on my sister's face to the remorseless face of my stepfather as he dropped her body into the trunk with a loud thud, but I forced myself to continue on.

"He drove… secluded place… forced to bury…" my words were no longer making any sense as the fear and agony was all hitting me at once. I felt Zoey's hands on my shoulders as her face said it all, she could see the terror in my eyes; the pain and heart aching sight.

"Ali, calm down,"

"Forced… bury…" I kept trying to speak as Zoey just shook her head, taking my face in her tattooed hands. "Me… he forced… bury… sister…" hot tears were running down from my eyes hitting onto my mentor's hands but she didn't move. Zoey forced me to look right at her as I was shaking endlessly.

"Ali, Stop!" I opened my mouth only to clamp it shut and squeeze my eyes shut just letting myself fall into absolute tears. Thanatos glanced from me to the detective before she spoke.

"I think that's all you'll get out of her today… the trauma still affects her in numerous ways," The detective looked over at me then to his notes before slipping the pad back into his coat and putting the pen on his ear.

"I hope next time I come she can tell where the body is…"

"PONDERSA WATER PARK," I blurted out. It was an old abandoned waterpark in Oologah Oklahoma which was only about a 32 minute drive from here in Tulsa to that location. He drove us there and forced me to bury her by this one small bridge within the abandoned location. I remembered the way the park looked as the sun was setting. It was creepy and dark… oh the memories; the horrifying memories…

The darkness was everywhere, only thing I could see and let alone follow was the flashlight in my stepfather's hand as he carried Samantha rolled up in a tarp on his shoulder. I was scrunched down following after him as he had made me carry the shovel. He led the way to a wooded area by the small bridge before him, dropping the body down with a THUD then turned to me and snarled.

"Get to diggin'," he said pointing to the ground. It was cold outside and I knew the ground would be rather solid but I did what he said, feeling his eyes burning down my back as he simply stood there. He had no remorse for what he'd done. The scent of heavy booze and even some smoke on him told me he was high on something, well that and the fact he had had a hard time driving up here from our home. I kept thinking… why? Why would you do this?

I leaned into Zoey resting my head on her shoulder as she simply hugged her arms around me. The ponderosa water park… oh how the name left a bad taste in my mouth. I soon leaned away back against the wall as Zoey stood facing the detective.

"Ladies, I may need to take Ms. Flair down to the station with me," Thanatos's eyes narrowed as she stood between me and him.

"You said there would be none of that and she must remain near a vampyre. She is a fledgling, extended time away from an adult vampyre will mean her death,"

"She's an accessory to murder and a key witness, she says here she's a target," the high priestess shook her head.

"Ali is going nowhere, as a vampyre fledgling she is under the council's decision as well as mine and professor Redbird here, otherwise you have no say in what will happen to her," The detective looked from Thanatos to Zoey then finally his eyes fell on me still seated on the floor behind the vampyres blocking his way toward me. Then his gaze shifted back to the High Priestess finally giving a nod.

"Alright, if she's safe here then I'll start the search for the body within the abandoned location," With that he bid farewell as left the campus with the information I gave him. Thanatos glanced down at me and frowned with concern.

"Ali, will you be alright to attend class?" I nodded and stood.

"If I don't do something to get my mind off this then I won't get over the trauma… right?" She nodded to me as I felt a pudgy feline bump my leg only to look down and see Nala had slipped inside the room. When I looked up Thanatos was leaving the room and only Zoey was left there with me.

"We're going to be having extra security turning the parent visitation tonight, so if you see your stepfather, hide and alert one of the vampyres or one of the on duty warriors,"

"I doubt he'll come but okay sure,"

"Don't doubt it, Ali, just hope he doesn't," I nodded and headed to the door so I could head back to my dorm room. "I'll see you in class later," with a wave over my shoulder I left, heading back to my dorm room but something made me stop and glance at Nyx's temple. With the sun setting I felt that the temple just seemed less creepy like and more of a welcoming building. My hand reached up brushing my fingers over the colored in mark. I smiled, fisted my hand setting it over my heart with a slight bow.

