A/N: You guys are awesome! After I posted this, I realized that it probably wasn't fair to ask for 5 reviews on a little over 1000 word prologue that could have used another couple rounds of editing. But you did it anyway, so thanks!

Truthfully, I hate writing exposition and I'm not very good at it, and even though this is a sequal, this is exposition. And something truly odd happened with this chapter...because this was not at all how it was supposed to go. I had an idea of what was supposed to go on, and the plot and characters just changed it entirely. Gotta love when that happens. Anyway, yes, I am going to bring in Shaylin because...while I am not particularly fond of her character and personality based on Destined, I really want to mess around with her power.

Not particularly happy with her first encounter with Kalona. It was supposed to be much more angry and violent, but...well, refer to above. The next chapter is a split between two POV's and then we get to Skye with your guys's characters. For now, SYOC is still open to submits.

JC's POV

Having an adrenaline rush wear off on you is not a fun thing. Seriously, one moment I was rearing and ready to go for anything, and the next I was ready to fall flat on my face. It's really just not a fun transition to go through, hence the reason I was wandering through the infirmary looking for someone to direct me to do something other than…well…wander through the infirmary. For some reason I had a feeling that wasn't going to get me fixed.

And of course, the only people who could (and would) help me were the nurses, who were now overflowing with fledglings and vampyres injured from the attack. Said fledglings and vampyres not being attended to were either watching me with the darkest glares you could give a person, or just down right ignoring me, the latter was much preferred. "She's working her way again," Lenobia told me, "Neferet's managing to convince everyone the Raven Mocker attack came because you were using Darkness during the circle. And of course, if you were doing it then so was everyone else in the circle…and Daniel and I taught it to you. I just figured you deserved a fair warning before you went in there."

I didn't want to believe it when my mentor told me that. I didn't want to believe that Neferet could be doing such a thing in such a short amount of time and that everyone was choosing to believe her. I mean, based on past experiences I had no reason to deny it…but my brain didn't want to believe it (it was really only now starting to comprehend what happened in the past hour). Lemme just say it's hard not to believe it when the evidence was staring me in the face. Or more, glaring at me…but same difference really.

I did not want to leave this way. Granted, I sure as hell didn't want to stay either, which was looking like the more probable outcome for a time because I didn't have a plane or any way to get to one. Just the thought of having to stay and go through all of this new hatred (or old hatred times a billion) and Darkness made me groan and feel even more uncomfortable. I decided to go sit in the corner of one of the waiting rooms and basically curl into a ball. The theory was that if I drew as little attention to myself as possible, there would be more ignoring and less glaring, which would be a much appreciated thing. Curling into a ball in the corner of a room seemed like a good way to not get that unwanted attention.

And then I wound up falling asleep. Don't know how, don't know how long, and don't know when, but I did doze off, not that that should really be surprising. Even if my mind was going 500 miles a minute, I was still too tired physically to stay awake apparently. And the only reason I even registered that I fell asleep was because I jumpstarted when Helena shook me awake.

"JC, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in transit to Skye?" the nurse asked.

I opened my eyes and stretched out my legs then nodded. "You're the third person to ask me that. Yes, I should be…but very clearly I'm not. Let's leave it at that," I retorted and sighed, "I need another fixing up on my hand…or more than likely anyway. I wasn't exactly thinking about that during the fight. My shoulder's torn up pretty badly too," I added for as to why I was there.

Her brown eyes looked me over for a moment before seeing my state. "I have a free room, let's go," Helena ordered and turned on her heel.

Grunting, I got up and followed wobbly after her, my legs were starting to feel like jelly. Again I'll say that adrenaline crashes suck ass. Along the way I'd noticed that a lot of those waiting had cleared out and I questioned how long I had been asleep for. "How long has it been since the rituals?" I asked and hopped up on the cot in the room we went to. I knew the drill by now.

"I believe it started around 45 minutes ago." Crap, for one, I didn't mean to doze off for that long, and for two, I had about 15 minutes until Lenobia wanted to see me again. Why did she want to see me? I didn't know, but before her warning of all the Neferet mind control stuff, she told me she wanted me to go to the stables in about an hour in order to 'talk in private.'

"Ok, do you think you can get me out of here in 15 minutes?" I asked.

