Hey everyone. Sorry it took so long for me to update. I've been really busy for about the last week and a half and finally had an opportunity to sit down and write today. I hope you all enjoy it and as always thanks for all the support for my stories!
"You saw Nyx?" Stevie Rae asked as soon as I walked into the hall. I glanced around looking at all my friend's stunned expressions.
"Yeah…" I began.
"She just appeared in my living room," Erik said to no one in particular. He still looked dazed and in awe of the few moments we had spent with the goddess. It had been amazing, but then again, time with Nyx always was. I thought about what she said to me and knew in my heart that it was time to make our move.
I looked over at Stark whose mouth was opened slightly, but it was Aphrodite's voice that asked, "What were you doing in Erik's living room?"
I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye wishing that for once she could keep her observations to herself. It was obvious from the expression on her face that she knew that that there was still something between Erik and I. Then again that was probably obvious to anyone who had half a brain. Luckily I was saved from having to answer by Stevie Rae who seemed to have completely ignored Aphrodite's question. "Wow, that's amazing!" she said beaming at me.
I nodded. "I think I'm starting to figure some of this out, but we have lots of work to do."
"Yeah, starting with you explaining exactly how we're supposed to stop the Elders," Aphrodite said flipping her hair. "And it better not have anything to do with blood or sacrifices!"
"You said Nyx wants us to conduct a spiritual war," Darius said. "Gaining access to the spiritual world isn't easy and usually can only be done through a circle."
"Well we know our circle has major power," Shaunee said.
"And we totally kick butt when we use it," Erin said. "Need I remind you of the nasty birdmen and their crazy scary daddy?"
"This isn't the same though is it?" Stevie Rae asked in her Okie twang.
"No it isn't," I answered her, "all of our fighting is going to be done in a world we can't see," I said pulling my cell phone out of my summer hand bag. I looked down and saw a few messages from Heath asking if I was alright. I quickly responded that I was and then started punching in my home phone number.
I held the phone to my ear listening to it ring while watching my friends curious glances. On the fourth ring he answered.
"John Heffer here," The step loser said sounding a little too pleased to me.
"You may think you're the ultimate judge, but let me assure you that the final judgment will be on you," I said my voice sounding like ice. There was utter silence on the other end for a few moments, and I knew he was shocked by my call. Perhaps he was even shocked that I had figured it out, though after what had happened tonight he was an utter fool to think we would all still believe it to be coincidence. "You won't win this," I continued making sure my words cut. "You killed seven children tonight. Seven innocent children, which I find surprising for a man whose God commands that 'thou shalt not kill.'"
"You dare preach to me?!" He finally spoke sounding outraged. "Do you forget your own sins?"
"No," I said softly but firmly. "I live with my mistakes every day. But this is not the same and you know it. It doesn't matter how you justify it, you committed murder tonight," I said my voice completely calm but dangerous. Even if it wasn't him directly he was behind it. I pressed the disconnect button and pushed my phone back into my bag.
Everything was silent for a long moment until Darius finally spoke, "I have said it before, but you are our chosen High Priestess, and Nyx's favor towards you is clear." I felt Nyx leap within me and remembered the words Neferet had spoken only moments before. They were following me and I was their High Priestess. As scary as that was it also felt right. I was finally taking the position Nyx had intended for me or at least I was heading there.
"So what's our next move?" Jack asked.
"We enter the spiritual realm," I said walking down the hall.
"And how exactly are we going to do that?" Aphrodite asked.
I smiled at her over my shoulder, "I have a hunch," I said pushing open the thick oak doors and began crossing the grounds heading towards the girls dorms. "Nyx didn't send us Marla for any reason, and I know it was no coincidence that I'm the one who saw her coming."
"But Marla said that she didn't have any other defense against them besides the wolves which wouldn't help us much now that the demons are becoming stronger," Damien said.
"I don't think even she knows the full extent of her power," I said thinking it through. "Or what her power is capable of when combined with our circle."
"You're suggesting that we may be able to intensify her gift," Stark said thoughtfully as if
he were thinking it through.
