I sit up suddenly. I was definitely not in the back seat of a car. In fact I looked like I was in a cave. A very bright cave full of floating colors. Oh God. I am dead.

"Faith Lauren." a beautiful voice says.

I turn my head to the sound. There stood the loveliest lady I had ever seen. She stood with grace and poise, and looked like she walked out of a Grecian play.

"Yes?" I reply, answering to my name.

"Welcome. I am Nyx." She says walking towards me, holding out her hand. I take it and stand up.

"So I am dead then." I say pretty calmly. She chuckles lightly.

"No you are not dead my dear Faith. Far from it." She walks over to a rock and sits down. I follow her lead.

"So what am I doing here then? And no offense but who are you? Seriously." I say trying to be polite as possible.

"You are here because you are special. And I am the Goddess Nyx, Night personified. I am the vampire's Goddess." Her tone was kind and gentle.

"Holy shit!" I let out, kind of falling back away from her. Oh great, now I just cussed in front of a Goddess, smooth Faith.

"Do no worry dear Faith. I understand your turmoil and hesitation of all that has happened."

Of course then it hit me, what had just happened. I was marked. And then on my way to a house of night so I wouldn't die, I am attacked by some horrible pain and am now here.

"Wait, was I marked because of you?" I ask trying to keep my voice level.

"Yes my dear Faith."

Keeping my temper became a low priority as I began to shout at her.

"Why? Why me? I was perfectly content with my life. Perfectly happy. Is it common for you to tear people away from their perfectly good lives??"

"No Faith it is not. And I am very very sorry I had to choose you. This was not supposed to happen. You were indeed supposed to be left alone, as a human. However fate it seems has a sense of humor." Nyx explains very calmly, not even a little bit shaken by my shouting fit.

"What do you mean?"

She takes a deep breath and answers, "In the last month, powers, beyond even my control, have been brewing. Things have gotten wildly out of hand, and there is no one to keep things in check. You my dear, are the solution. Or at least part of it."

I look at her strangely.

"But you are taking me away from everything I hold dear. Everyone I love. How can I possibly be the solution to something I do not know and possibly do not even care about." I rebuttal, without even raising my voice. I was proud of myself for a whole second too.

"Your friends and family care a lot about you dear Faith. You are only being taken from the place you once resided. You are bringing your love and your loyalty to my children. No one else will have the effect you have. You were born to create change. Even as a human you were destined for great things. Now you have a new path."

I found myself drawing closer to her. She calmed me down, and I couldn't help but trust every word she said. Somehow I knew she was right.

"I just hope I don't fail miserably." I admit.

The space between Nyx and I was filled with a brightly colored purple hue.

"You believe." Nyx says smiling happily. It wasn't a question, but a statement.

"I guess I do."

"Before you go back, I must explain one more thing. A unique fledgling and my high priestess in training, Zoey Redbird, is also in contact with me, and has a mission of her own. Your lives are very different, but you are also very connected. I will be by your side every step of the way, no matter how difficult it may get. Never hesitate to talk to me."

I nod slowly. She continues.

"I may already have a pair of eyes and ears roaming around the world up there, but you are apart of my soul as well. May you have the courage to choose what is good instead of evil and the wisdom to know the difference."

And then very gently she leans down and kisses my forehead.

***

"So can you explain anything to me?" my mom's voice asks calmly.

Of course she was using the forced calm voice that she always used with telemarketers, or cast members who repeatedly annoyed her. She said I used it too, when I talk about my Spanish teacher.

"Only that she seems to be safe and healthy right now. Her vitals are good, and her fever has gone down." This was a voice I had never heard before. She sounded nice enough.

"But what about her mark? That makes no sense. I have never heard of anything like it! And the color!"

Now that was Nichole. Only she would be talking to an adult like that. Wait, my mark? Once again everything hit me in a wave. Being marked, being rushed to a House of Night, the pain, and finally the dream. Or was it a dream? I open my eyes and sit up slowly.

"Oh thank God!" my mom shouts coming forth and hugging me tightly.

"Can't. Breathe." She laughs and let's me go.

"Sorry bunny." She says standing back up. Nichole comes running at me next and tackles me to the bed.

"Glad I didn't almost die or anything." I say jokingly.