The look Helena gave me meant that that was unlikely. "You've made your hand bleed again and your shoulder is an absolute mess, especially now with the dried blood. Didn't I tell you to stay safe this afternoon?" she asked.

I glanced at my shoulder and bit my lip, pushing back the nausea that came from seeing it. So gross. It was actually kind of ironic though, seeing as though I didn't mind blood and gore and injuries on other things (hell, I did want to be a vet), but when it came to myself…I was squeamish as all get out. "Yeah, you did," I answered finally and stuck my hand out to her. Huh, the bandages were red, great. "But I didn't exactly intend for a flock of Raven Mockers to come and go nutso on the school. I made no promises."

"I probably should have made you do that," she muttered and unwrapped the second set of soiled bandages around my hand. I didn't respond, just watched as the bandages came off and winced when she used some alcohol to clean my hand up. That stuff burns!

"Now, the second part of this is not going to be fun," Helena told me as she wrapped new bandages around my hand and allowed me to take my body part back.

"Sounds like the story of my life right now," I grumbled. Yeah, my mood was plummeting, especially after the alcohol stuff and the knowledge it was going to be ten times worse with my shoulder.

"Sit up straight and stay still as much as you can," she ordered and went behind me. I did as she told and then let out a high pitched whine when she gently prodded the wound. "Well that isn't a good sign," she commented.

"Really? I would have never guessed!" I growled through gritted teeth and tried to force the tears from my eyes. Holy damn did that ever hurt! "I can't get some general anesthetic for this can I?" I asked rhetorically.

"We're not allowed to administer that, sorry," Helena apologized.

In response, I bowed my head, gripped the edge of the cot and sucked it up. Really, I had no other choice. And that's how it went for a while, me with my head bowed, eyes squeezed shut and leaking, a death grip on the bed, and throwing out snarls and expletives like no tomorrow.

Through the blood pounding in my ears, I heard the door open and brought my head up to see who was coming in. I figured it would be another nurse or maybe even Gwen or someone like that. Erik was the absolute last person I expected to be coming into the room.

"Don't move!" Helena ordered.

"I'm…damn it ow!" I hissed and took in a breath to try and go again. "I'm…ow, ow, ow! I'm trying," I finally whimpered out. Me and pain, we didn't get along, I was pretty much a wimp in that aspect…so if anything I learned I wasn't a masochist.

"I know it hurts, but please try better," she said more kindly.

I let out another breath and finally looked at the tracker, who had come in and was sitting on a chair near me and the nurse. "If you've come in to say hi and chat some…now is a really bad time," I informed him then clenched my jaw against the pain.

Erik sighed and shook his head, "I heard the rumors going around that you were still here…among a bunch of other, worse things I am sure you've heard by now. I was hoping to find you in a much better condition…or not here at all," he explained, "that isn't what I was hoping for."

"Yeah, well obviously I'm still here," I paused a moment and took a breath, "and Raven Mocker's talons can do this to you apparently. That's the reason my shoulder is ground beef."

"Your shoulder isn't ground beef," Helena said, "but it's pretty close."

I rolled my eyes, "thanks for the report." My mood had plummeted another four levels.

"You're an idiot for not getting in that Hummer, should've ran when you had the chance," Erik commented.

I let out a breath, winced once, and then looked back to him. "Trust me, I've come to learn that very quickly," I said wearily.

"What, no fighting about you running away?"

I sighed again and shook my head lightly. I really didn't want to get on that subject either. "There's no point in arguing about it with you. You see what you see and I'll see what I see…I'm too tired to fight that," I answered.

He seemed to mull that over for a moment, "you want to run now, don't you?"

I smirked a little bit, and then it turned into a grimace thanks to my shoulder. Damn thing. Truth was my thought process had been changed quite a bit…and I didn't know what I wanted to do anymore. "A Raven Mocker can make you question a lot of things," I agreed, "not that it matters what I want to do because of what I have to do. If I had my choice as of right now, I'd go to Skye and never return. Of course, you also have to take into consideration my current mental state appears to be at -2."

"We are a race based on freewill," Erik responded, "Nyx grants us that gift."

