Getting woken up by a shrill girl scream is not a good way to wake-up.
I jerked awake at the sound, still mostly asleep and very confused. Also added to this was the fact I had fallen asleep near the edge of the bed and in my confused hazy state of mind I actually rolled the rest of the way off the bed.
I blinked furiously, trying to get rid of the last remnants of sleep when I saw a man burst into the room-and he had a knife!
Scrambling I tried to hide under the bed not realizing that the man was Darius and would not hurt me unless I gave him reason to, which I would never ever do by the way. I mean, he was scary enough without a knife.
He threw the knife, I think. I must have blinked during the actually throwing, but he didn't have the knife anymore and something bird like was shrieking.
I peered over the bed. A pearl colored hilt was sticking out of Rephaim's chest and Zoey was pressed up against the bed.
Okay, so she must of screamed when she saw him and Darius threw the knife because Rephaim was standing over her. I looked over and Snap was still peacefully curled up on the bed.
"You dare attack my son!"
I whirled around and Kalona had Darius by the throat and had him slammed up against the ceiling.
"Stop it!" I screamed. I pulled myself up. My busted leg trembled under my weight and pain throbbed through me.
"Stop hurting him!" Zoey screamed.
Zoey began hitting his sides while I leapt up and grabbed his arm. I don't think either of us were doing much good. One of Darius feet hit me as the life was being choked from him.
I looked up and my heart skittered. This was not how Kalona made himself appear to me, he was not an understanding and good father, he was a monster. He was enjoying killing Darius. I began to doubt that even his own children would be safe from him.
Zoey grabbed my elbow and pulled me away. She raised her hands, palms out. The sheet fell from her body. I focused on Kalona.
"Wind and fire come to me. I need you." My skin prickled and goosebumps covered my body. "Make the winged guy get off Darius!"
A blast of hot air swirled around me and hit Kalona's unfurled wings. He was tossed up and away from Darius and us.
I knelt beside Darius, who was gasping for air, and put my hand on his back over his heart. A soft gold glow came from my hand and was absorbed into his body.
"Thank you." He said, his regular pattern of breathing returned. He went in front of Zoey and me.
I glanced at Zoey and she was swaying in place. I wrapped an arm around her and held her hands. She kept blinking and she was breathing really hard. She looked ready to pass out.
A movement in the corner of my eye, caught my attention. A boy came in with a bow and arrow aimed at Darius.
Oh my God! It was that kid who shot Stevie Rae.
He shook his head and looked at Zoey, who was naked. Oh boy.
I stepped in front of her as she knelt down and picked up the sheet. His brown eyes turned blood red. The strange prickling sensation filled me again and for some reason I bared my teeth at him in warning. A soft, big cat growl rumbled through my chest.
He turned away from me sharply and retook his aim.
"Stark! Don't shoot him!" Zoey cried out. I bent my knees and prepared to spring at him. I could almost feel a tail twitching behind me.
"If you are meaning to kill the person who threw me across the room, then that arrow will strike the priestess and not the warrior." Kalona said. I didn't look at him, but kept my gaze on Stark. "And it is not the priestess I want killed. It is the warrior."
"Jerkface." I hissed, but it didn't sound completely human.
"Calm down!" Snap said.
I snorted. She was currently in between my ankles and her little body tense, ready to spring like me.
I briefly wondered if me being able to communicate with her was making me seem more beast like.
"I doubt it child."
"Darius was just protecting me. It was a Raven Mocker who injured both of us. When Darius heard me scream and he saw Rephaim bending over me, it was only logical for him to assume I was being attacked."
Stark relaxed and pointed the bow down. I didn't relax. Stark was under Kalona's command. It could take one word or even a gesture and Stark would fire his arrow and kill Darius.
"Darius has sworn to protect me. He was just doing his job. Please don't kill him for that." Zoey continued to plead.
Stark looked over at me. His eyes widened slightly and he glanced at Kalona and then back at me.
"Is this true, my son? Did one of my children cause the priestess's wound?"
Well, I didn't do it.
"I have no way of knowing, Father. Not all the sentries have returned." Rephaim said, breathing in little pants.
"It is true." Darius said.
"Of course that is what you would say, Warrior." Kalona said.
"It is true." I said. I turned away from Stark and faced my father. I had a feeling he would believe me. "A Raven Mocker hurt both Zoey and myself. You must recognize the mark on her chest coming from your sons' talons."
