I normally get feelings in my gut when I know something is not right, or when to shut my mouth. I don't normally get the feelings that were overwhelming me at that moment. It was and awful feeling like when you know someone is about to die. Or a lot of people are about to die. It's like our world had been ripped open and a new evil had emerged. I had meant to go back into the stables and clean up while Maurelle was riding Persephone, but it was stopped in my tracks. It was the howling.
A deep throaty growl was close by, and no, it wasn't Duchess. I was so used to her by now that I would know if it was her. This didn't sound like any normal dog, this sounded like a wolf. A Wolf? In Tulsa? Then I was reminded of my dream, the same dream that I was told to remember. The one I spoke to Vlad about, the Drekavacs. Evil half human, half wolf beings, like the werewolves you see on TV, yeah, those, and they aren't nice. Suddenly I felt frozen with fear as I heard heavy footsteps getting closer to me. I couldn't move. I couldn't blink. I was frozen, utterly frozen.
I heard the patter of feet running swiftly and in my direction as the howls continued and the growl deepened. I felt the ground move to my right by the back wall of the grounds, "Fire, I need you" I whispered. I could feel my face start to flush and the crackling heat, "Send a light…that way" I pointed to where I heard the footsteps.
That is when I saw it, a huge monstrous beast. Its teeth were huge and bared. It stood on its back legs and must have reached to be about 7 feet tall. It was hairy and gross, but at the same time extremely muscular. Its snout dripped of what I hoped was just drool and not blood, but I could smell it on the animal, thing, whatever it was. It had defiantly fed, but I'm not sure from where.
It saw me lock eyes on it as it lunged forward onto its front paws and started to charge towards me. I screamed as I threw fire it it's direction. I took off towards the training ring where Lenobia and Maurelle were at. They must have heard my scream because Maurelle came galloping up the hill towards me, Lenobia in the tail. "Go, Run!" I screamed as I continued to run past them.
Maurelle brought Persephone up to me and she reached her arm out, "Grab a hold!"
I turned my gaze back and the beast was still following me, I quickly took her arm as she swiftly pulled me up on the horse. The beast lunged at us just as we were about to take off. Its sharp talon like claws scraped Persephone's flanks and barely missed us by an inch. I could see Lenobia's face as she saw what was happening. "Fire, burn it up!" I screamed.
Persephone bucked the beast behind it and as soon as it hit the ground it shot up in flames. Its terrifying howls and screams as it was burning flesh from its bones. I turned my face from it and hid it in Maurelle's back. I was breathing so heavily that I couldn't seem to catch my breath. "Zoey?" Maurelle asked worriedly, "Are you hurt?"
"No" was all the answer I could muster.
"Hold on" she said as she steered Persephone back towards the stalls at an alarming rate. By the time we hit the entrance Maurelle leaped off of the horse's back and grabbed my shoulders and pulled my down into her arms. For a frail looking fairy as she is, she sure is mega strong. She sat me down on a bail of hay as Lenobia, who also abruptly dismounted her horse came running towards me.
"Zoey! Zoey dear, are you alright?" Lenobia asked searching me all over. "Maurelle, get the first aid kit, and there is a fridge in the back room, a bag of blood"
Maurelle ran to the back of the stable as Lenobia checked me out, "What was that?!" she asked tucking my hair behind my ears and taking a look at my face to make sure I wasn't marked up.
"Is Persephone okay?" I asked. I wasn't too worried about myself, but I knew my horse had been scrapped.
Lenobia turned back to the horse who was standing directly behind her, "She is fine. Nothing that a good nurturing couldn't cure." She rubbed Persephone's muzzle and escorted her into her stall where she gave her some grain and I heard her whisper what a good girl she was tonight protecting her Priestess.
Maurelle hurried back with the first aid kit and a few bags of blood "I wasn't sure how many she would need" she said as she handed Lenobia the stuff.
"I'm fine, really" I insisted and tried to stand, only to have two sets of hands firmly push me back onto the haystack.
