AN: reviewers make me so happy! XD

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

I felt like I was floating. I couldn't see anything.

"It would help if you opened your eyes."

I opened my eyes.

I gasped. It was so pretty, and so not real.

The grass was pure silver and waved softly in a gentle wind. But there wasn't a moon in the sky, only a massive expanse of pure white stars in a violet sky. The trees had dark blue bark and the leaves glittered like they themselves had been brushed with star fire.

What I didn't understand was in a small pond, which was created by a small waterfall, was the reflection of a huge fat moon.

Was I in a dream?

"The realms of the Otherworld can sometimes be a reflection of one's dreams."

I whipped my head around, ready to fight this strange intruder. A woman stepped from the shadows.

I blinked. Around her shadows writhed like a dark halo, spreading from her raven black robe. I blinked again thinking my eyes were playing tricks on me.

She walked over and fanned her robe out before sitting beside me. The hood was up, but she tilted her head in way that I could see her face clearly.

Her face was pale white and her eyes and hair were black like onyx. She had a vampyre tattoo on her forehead.

"Who are you?" I asked.

She gave me a nice smile. "No one important."

I couldn't tell if she was talking out aloud or in my mind.

Her smile disappeared and she waved her hand. The shadows curled toward me. They were feathery and soft and I felt strength flowing into my body.

"You should be more careful young one." She said. "Your gift of healing is not meant to kill you."

I looked up at her, suddenly afraid. "I'm not dead, am I?" Oh crap, I had to be. This place was so beautiful, it had to be my version of heaven.

She looked at me with a soft expression. "No, but you came very close. If I hadn't intervened you could have seriously injured your spirit."

I shuddered. The shadows curled around me with soothing warmth and comfort.

She looked at me sternly. "You must learn that you will not be able to save everyone and that sometimes you're gift will be required to help ease the pain so they can cross over to the next world."

My spine tingled and I felt like an inkling of a premonition just fluttered through me.

I looked at her, studying her. "Are you Nyx?" Who else could she be?

She shook her head. "Only one of her devoted Priestesses."

I blinked. She obviously just controlled darkness and the last Nyx Priestess I met was as evil as…evil.

She tilted her head like she was listening to someone. "You should go back now. I know your friends are really worried about you." The shadows whisked away and curled back around her.

"Wait, you haven't told me your name!" I shouted.

She just gave me a mysterious smile and then she vanished into the shadows.

XOXOXOXOXOXOX

"Raven! Raven!"

I opened my eyes and the blackness creeped away from my eyes and the shed came back into focus. Stevie Rae's wide blue eyes where suddenly in front of me. My cheek was pressed against the wooden floor.

Great, I fainted, AGAIN! If I was half-immortal shouldn't fainting become less likely rather than an almost daily occurrence?

"I'm fine." I said. I tried to get up. My arms shook violently, but I was able to sit up and lean against the wall. Rephaim looked at me with wide eyed concern. "Are you fine?"

"I will heal fine." He said. The white pieces of towel stood out against his black feathers. He looked pretty okay, a bit tired, but that's probably a good thing. At least he'll sleep and help out what my healing power had already done.

"I swear Ray, what are we going to do with you." Stevie Rae scolded. She offered me a dipper filled with water. Snap wound around my ankles. She didn't need to say anything, I could feel her worry like it was tangible in the air.

"I'm fine." That mysterious Priestess's darkness had strengthened me, at least enough that I can get to my room. I pressed my hands against the wall to help me up. "Where am I sleeping anyway?"

Stevie Rae blinked at me in disbelief.

I sighed. "I'm just tired, I need to sleep." I needed to think about that meeting in that meadow of night. Who was that woman? If she was Nyx I'm sure she would have told me rather than being all mysterious. Stupid mysterious woman.

Oh my God! She was acting like my uncle when I first met him! Honestly can't anyone just come right out and tell me who they are! Dear Lord.

"Well come on then." Stevie Rae said opening the door to the shed. I glanced back at Rephaim.

"You're sure you're fine?" I asked.

"Go Raven." He said grumpily like he wasn't use to having someone fuss over him. With a shock I realized someone probably never did.

Snap padded out in front of me. I followed her into the abbey. Stevie Rae walked beside me.

