Disclaimer- I don't own the House of Night or any of the Characters, they belong to the Cast's.

I woke up sweating. I was having that dream again! Well it wasn't really the same dream it was just always about the same person. I didn't even know the girl so I wasn't sure why I kept dreaming about her. She was beautiful even though she was so young. I was guessing only fifteen. Her skin was a light olive color, her hair was long and dark like mine falling down around her in beautiful silky waves. Her eyes were a dark chocolate brown, but at the same time they reminded me of liquid kind of like hot fudge. Most of the time the dreams were pleasant, just pieces of her life, like her playing the guitar, her singing, or her playing soccer. Tonight however hadn't been pleasant. I could feel the fear pulsing around her as she ran through the woods at inhuman speeds though she was definitely still human. The forest around her was dark, but moonlight still managed to spill through the tree's giving me just enough light to see what was going on around her. It appeared that she wasn't alone, that there was some kind of animal with her, and then just as quickly as I had spotted the creature it disappeared as if turning into wind and reappeared in front of her only to disappear again.

She had stopped in the deepest part of the forest settling down between two trees and bringing her knees up to her chest. I noticed that bruises and cuts covered her arms and legs from running through the thick shrubbery and trees, but there seemed to be more pain than that. Her body was hurting, but not nearly as much as her heart. It was literally breaking and the poor thing was terrified.

I looked at the ceiling as Nala crawled across my chest complaining at me.

"Yeah, I know," I said scratching her lovingly behind the ear. She hated when I had nightmares. I wasn't particularly fond of them either. I had way too much going on and did not have time to be trying to figure freaky dreams out as well! I supposed I could go see Natasha, but that would require me spending the night with her and I wasn't sure I was really up to it. I like sleeping in my room and I wasn't sure there was really any danger in the dreams. They were just annoying.

The House of Night had been crazy since we had returned a month ago. Both Neferet and Natasha were settling into their new roles perfectly. Natasha had even taken on a few new fledglings to mentor as they entered the House of Night on top of mentoring Aphrodite who had chosen to stay with Natasha rather than go back with Neferet. I couldn't really blame her. Neferet may be back to normal but Aphrodite was still human and I think that made her leery of Neferet. Though Neferet never said it out loud I knew she still had her own issues to deal with about the human race and that was only natural with what she had suffered at her father's hand.

I myself was having my own issues with a few humans. First there was my mom and the step-loser who hadn't let the matter of her kidnapping go. The school as well as the Council had been working relentlessly with Detective Marks and other law officials to come to some sort of compromise. My family of course wanted Neferet as well as me (eye roll) punished to the fullest extent of the law. The Council, however, was not willing to negotiate to such extreme levels. Neferet had been brought before their court and that was what mattered to them. They had passed their own sentence on her, which was completely confidential between the Council and Neferet. This did not please the step-lose one bit.

Besides my parents was Heath. He had been adamant about seeing me and spending time with me since we returned from Italy. Of course both Neferet and Natasha had forbid it for obvious reasons.

"It is not appropriate for a student to be drinking directly from a human," Natasha had said.

"When you have made the change we will discuss it further, but for now there is no need for you to have a human consort," Neferet had told me.

This hadn't stopped Heath from trying. Though our imprint had been weakened through our separation it was still incredibly strong considering it was the second time we had made the imprint. Every time I left the school he seemed to know and find me. I had even tried focusing on other things as I left the school grounds. It never seemed to help.

He would show up at any dining area or store I went to and like clockwork he was at the Abby Cat every Saturday Night! All of this only made my Stark and Erik problems more complicated. They had been getting along and even working with each other since we had returned. Apparently they had bonded during the time I was injured. Not to say they were buddy buddy, but there was no open animosity between them. However, the competition between them was still way evident and extremely frustrating sometimes.

Aphrodite had said she couldn't understand why I was complaining about having two very hot guys doting on me.

