Hello Lovely readers!
I personally want to thank you all who reviewed (and for just reading in general).
It always helps me write a tad faster. :)
and just for good measure: I still own nothing of House of Night.. that all belongs to the Cast's.
I slid into the parking space with ease. We were back at the house of night and I had actually found the front parking lot compared to the side road like Nichole.
"Where did you learn to drive like that?"
Stark sounded mildly impressed. It was the first thing he had said since I had not so accidentally made him hit his head on the back seat window.
"Her Mom of all people." Nichole answered for me, as she slid off her seat belt to look at him, "You should have seen her when Faith was first marked. Got here in two hours with Faith passed out in the back seat."
"You were passed out?" Stark asks, looking at me. I glanced at him through the rear view mirror. Why was he being nice?
"She wasn't taking the mark well. She started coughing and rejecting the change. We had to rush here as fast as possible. It was scary."
Nichole answered for me once again. I looked down at my steering wheel remembering the pain. It felt like months ago, yet it had only been two days. An awkward silence filled the car, and Nichole faced the front once again.
"Looks like you lost the other car. Don't think that big guy was ready for you're driving skills."
"Can I talk to Stark alone for a second Nichole?" I ask her out of the blue.
She wasn't surprised at my random change of subject. Perhaps she had brought up the fact I had lost them on purpose, but either way, she nodded and hopped out of the car. She gave a small wave and walked far enough away from the car to give us privacy, but was still in my line of sight.
I unbuckle my seatbelt and twist around in my seat. Stark was staring out the window. I could tell by his body language that he was back to his cold hard self. I was beginning to control the feeling he gave me. I had been able to tuck it somewhere in the back of my mind as I drove, but now it was slowly inching itself back. Taking a deep breath I concentrated and focused on the feeling, pushing it away. It had no place in the conversation we were about to have. I have to be able to think rationally.
"Unlike you, I can't invade your thoughts, so would you like to begin this little talk?" Stark snaps, still looking out the window.
I wanted to snap back, tell him that I never invaded… it just happened. Big difference. But again, I took a deep breath. Calm is the key.
"Thank you. For what you did. Saving Nichole's and my life. I owe you."
"You don't owe me anything. I wasn't the one who knew where you were, that was Aphrodite. And Nyx gave me my affinity. Thank them. Owe them."
I stared at him, my anger growing in line with his obstinate attitude. He still had yet to even glance at me.
"Look Stark. I get it. You want everyone to think you hate me. Hell, you want me to think you hate me. Only problem is you don't."
That got me a glare. A hateful cold glare.
"Don't I?"
"No. You don't. You may want to, but you don't. Lest we not forget I can read your thoughts. I just don't want to fight okay? We have a project to do together; we will have to see each other all the time. It would save us so much effort if we could just be friends."
"Friends? Last time I checked you wanted to be much more than just friends."
"No, I just didn't want to be a third wheel. And that's not the point. Now, now I want to be friends, or at least friendly acquaintances, people who can respect each other. Because people will notice your slip ups Stark. The moments where you don't glare at me, and you worry about me, and you hold me too close. Moments like tonight."
His fierce expression lessened. He was remembering holding me, and the way my hair smelled. I shook my head trying to get his thoughts out of my mind.
"Please Stark? We don't have to be best friends. And I'll be honest, I won't be hanging around you unless I have to, I have no intentions of getting in between you and Zoey," Of course I can't say the same about Erik, "But when we are in the vicinity of each other, it would be nice to be nice."
He looked at me thoughtfully. Oh come on, what I was suggesting wasn't a bad idea. In fact it would keep people from asking questions. Only thing I was worried about was not containing the dumb feeling I always feel around him.
"On one condition."
I raised an eyebrow. He was looking at me calmly, which was a lot scarier than if he had been glaring at me.
"And that would be what?" I ask.
I'll be honest, for a second I imagined him saying you have to kiss me. Then he would grab me and kiss me like I've never been kissed before. And it would prove that deep down he wanted me despite his loyalty to Zoey. I heard bitter laughter in the back of my head for letting my imagination even get that far.
