Well, at least it wasn't going to get any worse today.
The Sons of Erebus freaked out and drew out their weapons. Kalona had a long dark spear which he used to knock Dragon to the ground. One of the Warriors let out a war cry before attacking Kalona. Kalona spun around easily and speared the guy. The others rushed up to get a piece of Kalona.
Kalona grabbed Warriors and threw them to the ground, but mostly he stabbed them with his spear and splattered blood everywhere.
"Rephaim! Son! To me! Defend me!" He shouted.
Rephaim bent down and picked up a dropped sword before running over to fight alongside Kalona.
Gore and blood sprayed everywhere. I found myself sorta of marveling at the beauty how they rained murder down upon everyone. It was sort of amazing how they were so in sync while they were murdering.
Stevie Rae grabbed Zoey's arm. "Don't let Stark hurt Rephaim! Please. Please trust me."
Zoey nodded and then turned to Stark. "Don't hurt Rephaim."
"I'll be damn sure hurt him if he attacks you." Stark informed her.
Darius jogged up with a sword drawn and stood in front of Aphrodite at Stark's side. Dominic grabbed my arm even though I'm sure he knew I could very well take care of myself.
"Let me guess. That's your father?" He asked.
I nodded.
He had that distant look again.
"Zoey," Stevie Rae said. "Watch Rephaim. He's not attacking. He's not hurting anyone. He's not attacking."
I looked and saw that Rephaim was murdering. He was defending himself and Kalona really well, but no one was getting hurt.
Suddenly I felt sick to my stomach. The blood filled darkness curled and twisted in bliss. I felt horrified about how it was acting. It was enjoying this blood and gore and murder rain.
"Ray?" Dominic asked.
"I'm okay." I said. I was trembling. That stuff just made me sick to my stomach. It was like Neferet, it just pisses me off.
"Press them! Kill them!" Neferet cried out. I looked at her and saw she was getting just a big of a kick as the blood filled darkness.
Okay, I'm done.
"ENOUGH!"
Tendrils of my power shot out and wrapped around everyone who was fighting and yanked them onto their asses.
"We're at a frickin' funeral and you guys are killing one another?" I vented. Sparks of light and darkness were exploding around me with small pops. "I've dealt with enough death and needless violence in the past month than I can frickin' handle!"
Neferet opened her mouth.
"I don't want to hear one more word from you from you…you…Gah!" I was too angry to give her a name.
Light and darkness curled from me like I suddenly turned into an octopus, or a vigintopus since I had more than eight legs, more like twenty legs.
"And what was just randomly swopping in here and raining murder down upon us? Huh?" I asked Kalona. "Did you honestly think 'Oh wow the House of Night and it's having a funeral. Let me swoop down and just cause more destruction and loss.'"
He narrowed his eyes at me.
"Raven, you are in league with Darkness." Neferet said out of nowhere.
"Um, no. I'm not a fan of serving a big white bull who just wants to destroy everything." I said. "I get that your head is rather thick and everything I say is just going through one ear and out the other, but darkness and light are elements can be controlled by anyone, good or bad."
"I have a question Neferet, do you even see the light coming off Ray?" Dominic asked. "How can you say Ray stands with Darkness when she also uses Light?"
Neferet looked at Dominic. I'm sure she was trying to figure out who he was and why he was defending me, something I was questioning a bit.
"Just be quiet Neferet." I said before she could speak. "You're not really fooling anyone. So just quit trying."
I took a deep breath. I closed my eyes and summoned my healing powers because I was tried of looking at everyone who was hurt. Gods, sometimes my heart is way too soft. My hands glowed gold. I cupped my hands together and blew off the gold flames. The fragments sort of grew wings and flapped over to the wounded. The flames curled around them and dissolved the blood and wounds even on Kalona and Rephaim. I could see the relief in their eyes as the pain eased.
"If you guys promise to behave while Stevie Rae explains and does her thing, then I'll let you go. But you attack again and you're back on your asses." I said. "Got it?"
