I practically ran across the campus checking my watch as I went. It took me longer then I had planned to change my clothes and hair, especially because my phone seemed to be ringing every few seconds. First it had been Stark followed by a call from Stevie Rae, the twins and Damien. Finally Aphrodite had called reminding me once more that I was, "slower than a fat kid on crutches." By the time I had finished my shower and climbed into my crimson silk dress it was already ten past midnight and I still hadn't checked on Marla. I knew she would be at the luncheon but I had really wanted to talk to her beforehand. She had handled a lot in the last week and adjusting to life at the House of Night hadn't exactly been easy for her. I hoped that would change.
I moved through the main building heading for the staff dining hall while trying my best not to twist my ankles. I never had been good at running in heels. Walking sure, but unlike Aphrodite or the Twins, who could do their self defense classes in their stiletto boots, I tried to keep my time in heels limited to basic movements.
I rounded the corner sliding a little on the stone floor as I slowed to a walk. The two warriors waiting outside the staff dining room doors smirked a little and I rolled my eyes giving them each a little smile.
"Welcome, Priestess," the one on my left said as he opened the door for me.
"Thanks," I whispered and then slipped through the door as quietly as possible. I could hear Mallika speaking, but the whole room became silent as my arrival became evident. So much for my stealthy entrance, I thought.
My friends all smiled at me as each person in the room stood saluting me. I blinked a few times feeling a little surprised. I was use to the casual greetings of "Priestess," or saluting I got from the other fledglings on campus, but I was still always shocked when my professors or other High Priestesses thought to honor me this way.
"Welcome, Zoey," Mallika smiled at me and I saw that she had brought Ariana, Alexandra and Angel back with her. Mallika had been made the High Priestess of all Vampyres after we had re-trapped Kalona in the earth. She along with the rest of the High Council had since been working at repairing the damage that had been done to our society. We each had reputations to restore and, since many of our warriors had been killed fighting Kalona after Shakinah's death, shifting our resources had become necessary. So far Mallika had done an amazing job.
I smiled my greeting, saluting all of them in return, and then made my way to the open seat between Stevie Rae and Aphrodite.
"Could you have been any slower?" Aphrodite asked, but the smile on her face took the sting out of her words.
"Yeah, we've been waiting forever, Zoey," Stevie Rae said giving me a little wink. "Some of us are hungry you know," she said reminding me of my own hunger. Other than the glass of blood I had consumed this morning my stomach had remained empty.
"Sorry," I said rolling my eyes before examining the dining room. Everything had been shifted around. All of the tables had been brought together to form one large table and decorations had been hung around the whole room. The balcony doors were open allowing moonlight to shine through the entire room and the waiters that usually served the staff were standing silently against the wall waiting to bring us our lunch.
"Where's my grandma?" I asked looking around the table, but not seeing her.
"She said she needed to get back to her lavender farm," Aphrodite shrugged. "She said she needed to pack and had some errands to take care of before she left and that she would see us after lunch."
I frowned. I knew my grandma would eventually have to get back to her own life, but I had grown use to having her here. She brought comfort to my ever crazy life. She was my stability.
"She'll only be a couple hours away, Zoey," Aphrodite said watching my face and I could tell she understood. Aphrodite loved my grandma almost as much as I did which made sense considering she had never before known the love of a parent. My grandma brought out the best of Aphrodite.
"I know," I smiled at her and I knew we were lost in thoughts of visiting grandma. I thought about Aphrodite at the lavender farm making cookies in an apron and smiled wider as my stomach rumbled again.
"You ready to eat?" Stark asked as one of the servers came over pouring me a large glass of brown pop.
"You have no idea," I said thanking the waiter and then downing half the glass in three gulps.
"I guess so," Erik said laughing.
I smiled at him shaking my head and then glanced around the table finding Marla and Jaylynn engaged in deep discussion.
"Boy troubles I think," Stevie Rae said following my gaze as she sipped her glass of wine. "They've been whispering like that since they got here," Stevie Rae said smiling and I knew she was thinking about how we had been in the beginning. Before any life threatening problems had taken over our lives boy troubles had been the most important thing in the world. "A lot has changed," she whispered meeting my eyes.
"Yeah," I agreed glancing back at Marla who looked up at me and smiled. It was the first time I had seen her without any trace of fear in her eyes and I couldn't help but to feel overjoyed. She deserved to be happy. "Are you ok?" I mouthed across the table.
She smiled and nodded and then turned back to Jaylynn who was once again demanding her attention.
"It looks like she's changed for the better," Stevie Rae noted. "I'm glad. Sometimes in stressful situations it's easy to lose yourself," she sighed and I knew she was thinking about the struggles she had faced over the past year fighting for herself, the ones she loved and for Nyx.