"Not funny." She says hitting me as she gives me back my space. It was then that I noticed the beautiful woman standing now not too far off. She has thick golden hair that spiraled down past her shoulders. Her dark blue mark seemed to sparkle. The intricate tattoos were larger then I had seen before, and they looked more like tree leaves then anything.

"Welcome to the House of Night Faith Lauren. I am Topaz, the temporary High Priestess." She says kindly, bowing slightly.

"Thank you." I bow slightly myself, not knowing any of the proper customs here.

"So what were you talking about Nichole?" I ask looking back and forth between all three of them.

"See for yourself." Topaz says handing me a mirror.

All of their faces held curiosity. Maybe something went wrong with my mark? Maybe Nyx was just kidding. I lift up the mirror and gasp. There in the middle of my forehead was a completely filled in crescent moon. And it was definitely purple. I looked over at Topaz. Her mark was definitely blue.

"Any ideas?" Topaz asks as I hand her back the mirror.

"Hah you're kidding right? I am probably the least likely to have any ideas about anything at this point."

They all laugh.

"Well I can show you to your room if you would like? It is the time when the fledglings usually start getting up." Topaz says cheerily.

I frown. That means I would be saying goodbye to Nichole and my mom. And I do not know how I was ready for that.

"We will not be that far away." My mom says sitting down on the bed with me. I knew she could read the hesitation in my body.

"Especially not that far with the way your mom drives." Nichole adds laughing. I joined her.

"Promise you'll visit often? That is allowed right?" I ask looking back at Topaz. She nods, smiling warmly.

With a sigh I give Nichole a huge hug. And then my mom.

"I love you Mom. Thanks for loving me through this."

"I am so proud of you bunny. You can do this. I'll bring your all your stuff as soon as I can." She gives me one last squeeze and lets me go.

"Show me the way." I say standing up.

I wanted to leave before I changed my mind. I followed Topaz out and waved goodbye to my best friend and mom.

"So, Nichole was telling me you do not know much about House of Night." Topaz says, sounding intrigued as I follow her down the rather well lit hallways. I couldn't help but laugh.

"She was being nice. I know next to nothing. Well besides that Nyx is the Goddess of the vampires."

I see her eyebrows rise. Oh great I already said too much. I really am going to have to learn to keep my mouth shut. She goes on, not commenting on my knowledge of Nyx. She explained the four different grade type levels, and the different rules, including the fact that I cannot be away from a full on vampire for too long otherwise my body will begin to reject the change (again). Good to know. Don't want to almost die more then once.

"And just to let you know, if you didn't already realize it, the color of your mark is unique. I have never seen a purple mark before. And in addition to that it is filled in. I have only heard of one other fledgling with a case like yours, and she is our high priestess in training, Zoey Redbird."

My eyes widen at this information. Apparently I was going to meet Zoey a lot quicker then I thought, because she was here in Oklahoma. At the exact same House of Night I am at. I wonder why that happened? I think, picturing Nyx chuckling softly, watching from wherever she is. Topaz suddenly stopped in front of a door.

"Before I introduce you to Aphrodite, you will need to pick a name," Topaz says.

Of course at the mention of someone actually being named Aphrodite made me want to laugh. Very hard. I tried to keep it in as I looked up at Topaz in confusion.

"What do you mean a name? I already have a name."

"Here at the House of Night we like to think of it as a new beginning, with a new slate. And we allow each student to choose his or her name in order to better begin this new journey." She explains.

"And my roommate chose Aphrodite?" I ask, a very large smirk beginning to form on my face.

"Yes."

I would have liked to pause the world for just one second and take a good five to ten minutes to just laugh. Who names themselves after the Greek Goddess of love and beauty? Maybe I can name myself Hera or Artemis. We could be goddess name twins. The very thought had me doubling over in laughter.

"Ahem."

I look up and see Topaz looking down at me kind of disapprovingly. I give her an apologetic look. I guess we weren't supposed to laugh at other student's names.

"I'll just stick with Faith Lauren." I say, calming myself down. That is who I am, and I wasn't about to change it for anything.

"Very well Faith. Now here is your room." She says opening the door.

I walk into a luxurious room. It was huge to say the least. Probably half the size of my house back home. Were all the rooms this big? As if reading my mind Topaz begins to explain.