"I know this is stupid, but you're not going to tell anyone about Rephaim are you?

I shook my head. "I have the feeling I'm going to get a lot of suspicion because of the whole I'm a reincarnation of his baby girl." A thought just occurred to me. I might not even be half-immortal because he wasn't my father this time. Sigh, reincarnation is probably one of the most confusing things ever.

Stevie Rae paused at a set of stairs. "You're up with Zoey and Aphrodite in Room 13." Stevie Rae said. "I'm going to head downstairs."

"Okay." My skull almost cracked with a yawn. I picked up Snap. "Night."

"Night." She mumbled.

I started up the stairs. I felt like I was sleep walking because I was in such a daze. I wonder what the nuns would say if I just collapsed on the stairs?

"What the hell's happened to you?"

I frowned. Was someone in trouble? I skipped up the stairs at double pace, why I don't know because I'm a zombie and couldn't possibly help anyone if they were trouble.

"You used to be so sweet. Now you're a freak."

I stopped and my mouth dropped. It was Erik and he sounded like a frickin' dick.

"And I'm sick of you cheating on me with everyone who has a dick. You should be with Stark and Heath and Kalona. They're what you deserve!"

The door to the stairwell opened up and a pissed off butthead came down the stairwell. I really thought about tripping him. Snap hissed at him.

I made my way up and to door 13.

Well I guess I had a black cat so she would cancel the bad luck of the number 13, or that's the theory.

I pushed the door open. Aphrodite and Zoey both looked at me.

"You look horrible Raven." Zoey said.

"I feel terrible." I mumbled. I shed my coat and my hat and tossed the by one of the beds. I took off my shoes and collapsed on the bed.

"There's a night gown on the bed."

"Don't care." I mumbled. The last thing I remembered before sleep swallowed me was Snap curling up beside me.

XOXOXOXOXOX

"Mom?" I called out.

I was back in the meadow where I always saw my mother. But she wasn't there. Terrified I remembered that the last time I saw her the dream had shattered. What if something happened to her?

"Do not fear for your mother Raven." A pleasant voice said.

I turned. She wasn't the mysterious woman. She had dark hair, but it shimmered with purple and blue highlights. Her eyes were a bright silver.

I sighed. "I hate to be rude especially since I just met you, but people keep showing up in my dreams and don't introduce themselves even after I ask them. So, can you please tell me who you are?"

She smiled. She looked like a child. "I have many names, but in this time I am known as Nyx."

My jaw dropped. What the hell where you supposed to do when you meet a Goddess? Curtsey? Bow? Do that weird fist over heart thing vampyres do?

She smiled warmly. "You have great power Raven."

I blinked. "I know that I can heal…"

"I mean another power, one you've used for the first time tonight to banish the tentacles of tainted Darkness."

I blinked again. I remembered the ball of dark energy I had flung at Neferet's darkness when she tried to harm my animals.

I suddenly felt appalled. I used darkness. But I didn't feel evil.

Nyx frowned like she could hear my thoughts. "What makes you think that Darkness is so bad that you bleive that you've become evil by using it?"

"It's Darkness." I argued.

"Are you evil?'

"No!" Or at least, I didn't want to be.

"Then why would the Darkness you summoned be tainted if you yourself are not?"

I shook my head. I had always grown up with people of all religions saying Darkness was pure evil.

Nyx frowned. "Do you not see how the moon balances itself between Light and Darkness? It shows that both are needed for life and for change."

My mind was still whirling. Me? Controlling Darkness? That was impossible. Was that part of my father's heritage that I possess?

Nyx clasped her hands on my shoulders. "Have faith in yourself and your abilities young Raven and you will see." She placed a warm hand on my chest and I felt like I had been burned.

I gasped and the dream shattered.

"Raven? Raven?"

I blinked groggily. My mouth was dry and my leg felt really stiff. Zoey was standing there looking a little shaken up. Stark was leaning on what I would assume was her bed.

"Why's Stark here?" I slurred.

Zoey blinked. "Are you sure you're okay? I mean, me and Aphrodite were screaming and Stark was playing the big bad wolf and you haven't even moved."

"I'm tired." I mumbled. I stretched and hugged the pillow.

"Shouldn't you change into your nightgown?" She asked.