"Maybe because I'm not a hoe like you?" I had responded.

She snorted through her nose, "That may have been true once, but you know I see no one beside Darius now."

That was completely true. They had become even more serious since our arrival back at the school if that were possible. I was amazed at Aphrodite's effort to make things work. I could tell she really liked Darius, and I wasn't certain, but I thought that maybe those feelings were starting to turn to love.

Neither Neferet nor Natasha seemed to know what to do about Aphrodite's imprint with Stevie Rae except to hope that with time it would fade. Aphrodite had suggested just letting someone else drink from her (and by someone I mean Darius), but none of us thought that was a good idea. There was too much at risk with breaking an imprint and a lot of damage could be done to both the human and the vampyre.

On a brighter note, Stevie Rae had finally begun teaching her vamp soc class to the red fledglings and was made a priestess herself, in charge of overseeing all the red fledglings. This, however, was an extremely hard task. The Council was intrusting Stevie Rae with a lot of power. It was her job to lead the red fledglings to make the right decisions, but should she feel that it was hopeless it was up to her to notify the Council or the other High Priestesses of the school.

On top of all this drama was my Priestess in training program which had become more intense. I spent my first two hours in Neferet's office (though for the first hour of it she was busy teaching vamp soc) every morning working on focusing my affinities for the five elements and on meditating. Consequently I had become much better at it sense defeating Kalona. It took far less time to focus the elements and it drained way less of my energy to do it. Neferet figured it wouldn't be long until I was ready to try more than one element at a time, or a combined use of two or more. I was interested to see what that would do, but not nearly as excited to think about how draining that would be once again. I also was still spending my fifth hour doing Dark Daughter stuff. We had had a very inspirational full moon ritual last week and more fledglings were joining our group. Besides the work at the Abby Cat, Natasha had requested that we try to get involved with more charities to help break the isolation between us and the rest of Tulsa. Neferet had agreed reluctantly, not because of her dislike for humans, but because she was worried about our safety. As I said things were still extremely tense because of all that had happened with Kalona. They trusted Sister Mary Angela, but having us do charity work anywhere else made Neferet a little apprehensive. Her compromise? That we have protection. So we were now working at a soup kitchen every other Sunday for an hour or so under the watchful eyes of Darius, Stark and Erik.

I sat up lifting Nala off of me and climbed out of bed. I had showered the night before so I wouldn't have to get up too early. I was exhausted and these dreams only made it worse. Still I didn't have any demons or fallen angels to fight anymore, so overall I was in a lot better shape. I walked to my dresser grabbing my clothes off the top that I had already picked out last night and quickly changed pulling my hair back. I noticed briefly my scars and sighed. They were both still quite visible, but not nearly as bad as they had been. I no longer felt the need to burst into tears every time I looked at them anyway. I slipped my shoes on and left my room heading down the stairs.

"Well, look who finally woke up?" Shaunee said smiling at me from one of the couches.

"Hey sleepy head," Erin chimed in taking a bite of toast. "We thought we were gonna have to come wake you up."

"Nah," I yawned pouring myself a bowl of Count Choculah, "just a slow morning."

"And a rainy one," Damien grimaced walking in with jack their hair dripping from their recent walk to the girls dorms.

"Twin, we're going to need an umbrella," Shaunee said.

"Dually noted, twin," Erin said rummaging through her purse and pulling out a mini umbrella.

"You might need a bigger one than that," Jack said drying himself off with a towel.

I looked out the window. It was raining pretty hard, but at least it was warm out. Spring had finally arrived and though we still had a few cool days at least there was no more snow or ice.

I finished eating my bowl of cereal and then rinsed it in the sink and grabbed a can of brown pop. I had a feeling I was going to need an extra jolt today to get going.

"Uhg, I so do not want to walk in that!" Aphrodite complained coming down the stairs.

I looked at my watch, "I really don't have a choice, I'm going to be late if I don't go now," I grimaced.

