Hey! Sorry for not updating sooner. Really busy with schoolwork and other stuff. This chapter is much longer than the rest. Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Just in case some people are wondering, the next chapter will be about Stark waking up as a new red fledgling. i am anticipating that that chapter will be kinda short. Will try my best though.

*Disclaimer: I don't own the HoN Series and any of the characters.

I waited cautiously for her reaction. Now, I am not sure if I should have told her about it in the first place. I mean, she would think that I am a murderer-which I am-and why in the world would anyone want to date a murderer?

Finally, she spoke. "Did you just say you killed him?" She didn't sound scared like people would once they know that the person they are talking to have actually killed someone. But like she didn't believe that I've just said so and that she have heard wrong. Is that a good sign?

I felt immense pain-for 2 different reasons. The first one being relieved of all those painful memories-Will, my mentor and my best friend, how can I kill him, though it wasn't intentional. Well, the second reason has something to do with Zoey. Not that she caused me pain by hurting me or something… It is her reaction that I am afraid she will have. I tried to keep my expression calm, not showing my pain and I think I succeeded, though I am not so sure if the pain was also reflected in my eyes.

I decided to continue as since I have already started, must as well get it over with-quick. "Yeah, that's what I said." I answered her, confirming that her ears are still working right. "I did it because of my gift."

Though my voice is cool, Duch can somehow sense that I feel otherwise as she trotted over to me from Zoey to sit by my side, leaning heavily. She gazed at me adoringly, whining softly. Automatically, I reached down to stroke her soft, furry head. "It happened during the Summer Games. It was right before the finals. Will and I were way in the lead, so it was for sure that the gold and silver medals were going to go to us."

As I was speaking, I didn't look at Zoey, not wanting to see the different emotions play on her face. Instead, I looked down at the bow, remembering how Will had taught me to use one… While I stroked Duchess's head, Zoey's cat, Nala leapt out of her arms and crept quietly to me, rubbing herself against my other leg, purring loudly, reminding me a lot of a lawn mower. Though I was surprised-Zoey's cat likes me too, just like how Duch also already likes Zoey!-, I continued without pausing.

"We were warming up in the practice lanes. They were these long, thin areas sectioned off by white linen dividers." I described it to her, sure she has never seen one before. "Will was standing to my right. I remember drawing my bow and being more focused than I'd ever been in my life. I really wanted to win." I paused, shaking my head, mouth twisted in self mockery-if I get to choose again, I'd rather have Will alive than getting the championship. As I was speaking and describing the scene to her, it is like everything-the past-is being played in front of me, like a show.

"That was what mattered most to me. The gold medal. So I drew the bow and thought, No matter what, I want to hit the mark and beat Will. I shot the arrow, seeing the bull's-eye with my eyes, but really imagining beating Will in my mind." I dropped my head, ashamed to meet Zoey's boring gaze, sighing deeply, why must I include Will in that thought? Why did I include his life in the equation? "The arrow flew straight to the target in my mind. It hit Will in his heart and killed him instantly."

Will Zoey think that I am such a status/champion-obsessed freak that I won't care that I need to exchange it with a life? After all, I don't really know her that well, only what she did, not really on her personality but I seriously hope that she gets it that Will is very important to me and in my life and maybe try to link it to how she felt when she lost Stevie Rae, her roommate and best friend.

I looked up to see her shaking her head slowly from the left to right and back again, though I don't think that she is conscious of that action. She spoke, "but how could that happen? Was he by the target?"

"He was nowhere near it. He was standing not more than ten paces from me to my right. We were separated only by the white linen tarp. I was facing forward when I aimed and shot, but that didn't matter. The arrow went through his chest. It was so fast, everything went blurry. Then I saw his blood splatter the white linen that separated us, and he was dead."

The most painful scene among the whole memory, already imprinted on my mind, replayed again and again in my hand. I looked directly at the small red dot in the middle of the bull's-eye. I released the arrow, only to see it fly forward toward my target but then, like a shield is blocking it, it spun around quickly to hit my target, this time, the one on my mind.

"But Stark, maybe it wasn't you. Maybe it was some kind of weird magical fluke," she suggested. Well, that's what everybody will think. I mean, I saw it happening right in front of my eyes and I still can't believe it.