"I don't know for certain, but I'm going to find out," I said pushing open the doors to the
girl's dormitory. The room was still extremely quiet though every couch was full. The smell of
blood still hung heavy in the air, though it was slightly masked by the smell of chemicals that
had been used to clean the stains off the carpet. A few of the girl looked up as I walked in, but no one
said anything. I could clearly see tears in a few of their eyes and I knew that those were the girls
who had lost friends or roommates tonight.
I ran up the stairs not bothering to stay in the common room any longer than necessary.
I could still see everything all too perfectly and though Nyx had cleansed me the pictures in my
mind were still all too clear.
I stopped outside Marla's room giving three quick knocks on the door. I could hear murmuring inside and I recognized Jaylynn's voice sounding confused and frustrated. She was questioning Marla. I remembered her face at having to drink so much blood when she obviously didn't have a taste for it. She had looked pale and it was just one of the reasons she and the other students had to be upset.
"How did the meeting go?" My grandma asked as she opened the bedroom door.
"I stopped the war," I said walking past her as she pushed the door open wider allowing us to come in. "But I need to talk to you and Marla. I looked at Marla as we all filed in. she looked at Jaylynn with a questioning gaze and I nodded conveying that it was ok for her to stay. The school would soon find out who was behind the poisonings and I knew Marla could really use a friend. I had depended so much on my friends when I had been developing my gift for the elements. It wouldn't be fair of me to keep that kind of support from her.
"We're not going to war against the People of Faith," I said eyeing each of them. "At least not in the literal sense. Nyx has led me to believe that a spiritual war is how they will be defeated."
"I have sensed that as well my U-wi-tsi-a-ge-ya," grandma said nodding. "Blood will have blood always," my grandma said wisely.
I took a deep breath in gathering my thoughts. My grandma had often said that phrase throughout my life, especially when I was mad or angry or hurt. She would tell me that and explain how spilling blood or in the case of a five your old "getting revenge" would only lead to more blood or more anger, hurt and pain. It was only one more reason I was certain that entering the spiritual realm was the way to go.
"So exactly what do we know about the situation?" Erik asked.
"We know, thanks to Marla, that the People of Faith have somehow tapped into the spiritual power and have begun releasing demons," I said leaning against the wall. "We have also now figured out that it is death through hatred that is making the demons stronger and not just death in general or our blood."
"Though they definitely crave that," Shaunee said.
"And as much as I hate repeating a sentiment, I'm extremely sick of individuals, vampyre or otherwise, seeking after my blood," Aphrodite said putting a hand on her hip. "Unless of course it's you," she said winking at Darius and softening her voice.
I rolled my eyes.
"Marla," I said looking right at her, "can you see hatred when it enters the spiritual world?" I asked trying to figure out exactly what we were up against and maybe figure out how to defeat it.
"You're assuming that what we feel has tangibility, Priestess," Stark said eyeing me as if trying to picture what I was saying.
"To us, no," I said firmly, "but to the supernatural world?" I raised an eyebrow at him and saw him nod. I turned back to Marla, "Is it possible?"
"Not exactly," she said shaking her head. "But, hatred is a creator."
"A creator?" Stark asked
"Like the tree that attacked Stevie Rae," Marla said dreamily as if she were seeing something else.
"So what we feel doesn't technically have a form but things can be created out of our emotions?" Aphrodite asked surprising us all.
"Wait, what does that have to do with the tree?" Erin asked.
"Everything has a spirit," my grandma said echoing the very words Marla had said to me only yesterday.
I nodded in understanding. I knew exactly what Marla meant about hatred affecting the tree. "The hatred the demons felt and the hatred they were receiving from the Elders enabled them to possess the tree. The vines were created through the hatred," I said softly.
"It probably would have been worse had Stark not shot it," Marla agreed.
"You mean, had you not been gifted by Nyx and been able to see what was really going on," Stark corrected her.
"He's right," I said encouragingly to Marla. "The fact is we're going to need you to do this Marla. Those things were able to use that tree as a weapon and those vines were created through a spiritual power rooted in hate. You were the one who was able to see that, not us, and had you not…" I let my sentence trail off and looked up at Stevie Rae real quick before bringing my attention back to the conversation changing the subject slightly. "The flower you created," I began, "that wasn't a normal flower. I've never seen anything like it."