His eyes softened when he looked at me. I forgot about how he choked Darius almost to death. I forgot how he rose from the ground in a mass of blood. He was my father.
He turned away from me and traced the mark on Zoey's chest.
"It is the mark of one of my sons." He whispered. "Stark, this time do not kill the warrior. Of course, I cannot allow him to wound my beloved son without redress." Warning bells began sounding in my head. "But I prefer to admonish hi myself."
"No!" I stepped forward, my leg screamed in protest. Standing there was one thing, but moving was a no-no.
Kalona reached over and took the knife out Rephaim's chest and ran it down Darius's face.
Zoey screamed. I screamed too as a light shower of blood hit me. Kalona grabbed Zoey as she tried to reach Darius. I limped forward and Rephaim blocked my way. He grabbed my arm.
I bent my leg back and kicked his shin.
He hissed and stepped back in pain.
"Ow!" Being me I kicked him with my busted leg rather than my other, perfectly fine leg. Pain shot up from my leg and I hopped around holding my leg.
"Sit down!" Snap hissed.
I slumped to the ground and squeezed my eyes my tightly.
Something fell down, I felt the vibrations through the ground. I looked up and saw Zoey on the ground sobbing at Kalona's feet. He walked from the room laughing with Rephaim hobbling after him.
"Good riddance." Snap said.
I gave her a light hearted shove and then pulled her tightly to me. I looked up and Stark was frozen at the sight of Darius's blood.
"I think you should leave." I told him.
He whipped his head around and glared at me.
"Leave." I said.
"Don't give me orders." He said.
"Stark," He looked at Zoey. "I don't want to zap the crap outta you, but I will if you take one more step into this room."
He bared his teeth at her before whirling around and running out of the room.
"Raven, are you okay?" Zoey asked.
"I shouldn't have stood on this leg for so long." I pulled myself up and sat on the bed. Snap hopped up and licked my arm. "Can you help Darius alone?" I asked.
She nodded.
"There should be first aid supplies in the cabinet over there." He told Zoey.
I watched Zoey patch Darius up. I rubbed my leg.
"There aren't any pain killers in here is there?" I asked.
"I'm afraid not Raven." Darius said.
"Darius, we have to get out of here." Zoey said.
"What was your first clue?" I asked. I didn't mean to sound so snappy, but I was tired, hungry, and just plain miserable.
"You two don't know all of it." Zoey said. "I overheard Kalona and Neferet talking abut how they were planning a new future and that would involve 'swaying the Council.'"
"Council?" I asked.
"Each House of Night has it's own council, but there is also the High Council of Vampryes. Do you know of which one they speak of?" Darius asked Zoey.
"I don't know!" She sounded tried and scared. "They didn't say anything else about it. I guess they could be talking about the Council here at the House of Night."
I swallowed. "I don't think that's what they wanted." I said. "I heard them talking as well." Well, maybe not that specific conversation. But if Kalona was going to take over the world like I think he wants to, then he'll go for the High Council. "I think he wants the High Council."
"Sweet Nyx, it cannot be done!" Darius exclaimed.
"Kalona can put people under his spell and Neferet is a manipulative bitch." I said. "No offense, but even vampryes have forgotten that evil can came in many forms, including angels."
Zoey nodded. "We can't be in their control when they set their disgusting plan into motion. Me and Raven are fine so we should just head back to the tunnels."
"Agreed." I said.
"Then let's go find the others and get the hell out of here." Zoey said.
Darius dug through some drawers and handed me some green pants and gave Zoey the entire outfit. I pulled on the pants. Darius dug through some cupboards and handed me a pair of crutches.
I looked at Zoey. She was really pale and…wispy looking. She looked like one good puff of air could knock her over.
"Are you feeling okay?" I asked. She looked over to me. "You look tired."
"I feel tired." She said.
"Perhaps we should wait and-" Darius started.
"No!" She said. "I meant it when I said I wanted to go. Plus, there's no way I can get any real sleep here. I just don't feel safe."
"Ditto." I said. I leaned on my crutches.
"It's about dinnertime. They might be in the cafeteria."
"Food?" I asked. She nodded, a faint smile on her face. "Good, I'm a heart beat from starving to death."
Darius peered out into the hallway. "The hallway's empty." He muttered.
Zoey grabbed his sleeve.
