Disclaimer: I do not own the House of Night; this amazing series belongs to P.C. & Kristin Cast. Though I do own the OC, Nettie. And she is me; this is my story if I was to be Marked by a Tracker. Consider this My House of Night!

CHAPTER FOUR

Chosen

The place, or should I say castle, that I stared at as we passed through the gothic like gate was that straight out of a gothic romance, or for my purpose right now a gothic nightmare. Twilight was approaching so the school was washed with an eerie blood-red that caused me to shiver in fear. My father beside me in the driver's seat let out a low whistled breath as we took in the huge red and black rock building. The House had to be at least three stories tall and had a strangely high roof that pointed upwards towards the sky and then flattened up at the top.

I could see several open heavy drapes that allowed in the light of the last rays of sun which I thought was strange and then I realised with a jolt that they were welcoming the oncoming night. Shadows danced along the windows, and I wondered if someone had been passing across the rooms and had spied the 4WD coming into view along the white washed driveway. Allowing the car to roll to a stop, I hoped out, staring up at the sky as a single cloud drifted across the sky, revealing a half-filled silver moon that hung in the sky as it had been purposely placed above the school.

A round tower was attached to the front of the main building catching my attention, giving it the allure of a castle rather than a vampyre finishing school. Movement caught my attention as a figure stood in the half-light obscured by the curtains, but I thought I saw the figure of a man. But the apparition was gone as soon as it had appeared and I wondered briefly to myself in the stress of what was happening had caused me to go momentarily insane, if I wasn't already of the trauma of my day, or night?

Casting my eyes to the front of the school I made my way up the grand staircase before the entrance to the school, my father walking behind me hefting my suitcase. I paused and reached for it but he shook his head gesturing for me to open the door, "Don't be silly." I said reaching once again but he just smiled and ruffled the top of my head, messing up my curls. After a second I coughed, it wasn't wet and disgusting but it was still painful as my head throbbed for a moment.

Turning to the double doors, I reached for the door knob only to step back as the doors were opened up before me illuminating what seemed a brightly lit foyer, or main entrance. The first thing I noticed was the beautiful woman that stood before me, her strange silver colour hair fell down to her hips in gentle waves and bright obsidian coloured eyes watched me intently. She was intriguingly beautiful and had rich creamy skin, but she almost glowed like there was a candle trapped beneath her skin. It seemed odd, yet right to me that though she was a creature of the night she radiated such warmth and light. She was clad in a simple floor-length black dress that clung to her amazing curves and I could see a beautifully embroidered picture of a woman with raised hands cupping a crescent moon, spun in fine golden strands. She was stunningly beautiful, almost like the moonlight made incarnate.

Her smile was gracious and welcoming as she spoke quietly, "Welcome Nettie, to the House of Night." My eyes flicked up to stare at the exotic looking tattoos that framed her brows and cheekbones, like strange filigree markings that flowed somewhat like a river. I was mesmerized by the way the flickering gaslight illuminated the sapphire markings, causing the slender strands to shift and almost move upon her face like waves.

"My name is Astra; I am the High Priestess for the Deepdene House of Night." She reached out a pale creamy hand and in a daze I did the same thing. Completely mesmerized by the beautiful woman before me, it was a little disarming. I, on some instinct, knew to grasp her forearm; the warm smile she gave me told me that I had been correct. It felt strange to greet each other in such a fashion but it also seemed so, well right.

Her touch was warm and quite reassuring; my panic at moving to the House of Night began to recede as her rich dark eyes surveyed my face, something flickering in their dark depths, "We were quite concerned when the Tracker mentioned your response to being Marked, it's not unusual for the Fledgling to feel a moment of pain but he said you had fainted?" it was more of a question that a statement.

Something filled me, a curious feeling at the thought that the Tracker, whoever he was had been concerned for me. But if he had been so concerned why had he vanished as soon as he Marked me and not waited to see if I was okay? I knew that because my sister had told me, but something didn't add up. Bright blue eyes filled my vision as I thought about the strange man shrouded in mystery, and I wondered for a split second if perhaps I would see him here? A shiver ran down my spine at the thought of encountering him here instead of in the courtyard at the University, it seemed to me that my life had taken a turn to that of a gothic romance novel. Somewhat desirable and yet cliqued.

My father gasped behind me and the High Priestess released my arm, only to have my father grip my fingers tightly, "Honey, what happened?" he asked, worry filling his voice.

"Nothing… I just…" I was about to mention that when I was about to succumb to the darkness that a voice had called to me, but the words caught in my throat and I just shook my head slightly, wondering why, whatever or whoever was there telling me to keep quiet. Shivering slightly I allowed my eyes to wander around the room as the High Priestess and my Father spoke for a moment, I saw a figure standing in the shadows and for a moment I started, a gasp escaping my lips.

