"Max?" Ari asked hesitantly. You know I'm not your enemy any more, right? Remember Europe?" Oh yeah, he helped us escape and fought against Itex. We kicked butt! And then he died.

I lowered my arms and relaxed my stance. "Sorry, but when you said Maxie I just reacted. Old habits die hard." Wait Ari? "Ari! You're not dead!"

He shook his head, "I'm so lucky. Death doesn't like me." I laughed and noticed the stares of Zoey and her friends.

"Be right back!" I smiled sweetly at them and walked into the hallway with Ari. "What about the expiration date on your neck?" I whispered.

He lifted his shirt collar and showed me a clear, unblemished neck. Ari shrugged. "It went away as soon as I was marked." This is crazy, I've killed Ari once, I've seen Ari die once, and he's still alive. I'm happy now about it, considering the fact he isn't all mental and 'kill the flock! I want chicken for dinner.' Or something stupid like that. Even if he's my half brother, I'll still kill him if it'll save my flock.

"You were dead! I helped bury your grave! Jeb was really-" Jeb. That stupid filthy liar told me Ari was dead and I believed him. Haven't I learned my lesson already? Like, you know, when he ditched the flock? Apparently not.

Ari sighed. "Jeb wanted to tell you, but I didn't. You have enough things to worry about already."

"Like saving the world?" I teased.

"Yeah." He admitted.

"It's not my job anymore." I grin. "I'm a fledgling now and the flock has to save the world."

Only you can save the world, Max. It's not the flock's job. It's yours. The Voice said.

"My life's already crappy enough! Now I'm a fledgling and I still have to save the world!" I yell.

"Max?" Ari asks. I hold my pointer finger up to tell him to shut up.

"Sorry, the Voice is enlightening me." I muttered sarcastically.

You have to make connections here. These people can do things you can't. You'll need their help. The Voice said.

What can they do? I'm a genetically enhanced mutant freak, and a vamprye. What can they do that I can't? I thought.

Control the elements. The Voice replied. Even Angel can't do that and she's the one loaded with powers. But I bet they can't control people's minds, can they?

"Let's go back to the lunch room." I said. "I'm getting a massive headache."

"Hey! Max, you're back!" Damien said. I smiled warmly.

"Sorry about my sudden outburst. That was a…pet peeve of mine." M-Geeks aren't the only ones with vocabulary.

"No problem!" Jack said.

"So how old are you?" Zoey asked conversationally.

"Fourteen." I replied. Give or take a few years. Everyone was staring at me again. "Take a picture! It'll last longer!" I snapped.

"She looks our age." Erin gasped.

"But not as hot, twin." Shaunee added.

I have to be friendly. I have to be friendly. "I'm just tall for my age." I fumed. Total rolled his eyes. I shot him the bird.

"Why did you just flip off your dog?" Erik asked.

"Total has a huge ego." I glared at Total who wagged his tail innocently. "And he has to eat dog food." Total glared at me and barked because he didn't want to blow the whole talking dog thing. I smirked back at Total.

"You're crazier than Zoey here." Aphrodite said. I peered closely at her mark. It looks shakier and a shade off. I wonder why no one else noticed…oh yeah, raptor vision.

"Why's your mark different?" I asked Aphrodite. She paled a little and licked her lips.

"It's not different." She sneered and flipped her hair back. "Your eyesight must really suck." Ha! As if, hello? Raptor vision?

"I don't think she was talking to you." Zoey sighed. "I think she was asking me."

"No, I was asking Aphrodite." I snorted. "I'd have to be blind not to notice yours."

"I don't see anything different about Aphrodite's." Jack said.

"Same here." Erik agreed.

Zoey looked at me suspiciously. "How does it look different?"

"It's shakier and the shade is a little darker." I look away. I feel like an experiment.

That's because you are.