I specifically looked at Kalona and Dragon since they both seemed the most violent out of everyone. They both nodded and I held up my hand and the tendrils unwrapped themselves and curled back to me.
I looked at Stevie Rae and gestured towards them. "Go ahead."
Stevie Rae looked up at Kalona and gulped. She turned to Zoey for comfort.
"Go on. Finish what you started. You can do it." Zoey said.
She turned back to Kalona. "Okay, everybody knows that you used to be Nyx's Warrior, but that you're here 'cause somethin' messed up. It also means that even though you've gone all evil and stuff, you used to know about honor and loyalty and maybe even love. So I have somethin' to tell you about your son, and I want you to listen to me. I don't know how or why it happened, but I love him, and I think he loves me."
"I do." Rephaim said. "I love you, Stevie Rae."
Awwwwww.
Stevie Rae smiled. "Yes, it's weird. No, it's never gonna be a normal relationship, and Goddess knows we're gonna have to deal with lots issues with my friends, but here's what's most important: I can give Rephaim kindness and life where he'll know peace and happiness. But I can't do that unless you do somethin' first. You have to free him, Kalona. You have to let him make his own choice between staying with you or changing his path. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and believe with everything inside me, that somewhere deep inside you is still a tiny sliver of Nyx's Warrior, and that Kalona, the one who protected our Goddess, would do the right thing. Please be that Kalona again, if only just for one second."
Kalona just stared at her without blinking.
Then she spoke again. "Enough of this silly charade. Dragon, exact you revenge on the Raven Mocker. And you, Kalona, you I order to be banished from my side as you were before. Nothing has changed between us."
I watched Neferet draw the yucky darkness from the shadows around her. My own power vibrated through me as I prepared to kick her ass, again.
I didn't need to. Kalona raised his hand. "Halt! I've long allied with Darkness. Obey my command. This is not your battle. Begone!"
"No!" Neferet shrieked like a child because the shadows she summoned had vanished. Ha! "Foolish creature! What are you doing? I ordered you to leave. You must obey my command! I am High Priestess here!"
"I am not under your control! Nor have I ever been." Kalona said with a triumphant smile. He seemed to grow taller and radiated strength and confidence.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Neferet said. She seemed shell shocked. "It is I who was under your control."
Kalona ignored her and turned to look at the fledglings who had eyes as big as saucers. Some of them looked torn between worshipping him or running away screaming all the way.
"Ah, children of Nyx." He had an amused smile curled on his face. "Like me, many of you have stopped listening to your Goddess. When will you learn?"
Kalona glanced at me before turning to Rephaim. "It is true you have Imprinted with the Red One?"
"Yes, Father. It is."
"And you saved her life? More than once?"
"As she has saved mine in turn, more than once. It was she who brought Raven who healed me from the fall. It was she who filled the terrible wound Darkness ripped within me later, after I faced the white bull for her." Rephaim turned to Stevie Rae. "As payment for freeing her from Darkness, she touched me with the power of Light she wields, that of the earth."
"I didn't do that as payment. I did that because I couldn't stand to see you hurtin'," Stevie Rae said.
Slowly Kalona took his hand and place it on Rephaim's shoulder. "You know she can never love you as a woman loves a man? You will forever desire something she cannot, will not, give you."
"Father, what she gives me is more than I have ever known before."
I saw Kalona face twisted pain for a second, but the pain disappeared just quickly as it appeared. "I have given you love my son, my favorite son." He said so softly I wasn't sure if I heard him right.
"Perhaps in another world, another life, that might have been true." Rephaim said in a raspy voice. "In this one you gave me power and discipline and anger, but you did not give me love. Never love."
"Then in this world, in this life, I shall give you one more thing: choice. Choose, Rephaim. Choose between the father you have served and followed faithfully for eons and the power that service has afforded you, and the love of this vampyre High Priestess, who will never be completely yours because she will always, always be horrified by the monster within you."
I bit my lip. Rephaim had to decide on his own.