"That's because I envisioned it," Marla whispered. She held out her hand letting the red petals blossom in her palm once more.
"Because people can create through spirit," I said, "Or rather the emotions that fill our spirits," I finished for her and she nodded. "The poison that we haven't been able to trace, would it be possible for others to envision a flower or plant that could potentially be poisonous to us?"
I heard Jack gasp followed by Damien's, "that would be like the People of Faith to have a scrupulous nature."
"Really?" Shaunee asked glaring.
"I'm not even going to comment on that one twin," Erin said.
"More than likely because she has no idea what it means," Aphrodite mumbled under her breath.
"Don't make me come over there and kick your hoeish ass," Shaunee scowled.
"I may be human now, but there are some things that remain impossible, even for you!" Aphrodite sneered.
"Alright ya'll play nice," Stevie Rae said putting a hand on her hip.
I was barely listening I was too busy watching Marla. She looked upset for a second as she considered what I was asking her. Finally she nodded, "Hate is a creator in the spiritual realm," she stated again.
I thought about my own revelation after my time with Nyx. The strongest mind would win this war and I wondered briefly if the Elders knew exactly what they were doing. That didn't seem likely. Aphrodite's early assessment had to be right. Someone had to be helping them, someone who knew how to tap into the spiritual realm as Marla could. But who could possibly be doing that and how strong were they?
"Come on," I said looking at each of my friends who were still arguing and headed for the door. I wasn't sure what I was doing only that I was going to see exactly how powerful we were as a group.
I marched down the stairs vaguely aware of the people watching us as we all passed heading out onto the grounds once more. I walked purposely forward not stopping until I reached the trap door.
"Zoey, where are we going?" Damien asked.
"Stay within the protective line surrounding the school," I said squeezing through the opening in the wall. Then answering Damien's question I said, "We're going to cast a circle. I want everyone to in their places and everyone else in the middle." I reached in my bag pulling out five small candles I had been carrying with me over the last few days just in case. They weren't the typical candles we would use, but they would work.
I passed them out to Damien, Shaunee, Erin and Stevie Rae. I set one in the center where I would be standing and then began to position everyone else. I put Stark, Erik, and Darius next to the three most vulnerable people being Stevie Rae, Erin and Shaunne. Damien was closest to the wall and the school so I figured he was the safest, but I put Jack next to him anyway before attending to the others.
I put grandma on my right and Marla on my left knowing I would need each of them for spiritual guidance. I then put Jaylynn on the other side of Marla and Aphrodite on the other side of grandma. Jaylynn would be support; Aphrodite would be a weapon though I doubted she would see it that way. But if there was one thing I knew for sure it was that Aphrodite had a strong mind and was smart.
I reached back into my bag fumbling for my lighter and then swiftly pulled it out. I moved to Damien who was watching me intently and began to cast the circle.
"Wind, for those who only see you as a gentle breeze your destruction is a humble reminder of your strength and power. You are an overwhelming force that is not to be reckoned with and a protector for those who are truly at peace with you. We call you to our circle," I saw Damien's eyes widen at my speech. Normally when I called for the elements I spoke to their calmer nature, the part that soothed and restored us. I was now calling the elements to be a weapon for us. I lit Damien's candle and both of us were blasted by a gush of wind that swirled around us and the rest of our circle.
Slowly I walked to Shaunee who smiled and I could almost see the anticipation in her eyes. "Fire," I began, "you bring us warmth and light, but who can stand against the power of your enferno? We ask that you bring your mighty blaze into the midst of our circle." There was a sizzling crackle underneath us and a pop as Shaunee's candle lit itself. Heat moved all around us and I was thankful that Erin was next.
"Water, we think of the rushing river that flows without mercy. You are relentless and unyielding to those in your path. We ask that you join our circle." I lit Erin's candle and nearly toppled over when a strong current began pushing against my legs, flowing around our circle joining wind and fire.
I walked over to Stevie Rae who was staring at me in amazement.
"You ready?" I asked her giving her a little smile.
"You bet," she said holding out her candle, her blonde curls bouncing slightly above her shoulders.