"Yeah, that sucks," Aphrodite said sarcastically.

"Thanks," I glared at her.

"You're welcome," she fake smiled back.

I rolled my eyes at her, "I'll see you all at lunch." I took another sip of pop and ran out the door. The rain soaked me instantly and I groaned. Why did we need rain? Ok I knew why we needed it, but still, did it have to be so inconvenient?

I ran across the campus making my way to the temple and to the second floor where Neferet's office was. Since there were two High Priestesses Neferet and Natasha were now sharing the apartment space above Nyx's temple. I found Neferet's office easily and walked in.

"Good morning, Zoey," she said before I had even made it completely through the door.

"Morning," I said yawning.

"Didn't you sleep well?" she asked curiously.

"Yeah, actually I over slept," I said shrugging, "I guess I'm just still a little sleepy."

She smiled, "Well let's get started so that I can fill you in on what you will be doing today before I have to leave to teach my class."

I nodded at her, "Don't we have a new fledgling coming today?" I asked. Nyx had shown Neferet that another teenage girl would be Marked. Both she and Natasha had been showing me how it is handled once we are informed that a new student will be joining us.

"No," Neferet said softly. "She didn't make it."

"What?" I asked looking up at her.

"She rejected the change before she reached us," Neferet said sadly, "Unfortunately it happens."

"That often?" I asked feeling bewildered. This was the second time in the last month that a fledgling had died before they reached us. Both had been girls. The last one had been found in her room by her parents in a pool of blood. I couldn't even begin to imagine what the poor girl had gone through dying alone like that, how scared she must have been.

It's rare, but it does happen," Neferet said thoughtfully. "Usually we at least get the new student before they begin to reject the change," she said pulling her eyebrows together. I could tell it was bothering her more than she was letting on. She looked at me then and let out a sigh. "There is nothing we can do for her now, Zoey," she said brushing my arm gently as she walked by.

I nodded. In a way I was glad she hadn't died here, I was glad that no one here had died since we had returned. Both Natasha and Neferet had agreed I needed to take a more active role in the responsibilities of a Priestess, which meant that when a fledgling died, I would need to be there and I would also have to help Neferet attend to the body. I wasn't really looking forward to that part.

Neferet stopped in front of her desk and handed me a book. "I want you to focus on meditation while I'm gone, but I want you to try these new techniques. I have marked four I want you to read and try out. After you're through I want you to write down the benefits of each way. What helped you and what didn't? You have done great with meditation thus far, but you never know what will help take you to the next level. Often times we find that certain techniques from one work well with techniques from another. We will go over your findings when I return," she smiled at me and then walked out the door.

I frowned looking at the book in my hands as I opened it. The first meditation technique reminded me of yoga and involved doing several stretches to increase your breathing capacity. I looked at the poses and shook my head.

"Sometimes, I think she thinks of this stuff on purpose," I whispered to myself as I set the book down and started to stretch. I breathed deeply as the book had instructed and let the air from my breath fill the pose, which looked absolutely ridiculous I'm sure. I was lying on my stomach with my legs bent skyward. My arms were reached back grabbing my ankles. I shut my eyes and began to concentrate on just my breathing and nothing else. The book said to make sure I was completely calm before I began to think of Nyx. Once I could no longer hold the pose I was to switch to the next one.

I stayed in this position for several long minutes and then rolled to my back bringing my arms back as far as they would go behind my head. This pose actually felt really good and I could feel myself beginning to relax. I took several deep breathes clearing my mind…

She was running again and I could hear the voices somewhere behind her. She was still deep in the woods and she was still hurting. She was tired of running and she was hungry. I watched as a wolf materialized out of thin air next to her and growled. She looked at it unafraid and I realized it was protecting her. Strange…

I sat up panting. I hadn't even been asleep that time and having visions was supposed to be Aphrodite's thing! What was going on? Who was this girl and why did I keep seeing her? There was definitely something different about her. She appeared to be human, but last night in the dream she had been running super fast. Faster than I have ever seen a Vamp run and I was guessing the creatures I had seen around her last night had been the wolves? I rubbed my face trying to get my thoughts together. It was just my imagination, it had to be. I didn't have visions so my mind must have just wandered over to the dream. Yes, I would go with that.