"Yes, but there are some things you have to do whether you want to or not. I have to go to Skye and I have to return…I can't listen to what I want to do," I answered. Martyrs, I had forgotten about that little conversation with Lenobia a while back (or was it only a few days?) until I said that. Though only an unproven theory, it was just another reason as to why I had to do the right thing, it was my choice to do the right thing and not give in to what I want. I don't want to chance playing with Darkness in such a way. So I guess, with that convoluted equation, by going to Skye and coming back, I was doing what I wanted to do because I want to do what I have to do. Confusing as hell, but it does make sense when you think about it.

"You're just like the rest of that group. I still say by ignoring Darkness it'll get bored and walk away…the problem is solved."

"After knowing Neferet and seeing what she can do, you really think that's going to happen?" I snapped harshly. That's apparently a touch subject, "look at what she did tonight!"

"I wasn't here tonight, but I'll take it that she's the reason the Raven Mockers attacked?" he asked.

"I'm going to start stitching you up now. Again, it's going to hurt," Helena interrupted.

"Thanks for the warning," I mumbled and let out a snarl as she literally picked up half of my skin and put it back in place. "What do you mean you weren't here?"

"I was Marking."

"In the middle of the night?" I asked in confusion and then yelped when I felt something pierce my skin. "Damn it! Can't you numb it or something at least?" I cried, glancing back at the nurse.

"I've already given you an injection," she answered, "I don't want to give you another one."

I was tempted to ask if it was because she was a sadist, but I bit my tongue. I was already being a bitter smart ass (something I liked to think I deserved to be for a little bit after everything), no need to add more to it to the woman who was attempting to fix me. Thankfully, Erik took the liberty to answer my question. I needed a bit of a distraction.

"Yeah, in the middle of the night," he answered, "would you believe that when I Marked you, I thought I made some mistake?"

I snorted, "interesting segue, but yeah, I could see how some freakishly, purple Marked girl from your past could be considered a mistake. Why do you ask?"

He sighed, "because I think I'm cursed to forever be Marking kids in odd ways."

"Why?" I asked, "what happened to this…er…fledgling?" I added. I was going to say him or her until I realized that he never did say a gender.

"She's red, JC," Erik responded, "she has a scarlet Mark."

My eyes widened a bit, both from surprise and from pain. "Scarlet Mark, as in Stevie Rae and Stark scarlet?" I asked.

"There is no other scarlet as far as I know. Oh, and it gets stranger, she was blind…but when I Marked her she got her sight back," he further explained.

"So let me get this straight…ow!" I paused and regained my thoughts, "you Marked a blind girl…damn…and when you did so, she was a red fledgling and…ow, damn…gained her sight back?" I asked, just to make sure. Of course, the random expletives probably weren't necessary in a normal conversation.

"Yes," he nodded once.

"What's her name?" I asked quickly.

"Shaylin," Erik answered, "Shaylin Ruede."

"Shaylin Ruede, the first ever…as far as we know…Marked red fledgling," I repeated and added, mulling it over for a moment. Again, another nice distraction from the sutures going into my shoulder. "Have you contacted Stevie Rae or Z?" I asked after a moment. The former definitely needed to know about this.

"I tried…repeatedly. I called both Zoey and Stevie Rae, and then I tried to call you, but no one answered. Now that I came back here and found out about the attack, I know why. They're probably still on high alert in the car," he explained.

"I don't even have my phone on me, and you're probably right," I agreed and sucked in a breath. No, I didn't think to stuff my phone in my bra along with my iPod. For one, that probably would have given me an awkward, square shaped breast, and for two…I just didn't think to. I don't normally stuff things into random articles of clothing. Though thinking about it, my iPod was probably destroyed in the fight, which really sucked. No, it shouldn't have been at the top of my priorities, or even my thinking list, but I loved that thing. It was how I lived and kept myself sane. "We need to get in touch with Stevie Rae though, do you have your phone on you?" I asked.

"Yeah, hold on a second," Erik nodded and fished through his pockets, producing his phone and handing it to me a moment later.

"Great. Helena, are you almost done?" I asked. I knew she wasn't done because I still felt that damn needle going through my skin. It still hurt a bit, I just couldn't bring myself to care anymore. I was too tired and worried and in thought to think about pain, which quite honestly I didn't think was possible. Either that, or the nurse finally hit a spot in my shoulder that the numbing injection actually worked on. The latter was more plausible.

