"What?!" Shuanee was the first to speak after I had finished explaining Marla's gift and what exactly had attacked the four fledglings tonight. I gazed around the temple looking at each of them. Most of them were completely shocked. Only Aphrodite seemed to not be surprised by this turn of events.

"But, I don't understand, Zoey," Stevie Rae continued. "How are demon spirits able to attack fledglings?" I felt Marla squeeze my hand and knew she was afraid they weren't going to believe us. She hadn't let go of my hand since we left the dorm room, which had been an interesting walk in itself. She could see everything, spirits that I couldn't and though none of them had yet crossed our walls I didn't like that they were standing just outside watching us.

I took a deep breath inhaling before I answered, "The people of Faith elders have been releasing them."

"That figures," Aphrodite murmured under her breath.

"They're not really the Elders anymore," Marla whispered. It was the first time most of them had heard her speak and they all lifted their heads watching her as she continued. "They've stopped surviving which is what and Elder really is supposed to do. They've made it so that church is about pleasing them and following all of their rules for what is right and what is wrong. They pretend to be led by God, but they disregard a lot of his teachings," Marla said softly.

"More to the point," I said looking at each of them, "is that in their hatred for us they have found a way to release these spirits and are targeting us."

"And you can see them?" Darius questioned Marla who nodded.

"Yes," She said meeting his eyes, "Nyx gifted me with an ability to see the supernatural world around me. She knew it was the only way for me to survive."

"Then you can fight them right?" Damien asked her.

She shook her head, "Not really, no. Nyx has allowed me to see them and do some of the same things they can, but other than the wolves I have no other means of protection. Besides that, the demons are getting stronger and the stronger they get the less damage the wolves will be able to do."

Most of my group was staring at her confused and I realized that besides Aphrodite I hadn't really relayed to them any of the details surrounding what I had seen in the visions of Marla coming. Even when I explained her gift and her escape I had kind of just glossed over it.

"Wolves are messengers between the spiritual realm and our own. They've kind of become Marla's spiritual guides," I said trying to explain.

She nodded giving me a little smile and then let out two short whistles. I watched amazed as the silver wisps began to float around her and then stretch out. Next to her two small forms began to take shape and my mouth dropped when two wolf cubs seemed to step through the silvery veil and into the room. Marla kneeled down smiling as the two puppies began climbing on her and trying to kiss her face.

"These are the two newest members of the pack," she said hugging one of them close to her. This is Shira she said petting and black and gray wolf with blue eyes, "and this is Raina," she motioned to the other puppy that was mostly white with a few patches of black. Both were extremely beautiful.

"Oh-my-gosh they're sooo cute," Jack squeeled walking over. "Can I pet them?" He asked. Marla nodded and I giggled as Jack kneeled down and was attacked by the wolf pups. They were definitely a lot rougher than Duchess. The pounced on him pawing his head and biting on his shirt in a playful manner. I smiled as the rest of my friends slowly approached each petting the puppies and laughing when they were playfully attacked.

Marla let out another short whistle and both the puppies instantly ran back to her side. "The wolves can help us she said again, but only so much, especially once the demons take on a physical form," she said shivering. "The damage they're inflicting now will be nothing compared to the damage they will be able to do then."

"What about a circle?" Erin asked. "Our circle has been able to protect us from spirits before."

"You guys can't maintain a circle forever," Stark said quietly.

"No," I began slowly, "but there are many protective spells that can be put around the school using the power of our circle."

"Besides that, won't we be able to use our affinities once they take on a physical form?" Shaunee asked.

I thought about it for a minute, "we might be able to use them now."

"There is a definite possibility," Darius said nodding. "If they can cross over enough to harm us than your affinities should be able to do some damage to them."

"It couldn't hurt," Stark agreed, though he looked frustrated as he gazed at his bow and arrow. It would be hard to fight against something we couldn't see.

"What's going on in here?" Neferet's voice asked as she and Natasha walked through the temple doors. I turned to find her eyes piercing through me and swallowed. She looked tired, but still powerful and completely in control of every graceful move she made. She glanced around the room and then brought her eyes back to me with a questioning gaze.

Natasha however just smiled shaking her head, "I thought we agreed to let the council in on your secret meetings from now on?" She asked raising an eyebrow.

"I thought that only applied for while the High Council was here," Aphrodite said lightly as Natasha narrowed her eyes at her in a scolding manner, though we could all tell Aphrodite wasn't in any real trouble from her comment.