"I don't see a monster when I look at you-not outside, not inside. So I'm no horrified by you. I love you, Rephaim." She said softly.
"Father," Rephiam said without turning away from Stevie Rae. "I choose Stevie Rae, and the path of the Goddess."
Kalona face broke in a grimace. "Then so be it. From this day forth you are no longer my son."
I gritted my teeth and rolled my eyes. "Look how well that worked for your daughter." I hissed.
Kalona looked at me. It plainly told me that I was not helping. I crossed my arms.
"I would offer you Nyx's blessing, but she no longer hears me." He turned back to Rephaim. "So instead I offer you a piece of advice: if you love her with everything within you, when you realize she does not love you in the same way-and she will not, cannot-it will kill everything in you."
"Thanks Captain Positive." I said. "We'll be sure to keep that advice in mind." I gave him a cheesy smile.
Kalona exhaled sharply. "Raven." He said sternly.
"Yes?" I asked blinking innocently.
"You should really watch your words." He said.
"I know." I said. "But it's kinda hard because I can't see my words."
His amber eyes darkened. I felt him studying me. Probably trying to figure out how come the rest of his kids automatically worshipped him and I didn't or maybe he was figuring out a way to properly discipline me without getting his ass whipped by the elements I control.
He turned from me and faced the fledglings. He threw out his arms and wings and shouted to the sky, "Rephaim is free of me! So I have spoken. So let it be!"
The air quivered and I felt a rush of ancient magic spread from him, almost like his words had broken the invisible link between him and Rephaim.
Still looking like a big bad ass angel, Kalona turned towards Neferet and laughed. He swept his wings down and launched himself into the sky still laughing.
I watched him go, still wondering if there was any good left in him. Surely, releasing Rephaim without even a hissy fit showed that somewhere in that fallen immortal was something still good and untouched by evil, right?
"Now that the immortal has fled, kill his son. I am not fooled by this charade."
I snapped right back into pay attention mode and my powers flared up. Stevie Rae froze in the middling of bending over and swayed dangerously. Rephaim reached over to comfort her that he didn't see Dragon trying again to kill him.
But I didn't have to do anything. Zoey put herself in between Rephaim and those revenge happy Warriors.
"No." Her voice was amplified and the Warriors halted unsure if they should attack or not. "We don't attack people who choose the path of the Goddess." Stark moved to stand at her side and Darius placed himself on Zoey's other side. Both of them had their swords drawn, but they had a hesitant look on their face like they weren't too keen on attacking their brothers.
I marched over and put a hand on Stevie Rae's shoulder. The golden healing fire curled around her and eased her paleness.
"Thanks Ray." She said.
"No problem." I was starting to feel dizzy and fatigued. I probably should tone down the power stuff before I really hurt myself. I stifled a yawn.
"Will you have Warrior turn against Warrior?" Neferet asked Zoey.
"She's not the one who started this." I said. "Rephaim hasn't done anything and you're all gun-ho for killing him." I flared my wings out in irritation.
Dominic put a hand on my shoulder and squeezed it.
"Can you judge what's in another's heart?" Neferet asked with a smug look. "You're a half-breed. You can't claim to have such a divine ability."
I was about to snap at her that I never claimed that ability when there was a big change in the air.
"No, Neferet, Raven cannot claim such a divine ability, but I can."
That yucky darkness vanished and everyone looked around with awe.
"It's Nyx!"
"It's the Goddess!"
"Oh, Blessed be!"
Oh crappies. The Goddess.
She looked a heck of a lot different than the last time I saw her. Her hair was a silverfish-white like the moon and her eyes were black as midnight. The rest of her was sorta of transparent. She sorta of looked like a ghost or spirit.
Someone stepped out from behind her and she wasn't mortal either. A silver-white light shown from her pale skin and curly brown hair. She had a circlet of silver around her head with a crescent moon in the middle of her head, but unlike the vampyre's crescent moon tattoos hers had the two points pointed up at the sky, kinda of like Sailor Moon's moon mark thing. She was covered with toga and had arm and wrist bands. She wore sandals and had a silver bow thrown in one hand.
