Stevie Rae

I smiled a little, I really couldn't do anything else, and I'm sort of just stuck in a moment of blankness. I stood staring at me friends until Rephiam gently touched my hand with his. I took a deep breath and I walked forward, ready for anything that will come towards me, and I know hell will break loose. Rephiam followed but he stayed behind me. Yeah… that's probably for the best. Immediately when I walked up Erin, Shaunee, and Stark turned their heads away but they didn't go away, which was a good-ish sign. "Hey." I nervously said.

Aphrodite crossed her arms and stared at me. "Hey."

Zoey closed her eyes, her face telling me that she was thinking. She opened her eyes and offered me a small (very small, almost unnoticeable) smile. She took a step forward and Stark's hand flew up and grabbed Zoey's arm. She turned to look at him. "Stark, let go. I'll be fine." He stared at her for a bit longer before reluctantly letting go. She focused back on me and she walked up to me. Her smile grew and she pulled me into a hug.

"What the f?" I heard Aphrodite say and I noticed over Zoey's shoulder that the Twins looked over at me.

I hugged my friend back and I just knew that just as I was looking at the others she was looking at Rephiam, I could feel his nervousness. "So…" Her voice softly came up. "A Raven Mocker huh?"

We pulled away yet she still held my arms and I held hers. "It's a long story."

"I've got time." She merely replied. I smiled and that's when we released each other's arms and turned around. "Guys do you—"They all turned and walked away muttering excuses and their sorry-s and were walking away except for Stark who I'm pretty sure is just there for protection since his gaze was directed behind me. Z placed her hands on her hips. "Alright. Then don't stay." She turned again and looked at me. "Come on. Let's take a walk." She then looked at Rephiam. "And you're coming with us."

"Zoey." Stark protested but she just raised a hand and then let it drop.

Zoey linked her arm with mine and pulled me towards the entrance/exit. I looked back and saw Stark pointing towards Rephiam to go. Rephiam obeyed and started walking behind us while Stark followed behind him, keeping a very close eye on him. "So tell, me, how did you end up with the head Raven Mocker?"

I looked at her and then at the floor. Sighing deeply I told her everything, and I mean everything. "He was injured near the tunnels and I couldn't leave him like that so I pulled him into the shed and started to fix him up. Afterwards that location became too dangerous for him so I moved him to the old mansion in town. We were Imprinted by then 'cause this group of Red Fledglings who were all evil and junk found out about him and kidnapped me and almost killed me with the sun's light. Rephiam saved me and he gave me some of his blood as a repayment of saving his life. So yeah…" We were outside by now, walking towards the edge of the water where I saw a yacht, no doubt from Aphrodite's credit card, waiting. "Then after that I kept on making sure he was getting better 'cause he was still in bad shape and then I was summoning the Light bull but ended up summoning the Darkness bull 'cause the white bull's actually the bad guy and the black one's the good guy, and I was getting drained by the bull, Rephiam saved me again by giving his blood to the Darkness bull and I summoned the real Light bull to save him and that happened and I left with Dallas, 'cause he was with me, while Rephiam flew back to his shelter. Then Dallas and I… um… nearly broke the Imprint and Rephiam came in and stopped us and Dallas ran off, by the way uh, sorry but he took your Bug, and Rephiam took me back to the house and then the next night I left and after a while Rephiam came back to me 'cause I told him he couldn't until he figures out that his heart matters. Then we formulated a plan that we'd come here and face you guys and his dad and we will try to regain his humanity fully thus the fight a few moments ago. And um… that's about it." Zoey had stayed quiet through the whole thing and her face remained blank so it was heard to read her expression.

"You let Dallas take my car?"

I laughed and she followed suit. "Out of all that, that's what ya had a question about?"

She chuckled and smiled at me. "That's my car, what'd you expect?" We giggled and silence engulfed us again. "He must care…"

"What? Zoey?"

She looked at me, a soft, kind smile on her lips. "I was just thinking that if he did all of that, and all for you, I mean, look what he went through right?"

I didn't know if the question was rhetorical but I answered it anyway. "Right."

"Then he must care about you. Despite him being a Raven Mocker," she broke off in a small chuckle and she looked behind us at Rephiam, "sorry, ex-Raven Mocker," she focused ahead again, "and his father causing a whole lot of poop everywhere…" She stopped suddenly and it was like dominos, every one of us stopped. "Then…" She took her arm from mine and turned sideways so that her body was towards me and she turned her head to look at Rephiam. "Then I guess," she shrugged, "I guess you're alright."

I smiled and felt like crying. Stark took huge steps forward and stood beside Zoey. "Zoey, he's a Raven Mocker."

"Ex-Raven Mocker and I know what he was and what he did before Stark but what he did for my best friend means that he's not all bad and that deserves a chance." She looked at me, her face very serious. "But if he does one thing against us then I really won't care how much pain it causes you Stevie Rae, I will have to punish him or even kill him."