"I'm fine." And I sunk back into sleep.

XOXOXOXOX

I didn't dream at all and I woke –up because Stark was shaking my shoulder. I smacked at him and stuffed my face into my pillow.

"Fine. I was going to be nice and wake you up because of the pancakes downstairs, but if you want to sleep then fine."

"Fine." I mumbled.

I felt something small, like two fingers, poking my side. I looked over and saw Snap poking me with a paw.

"Come on, you need to replenish your energy and I can smell bacon."

I moaned.

"Come on Raven, Zoey's holding a meeting and you need to be there." Stark said.

I stuck my tongue at him and then moaned. "I really don't want to get up."

Stark snickered and left.

I sat up and stared at my feet. My hair dangled around me. I was not looking forward to brushing my hair. I sniffed my clothes. I needed to go home, for more reasons than one. Good thing Zoey was holding a meeting.

I stretched and stood up. I knocked on the bathroom door.

Zoey opened it and was drying her hair. "Hey Raven."

"Hey. I kinda need to be pee."

She smiled. "Go on then, I'm finished."

I peed and brushed my hair. I straightened my shirt when I saw something odd. I tugged my shirt collar down and my whole body froze.

Right across the top of my breasts was a tat. On my left side were white swirls curling across my skin, spreading out from a black crescent moon. To the back of this moon, right above my heart, was a silver pentagram. Against the side of the circle on my right side was a white crescent moon with black swirls spreading from it.

My heart thudded when I remembered that Nyx had touched me there. What did this mean?

"It's a reminder of your destiny so that you will never forget." Snap said.

I tugged my shirt up and made sure it was completely covered.

Snap hissed. "That mark is not something to be ashamed of!"

"It's a big of shock for these guys that I'm Kalona's daughter, let's not add the fact I've evidently got a huge destiny waiting for me." I thought back at her. I flattened my hair the best I could before I decided to grace the world with my presence.

Snap grumbled in my ear. Zoey had already left. I went downstairs, sniffing. I could smell pancakes and I swear it was calling me like a siren.

I bumped into a group out in front of where the smell was coming from.

"Hey Raven." "Heath said.

"Hey." I said.

"Hi everyone. Man, I'm starving!" An overly perky guy voice said.

I looked over and saw Erik with…I can't remember her name, it's that blonde bitch. I'll remember her name, maybe, someday.

"Hi, Erik, Venus."

Venus!

"Well, you guys have definitely come to the right place if you're hungry. Everything smells super-good." Zoey said.

"Hi, Zoey. Didn't see you over there. As usual, you're surrounded by guys."

My jaw dropped, what a, a…

"Damn, it always was crowded around you." He chuckled.

"Asshole!" I gasped.

He ignored me and shoved past Zoey knocking shoulders with Stark.

"Hey Ray, do you think you could get some kind of bug or a rat to run up Erik's leg and bite his ass?" Stark asked.

I scanned with my mind to see if I could find one because I was really considering it. But the nuns kept things were too clean so nothing.

"I can't find any." I muttered. "There's squirrels though."

Snap hissed and smacked me. "Your gifts are not to be used for petty games."

"They're my gifts so I can use them however I want." I told her.

She just growled.

"Is this going to happen a lot?" Heath asked.

"Yep, Raven's freaky animal girl." Aphrodite said.

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Better than freaky vision girl."

Venus stepped in front of me and wrinkled her nose at Snap.

Okay, I want to rip her throat out. DO. NOT. DISS. MY. CAT! Only I AM allowed to diss my cat.

"Disgusting, having those unclean animals crawling all over you." She sneered.

Throat ripping time! And I'm not just going to use my nails!

"I hate to call up some of those disgusting animals to kick your butt, because, let's face it, there's no way you'd win." I said with a fake grin.

She narrowed her blue eyes at me. I held her eyes and dared her to try something.

"Hey Venus, I have two words for you," Aphrodite said before Venus could do something, like try to claw my eyes out. I say try because there's no way I'm letting some blonde pencil kick my ass.

Venus looked at Aphrodite. Aphrodite screwed up her face and sneered at the blonde pencil. "Re. Bound. Good luck with that."

Snap snickered.