"Hello Artemis." I said.
She just grinned and walked over to me.
"Well this is embarrassing, but I'm completely irresponsible and forgot to tell you something rather important." She said. She took my moonstone and held it at eye level. For the first time I noticed that the light had dimmed since I first received it. "The moonstone protects you while you astral project, but its magic does wear off over time."
"Great." I mumbled. I could have astral projected and killed myself.
"It's an easy fix though you just need to leave it in moonlight for an half an hour or so. Just until it glows again." She said.
I blew my bangs out of my face. "So, try not to astral project until the next full moon?"
"You probably should start trying to control that power." She said with a smile. "I suggest you start trying to mediate."
Sitting still. Oh boy.
She nodded at Snap. "Your spirit guide will help out."
I looked at Snap. "She's my what?"
She just licked her front paw and wiped her ear. "You honestly think that Nyx or even Artemis would be so irresponsible as to leave someone like you unprotected?"
"What does that mean?" I asked.
She just looked at me.
"Having problems Raven?" Nyx asked in a gentle voice.
"Just my cat." I said.
She smiled. "She is a delightful creature."
"Sure." I said. "When she's not being vague or spoiled."
Snap nudged my calf and rubbed her chin against my leg.
Nyx chuckled. Artemis nudged my elbow. I just gave the moon/huntress goddess a look.
Should I be so disrespectful to a goddess? Eh. If mythology was right she technically was only half divine.
Nyx then turned to Zoey.
"Merry meet, my Goddess." Zoey said.
"Merry meet, Zoey Redbird." Nyx said returning Zoey's grin.
Nyx then turned to the rest of her children. "Much has happened here this night. Spirit-altering choices were made, which means, for some of you, new life paths have opened. For others, your paths have been sealed, your choices made long ago. And yet others of you are at a life precipice."
She then turned to Neferet.
Yes! 'Bout time.
Neferet bowed her head.
"You have changed, daughter. You are not as you once were. Truly, can I still call you daughter?"
"Nyx! Great Goddess! How could I not be your daughter?"
I resisted the urge to slap my forehead. Her pants need to spontaneously combust.
"Tonight you asked for forgiveness. Zoey gave one answer. I shall give you another. Forgiveness is a very special gift, and it must be earned."
"I ask humbly that you share that special gift with me, Nyx." Her face was still hidden by her hair.
"When you earn the gift, you will receive it." Nyx said. She then turned to Dragon. "Your Anastasia is free of pain and remorse. Will you make Damien's choice, and learn to rejoice in the love you had and move on, or will your choice destroy that which she loved about you-your ability to be both strong and merciful?"
Dragon did not answer. I really hope he would be okay. He seemed like great person.
"Rephaim."
My stomach tightened.
"Relax." Artemis whispered.
"I can't. It's impossible for me to relax." I whispered back. This was my brother. He's chosen a life without obeying and serving Kalona so she shouldn't grill him to bad. Right?
"Please don't look at me!" Rephaim said.
Dammit. I want to give him a hug.
"Don't worry. She's not here to punish you." Stevie Rae said.
"And how do you know that, young High Priestess?"
"'Cause you can see into his heart, and I know what you'll find there."
"What do you believe is in the Raven Mocker's heart, Stevie Rae?"
"Goodness. And I don't think he's a Raven Mocker anymore. His daddy released him. So now I think he's a-a new kinda, uh, boy-who's-never-been-before." She said.
"I see you are bound to him."
"I am." Stevie Rae said.
"Even if your bond means splitting this House of Night, and perhaps this world, in two?"
"My mama used to prune her roses real fierce, and I thought she was gonna hurt them, maybe kill them. When I asked her about it she told me sometimes you have to cut away the old stuff to make room for the new. Maybe it's time to cut away some old stuff." Stevie Rae.
I vote we start with Neferet being in power.
Rephaim put his hand over his heart and bowed to Nyx. "Merry meet, Goddess Nyx."