"Earth, you have proven yourself to be formidable time and again. It is from you that we come and to you we will return. For your enemies there is no place to hide that you can't swallow them up. We call you to our circle." The earth below us instantly began to tremble and the grass within our circle turned a bright vibrant green filling the air with the smell of summer.
Finally I took my place in the center lifting my own candle. "Spirit, you are the force within us that leads and guides. You are our intuition and we ask you to join us now that we may be able to discern any evil that would stand against the children of Nyx. We ask that you join our circle." I lit my candle and everyone gasped as spirit touched them, filling them up. I turned to Marla who was watching me with a look of awe and I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes. "Ok Marla," I told her, "I want you to call upon your gift. If you can, concentrate on the elements that are surrounding you and ask them to help spread your gift to those who are in the circle."
She closed her eyes and within seconds she was covered in a silver shimmery mist, wisps of silver ribbons were flying out in every direction lifting her hair and making her appear to be a spirit herself. I heard a low growl and jumped as not just one or two of the wolves began to appear from the mist but the whole pack. They paced slowly, walking the parameter of our circle and I realized that they were guarding us. Their fur was sticking straight up and their teeth were bared as they looked out into the forest.
I looked back at Marla watching as the silver spread slowly covering our circle. I shivered as it touched me feeling a tingly sensation go through my entire body. My skin became paler if that were possible and I felt light, like gravity and the limitations of this world didn't exactly apply to me. I wiggled my toes and my fingers and then slowly opened my eyes, wishing for just a moment that I hadn't. It seemed that everyone one else was wishing that same thing as gasps filled the air around us as well as movement.
"Don't you dare think about breaking this circle," Aphrodite's stern voice sounded from the other side of my grandma who was staring wide eyed out into the trees.
"Oh great spirits of my ancestors!" She exclaimed and I had to say I was feeling the same way.
There were hundreds of them, and I knew that demons were exactly what these things were. They looked almost reptilian but not quite. Their skin was scaly and covered with spikes, their teeth sharp and wild. Their eyes were yellow and sunken into their skulls and the earth trembled with each step they took. They watched us and I could see their ability to think and reason. It was as if they were looking for a way to get to us and knowing that if they got anywhere near my protective line or our circle that it would not be good for them. They stood on the balls of their feet and I noticed their hands were similar to ours with four fingers and a thumb. It was like looking men who had been turned into something else.
"They look completely ravenous," Damien whispered.
I heard the twins murmuring something in annoyance, but I ignored it. Damien was right. These creatures looked hungry and you could almost see the thirst for our blood in their eyes. It was no wonder Marla had been petrified. After a few more seconds I was able to tear my eyes away and begin looking at the rest of my surroundings. It was then I was able to see what Marla had meant about everything having a spirit. The trees, the grass, and even the animals were all covered in a gold lining that shimmered. Everything sparkled and shined accept for the tree's that had been possessed by the demons. They were completely black as if no life was in them, the way the old oak had looked after Stark had shot it.
"How do we fight that?" Jack asked looking a little freaked.
"Normal weapons certainly won't be of any help here," Darius said his eyes hard as if he were preparing for battle.
"But in spirit we can create, right?" I asked Marla who nodded. "Think about it, the strongest mind will win here, guys. That means that we can use our minds and spirits to fight them."
"How, exactly?" Erin asked.
"We have to find a way to trap their spirits," Marla said. "Earth is not their home, and they don't belong here."
"Ok, so where exactly do they belong," Jaylynn asked, finally speaking for the first time.
"In the pit," she said simply.
"Huh?" the twins said in unison.
"She means hell," my grandmother said. "For the Christians it is a place of torment for evildoers. Some believe it to be in the center of the earth, but really it is another spiritual reality and cannot be entered by the living. It is a place only for the dead."
"In actuality they hate anything filled with light," Marla whispered.
"Then why are the Elders releasing them if they hate evil so much?" Stevie Rae asked. "I mean they're releasing them because they think we're evil even though that's absolutely ridiculous, but why release something even more evil?"
"Because someone else is behind this," I said looking at each of them. "They're just using the Elders because hate blinds people to the truth."
