"I'm starting to think that this might be impossible." Stark said out of nowhere.
"What makes you say that?" I asked. We were following a light piece of golden stringy light that appeared once Stark said being a Guardian means honor is stronger than love. Personally, I'm going to stick with love because yeah honor sounds nice, but I don't think I could live life without someone or something, and I mean an animal something not something that's not alive, to love.
"We have to convince Heath to give up the only girl he ever loved." Stark said.
"That's why I'm here. If it was just you he wouldn't listen to you because he probably thinks you're just a wanna be boyfriend and want to say that so you can get her. But if I say it, and because I'm not a lesbian, he'll believe me and everything will be all okie dokie."
"Well, when you say it like that it sounds really easy." He muttered.
"It is. You're just over complicating it." I said.
Stark grabbed my wrist and yanked me down behind a couple of trees. We both saw Heath and he was talking by himself. He suddenly bolted up and began jogging past us.
"Heath!" Stark hissed.
He stopped and peered into the trees. Stark and I stepped out from the trees.
"Oh shit! You're both dead!" Heath shouted.
I rolled my eyes. "Um, half-immortal?" I pointed at myself. "And if we were dead, why are slinking around making sure Zoey doesn't see us?"
He blinked. "Oh."
"But don't let Zoey know we're here. She may assume we're dead before we get a chance to explain that we're not." Stark ordered.
"Fine dude." Heath said looking rather bored
"Do you know that Zoey's soul is shattered?"
Zoey suddenly came running towards us. Stark yanked me down after him as he hid behind a tree. I landed hard on my butt and had to stifle a cry of ouch or smacking Stark.
"You didn't come after me." My heart lurched. She looked ten times worse than the last time I saw her. She was literally fading away. The wind better not blow in here otherwise what's left of Zoey is a goner.
Heath was able to get her to scat and we stepped out from hiding.
I glanced at Stark. He was pale and I thought he just might vomit everywhere. "Oh shit! It's way worse than I thought."
"She's worse than when I was in here." I said.
"You were here?" Heath asked.
I nodded. "When I touched her I accidently astral projected only Kalona caught me and I got shoved back into my body."
Heath just blinked.
"We here to Zoey to pull herself back together." I told him. I don't think I really had time to explain the whole astral projecting thing.
"I think I might be able to do that. I've got a plan so why don't you two got kick whatever scary ass shit is keeping me and Zo in here."
"Yeah, you can get her spirit whole again by telling her you'll stay here with her, but if you do that, you'll fuck up everyone Zoey loves back in the real world."
Heath looked at Stark with a disbelieving look. "It's not cool for you to say shit like there. Just let her go, dude. I know you love her and all, but seriously-"
"It's not just that he loves her." I said. "He's serious. Without Zoey no one can stand up against Neferet and Kalona. Not even me. And the world is going to pay for that."
He blinked at me.
"I'm not a lesbian so there's no reason I would fight so strongly for her to come back." I informed him.
He glanced at Stark and realization shone in his eyes. "You're telling the truth."
"Sadly yes." Stark said.
"I have to leave Zoey." Heath said.
"I won't let her be alone." Stark told him. "I'm her Warrior, her Guardian. I give you my Oath that I'll be sure she's always protected."
Heath nodded.
"So, plan? What it be?" I asked.
"Heath could ask Zoey to stay with him-"
"Dude, I'm not going to get Zo back together and lie to her."
"That doesn't sound like a good idea." I said.
"I don't know how I'm going to do it, but I will. I have to. If you're man enough to leave her, I'm man enough to figure out how to save her."
I rolled my eyes. Evidently I was just here to look cute.
Heath smirked. "Well, keep this in mind-Zo doesn't like some dude saving her. She likes to take care of herself. Mostly, you just have to stand back and let her do her thing."
Stark nodded. "I'll remember."
I hope so because usually people who don't get to do things their way become increasingly stubborn and reckless. Not that I know from experience or anything.
"Okay. So. Let's go after her."
All three of us began heading in the last direction we saw Zoey ran off to.
"So, Kalona stopped you from helping us before?" Heath asked.
"Yep." I said. I wasn't going to mention the creepy ass cloud that called my name.
Oh shit! I completely forgot about that stupid cloud! Fudge nuggets!
