The earth trembled beneath us and we swayed as the temple shook. I could clearly hear each footstep they took as they stomped around just outside our walls.
"Zoey?" Stevie Rae questioned looking freaked but trying desperately not to show it.
"Nobody move," I said forcing myself to stand perfectly still as the buildings foundation shook again causing dirt and rubble to fall from the stone ceiling. "They can't get past our defensive line," I said softly.
"Well I'm gonna say they're trying," Shaunee said.
"Ditto twin," Erin continued, "those things are angry."
"That's just more reason to keep the circle together," Damien said looking at them both.
The earth shook again and I nearly fell back, but was steadied by Starks hand.
"What do you suggest we do next, Priestess?" He asked looking into my eyes and it was like I could see his entire heart and soul. His desire to be with me, protect me and somehow I knew that Nyx had chosen him as well. Ah hell! I shook myself knowing I didn't have time to deal with this complication just yet. Besides, Nyx hadn't necessarily chosen them as my partners, just as the warriors who would protect me as a Priestess. I felt my gut turn at the thought of only having a formal relationship with both Erik and Stark and instantly felt irritated.
"Zoey?" Darius questioned breaking through my silent musings.
"Ok," I said thinking out loud, because honestly I didn't have a plan. I was hoping that something would just come to me like it had only moments before. We had separated the Elders from the demons so that the demons could no longer feed on their hate. Unfortunately they were already a lot stronger then I would have liked and it wouldn't take much for them to completely gain their physical form. We had to send them back before that happened. "We have to figure out how to trap these demons again." I looked at grandma, "You said their world is another spiritual reality?" I asked my grandma.
She nodded as I put my face into my hands rubbing my eyes. I was exhausted. This had been the longest Sunday of my life. From parent visitation, to dying fledglings, to actually seeing the demons that had been released and knowing that we were running out of time to stop them. "There has to be a way to get them to go back," I said more to myself than anyone.
"Well I hate to break it to you, but I don't think asking nicely is going to work," Aphrodite said sarcastically. "And more importantly I don't think our circle is going to be enough this time," she said more seriously looking at me.
I knew she was right. Our circle would protect us, but it wouldn't be enough to make them flee from us. Not this time.
"Then why don't we get them to follow us?" Jaylynn suggested.
"What?" I asked as my head shot up.
"Follow us where?" Aphrodite asked glaring and I saw Jaylynn shrink back a little.
"Aphrodite," Natasha reprimanded gently.
"I'm just saying it's not like we can just go to hell and hope that they follow," She said rolling her eyes and flipping her hair.
My heart stopped for a second and then began racing as my spirit leapt. "No, but we may be able to take them somewhere else," I said biting my lip as I thought it through. I looked up at Marla, "We're in spirit form right now right?" I asked looking at my own translucent skin and feeling the tingling sensations course through me once more. I remembered the inhuman speeds Marla had been able to travel at in my visions of her and how she had been able to slip away with no one noticing the night she had arrived at the House of Night. The normal limitations of the world didn't apply.
"Yes," she answered slowly, eyeing me skeptically.
"You can travel in spirit form," I said looking at only her. "Would it be possible to travel between worlds, or spiritual realms?" I asked.
"Between worlds?" Neferet's voice asked from the temple doors. I turned towards her meeting her electric green eyes. She always looked full of life and energy. I had never truly seen Neferet look burnt out. Well at least not until now. I knew she had been in the morgue tending to the bodies of the children we had lost. The sadness of the evening and the danger involved was taking its toll on her. She crossed the line of our circle easily coming to stand by Natasha, her eyes never leaving mine. "I assume this means you have come up with a plan?" She asked lifting an eyebrow.
"Trying to," I said softly. I filled her in quickly as I had Natasha watching her eyes change from alarm to curiosity to understanding.
"It seems as though you have made quite a bit of progress in the last few hours," she said softly and I could see the pride in her eyes.
Her smile was warm and helped me to relax a little. "Yes," I said nodding at her and then slowly turned back to Marla. "Is that possible?" I asked again.
She looked a little intimidated. "I don't know," she said shaking her head, "I've never tried that before."
"Grandma?" I asked.
"It has been done before, u-wi-tsi-a-ge-ya, but never like this," she said gazing at our circle.
"Then how has it been done?" Jack asked looking like a curious child hearing a good story.
"Throughout time there have been stories of men who have made the journey to the land of spirits. Most of the time it involves separating the spirit from the body which can be extremely dangerous," my grandma said meeting each of our eyes and then coming to rest on mine. "When you separate your spirit from your body you leave your body vulnerable as you cross over."
