Us girls spent the day just pampering ourselves and enjoying girlie time. We all had our nails and toes done. Shaunee and Erin were actually quiet most of the day, and surprisingly nice to Aphrodite, who was also acting out of character. If she wanted to keep up her bitchy attitude towards everyone else, she was doing a good job of lowering her shields. It was nice to have some time together with all my girls and no bickering or fighting or name calling going on. It was definitely relaxing. That was, until the knock came at the door.
"Z?" Erik called as he poked his head in the room. Aphrodite gasped as she still had her robe on and a mask on her face.
"Have you heard of knocking!" she snapped.
"I did knock!" defended Erik as he walked in the door. "Not like I haven't seen more of you before" he smirked.
"Did you need something?" I asked.
"I wanted to check to see if you were ok. Stark came to talk to me this morning, I assume after your episode."
"I'm fine, and that's quiet a surprise that he came to talk to you."
"Yeah, well, we talked for a bit, he said you had a nightmare? I was just going to see if there was anything I can do for you?"
"Yeah, you can get the hell out and let us finish getting ready!" snapped Aphrodite.
Erik huffed, gave me a wink and walked out of the room. It was nice to have two guys seeming to be gaga over you, but way too confusing in the long run as feelings ran deep for both.
We continued to chat and act silly when Neferet was our next guest to come to the room.
"I see you girls are getting ready for tonight's festivities? I want you all to know that the whole school will be here at the induction. It is a great honor and a rare privilege." Neferet said in such warmth and admiration. "Zoey, when you have a minute, I would like to speak with you in private."
"Sure" I got up and followed Neferet out of the room letting the girls know to continue getting ready and I would be right back.
Neferet walked down to my room and opened my door for me. On the bed lay a beautiful black lace gown. My eyes grew wide as I looked at it. "Oh Neferet!" I exclaimed.
"It was the same gown I wore when I became High Priestess. I am passing it to you. You would look svelt in it since it's backless, it will show off your markings very beautifully." She smiled.
"Oh thank you!" I ran to her and hugged her tightly. I couldn't help but let a small tear flow from my eyes. I had never been given something so beautiful by my own mother. Neferet sat me down on the bed and took my hand in hers.
"Zoey, Stark has let me know that you had some very bad dreams last night and even a vision of Jack? Is this true?"
"Yes" I answered.
"Why don't you tell me about it? There is a priestess on the High Council that is a dreamweaver, if you should need her assistance, I can gather her."
I told Neferet I didn't think that was necessary. I told her all about my first dream, between my mom and step-loser. This seemed to spark some interest to Neferet. "Your Step-father, he is an elder with the People of the Faith is that correct?"
"Yes, do you think it's somehow connected?"
"Perhaps. Dreams don't necessarily mean they are just that, dreams can be visions, warns of what's to come. This has me very concerned, especially when you mention the blood vile."
I continued telling her about Jack, my venture outside and what he said and it only confirmed her suspicion that things might be connected somehow. "It is not untold of for a vampire to see spirits, or even be visited by them. It is not a common occurrence though, very rare has it happened, but out of everything, many rare things have been happening at this school for some time now."
"Do you think Nyx sent Jack to me to warn us?" I asked.
"Nyx works in mysterious ways, it's possible. Just because our bodies die, does not mean our souls do. Jack may be gone in the physical sense, but not spiritually."
The last bit I got into was the forest dream of the young girl that was eaten by large beasts that hunted like wolves but looked much scarier. It was a tale that shook me to my bones and if that was a vision or a warning, it could mean some very nasty evil was most certainly close by.
"That is a fateful tale indeed. I will ask the Oregon House of Night if any fledglings have gone missing or any they were due to receive did not show. We'll figure this out Zoey. For tonight, I want you to put it all behind you. This is a large celebration and I don't want your mind muddled with worry. Leave that to me for now." Neferet touched my face and smiled. "Now, take your dress and go get ready. Let the girls pamper you. You deserve it. Oh, I almost forgot, I have one last surprise for you."