"This school has its own council Aphrodite, who would like to be made aware when things are going on in this school," she said looking from Aphrodite to me before turning to the rest of our group. "So I'm guessing we have determined Marla's gift?" Natasha asked glancing at Marla who was still surrounded by silver and two wolf cubs looking completely freaked. Both of the puppies were growling as they circled her and I assumed they were going off of what Marla was feeling which was anxiousness.

"Marla," I whispered reaching out to her once more. "It's ok," I said eyeing the wolves as she took my hand. She let out two short whistles again and I watched in fascination as both the puppies walked back through the silver which then shimmered one last time and disappeared. "Marla has a connection to the spiritual realm," I said looking back at Natasha and then Neferet. "Nyx gave her this gift because the People of Faith elders have launched a spiritual attack on the House of Night and Vampyres in general. That's what happened tonight to those fledglings and also what happened to Marla in her attempt to escape and come here."

Natasha nodded, "I've sensed that the world around us was shifting and both Neferet and I have been senseing danger for a while. We just couldn't place it. I guess now we know why. We wouldn't be able to see an attack from the spiritual realm until it had already begun." She turned to Aphrodite, "I guess we also now know why your visions have been so cloudy and unfocused."

"You were having visions about this?" I asked stunned.

"I didn't know I was having visions about this," she said giving me a hard look. "I saw darkness and felt a lot of fear and pain, but I couldn't tell what was going on or who was causing it."

"Because you wouldn't be able to see the spirits," I nodded understanding. I sighed and then looked back up at both of the High Priestesses, "There's more," I said slowly. "They've been poisoning fledglings which is why those two girls never made it here and also explains what you found in Jacobs blood," I said looking at Neferet whose face had gone hard and cold. I heard my friends around me gasp and looked back over my shoulder.

"That's how Jacob died?" Erik asked looking appalled.

"Yes," I said firmly. "They're killing their own children in an attempt to keep them from becoming one of us. They're claiming that it is to save their children's soul," I said shaking my head and feeling my own anger rising along with the sick feeling in my stomach. I looked back at Neferet who had been uncharacteristically quiet. She met my eyes and I could see that she was struggling with her own hatred for the human race, a hatred that if I was honest with myself, I was now sharing. Well at least for the People of Faith Elders.

"You're certain," Neferet asked looking at me alone.

I nodded, "Marla is certain and I believe Marla. Everything fit's, Neferet. Besides that I can feel it in my gut, Marla is telling the truth."

She looked from me to Natasha and I could tell she was struggling with what the right decisions to make were. Finally she swallowed clearing her throat softly as if there had never been any question about what she was going to do, and I was sure to the others that was exactly how it appeared. "Call detective Marx," she said looking at me. "Tell him we have reason to believe that those two girls did not just simply reject the change but had a push in that direction. As far as the spiritual attack they are launching on us we are more than prepared to set up a defensive perimeter. I want the all of you to meet us just outside the walls of the school in an hour for a circle casting," she said eyeing each of my friends who met her gaze and nodded. She then turned back to me, "Zoey, you will need to stay with Natasha and me until that point. You are about to set up your first defense."

"What about parent visitation night?" Erik asked. "It's tomorrow. Should we cancel it?"

"No," Neferet and Natasha said at the same time.

"Let the parents come," Natasha said. "We won't deny any of the students the opportunity to spend some time with their family."

"Aside from that," Neferet continued, "If any of those family members are Elders it will give us a chance to observe them and watch for any suspicious behavior. However, I propose that forbid any home visits for at least the time being."

"I agree," Natasha said softly. "At least until the police can determine how each of those fledglings died. We will not risk losing any more students the way we lost Jacob."

I stood in awe as I gazed at both Natasha and Neferet. I could clearly see the anger burning in each of them and the power that surrounded them and I shuddered glad that they were both fighting for us. We were as of this moment at war with the People of Faith Elders and those who followed them, which meant both my mom and the step-loser. Ah crap!

A/N – Hey everyone, I'm writing another story called Fear that is actually part of this story only from Marla's perspective. It's based on from the time Marla finds out she is going to be Marked to about chapter 12 in this story when she tells Zoey her story and everything else that is going on. It gives more details as to what happened to her as well as to the demon spirits. I hope you all check it out and thanks again for the wonderful reviews!!!