"We should go change." She glanced at me. "We all looked a bit conspicuous."
I sighed. "I hope the food's worth the extra trip." I muttered. I tried to remember the last time I ate.
"Let's take the stairs up to the next floor. That's where the Sons of Erebus are housed."
"Can I stay down here?" I asked. "I'd rather not climb anymore stairs than necessary." I looked pointedly at my leg.
"If you need us, call." Darius said.
"Trust me. You'll hear me if I'm in trouble." I sat down on the bed. Snap rubbed her face against my elbow. "Snap's looking out for me anyhow."
Zoey smiled and disappeared with Darius.
I stroked Snap.
"You should tell them you're Kalona's daughter." Snap said.
I swallowed. "I can't."
"They will understand. He is not your father by your choice." She said.
I bit my lip. But telling someone else would mean I was related to him. It was childish of me, I mean it was rather obvious we were kin. I have the guy's eyes for crying out loud.
"Why can I talk to you?" I asked.
"Your brothers are all part beast. The beast in you has manifested into your ability to communicate with all animals, not just me and your uncle."
"The growling earlier?" I asked.
"Your father could change into a raven. I wouldn't be surprised if you could change into a beast as well. You have the power to heal as well, it wouldn't surprise me if you had other powers."
"Why me?" I asked. "Don't my-brothers have powers like me?"
She shook her head. "Nyx has blessed you with other gifts besides the ones you've received from your father."
"Again, what's so special about me?" I asked her.
"All will be revealed in time. How can I expect you to grow and learn if I tell you your purpose?" She said.
I looked at her. She sounded like a divine creature with some master plan.
"All cats are divine." She said.
I smiled. I think that would be something a cat would say.
Zoey's head looked at me from the doorway. "Come on."
I grabbed the crutches and hobbled out, Snap padding at my side. We went to the front door.
"I don't think it's smart for the Raven Mockers to see that I'm up and walking around." Zoey said.
Probably not for them to see their sister walking around either. How many of them even know? Did Rephaim or Kalona tell them their sister has been reincarnated?
"You are probably right." Darius said. "Can you manage it?" He asked Zoey.
"Well, it's really not very far to the dorm. Plus, the weather's already nasty."
"Oh crap." I said. "I forgot about the ice." I was going to slip and be sprawled across the ice.
"I will make sure you do not fall, little Raven." Darius said.
"Water, fire, and spirit, I need you."
My skin prickled once more as she called forth the elements. She asked for the elements to shield us as we made our way to the dorms. "Okay, let's do this."
Darius pushed to the door open and the ice and wind slammed against me. I took a deep breath and took a faltering step outside. By the way, these crutches don't have great traction.
I was glad I wasn't Darius because he had the nearly impossible task of trying to keep both of us from breaking our butts on the ice. Snap's ears were drawn back and she looking really uncomfortable.
"There aren't any cats around."
Snap meowed at her.
"Sorry." Zoey said. "Besides Snap."
"I've already noticed." Darius said.
"What does it mean?"
"Trouble." Darius said.
"Oh boy. Why that?" I asked.
Snap growled.
"What?" I asked her. She hissed at the dorm's entrance.
"No really! I-I just wanta get back to my room." A frightened girl voice said.
"You can get back. After I'm done with you." Said a rapist.
I mean, come on, that's a rapist talking. That has to be.
"How about later, Stark?"
Wait, whoa. That archer guy was a rapist? Who knew.
"Then maybe we can-" She was cut off and screamed a bit along with a wet sound and then there was a lot of sexish moaning.
Ew. Darius grabbed Zoey and pulled her forward. I gave up on the crutches and limped after them.
What I saw, I want to burn from my retinas. No one wants to see some guy chomping down on some girl and practically raping her.
Not sure why, but this pissed me off. She obviously couldn't break free even though she was moaning with ecstasy. Again, ew.
A shoe came out of nowhere and smacked the back of his head.
Wait! That was my shoe. I looked over and my hand was raised. Oh, I threw at him.
Good!
Shark whirled around and growled at me, his teeth stained with blood. He dropped the girl like a rock.
How rude!
"Help her." Darius told Zoey. Darius angled himself in between me and Stark.
"You're getting on my nerves, Raven." He spat. I wasn't paying attention to him, but the tar like stuff hanging around him.
"Sorry, my hand slipped." I said.