"So he is out there?" Heath said.
"Yep. But I don't think he is here of his own free will." I said.
"We know that he's here to stop Zoey from pulling herself back together." Stark said. He gave me a sharp look. I gave him a tired look.
"And he almost did that today by using me. Fucking asshole. Like it's not bad enough he killed me!"
I took a deep breath. I couldn't say shit about the fact Kalona killed Heath, but I still believe that he did not want to come here. Which brings into question on how in the hell he got here. Surely Neferet couldn't be powerful enough to force an immortal's spirit into the Otherworld, right?
Oh shit! What if she was? Oh God! We're screwed. So screwed. Screwed screwed screwed screwed. S-C-R-E-W-E-D. Screwed.
Stark grabbed my wrist and I came to a halt. I blinked confused and then saw Zoey pacing around in a tiny clearing.
I wonder I got high off the heavenness of the grove.
"Honestly Ray." Stark hissed.
"What? It's pretty here. I got distracted." I whispered back at him as I ducked behind some boulders with him.
My palms started getting sweaty though. What if whatever Heath did didn't work? What was plan B? Hell, what if Zoey blew away before she could pull herself together?
I took a slow and even breath. I shouldn't think. It was just too stressful.
I watched Heath pull Zoey into a hug and kiss her. He turned from her and then vanished.
Literally, he was there one minute and gone the next.
"Stay put Ray." Stark ordered as he walked out towards Zoey.
"Stay put Ray." I mimicked in crappy guy's voice and I sighed, evidently I was here to look cute. I fiddled with the newly formed moonstone. Yeah, it might be better if I stay hidden until Zoey realized Stark wasn't dead and then explain that he and I got here through a spiritual pathway, but he doesn't have to be so bossy. His bossy-ness won't help things.
I stroked the moss. It was really soft. I wish could stay here and nap. I wish this was the real world. It was nice and Narnia-ish. 'Cept the lack of animals. If there were animals this would be prefect.
I suddenly understood why Kalona went so nutty. I mean if I was from this place and then got shoved down onto Earth, I think I would go nuts too. This place is just so pretty and peaceful and Earth, well, it was pretty and some of it is still pretty, but it's not peaceful like this place.
The moonstone suddenly burned against my stomach. I was afraid I might be burned if I touched it, but my gut told me to pick it up.
"Be warned, young Raven. Things are not as they seem."
Oh boy.
"Stark, come back!"
I blinked. I really shouldn't let nature distract me so much, or thinking. I stood up and began searching for Zoey and Stark. Zoey wasn't too far from me, but she was standing at the edge of the little grove and was looking pretty frantic. Stark was nowhere to be seen.
I jogged over to her.
She jumped and her eyes widened. "Raven?"
"Yep. And I'm not dead. I'm just doing some weird half-immortal stuff." I said. "What's going on?"
Well, she didn't need to say anything. The clear skies that were in the grove had disappeared under a thick blanket of darkness. Kalona stood in the center of the cloudy mass. Stark was out there and he looked like he was provoking Kalona.
Kalona looked over at me and Zoey. Well, probably Zoey because he didn't look like he was expecting me.
"Raven, I told you-"
"I don't have to listen to you." I told him. "You're not acting like a father so why should I listen to anything you tell me to do?"
Zoey grabbed my arm. But she felt really wispy and weak.
His eyes narrowed. "I won't hurt you Raven. But don't get in my way."
A spear appeared out of nowhere and then Kalona dropped down. I lunged forward.
"No! Raven!" Somehow Zoey was able to stop me. Maybe it was the desperation and fear in her voice, but I did pause.
Kalona swept his wings down around Stark and then Stark disappeared into a pitch black hole.
I turned to Zoey. She looked at me with her eyes huge and pleading. "Please Ray."
"Please what? You just want me to stay put and let Stark face Kalona alone? He's my friend and he's also your Warrior. He needs your help and I really don't want to face Kalona without you, but I will if you don't."
I jerked my arm free and took off out of the grove.
I didn't even make it to the hole when I was hit from the side. I rolled across the ground and was able to tumble to my feet. I looked up and saw what hit me.
She looked really out of place in the dark setting. Her golden feathers and talons glimmered with light even though I'm sure the blanket of cloudy darkness was covering all light. She sorta of looked like a Raven Mocker only her head was human and she was golden.
