A/N-Goodness! Four chapters already! Again I don't own anything except for my OC and a few extras here and there. I hope you like it :) I know I wrote Kalona's POV in first person last chapter, but I really feel third person would be better for him. I'm sorry it to so long to wright I had huge writers block and got a little lazy.
Shaunee's POV:
What was that?What. The . Fuck. Was. That. My mind was racing. How could I let him hold me, he stroked my hair! My heart pumped with adrenaline and my cheeks felt so warm. Am I blushing? Oh my Goddess, I'm blushing! I haven't blushed since sixth grade. When Joshua Harving asked me out. Wait were was I? "Wow. I ran a lot farther than I thought I did." I stood in front of Nyx's statue. Her warm gaze shown brilliantly through the stone. Almost life like. My legs suddenly turned to jelly as I sank to the ground. I guess all that energy finally wore off. I lay my head back on the cool grass and close my eyes. I stay perfectly still for a few moments. I think back to what had just happened. Kalona standing there in all his glory...his strong arms wrapping around me like a constricting serpent. Now that I think about it, hugging him was like hugging Icy-Hot. Cool at first but leaves a burning sensation. No. HOLD UP. What are you think Shaunee? I shook my head, Get it together girl,
"Shaunee Cole?" A deep voice whisper.
I whipped my head up, my element boiling down in my belly. But it settled when I noticed it was just a Son of Eubreus warrior,
"Ummm. Hi." I croaked.
"High Priestess Thantoes would like me to inform you that we will start the funeral pyre for Erin Bates."
My heart jumped to my throat. Erin! How could I have forgotten her? Guilt washed over me like a wave and tears began to roll down my cheeks. The warrior seemed so unsure and his face almost made me smile. I raised my head high and wiped my nose. "Lead the way."
When we had reached the grounds it was like I was in a dream. My vision blurred and I swayed slightly. Erin lay on top of the picnic bench surrounded by incense and wood. She almost looks like she's sleeping. I thought. She was now wearing a white night gown that looked almost transparent against her pale skin. Her light blonde hair had been brushed to perfection. She looked so dignified.
Stevie Rae and Rephiam stood across the pyre .Damien held on to Stevie Rae's hand as he cried quietly. This must be reminding him of Jack. I thought absentmindedly. I couldn't help but notice that Zoey and Stark hadn't showed up. Not to mention Aphrodite and Darius. I walked over to my friends who all gave me looks of sympathy.
"Hey Shaunee." Stevie Rae greeted me softly giving me a small smile.
"Hi."
Thantoes was whispering something to Professor Lenobia when she and I made eye contacted. She said her goodbyes to the horse mistress before heading to our group. We all fisted our hands over our hearts and bowed to the Vampyre high priestess. "Hello Shaunee. We have suffered a great loss here tonight. Two great losses actually."
"Two? Who else?" I gulped. My throat was dry and I nearly gagged on my own words. Thantoes slowly shook her head. "The mayor of Tulsa, Aphrodite's father, was found murdered on school grounds soon after Erins unfortunate death." I gasped. Poor Aphrodite. Another wave of guilt punched me in gut as I thought of the blonde prophetess. And where was I? In the arms of he-who-should-not-be-named. That's were.
"I'm afraid that all the red fledglings and Zoey and her group have to remain at this House of Night. I thought it best to cooperate with the Tulsa police department."
I nodded. "I was planning on staying the day anyway and stay vigil until the sun rises."
Thantoes bowed her head. "That brings me to my next request. Shaunee would you like to light Erins pyre?"
My eyes widened in surprise. Me? How could I? I mean Erin and I weren't exactly on good terms before she...died.
"Erin is at peace now. She holds no ill will towards anyone."
Nyx's voice resonated within me. My eyes brimmed with tears I nodded.
"I would be honored."
I took a few steps towards Erin's body raising my arms.
"Fire come to me."
My element swirled around me, creating a flaming whirlwind. Though most would be scared to have flames covering their body, my heart was at ease. My element surrounded me, warming my entire being.