"Stop hanging around Taylor."
I felt my jaw drop involuntarily. He wasn't serious.
"Yeah, alright."
His jaw tightened at my flippant yet sarcastic response.
"That's the condition."
I stared at him. He was serious.
"So you're saying that I have to stop hanging out with the one friend I have made in order for you to be nice to me?"
"You have other friends."
"Who?? Zoey? Aphrodite? Heaven forbid if you think you fall into the friend category. Taylor sought out my friendship himself."
"It's only been two days. It's not like you're imprinted. He can seek out someone else's friendship."
"He's the only thing that has kept me sane!! A minor gap in the unconventional fledgling life I lead."
"You don't even know him!!" Stark yells. It wasn't until then that I realized how loud our voices were getting. I took a deep breath and tried very hard to keep my voice at a normal level, despite the seething tone it took.
"I don't even know you. I tried to make a truce. Make it easier on you. But that's obviously not going to happen."
"Obviously." He sighed, brushing his hand through his hair and looking out the window. I turned around and faced the front gripping the steering wheel so tightly it was making my hands turn an unnatural shade of white.
I didn't flinch when the back door opened and slammed shut. Good riddance. Here I am trying to make our lives easier, and he just has to go and be all ridiculous. Why did they dislike each other so much?
I wasn't expecting the passenger door to fling open, and I was even more surprised as Stark climbed in and shut the door behind him.
"Change your mind?"
"No. I still think you should stay as far away from Taylor as possible."
"I didn't ask what you think." I grumble, turning my back to him.
"But as long as you promise to expand your friendship horizons, in other words find more friends besides Taylor I will do as you suggested."
"You will?" I ask hesitantly, because let's face it I certainly didn't expect him to back down.
"Yes. Then we can get along and no one will be the wiser."
A part of me was glad, I mean I wouldn't have to fight with him constantly, but the other part knew I had given up. I should have fought for his respect and maybe adoration, but I settled for a fake type friendship. I shook my head slightly; this was way too much drama for me to handle right now, or ever for that matter. High school was so much easier back when I was normal.
I look at Stark, into his deep brown eyes. He hadn't taken them off of me.
She is so different from Zoey. Yet she captivates me. How did this happen?
I flinched at his words. I didn't know when I was going to get used to invading his privacy. But what he had said gave me at least a little hope. It also caught me off guard just enough to forget I was holding back the feeling. The need. It engulfed me faster then I expected.
"Kiss me." I say out loud, forgetting all that we had just talked about.
His hand slowly came up and grasped around my neck pulling me towards him and a second later I felt his warm lips on mine. The heat that spread throughout my body knocked sense back into me. I push him away roughly, yank open the door and get out.
I slam the door and let out a scream of frustration as I sank to the floor against the car. With my head in my knees I started to cry. Not huge tears, but enough to mess up my make up.
"Faith? What happened?" Nichole came over and knelt down next to me.
"Is Stark still in the car?" I ask quietly.
She looks up into the car. "Yes. He looks quite dazed."
"Yeah, well. Gah. There's something wrong with me Nichole. Something horribly wrong." I sob, trying to make sense of what I can do. Read his mind? Control his mind? What next? And why him?
"It's okay hun. Whatever it is, it will be okay. Nyx chose you for a reason. Maybe you're more special than you realize. It has to do with your power or something." She takes me into her arms and just hugs me. I shake my head.
"Faith? Are you okay?"
It was Stark's voice; he sounded apprehensive. I didn't dare look up at him. I just felt shameful. We were getting along just fine and then I go and make him kiss me. Really smooth.
"She's just a little upset with herself right now. She'll be fine." Nichole says reassuringly.
"I didn't mean to kiss you Faith. I just couldn't help it. I'll make sure it won't happen again. I want this friendship thing to work."