"Merry meet, Rephaim," She said. "You are the only one of Kalona's sons to turn from the rage and pain of your conception, and the hatred that has filled your long life, and seek Light."
I still have a question, why am I different? I was created in the same conditions so why am I different? Is it just because I'm female or did something happen else?
"None of the others had Stevie Rae." He said.
"It is true that she influenced your choice, but you had to be open to her and respond with Light instead of Darkness."
"That hasn't always been my choice. In the past I've done terrible things. These Warriors are right to want me dead." Rephaim said.
"Do you regret your past?"
"I do."
"Do you choose a new future where you pledge yourself to my path?"
"I do."
"Rephaim, son of the fallen immortal Warrior Kalona, I accept you into my service, and I forgive you for the mistakes of your past."
"Thank you, Nyx." Rephaim said with a rough voice.
My heart swelled. I want to give him a damn hug!
"Will you thank me when I tell you that though I forgive you and accept you, there are consequences you must pay for the choices of your past?"
"No matter what comes next, for an eternity I will thank you. This I swear."
"Let us hope that you will have many, many years to live up to your oath. Know then that this is your consequence." She raised her arms and it looked like she was cupping a handful of stars in her hands. "Because you have awakened the humanity within you, I will, each night from setting sun to rising sun, gift you with this: the true form you deserve."
A glowing light gathered in her hands at Rephaim. Pulsing light spread outwards from his heart. I watched his beak shrink and hair sprout from his head. His talons shrunk to normal fingernail and his legs stretched out to normal. His feathers disappeared and he collapsed to the ground.
"To atone for your past, by day you will lose your true form and return to that of the raven, who knows nothing except the base desires of a beast. Consider well how you use your humanity. Learn from the past and balance the beast. So I have spoken-so mote it be!"
"Just remember that you can still communicate with your sister." Artemis added gently.
Rephaim just blinked. I noticed that his eyes were a normal eyes color unlike mine.
Lucky.
Nyx turned to the other fledglings. "I leave the rest of you with my love, if you so choose to accept it, and my desire that you will always blessed be."
Nyx then vanished in a flash of blinding light.
Artemis sighed. "Pureblood divine never understand that there are less flashy ways to transport between realms." She sorta of skipped to where Nyx had vanished.
"Wait, I still have a ton of questions!" I said.
"And life will give you answers." She said sagely. "You need to have more faith in yourself Raven."
"I know."
"Then why do we continuing have to keep reminding you?" She asked.
"It just doesn't seem smart to give a bunch of responsibility to a child who also happens to be half-breed."
She smiled. "I'm responsible for all the animals, the moon, hunting, the wilderness, childbirth, virginity, and young girls and I'm a half-breed just like you."
She made my situation sound like a breeze.
She just grinned and looked like a little girl herself. "Blessed be, Raven!"
"Blessed be." I said.
She twirled and disappeared in a cloud of shimmering dust.
I blew at my bangs again.
I turned to check on Rephaim. He was still on the ground. He looked a little stunned, but otherwise he was fine. Good. I was glad he was fine. I don't think I had the energy to heal him.
"What has happened?" He asked.
Stevie Rae just blubbered.
"You're human." I said. "Or human looking. I mean, I was human looking until I shifted into a panther and went to the Otherworld and…"
Dominic put his hand over his mouth. "You're starting to stress rant again."
"Whoops." I mumbled into his hand. I looked at Rephaim. "Sorry." I realized Dominic still had his hand over my mouth. I grabbed his wrist and tugged his hand off. "Sorry. I didn't mean to stress rant."
Zoey went over and helped him up.
"I'm human. Completely human." Rephaim stared down at his body.
"Yeah, you are, but only during the nighttime." Zoey said. "During the day you're gonna be completely raven."
"That's not fair." I said. "I get to stay in this body all the time and he doesn't."
Dominic tugged on my wings. "At least he looks normal."
"So I have wings. What's so weird about that?" I asked.
Dominic rolled his eyes.
