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Stevie Rae

There were her options; Stevie Rae could wait for zoey and the gang to come back from Italy, and tell them right away about everything, Rephaim, how she'd saved him, and all the other stuff that came with it. This probably meant a lot of shouting, and fighting, and not many friends afterward. She couldn't blame them if the ended up hating her forever, heck, they'd probably think she was Darkness's side.

Or… or she could let Dallas stay at the house of night, without breathing a word about him acting like a spy for Darkness. And in return he would keep her secret, she would keep her friends, and she could work out a way to save Rephaim again. If he needed saving at all…

Dallas had been able to shock her earlier, his affinity for earth was powerful, she knew. But it was no match for hers with the earth. It should've been able to protect her. Hers and Rephaim's imprint was a strong one, she wondered if what happened earlier might have affected her affinity with earth. What had happened earlier?

Take form, do my bidding

She remembered the words had burst from her as she had cried with the pain of darkness. She had been sure that someone had been attacking Rephaim at first. But the words echoed in her mind again… do my bidding. Oh goddess thought Stevie Rae. Rephaim must be controlling the darkness. She knew that he could draw power from darkness, this what she must've felt, lashing out at her, and now he could command it.

Her heart sunk down into her stomach, and she thought she would choke the tears that she refused to let fall. Why couldn't anything ever just be easy? She wasn't over Dallas. She really had liked him, a lot. And she couldn't just let him turn his back on everything good, even now. Stark had managed to find the light again, and he had been a real big nasty. Rephaim was a different matter; he had been made of everything dark, and then something had happened which made him see the light. He was the complete opposite of Dallas and stark. But now he'd chosen darkness again, and Stevie had no clue what to do.

"Hey Stevie Rae, is that you?"

She whipped round to see Erik, standing there looking hot with his hands in his pockets, but weirdly shy.

"Oh hey Erik" she said, although her words had sounded harsher than she'd wanted, she was trying to hide the shaking in her voice.

Erik looked at her weirdly for a minute, like he didn't know what he was going to say. Erik stuck for words! The world was actually totally upside down.

"Uh, how are you?" he said, blinking a few times like someone had just snapped their fingers in his face.

"I'm okay. I think you should ask yourself that same question though, what's up?"

"Nothing. Nothing's up. Why, does it look like it is, cos its not. Can't a guy just ask a girl how they are these days? Jeez." He looked pissed off now, and a little confused. Stevie Rae put her hand on his arm.

"Erik! That's all im doing too remember, im just asking you how you are."

Without looking at her he nodded. "Okay. Alright. I'm alright. I was just asking you know, cos of what happened with Dallas. That was harsh what he did. And pretty inconsiderate too, so close to sunrise, he could've killed you!"

He turned to face her, just in time to see her eyes well up slightly, and then back down. She smiled at him sadly. "Yeah, I wasn't entirely innocent either though." She said. She couldn't help looking away from him. She hated lying to everyone about this. He turned her head softly so that she faced him again. And his glistening blue eyes looked right into hers "Don't do that to yourself, Stevie Rae, I can't imagine anything you could've done that made you deserve that, everything about you is… its pure goodness. He was stupid for doing that to you. I would never –"

He stopped like something had caught his throat and he dropped his hand away from her face.

"Lenobia's looking for you" said Stevie Rae.

"Oh right," said Erik clearing his throat. "Do you know where she is?"

"uhh, she went that way, so im guessing she's headed for the staff room"

"oh right, okay I'll see you later then, I can tell the teachers to let you off lesson if you don't feel up to it?"

"No, that's okay, thanks anyway though Erik"

"Okay, well I'll see you then" he said, he gave her a nod and then hurried off.

Okay. Weird. It didn't matter that Erik was acting weirder than lizard caught in a drain pipe, what mattered was dealing with Dallas, and Rephaim.

Erik

Erik felt like kicking himself. What was he thinking? Stevie had just broken up with Dallas. She wasn't in any position to... To, Erik didn't even know what. He'd seen her in that corridor and before he knew it he was face to face with her without knowing why. When he found out about Dallas last night, the first thing he'd wanted to do was drive round and check Stevie Rae was okay, but she'd said on the phone that she was fine, and he took that to mean she wanted to be alone. So he let her have her time. Next he would've kicked Dallas's ass. But no one had known where he'd been. He'd heard word around the house of night that Dallas had turned up for lesson with the other red fledglings that had chosen good. But Stevie Rae had said that he'd chosen Darkness and that's what caused him to change. It had shocked him, just how worried he'd been about Stevie Rae, and how angry he'd been At Dallas. He should've been able to see the whole thing like a third party observer, hearing both his, and her side of the story. But he just couldn't! And the thing that had surprised him the most was the feeling he got in his stomach when he'd heard they'd broken up. He'd felt… hope?