Erik made a beckoning motion at Venus like she was dog, well she was a bitch and that's a female dog, and she went up to him, like the "good" little dog she was.

"I never did like him." Heath said.

"You know I hate it when you do that!" Zoey said.

"I never liked him, either." Stark said. I glanced over and he kissed Zoey's hand. Gag me with a wooden spoon. "I don't like it much that you and Zoey are Imprinted, but I don't have a problem with you."

"I'm cool with you, too, dude." Heath said. "But I don't like it much that you slept with Zo."

"God, I'm hungry, good-bye!" I said. I couldn't take this lovey dovey and cave man crap anymore.

I walked into the dining room and Oh my sweet Jesus, I've gone to pancake heaven.

"Hello Raven." A nun said.

"Hi." I said.

She smiled and then looked at Snap. "She seems completely devoted to you."

"As much as a cat can be." I said.

She chuckled. "Very true."

I plunked down in a chair. "Pass the pancakes." I asked the nearest nun. She smiled and handed a plate over. Snap got into my lap and peered over the edge of the table.

I barely paid attention to Zoey talking with the others. I was way too damn hungry.

Snap meowed. It was the first time I hear her meow since the whole animal communication thing come up. She looked at me and then to my pancakes and back at me.

"Don't make me spell it out for you." Snap scolded.

I sighed. I took a fresh pancake with no syrup or butter and ripped it into kitty bite sized pieces.

Then I heard a magical word.

"Then it's settled. We go home."

Home! Wait, she was probably talking about the House of Night, not my home. Darn.

"I'm all for getting back where we belong, but your grandma should stay here." Aphrodite said before I could say anything about me going to my home. "We don't know what all we're going to have to deal with at the House of Night."

Oh boy, that's another reason I should probably go home. Like they need a spawn of Kalona showing up.

"Did your visions show you something else?" Zoey asked.

"No, I told you everything I saw in my vision. I just have a feeling, that's all."

Why is it whenever they talk about Aphrodite's visions I'm not paying attention?

Stevie Rae laughed nervously. "Well, heck, Aphrodite, we're all feelin' jumpy and on edge, which makes total sense. We just chased away some major booger monsters, but that's no reason to freak Zoey out."

"I'm not freaking her out, bumpkin." Aphrodite practically snapped. "I'm just being careful."

"It is wise to anticipate dangers." Darius said.

Stevie Rae spoke in a cold, flat voice that didn't seem like her. "Just because you've sworn your Warrior's Oath to her doesn't mean you have to agree with everything she says."

Warrior's Oath? I really need to get a handbook on vampyre things.

"What? You gave Aphrodite your Oath?" Stark said surprised.

"Really?" Damian said.

"Wow, too cool." Jack said.

Why was this such a big thing? Did I miss something important? I probably did.

Erik snorted. "I'm shocked Zoey let you and didn't just add you to her private collection."

My jaw dropped. What an ASS!

I threw a pancake at him.

He gave me a thunderous look.

"Sorry, your mouth was open so I assumed you were looking for something to eat." I gave him a fake smile.

Venus glared at me. "Shouldn't we leave her here?"

"Ray hasn't done anything." Stevie Rae said defensively. "She's healed Grandma Redbird and Stark."

"Not to mention her animals helped us out." Damian said.

"Yeah!" Jack said pouting.

Yeah, it felt good that most of them were pretty accepting of me.

"But how can we trust her?" Venus said.

I bristled. It wasn't my fault Kalona was my father! I didn't even know that he was my father until a few days ago.

"I trust Raven." Zoey said.

Venus sneered. "Well, that makes sense. Want to get on Kalona's good side so you want to befriend his daughter?"

This bitch is going down!

I recognized the feathery darkness curling around a syrup pitcher. The pitcher moved forward and then dumped over into her lap.

"Arrgh!" She screamed.

I tried to keep it in, I really did, but a snicker escaped.

Snap smacked me. "What have I told you?"

"She deserved it and you know it." I told her.

She grumbled, but I knew she agreed with me.

I ignored Venus's angry mutterings of about how expensive her jeans were and blah blah blah and turned to Zoey.

"I actually need to go home. I haven't heard from my parents since I left home and I know I should have gotten at least a text from them when the ice storm hit." I said. I scratched Snap's head. "And they would have called me once Snap disappeared."

