Disclaimer: I do not own the House of Night series, all that belongs to P.C and Kirsten Cast.

A.N: hey guys, sorry it has taken me a while to upload another chapter, I've been busy with school and everything that comes along with school.
Hope you like the chapter, feel free to review.

Chapter 4

Warning: this chapter contains a suggestive theme.

It was nearly the end of school so I decided that the best thing I could do for Stevie Rae would be to get her friends together, maybe they could think of something to do.

I gave Stevie Rae a quick hug before I stood up and left the room. I waited in the common room where we all met after school. Everyone arrived at the same time, which was lucky so I explained everything only once.

"Hey guys, I don't know much about what you do with your elements and all but Stevie Rae really needs you. Her parents and brothers were murdered and she is really upset." I was practically begging

"Where's Z?" Erik asked

"She's up with Stevie Rae. She has been there since the beginning of last period. I though you guys could do something with your affinities, you know; use the elements to help Stevie Rae get through this." I guessed that was possible.

"Heath's right. Your elements will help Stevie Rae," Erik said to everyone

Two by two we filed up the staircase.

Damian did not bother to knock. We all walked in, Zoey and Stevie Rae were still on the floor crying but the tears turned silent which was an improvement to last time I saw her.

"Stevie Rae, honey, Heath told us what happened. I am so sorry." He said in the gentlest voice ever. He sat in front of Stevie Rae and motioned us to sit around her on the floor. The Twins sat themselves close to Stevie Rae, while Jack, Erik and I stayed close but not in the way; Zoey caught on quick, and nodded, giving a small smile.

Damian put his hand on Stevie Rae's, "Air come to me. Blow away the pain of death from Stevie Rae." A gentle breeze swept through the room, making it suddenly chilly, Stevie Rae began to shiver.

"I better go next, she looks cold" Shaunee said before continuing, "Fire come to me. Burn all pain and suffering from Stevie Rae." She said as she held on to Stevie Rae's arm, the room warmed and I felt like I was sitting in front of a fire place.

"Water come to me. Wash away all sadness and despair from our friend. I know the pain will never go away, but please, refresh her mind so that she has the strength to move on." Erin said as she held Stevie Rae's hand, the room was then engulfed with the sounds of a rushing river.

"Earth, come to me. Stevie Rae is in need of your strength. She needs your support, love and nurture. Please grant Stevie Rae the power to accept your strength. I also call Sprit here tonight. She has lost her parents and siblings. Please wake Stevie Rae so that she can get over the death of her family." The room was again engulfed with the smells of hay, apples and the sounds of birds chirping. When sprit was called the smells and sounds of all elements rushed back into the room and Stevie Rae's eyes flew open. Her trebling had stopped, but the tears continued. She sat up straight and looked around the room, silently thanking each of her friends.

"Come on guys, let's go, I bet she's dead tired." I said, not realising what I had said, everyone stared at me, shocked expressions on their faces.

Stevie Rae let out a burst of laughter, which, in spite of that situation, made me happy "Thanks Heath. He's right y'll, I am pretty tired. I'll be fine; I'll talk later. 'kay?" her voice was hoarse and weak. But we nodded and left the room with quiet, 'nights' and 'sorrys'. I was surprised to see Zoey walk out the room with us; I expected she would stay with Stevie Rae.

"She needs a moment," she said when she caught me looking from her to Stevie Rae back in their room.

We made it to the common room which was empty. Damn, we were missing dinner, and I heard it was going to be some fancy Italian meal. I love Italian.

"Jack and I are going to go to the dining hall and get some food for us all. We'll be back soon," Damien said as if he could read my mind. He and Jack got up and walked to the door.

"Hang on. I'll come. I want to speak to Neferet," Zoey said as she headed to the door. Then the three of them walked out of the room leaving Erik, the Twins and I alone and Stevie Rae up stairs.

None of us had moved when Damian, Jack and Zoey returned carrying take away dishes. I didn't even know that the school had some of them. Damian must have got the cook to dish the meal in them for us.

"What's wrong Z?" Erik asked as he followed them into the kitchen, with me and the Twins following.

"Neferet wasn't there. I spoke to Professor Penthesilia and she said that Neferet has gone to Henrietta and she doesn't know when she will be back. Professor P also asked about Stevie Rae - she is really worried about her fledgling. When Stevie Rae is up to it, I'll have to get her to talk to her. Her mentor will be able to help her, don't you think? She also said that she has cancelled the Dark Daughters ritual until the night after tomorrow," Zoey was still worried about Stevie Rae, but now she was even more worried about Neferet. Sometimes that girl can worry about too much stuff.