I did look up at him then. He looked sad, like somehow he thought it was his fault for making me go off and cry like a baby. I wanted to correct him, tell him the truth. But how do you tell someone that you can control their mind?
"They're here. Come on hun. Get up. Let me fix your face." Nichole helps me stand and takes out a small piece of cloth and rubs my cheeks with it. Presumably rubbing the tear stains away.
"There, all better." She smiles, pocketing the hanky.
The car circled around and parked two spaces away. All four of them get out with bags of food in their hands.
"What did you guys not get about do not lose me?" I say, gathering up my composure. They did not need to know the real reason I was upset.
"Well we were hungry since you rushed us out of Denny's without our food." Zoey says.
"Which by the way, what the hell was that about??" Aphrodite snaps.
"I told you. The feeling… I don't know. I just knew something bad was coming. I'm so sorry to have taken you away from your food."
"Hey. It's all good. We got food, and we're safe. No harm done." Eric jumps in, trying to keep the peace. I give him a small smile.
"We got you guys something too. Here you go Stark." Zoey hands him a bag. I couldn't help but notice the way their eyes locked, and their fingers graced each other's when she handed him the bag. Jealousy like I had never felt before made me want to punch her square in the face. And I don't even know how to punch someone. With my hands balled into fists, I tried to take deep breaths, calming myself down. I had seen them act like this way before. There was no need to lose it.
"I didn't know what you'd like so I got both you and Nichole chicken nuggets." Erik says, smiling down at me. He was handing me a McDonald's bag. He made the jealousy subside a bit, and the fact he had picked my favorite meal of all time might have helped a bit too.
"Thank you. I actually love chicken nuggets. They're my fave." I smile again.
"She's not lying, she was addicted to them." Nichole chimes in.
"Was not." I push her, laughing.
"We can continue this lovely pow-wow inside." Aphrodite interrupts pushing past me. I reach out for her arm, making her stop.
"Thank you. For saving us."
"Yes, well. No one should have to die that way. But come on, I'm seriously cold. Not a fledgling anymore people."
"Right, well you heard her, let's get on inside. We can go to our room; I think it's big enough." I suggest.
"Sounds good." Zoey smiles as she takes Eric's hand and walks off towards the school's entrance.
We all follow in step behind them. Nichole and I at the very end.
"You think Eric realizes Stark's and Zoey's attraction?" Nichole whispers.
"If he does I don't think he realizes how much of an attraction. I think he doesn't want to. I mean I don't even want to."
"Don't get me wrong Faith, Stark is quite scrumptious, but Eric looks like Superman, you know, you're favorite superhero ever. And I can't believe you of all people haven't realized that."
"I have. But he's my teacher. He's taken. He almost killed me. He isn't Stark."
"Hun," she starts stopping me in my tracks and turning me to face her, "You don't know Stark. I know he helped save us, but I just want to help you realize that he is not the only fish in the sea. Whatever you are feeling for him will probably be explained eventually. But it doesn't mean you need to suffer because of it."
I couldn't help but nod along with her. Of course she was right. Of course putting what she was suggesting to practice was an entirely different subject matter, but she was right.
"I'll try to get back to normal. No promises, but I will try."
"Good. I don't want to lose my best friend just because you're turning into a vampyre and dealing with boys at the same time."
I couldn't help but laugh. After I caught my breath I looked around. The rest of the group was nowhere to be seen. I really hope I can remember how to get to my own room.
Only a few wrong turns later Nichole and I arrive in my room. Everyone had taken a seat and started eating. It almost looked normal. Like we weren't eating together to finish talking about why Neferet is involved in my life, let alone controlling my best friend's mind.
"Get lost?" Aphrodite smirks, but her tone held a teasing humor rather than pure annoyance.
"She never has been one for directions." Nichole interjects taking a seat on the empty bed. My bed. Eric and Zoey were sitting on the floor next to it. Stark was in a chair across from them and Aphrodite and Darius were sitting on her bed. I join her.
"So Faith. Tell us a little about yourself. Maybe we'll discover how Neferet is involved in all this." Zoey suggests.