"Aphrodite has been without a roommate for quite sometime, and because of special circumstances she is now in need of one. Her family is wealthy. I will let her know you are here. And by the way, your mentor will be me, at least for the time being. I have the affinity for knowing the truth. If anyone lies, I know. It comes in handy sometimes. I am here to help you at any time."

I just kind of gawk at her. I mean what was I supposed to do. I was trying to take in all this information she continues to shovel at me, and then she just throws some unique power she has into the mix. Vampires are weird.

"Have a blessed day Faith Lauren, and I will see you at dinner." She says bowing slightly and leaving with a smile.

"Wait!" I call out, but she must have sped off.

Dinner? I gulp. Oh Goddess please tell me we don't just chow down on some human we found lurking about near by. Maybe as a fledgling we didn't have to drink blood. And maybe I will wake up and this will all be a glorious nightmare. I had no idea what to expect. Being ignorant about the whole vampire race was what I did as a human, and now it has me screwed as a fledgling.

I sat on the empty bed. I didn't have any of my stuff here. I wondered how long it would take for my Mom to bring down my stuff. Maybe Aphrodite, okay even thinking her name made me chuckle. How was I supposed to ask to borrow some clothes if I couldn't even think her name without wanting to laugh. Suddenly the door burst open.

A high-pitched giggle enters the room. Along with it was a pretty blonde girl and a hunk of a guy. She had her legs wrapped around him, as he carried her into the room. He made it look effortless. They were too into the making out session to even notice me, the extremely freaked out spectator. I had no intention of watching any sexual acts on my first day here. And at the moment I saw her hands travel down his pants was when I made my presence known.

"Woah! What the hell? Hello!!!!!! Someone is definitely standing right here. Barely ten feet away from you!"

My voice seemed to startle them. The guy was off of her in an instant; standing straighter then I thought was ever possible. He looked at me curiously. I looked at the girl still kind of frumpled on the bed. She looked furious.

"Who the fuck are you?" she shouts.

"Please tell me you're Aphrodite, because that would just make my day."

The sarcasm in my voice was obvious. Maybe it was just a human thing, but I remember that cussing at people before you even are introduced isn't the most polite thing to do. It would be just my luck that Aphrodite would be rude.

"Of course I am Aphrodite. Now I repeat, who the fuck are you?" she shouts again, trying to straighten her shirt and skirt.

"I am Faith Lauren. Apparently you didn't get the invoice. I am your new roommate." I say calmly.

Now that they weren't about to do it on her bed I had no reason to freak out. Being cussed at wasn't the biggest thing in the world. And maybe if I try a different approach she'll seem like less of a, well, bitch.

"Listen Faith." She begins, spitting out my name, "Obviously there is some sort of mistake. I do not room with new fledglings, especially ones that look like you. Nor do I tolerate anyone interrupting me in the midst of something I am doing. I am going to fix this problem."

I did not like her tone. Like somehow I had asked to infringe on her space, and her life. Like I had even asked to be within 50 yards of her. And excuse her but what was wrong with what I looked like? She was just being mean. So I replied, vehemently.

"Honestly, be my guest. I wish to God there was a mistake. Because the last thing I asked for was being roomed with a fucking bitch, who obviously has control issues. In fact the last thing I asked for was to even be here. So excuse me while I sit here, on MY bed, and do not give a flying fucking squirrel about what you want or think."

Her face seemed to get a shade darker. She stood up and walked towards me, anger in her every step. So she was a little upset. But it was not my fault I was assigned to room with her, nor was it my fault I interrupted them. I had no intentions of making enemies on my first day, but it would seem my intentions meant nothing.

"I eat fledglings like you for breakfast." She says venomously, stopping maybe two feet in front of me.

I stood up. Looking her straight in the eye. Of course, then I noticed she did not have a mark on her forehead. My anger grew to confusion. She was human? At the exact moment she seemed to glance at my mark too, because her face changed completely. She wasn't confused though. In fact she just looked extremely annoyed.

"This is just great. First Zoey, now you. Honestly Nyx? You have got to be kidding me." Aphrodite mutters.

That was when the guy seemed to find interest in what we were saying and came over to us. His eyes grew wide when he looked at me. Staring at me like I was a freaking zoo animal. Great. This is all going to be just fabulous.