Zoey picked up two dinner containers and two soft drinks and started to head back to Stevie Rae,

"Are you taking that to Stevie Rae?" I asked, although I already knew the answer

"Yeah, she needs food."

"I'll take it. You need to rest as well. Calling elements seems to take it out of everyone." I didn't give Zoey time to argue with me. I took the food and drinks off her and walked out of the kitchen.

When I got to the room, I knocked softly on the door, there was no invite in but I went in anyway. I found Stevie Rae in her awesome PJ's sitting curled up on the end of her bed. I sat on the other end putting our food in between us.

"Eat," was all I said before I opened my dinner and began to eat. It was delicious, though Stevie Rae didn't move a muscle. Teasingly, I made 'yum' sounds and continually said how good it was. She still didn't move, so I made a move to take her meal away, but a slightly wet, shaky hand caught my hand to stop me. She took the container out from under my hands, and took off the lid, inhaling. A smile swept across her face and she began eating. Satisfied, I continued to eat mine, and handed her a can of soft drink, which she took willingly and drank.

"Tell me about them?" I said when she was nearly done

Not needing me to explain who I meant, she told me all about her family. Her mother could not have been happier that she was Marked. Her dad, however, was less enthusiastic about it because she was his 'baby girl'. Her brothers were happy for her and consistently asked if she would give them some vampire girls' numbers. We laughed about that. She told me about the cock fights that she always watched because her father always had a fighter in the ring and occasionally he won some money and when they did he would buy the kids ice creams that melted quicker than they could eat them. Again we laughed.

When she was done talking about her family she asked me about mine. My parents were fine with me being Marked because they believed that it would get me to stop drinking and smoking, which it did because I didn't want to die within the next four years. There really wasn't much to talk about. The only story I told her about Zoey and I was when we first started dating and I thought I caught her kissing another guy, so I went up to the guy and pulled him off the girl and punched him. Though, when I turned around, the girl was not Zoey, but some other person from overseas. When I saw her and the guy stand up I ran for the hills and didn't look back till I was home. We laughed so hard about that. It was nice to see her smile after the day she had. I didn't realise how close we scooted together until she laid her head on my shoulder and sighed. She looked up at me through her lashes and I could not help myself, I planted my lips square on hers. I expected her to pull away and slap me but instead she kissed me back. The kiss deepened, my hand found its way up to her hair where it wound itself and the other moved from her knee up her thigh to her waist where it stayed until I got further encouragement. She moved one hand up my arm to my hair where she also wound it and pulled it a little but I did not feel any pain. Her other hand made its way to the small of my back where she lifted my shirt and ran her hand along my back and stomach. Her touch was so soft it left goose bumps where her fingers touched. Again the kiss deepened, this time she fell onto her back, pulling me with her, though we never broke our lips apart. We could not let each other go, and when she did break our lips for a breath, I moved along her jaw, kissing as I went.

"Please stop Heath." she was short of breath so her plea was weak, but I could not deny any request she had. My lips stopped under her ear, I pulled back to look at her. Her face was flushed and her hair was a mess.

She pulled herself out from under me and crossed her legs, clearly wanting some space.

"If you're waiting for me to apologise, I'm not going to. I've been waiting to do that since I first saw you." I stared into her eyes, searching for a hit of resentment. There was none.

"I don't want you to apologise," she whispered, "I just want your word that you won't tell anybody. I don't want to hurt Zoey. She still has feelings for you. Not the same as before, but they are still there" She twanged

"I won't say anything. I promise. Zoey still has feelings for me?" I could not have been happier and more shocked at the same time.

"Yeah. She told me the other day but she doesn't want Erik to find out. It would kill him."

"I understand. Let's just keep this under the radar." I suggested

"I agree. No offence, but do you mind leaving? I really would like to get some shut-eye."

"No worries. Good night." I gathered up the dinner containers that fell to the floor when things started heating up. By the time I got to the door she was already asleep. I turned off the light and closed the door.

"She did it! All of it!" Aphrodite's voice came from nowhere. She was standing outside her room.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, not until then did I see her blood shot eyes

"No good can come from this. You must protect her." her voice barely carried to me. What the hell? I did not have time to get an explanation from her because she stepped back into her room and shut the door.