He hissed and stepped toward me threateningly. I raised my chin in challenge.
"Perhaps no one has explained to you that vampyre males do not abuse females, be they human, vampyre, or fledgling." Darius said, almost fatherly. It made me admire him a lot more. Here I thought he was a just warrior, only trained to defend and kill.
"I'm not a vampyre." He pointed to a red crescent on his forehead.
"You're still male, dingbat." I said. "Besides, your mother should have taught you better." I said coldly.
His face hardened and his eyes flashed red.
Snap hissed my between my ankles. His fingers twitched toward his bow.
"Raven is right. The rules have not changed." Darius said. "Males do not abuse females, so says the Goddess."
He grinned wickedly. "I think you're gonna find that rules have changed around here."
I snorted and opened my mouth.
"You say one more word and I'll-"
"You'll what?" I snapped. "We both know that is an empty threat." I limped over and took my shoe. I looked at him in the eye. "Just because rules change doesn't mean that the new ones are right." I slid the shoe on and limped over to the girl.
"If you hurt her Stark, I'll come against you with everything I have." Zoey told Stark.
I helped the girl up and nudged her into the dorm with my crutches. Zoey stays outside with Stark.
A creepy feeling filled me. I would assume from what I've heard from the male's dorm that the lounge area should be an area with a lot of noise, bickering, and just plain uninhibited girly things. But it was almost completely silent. The few groups of girls were whispering to one another, almost like they were worried about being overheard or being watched.
"Raven?" I saw Shaunee.
"That Stark kid bit her and practically raped her." I said.
"Can't say we're surprised." Erin said. "He and those Raven Mockers are as thick as thieves."
I collapsed in a chair. My leg started throbbing again. Maybe it wasn't such a good to stomp over to Stark and verbally twist his arm around, even if the stupid rapist deserved it.
"Are you okay?" Damian asked.
"Yes of course, why wouldn't I be?" The girl asked.
"You've got to be joking." I said. "The guy was raping you."
She snorted. "We were just messing around, and then you had to throw your stupid shoe at him!"
"You threw a shoe at him?" Damian asked. I nodded.
"Girl, I'm liking you more and more." Shaunee said, giving me a high five.
Zoey came over.
"Are you are okay?" Damian asked.
"Really, I'm fine. It's no big deal." She said.
What was wrong with this girl?
"The guy attacked you." Erin said.
"Like I said before we were just messing around. Plus, Stark is really hot."
I snorted. "Yes, because being hot totally excuses the fact he raped you."
Her eyes narrowed. "Stark is hot, and you're just jealous that he didn't want you."
I snorted/laughed. "Right. Do you know anything about me?"
She glared at me.
"Honey if all you got is that he's hot, then you're not worth my time." I said. "Can we eat soon?" I asked Zoey.
"Bitch." She muttered getting up.
"I know you are, but what am I?" I asked her.
She glared at me and walked out of the dorm.
"'I know you are, but what am I?' Did you honestly use that phrase?" Shaunee asked.
I shrugged. "I thought it was fitting considering she just kept using the same excuse over and over. Besides, my wit would have been totally wasted on her."
"I vote we keep her." Erin said.
I grinned.
"What the hell just happened?" Zoey asked.
"The same thing that's happened all over this damn-" Erin said.
"Upstairs!" Darius ordered.
"Uh…" I said.
"If you had used your crutches to get to your shoe back, your leg wouldn't hurt." Darius said.
"Oops." I said.
"I can carry you." He said.
"I know you can." I said. I sighed. He lifted me up and carried me to the stairs. Zoey grabbed my crutches. Snap forged ahead. She stopped in front of a purple door and looked at Darius.
"I fine now." I told him.
He set me down. I took my crutches from Zoey. Erin pushed open the door.
"Ohmygoddess! What the hell happened to your face?" Aphrodite said when she saw Darius's face. She traced her finger along his cut. "Do you need to bite me? Go ahead. I don't mind."
"My beauty! All is well."
I plunked down on a bed. Snap curled up on my lap and gave a disdainful look to the other cats present.
I blinked. There was one…two…three…eight cats?
Okay, so a little orange cat, Nala, belonged to Zoey. A blonde tabby, Cameron, belonged to Damain. A gray cat called Beelzebub belonged to the Twins. A long white haired cat, Maleficent, belonged to Aphrodite and a beautiful calico cat, Nefertiti, belonged to Darius. That left three cats without owners.
