"Is she awake?" Aphrodite's whispered to me as if in a fog.
"I don't know, I can't tell," Stevie Rae was saying.
I stretched out a little and cringed. My whole body was sore and completely exhausted. I opened my eyes blinking several times and looked around. I was in the biggest, fluffiest bed I had ever seen in my life. I knew I had been comfortable, now I understood why. The Sheets were an amazing cotton and the pillows and comforter that surrounded me were made completely of down feathers. I let my eyes roam and found two pairs of eyes looking back at me towards the bed through a crack in the bedroom door.
"Eeee, she's awake," Stevie Rae squealed opening the door further so that she and Aphrodite could squeeze in.
"Hey," I whispered softly. My mouth was dry and I had to clear my throat several times.
"Hey, yourself," Stevie Rae said sitting down on the edge of my bed.
"How are you feeling?" Aphrodite asked once again showing her softer side.
"Sore, but comfortable," I said looking around the room. It was a beautiful room. Like the rest of the palace it was made mostly of polished marble although slightly more modernized. There were beautiful blue and purple tapestries hanging around the room, a huge wardrobe with a changing screen, and three huge class windows with white drapes which were now allowing moonlight to pour in across the marble floor. (Plus a huge flat screen Tv!)
"They gave you the best guest room there was," Aphrodite said smiling at me.
"Are you jealous?" I asked smirking.
"Of course not, once we leave I go back to having the best of everything," she said grinning.
It was silent for a moment before I finally asked, "What happened? After I passed out, I mean."
"A lot," Stevie Rae said softly. "You've been out for almost two days."
"Two days?!" I said shocked. "Ok start at the beginning, I remember Natasha and Mallika showing up."
"Yeah, they knew where we were headed and Nyx led them to come after us," Stevie Rae said nodding.
"Alexandria and Arian are still watching the school," Aphrodite said calmly.
"They knew Angel was on our side, so it didn't take them long to track her down and get to the palace," Stevie Rae continued. "They arrived around the time we were forcing Kalona back into the ground."
"You should see the great hall, by the way," Aphrodite continued. "The image of Nyx that was engraved onto the floor is amazing. The Council said they have never seen anything like it before."
"They finally sent your mom home," Stevie Rae whispered and I could see the uncertainty in her eyes. "She was pretty traumatized, but she seemed alright. However, the Council may have to deal with some aftermath from the human authorities."
I nodded, that sounded about right. No way would the step-loser let things go. I sighed, I wasn't sure I really wanted to think about my mother. She had disowned me and even though we hadn't been close for several years it still hurt. "What happened to Neferet?" I couldn't help asking.
"She seems to be back to normal," Stevie Rae said. "Like she was before all this."
"She's been taking care of you," Aphrodite said quietly. "We were surprised that we were even able to sneak up here," she whispered rolling her eyes.
"She has been extremely overprotective of you," Stevie Rae laughed a little. "She has only let the other Council members in here mostly, although she did let us bring flowers in yesterday," Stevie Rae said nodding at the vase next to my bed. "She said that you need rest to heal, and she has been trying to heal some of your old wounds too."
"What?" I asked confused.
"The wound on your chest that she healed the first time," Aphrodite said nodding towards the area in question.
I pulled my shirt up an inch or two and then glanced down. The line was definitely thinner and a lot smoother, it was still very evident, however, and very pink. There was also a new scar about an inch and a half long positioned right above my heart. I had been really lucky.
"She seems really sorry for everything," Stevie Rae said making a face.
"Really?" I asked. It was weird thinking of Neferet as good again although I knew Nyx had accomplished it as soon as the fire had burned through her.
"Yep," Stevie Rae smiled.
"She apologized," Aphrodite said quietly trying to keep the emotion out of her voice. "She apologized to everyone, but she actually sat down and apologized to Stevie Rae, Stark and I for what she put each of us through."
I could tell Aphrodite was struggling with how she felt about that.
"So what's going to happen now?" I asked changing the subject so that Aphrodite wouldn't have to continue feeling uncomfortable.