"That's what I thought at first, or at least that's what I hoped. So I tested my gift."

"Did you kill someone else?" she asked me, panicked.

"No! I tested it on things that weren't alive. Like there was a freight train that used to go by the school every day about the same time. You know, one of those old-time-looking ones, with the big black engine and the red caboose. They still come through Chicago a lot. I printed off a picture of the caboose and put it on a target on the school grounds. I thought about hitting the caboose and shot.

"And?" she prompted me when I paused, urging me to say more.

"The arrow disappeared. Only temporarily, though. I found it again the next day when I waited by the track. It was sticking in the side of the real caboose," I finished off.

"Holy crap!"

I walked over to her, both of us now standing very close to each other. "Now you see. That's why I had to tell you about me, and that's why I needed to know if you were strong enough to protect the people you care about"-but that's only one of the two reasons. Can I tell you the other reason? Definitely not, I don't want to scare you off. It's okay? Fine, the other reason is that I like you and I want you to know this, the deepest secret in my heart.

"What are you going to do?" Ohmigod! Did I say that out loud? No, idiot, she is talking about your gift.

"Nothing!" I shouted, thinking that she meant what I am going to do to her friends. Duch whined and Nala paused in her rubbing, staring up at me. Hmm… I didn't know that cats can have such intelligent eyes. I struggled to control myself. "I didn't mean to do anything. But I didn't mean to kill Will, and I did," I said, hurrying to defend myself and not make her think that I am a heartless creature.

"You didn't know about your powers then, and you do now?" she enquired.

"I suspected," I answered simply.

"Oh." What does she mean by that? So is she terrified of me or whatever? Argh, what is she thinking about now?

"Yeah," I pressed my lips tightly together, not sure if I should continue. "Yeah, I knew there was something weird about my gift. I should have listened to my gut. I should have been more careful. But I didn't and I wasn't, and Will is dead. So I want you to know the real deal about me in case I mess up again." Sigh… All the 'Should haves", all too late now.

"Hang on! If I understand what you're saying, then only you can know what you're really aiming at 'cause it's happening inside your head."

Huh. I wished it really is that simple. Wait. Before that, she asked me if I killed another person, the answer shouldn't be No but Almost. The center of the tree can be another person, someone with an earth affinity. Shoots! Zoey has an earth affinity. I should-no, must-be more careful, I wouldn't want to hurt another person I care about.

I snorted sarcastically. "You'd think so, wouldn't you, but that's not how it works. One time I thought it was perfectly safe for me to do a little practice shooting. I went to the park that was next to our House of Night. No one was around to distract me; I made sure of that. I found a big old oak and set up a bull's-eye in front of what I decided was the center of the tree."

I looked at her, trying to tell if she gets what the center of the tree is. Okay, so she know what I was thinking when I was aiming but apparently she doesn't know, because all she said was, "You mean like the middle of the trunk?"

"Exactly! That's what I thought I was aiming at-something that was the center of the tree. But do you know what the center of a tree is sometimes called?" Why must I choose that oak whereby it's center is a living thing?

"No, I really don't know too much about trees." Little people do researches on trees, after all.

"Neither did I. I looked it up afterwards. The ancient vampyres, the ones with the earth affinities, called the center of the tree its heart. They believed that sometimes animals, or even people, could represent the heart of a particular tree." I stared down at the bow, remembering the events of that night. What has died…

"Who did you kill?" she asked me softly, placing her hand on my shoulder. It felt good and I felt better.

I covered her hand with mine and drooped my shoulders. "An owl. The arrow just burst out of its chest. It was perched on one of the top inside branches of the oak. It screamed all the way to the ground," I told her brokenly. It is like I could still hear the faint echoes of its last scream of pain.

"The owl was the heart of the tree," she whispered to no one in particular.

I look up to meet her gaze, my eyes haunted by regret. "Yeah, and I killed it," I told her though that wasn't really a question, more like a statement of fact. "See? I'm dangerous, even when I don't mean to be," I concluded.

"I think I do see. Maybe you should put up your bow and arrow, at least until you really have a handle on this gift of yours." Like I haven't tried it. And I don't really think that I can handle this gift ever.

