Stark
I walked to Zoey's room numbly, I couldn't stop replaying the moment when her soul shattered. So much pain… I finally lie her down on the mattress and gently pressed my lips to her crescent moon. I can't believe Nyx actually abandoned her, after everything Zoey had been through. But under Nyx's instruction I will keep Zoey's body safe, no matter what it takes. I heard footsteps down the hall and saw Darius walking in with Aphrodite.
"Stark, we must go talk with Zoey's grandmother. Zoey will be fine here," he said. I nodded and planted one more kiss on Zoey's forehead and walked out the door. Wait! I had to protect her! I stopped dead in my tracks and started to turn around.
"What the hell Stark? We have to go talk to Grandma!" Aphrodite huffed.
"I have to protect Zoey," I whispered. Wow, I sounded like crap! Get yourself together Stark! I thought to myself. Zoey will be fine, even Nyx said so. You can do this! Be strong for her…
"Zoey is safe Stark, come on," Darius commanded. I returned to Darius' side, walking to who knows where. Soon enough we got to a phone and Darius and Aphrodite told Grandma Redbird the whole story. I stayed silent the whole time, trying to block out the thought that Zoey was no longer here.
"Is Stark there?" I heard Zoey's Grandmother ask.
"Yes," I answered.
"Good, you must keep Zoey safe at all costs. I know your goddess has already told you this, and I'm not positive what she has in store for Zoey. But I do know that she is strong, and she will make it through it."
"Why are her markings gone Grandma?" Aphrodite asked, though she tried to hide it, I could hear that she was worried too.
"I remember speaking to Zoey about this a few days ago. She was worried about being a reincarnation of A-ya and we agreed that your body is just a shell for your soul. And Zoey agreed that Nyx does not mark your body; she marks your soul. So when Zoey's soul shattered, I can only assume that her markings left her body with it. I do not know much more, but do not forget to take care of Zoey's human body," Grandma explained. Slowly it was starting to make sense… of course Zoey would be strong enough to get back to her body. Her body just has to be strong too.
"Thank you Grandma Redbird," I said into the phone, I tried to keep my voice emotionless but I didn't succeed.
"Stark… oh dear you must be in great pain," she said softly. Hot tears once again were threatening to spill out of my already bloodshot eyes. I quickly blinked them away and reminded myself I had to be strong for Zoey. "Listen Stark, try to ask Zoey's element to help you. I'm sure they will obey you to a certain extent, considering Zoey is no longer with us."
"I will Grandma," I said, hope filling me and spilling out. I now could understand why Zoey always went to her grandmother when she wasn't feeling right. Grandma Redbird made everything okay, she was like an angel.
"Good, good. Now it is time for me to get my rest, I'm getting older by the second and I'm not as strong as I once was," Grandma said. It was then that I realized how tired and strained her voice sounded. I prayed to Nyx that Zoey's grandmother would not leave us before Zoey came back. I fear that she would not make it through that loss.
"Stark, I think you should rest too," Darius recommended to me softly. I nodded and walked down the hall back to Zoey's room. Why couldn't everything be okay? I internally sighed and layed down next to Zoey. I slowly drifted into darkness…
Zoey
"So, you have to find the things that are most important to you? Well, one of them is me right?" Heath asked.
"Yeah, I think that's why my hands are still marked," I replied, pacing back and forth. I was pretty sure the grass would be dead by the time I stopped.
"Well, your crescent moon is filled in and your face still has all your markings too."
"Nyx talked to me; that could be the reason for those ones. Now I just have to find the rest… why did this happen to me? Ugh, I just don't understand!" I screeched. Wow, this was really unlike me. All this stress is really getting to my head. I really needed to calm down and get myself together! I stopped pacing and sat on the bench next to Heath.
"I don't know babe, but I know you're strong enough to be okay," Heath whispered into my hair. I sat there for who knows how long in his arms when my vision went black.
"Heath!" I shouted, I could feel the hot tears rolling down my cheeks. I couldn't see!
"Zo? Zo! What's wrong?!" He shouted, shaking my shoulders a little bit.
"I can't see!" I sobbed, but then I started to see the House of Night. It was really strange, I was in my bedroom and then Stark walked in.
"Zoey?" He whispered, barely audible. Sort of like he thought I could be a ghost. I nodded and leaped into his arms, so happy to be in his arms once again.
"Oh Stark! I don't know what's happening, this is all probably my imagination! But my markings are gone and I think I have to find everything I love the most in the world to return to my body. I don't know how though Stark!" I started crying at the end, and sobs racked my slender frame.
"Shh, shh. You're strong, you're going to be okay. Don't give up Zoey, I'll protect you," Stark whispered into my ear while he cradled me. I felt an all too familiar burning sensation across my chest and leaped up, grinning like an idiot.
"Of course it's you Stark!" I shouted, kissing him with all I could.
"What?" he asked, obviously confused at my outburst.
"I got my markings back!" I pulled my shirt down a little bit so the sapphire tattoos that covered my scar were visible.
"You're so beautiful," Stark whispered, running his fingers down the ugliest part of my body. I quickly pulled my shirt back up, a scar was hardly beautiful. I looked up to see Stark slowly fading away.
"Stark?!" I yelled, running for him.
"I was simply dreaming Zoey, and now I have to go," he said, planting one last kiss on my lips and then fading.
My vision quickly returned to normal and I was once again on the bench next to Heath.
"Zo? Are you okay?!" he asked frantically. I nodded and started walking off towards the woods.
"How are we going to find the things I love the most if we sit around and do nothing?" I pondered aloud.
"I don't think this is a good idea Zo, let's just go back," Heath mumbled, taking my hand and gently pulling me backwards.
"No Heath, I have to do this," I said, pulling him forward instead. After a few hours of stumbling around we came upon a clearing… the one I've been seeing in my dreams with Kalona. "Heath we have to get out of here!" I said, quickly walking backwards.
"It's a little too late for that, my sweet A-ya." The voice was unmistakably perfect and seductive, and I turned around to face the reason I was here.
Kalona.