"You are NOT okay. I want answers, what was that and why was it trying to attack both of you?" Lenobia asked in all seriousness. Okay, Lenobia was always serious, and honestly, if you ever got on her bad side, you were in a world for hurt. Lenobia, was not only a gifted horse (woman) and an incredible singing voice (I had managed to walk into the stables one night when she was singing to the horses…her voice, it's like magic all in its own) but she was ruthless and a strong fighter. She reminded me much of Dragon, who, by the looks of him just looks like a normal, abnormally short man, well, not a dwarf or the politically correct term, small person, he was just short compared to the average guy. I like to think he reminds me of Kevin Connelly from Entourage. However, put a sword in his hand…and he is a master with quickness that you'd never seen before, it doesn't matter how short the man is, he was quick and very skillful.
"I believe what that was, was a Drekavac" I said studying Lenobia's face as it turned towards horror.
"As in the tale that Vlad told us?" she asked carefully, "About the demon children who turn to monstrous beasts?"
"Yes, I think that's exactly what they are" I admitted. I looked to Maurelle who's color had all left her face.
"She's here" she whispered.
"Who is?" Lenobia asked snapping her head towards the new fledgling.
"Allure" she said looking straight at me.
"Crap! I thought maybe we'd have more time than this" I said.
"Who, what is going on Zoey?" Lenobia asked me again.
I took a deep breath, and summed up everything that had happened in the past few nights. The nightmares, traveling realms, Maurelle, the Dark Fairy Queen. Everything. I trusted Lenobia. And unlike most of the other teachers, she took me seriously, she never laughed or gave me a look like, "Are you kidding?"
"So this Dark Fairy Queen sent the Drekavac here? But why?" Lenobia asked again bandaging up a small cut on my leg that got caught by the monsters claws.
"I assume for me" Maurelle said. "I escaped; she knows I'm very powerful in our Realm"
"You just assume she's just after you. We all know she sounded pissed when we freed all those prisoners of her's" I raised my eyebrow at her and shrugged my shoulder as I took another sip from the bag of blood that Maurelle got me.
"We must take this to Caren so we can protect the students" Lenobia said surely.
"I agree, the Dark Queen is very powerful, and should she come here, I fear for all of us" Maurelle said.
"Ok, then let's go see Caren" I said as I tried to stand up. I didn't realize how much the scratch really hurt. I limped a bit but managed to be ok. Lenobia helped me up and out of the stables. She said she was going to check on the horses before she left but would meet us in the Council Chambers where Caren had been staying.
Maurelle and I walked out of the stables, quiet a bit earlier than class is supposed to let out. It was almost time for lunch and after that almost attack, my stomach was flipping with the need for food. "Come on, let's get something to eat and then we'll go find Caren and Neferet"
I pulled Maurelle across the courtyard and we got into the dining hall. It was practically empty except for a few fledglings, who I suppose got out of class early, and of course Erik, who was sitting at our table. He always felt weird about eating in the Professor lounge, so he still ate with us, hell, I still ate with the Fledglings and I was a High Priestess now.
"Merry Meet Zoey!" students called as we walked in. Some bowed and saluted me which I acknowledged with a nod of my head. I grabbed the sat across from Erik and plopped down with Maurelle. I was exhausted and hungry, but I wasn't sure what I wanted to do first, eat or rest. I voted for resting.
Erik stopped chewing mid bite into a sandwich he had made, the lettuce nearly falling out of it and he gave me a weird look. "You ok Z? You look terrible!"
"Gee, thanks" I mumbled. I was wondering if I should tell him about the attack, but I didn't even get a chance to open my mouth with Maurelle spilled the beans.
"You wouldn't believe it! Zoey was attacked on the school grounds!" Maurelle said, and loudly enough that the students walking by stopped in their tracks and just looked at me.
"Hahaha" I laughed it off, "Funny joke, Maurelle" I eyed her and nudged her in the side. "You really should keep your voice down; I don't want to scare anyone." I looked back to Erik, "Yes, I was attacked…so hence why I look like crap" I rolled my eyes.
He dropped his sandwich, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, I'm just glad that I was with Maurelle and Lenobia. Hey, Maurelle is an excellent rider, you should come watch sometime" I smiled at him. I forgot just how wonderful it was looking into his face, how could I stay so mad at him all the time and why I constantly pushed him away. No, I wasn't going to think about that. I am scratching boys off my list. They can be friends, but nothing more. I had enough problems to include boyfriend drama to the mix, not that I hadn't had to participate in those battles before, I was done with it. Time for some ME time.