"Two more stitches to make it an even 20," Helena announced.

"What are you thinking?" the tracker asked.

"That I don't want to call Z then drop the F bomb because I'm in pain," I answered.

"That wasn't exactly where I was going…" Erik trailed off, "I meant about Shaylin and Stevie Rae."

"Oh, that makes more sense," I said sheepishly, "well, I'm thinking that since Stevie Rae, Stark, and all of the red fledglings are going to Skye…we gotta get Shaylin to Skye somehow too. And that Stevie Rae needs to know she has another fledgling."

"She's a new fledgling and you want to get her to Skye?" he asked warily.

I stared at him, "you can't honestly believe that keeping her here will do an ounce of good, do you?" I asked incredulously.

"Well, I mean with Lenobia and the new guy, and you…"

"Erik, I'm not staying," I cut off his weak explanation.

"I don't see how you're going to get there," he retorted.

"Honestly, neither do I," I admitted, "but I am sure as hell not staying here."

"So you are running away."

I sighed and looked down. I hadn't thought about it when he first brought it up because I knew I could brush it off and talk about other things. But now he keeps bringing it up. So, was it running away? I knew what the majority of the student body saw what I was doing as. And truth be told, I was scared shitless over what happened. I mean, an adrenaline high can give a good amount of courage to do some pretty stupid stuff, but once I came off of it, I realized that what happened scared me absolutely shitless. It also pissed me off greatly…seriously it was just another event going on with Darkness, just on a bit of a more extreme level. Still, it was entirely possible that my motives had shifted slightly…but quite honestly I wasn't sure, and it didn't matter. I still wanted to do what I had to do. And that's how I answered, "my motives are currently clouded and I'm not going to reevaluate them right now, I'll admit that. But still, what I want and what I have to do are different, and I'm always going to want to do what I have to do because I don't want to chance what happens if I don't. The point being is that I won't be here for this red fledgling and she shouldn't stay here, not without other vampyres of her own kind to help her. Stevie Rae and the gang aren't here and I damn well won't be talking to the bad red fledglings and Dallas anytime soon."

"They still survived with Neferet and the other blue vampyres," Erik pointed out.

I stared at him for a few moments. He couldn't be serious. "You want to keep this fledgling around Neferet? Neferet, the one who created this race to do her and Darkness's bidding. How? How do you see this as being a good idea?" I asked, and realized that I was being the logical one. How did that happen? How did the sleep deprived, injured, crazy girl who always pushed her limits to the limits be the logical one in this situation? It didn't make sense.

"I…don't," he admitted finally, "I really just don't want another girl I Marked oddly to have to come here and deal with some new, weird transition to another House of Night far away from here. But I don't want her to have to deal with the Darkness too. I'm just worried about her."

I really just had to ask the next question, "and you weren't worried about me?"

Erik shook his head, "no because I knew you could be enough of a bitch to handle yourself here."

"Thanks," I muttered and rolled my eyes. I would take it as a compliment, taking it as an insult would require too much energy that I just didn't have. "My case still stands that we still have to contact Stevie Rae and figure out some way to get me and this new girl out of here. Helena, are you done yet?" I asked, and admittedly it came out a bit whiny. I really wanted to be done with this. What I really wanted was to go to my room, collapse in my bed, and wake up to find this night had all just been some horrible nightmare. Either that, or sleep for four days straight. Either one was acceptable.

"Actually, I am," she answered and I glanced at my shoulder. Pretty white gauze, no gross skin and stuff. I didn't even realize she did it, so the numbing injection must have finally kicked it. Well, better late than never, but it would've been nice if it actually decided to kick in when I needed it. "I'm just going to get something for you and then you can be on your way," she added and hurried out of the room.

"Yay, finally," I sighed and, now being done, called my cousin. I didn't expect her to answer, so I was pleasantly surprised when her voice came up on the other end.

"Erik, I know you called, I'm sorry for not calling you back but we're…"

"Actually, JC, I stole his phone," I cut in quickly.

"JC! Where the hell are you?" Zoey exclaimed almost instantly.

Ok really, how stupid of a question was that? They only, you know, left me at the House of Night. "I'm on the moon. Where the hell do you think I am?" I retorted.

"For all I know you could have gotten a ride. You're still at the House of Night then?" she asked.