"You never lost yourself, Stevie Rae," I said meeting her eyes. "I don't think any of us did. If anything we found out how strong we truly are and what we can accomplish together and with Nyx," I said encouragingly. "Besides," I said trying to lighten the conversation, "the only way you could convince me you had really lost yourself is if that Kenny Chesney picture came down off your wall," I said rolling my eyes.
"Very funny," she said in her Okie twang, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Now that would be a change for the better," Aphrodite said sipping on her sparkling water.
"Hey, there's nothing wrong with Kenny Chesney!" Stevie Rae said putting a hand on her hip, but both she and Aphrodite were smiling. Things really had changed.
I glanced around the table giving little smiles to the Twins who were fighting with Damien and Jack about their choice in vocabulary. I shook my head looking to where Mallika, and the rest of the Council along with my professors sat. Mallika gave a slight nod to one of the waiters who bowed slightly and then motioned for the rest of the servers to begin bringing in the food.
My stomach growled and my mouth watered when I steaming hot plate of chicken stir-fry was placed in front of me. The vegetables had been steamed to perfection and placed over a plate of rice and chicken mixed with a teriyaki sauce. There were also traces of fruit and I decided that it was the best thing I had ever tasted, though the fact that I was starving probably made me slightly biased.
The conversation stayed light throughout the lunch. We laughed and joked and I couldn't help just watching my friends. They had changed a lot as Stevie Rae had said. They had grown spiritually and all of us had matured immensely since Kalona's release from the earth. Still in a lot of ways we were all the same. The playful banter continued as if none of the things we had been through had ever happened, but through my spirit affinity I knew that the scars still ran deep and our experiences would be something we would never forget. We had all been Marked by our pain and grief, the things we had lost and the things we'd accomplished.
Mallika stood at the head of the table and the room quieted once more as we all waited for her to speak. She was still just as beautiful as the first time I saw her. She glanced around our table and the power and wisdom that flowed from her still amazing me.
"Once again we find ourselves together to celebrate the triumph of the very special Vampyres and Fledglings of this school," Mallika began. "It honors both me and Nyx that you all have made sacrifices in order to serve your goddess and stand for what is right. I have no words to tell you how truly proud I am of each of you." She smiled at each of us and I felt myself flush slightly when her eyes met mine for a brief moment.
She continued, "As most of you know I have spent the morning in meetings with the local law enforcement as well as the People of Faith Elders. Transgressions have been made against both sides and we are not without blame in this situation." She sighed, "Peace is our ultimate goal. I hope you all will agree with that. It seems that since Rafe's disappearance," she said this looking at me, "that the Elders have become more agreeable."
I nodded wondering how long Rafe had been influencing them. He knew the dark magic Neferet was using. How long had it taken him to manipulate it so that he could connect with the living world? It was a question I might never know.
"Though we still mourn the loss of our students who were murdered we must also remember that they have lost children as well through our misdeeds and that they too have been wronged."
I pushed my spirit out towards Neferet. There was a twinge of regret, but light filled her along with a determination to set things right.
"We have agreed to a truce and all charges from both sides have been dropped," Mallika said firmly. She paused for a moment waiting to see if any would protest, but none of us did. We all knew she was right and that peace was the most important thing now. We needed to move forward and hatred and vengeance would only hold us back. We wouldn't forget what had happened, but neither would we cling to it.
Mallika nodded at our agreeable silence and continued. "More than ever it is important for us to try and connect with the community and the human society. While it is true that many don't understand us and that there is still many who fear us, it is only isolation that will help those beliefs and fears to spread," She said echoing Shakinah's words. "This was the first House of Night to decide to serve the community and that is something you should all take pride in. I encourage you to continue so that the other schools in this part of the world might follow your example. The Chicago House of Night has already agreed and I'm sure that Zoey will lead our new school in Northern California down the same path."
"I…What?" I asked replaying her words in my mind. I could feel the shock and surprise filling the room around me.
Mallika smiled. "Zoey you have made it through the change and are a powerful High Priestess. The High Council has been discussing for some time now the possibility of building a third House of Night Campus here in the United States. We were approved only a week ago and construction will start within the month if we are ready to do so. That school will need a High Priestess and a Council," she said looking at each of my friends who were just as stunned as me. "It will still be several years before the school is ready to except students, enough time for you to finish your Priestess education and for your friends to make the change. Of course if any of you wish to move in a different direction after you make the change that is completely understandable," Mallika said seriously.
"Are you kidding?" The twins said in unison.
