I rubbed Hecate's neck. The other horses nosed my pockets trying to get the treats stashed there. I ripped the pancakes to pieces and fed it to them all the while telling them about what happened at breakfast.

"And I'm just really stressed out because I'm pretty sure that it was completely my fault that the syrup thing fell on her, but I'm not sure how." I ripped a pancake into fourths and offered it to Persephone. "And I feel like everyone is at least uneasy with me with the whole Kalona's my father thing and I'm stressing out about that and-"

"Breath!" Hecate said. "Breathing will help with your stress."

I took a huge gulp of air.

"There is nothing they can do about Kalona being your sire. They will have to learn to deal with it." Hecate said. She took another piece of pancake.

"You already know the answer to the syrup moving on its own." Snap said. "Darkness will obey you, well your emotions until you have control over it, whether you like it or not. The sooner you accept this and began controlling your gift, the better off we all will be."

I stroked Hope's nose. I still couldn't wrap my head around the fact I could control darkness despite being good. And why? Why did I have this power?

I jumped when Johnny B came through the door.

"Oh, hey Raven." He said.

"Hey. Are we ready to go?" I asked.

He nodded. His brown eyes shifted around like he was trying to avoid looking at me directly in the eye, which kinda of hurt. People weren't going to be turned to stone if they looked at me in the eye! Right?

I patted Hope, Destiny, and Persephone. "You guys are going home. Hecate and I are going to stop at my house."

I had no idea what I was going to tell my parents about my disappearance. Hopefully they would be so glad to see me that they wouldn't ask.

Well, a girl can dream can't she?

All the horses trotted out and stood patiently beside the Hummer while the others loaded themselves in. Snap followed obediently at my heels and my uncle zipped around my head, croaking almost gaily.

Hecate got down so I could scramble onto her back.

"You sure you will be okay?" Stark asked.

"I have a cell phone and magical animal communicative abilities." I said. "And magical darkness abilities, but I'm not telling you guys that." "I'll be fine."

I placed a picture of my home in Hecate's mind with directions and then nudged her sides.

But because of the ice we couldn't charge to my house and that gave me a lot of time to think.

Okay, I come up with some lie to explain why I've been gone. Then what? I wasn't the same girl I was before I left. I can frickin' talk to animals! Not to mention I doubt I'm finished with daddy dearest or that nympho Neferet.

Oh God! What if they showed up at my house? My parents would keel over of a heart attack.

But how in the hell would I explain to them what's going on?

I looked at Snap.

"They're your parents."

"They're your owners."

She gave me a haughty look. "No creature owns me, I own myself."

"But how am I going to explain this to them?" I asked.

"You'll think of something." Snap said.

I ran a million scenarios through my mind, but none of them was the One. I was, for all intents and purposes, royally screwed. I blew my bangs out of my eyes.

I looked up at the sky. "Some help, inspiration, something might be nice."

"Why are you talking to the sky?" Hecate asked.

"I was hoping for divine inspiration." I said.

"You'll be fine. They're your parents."

"Exactly." I said.

When we finally started down my street, I got a really bad eerie feeling. Everything was way too damn quite. I mean, the next door neighbors had two new babies and a four year old who enjoyed running outside with nothing on even when it was below zero, personally I'm a little concerned because they can't be healthy for a four year old, they should be making some kind of noise. Electricity or not. And the fact that there is none should make the noise even more likely. I honestly expected some kind of bonfire with our neighborhood with a deer or raccoon burning on a spit with everyone gathered around with a wild, savage look in their eyes.

That would be far less creepy than the complete and utter silence.

I started trembling when I spotted my house. My parents' cars were still in the driveway with the tires fused to the driveway by ice. So they haven't gone anywhere since the ice storm hit.

I told Hecate to stop right in the middle of my front yard. I took a deep breath with my stomach quivering.

My uncle squeezed my shoulder. Hecate got down on all fours, the butt head because now I had no excuse to march up to that door and knock.

I took Snap in my arms and walked to the door. I knocked.

The shades were drawn across the windows and there was no light or movement. I knocked again. I dug into my coat pocket and pulled out my key. I slide into the lock and it clicked up. I pushed it open.

I shivered as a breeze brushed over me. It was cold. I mean, yes the power was out so no heat, but that would mean no breeze inside the house either. I peered into the kitchen and my heart stopped and then picked up in double time.

The back door had been forced open.

"Mom! Dad!" I shouted and then cursed my stupidity. It anyone was still in the house then I just let them know I was here too and then I scolded myself. Even if they had a gun I had the frickin' power over darkness and I could talk to animals. Magic against a gun, gun is bound to lose.

I bounded up the stairs. Anger writhed inside of me at the thought that someone had forced their way into my home to steal something or do something else that's not okay. The shadows seemed to writhe in response to my anger.

I came to my room first. My room was a mess, but it was a mess before I left. I would actually have to go into my room and look to see if anyone took any of my things.

If they took any of my great-grandmother's books there was going to be hell to pay!

"Mom? Dad?" I said making my way slowly to their room.

Something suddenly felt very wrong. Their door was cracked open, but there wasn't a sound coming from them.

I pushed the door open and screamed.

If I lived till the end of time, I will never, ever forget the sight before me.

My dad's body was on the ground with his neck cut, his head almost severed. My mother was on the bed with her neck cut.

But wasn't the fact they were dead, it was the pure look of fear and horror in their eyes. I will never forget that look.

I covered my mouth and kept muttering no over and over again. Why them? Why?

I stumbled back and slumped against the wall. I started sobbing. It couldn't be true, they were so blindfully human. They have no part in this war! They shouldn't be dead!

"Raven, you need to call Zoey. Call Zoey now!" Snap said.

She bit me. I pulled out my cell phone and somehow summoned Zoey.

"Raven?"

I started sobbing again.

"Raven, what's wrong?" Zoey asked. "Is your mom severely pissed at you or…"

"They're dead." I sobbed. "They're dead. My parents are dead."

"Hold on Ray, we're coming."

I dropped the phone, I didn't even bother switching it off. I hugged my knees and rocked back in forth. Every time I looked at the door or even thought about it I started crying afresh.

Snap rubbed against my calf and I could hear Hecate crying out.

There was a loud bang and someone shouted my name. Charging up the stairs was Stevie Rae. She saw me and immediately rushed over and crouched beside me.

"Oh honey." She hugged me tightly.

Zoey and Stark came up next with Darius and Aphrodite charging up after them. Aphrodite screamed when she saw my parents and that just made me cry all the harder.

"Call the human police." Darius ordered.

Zoey whipped out her phone. "Detective Marks, we need help. My friend's parents have been killed."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

I be none of you saw that coming, oh some of you did. Well fine then!

Sobs! I'm such a horrible person, how could someone be so sadistic as to kill off two innocent characters? I should just go and kill myself right now to save all the innocent characters that I'll give life and then kill for the development of some fiction story. I'm so cruel and heartless.

Sigh, well you know the drill read and review and I may not eat your brain. Good day.