I stood up walking back to the desk and grabbing the book. I would try out the next technique because this one didn't seem to be helping me. Then I gripped the desk…

She was running across an old wooden bridge. They were gaining on her. She didn't want to die and she was so scared. She could hear the voices, they were louder now. "Marla!" one of them yelled. She wasn't going to make it! Then the bridge collapsed and she was in the water. She wanted to scream, but she knew that it was better to drown than it would be for one of them to find her. She held her breath and dove under the water swimming with all her might. The water was cold and it hurt her already injured body, but she had to keep trying…

I was shaking, literally shaking! This was ridiculous! Ok, I couldn't attribute that one to the stretching or my imagination. I sat at the desk and flipped open the notebook I was supposed to use to write down my findings and stared at the blank page as the bell rang. I had only gotten through one technique.

Neferet entered the room so quietly I barely heard her. She walked over placing both hands on my shoulders and looked down at the paper.

"Having problems concentrating today?" She asked turning me to face her and lifting my chin so that our eyes met. I swear sometimes it was like her eyes could see right through you.

"A little," I confessed.

"Anything you want to tell me?" She asked raising an eyebrow. "About Heath maybe?" she suggested.

Ah, crap! I had completely forgotten about Heath showing up yesterday when the twins, Stevie Rae, Damien, Jack and I had snuck out to get an ice cream. We hadn't thought it would be a big deal and it wouldn't have been had Heath not shown up.

We had the usual conversation of why I couldn't be with him which he didn't count as a good enough reason.

"You've snuck around with me before," he had protested.

I tried to explain that these weren't the same circumstances. Plus now I had two high Priestesses breathing down my neck!

I looked up at Neferet who was waiting patiently though I knew she already had an Idea of what had happened.

I sighed completely forgetting about the girl and the dreams and launched into the whole story, "Heath showed up at the ice cream parlor last night. It was pretty much just a repeat of what has happened the last several times I've left the School. We fought about why we can't be together and I told him to leave.

"Is that all that happened?" She asked very slowly. I hated when Vamps asked you a direct question. It was almost impossible to lie to them and now that Neferet was back working for Nyx it seemed even harder to lie to her than before!

Though my mind was still pretty much blocked from her, I didn't seem to have as much protection from her intuitive power as I did before. She had become very good at detecting subtle changes in my behavior or expressions.

I grimaced. That wasn't all that had happened. Heath had resorted to the one defense he knew I'd have a hard time fighting off. He cut himself. The smell of his blood had been overpowering and had Stevie Rae not walked out at that moment I probably wouldn't have been able to resist.

"He tried to get me to drink from him," I finally admitted. "But I didn't and we sent him away and came right back here. So it all worked out fine," I added quickly.

She walked around her desk taking a seat opposite of me as Skylar and Nala walked into the room. "Hello, my darling," she cued at the cat scooping him into her arms before returning her attention to me.

"Zoey, this is becoming a real problem," she said petting Skylar absently as Nala leaped into my lap as well. "Do you know what could have happened had you drank from him in a public place like that?" She asked her voice stern as she gazed at me.

I frowned. I knew she was right. There had been a few stares in our direction when he had cut himself, and with all the tension around us still, it could have turned into an ugly situation had someone actually saw me drink his blood. Some humans may be tolerant, but most were scared of us.

"I do not wish to be called to the infirmary to attend to my fledgling because that boy enticed you into a dangerous situation!" She said her eyes narrowing.

"I know Neferet," I whispered softly.