I take a deep breath. I knew that my past life had nothing to do with this Neferet lady. It couldn't. I was the epitome of normal, but I could give them the over view just to prove it to them at least.
"I lived with my mom. She owns a theatre company. I never knew my dad. He left when I was little, but my mom has never complained. Apparently he gave her me, so she's not all that bitter about it. I went to high school. Nichole was my main friend, all the others were just people to talk to really. I never wanted to be marked; I was completely satisfied with my old life. And that's pretty much it."
"Did you know any Vampyre's?" Darius asks.
"Not personally. I knew of them. The famous ones, you know. It was Nichole that knew all about them. She liked the whole idea."
"Liked? No hunny. No past tense here. I still wish I had been marked too, but alas that is not the case. Mainly Faith led the most normal life a girl could lead. She did well in school, and she had fun. Nothing that would remotely explain what is happening now, and why I showed up here when I thought I was in bed asleep." Nichole finishes for me. How I wish she could just stay here, or maybe just switch places with me.
"Well Neferet is not gone. There could be no other explanation for what happened tonight. She has the power to control and alter people's minds. And with Kalona by her side he just makes her more powerful. Not to mention she somehow created the red fledglings." Zoey says, more or less thinking out loud.
"Kalona?" Nichole asks, way to interested for my taste. I didn't want her to be put in any more danger than she was already in.
"It's a long story." Zoey says, looking at me for my permission to continue. I nod.
She begins to dive into the story, sometimes interrupted by others to insert their points of view. I was trying to pay attention, I was. Because it was incredibly interesting and I needed to know all this, but somehow while they were telling the story my eyes shut and I drifted off to sleep.
As I open my eyes I knew something was wrong. Different. I was not on my bed, and there was hot smoke burning my lungs. I try to get up, but my hands and feet are tied. What the hell is going on? I look around, but there was smoke everywhere making it impossible to see farther than 3 feet in front of me.
"It is a shame you chose this Faith. I gave you a chance. We both did. Kalona was interested in you."
Who was that? I had never heard that voice before. I cough loudly, the burning in my throat worsening.
"I thought if I enlightened you then you would see reason. Your power could have paralleled my own. You could have been a valuable asset Faith. Someone to invoke change. But you failed. You have hidden Zoey Redbird from me. That was not the correct choice Faith."
"What the hell are you talking about?? Who are you?" I yell into the smoke. It was painful, and I couldn't understand what was going on.
Suddenly the smoke cleared and I recognized where I was. At home, in my house. The living room area where my mom and I used to watch movies together. And then I saw her, my mom lying on the ground a few feet from me. Her blank eyes staring at me in paralyzing fear. I screamed. I screamed again and again, but she didn't move. I started sobbing. It hurt my throat but I couldn't help it. My mother was lying dead in front of me. I wanted the world to swallow me whole. I wanted to be dead too.
"You will get your wish soon enough. Death will be a gift after what I do to you. Of course we could skip all the messy stuff if you would just tell me where Zoey is."
I looked up to see one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen standing over my mom's body. She had long red hair, and gorgeous untouched skin. She looked like a goddess, but her face was morphed into pitiless rage. And somehow I knew, this was who had killed my mom. This demon woman.
"You're insane. You killed my mother!" I scream up at her.
A splitting pain tore through my head. It felt like someone was literally drilling a screw right through my skull. I screamed in pain. Utter pain.
"You're mother was a puny human. Nothing. Our father created us little sister. That woman was just a vessel. I freed you from her. You should be thanking me. Begging me to take you under my wing."
The pain let up, but what she was saying made no sense. Father? What was she talking about? Who was she?
"Now tell me where Zoey is, and I may just let you live."
I was meaning to open my mouth and scream at her again. But before I could do so a giant winged man came into the room. Yes, you heard me right. He had wings, black wings. Like a dark angel, a very evil angel. I could feel his power all around me. It prickled my skin.