"Yeah, I got injured, the likelihood of me getting a ride is slim to none," I answered.

"My Goddess, are you alright?" she asked.

"Well…" I paused a moment, "20 stitches in my shoulder from a Raven Mocker. Take it as you will. That's actually not why I'm calling though, is Stevie Rae around?" I asked, changing the subject quickly. The last thing I wanted to go through was talking about the attack and my injury. It was finally fixed, let that be the end of it.

"Yeah, we're going to have to be getting on the plane soon though," my cousin answered and I heard the phone shifted. I did the same as I handed the phone back to Erik. Hey, he could explain the situation better than me!

"Hey Stevie Rae…no, JC handed the phone to me. Yeah, we have a bit of a problem…well, I Marked a fledgling and she's going to be yours…I mean she has a red crescent…no, I don't know how it happened, it just did. Her name's Shaylin Ruede…yes we both realized this and no, we don't know how we're going to work it out yet…we intended to…then get on the plane! One of us will call you when we figure out what's going on…ok, bye." It's always fun getting one side of a conversation, though I had a feeling I knew what was going on.

"The girl can talk quickly and like no tomorrow. Basically, she knows, and we have to figure out a way to get Shaylin to Skye, oh, and to keep her away from Neferet as much as possible," Erik told me and put his phone back.

"Hopefully," I blew out a breath, "we get me to Skye, we'll get her to Skye. So really, how we get me to Skye is the question. The Neferet equation should be pretty easy, especially if she doesn't know about Shaylin. She's typically too busy with all her evildoings to notice a new student unless they're in class or someone told her."

"That's a question you're going to have to answer later," Helena announced, breezing back into the room. She handed me a pill bottle and I looked at it, "they're painkillers. Take two and get some sleep…and if you don't do this I will hover over you every second until you do," she warned.

I let out a sigh and looked at the pill bottle. "I'm really not going to get out of this now, am I?" I asked rhetorically and got two pills out of the bottle. I popped them and downed them dry (an awesome skill I developed from unknown sources)…but they were bitter and I wound up chugging a glass of water to get the taste out of my mouth anyway. "Thinking about it, I probably should have asked this beforehand, but what are the side effects?" I asked.

"If you don't go right to sleep, you'll probably get loopy. For vampyres, that's really it," Helena answered.

"Another thought, why couldn't I have just used the awesome power of blood?" I asked. The side effect, even if it was just loopiness, was probably one worse than blood would be.

"While blood can make you feel better and restore your energy, it isn't going to help with pain…like painkillers. And judging by your shoulder and reactions, you're going to be in pain," Erik answered for the nurse and stood up. "You should probably get back to your room now and get that sleep," he added and I nodded, carefully hopping off the cot.

"Again, I have to say thanks to you, Helena," I added before I left.

"It's my job. Now, this time can you promise no more injuries?" she asked.

I chuckled a bit, "no can do. I mean, last time I almost did that, I got this," I pointed to my shoulder.

Helena sighed, "fair enough. So long as you are here tomorrow, as I suggest you are, come see me. I want to check on you, and give you blood. Another issue is we are running low, it will help in the healing process, but you will be okay for tonight," she explained.

I nodded in response and then followed the tracker out of the infirmary with a slight wave to Helena. Once outside I paused, remembering that Lenobia still wanted to see me. "I should probably go see Lenobia…"

"You should probably go to bed like Helena suggested," Erik cut me off, "you don't want her on your tail…and the last thing you need to do is go to Lenobia and have the painkillers kick in. I've seen you loopy before, it isn't pretty."

I opened my mouth to retort and then shut it, realizing he was right, me being loopy isn't pretty at all. Probably amused everyone around me because when I'm loopy, I'm so out of it and so stupid…sot it really just wasn't pretty. "Ok, fine, that's a very good point. I should probably get to bed before I get high off of these," I agreed and turned toward the dorms, "wait…where is this new fledgling?" I asked suddenly and turned back. That probably was some important information.

"Coming," he answered, "she'll be here soon. I'll meet her when she gets here and…figure something out from there I guess."

"So, you've got this?" I asked.

"I'll be ok, just go. You being here and getting stupid isn't going to help me in any way," Erik said and brushed me off.