Her eyes softened, "Zoey, I just don't want to see you get hurt, and this boy is being completely reckless."

No, I didn't think about the next words that came out of my mouth, I just said them! "Maybe, if I was just spent time with him, found a way to be with him out of the public eye it would make things better," I said thinking about the smell of his blood that was still very much engrained into my memory from the night before.

I think Neferet almost laughed at my obvious lack of thought in my statement, but instead she just smiled at me shaking her head, "Zoey, you know that is not possible."

"Neferet, I know you said I'm too young for a consort, but maybe it would help things," I pressed on anyway.

She stood holding on to Skylar and motioned for me to rise as well. "It's not just about you being too young. Having a consort is extremely complicated, even for an adult Vampyre." She leaned over her desk, "tell you what," she said writing a note on a pad of paper. "Today in Vamp Soc we will be having a history lesson, so instead of going to class I am going to give you a history assignment of your own." She ripped a piece paper off the pad and handed it to me. "Take this to the library. I've written down a couple of books I want you to research and then I want you to write me a paper on the benefits as well as the dangers of having a human consort," she said smiling. "Due tomorrow morning," she added briskly.

I stood there gaping at her with my mouth hanging open. Me and my big mouth! I should have just let things be. She laughed a little brushing my cheek as she watched my face. "Go on, I'm sure I will see you later this afternoon," she said turning me towards the door and giving me a little push in a motherly way.

I grumbled all the way to the library until Nala started complaining at me, again. Of course it was still raining which wasn't helping my mood.

"Sorry," I whispered to her walking through the library door and heading to the section Neferet had specified. I set Nala down and began scanning the shelves. I found the first two books easily, but the third was not where it was supposed to be, or rather where I thought it should be.

"Need some help?" Erik asked leaning casually against one of the shelves looking extremely gorgeous. I hadn't even heard him approaching. "Aren't you supposed to be in class?" He asked smiling at my annoyed expression as I rummaged through the book shelf.

"Neferet gave me a special assignment," I said handing him the slip of paper.

"Ah, human consorts," he said reading the reference numbers. "More Heath trouble?" He asked pulling the last book from the top shelf and handing it to me.

"He showed up again last night," I said opening the book and scanning the table of contents. This book was called, 'High Priestesses and Their Consorts, A History,' very original. The first chapter explained how the relationship between humans and High Priestess came to be. I looked ahead, the next chapter which outlined why having a consort was useful and the benefits of human blood. Some of this I already knew, but I expected there was more if Neferet assigned me the book.

"You know, I've always said that our friend Heath just doesn't know how to take a hint," Erik said, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Yeah, well I can think of another guy who, when it comes to me, can be rather stubborn," I said giving him a small smile.

He laughed. "You know it's different for us," he said stepping closer causing my body to tense in anticipation. He felt it too and smiled bringing his hand to cup my cheek. He tilted my face up and kissed me softly, but passionately on the lips. I sighed as he pulled back, but left his hand on my face gazing into my eyes. "See?" He questioned smiling. "There is still something between us, and that's with no blood involved. Can you say the same about Heath?"

I thought about it. I cared about Heath, I really did. We had known each other forever and there would always be a bond there, a friendship. But if his blood weren't involved would the feelings I have him match the feelings I have for Stark or Erik? I wasn't certain of that.

Erik nodded seeming to understand the conflict that was going on in my mind. "So what all did Neferet assign you?" He asked.

"A Paper on the benefits and dangers of having a human consort," I said looking at the books once more. "Looks like I won't be able to watch movies with all of you tonight," I said grudgingly.

"Yes, but on the bright side, you have been able to spend this whole hour with me," he said smiling.

I rolled my eyes smacking him playfully, "I was really looking forward to it. It's been forever since we all got together for a movie night."

"I'm not sure why we didn't wait till tomorrow night anyway," he said shrugging. "It's a school night and tomorrow night begins the weekend."