"Thank you for marking me Nyx, you saved me," I stood and headed back to the dorm finding Rebecca had fallen back to sleep hugging her pillow tight. My gaze moved from my roomie over to the clock reading it was only 1:30pm. Guess I had time to catch some sleep then. I crawled into bed, which made Lela's head rise and she glanced at me with a sleepy slow blink before returning to her sleep. I the rested on the bed and listened to Lela's soft returning purr until I too fell asleep…

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

I woke to the annoying sound of the alarm clock going off, reaching up to hit the button to make it silent before sitting up on my bed rubbing my eyes. I had to almost drag myself from bed only to sit on Rebecca's and poke her cheek to make her get up. She turned over and groaned looking up at me. Seems neither one of us really wanted to go to class but we had to. She sat up and set her chin on my shoulder.

"Do I have to?" I chuckled and nodded only for her to groan and wrap her arms around my stomach yanking me back on top of her. "But I don't wanna!" she whined playfully.

"Why am I being punished for this?" I said laughing as I was now rested on top of her. Rebecca shrugged and let me go so she could fidget with my hair. I sat up getting off of my roomie, and shooing away her hands so I could head to the bathroom and quickly shower. I found it great to have a fun and playful roommate like Rebecca; she could make me smile when I needed a good laugh.

With a quick shower, I soon stepped out grabbing my towel and wrapping it around my body before exiting the bathroom to get my uniform ready for class tonight. Rebecca took her turn taking a shower as I started getting ready. Tossing my towel aside, I got to put my black lace underwear on then pulling on a pair of dark skinny jeans paired with my favorite black and red leather belt. I put my bra on but of course the ones that hook in the back were hard to latch right. I peered over my shoulder seeing Rebecca stepping out with her towel around her body.

"Need help?" she asked.

"Yeah this fucking bra annoys me to no end," She chuckled and grabbed the ends of the bra latching the hook pieces together. I turned around and smiled. "Thanks," I set my uniform shirt on the bed and fixed my bust a bit before putting on the dark purple and black top. Rebecca got her clothing on and started for the door.

"Say you think we start that Fencing class today?" I shrugged and followed after her and down to the kitchen finding only a few girls were there eating breakfast. I went right over to the small cereal boxes and looked around until I found it. My most favorite happened to be Rice Krispies because it was a simple cereal, not too flashy and not too sweet either. I liked just that it was puffy rice that crackled in the bowl. Plus it makes great treats when you add melted butter and gooey marshmallows to it.

Sitting at the table, I readied my small bowl of cereal while my roommate was busy lightly spreading cream cheese on her toasted onion bagel. Just when I raised my spoon toward my lips I heard a voice from behind me which made me sit forward fast and caused me to choke on my spoon. When I turned around I found Púrpura standing there with that expressionless face she always had.

"Ali, we have a meeting tomorrow at the Rec Hall… I hope you'll attend," I coughed a bit and slowly nodded at the girl.

"Uh… yeah," She didn't say anything else but she glanced from me to Rebecca, who turned her gaze away, then left the kitchen. When Rebecca sat down she kept her head down eating. I looked over to her and raised a brow wondering why she seemed afraid of Púrpura like how I was kind of creped out because of her randomly appearing and seeming so emotionless. "Rebecca, you alright,"

"Yeah, I'm just uncomfortable around her…" I wanted to know more but I decided not to pry anymore unless she wanted to tell me. So instead I went back to my cereal soon finishing and going to wash my dishes before joining Rebecca at the door so we could get to our first hour class with Thanatos. I sat in my seat with Rebecca seated behind me just as the bell rang and in swept the High Priestess, looking as stunning as she had the day—night—before. I glanced from the professor over to see the girl Melissa was already reading the next chapter. Then my gaze moved to see the jock guy sitting in his seat… snoring and asleep.

A chalkboard eraser suddenly flew over from the front of the room and hit him right on the cheek leaving a powder white eraser mark on his face. I covered my mouth and giggled as he sat up with a yawn. Thanatos had thrown a chalk eraser at the sleeping slacker. He sat up fully and looked down at the eraser on the floor before picking it up. The High Priestess walked over taking it from him and headed to the front of the class instantly getting into the lesson for the night. I was busy jotting down notes and answering a few questions because I had in fact read the homework chapter she assigned just yesterday. When the bell rang I headed out of the class waving to Rebecca who had sketching class instead while I had Drama with Zoey.

Of course luckily this time I didn't bump into creepy Púrpura, and got to class on time. When I walked in Zoey; leaning on the desk, smiled over at me while Nala was rolling around on the papers my mentor must have been grading before. I reached over and scratched under Nala's chin getting her to purr soon feeling Zoey set a hand on my arm.