He arrived at the staff room without even knowing how he'd got there. He entered and saw Lenobia on one side of the room with dragon, and the other teachers at the other side.

"Erik! Finally, I've been looking for you all morning!"

"Yeah, sorry I got a little side tracked, ive been marking papers all morning" said Erik, pushing a hand though his thick black hair.

"Yes. It's strange that everything must carry on as normal in the midst of everything" said Lenobia, casting a dark look at the other teachers, who barely noticed what she'd said.

"So what's got to happen now?" said Erik, ignoring the others, coming to standing closer to Lenobia.

She turned her back on the others as if what they were saying was a secret, "as you know Zoey and Stark have made it back alive, it is truly remarkable. From what I can bather from my conversation with Darius on the phone they haven't questioned them too much and they're currently resting. Aphrodite has had another vision, and it frightens me. Im not entirely what has happened to Kalona. although Neferet has called another meeting at the high council and she says that he will not be present. I fear she will try to blame us for whatever may have happened to him. However, the high council will surely have greater faith in us now after Zoey and Stark's triumph."

"I still can't believe they made it back. What with everyone saying how difficult it would be, I know Zoey's amazing, but it just seemed impossible."

"Indeed. I think that when they return, we may need to call her mother, I don't feel comfortable having her here, so… so disconnected from her mother, not when she faces such perils"

Erik sensed that Lenobia wanted to say more so he spoke up, "we need to make more phone calls than that" He said.

Lenobia gave him a sad look. "Yes. Heaths parents have already been informed of his death as you know. It pained me greatly to have to be the one to tell them. But we will have to make further arrangements with them"

Erik looked at his feet. He hadn't known what to feel when he'd heard about heath. He had never liked him. But those were for reasons that could never have mattered in a life and death situation. Heath had been good. And he had cared about Zoey enough to endanger his life for her. He had deserved to live a long happy life. Erik couldn't help thinking that he should've been the one to fly to Italy with Zoey, he was a full grown vampyre, and humans died so easily! Deep in his stomach he could feel something else, a pale resentment toward Zoey, if only she'd have broken it off with Heath when all this started, she might've saved his life.

"How do you think zoey will cope at the funeral?" he asked.

"She's made it through the hardest part. She needs to be strong, for his family's sake."

Erik nodded solemnly.

"As soon as they return, we must learn the full contents of Aphrodite's vision, and we can work out a way to stop it happening. As for now, you look like you need some rest" Lenobia said looking at him watchfully.

"Yeah, I'll try" Erik smiled at her. "Ive got more papers to get one with for now though." He nodded her goodbye and then left the staff room. Truth was, he hadn't been marking papers. He wasn't going to mark papers. He refused to carry on as though everything was normal when it wasn't! Everything was broken and damaged, and nothing had been able to heal when everyone was in so much pain and torment. What was the use in lessons? Practical planning was more useful to the students of the house of night than pathetic theory that they read from books, now surely!

He walked up a long stone pathway that lead to outside. It used to be peaceful to be in the grounds of the house of night, now all could think of was the deaths and the battles that had taken place here. He wanted to vent his anger, scream, and hit something. Nothing was quite frustrating him more so though, than his confusion. He thought he'd loved Zoey. I did.

But he couldn't help seeing the sacrifices that all these guys had made for her, and for what, to be thrown away into the night, as guy number 2, 3 4? Heath was dead. Stark was sliced, Hell! Loren's death no doubt had something to do with her!

There was another girl on his mind now. A girl who never made guys do dumb stuff like that for her, pure of heart and mind and, soul. Pure faced, and with bright smile and eyes. And Dallas threw her away in the night! Idiot!