"Yeah, I guess we really didn't think that part through," I laughed picking up my books and a whining Nala.

He smiled, "Come on, I'll walk you to the cafeteria," he said glancing at his watch. "The bell is going to ring in about ten minutes anyway."

"Already?" I asked in disbelief. This morning was flying by!

"Hey, perk up," he said looking out the window and then back at me. "At least it's not raining anymore," he picked up a strand of my wet hair rolling it between his fingers.

"I guess that is a plus," I said dryly and he laughed.

We made it to the cafeteria just as the bell ending third period sounded so I was the first one there.

"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow since you won't be joining us tonight," Erik said softly.

"Aren't you coming in?" I asked. Though Erik, Stevie Rae, Stark and Darius could eat in the staff dining room, they usually chose to eat with us.

"No, I'm have lunch with Dragon today," he shrugged. "He has some things he's been meaning to discuss with me about one of the new students who is transferring in, O'ryan. Apparently he's very good in drama."

"Oh yeah, Neferet told me about him," I said quickly. "His parents are moving in two weeks so he is transferring here to be closer to them, right?"

"That's what I've heard," he said smiling, "Anyway, I'll see you later, Z," he leaned down kissing me gently on the cheek and then walked off.

"Spending time with Erik?" Aphrodite asked walking around the corner.

"How long have you been standing there?" I asked rolling my eyes.

"Long enough," she said, simply walking past me towards our regular table as other students began filing in.

"I just ran into him in the library and we spent some time talking," I said grabbing a brown pop on the way and then sitting next to her.

"And?" She questioned.

"And, he kissed me, but it was for educational purposes," I said trying to defend myself.

She laughed, "of course it was, why else would you kiss a hot guy."

"Hey, ya'll," Stevie Rae said walking in with Shaunee and Erin.

"Hey," I said scooting over so that she could sit down.

"I'm glad this rain stopped," Erin said running her fingers through her hair.

"You can say that again," Shaunee said sitting down.

"So did anyone decide what we're watching tonight?" Erin asked.

I frowned, "Ummm, guys, I don't think I'm going to be able to go," I said quietly.

"What?" The twins said in unison.

"But, Z, it's been forever since we had a movie night," Stevie Rae said looking disappointed.

"I know, but I kind of got in trouble about the whole Heath thing and Neferet assigned me a paper to write on human consorts, due tomorrow morning."

"What happened?" Damien said sitting down with Jack.

"Z, can't come tonight, because Neferet assigned her a paper," Shaunee recapped.

"I told you human boy was trouble," Aphrodite said with an 'I told you so' expression.

"I thought Neferet couldn't read your mind?" Jack questioned.

"She can't," I said taking a sip of my pop. "At least not like she can read other people's minds, but she has gotten very good at just reading me in general. Plus, your guise's minds aren't blocked from her and since we no longer have anything to hide…"

"We wouldn't be keeping our guard up," Damien finished. "Sorry, Z."

"It's all right. It's probably better that she found out anyway. Besides she didn't give me the paper until I decided to try and argue the point."

"You argued with a High Priestess?" Stark asked looking amused sitting down with Darius. He handed me a plate of spaghetti and then took a bite of his own food.

I smiled at him taking a bite before I answered. "It wasn't really an argument, I just kind of questioned what she and Natasha have been saying, so she's making me research my own answers," I grimaced. "The point is I'm not going to make it tonight," I said rolling my eyes and blowing out a slow puff of air.

"It's cool," Shaunee said.

"Yeah, we can do something tomorrow night, Z," Erin added.

"We could go out and see a movie," Jack suggested.

"I like that idea," Aphrodite said winking at Darius.

"As long as we can find away to keep Heath from me," I said taking another bite of food. "I really don't need any more problems."

"I will keep the young man from you if that is your wish," Darius said and I smiled.

"So it's settled," Stark said, "tomorrow we'll all go to the movies."