"That's what I should do. I know it is. But if I don't practice-if I stay away from shooting and try to forget about it-it's like a part of me is being ripped away. I can feel something inside me dying." At this point, I took my hand away from her hand and stepped back so we are not touching anymore. I hated to do that, it was really hard to pull yourself away from her but I need to get the point across to her that I am dangerous, even to her. "You should know this part of it, too; I'm really a coward because I can't stand that pain."

"It doesn't make you a coward to want to avoid pain. It makes you human."

"Fledglings aren't human," I argued unconvincingly, losing my side.

"Actually, I'm not too sure about that. I think the best part of everyone is human, whether they're fledglings or vampyres."

"Are you always so optimistic?"

She laughed at that question then answered me, "Oh, hell no!"

I smiled, not the forced kind but the real one, smiling just because you feel like doing it. "You don't make me think of Debbie Downer, but I haven't known you for very long." It is very hard to think of her being pessimistic when she is not now.

She grinned back at me. "I'm not exactly that pessimistic, or at least I didn't used to be." Then, her smile faded. "I guess you could say that recently I haven't been as upbeat as usual."

Is she talking about the tension between her and her friends? I didn't hear any news regarding this. "What happened recently?"

She shook her head quickly. "More stuff than I can go into."

According to what I heard, she really has gone through a lot recently though I didn't really get the full, exact story. Surprising myself, I took a step towards her and brushed a strand of Zoey's hair back from her face. She didn't pull away. Does that mean she likes me too? That is definitely a good sign. "I'm a good listener if you need to talk. Sometimes an outsider's opinion can be a good thing."

"Wouldn't you rather not be an outsider?" she asked me.

YES!!! TOTALLY!!! "It's easier that way. It's one reason I wasn't pissed about being moved from my House of Night," I shrugged. Yah, I cannot tell her my actual answer, of course-but that only applies to her affairs.

"I wanted to ask you about that." She paced away from me. Does that mean that she doesn't like me? Why can't I have a definite answer? I've never tried wooing a girl before, they come to me. Finally, she continued. "So you mind if I ask you something about you coming here?"

This question is easy enough, I answered her immediately. "You can ask me anything, Zoey."

She looked up and met my eyes. "Okay. Well, did they move you because of what happened with Will?"

I told her truthfully, "I think so. I don't know for sure. All the vamps at my old school would say that the High Priestess here requested my transfer to her House of Night. It happens sometimes when fledglings have special gifts other school need or want." I laughed without any hint of humor in it. "I know for a fact our House of Night has been trying to steal that big-time actor you guys have, what's his name? Erik Night?" Yes, that is his name, Zoey's ex-boyfriend, jealousy coursed through my veins.

"Yeah, Erik Night's his name. He's not a fledgling anymore. He's gone through the change," she answered, not seeming to like the subject and I breathed a silent sigh of relief.

"Oh, huh. Anyway, your House wouldn't let him go, and he didn't want to leave. My House didn't fight to keep me. And I didn't have any reason to stay. So when I found out Tulsa wanted me, I told them I wouldn't compete again, no matter what. It didn't seem to make any difference, 'cause they still wanted me, so here I am." I paused, then continued, not sure if I should add the last part. "I'm starting to be really glad Tulsa wanted me so bad," a big part-maybe all-is because of Zoey.

She smiled, "Yeah. I'm starting to be really glad Tulsa wanted you, too." I did a small dance inside, high chance that she liked me! She looked like she regretted saying that and cleared her throat. "Do all the vamps know how Will died?"

Must she ask this question? Pain, once again, flashed through my eyes. "Probably. All the vamps at my old school knew, and you know how they are-it's hard to keep anything from any of them."

"Yeah, I know how they are," she said softly. It reminds me of something…

"Hey, did I catch a weird vibe between you and Neferet?"

She blinked in surprise. "Uh, what do you mean?"

"It just felt tense between the two of you. Is there anything I should know about her?"

"She's powerful." I can tell that she picked her words carefully, not wanting to reveal anything-personal.

"Yeah, I got that. All High Priestess are powerful."