Rephaim crossed over and kissed Stevie Rae right on the mouth. I suppressed my gag reflex. Kissing is just gross.
"Wait. There's something I have to do." He said after kissing her.
Rephaim walked over to Dragon. My skin prickled. Oh boy. This was not going to end well.
"I have caused you great loss. I make no excuses for what I was. I can only tell you that I was wrong. I do not ask you to forgive me as the Goddess has." Rephaim sank down to one knee. "What I ask is that you allow me to repay the life debt I owe you by serving you. If you accept me, for as long as I breathe I will, with my actions and my honor, attempt to atone for the loss of your mate."
Emotions danced across Dragon's face. He finally settled on an emotion: cold determination.
"Get off your knees, creatures." Dragon's voice was cold. "I cannot accept your oath. I cannot bear to look at you. I will not allow you to serve me."
"Dragon, think about what you're saying," Zoey said standing at Rephaim's side with Stark at her side. "I know it's hard-I know what it's like to lose someone you love, but you have to make a choice about how you go on from there, and it feels like you're choosing Darkness instead of Light."
Dragon's eyes looked at her with an unbelievably cruel look. "You say you know what it's like to lose a love? How long did you love that human boy? Less than a decade! Anastasia was my mate for more than a century."
Zoey flinched at his cold words. Stark moved closer to Zoey narrowing his eyes at the Sword Master.
I didn't realize I was marching over to him until I was right in front of him and my hand smacked across his face.
I'm pretty sure everyone gasped at the same time.
"How dare you." I said in a low voice. "How dare you assume that just because you knew Anastasia longer than Zoey knew Heath that your loss is greater than hers! I've lost important people too. You don't see me going around acting like a fucking jackass. You're older than us! Act your age and stop being so selfish! Grow-up!"
He just sort of stood there looking just as stunned as everyone else was. But he was acting like a child and someone needed to have the guts to tell him so.
Neferet glided over to his side and touched his arm.
"That is why children cannot possibly lead a House of Night."
When did I say I was going to lead the House of Night? God this bitch gives me a headache.
She then looked at Zoey. "Nor can a child be a true High Priestess, no matter how indulgent our Goddess is."
Headache. Headache. Headache. The word pulsed in my head and made my throbbing headache worse.
"Hang on there a sec, Hateful." Aphrodite said. "I don't remember Nyx actually saying she'd forgiven you. She talked about ifs and gifts, but correct me if I'm wrong, no hey there, Neferet, you're forgiven."
"You do not belong at this school!" Neferet yelled at her. "You are not a fledgling anymore!"
"No, she's a Prophetess, remember?" Zoey said sounding wise and calm especially after Neferet's hissy fit. "Even the High Council has said so."
Neferet ignored her and turned to the easily lead fledglings and vamps. "Do you see how they twist the words of the Goddess, even just moments after she has appeared to us?"
Where's a cement wall? I need to pound my head into something.
"No one's twisting anything." Zoey said. "Nyx forgave Rephaim and changed him into a kid. She also reminded Dragon he had a choice to make about his future. And she let you know forgiveness is a gift from her that has to be earned. That's all I'm saying. That's all any of us is saying."
Again Neferet ignored her. Gods. Couldn't people tell something was wrong with her? She never confronts anyone when they point out the painfully right.
"Dragon Lankford, as Sword Master and leader of this House of Night's Sons of Erebus, do you accept this-" She paused and looked down at Rephaim with sheer loathing. "-this aberration as one of your own?"
"No." Dragon said (big shocker). "No, I cannot accept him."
"Then I cannot accept him, either. Rephaim, you will not be allowed to remain at this House of Night. Begone, foul creature, and atone for your past elsewhere."
"I see you for what you are." Rephaim answered.
"Begone!" She shrieked.
Rephaim started backing away. Stevie Rae took his hand and he paused.
"Where you go, I go." She said.
Rephaim shook his head. "I don't want you to be kicked out of your home because of me."
Stevie Rae gently touched his face. "Don't you know that home is wherever you are?"
Rephaim nodded and then smiled at her.