Erik looked out across the grounds and his eyes wandered to a figure that leant against a tree, he thought he could see a faint green glow around it. He moved closer, quietly and stealth like. But he wasn't hunting, he was watching, just watching. In the dim glow of the moonlight, he could make out the soft blonde curls. And he thought he could hear, an even softer voice, she sounded like she was singing, but he knew she wasn't, she was praying. She was supposed to be in lesson! He figured that she must've felt the same about everything as her did. The green glow around her faltered and dimmed. And her arms fell limp at her sides, he heard her let out a gruff sigh. It warmed him, she seemed annoyed at herself, that whatever she was doing hadn't worked, she'd been trying to help, and she was always trying to help.

He wanted to go to her. But he stood in the shadows, somehow lost for what to say to her. He saw another figure approaching her, he looked fairly tall, and he could make out the light scruffy hair on his head. It was Dallas. He felt, a pang in his stomach as he thought of the two of them making up. He didn't want to watch if they were going to kiss and whatever, but he couldn't tear himself away.

"Hey Slut." said Dallas with a sneer.

Erik balled his fists. Stevie Rae looked up.

"Dallas. Im not going to cover for you, you can tell everyone. You can't use me like that; I won't let anyone use me like that. Especially you, when I know the choice you've made." She said.

"What. So you're saying you don't care. You don't care if all your friends hate you, you don't care that they'll throw you out in the dirt, and they won't even look back, because they'll know how much of an evil whore you are?" Dallas said, standing a few feet away from her.

"I don't care. If it keeps them safe from you, then I don't care." She said, although Erik could see her tensing up with anger.

Dallas shook his head. "No. I know you Stevie Rae; nothing would hurt you more than losing your precious friends"

"Go ahead Dallas, tell them! And see what happens! More likely they'll call you a liar, look at you, you've Changed, and they know it was because of the Darkness!"

Dallas marched toward her "No! They won't call me a liar! Stark embraced Darkness, and look at the way everyone trusts him!"

"Try it Dallas!" yelled Stevie Rae.

"No. I'm not going to tell them anything. Not yet. Ive got something against you now, which means you can, no, will, do anything I tell you to." said Dallas menacingly. Erik saw Stevie Rae's curls bouncing around her as she shook her head in refusal. Dallas stepped closer so that his face was only inches away from hers, and Erik thought he might try to kiss her and he had to strain his ears to hear what he said. In an ominous whisper he said "You don't have the guts to tell them yourself…" then he stepped around her, Stevie Rae seemed to frightened to move, Dallas stood behind her and whispered into her ear. "And girl, you have no idea how powerful I am."

Erik saw something, bright forming in his hands which he raised as if he were going to stroke Stevie Rae's neck. The moment his glowing hands touched her skin, she let out a cry and her legs gave way. Erik sprang forward - Going for Dallas who looked up and bolted off into the night. Then he crouched down beside Stevie Rae who had her hand on her neck. He put his hands on her face and asked "Stevie Rae? Are you okay?"

She looked at him wide eyed. "Erik! What are you doing here?" she croaked. Her voice sounded weak and it only made Erik more worried about her.

"Im going to find him don't worry." He said. He didn't know what to do, to help. It wasn't his place, but hell, no one was going to get away with hurting Stevie Rae like that! He could feel himself puffing out, but he couldn't help it. He was ready for a fight.

"Jeez Louise Erik, calm down. Stop puffing up like a dang blow fish!"

"Are you hurt?" he asked her, looking into her eyes.

"I'm fine! I'd like to get up if that's okay with you?" she said letting out a huff as she rose to her feet. Erik took his hands off of her face and let them rest awkwardly at his sides.

"Im sorry." he said, looking away from her. What was he thinking; she wasn't the type of girl who needed help. She was Stevie Rae, strong and independent.

"Well you don't need to apologise. Im actually glad you came running out like that. Although im kinda wondering why you were even there."

Erik didn't want to answer that. Why had he been there? Spying? Watching?

"What were you doing there!" he asked her. "You're supposed to be in class"

"Yeah well I didn't feel like it" said Stevie Rae.

Erik couldn't help himself. Yes she was strong, but right now she was shaken and probably scared. He took her chin in his finger tips so that she'd look up at him. He didn't know what to say, so he just smiled at her, he hoped it was dazzling, but he couldn't be sure from her face which looked confused, but curious. Her mouth was slightly parted, and the urge to kiss her was too strong. He placed his lips on hers softly and she returned it with just as much tenderness.