"You doing okay from earlier?" she asked with concern coating her voice. I nodded with a smile, withdrawing my hand from the purring feline. "Alright, go ahead and sit down, class starts soon," She gave my arm a firm squeeze before I went over to my seat, finding Lela sitting on the desk top. I chuckled and sat down petting her softly. The class went smoothly and without a fledgling dying. But we were supposed to pick a monologue and next week in class we'd have to perform the line in front of the class… dear goddess help me that I do not puke when I do that performance…

I chose a line from one of my favorite movies that can also be a play. Don't know yet? Lion King which happens to be my favorite Disney movie of all time and the only movie that can still make me cry when Mufasa dies. I loved that movie even if it still killed the feels to this day. Ow, right in the feels, I need a tissue now…

Anyway, when the class bell rang I gathered my things and felt Lela hop onto my shoulders as I left. She curled her tail around my neck making me look like I had some furry scarf on. When I was heading to my next class though… something kept making me feel dread. That only happens when something bad was on the horizon…

Oh Goddess, help me

It was later that night, during the visitations from parents. I was leaning against the wall near the food table. Looking around the crowd seeing everyone who had parents being so happy that they had someone to visit them and there I was standing along by the wall with my cat by my feet. Kids were getting new gifts from their parents like baked home goods, new electronics and even some money. I kind of envied them because I didn't have anyone there. My mother was long dead, and my stepfather was a pure asshole so I was 'that kid with no family'. I mean even Rebecca was off hanging out with her adopted mother.

Lela was leaning against my leg, I guess to comfort me. She always seemed to know how I felt lately and I guess that was because Vampyres and their feline friends have a deep connection to each other. I dug into my pocket and pulled out a Friskies's cat treat holding it between my index finger and thumb. Lela spotted it and standing on her hind legs stretched up, resting her front paws on my leg so she could get to the treat, nibbling it right from my hand. As she munched away I gave her a light and loving scratch behind the ears and a smile. Lela was one of my best friends right now. Hmm, I wonder if her mother cat is among the House of Night felines.

I looked up and watched Thanatos and Zoey greeting people as they came in soon moving to chat with some of the parents among the few crowds littering the large room. I sighed and looked down at my feet in thought until I heard someone scream. It felt as if the person was closer to me as my ears were ringing harshly. The scream was of pure fear and horror which in turn, made my head snap up to see what the person had screamed for. My breath stopped cold in my throat when I had looked up; my skin I know had gone utterly pale. I was contemplating upon blinking to see if maybe I was going insane; growing paranoid over my own fears.

It was as if mosses had parted the red sea again as people were rushing to get away from him but they were not fast enough as he was shoving away several of them trying to make his way toward me. Did he find out? And how, who told him? My stepfather's gaze caught mine as I wanted to run but my muscles felt like they locked up and all I could do was remain staring at him as he raised his arm. Everything felt like it was moving slower between me and him while everyone around us seemed to be rushing.

His finger squeezed back on the pistol trigger, blasting a bullet at me. I finally felt some movement as I moved toward the right trying to sidestep as fast as I could from the bullet path. I was still watching him though; he had a dark smirk on his face. The look said it all. He had no remorse. He didn't care who died anymore so long as I could say nothing more that would land him even further in jail. Damn him… he caused me enough pain and now this? Damn him…

At first I didn't feel anything, I didn't even realize the bullet pierced my right shoulder close to the chest until the impact smashed me back against the wall, enough to make me go off my feet a few inches and the smash against the wall made one of my ribs crack. That was what I felt at first before I started to feel the bullet exit the back of my shoulder and into the wall. It was then and only then that I fell seated on the floor, leaving a blood stream down the wall I hit while trying to gather myself and catch my breath from such an impact I'd never felt before.

My hand shot to the wound covering it as I watched Dragon, Kalona and a few other warriors grab my stepfather to remove him from the building. Lela was mewing in a panic over my wellbeing, pawing at my elbow and leg, while scurrying around trying to give me a look over to see what the damage was. I lifted my right arm as best I could, then set it on my feline's head to try and calm her down as best I could. I knew she wouldn't calm all the way down but I did my best to stop her from overly panicking.