"Fine, so long as you can handle this," I muttered and turned away, "good night, Erik," I added and started off.

"Night, JC, get better," he called after me.

I walked through the dorms and up to my room, happy that the majority of the girls were already in their rooms and not in the common room. I didn't feel like going through uncomfortable, death glaring part two. So I was quite happy to get to my room with no incident.

Walking in, Gwen was already curled up in her bed and I noticed both Quinn and Duchess still here. Really, I hadn't thought about them during the attack at all, and I felt guilty. It was nice knowing they were both alright, even though I wished they were with the others. Or Duchess being with Damien and the others at least.

"I was hoping you had gotten in the Hummer when it left," Quinn mirrored my thoughts, startling me. I thought she was asleep, and looking at her in the bed she didn't move, but apparently she was still up. "Gwen informed me otherwise."

"Shit happens," I responded simply and let out a giant yawn. Shit happens, that pretty much explained the entire night right there. "I have painkillers in me, allegedly I'm going to get loopy. I'm going to sleep," I announced.

"For right now, fair enough. Tomorrow, we are talking about everything," my dog informed me.

"Tomorrow," was all I said as I fell face first onto my bed. I let out a strangled groan into my pillow as my shoulder contacted the mattress. Numbing stuff wore off, painkillers not quite kicked in, I was in limbo zone. Shifting, I pulled the blankets over me with my good hand (which was actually my bad, bandaged hand…but it wasn't the one attached to my newly reconstructed shoulder, therefore it was the good one) and rested on my right side…I was out in a matter of minutes. Yes, I was sleeping in the dress I went to the ritual in and the one that was now dirty and bloodied. Yes, it was really disgusting. No, I could not have cared any less. I was exhausted and I was in pain…hygiene suffered because of that.

I felt myself pulled into dream world almost instantly (one of those moments when right before you fall asleep you just know you're going to dream…we all have 'em) and found myself in a garden. I found myself in the same black dress I was in after Rephaim's Marking and thought it was going to be a meeting with Goddess. I mean no disrespect to Nyx, but what does a girl have to do to get some good, solid, not weird and Otherworldly sleep around here?

Looking around though, something was off. Turning around, I saw the black winged dude and groaned. "This is all just some drug induced dream…and now that I realize it, I will wake up and/or he will go away," I told myself, rubbed my eyes, and turned back. He was still there watching me, "fuck."

Turning fully around, I decided to just face this now and walked a bit closer to him. "I suppose after the incident with Stark I should have expected this to happen sooner or later. What do you want, Kalona?" I asked immediately. Cut to the chase, get out of the dream, actually get some good sleep. Nice theory, but easier said than done.

"Oh Wa-ya," he said and smiled, taking a step closer to me, "you are a feisty one, I will admit."

Well I knew this game all too well…and I was not playing it. That seductive edge to his voice pushed me over the edge, meaning my rage output mode was officially activated…but hey, it made sense to throw all my anger and frustrations out on the guy who had a hand in the attack, right? "Ok, first off, hell to the no," I said and took a step back, "there is only one person in this world who can call me Wa-ya…and it is definitely not you. Goddess, I don't even want you calling me JC, so it's Jennifer to you, that's all I will respond to. Second off, if you're going to try that little seductive crap that works on other girls…just stop it right now. I'll tell you for a fact I won't fall for it, actually, if you try it, I will tear you apart, starting in the lower mid-region." I probably should have just said balls, but the point got across just fine.

Kalona watched me with mild amusement written on his face. "Well, Jennifer, you seem to be quite angry, pity…I was hoping to catch you in a better mood," was all he said.

"No dipshit, Sherlock…you think I'd be happy after you and your sons attacked the school?" I asked in disbelief, "one of your sons broke my friend's leg, another ripped up my shoulder, countless others hurt other students. Our death count is up to four I believe and you think I would be in a better mood?" I growled lowly and my hands (both of which were okay in this realm) unconsciously clenched into fists.

"The attack cost me as well, three of my sons were killed by you and your peers," he responded.

"Yeah…but-oh, you know what? Never-mind, there's no point in arguing with you because I'm just going to get more frustrated as we go in circles," I huffed and crossed my arms, "so again I'll ask, what are you doing here, Kalona?"

"You tell me, this is not my dream and I did not call to you. This is of your creation, Jennifer," Kalona answered.