"Another surprise?" I asked excitedly.
Neferet walked to the door and opened it to present my Grandma. She ran to me and put her arms around me in a tight embrace. Neferet smiled and quietly exited the room leaving me and my Grandma to ourselves for a bit of privacy.
"When did you get here?" I asked.
"Early this morning my u-we-tsi a-ge-hu-tsa. Neferet told me of the ceremony tonight and said you would be delighted to have me there."
"Of course! I should have called, things have just been…hectic." My smiled turned upside down and Grandma could sense something was troubling me.
"Come, tell me what is on your mind Zoeybird" Grandma took my hand and I once again, though you would think I would get tired of telling the story, I told yet everything that had happened the past few days. "That is a lot of stuff to take in. Poor lil Jack. If you think you are seeing him though, then he is not totally gone."
We chatted for a bit, I showed Grandma the dress that Neferet had given me and she agreed as well that it would look marvelous on me. I pulled her out of my room and down the hall to Aphrodite's. I was sure Aphrodite would love to see my Grandma too. She was the first person to actually touch Aphrodite on an emotional level. I was glad that she at least had Grandma to come to when her parents were doing nothing but beating her down about not being good enough.
"O-M-G!" Shaunee blurted out.
"That's right Twin! Zoey…you look.."
"Breathtaking!" Shaunee finished.
I spun in my dress that Neferet gave me. After much catching up in the room, we had looked at the time to see that it was only a few short hours away from when the ceremony was due to start. We would need to start getting dressed and everyone was anxious to see what mine looked like.
"It's perfect for you! Who would that thought you'd fit into Neferet's clothes so perfectly!" Stevie Rae commented. "And the back, I love it. It shows off your marks so beautifully."
"Thanks!" I said as I checked myself out in the mirror. The dress hugged all my curves. The back scooped all the way down to just the top of my butt, so my entire back was exposed. The front of the dress was a square cut, so it wasn't too revealing, but it pushed my boobs up. Aphrodite said I looked like an old pin up girl and it was most definitely going to make Stark and Erik very jealous. Of course she had a devilish smile on her face when she said it.
Aphrodite's hair dresser did my hair, which was pulled up into a tight knot at the top of my head. This helped show off my markings down my face and my neck. I felt like a princess getting ready for a ball. Shaunee and Erin were insistent on doing my makeup, and even though Aphrodite had hired a makeup artist, the Twins were adamant about doing it themselves. They made my eyes a sultry and smoke black with lots of mascara, the tiniest bit of pink on the apples of my cheeks and just a hint of pink gloss on my lips.
Grandma came up behind me and looked into the mirror at my face with her hands on my shoulders, "My u-we-tsi a-ge-hu-tsa, so grown up. You are a beautiful woman and I couldn't be prouder of you!"
"Thank you Grandma!" I turned and gave her a light kiss on the cheek, careful not to mess up my makeup that Shaunee and Erin spent so much time doing for me.
"Now for the shoes!" Erin said.
"Yes, you can't have a complete outfit without the perfect pair of shoes!" Shaunee said as she pulled out these very sexy, strappy, and high black heels from their box. "We got these for you"
"Oh you guys!" I wined. This wasn't the first pair of shoes they got me, but at least they weren't Christmas themed. "Wait, these are…"
"Manolo's. Yes, they were expensive and if you fall down and break a heel, your paying for it!" Shaunee snapped.
"I can't except these you guys, that's too much."
"Yes you can!" Erin said as she shoved the shoes on me feet, "See, perfect fit! Right Twin?"
"Right!"
"Now, since everyone got you something, I have a little thing to get you" said Grandma. She pulled out a small but long box out of her bag to display a beautiful silver and onyx beaded necklace. "It was my mother's, I had hoped to pass it down to my daughter as it was passed to me, and she would pass it to you, but you are more my daughter than she is so you may have it." Grandma clasped the necklace around my neck. It fit perfectly with the dress.
"I love it Grandma!" I turned and hugged her tightly.