Erik turned to Maurelle and smiled, "I'd like that"
Uh oh, what was that look for? He gave her the look. Was he interested in Maurelle? Ok Zoey, don't get all jealous. He's NOT your boyfriend anymore and you can't get mad if he starts showing interest in someone else. Hell, it might be good to have all guys back off for a while.
So while Maurelle and Erik started to chit chat and play oogley eyes at each other, I left the table and got myself a brown pop and some fruit, which is also when I ran into Neferet.
"Zoey!" she welcomed me with a warm hug. "I come to let you know that your Grandma is doing fine. She has awakened and is asking for you" she smiled.
"That's wonderful! I can go see her after I eat something, I'm….starved" I had to think of something to tell her.
Neferet looked at me sideways, "is there something wrong Zoey?" she asked.
"No, I mean, yes, well, it's a long story and I promise that I'll tell you, after I see Grandma, ok?" I grabbed a mango from the pile of fruit, what the hell; Aphrodite seems to think they are so good; I might as well try them.
"Very well Priestess. Why don't we meet in the Council room with Caren after classes have concluded, that way we all have ample time to discuss whatever is on your mind"
"That would work out perfectly" I said. "Thank you" I added and walked back to the table. By this time, more fledglings had come into the dining hall, including the Twins, Coraline and a sullen Damien. I felt so bad for him. Duchess was following him around like a lost puppy. Even though Stark was back, she still hung on Jack and Damien. And now that Jack is gone, (poor girl) she stuck to Damien like glue. I swear it's like she was protecting him should anything happen.
"Hey Z!" The Twins said as I sat down.
"Hey Zoey!" Coraline said as she sat down next to Maurelle"
"Hi, Z" Damien said less than enthusiastically.
I nodded and gave everyone a smile. I decided to move from where I was sitting, let Maurelle sit across from Erik and I sat next to Damien, who seemed to be in an even deeper mood than usual. Not saying that all gay kids are perky, happy go lucky people, they were normal just like any kid, when someone died, it hurt, especially since Jack and Damien were a couple. "Hey Damien" I put my arm around his shoulders and rested my head on his shoulder, "I hate seeing you so sad" I whispered to him.
"Yeah, well, that's what happens when your best friend dies right? You become melancholy."
"Mel – Who?" Shaunee asked.
"Choly – What?" Erin added.
"Melancholy you nitwits! Meaning really sad and depressed" Aphrodite chimed in as she sat next to me. "Speaking of which, I think we need to talk" she eyed me.
"Well, we can do that in a bit. I'm trying to cheer Damien up" I smiled at her.
"Don't get your hopes up, it seems that he's destined to be depressed until the coming of Christ or Jack comes back to life" Aphrodite loomed on.
"Hey, don't you talk about Jack like that!" Erin snapped.
"Yeah, who you think you are talking about the nicest little kid anyone's ever met!" Shaunee added.
"As always I say - Whatever Dorkamese Twins!" Aphrodite rolled her eyes and sat up, "When your not too busy entertaining the Nerd Herd, come to my room, we have to talk, pronto"
"Ok, after I eat and see Grandma, I'll come and we'll talk"
"Is she conscious?" Aphrodite asked.
"Yes, Neferet said that she was awake"
"We should all go see her!" Erin said a little too overly excited.
"Twin, you think you were going to see Scarlett Johanssen, not Z's Grandma"
"Well, in Tulsa, and in the House of Night, Z's Grandma is just about as famous as Scarlet Johanssen is." Erin smirked.
"You do have a point Twin" Shaunee said shaking her head.
"I know I do Twin, because I'm oh so smart!" Erin added.
"Definitely the brains of the two of us" Shaunee concluded as they gave each other a high five.
I shook my head and rolled my eyes at both of them. "I know you guys want to see her too, but do you mind if I have some alone time with her first?"
"Sure Z, no prob. We can't go now anyways, we'll go after class, just let her know we're coming to see her" Erin said.