The worrying was starting to eat away at my stomach. I love Snap and my parents knew it. When they couldn't find her when the ice storm hit they would have called me even if it was a way to get me home if they couldn't persuade me before.

"All right." Zoey said.

"You shouldn't go alone." Darius said.

I lifted Snap. "I have her and I'll take Hecate with me, I'll be fine." Snap folded her ears back at so many gazes. I put her back into my lap. "It's not like I can't call up more animals if I get in trouble." I scratched Snap's cheeks and she began to purr.

"Why would they attack her anyway?" Venus asked.

"Okay, enough!" Zoey suddenly shouted. I flinched at the irritation and anger in her voice. "All of you need to listen up and get something straight. We can't fight big, world-ending evil if we're bickering with each other! Venus, leave Raven alone. She's one of us and I trust her with my life."

I felt my cheeks heating up. I picked at my pancake.

"Stevie Rae and Aphrodite-get over the fact that you're Imprinted and learn not to embarrass each other. Stevie Rae, don't keep important stuff from me, even if you think you have a good reason to."

My stomach tightened. Oh boy. I hope Stevie Rae has a plan for Rephiam cuz I don't.

"And Erik," Oh boy, boyfriend drama. "we have a lot bigger problems than you being pissed I dumped you." Stark chuckled and Zoey whirled on him like a rabid dog. "You don't get a free pass either."

"I'm just laughing because Erik the Great got put in his place."

"Which is real crappy of you since you can feel how much this whole thing with you and Erik and Heath has hurt my feelings."

Stark's smile fell off his face.

"Darius, it's an icy mess out there, but do you think you can drive the Hummer back to the House of Night?"

"I do." Darius said surprisingly calm especially compared to Zoey who I was expecting to start spanking all of us like we were naughty kids.

"Who's good on a horse?"

I didn't bother raising my hand.

"Shaunee, you and Erin can ride the horse you got here on. Johnny B, can you and Kramisha double on the other mare?"

"Yep we can." He said.

"Stark, you can ride behind me on Persephone. Damien, Jack, Aphrodite, Shannoncompton, Venus, and…"

"Sophie." Stevie Rae whispered telling Zoey the name of the brunette red fledgling she had been staring at for a while.

"And Sophie. You guys go with Darius in the Hummer." She looked at Stevie Rae. "Can you be sure the rest of the red fledglings and Erik get to the House of Night safely?"

"If that's what you want me to do then that's what I'll do." She answered.

Zoey rounded on me. Eep.

"I don't want you to go home by yourself."

"I have my cat, a horse, and a raven." I said calmly. I didn't want anyone else to come with me. I wanted to be alone to talk to my uncle and cat. "I'll be fine. If any boogie monsters pop out I'll just have some animals kick their asses."

"Fine." She sounded like she didn't want to argue with me about it. "Finish breakfast and let's go home." She stood up and looked at the nuns who stood there like statues watching Zoey spank us with her tongue. "I appreciate you helping us more than I'll ever be able to tell you. As long as I'm alive, the Benedictine Sisters will have a High Priestess as a friend." She turned to leave, but paused when Stark started to join her. "I'm going to say bye to Grandma-by myself."

He looked all sad and abandoned, but he quickly covered it up. "As you wish, my lady." And plunked back down into his chair.

Zoey left the room and everyone seemed to breath a silent sigh of relief.

I just felt awkward. I grabbed a few pancakes and wrapped them in a napkin for the horses. They deserved a lot more than pancakes for getting us here, but pancakes are all I got.

I got up to leave, feeling even more awkward because everyone started looking at me, and Snap meowed in protest.

"What?"

"I'm still hungry."

I rolled my eyes and grabbed another pancake.

"Happy?"

She tilted her head then nodded. She hopped off the chair and padded down the hall toward the exit. I heaved a huge sigh and went after her.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Yeah, I don't like Venus too much. I didn't like Aphrodite at the beginning of the series, but she has become a likeable bitch. Venus is a bitch and I don't like her. Wait, why did Jack die when they had a perfectly good bitch to kill off instead? I'm sure nobody would really miss her.

So anyway, you know the drill if you read please review and have a wonderful day!