"You can find their owners, if you ask them." Snap said.
I wasn't sure how to answer her without giving myself away to the others.
"You can communicate with animals via telepathy as well." She said.
"This is completely messed up." I told her via telepathy.
"That big cat is Dragon Lankford's Maine Coon." Damien said. "His name is Shadowfax."
Shadowfax looked at me.
"How strange you are young one." He said.
"Tell me about it." I said.
"Hey, I think that little white one is Guinevere, Professor Anastasia's cat." Erin said.
I had no idea who Professor Anastasia was, except that she must be a teacher at the House of Night.
"You're right, Twin." Shaunee said. "She's always hanging out during Spells and Rituals."
Guinevere rubbed against my leg softly. Snap growled.
"What about that one?" Zoey asked, pointing to a silver Siamese. "That's Professor Lenobia's cat." She said after a bit. "I don't know her name, but I've seen her following the professor around the stables."
"So, let me get this straight: all our cats are here plus Dragon's, his wife's, and Lenobia's."
"Why are they here?" Erin asked.
"Tell them our vampyres sent us." The nameless one said.
I swallowed. "Do think there may be something special about these cats, or even their vampyres? After all, the only reason Snap was out and about was because she's so attached to me."
"After Neferet, I would have to say that Dragon, Professor Anastasia, and Professor Lenobia are the most intuitive." Damien said.
"Maybe that's it." Zoey said. "We all have been touched by the elements, making us intuitively stronger than normal fledglings. And Aphrodite has visions." She looked at Darius. "Are you?"
"Only when it comes to protecting those have sworn to defend." Darius said with a smile.
"What about Raven?" Aphrodite asked looking at me.
"How should I know?" I asked. I wondered if it had to do with communicating with animals or maybe my immortal blood. "I just knew that Neferet seemed wrong."
"Maybe you are intuitive." Damien said.
My stomach growled loudly. "Maybe I'm hungry."
"We should stay here one more day so Raven and Zoey can rest and eat. Tomorrow you all attend classes as you normally would. You'll have to stay here Raven."
"I'd like to see if I can slink off and check on my family." I said. I suddenly remembered my cell phone. I looked down, but I had those hospital pants. "Damn. It was in my other pants."
"I think no matter what, we should leave tomorrow. Staying here any longer than absolutely necessary feels wrong." Zoey said.
"Agreed." My stomach growled. I hugged it. "Sush."
"When we escape, Kalona will come after you. He will hunt you until he finds you." Darius told Zoey.
"You as well Raven." Snap warned.
"How do you know for sure?" Aphrodite said.
Because I'm his daughter.
"Tell them what he calls you." Darius said.
"He called me A-ya." Zoey said.
Wait, hadn't my mother said that A-ya had been reincarnated as well as myself?
"Shit." Erin said.
"Let's let Z sleep." Damien said.
"There's some food down in the little kitchenette." Erin said. "We could whip something up for you."
I sighed.
"We'll get it." Shaunee said. "You rest that busted leg of yours."
"Thanks."
"You can sleep on the bed you're on." Zoey said. "Stevie Rae was my roommate."
"Thanks."
Erin and Shaunee left with Damien. Their cats and the professors' cats left with them.
Aphrodite gave me a scrutinizing look.
"Come on." Aphrodite said to Darius. "You're not going back to your room tonight."
"Gag." I said. Aphrodite smiled at me and disappeared with Darius.
Erin dropped off a sandwich, drink, and chips for me. Snap took some of my turkey.
"Hey Raven."
"Hm?" I said around mouthful of sandwich.
"I'm not going to pry, but I think you're keeping something rather important from us."
Ouch! Bull's-eye!
"It's-nothing I can talk about right now." I admitted. I set my crutches on the ground and slid off my shoes. I slid under the blankets and laid down on the pillow. Snap curled up next to my stomach.
She changed into Batman boxers and an old t-shirt. I blinked with heavy lids. I nuzzled against the pillow and was out in a mater of seconds.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
I was listening to Heaven's Light and Hellfire from Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Heaven's Light reminded me of Rephaim's and Stevie Rae's situation and Hellfire reminded me of Kalona's and Zoey's deal.
Any way, onto the thanks: bunches of thank you's to readers and reviewers alike. Glad you like this so much.