"Yeah, we have some major…stud – studying to do" Shaunee eyed her boyfriend Cole walking by and smiling at her and she winked.
I turned back to Aphrodite, "That means you too. You can see her after I have some time with her alone."
"Um, I don't think so" she told me matter-of-factly.
"Um, excuse me?!" did I not tell anyone that I hate, I mean HATE being told what to do?
"Reason why I need to talk to you and it's not good. I don't think you should be alone right now, so if you're going to see Grandma after you leave here, I'm going with you" she said.
I huffed, "Fine" I rolled my eyes and took a huge gulp of brown pop. I peeked around to Coraline who was playing with her phone and I said Hi to her. She barely even looked up and said Hi back.
"Sorry, the Twins have me obsessed with this Bedazzled game on my phone" she apologized.
"No worries, the Twins seem to get everyone obsessed with something" I shrugged.
"Isn't that true Twin?" Shaunee said winking.
"Actually, I don't know what you're talking about" she smiled.
"So, how are you and Maurelle getting along?" I asked, curious how the two new fledglings were dealing with being here.
"Oh, it's good. We're getting along really well, but I do have to say" she leaned behind Damien and whispered to me, "She's very strange"
I just chuckled and whispered back, "Because she's a Fairy, of course she'll seem strange to you, just as you're probably a bit strange to her"
"I guess" she answered.
"So, Z, do you have plans how you want to run next weeks Parental Visit?" Erik asked and put quotation marks around Parental. Ugh, Crap! I had totally forgotten about it, and totally dreading it too.
I saw Coraline's eyes get wide, "Parents visit?"
"Unfortunately, yes" I mumbled.
"See Core, our sweet Z here, has just as much family problems as you have. So don't worry. I'm sure Zoey will stick up for you like Neferet did when her stupid Step-Loser Dad came here and trying to tell us all that we were all going to hell"
"Sounds like my dad" she mumbled.
"Correction, he is NOT my Dad. You all know my Dad, Armand" I reminded everyone.
"Oh, that hot smoking piece of Vampire…" Shaunee started.
"How could we forget" Erin finished dreamily resting on her hands.
"Your Dad is a Vampire?" Coraline asked.
"Well, yes, it's a long story, but he's a very famous Vampire" I said. "I hope he comes, I'll have to remember to call him" I made the mental note to call Dad when I left Grandma's room.
I noticed that the sudden conversation of parents made Maurelle kind of gloomy. I knew she didn't have any parents to come and visit her, and in a way, that made me very sad as well. I also noticed that among our chit-chat, Stevie Rae wasn't here.
"Anyone have an idea were Stevie Rae is?" I asked.
"She had to go over a lesson plan with Caren about the red fledglings. She told us she might not make it to lunch, but would see us at dinner." Shaunee said.
I noticed that the whole lunch period, Damien had said little to nothing the whole time. I put my arm around his back and hugged him. "I know you miss him, but I can tell you, he misses you just as much" I whispered into his ear.
"How do you know?" he said.
"I saw him with Nyx. He was playing in the fields, swimming in the rivers. He told me to tell you that he hoped to see you soon and that he missed you terribly"
I could see the spark of hope in Damien's eyes and his beautiful eyes began to fill with red blood and drip down his cheeks. I at least got a little smile out of him. I kissed his cheek and smiled back as I got up from my seat. "Ok, I got to get going. I'll see you all at dinner?" I asked.
"Yep, See ya Z" the Twins called.
Damien grabbed my hand and squeeze, "Thank you Z"
I smiled warmly down at him, "Your welcome"
"Bye Z" Coraline said without even lifting her head from her phone and I saw that Erik and Maurelle were being chatty kathy's again and didn't even bother to look my way. I decided to interrupt and remind Maurelle about her classes. Erik still didn't look at me much, it made me sad, but in a way, so relieved that he wasn't following me around like a lost puppy.
I walked back to Aphrodite who was still eating her salad, "Come on"
"I'm not done yet"
"You're done now. I don't wait you for, I'm the High Priestess, you wait for me" I smiled giving her a dose of her own meds. She grumbled something that sounded like, for fucks sake and got up out of her seat and followed me out of the dinning hall.
Now off to Grandma's we go…