She paused for a beat before she elaborated from her previous statement. "How about I say she's also not exactly what she appears to be, and that you should be careful around her, and leave it at that for right now. Oh, and she's majorly intuitive-practically psychic."

I didn't miss out the fact that she haven't answered my question. "Good to know. I'll be careful."

"I better get going. I have a horse waiting to be groomed," she said. Why do I get a feeling that she is avoiding me? What could I possibly do in such a short time to make her avoid me?

Keep it light. "Better not keep an animal waiting-they can be pretty demanding." I smiled down at Duch, still at my feet, and ruffled her ears.

Drop a hint… When she started to turn to leave, I caught her wrist and slid my hand down to her hands so that I can link my fingers through hers. Quite impressive, if I say so myself.

"Hey. Thanks for not freaking about what I just told you," I told her softly.

She smiled up at me again, "Sadly, with the kind of week I've been having, your weird gift seems almost normal."

Come on, Stark, be brave. I took a deep breath and released it, trying to calm my frantically-pounding heart for what I am about to do. I lifted Zoey's hand and lightly pressed my lips to it, kissing it. Better than nothing. But then, not to scare her off, I said, "Are you going to tell everyone about me?"

Actually, I already know the answer. She asked me, "Do you want me to?"

"No, not unless you have to."

"Then I won't tell anyone unless I have to."

"Thanks Zoey." I squeezed her hand once and released it, smiling.

I picked up my bow again and walked back to my original position before Zoey came along and we had that very long conversation.

I took an arrow from the leather holder and aimed. Then, I let it fly to the exact center of the target.

I heard Zoey's footsteps as she hurried out of the field. I coughed once and cleared my throat. Before I can get another arrow from the quiver, I coughed again. However, this time, it was different. Worse. This time, a kind of liquid-blood-rattled in the back of my throat. Then, I know that I am going to die, going to leave Zoey. Oh, Goddess. Why must I die now, of all times when I've finally found the true love of my life. Why didn't I die when I asked for it shortly after Will's incident? At least I've told Zoey my secret. But, if I am going to die now, I want Zoey to be with me. I wished to be like her best friend, Stevie Rae. I'd bet it is a joy dying in her arms. "Zoey!" I called her.

I fell to my knees, bent over my waist. Blood constantly flowing out of my mouth, uncontrollable.

Duch was whining terribly and I put out one hand to stroke her, trying to comfort her. I whispered to her between coughs that it would be okay and that everything is all right-though I totally know that it will not be.

Zoey ran back to me. I couldn't control myself anymore and I fell as she reached me. Like I had wished, she grabbed me and pulled me into her lap. She yanked off my sweatshirt, ripping it down the middle so that I was only in me T-shirt and jeans. She used the sweatshirt to wipe at the blood that was pouring from my eyes and nose and mouth.

"No! I don't want this to happen now." I paused to cough out even more blood and she kept wiping them through my sweatshirt is already soaked with blood-my blood. "I just found you-I don't want to leave you so soon," I can't believe I just said that, it equates to just saying I love you. Aah! Never mind that now, I am already dying, wouldn't I want to know if she likes me too, before my life ends?

"I've got you. You're not alone." is she just saying that to comfort me? Or does she really mean it? I hope it is the latter.

"Good," I gasped. Then I coughed again, sending fresh rivulets of blood from his nose and mouth. "I'm glad it's you. If it has to happen, I'm glad it's you here with me."

"Ssh, I'll call for help," she told me. She must be using her affinities to call for help as she did not leave me nor did she reach for her phone. I suddenly felt warm as a gust of wind surrounded us. Hmm… seems like I am correct.

Wind? Is she calling Damien for help? I've learned from the others that Damien, has the affinity for air, Shaunee for fire, Erin for water and Stevie Rae for Earth but then after she has died, Aphrodite was gifted with the affinity for Earth and took over Stevie Rae's place in the circle.

Then I noticed something glistening on Zoey's cheeks. It is sliding down her face. Are those teardrops? "Zoey!" I called her, intending to ask her not to cry-for me. But then, before I could state my request, I got into another coughing fit.

"Don't talk. Save your strength." She was holding me tightly with one arm and with the other, brushed my wet hair-wet, because of all the sweat-gently back from my damp face.