She threw back her head and laughed. "A half-breed. That's what every Immortal in the Immortal Realm is talking about, a half-breed?"
I blinked and looked her. "What?"
"And you have no idea what's going on, do you little half-breed." She sneered.
"If I did I wouldn't have said what." I told her.
"It's actually none of your concern now." She said coldly. "You see, unlike other Immortals I can't enter the mortal realm in a physical form. If I want the benefits of a physical body I need to possess one."
Oh nuggets.
"That damn moonstone of Artemis's keeps me from following your link to life to your body." She said. Her talons curled and my stomach tightened with fear. "So, I guess I have to remove it."
Okay maybe I should have listened to Kalona.
A fiery gold ball gathered in her hands and then she threw it at me like it was a ball. I dove to the side.
She laughed. "This is going to be easier than I thought!" She began circling me. "You're weak daughter of Kalona. You fear your own powers simply because they are of the element darkness." She sneered again. "Damascus is right. It will be child's play to take over the mortal realm."
"What in the hell are you talking about?" I spat at her.
"Like I told you, it's not your concern. Once that moonstone is removed your spirit will be stuck here or maybe it'll follow me back, but I doubt any of your mortal friends can help you."
Her next attack caught me off guard. It slammed against my chest and threw me back. I slammed onto the ground. Pain radiated everywhere till I couldn't tell where it had started from.
"I wonder what I can get away with in your body. You're such a sweet girl, I doubt no one will suspect you of any kind of senseless violence." She ran a bright red tongue of her lips. I realized that her eyes her bright red as well. "It'll be too easy to suck away their life force."
"Leave them alone!" I spat at her.
"Why? Going to make me little half-breed?"
Okay, fuck the fact that my powers are of the element darkness. I was good so my powers come from good.
A thick ball of dark purple, royal blue, emerald, and a magenta color shot from me and hit the golden harpy thing.
Her red eyes widened as the energy stuck her with all my righteous rage.
"You or any immortal will not hurt any mortal under my protection while I am breathing!" I said as I stood.
She snarled and tried to throw another attack at me. I blocked it and then shot a blast of icy blue light at her. She screamed.
An explosive pain, different from the attack of the harpy's, spread through my back. There was a weird ripping feeling and then a big whoosh as something shot out of my back. I glance back and gasped.
I had wings only they weren't completely black like Kalona's. Well they were until I moved them and then they became a dark rainbow of iridescent color. The same dark rainbow colors I just threw at the harpy.
"No! They told me you were flightless!" the harpy screeched. I looked at her and most of her feathers on her left wing were gone. She looked really scared. "They told me you only could summon darkness not light."
I blinked. Whoa. Oh my God duh! Now I understood what the four lords were talking about. Because I respected the need for darkness even in my own self I gained the power of the element light.
I'm going to frickin' kick some evil ass!
"Listen, I don't like killing so I'm giving you one catch to go back from wherever you came from." I told her.
"You don't understand what's going on. No idea. It's almost a mercy for me to take your body. At least then you wouldn't know what Damascus has planned for you."
"What?" I asked.
Her body seemed to be spreading out into a million tiny gold particles.
"Wait! Who is Damascus?"
Her mass of particles shot toward me and passed through me.
"You've sealed your own destiny. No knowledge I give you will change that."
I shivered and turned to watch the mass swirl up into the blue sky and vanish.
Whoa, whoa wait. Blue sky? I looked around, but I wasn't near the hole or the grove. Crappies, how hard did she hit me?
I gripped the moonstone. "Artemis, help. I'm lost and I need to get back to help Stark and Zoey defeat Kalona."
The moonstone glowed and burned in my fingers. I turned and gasped.
I swear to God a unicorn just walked out from a curtain, glowy section of air. It was pure white like moonbeams with a long silver horn. Unlike some versions of unicorns I've seen this mighty beast had pearly wings and it didn't look dreamy and to be honest a weak magical beast, it looked dangerous like a war horse you just had to point in the direction of your enemies and it would just rain down murder upon them.
It looked at me with deep black eyes. I reached out slowly and touched its soft muzzle.
"I'm afraid there is no time for introduction, young half-breed. My mistress explained you were on a time restriction."