"Cross over?" Darius asked. "You mean as one who has recently died?"
"In a way," my grandma continued. "Part of the ritual that enables us to enter the world as spirits is to become one with life and death and to accept them both as a part of your being. The ritual allows for your spirit to leave your body as it would once you've died, but your body is left alive and in those days was watched over by the rest of the tribe. I would not suggest that. Leaving our bodies vulnerable would not be a wise decision in this case."
I looked back at Marla, "We're already in spirit form though aren't we?" I asked. "Your gift from Nyx allows you to enter their world, to see what others can't see," I stated.
She nodded, "but I don't know how we would get from one world to the next." She looked nervous and I knew she was feeling the pressure. I was depending on her as much as everyone else was depending on me. I knew firsthand how hard it was to thrown into a position you felt you weren't ready for. She hadn't asked for her gifts, she had been chosen by Nyx. I knew I would have to talk to her later. Sometimes all it took was a little encouragement. She shook her head again, "I don't know how we would do that."
"Haven't you said like five different times tonight that the strongest mind wins?" Jaylynn asked surprising all of us. I knew my eyes were wide and I could feel my mouth hanging open slightly. When this was all over Jaylynn was going to join the dark daughters if I had anything to say about it.
"It is reasonable to assume that if we can use our minds to create things out of spirit than we should be able to move through worlds the same way," Damien said thoughtfully.
"Or create a world," Erik suggested causing us all to look at him. "Marla said we could create out of spirit," he said looking at each of us right back. "We just created walls of spiritual protection out of our desire to keep the ones we love safe. Why can't we envision a world where we could trap these things? A world where we would have the advantage?"
"Ummmm, hottie does have a point," Shaunee said looking at me.
"That actually sounds like it could work," Erin agreed.
I creased my eyebrows as my spirit leapt again. Erik was right and Nyx was leading us in the right direction, I could feel it.
"We'll need more power for that," I said looking up.
Neferet looked at me smiling as if she could see something I was missing. "If I recall correctly you have a place of power. One you used on me not too long ago," she said raising an eyebrow.
"The Abbey Cat," I said smiling back at her. I really was tired, because I should have thought of that hours ago.
"And I bet Sister Mary Angel would love to help rid the world of some demons," Shaunee said grinning.
"The more brain power the better," Damien said in agreement.
"More brain power," I restated looking at Stevie Rae. My mind spinning once more. "So you think some of the red fledglings would want to help?" I asked meaningfully. The red fledglings would definitely be useful. Though their minds wouldn't be as powerful as Stevie Rae's I knew that they still could use their minds in a very influential manor and something to focus that power on besides abducting pizza delivery boys would also be a plus.
"You bet! I know Kramisha would love a chance for some action and so would some of the others," Stevie Rae said grinning.
"Good," I said stifling a yawn.
"The sun will be up momentarily," Neferet said staring off as if she was concentrating on the sun's exact movement. "I suggest we all get a good night's sleep and reconvene in the morning. If your plan is going to work we have a lot of planning to do."
I nodded knowing she was right. Everybody had to be on the same page and we all would have to be united in what we were seeking. Creating a whole world was not going to be something simple, but I knew that if anybody could do it, it was us. I took a deep breath in as Marla slowly began to pull back the silver mist that surrounded us. I felt my body become heavier as gravity pressed down on me once more and the tingling that had been flowing through me slowly disappeared. I sighed softly and then began releasing the elements.
"Sylvia," Natasha said addressing my grandma, "we have set up a guest room for you and would be honored if you would stay at the school."
My grandma smiled, "It would be my privilege, Priestess." She bowed slightly and then quickly moved to me hugging me close. "I'm so proud of you, Zoeybird," she whispered. I smiled back at her as she pulled back from our hug winked. "Get some sleep," she said gently and then moved around the room hugging the rest of my friends before following Natasha from the temple.
I turned to see Neferet gazing at me intently as if she were studying my every move. I looked at her and she exhaled slowly, "Nyx definitely has plans for you, Zoey," she whispered softly as the rest of my friends began to disperse. She hugged me lightly and I was once again glad she was finally back to herself. She pulled back brushing a strand of hair from my face "come and find me if you need me."
I nodded watching her walk upstairs towards her apartment and then turned around to see Stark waiting for me.
"I thought maybe you could use some company for the walk back," he said giving me his cocky little grin.
Ok so, I guess I found some time to write a chapter sooner than expected. Mainly because I was up early and couldn't sleep. Anyway I hope you enjoyed it and the next chapter, you guessed it, will be about Stark! I know you Stark lovers have been waiting a while. Again, thanks for the reviews and support.
Shae Wild