"We're not really sure," Stevie Rae said shaking her head. "The Council has a lot of decisions to make, such as what they are going to do with the red fledglings that are here," She sighed. "They're not like us," Stevie Rae continued. "They've been changed for too long and even Neferet admitted there is no help for them."
"So they may have to kill them," I didn't say it like a question. What else could they do?
"It looks that way," Stevie Rae said. "Neferet was really distraught about it, knowing that it was she who caused them pain to begin with and that there was nothing she could do to make it right."
"She's coming back to the school," Aphrodite said quietly again.
"But so is Natasha," Stevie Rae added quickly.
"The Council believes that Neferet is back to her normal self," Aphrodite said, "she is even going to go through a cleansing ceremony with the Council as if she is being reborn as a vampyre. But with everything that has gone on the Council is sending Natasha back also to make it easier for the students. There will be two High Priestesses now at our House of Night, which isn't all that uncommon."
Stevie Rae nodded, "A lot of the schools have more than one High Priestess. We were actually in the minority before."
"Well that's good," I yawned feeling extremely tired. It did make sense to send Natasha back. The students had all been made aware as to what had been going on with Neferet. They would all probably feel really uneasy around her for a while.
The door cracked open again and two more pairs of eyes peered in.
"Is she awake?" Erin asked.
"Yeah, twin look," Shaunee said as they too squeezed through the door, "Damien get in here she's awake," Shaunee said over her shoulder as she entered the room.
"She's awake?!" Jack said excitedly as he and Damien bounded into the room.
"Yup," Stevie Rae said grinning.
"Hey, Z," Damien said approaching the bed. "You had us all worried there for a while," he said giving me a smile.
"Sorry about that," I grinned back, "It's all in a day's work when you're saving the world."
Aphrodite rolled her eyes, "nerds," she whispered.
"Don't act like you're not one," Erin glared at her.
"Yep, you're definitely one of us now," Shaunee said grinning and Aphrodite scowled.
"What is going on in here?" Neferet asked sweeping into the room in a floor length gown carrying a tray of food. She glanced around the room and then stopped when her eyes focused on me.
"Zoey's awake," Jack said quickly.
I expected Neferet to come back with some cold comment but she didn't. She turned her head slightly giving Jack a small smile and then focused back on me.
"That may be, but she still needs to rest," Neferet said approaching me and setting the tray on the bedside table. She reached out her hand gently touching my cheek and closed her eyes for a second. "You seem to be feeling better," she said using her gift to read my body for signs of distress. "How do you feel?" She asked me calmly.
"Tired," I admitted truthfully, "and a little sore."
She nodded, "Alright, let's clear out," she said turning back to my group of friends. "You all will have plenty of time to spend with Zoey very soon, but for now her health is our main priority, is it not?"
There was a collective yeah from the group and a few nods as they all slowly made their way back to the door.
"We'll see you soon, Z," Erin said.
"Real soon," Shaunee said.
"Get some rest, Zoey," Damien said taking back by the hand.
"We'll check in on you later," Stevie Rae winked at me.
"Definitely," Aphrodite said eyeing Neferet and I before turning and heading out the door.
Neferet waited till all my friends had left the room before she turned back to me uncertainty clearly written on her beautiful face. Time seemed to stand still as we sat staring at one another. I had no clue how to begin. What did you say to someone who you thought of as a mother, wished she were your mother and then grew to hate and fear more than anything else?
She cleared her throat softly and then motioned to the bed, "may I?" She asked unsure.
I nodded simply staring at her as she crossed the space between us and sat on my bedside. Ever so slowly she brought her hand up placing it on my chest where the dagger had been. I could practically feel her gift for healing filling me up and the soreness easing out of my body.
"Mmmm," she sighed lettering her hand fall, "I think I've done everything I can for you," she said softly and I nodded. She frowned then as she watched my face, "Zoey, I cannot ask for your forgiveness for the things I've put you through. I've caused you great pain and suffering and I will forever be sorry for that. I owe you everything. You saved me far more than you are even aware, but I need you to know that I am truly sorry."
I had never seen such pain in Neferet's eyes before. Sure, I had seen her fake concern or devastation, but never actual pain.
I hesitated for a moment then whispered, "I'm glad your back, it hurt when I thought you were gone for good."