"You're crying. Don't cry." My energy is nothing compared to her.

"I-I can't help it."

I suddenly felt much braver, enough to tell her this, "I should have kissed more than your hand…thought I'd more time…too late now," I whispered to her between liquid, panting breaths.

She looked into my eyes and I don't know what she saw there but then she told me, "It's not too late." Then, she bent and pressed her lips to mine. This should be the last kiss I'd be getting from Zoey, and the first as well. I'd definitely treasure this moment and bring it to the grave with me. I hugged her tightly against me, trying to enjoy every second of this though I feel very miserable.

I broke the kiss, not wanting to pour my blood into her mouth so I turned my head and coughed all my life's blood on the ground.

"Shhh. I'm here. I've got you." She held me close as she murmured it to me, tears washing her face.

Duch whined again pitifully and lay close to me. "Zoey, listen before I'm gone."

"Okay, okay. Don't worry. I'm listening to you."

"Promise me two things," I asked her, my voice weak. I felt another cough bubbling up to my mouth and I leaned away from her. I lay back in her arms, yearning for her warmth and embrace while I trembled and she supported my shoulders.

"Yes, anything."

I touched her cheek. "Promise that you won't forget me." I know it is probably quite unfair to her as I am somehow restricting her from dating other guys but the thought that she will forget me is simply unbearable.

"I promise. I couldn't forget you." She turned her cheek into my hand and I tried to wipe off her tears but my thumb can't stop shaking. She cried even harder.

"And promise you'll take care of Duchess." I can't imagine Duch in somebody else's care, other than Zoey. She has already followed me for a little more than four years, after all…

"A dog? But I-"

I can tell that she is reluctant to do so but I couldn't think of a reason for her to reject. Nala? I think Nala and Duch can get along just well. "Promise! Don't let them send her to strangers. At least she knows you and can tell I care about you." My voice was suddenly filled with strength as I have strong feelings on this subject. No doubt that the vampyres will send Duch away immediately after I died.

"Okay! Yes, I promise. Don't worry." I breathed a sigh of relief as I am sure now that Duch will be taken after well when I couldn't.

"Thanks. I just wish we…" I trailed off. I closed my eyes and turned my head into her lap and put my arms around her waist. I could feel my life slipping away with each passing second and I want to get as much of Zoey as possible, my first ever true love.

Suddenly, Zoey spoke, hope evident in her voice. "Stark, listen to me." She shook my shoulders and called me again. "Stark!"

I opened my eye half way, too tired to open it fully.

"Can you hear me?"

I nodded to indicate that I could hear her. Wanting to make most of my time left, I grinned my cocky grin and asked her, "Kiss me again, Zoey." I was actually partially joking as I know that she wants to tell me something important.

"You have to listen to me." She bent her head so that she can speak right into my ear and I that I will be able to listen to her clearly. "This might not be the end for you. At this House of Night, fledglings die, and then they are reborn to another kind of change."

Surprised and to see that she is not joking, I opened my eyes wider. "I-I might not die?" Another kind of change? Is there such a thing? I thought that it is because you didn't make the change that you will die…

"Not for good. Fledglings have been coming back. My best friend did."

Huh. So she has some kind of experience with this. I should trust her, I will always trust Zoey.

"Keep Duch safe for me. If I can, I'll come back for her, and for you-" A river of blood flowed out from my mouth, nose, eyes and ears, cutting of my sentence.

Zoey, I love you was my last thought before I died.

#Just in case you guys are wondering why Stark can feel the warm wind. According to Betrayed, the first ritual Zoey conducted, the people near the circle can 'feel' it.

Thanks to...

Desi772, horsemadissy, jamesstarkgirlfriend, Jazerelle, vampluver19, RayRayluvs2read, ImaginationFlow, Chaos Mossanite Shadow-Fox, Amiralys for giving a review.

Amiralys, horsemadissy, Chaos Mossanite Shadow-Fox, geeniebop, Melly31992, Tash Salvatore, Desi772 for putting it on his/her favourite story list.

horsemadissy, RayRayluvs2read, ImaginationFlow for putting it on story alert.

Please tell me if I have missed out any names.

Please review/comment. Thanks!