After I was ready everyone else got into their dresses. Shaunee was in a very appropriate fiery red dress that clung to her tall stature. Erin wore an ice blue dress that flowed just like the water she controlled. Stevie Rae wore a green chiffon empire waste gown and Aphrodite wore what looked like a white toga, though we wouldn't dare say that to her. I thought it fit with her name, being named after the Greek Goddess of Love, it was only fitting on her. We were all dressed to the nines.
TJ and Cole came to Aphrodite's room and picked up Shaunee and Erin, I think they lost control of their mouths because they were gapped open. Darius, of course, clad in a black tuxedo that caressed every bit of muscle he had, looked like James Bond. He kissed Aphrodite passionately as they walked out of the room. Damien came next and went crazy over Stevie Rae and I.
"You ladies look emaculate!" Damien said. "Do I have the pleasure of escorting you?" he stuck his hand out to Stevie Rae.
"Well why thank you!" she said in her Okie Twang. Damien held his arm out for Stevie Rae to take hold of and they walked out of the room.
Grandma gave me a kiss and told me she would see me there and again expressed how proud she was of me. Which now left me by myself. I was glad to have a minute to think for a minute. To reflect on everything that I'd been through recently. A lot had happened the past few months to bring me to this point. I was a rare fledgling from the beginning and I altered the course of everyone's lives from the moment I came to the House of Night. I sent a silent prayer to Nyx and thanked her for everything I'd been given.
"She know's your thankful" said a small and familiar voice.
I turned around and standing right at the door was Jack. He walked towards me and smiled as he leaned in and kissed me on the forehead at my crescent moon.
"You truly are the chosen one Zoey. Nothing can stand in your way."
"Thank you Jack" I smiled. "How are you here? How come I can see you but you don't show yourself to anyone else?"
"Because the Goddess wanted me to show myself only to you at first. When it is time, I will reveal myself to everyone."
"But why just me?"
"Because I need to tell you the truth. I was sent to deliver you a warning. The Goddess is working diligently to keep such evils from coming this far, but I'm afraid she will need your help, which is why she sent me." Jack took my hand and sat me down on Aphrodite's bed. "There is a great evil spreading. Fledglings are dying before they make it to the House of Night. These demons, beasts, whatever you chose to call them are extremely dangerous Zoey. They increase in power every day, with every life. Death makes them strong."
"What are these Demons? Are these the beasts that I have seen in my dreams?" I asked.
"Yes, and they can be much worse. Savage beasts they are, they consume flesh and blood. If you thought that Kalona was the worst thing you would experience, you haven't seen these terrible and frightening things."
"Where did they come from?" wondering what could have set these things loose upon helpless children.
"I believe you know the answer to that already" Jack said. "I must leave. I wished to come to congratulate you. Nyx is very pleased and she adds to tell you that you look just like a High Priestess tonight. Do not fret about your personal things; all will fall into place in its time."
Jack gave me a hug and as soon as he appeared, he was gone. Like a fairy, he popped out of the room. It was comforting to see Jack, but disheartening on the news he gave me. Now that I was going to be High Priestess, it would be my responsibility to figure out what was going on and try to stop it. I knew I had Nyx on my side, as well as my prefect that has stood by me through it all. I paced the room silently thinking about what these beasts or demons Jack warned me about could be and why they were there. What did he mean I might know the answer already?
A knock at the door interrupted my concentration and Stark stuck his head in. "Are you…." His mouth gapped open. "wow. You, ugh, look, umm…"
"Beautiful?" I added.
"Spectacular!" he said. "Would you do me the honor?" he held his arm out for me and from behind his back he gave me a single red rose.
I smiled at him and took his arm. "Where is Erik?" I asked, knowing probably a sore subject, and not entirely appropriate, I asked anyways.
"He's already in the Temple waiting for you." Stark said. "Don't worry, both of us are here, and neither of us is fighting over you. We understand that you will choose when you feel comfortable."
This is why I loved him so much. He was patient and sweet. I remembered us cuddling at night when I would have nightmares and how laying next to him made them all go away. He promised that he would always love me, always protect me