"I'm goin' with him. I'm gonna start another House of Night in the tunnels under the depot. It's not as nice there as it is here, but it's a whole heck of a lot friendlier." Stevie Rae shouted to the crowd.
"You cannot begin a House of Night without the approval of the High Council." Neferet snapped.
People began whispering among themselves.
"If you have a vampyre queen, and you agree to stay out of vampyre politics, the High Council will pretty much leave you alone." Zoey smiled at Stevie Rae. "Coincidentally enough, I have just been kinda sorta made a queen. How 'bout I come with you and Rephaim? I'll take friendly over fancy any day."
"This place doesn't seem half-breed friendly." I said. "I'm out. Let's go home."
"I'll come, too." Damian said. He glanced at the still smoldering pyre. "I choose to make a fresh start."
"We're coming." Shaunee said.
"Ditto, Twin." Erin echoed. "Our room was too small here, anyway."
"But we'll come back for our stuff." Shaunee said.
"Oh, hells yes." Erin agreed.
"Shit." Aphrodite said. "I knew it when this night blew up. I just knew it. It sucks like Tulsa not having a Nordstrom, but I'm damn sure not staying here, either." She then leaned against her Warrior and sighed dramatically.
The other red fledglings walked away from the others and stood with us.
"Does this mean I can't be Poet Laureate of all the vampyres?" Kramisha asked.
"No one but Nyx can take that away from you." Zoey said.
"Good. She was just here and she didn't fire me. So I guess I'm okay." Karmisha said.
"You're nothing if you leave! None of you are!" Neferet spat.
"Fine by me." I said. "Let's go. I'm hungry and I'm tired." I hugged Dominic's arm.
"Well, Neferet, it's like this." Zoey said. "Sometimes nothing and your friends equals a whole lot of something."
"That doesn't even make sense." Neferet said.
"To you it wouldn't." Rephaim put an arm around Stevie Rae's shoulders.
"Let's go." Stevie Rae said.
"Finally." I said.
"Sounds good to me." Zoey said.
"Sounds like we got us a bunch of cleaning to do to me." Kramisha muttered.
I sighed. "I just want to nap."
Dominic smiled and curled an arm around my waist. He began walking me with the rest towards the exit.
"The Vampyre High Council will hear of this." Neferet called after us.
"Yeah, well, we won't be hard to reach. We have internet and everything. Plus, a bunch of us will be back because we'll be taking classes. This is still our school, even if it isn't our home."
"Oh, great. It's like we're being bussed in from the fucking projects." Aphrodite said.
"What are the projects?" Rehpaim asked Stevie Rae.
"It means we're comin' from a totally different place that some people don't think is so great."
"I'm hoping for urban renewal." Aphrodite grumbled.
Rephaim still looked confused.
"Don't worry. We'll help you out." I said. I suddenly reached over and hugged him. "I've been wanting to do that since the Otherworld."
He laughed and hugged me back.
"By the way Ray," Shaunee started.
"What's up with bitch slapping Dragon?" Erin finished.
"I smacked him." I argued. "He wasn't listening to us so I figured I smacked some sense into him since no one else was going to."
Dominic smacked his palm against his face.
"What?"
He wiped his hand down his face. "You. Are. Reckless."
I gave him a clueless look. "Your point?"
He sighed. "Nyx give me strength."
"Why are you asking Nyx to give you strength?" I asked.
I swear everyone face-palmed.
I gave him a huge smile. He sighed against and hugged me tightly to his side.
"You are way too damn cute sometimes." He muttered in my ear.
I blushed. "So?"
He kissed my temple.
I looked around. We didn't act or look like some kids that had been booted out of boarding school. We looked more like a family.
I smiled.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
And Immortal's Daughter is finished, pretty much. There will be a little extra chapter that tells how Raven's mom died, but pretty much Raven's part is done. You can skip over the last and just go the sequel whose prologue I will post the same time as the last little chapter.
Thanks for reviewing! Glad you all have it enjoyed it so much!