My shoulder felt like it was on fire through, and I could feel the blood; luckily not gush, but slowly drip out of my shoulder wound and through my fingers. My hand stained red from the running blood, some of it sliding as far as down my wrist. I had realized that at least the wound didn't do too badly of damage or else I would not be petting Lela's head with the hand of the wounded shoulder. My head hurt too from hitting against the wall so hard but that was the least of my problems right now…

Thanatos was the first to run over and check if I was okay. I didn't speak; I was in far too much pain. I looked up though and saw everyone's eyes on me all at once even with my vision blurring in and out I would see the horrified looks with girls cupping their mouths and the boys staring at the blood streaming down the wall in shock. I couldn't tell who the other vampyres were running over as soon enough my vision… it just… failed me… and I… blacked… out…

When I woke, I was on my back and a white sheet was pulled up over my shoulders. I felt something wrapped around my upper chest and my shoulder down to the bicep. There was a florescent light over me when I realized I was in the infirmary resting on a cot. The light blue curtains were drawn closed around the bed which I guess was because when I sat up I only had on my strapless black bra. I looked around seeing some of my clean shirt folded and resting on a chair. I grabbed the shirt, which happened to be my Assassin's Creed Logo shirt. Using one arm I carefully pulled it on and stood pulling the curtain back a bit.

The nurse looked up from her work and smiled softly before she stood and walked over helping to open the curtain further. She told me I should sit back down and rest. I was about to protest when I heard that familiar "me-ow-uf" sound and looked down. Nala was glaring up at me seated beside a few other cats including, Lenobia's Siamese, Guinevere which was Anastasia's feline and Shadowfax which was Dragon's. Lela hopped up on the bed behind me and bopped my rear with her paw. Maybe they were telling me to take it easy? I sighed and sat down on the bed edge testing the range of motion in my arm. It wasn't much but it will do for now I guess.

When the infirmary office door opened I glanced up seeing it was professor Penthesilia who had walked in. She looked over at me and sighed.

"Rebecca is worried sick about you," She said, leaning on the wall crossing her arms.

"I'm not surprised… She's a very caring person who seems to always worry her head off," I looked at my hand flexing the fingers. "Where is she?"

"Halfway down the hall trying to gather her head so she can try to not bawl her eyes out when she walks in," Oh Rebecca, she was such the sensitive type of geek girl but you got to love her. She was an awesome roommate and a great friend. "How are you doing?"

"How should one be 'doing' after their stepfather tried to kill them? I feel like I was so close to meeting the goddess in her realm before my time, I'm in some pain and… I'm scared." I rubbed my face with one hand giving a shaky sigh. "I hate him, he's a murderer… the look he had it was like something I've never seen… evil, uncaring…"

"That's the look of darkness," I knew that voice. It was Lenobia who'd just walked in with Rebecca behind her. My roomie walked over and sat beside me resting her head on my good shoulder without a word. I'm betting she didn't trust her tongue right now for fear that she might start crying. I looked over to the horse mistress with a questioning look.

"A look of… darkness you said?"

"Yes, I've seen that look he gave you before on another man when I was younger," I shivered, which made Rebecca hug my good arm tight. Lenobia went on explaining how and when she first faced such a man having the same look. He was a bishop though, a man who was meant to be part of a church in France. She told how he was practicing dark magic, took many mistresses and was even said to have raped countless boys and girls alike. Lenobia grew saddened though at the mention of her own mother, who sent to the new world to try and protect her from the lusting gaze of the bishop.

"He really was a dark man…"

"Very, he killed a nun because she got in his way, to get to me," I felt Rebecca's arms tighten more around my arm as we listened to Lenobia's story. Even Penthesilia was taken aback from the story which explained how the horse mistress had such a scar on her back. I reached up and grasped my injured shoulder.

"My stepfather killed his own child… he tried to kill me… I think he's been under Darkness's claws for longer than I thought…" My hand clenched tight on the bandaged shoulder. "The goddess at least saved me from him and allowed me to make my life as I want now; I'm going to help put that bastard away for good,"

"Ali, you're a strong young woman and we're relieved that you weren't hurt more seriously. Dragon and Kalona took your stepfather to the police station and people are giving statements now. You're safe at least and that's what counts,"

"I know, Lenobia, but now I'll be known not only as the freaky mark girl but the one whose step-daddy tried to kill her," I sighed scratching my head. I really couldn't catch a break lately and at times like these I wish I still had my mother around. At least she would know what to do and I could just rest into her arms as she'd say it would be okay. I miss my mother but I felt in some way she was watching me from Nyx's realm. I wonder if she's proud of me or shaking her head. I stood as everyone's eyes fell to me. "I'm going to go to Nyx's Temple… alone, I need to think,"