"Neferet, my dear what is taking so long?" His voice was silky smooth, and he looked close to godly. Except for the fact that in a flicker of the light he looked like a hunched over demon. Something grotesque and pitiful. And then he looked gorgeous again. But what had he called her? Neferet?
"Kalona, my apologies. I will have the information soon." She purred, rubbing his chest.
"I never thought a sibling of yours could be so troublesome." He growled glaring at me darkly.
"Half sibling, darling. Just the same. We will have what we need soon enough."
A cawing sound behind me startled me, and when I turned my head to see what had made the noise I let out a piercing scream. It was a birdman thing, and it was awfully close to me. So close I could feel its hot sticky breath on me.
"Quieeeeet." It hissed, as it took its long talon and dug it into my side. I just yelled louder, shaking, trying to roll away from it. But the pain was overwhelming.
"Thanatos won't be happy when he finds out his favorite daughter is dead." Neferet says coldly, stepping closer to me, ignoring my screams.
"A God should never pick favorites." Kalona says, pulling Neferet into a tight embrace.
"You do." She points out, touching him on the nose playfully. He laughs loudly, inviting her to join him. They laugh together, as I lay there, bleeding from my side. I Shut my eyes tightly willing this to all go away. Go away go away go away!!! I yell fighting against my restraints.
"Faith?! Faith, wake up!"
I sit straight up, screaming at the top of my lungs.
"Faith, it's okay. It's okay. What's wrong?" Nichole was rubbing my back gently; while the rest of them were staring at me looking half worried half scared.
I felt my side. It was fine. I looked around the room. It was my room at the house of night, and they were all sitting in the same spots when Zoey was telling her story. But what was that…? Oh my God, mom. I grab my phone and dial the home phone. I didn't care that it was past 2 am; I had to hear her voice. Had to make sure she was okay.
"Um.. hello?" It was her. She sounded tired, and completely groggy. But it was her voice.
"Mom! Mom you're all right? Everything is okay?" I sounded hysterical, I knew that, but it just didn't make any sense.
"Faith? Yes, everything's fine. Are you okay? You sound troubled. Are you safe?" she had obviously woken up more at the sound of my voice.
"Yes, yes. Everything seems to be fine. I just had a bad dream is all. Wanted to make sure you were okay." I say, slowly.
"Okay love. I miss you."
"I miss you too. And love you. Sleep good mom. Sorry for bothering you." I say, and hang up the phone.
Everyone continued to stare at me, including Nichole.
"What was that?" Aphrodite asks, looking kind of freaked out.
"What do you mean?" I ask hesitantly.
"You were screaming in your sleep. It was terrifying." Nichole answers.
"So I was sleeping." I say, more to myself than anyone else.
"I guess you fell asleep during my story." Zoey adds, sounding kind of hurt.
"Neferet. And Kalona. Does Neferet have red hair? Does Kalona have black wings? Is he a God?" I ask, the images of the dream burning my memory.
"Wait, how did you… I never mentioned either of those things." She says.
A part of me couldn't breathe. I looked down at Eric. His affinity was dreaming about future events. Could it be possible that I just dreamed about a future event? But if that's so then what was she talking about? Something about hiding Zoey and… being her sister. I was Neferet's sister? No. No. That was not possible.
"Faith what's wrong?" Nichole asks, trying to take my hand in hers. I pull away. I couldn't really breathe. No, it was just a dream. Just a bad vivid very lucid dream.
"I have to go." I say, suddenly standing up.
"Wait, what? You look like you're about to faint!" Eric says, trying to stop me from walking towards the door. I shake off his hand.
"I'm fine." I say, knowing I had to get down to Nyx's temple.
"You don't look fine. Maybe if you would just explain we could…" but I cut Stark off.
"You don't understand. Do not try to stop me." I tell him. He was the one blocking the door, and I knew without meaning to I had controlled his mind again. He wasn't going to be able to stop me. And just like that I walked right on by him and out the door. And then I started running. I had to see Nyx. She had to explain what I had seen. She had to.