Fencing went by just as fast as the last three hours. Dragon ran us through drills until I was certain I could no longer stand. I walked slowly back to Nyx's temple after making another stop in the library. I had found a few more books I wanted to look at for the dark daughters. So far I had upped the standards of the group, but I still wanted to find more ways for fledgling's to become involved other than just attending the rituals or charity work. I wanted them to feel like the dark daughters was something they were really a part of. I crossed the grounds feeling like I could sleep for a year. For a day that was going by incredibly fast it was also incredibly draining.
"Hello, Zoey," Natasha said as soon as I entered the temple. She was wearing a beautiful black gown with rhinestones that shimmered and sparkled as she moved. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a sleek pony tail making her look extremely elegant and beautiful. She looked at me studying my expression.
"Rough morning," I said simply. I noticed she was setting out candles and lighting them, "Are you performing a ritual?" I asked confused by her actions. The candles were all white and smelled like spring rain.
"Something like that," she smiled, "It's actually something to help Aphrodite."
"It's actually a pain in the ass," Aphrodite said walking back into the temple room from the bathroom. She looked pale and her eyes were blood shot meaning she had had a vision.
"Anything I should be concerned about?" I asked her.
"Nope," She said taking a drink of ice water.
"A semi truck was going to lose control running a red light and causing a huge pile up of cars," Natasha explained. "Aphrodite was actually able to take control of this vision," Natasha beamed. "I'm really quite proud of her."
"That's great Aphrodite," I said smiling at her.
"Yeah," she said with no emotion in her voice. "So what are we working on today?" she asked looking at the books.
"I'm not really sure," I said moving through the temple and over to the chairs Natasha had set out. "I'm trying to think of some way to get more people involved," I shrugged.
"Any ideas?" She asked.
"None," I said sighing and resting my forehead in my hand. I closed my eyes and could already feel myself drifting. I just needed one night of uninterrupted sleep and I would be good.
"You look like shit," Aphrodite said bluntly taking another drink of water.
I opened one eye and gazed at her, "yes, well we can't all be ravishing beauties'."
"You know sarcasm works better when what you're saying isn't the truth," Aphrodite said leaning back in her own chair.
I laughed smiling at her, "you are such a snob."
"And that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me," she grinned.
I rolled my eyes, "so do you have any ideas?"
"About what?"
"The Dark Daughters?"
"Um, I'm gonna have to say a big no on that one."
"Why don't you consider your members strengths?" Natasha said sitting down next to us.
"Strengths?" I asked sitting up.
"Yes. Nyx has gifted each fledgling in some way, shape or form. You have Kramisha writing poetry for your rituals don't you?" She questioned.
"Yes," I said liking where she was going with this. "Well, what are the other students good at, and how can you apply it to rituals or other Dark Daughter activities?"
"Ok," I said thinking.
"We should just put out a signup sheet at the next ritual," Aphrodite suggested. "They can write down their names and their 'talents,' and then we can go over it and try to figure out what to do with them," She said finger quoting the word talents.
"It's a good start," Natasha said as the bell rang.
I walked out thankful that my last class of the day was still equestrian studies. No matter what was going on, or how crazy my life was, inside the stable there was stillness. The world was calm when I was with Persephone and I was more centered.
"Hey beautiful girl," I said as I walked into the stable. Persephone whickered at me pushing her nose into my hair as I leaned against her.
"She's been waiting for you all day," Lenobia said smiling at me as she walked in.
"Well, trust me, I'm just as glad to see her," I said patting her softly. I took out her brush and began running it over her coat.
"I picked up some treats for her this morning," Lenobia said motioning to a sack near the wall. "I figured you could use them."
"Thanks," I said smiling at her. "I know Persephone will love that."
"I'm sure she will," Lenobia said glancing to her left and sighing. "I have some students I have to attend to," Lenobia remarked narrowing her eyes as she gazed a few stalls down at a group of girls who were standing around giggling and talking rather than attending to the horses. "See that you muck her stable and exercise her thoroughly. Not that I need to tell you that," she said winking and then quickly turned into the intimidating professor I had met my first day at the House of Night. I heard her begin lecturing the girls and smirked shaking my head. I was glad I was never on the receiving end of Lenobia's fury.
This class, too, flew by. I hadn't even realized that the hour was over until Stark walked in holding a sandwich and a brown pop.
"I thought I might find you here," he said sitting on a hay bale and setting my food out. "You missed dinner."
"I didn't even realize what time it was," I said taking off my mucking boots and gloves and giving Persephone another pat. I walked over and sat down joining him in the hay. "I've had a lot on my mind. It helps being here," I told him taking a bite of my sandwich.
"You've had a lot going on," he said playing with a strand of my hair as I laid back against him.
"Yeah," I yawned, closing my eyes and chewing on a bit of my sandwich. I took a sip of brown pop and thought about my day. I was seriously going to have to find a way to work out this Heath situation. I couldn't keep running into him like that, especially if he was going to pull stunts like he had last night. I sighed, thinking about going back to my room and going to bed and then frowned. I still had to finish reading the books Neferet had assigned me and I was in desperate need of a shower. I took another bite of my sandwich and smiled as Stark kissed my temple gently running his fingers through my hair. "I'm gonna fall asleep," I protested lamely.
"You look like you could use the sleep," he said softly.
"Mmmm," I said in agreement and then shook myself awake. "No, I have to write a paper," I said opening my eyes and forcing myself to sit up. I pushed my hair back and climbed to my feet looking around and grabbing the rest of my stuff.
We walked back to the dorms in silence. I was super exhausted, but sleep would have to wait for a few more hours. I looked at the pile of books I had accumulated throughout the day and grimaced.
"Here, let me get those," Stark said taking the pile from me as we entered the girl's dormitory.
He walked me up the stairs opening the door for me as we entered my room and placed the books on my desk. He looked at me and then slowly leaned forward kissing me. I let my arms wrap around his neck as he pulled me closer, our tongues and lips fighting for space. It didn't take long before we were both completely out of breath. I relaxed against him melting as the familiar heat spread through my body and groaned as he gently pushed me back onto the bed.
"Stark," I whispered softly as his body covered mine.
He pulled back and looked down at me breathing hard.
"Paper," I whispered feeling like I was about to go insane. Part of me wanted Stark so bad, and yet there was another part that knew I just wasn't ready. Yes there was the whole matter of my Heath imprint, but besides that, I still just wasn't sure I was ready to have sex again. At least not while there were still any lingering feelings for any other guys. I wasn't going to make the same mistakes over again. At least that's what I kept telling myself.
He sighed, but rolled over hugging me closely to his chest. He kissed my forehead gently and then stood up moving towards the door. "Get some sleep, tonight," he smiled at me and then left the room.
I sat on my bed feeling extremely frustrated, in more than one way! Why couldn't my decisions ever just be easy? I growled picking up the first book Neferet had given me and began reading. It was going to be a long night…