I could tell my response had surprised her. Her face was completely stunned. She opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again struggling with a reply of her own. She looked at me and then smiled softly, "You are truly an inspiring person, Zoey Redbird."
I gave her a small smile back and then changed the subject slightly, "You're coming back to the school?" I asked casually though we both knew the conversation was anything but casual.
"Yes, though I am not sure that is the wisest decision, the Council is convinced it is where I belong," she said simply.
"I agree," I said just as surprised at the words that came out of my mouth as she was. But, it was for that reason that I knew Nyx was leading me to speak them. "Sometimes the best way to start over is to go back the way you came. If you went somewhere else the issues your faced with now would remain unresolved."
She laughed softly and I noticed a tear in her eye, "someone has become quite insightful."
"I had a push in that direction," I said softly, "Besides, I need my mentor," I continued more seriously.
She looked at me her face once again completely blank, "Zoey, you know Natasha is coming back as well," she began.
"I know that, but Nyx chose my mentor the day I was Marked and she is the mentor I still choose today," I said putting as much courage into my voice as I could. (In reality I was scared poopiless! Top ten hardest conversations of my life, this would definitely make the list!)
She swallowed and turned to face the window before turning back to face me. Tears were streaming down her face and I was struck with the difference between the old Neferet and this person before me. when Loren had died there had been no tears. It had been as if she were unable to cry. Her heart had become too cold, too hard.
"How can you be so forgiving of all that I have done to you? She asked, the guilt clearly sounding in her voice.
I thought about it for a moment, "Because Nyx has forgiven you, and I follow Nyx. I know it won't be easy Neferet, but I believe you were placed in my life for a reason and I think this is the way it's supposed to be."
She smiled laughing through her tears and then gently pulled me to her in a warm embrace. I sighed as I leaned my head on her shoulder and remembered the comfort and safety I had felt around her when I first entered the House of Night, it was there again. This was who Neferet really was, a beautiful, strong, and caring High Priestess of Nyx. I felt my spirit leap with Nyx's agreement at my thought and smiled.
"Can I ask you something?" I began reluctantl as I pulled back out of the hug. I wasn't sure I wanted the answers to the questions I was about to ask, but the truth had always proven to be a good thing. "Professor Nolan and…" I let my sentence trail off, "did you kill them?" I whispered softly.
I watched her eyes turn remorseful as she swallowed again, "Yes," she finally breathed out, her voice emotionless. She exhaled letting her green eyes pierce through me as she went on/ "Zoey, I took the lives of my sister and brother as well as my High Priestess and I will have to live with that for the rest of my existence. Their blood will always be on my hands and I wish with everything I have that I could undo that!"She said with great conviction and I believed her. I knew what it was like to want to take back your mistakes.
"What about the red fledglings?" I asked maintaining eye contact with her and trying to be brave.
"No," she said just as firmly, "Though it was definitely my work that brought them back, I did not bring about their deaths. Fledglings die often enough without my help." Her words would have seemed hard could I not see the great amount of pain she was dealing with.
"Some of them might be glad you brought them back," I told her slowly, thinking of Stevie Rae and Stark. I knew I was glad that she had brought them back. Yes I knew they had both done some terrible things before they changed into red vampyres, but I still loved them both and the thought of not having them with me…
"Thanks to you," Neferet said brushing a tear from my cheek. "There are a great many more who are still suffering because of what I've done."
I nodded not knowing what else to say. It wasn't going to be easy for her, I knew that much.
"You should really get some rest," she said grimacing at me. "Here," she reached back grabbing a goblet from the tray behind her. "Drink this," she said handing me the glass.
I did as she asked and sighed as the warmth and the power of the blood exploded in my mouth. I quickly downed the whole glass and then leaned back against my pillow. Neferet took the empty cup and stood.
"There is some food and water here as well if you decide you need it, We will be heading back to Tulsa tomorrow so I would really like you to get some more sleep," she said examining me once more.
As if on cue I yawned and couldn't help shutting my eyes. I heard her make her way across the room and out the door as I drifted to sleep thinking of Nyx and how for once everything was the way it should be, even if sorting everything out was going to be crazy and chaotic…