It was just like the apparition before, somewhat masculine and tallish, with a slight build. I wasn't able to discern any features but somehow I knew it was the same person from before, the one that had looked down upon me from the tower-like window. Their presence called to me, almost beckoning me forward. Taking a halting step forward the figure vanished and I stood their staring wondering where whatever it was had gone. Turning my head from side to side I attempted to see them through the cloud obscuring my vision, like smoke from a ceremonial fire. Taking another step forward I froze as my name was called from the shadows, somewhat feminine and filled with ancient power, the same voice that had reassured me after I had been Marked, and well, fainted… Nettie.

Whoever the voice belonged to, my blood seemed to call out to them, I wanted to run and scream until I joined whoever it was. I wanted to dance, to rejoice when I found them, the strange feeling was gone as soon as it had appeared and I wondered if I truly was becoming insane?

"Nettie…" my name was repeated with a hint of worry, turning my gaze to the side I glanced back to see Astra staring at me in worry, her brow furrowed as she gazed from me to the shadows that I was facing, "Is something wrong child?" her voice was calm and unwavering, but there was a hint of something I couldn't quite pick up and even though she had called me a child I wasn't offended, there was an air of ancientness clinging to this woman as if she had been a live for several hundred years, and with a jolt I realised that that may have been true.

I turned away from the shadows and back to the waiting High Priestess and my Father, "No…" I said trailing off as I shook my head slightly. My cheeks rising with heat and I was hoping they weren't turning a bright shade of red that always made my eye's look a little too feverish, and my skin a deathly pale shade.

"It's about time to say goodbye to your Father, Nettie, you have to prepare for your new life at the House of Night." She said after a lengthy pause as if she was trying to figure out what had caused me to become distracted and somewhat delirious. Her expression softened when I turned to my Father, he was solemn as he attempted to smile at me.

My Father reached for me and wrapped me in his loving embrace breathing deeply the smell of wood smoke and pine needles filled my senses, comforting and reminding me somewhat of a wild open forest, "Call me if you need me Nettie. And…" he paused for a moment and I realised that he was attempting not to cry for my sake, "you were always different, so don't lose that even though you are here now."

Forcing back the tears I smiled while hugging him back, "I won't. And even though I am here I will always think about the Family, I promise. And even if I change, I will always be me." I said with a squeeze as I pulled back. I strained the 'if' because I knew that if I didn't Change, then I was dead, but I don't think my Father truly picked up my meaning, but the High Priestess did.

"I have a good feeling that you will Change Daughter of Nyx, she would not have Chosen you at such a time in your life if she did not already have great plans for you." there was something in her voice that caused me to flick my eyes in her direction, a light seemed to burn in their dark depths, a calculating gaze, but warmed when my hazel eyes met hers.

My Father gently kissed my forehead, exactly where my Mark was placed, and then with quick confident steps he stepped out of the doorway, and made his way down the steps. The doors shut quietly behind him and I waved lamely goodbye, even as the doors shut with a resounding thud, echoing through the large empty chamber. Save me, the High Priestess and my single suitcase that I had packed from my old life, my human life but now I was a Fledgling here at the House of Night.

And I was crying silent tears like a complete and utter idiot. Wiping the tears from my face with the back of my hands, Astra stepped fore ward and gently hugged me for a moment, her embrace warm and comforting, "My dear Nettie, all will be well." She ran her fingers down my long curls and then released me, and with a small smile said the one thing I could never be prepared for, "Are you ready to begin your new life here?"

Glancing up at her, I couldn't help but think how amazing she was. When, and with a shudder I thought if, I Changed into a vampyre, I would want to be somewhat like her. Would I have her power, her confidence? Or was that only something that the High Priestess was blessed with? And for an instant I had the strange image of what it would be like to be a High Priestess- powerful, beautiful and yet it seemed, natural.

My sanity returned I was just an eighteen-year-old girl who had fainted when she was Marked; it was already weird for me to be here Marked so late. Most teenagers were Marked at fourteen to sixteen, so what was it about me that changed that? Was it something I had done, or perhaps the Goddess needed me for something? A warm feeling filled me when I thought of the Goddess Nyx and instead of fearing the vampyre Goddess; I didn't worry anymore but allowed myself to smile for an instant.

Throughout all my life I had been searching for the one place I fit in but maybe I had been looking in all the wrong places, here where I already knew more than I should, here where I was already different. So perhaps my new life wouldn't be as scary as I had originally thought. Just as the handsome Tracker had said with his seductive ceremonial words, perhaps the House of Night was truly where my destiny awaits.

Read and Review: What do you think of the Plot so far, she finally made it to the House of Night, and just who is the shadow bound stalker. Can anyone guess, and yes, the voice that called to her was from another person.

Changed the chapter title from High Priestess to Chosen, because I thought it sounded better.

Please tell me what you think…