"Impossible, I didn't use my powers so that isn't right," I responded. Or did I? Maybe I did…I really didn't know anymore.

"Then I don't know how we got here, because it was not on my own accord," he shrugged. For some reason, I believed him. I don't know why, actually no…I do know why I believed him. In my opinion, he was way too pompous to deny doing something that made someone uncomfortable or put them in pain. He'd be bragging about it if he actually pulled me here.

I let out a huff and looked around a moment. "So, there is nothing you want me for?" I asked…and in a way that would be comforting.

"Oh no, there is a lot that I want you for. But not now, it is too soon," Kalona answered and took another step toward me. Admittedly, that wasn't the comforting answer I hoped for, and I proceeded to take another step back.

"Then why the hell are we here?" I exclaimed, choosing to ignore the creepiness of his last statement and vent my frustrations instead. Anger always seemed to be the better emotion to show over fear.

"As I told you, this is your doing, Jennifer, not mine."

That wasn't an answer…but by saying it again it triggered my mind. Guides protect their Charges spiritually. "Were you going after Zoey or Stark?" I asked and glared at him. He gave no response, and the glare he gave me in return was enough of a 'yes.' "Well, that's why we're here, unconscious affinity activation…awesome," I grumbled, "this is, in fact, your fault."

"I don't follow…" he stated.

I snorted, "as you very well shouldn't. I'm getting you out of here now," I added and looked to the sky for a moment. I didn't know if my affinity would actually work in the Otherworld, but I certainly hoped it would. "Spirit, come to me. Please send Kalona back to his own body and keep him there, meaning he is not to invade others' souls or dreams," I ordered and turned back to the immortal.

Nothing happened for a moment and Kalona started toward me. "You can't honestly believe that your affinity could do such a thing to me," he laughed and I shrunk back slightly. I didn't know what he wanted to do to me...and yes, I was concerned about his powers in this world. Or any world for that matter, he was an immortal. Still, I had faith in Spirit, and thankfully so since it did actually wind up pulling Kalona out of my dream. I guess when you're in the Otherworld made of Spirit…it gives you a strength boost.

"Thank you Spirit," I sighed in relief, straightening up since he was gone, "now, if you could just give me a good night's sleep, I would be happy."

The area started to grow fuzzy right before I was launched into the dark of sleep. That was only for a moment though, because I found myself in another dream when a white hot, searing pain was going all throughout my body. I let out a cry and forced my eyes open for a second before I was forced to shut them again from the sheer heat and bright light in my face. Was this…was I on fire? Dear Goddess I was suddenly on fire! What the hell? This is so not normal sleep, Spirit!

"This is the last time they live," I heard a woman say. I didn't know who she was because I couldn't open my eyes, but I knew she was talking about me…and us. Well, actually I didn't know who 'us' was either, but she was talking about many people. "This is the last time such a power can threaten us."

"They weren't threatening us!" another woman cried out, "stop this madness this instant! This is my isle and I demand it!" she shouted.

"I am stopping the madness," woman number one said coldly, "the last are dead and the threat is officially gone with this High Priestess. That is all that is needed. If you cannot see that, then you are no leader for this House of Night," she said and I faintly heard footsteps above the crackling of my own skin. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I found the talking around an apparent burning body darkly humorous. I'm just twisted like that.

Woman two was still there. "I am so sorry, Nevma," she whispered brokenly. Nevma, where was Nevma? "I didn't think such evil could exist in the world, much less in my home, until it was too late. I am so sorry-"

And then there was a white ceiling. My eyes were wide open as I jolted awake and looked around. I was in my room again, but the memory of that dream was so prominent. I could still feel the fire burning my entire body and still hear the women's voices, the hatred and the sadness. Plus, a buttload of emotions were flowing through me, from sadness over a loss, anger at what happened, pain for being wronged, fear for everyone else…every bad emotions that could be thought of I was experiencing in some way or another. And the best part? None of it made any sense at all.

Grabbing a pillow, I pulled it over my face and started silently crying. In pain, exhausted, frustrated, angry, sad, fearful, and confused…crying was about the only thing left for me to do (aside from breaking things and/or people…which we'd seen enough of for one night I decided), and it was the first (and last) time I would admit that.