"Of course we'll be going with, Zoey," Damien smiled.
"Yeah, our circle stays together," Stevie Rae said beaming.
"And so do the rest of us," Erik said.
"For once I agree with the rest of the Nerd Herd," Aphrodite said smiling and I swallowed down my tears as warmth filled my soul. No matter where I was I would always have a place to belong.
"Zoey, High Priestess of Nyx," Mallika's voice sang across the table, "do you accept?"
I was still in shock. I was going to be the High Priestess of a House of Night. They were building a new school for me. I swallowed again, "yes," I said softly, laughing when the rest of the room began applauding.
"Congratulations, Zoey," Natasha said nodding towards me.
"We know you will make the goddess proud," Mallika said.
"She already has," Neferet smiled.
"The school will start construction as soon as you're ready," Ariana said.
"As soon as I'm ready?" I questioned.
"You and your friends will each be able to have a say in the way the school is designed," Alexandria said eyeing each of us. "Remember that students like yourself will be living there and that the school should not only be a place of power where they will connect with Nyx, but a place that they can call home."
I looked at each of my friends smiling at the looks of anticipation that lit their faces. I knew the twins and Aphrodite were already thinking up different fashion designs for the dorms and I was sure Damien and Jack had some ideas as well.
"Thank you," I said turning back to the High Council. "Your faith in us means a lot to all of us."
"I have no doubts in your abilities, Zoey Redbird. Just as I have no doubt that it'll be you who one day takes my place," she said, her eyes boring into mine sending a little chill down my spine. It was hard to think about me having that big of a destiny and I decided that for now I was content to just to face what I had in front of me. I had made it through the change, but I was definitely going back to classes which I knew Neferet would be pleased to hear. This whole experience had just made me realize how important our studies were. I didn't just need Vamp Soc, self defense was clearly a necessity for us all and of course I could never just give up equestrian studies.
Mallika dismissed us all, but I soon found that we were all too excited to leave just yet. Quietly I stood up making my way through the crowd watching as the room began to fall silent once more. I glanced over my shoulder surprised to have the room's undivided attention. I weaved through each of my friends coming face to face with Marla who looked nervous to be in the center of attention herself. I looked behind me to make sure I had both Natasha and Neferet's support in my decision before yanking one of the pendents from around my neck. I looked down at the symbol of the Dark Daughters that I held in my hand and then turned my attention back to Marla.
"Marla, Night has clearly chosen you for your compassion and selflessness," I said looking into her eyes. "Not only so, but you have shown the characteristics of each of the five elements. Authentic for air, Faithful for fire, wise for water, empathetic for earth and sincere for spirit. Though Aphrodite will technically be taking my place next year as leader of the Dark Daughters once more, while I spend more time training with Neferet," I said looking over my shoulder and smiling at her as I continued. "I would like to tap you as one of the new prefects who would help in making the decisions. Do you accept my offer?" I asked.
She swallowed just as stunned by my offer as I had been by Mallika's.
"Yes," she whispered. I smiled and without any hesitation handed over my pendent that marked me as a member of the Dark Daughters. I then stepped back and saluted her, smiling when the rest of the room followed my lead.
"There will be a formal ceremony at the beginning of the next school year, but for now let me be the first to say, welcome to the Dark Daughters," I said giving her a hug. "You are very creative and I can't wait to see what ideas you bring to the group."
I let out a breath of air as I turned back to face my friends feeling content with my decision. I knew there was a lot I still needed to learn if I was going to be the High Priestess of a new school in just a few short years. That would mean more time with Neferet and more time with my studies. Aphrodite was more than capable of leading the Dark Daughters and I knew she had changed enough in the last year to do it. Besides that, because of the new rules I had issued this past fall, any changes would have to first be discussed with the High Priestess, or in this case the three High Priestesses, meaning me, Neferet, and Natasha.
The chatting started up again and I could hear a few people congratulating Marla as I moved back through the group.
"So do you think you're ready to get out of here?" Stark asked joining me. "I was thinking maybe a movie and some dessert?" He asked giving me his infamous cocky smile and I knew we were both thinking about more than desert.
"That would be great," I said feeling my heart skip a beat as he laced his fingers through mine.
"After you, Priestess," Stark smiled bowing slightly. I shook my head giving him a little push and then walked through the large oak doors heading for my apartment and what I knew would be a fabulous evening.
Once again sorry about the long wait between chapters. It's just been a really busy last couple of weeks. Thanks to all those who have stuck by me through this story and for all the great reviews. The Next chapter will be for all the Stark Fans who voted in the poll. Thanks to everyone who voted and make sure you let me know what you think! ;-)