"Wait, I can hear you and it wasn't thought talking." I blurted.
He snorted. "I am an immortal beast. My forms of communication are not limited to thoughts alone like the mortal beasts. But I'll explain more once you are successful in your mission." He got down on his front knees and offered his back to me.
I climbed on and slid behind his wing base. My fingers wrapped his silky mane as he stood.
"Hold on." He spread his wings and took off in a run.
It was different riding a unicorn than riding a mortal horse. I couldn't put a finger on what about the unicorn was different. Maybe the gait of the unicorn's stride was different. I'm not sure I could explain what was different, it just was.
He swept his wings down and we were flying.
"How did I get so far away?"
"The harpy was able to transport you to another part of the Otherworld. Although it might not have been on her part completely." The unicorn said.
I spotted the area where Kalona and Stark were doing battle. To my great surprise I saw Zoey running out of the grove. She stopped right at the edge.
"There!"
The unicorn let out a war cry and dived for the hole.
"Pick up Zoey first. I got a feeling she's going to want to help." I said. The unicorn snorted and aimed for Zoey.
"Zoey!"
She turned and saw me. I offered my arm. She took it and I swung her onto the back of the unicorn.
"Hurry! He's going to kill Stark." Zoey gasped.
The unicorn landed at the same time Kalona shoved his spear deep into Stark's chest. Stark gasped as Kalona shoved the spear into the wall, pinning Stark to it.
"No!" Zoey screamed. She leapt off the unicorn and ran to her Warrior.
The unicorn, however, didn't stop and instead gave out another war cry. Kalona turned, but the unicorn speared his shoulder with his abnormally sharp horn. He lifted the immortal with his horn high into the air. With a flick of his head Kalona fell to the ground right below his hooves and then he fell down, hard, onto the immortal and stomped him.
"Pull back." I told him.
He drew back, wings flared and he gave another cry.
Kalona stood up shaking. His body was bloody and battered and I'm pretty sure Stark had nothing to do with that so go unicorn.
"Raven, you attacked your own father." He said in a stunned voice.
This pissed me off. "You're not my father. Just because you gave me life and spirit centuries ago does not mean you get to call yourself my father. You've attacked and hurt my friends and you're fucking abusive to my brothers!" I took a sharp breath. "You haven't earned the right to be called my dad."
There was a defeated look in his eyes. I didn't dwell on my pity that was welling up. He needed to hear that. Maybe he'll wake up and grow up.
"Raven! Help!"
I slid off the unicorn and went off to the pinned up Stark. The golden fire glowed on my hands, but I knew it was too late.
"I'm sorry. He's gone." I said. Zoey turned to Kalona. I really, really hoped she didn't shatter again because we just got her all put back together.
The unicorn snorted. "This immortal being owes you a life debt, Priestess."
Zoey blinked.
"Yeah, immortal beasts don't need telepathy to communicate." I said.
Kalona's eyes narrowed at the beast.
"Right." Zoey said. She turned back to Kalona. "You're going to pay me the life debt you owe me for killing my consort, Heath Luck, by bringing Stark back to me. Then, Stark, Ray, and me are going to go home."
"You've gone mad. I cannot bring the dead back to life." Kalona said.
"Well, you're in luck." I said. "Stark isn't technically dead. He's body is safe on Skye so I guess you're not bringing the dead back to life. You're just giving Stark's spirit spiritual energy to get back to his body."
"Neither of you have the power to make me." Kalona said.
They may not, but I do.
I felt an instant sense of relief. I looked at Kalona and noticed a big change in him. His eyes light up with love at the sound of the voice. I felt a stab of anger. Personally I think he should be using that love towards his kids, especially my brothers who probably could use a buttload of loving.
I followed his gaze. Standing by Stark was the Goddess of Night.
"Nyx! My Goddess!" Kalona said in a boyish voice.
She turned from stark not to look at Kalona, but at Zoey. She smiled. "Merry meet, Zoey."
"Merry meet, Nyx."
Nyx turned to me and when she did I saw another woman step out from beside her.
"Hecate." I said.
The woman smiled. "You figured it out."
"It wasn't that hard when I managed to use all my brain power." I said.
"Like myself, you possess a great power of the element darkness and the power is matched with your compassion and protection of those you deem worthy of your friendship." She said.