"I understand." I said softly.

She looked at Rephiam. "Is that clear for you as well?"

He nodded once. "I would not have done it much differently."

Zoey's eyes remained on him for a few seconds before she looked at Stark. "Find them rooms when we get back and find some clothes for Rephiam." She stopped and looked at me. I nodded once. She turned back towards Stark. "For Rephiam and give them some food. I'm going to talk to the others and see if we can't get them back on Stevie Rae's side." Stark was about to complain when Zoey cut him off. "That's an order Stark." She walked off towards the yacht leaving us alone. Stark sighed and looked at us before following Zoey.

I neared Rephiam and instantly reached for his hand. His fingers entwined with mine and we both squeezed, happy that the worse (or what we hope is the worse) is over with. Without a word we walked off towards the yacht to the eyes of disgust.

Later: No POV

Stevie Rae had left Rephiam in their room, (since it became anonymous that no one wanted him in a room alone and he is completely her responsibility they should have a room) to try and get her friends back herself. Of course it was all well and good until she brought up Rephiam and then they 'had to go somewhere' and Stevie Rae was left alone. After talking with everyone she went back with to their room to see him gone. She went back out and searched for him. When she ran into someone she knew she would ask if they have seen him and once again the reply wasn't all that she wanted. She ended up finding him in some sort of balcony thing, his black hair loose and from behind he looked mysterious and drop dead gorgeous. Stevie Rae sighed and smiled. She walked up to him. "Hey, can I?" He looked up at her and nodded before he looked back out. She sat next to him on the stone bench. She saw that he wore the blue wranglers and white t-shirt that Aphrodite was forced to get for him and he remained barefoot. She stayed quiet for a bit, forming the words in her head. "So… What happened?"

He looked at her, a puzzled look on his face. "What do you mean?"

"When I came back to the room you weren't there. I got worried."

"Oh." He sounded so sweet there that she couldn't help but smile at him. "I wanted quiet to think."

"You could have done that in the room."

"I know."

They both looked out then and watched the water in the ocean below crash against the shore, the way the trees move when wind passes through them and the way the lanterns in the rest of the castle light up corridors and how when people pass by the shadows cause an eerie effect on the walls. Zoey and Stark walked by and Zoey looked in while she passed by. She stopped and Stark nearly ran into her. "Zoey what—"

"Shh." She turned around and poked her head over the edge of the doorframe. Stark did what she did and grumbled. "Shh." She said once more as she watched in an almost stalker-ish way.

Stevie Rae twiddled with her fingers. She was done looking at the scenery, despite how beautiful it looked, so she had looked at her hands while her fingers did their little dance. "Rephiam… Do you regret?" She asked suddenly.

He turned his head towards her. "What do you mean?"

"Do you regret doing all this? I mean… You lost everything and didn't gain anything. Just hatred from your daddy and brothers and from my friends."

"You're wrong."

She looked up and stared at him. His eyes, despite the low lighting, shone brightly in their amber essence. His eyes looked down at her hands in her lap and he reached over with took them with his. He looked up at her then, a small smile on his lips. "I have gained. I gained my humanity, my freedom, the chance to rule my own life and I've gained the chance to love you." Her breath caught and she swallowed back the emotions coming up. His smile grew just slightly as he removed one hand from hers and moved up to her face. His thumb rubbed her check and his hand moved upwards towards her mark. She closed her eyes and allowed him to trace the red tattoos that adorn her face. He then traced the features of her face, her eyes, nose, lips and he ran his fingers lightly through her hair. Once he was done he removed his hand from her face and retook her hand. She opened her eyes and looked at him. Silently she mimicked what he had done; she traced his features and felt his hair, his dark, thick hair. Her hand went back into his when she too was done. They stayed like that for a while, just starring into each other's eyes.

"So… you love me?" She asked softly, so softly that he almost didn't hear her, almost.

Only one word could pop into mind. "Yes."

She smiled and looked down at their hands, a slight blush coming to her checks. She looked up. "I love you too Rephiam." Collecting her courage she leans forward and places her lips on his. She then lit up when he formed his lips to hers.

Stark groaned slightly and moved back. "That's just, disgusting."

"Shut up Stark." Zoey said. She looked back at them and smiled. "Sprit, do me a favor and give your power to them, make their spirits strong and bright." Spirit flowed from her hands and like the wind it circled around the two and they broke apart at the power. They looked towards the door and saw Zoey, standing fully in the doorway with Stark behind her. She smiled and nodded at them before walking away. Stark started walking off but not without a nod as well. Stevie Rae smiled and blush some more. She looked at Rephiam, her Imprint, and he smiled at her. Without a second thought the two leaned forward again and shared yet another kiss.

The end. Please review. (Psst! Secret! There might be a bonus chapter!)