Zoey POV

We're all sitting in Nyx's Temple – Stark on my right, Damien on his right next to Shaunee then Aphrodite and Darius and Erin on the end with Shaylin. On my left is Stevie – Rae with Rephaim and Kramisha- When Thanatos sweeps gracefully through the crowd of gathered kids and professors to stand in the middle of our circle.

"Good evening, House Of Night!", her voice seems to swell with power. "I have gathered you all here tonight to grieve the loss of Dragon Lankford, our beloved sword master and protector of our home. Last night Dragon gave his life for that of a student. For this we commend and thank him. We are all saddened by his death but we must remember that Dragon is in a better place now. Why, I myself, with my death affinity, saw him welcomed into the arms of his mate Anastasia, in the otherworld. He is in a happier place now."

Looking around I see kids with shocked expressions. Nearly all of them looking upset with the exception of a few that I knew hadn't been here long. So I suppose they didn't really know him.

Out of the corner of my eye I see Neferet creep quietly into the room.

"What the hell is she doing here?!", Aphrodite leans over and hisses to me.

I shrug and give her the how-the-hell-should-I-know?- look.

Thanatos continues, "It is also with a heavy heart that I must announce that our own High Priestess of Nyx, Neferet, is not what she appears to be. Last night I witnessed something that proved that she is in league with Darkness itself. The white bull as her consort." She pauses for effect, letting the news sink in.

Many students look outraged and I barely suppress a sigh of annoyance.

Stark must have sensed this and says, "Look. It's not all of them."

I glance around and see several kids appearing devoid of surprise, like they expected it or knew this already. Which I suppose they probably did – it really wasn't that hard to miss...

It's at this point that Neferet decides to swoop into the middle of the circle, looking as deadly and beautiful as ever.

"What is the meaning of this?!", she cries, her features contorting. I can only guess that she's trying to look affronted, but to me she looks a little bit deranged.

"You have been discovered Neferet. We are aware that you are no longer in Nyx's service. I convened with the council this morning via skype and it was agreed that you shall be stripped of your High Priestesshood."

"How dare you! How dare you say that I no longer serve my Goddess! And I think you will find, Thanatos, that I spoke with Duantia not half an hour ago. She did not seem in any way inclined to fire me. Although, I am afraid I will be leaving the Tulsa House Of Night."

To everyone else she had assumed the role of a sorrowful High Priestess perfectly, but I could see the glint in her eyes.

"What are you saying, Neferet?"

"I have been inducted onto the High Council."

WHAT?! I turn to Stark and see his face set in a stony expression and am about to turn to Stevie Rae to give her my best WTF look when Thanatos replies – In a somewhat strained voice – "I do not understand."

"The council agreed that, due to my devotion to Nyx and my obvious closeness with her that it would be a wise move to have me become a member. I am humbled by their decision. However, it sadly means that I will have to resign here in order to take up the position."

"Holy shit." I jerk round to see that during Neferet's speech, Aphrodite had crawled round to crouch behind me.

"How is she doing this?", I mutter.

"I think the question you should be asking is what the hell are we gonna do?"

"And I suppose, Thanatos", Neferet continues, "That you did not tell the council of your decision to induct my ex-consort, the banished Kalona, as the new sword master."

"Oh crap. This looks bad." Aphrodite frowns and rubs her brow with a delicate hand.

"I was about to announce that, Neferet." Thanatos turns back to face the crowd. "Kalona has pledged himself in my service as my oath sworn warrior. He is repenting for his sins and wishes to do the bidding of our Goddess and leave his dark ways."

Neferet sighs and looks at Thanatos pityingly. "Oh, old friend, it now becomes apparent to me that you have also fallen for his ways. Kalona is a manipulative being. He fooled me and now he has also fooled you."

Oh God. I can see where this is going and want this assembly to end quickly. The horrible thing is that Neferet has a point. It's just like when Kalona spoke to the High council. Nobody can deny that Kalona's manipulative and that Thanatos probably shouldn't trust him. But everybody can change, right?

The two women seem to forget about the room full of people surrounding them and everyone around us starts to chatter amongst themselves in hushed voices. I faintly hear one third former saying to another, "Jesus. What does she think she's doing telling everyone Neferet's evil? Is she mad?"

"I disagree. He has pledged himself to me and therefore to Nyx. In fact, I-.", she begins to say something but Neferet cuts her off. "I believe your judgement may be tainted, Thanatos. I know that Shekinah's death affected everyone within the council and I believe that it is because of this that you have lost your perception on right and wrong."

Everyone was stunned. Neferet had only been in the council five minutes and she'd already gotten too big for her knee high leather boots.

Thanatos swelled to full height and seemed to magnify with power. "It is not your place to even imply such a thing. I was sent here to gather evidence of your treachery, and now I have it. I will go before the council once more in the days to follow. Now, to all of you, this ritual is adjourned, goodnight and blessed be!"

With that the waved her arms and dismissed us all. Neferet bowed slightly and swept from the room followed by the kids that started to slowly file out.

"Why is it that whenever something changes around here it always seems to stay the gosh darn same?", Stevie Rae said, rocking up by my side.

"It's because Neferet is one extra large bucket of crazy. She just seriously disrespected Thanatos and what's worse is that she made her look like...like...well, her."

"Ah, screw this, let's just get to second period" Aphrodite stands up and links her arm through Darius' and with that leaves the room flanked by Stevie Rae, Damien, Shaunee, Erin, Shaylin, Rephaim and some other red fledglings.

I notice Stark staring at me and ask, "What're you looking at?"

"Well, besides a very beautiful vampyre priestess, I'm looking at a stressed out teenager. You need rest. You should skip next lesson. I'd come too if I could get out of warrior classes."

I shake my head, "No. It wouldn't be right for me to skip out on stuff. It doesn't look professional. I need to speak to Thanatos but something tells me that I probably shouldn't bother her right now.

"You're probably right there. Neferet just made her look really biased. But what's worse is that she didn't really say anything that wasn't true. She didn't lie.", he said, eerily echoing my earlier thoughts.

"Well, looks like we'll just have to prepare for a whole lot of bullpoopie to come..."

'Kay. That was just a chapter to fill out the story. Boring, I know, but it had to be done. I couldn't think of how Neferet could discredit Thanatos but I suppose her accepting Kalona's oath is probably the best way. Anyway, in the next few chapters I promise some more drama and some more of Neferet stirring the shit pot. And some more Lenobia/Travis. REVIEWS, PEOPLE! REVIEWS!