I felt Zoey jerk. "Darkness? Ray controls darkness?"
Nyx nodded. "Darkness is an element, just like the five you control. Although it's less common in the mortal realm for someone to possess this power."
"I'm not normal. Not even close." I said.
The unicorn hit my elbow. "Why be normal? You would deny the best parts of yourself to achieve that."
"I'm not upset by that fact. I'm just stating I'm not normal." I said.
Nyx turned to Kalona. "You will pay my daughter the debt you owe her, and then you will return to the world and the consequences awaiting you there, knowing this, my fallen Warrior, your spirit, as well as your body, is forbidden entrance to my realm." She turned from him and kissed Stark on the lips before disappearing.
Hecate hugged me tightly. "Don't worry child. There are many of us out there that are willing to help and guide you." She gave me a bright smile before vanishing like her Goddess.
Fudge nuggets! I should have asked her or Nyx about who was Damascus.
I watched as Kalona stood and walked over to Stark. He looked defeated. I almost felt sorry for him. Almost. He did cause all this himself.
"I return to you that last sweet breath of life. With it live again, and accept a small piece of my immortality for the human life I have taken." Then he kissed Stark on the lips.
I felt his heart start beating again, weird enough, before he jerked and gasped. Then Kalona pulled the spear out with sickening jerk and wet meat sound.
Stark cried out in pain and collapsed.
"You jerk!" Zoey cried before taking Stark in her arms.
"You honestly can't be nice for one second?" I asked Kalona.
He turned to me, eyes hard. "I gave you a chance Raven. But now I see that you're too rebellious. You're not my daughter."
"I don't think you tried hard to enough to establish the whole daughter/father relationship. When you get back to the mortal realm get a fucking parenting book. Parents don't give up on kids, ever." I said. I shook my head. "I honestly think you just need to grow-up and open your eyes and get a frickin' clue."
He glared at me.
"Regardless what either of us say, we're still kin." I said. "And we're going to have to come to terms with that someday."
"Good-bye Raven.' He said. He spread his wings.
"Fleeing instead of talking out the conflict is the worst parenting ever." I mumbled.
But he didn't get the chance to get away. Disgusting bad darkness crept out from the arena walls. I let my good darkness gather on my hands, but it wasn't interested in us.
His eyes widened as the tentacles of bad darkness curled around him and began cutting him.
My stomach clenched. Oh God! I wouldn't wish that even on Neferet. Well, maybe I lied.
The tendrils sliced him till only blood and amber were left. Then the tendrils plunged into his eyes. I closed my eyes and covered them with my hands.
The unicorn nudged me with his nose. "It's over. You can look now."
I peered from in between my fingers and saw we were back in the magical Narnia grove. I looked up at the unicorn.
"That was horrible." I whispered. I shivered. Poor Kalona.
Sigh. I was having a freaking emotion/mind conflict right now. It's so annoying when you're heart says one thing and you're mind says another completely opposite of your heart saying.
I looked over and saw Stark really bloody and broken. My golden healing fire glowed on my hands.
"No." The unicorn said. "The Priestess must heal him." Zoey looked at the unicorn. "Test me. You must do it. Not the half-breed. Besides." The unicorn shook his mane. "There is something you must see and know before you leave the Otherworld." The unicorn bared his back to me again. I glanced at Zoey and Stark.
"We'll be fine Ray. Go." Stark said.
Zoey looked at the unicorn. "You promise Raven will be safe?"
The unicorn nodded. "You have my word Priestess that Raven will return unharmed."
I chewed my lip as I climbed onto the unicorn's back. He ran down the grove and once he was at speed he spread his wings and we took off into the skies.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
Big sigh. Um, you guys are going to hate me, but it's getting close to Christmas Break so I'm kinda of going on hiatus until after the holidays. One, I've got some nasty things that start with E's for the next few days. Two, crappy internet at home. Three, I'm going to be Merrying the Christmas and Happying the Holidays and Re-newing the Year.
I really do love you guys. Your reviews honestly make me really happy and I really appreciate it. XD So I wish you all a Happy/Merry [insert your celebrated holiday here] and would like you all to check out talking animals jingle bells because it made my day and it'll probably make yours.
Bye, for now! :)