"Erin's spirit is now in Nyx's kingdom. I have asked Shaunee to return her body there as well" Thantoes's voice rang out among the crowd as everyone quieted.
"We ask that all of you send a silent prayer to Nyx. We have faced great hardships this year and have lost many. This pyre is not only for Erin. It represents all the sadness and hatred that has plagued our House of flames are what will burn away all the past suffering and lead our way into the future of light!"
It was sort of strange hearing a vampyre with the affinity for death talking about a future of light but her words still carried the power of a goddess. She beckoned me forward and I took my place in front of the pyre.
"Fire light Erin's path to Nyx's embrace!" I shouted, tears falling from my face. Swinging my arms in front of me Erin's body and the pyre was soon consumed in fires orange glow. I smiled finally feeling like Erin was finally home. A red fledgling (one of the bad ones) snorted from the other side of the flames.
"Did you see that smile? Talk about creepy," She said snickering.
"I bet that bitch was looking forward to barbecuing Erin's toasty ass." The fat one named Kurtis sneered.
I clenched my fists in anger. How dare they say that! The flames crackled threateningly, jumping out at them.
"Whoa!" One of them laughed. How could they laugh like that? I felt blood trickle down my hands as my nails dug into my skin. A hand grabbed my shoulder and I whipped around, placing my bleeding hands casually by my sides. Stevie Rae stared at me with concern.
"Just ignore them Shaunee. They'll get their kumupets in the end. You can count on it."
I sighed. Thantoes was just talking about peace and forgiveness and I try to fry a couple of fledglings. I need anger management. Soon the crowd began to disperse. Some to go eat dinner, others to help clean up the festival. Stevie Rae and Rephiam stayed with me for awhile but close to five they had to turn in. Morning was coming soon and Rephiam would soon be a Raven, and Stevie Rae would burn at the slightest patch of sunlight. That just left me alone. Well not completely. I had heard the rustling earlier and I knew he was up there.
"I'm fine y'know." I only heard a rustle in response.
"Well look what we have here."
I spun around to find Dallas a few yards away, obviously drunk. Ugh, I don't have the energy for this.
"What do you want Dallas?" I asked exasperated.
"I just came to say goodbye to MY girlfriend. I didn't think you'd be here." He walked closer to the pyre. "I mean it's not like you guys were friends or anything." I clenched my teeth and I could hear furious rustling coming from the tree above me. "You shoulda heard the things Erin would say about you. How you were such a loser and all you would do was complain about your dad. 'Oh he didn't call me! He doesn't care about me! blah blah blah' it was hilarious." He went on. "Man she sure was easy though. You shoulda seen what she would do to me. Unlike that prude Stevie Rae."
My element burned at the pit of my stomach and I finally snapped. "What do you know about Erin?" I growled my heart thumping in my head. "What do I know about her? I fucked her!" I could feel static electricity in the air as Dallas got angrier. "To tell the truth Dallas you were just last on a long list of people that Erin had got with so she could feel something. Believe me, you're nothing special. She would've left you just like Stevie Rae did.
Waves of electricity exploded from Dallas and my element rose up from being surrounding me as well. "Don't Dallas. I can burn you to a crisp without even blinking." He got it under control but he was still fuming.
"I will get you back. I will get you and that slut Stevie Rae." He proclaimed as he stormed off.
"Are you alright?" Kalona's deep voice asked from his position in the tree.
"Yeah. I just kinda want to be alone right now. Sorry."
"I understand Shaunee but I don't want to leave you alone. Especially right after being threatened by that boy."
"I'm fine really. I could kick his ass any day of the week."
I heard him chuckle slightly and his wing open.
"If you insist Shaunee I will abide by your wishes."
"Kalona wait!"
He paused, perching back on his branch.
"What is it?"
"How many children do you have?"
Kalona smiled staring down at the young fledgling.
"143." And he flew off.
A/N- WOW THAT WAS DRAMATIC. THANK YOU ALL FOR READING AND AGAIN I'M REALLY SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG TO UPDATE. HOPEFULLY I CAN UPDATE MORE FREQUENTLY NOW.