I withdrew my hands from Rebecca's grasp and smiled at her before walking by the professors and out of the infirmary. Once the door closed behind me I shoved my hands into my jean pockets and walked down the hallway to the door that led outside. Stepping out into the cool late night to dawn time air, I glanced around seeing there was no one outside. Perhaps they had all gone inside, probably chatting about how 'Ali Flair's stepfather shot her,' I just had a, feeling rumors and whatnot would begin to fly soon. I walked across the way until I was at Nyx's Temple front doors. Using my good arm I pushed one door open and stepped inside.

It was dark but you could still see because of the candles and dim gas lamps that lined the walls. Then of course there was the fact that since I was a 'night creature' in a way my eyes were efficient for seeing in the dark. I looked around until my eyes fell onto the statue near the back, straight across from the doors. It was of statue of our beloved Nyx, with her arms raised up and even out a bit holding a crescent moon in her palms. It felt as though she was holding the moon that would shine over us in the night sky. Just seeing the statue gave me a sense of protection and happiness.

Staring at the statue, I felt a cold bit of air touch the right side of my face and it oddly felt like a hand brushing across. I stepped toward the statue sitting a few feet away and looking up at it. I hugged my knees to my chest and sighed resting my chin on them.

"I wonder if you can hear me…" I said staring at the statue. I kept thinking maybe Nyx would be too busy to hear me. Even though one could understand, because she might be listening to all of her other vampyre and fledging children around the world so it would make sense that she might have her ears full.

I can.

I jumped and looked around when I heard the voice. I was looking back at the door when what felt like a hand gently turned my head back toward the statue. I could have sworn my eyes nearly darted from my head. Before me was Nyx, but she wasn't solid because I could see right through her. She was dressed in a loose white dress that looked like it belonged in the ancient Greece era. The dress was held onto her from two golden buttons that rested upon her shoulders as well as a sash that was tied around her waist. Her hair was fanned out like a curtain of black drifting down her back with several tresses falling off her shoulders and down her chest.

But there was one piece of her hair that was braided on each side of her head leading back into a small ponytail in the back. On her right bicep was a golden band that looked to be shaped like angel wings while it looked like she might be even wearing makeup, which I doubt because she was a powerful deity who could change her appearance at will, right? At first, all I could do was gawk before blinking twice and shaking my head.

"You seem shocked that I can manifest," She said with a smile on her face. She must find it amusing or she was just plain used to it from her other children. I rubbed the back of my head and shrugged.

"Sorry, it's just not every day one's goddess pops up like a jack in the box," Nyx simply crouched down more to my level, resting her arms over her knees. "I mostly came here to think, since I'm betting you saw what had happened earlier,"

"I did, and Ali this will not be the last time you see such darkness in a person. You will see it again, because everyone has darkness in them but there are times that darkness consumes them, grows and controls their every thought,"

"Well that's great, but… can you tell me something?"

"What is it?"

"Are my mother… and sister resting in your realm?" Nyx nodded slowly and smiled.

"They are both at peace resting in the Otherworld, among the meadows, and don't worry, your mother says she's proud of you," I hung my head down, pushing my hair back with a smile on my face. It was nice to know my mother was happy with me. Especially since now I have to deal with so much piling onto me all at once. New life, new school, and new dangers, how lucky can I get?

"Thanks but you said I would see that darkness again… does that mean there's a threat I need to watch out for?"

"Yes, but you'll be ready. You have your friends, professors who have faced this all before. They will be a key asset to you, which is why I had you give renewal to Anastasia and Dragon with their cats. All of them have seen darkness, faced it and died because of it,"

"I think I'm going to ask Anastasia and Dragon for 'story time' about all of that…" Nyx gave a chuckle before she stood.

"Trust in your friends who stand beside you, when the time comes they will be your best weapons, as for me I cannot truly intervene but I can assist in very minor ways,"

"You're always among us anyway," I pointed to the crescent mark on my brow. "And with us,"

"Always and forever," With that Nyx faded away probably back to her realm. I stood dusting off my pants before heading back outside, glancing back in to the statue.

"Always and forever," I smiled walking out and closing the temple door behind me…