It doesn't contain the level of awesomeness I was hoping for, but here's chapter eleven!
OMGG!!! Just saw Paranormal Activity—all I can say is Oh. My. Golly. Gee!!!
Zoey
When I opened my eyes, I was blinded by a bright light. I covered my face with my hands, and slowly eased them open again.
"Well, hell," I muttered as I scrambled to my feet. I stumbled to the side of the great castle and looked out over the open sea. I sighed in defeat and dropped to the ground to sit, pulling my knees closer to me and wrapping my arms around my legs. I rested my head on my knees, and wondered why in wherever-the-heck-I-was I kept ending up here. I had totally thought that thinking of my friends would work, and yet here I was; back at Kalona's castle. (HAHA!!! You guys thought she was goin' back, didn't you?! I sure got you good…)
I heard careful footsteps approaching, but even before that I could feel his presence. My heart leapt, but that only made my overall mood worse. I sighed heavily into my legs.
"What do you want?" I asked harshly. I was so not in the mood for this crap.
"I want to help you," Kalona replied calmly.
I lifted my head to meet his eyes—I don't know what made me do it. My heart swelled as our gaze met, but I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.
"Why would you help me?" I asked scornfully. "What do you get out of it?"
"I would like you to help me in return." He stared intently into my eyes, and I quickly looked away.
"What can I do for you?" I shuddered at the way I worded it. The question sounded too intimate.
"Help me the way you helped Stark," he urged, kneeling down to meet my gaze again. I made the mistake of looking up, and was immediately lost in his eyes.
"I-I can't," I stammered, disorientated.
"But why? What's so different?" he demanded. "We were both once good, but turned evil. You saved him; why not me?"
I was mesmerized by his amber depths. Snap out of it, Zoey! I commanded. I blinked rapidly, then narrowed my eyes at him again.
"Because," I began with antipathy, "You lied to me—about everything! I can't change you."
"I did not lie!" Kalona raised his voice indignantly. "I merely showed you only some of what happened." His eyes darkened. "I can show you the rest. If you'd like."
"If it's worth seeing," I muttered.
"I am not proud of it," he warned. He suddenly took my hand, and used his other to swipe across the sky. It rippled several times, and a familiar ripping filled the air as he once again began to show me his memories. The first was of him and Nyx standing together in what looked like a garden—a very fancy garden.
Please, my lady— Kalona started to say. Nyx turned sadly away from him.
I cannot. I already have a consort and love—Erebus. He is the one for me… I'm sorry.
She didn't look happy about breaking his heart, but she walked away from him anyway. Kalona was left behind, his head bent in sorrow.
A flurry of images flashed across the sky. All of Kalona trying to convince Nyx of his love for her, and Nyx apologetically turning him down. The barrage of scenes suddenly paused at one in particular. It was the unearthly beautiful Nyx and Kalona together in a forest. Kalona was once again trying to get her to love him.
No, Kalona, I cann— But she was stopped short with a terrible howl. A great knot of shadows was rapidly surrounding her, and Kalona had not even noticed until it struck. He pulled out his sword, and with a mixed look of horror and determination, he began fighting the disarray of evil. Even as he tried, I watched as Nyx's face became hollow, and then filled with something that looked so alien on her face; evil, hatred, darkness—and not the usual darkness, an evil kind of darkness.
Kalona battled and battled the fierce downpour of shadows. In life, he must have been fighting for hours, but he somehow sped it up now without making it apparent. Talk about weird.
The obscure swirl lashed out at Kalona, and he cried out in pain upon contact, but continued with his struggle. The sound seemed to have drawn Erebus to him, for he soon appeared. He joined the fight for Nyx, and what must have been hours later, it finally receded back into the forest. Erebus held a trembling Nyx, while Kalona glared at them off to the side. He scowled and looked at the ground in angry jealousy.
Nyx suddenly yelled No! and Kalona snapped his head towards her, sword at the ready. The shroud of evil had returned, but Erebus had done his job well, and kept Nyx safe. But now the darkness was directly attacking him.
Nyx's beautiful face twisted with fear. She stared at her beloved Erebus, who was being mercilessly attacked by the same contortion of shadows I'd seen Kalona battling in the memoir he'd shown me before. But this one was bigger, and transformed into fiercer creatures. A dragon that actually breathed fire, a huge tiger with blood dripping from it's fangs and claws, a shadowy figure that I could not name, but filled me with such fear just looking at it, and reminded me powerfully of the Grim Reaper. I stiffened, and Kalona tightened his grasp on my hand.
It was attacking Erebus, overwhelming him—it fought not like it wanted to kill him, but as if it wanted to control and permeate him. It swarmed like a hive of eternally infuriated bees around Erebus until he could not be seen anymore. I knew that the evil was starting to gain hold of him.
Kalona! Please, help him! Nyx begged, but Kalona just stared at the scuffle, a look of vengeful content spread across his face. He turned to Nyx and took her hands.
But, my lady, when he's gone, we can be together!
What? No! She yelled accusingly. You would have let it get me! You were not doing your job; you risked the lives of my mortal children by letting your guard down! And now you've let it get Erebus, my love! She threw his hands away from her, ran towards her consort, and tried using the elements to defend him. And still it was not enough. Kalona gripped his sword tightly, his knuckles white, before muttering, For you, my lady, and diving into the fray.
For a long time I couldn't see much, but after some time, Erebus and Kalona were free of the now retreating darkness. They were panting heavily from the effort, but didn't stop there. After they saw that the enemy was receding, Kalona instantly turned to Erebus and lifted his sword, again whispering For you, my lady. Erebus, naive of friendly fire, was caught unawares and Kalona's blade slashed his arm as he ducked away at the last minute.
What are you doing? Erebus asked angrily, clutching his bleeding bicep. Kalona ignored him and started swinging once again. This time Erebus was prepared, and brought up his own sword in defense. Their swords clashed angrily, and sparks flew as Kalona and Erebus battled.
Stop! Nyx ordered. Erebus did as his lady commanded, while Kalona continued with the onslaught. Erebus nimbly evaded the assault as Kalona's blows became more powerful and insistent, and his face distorted with cruel satisfaction.
Stop! Nyx demanded again, this time ringing with power, and giving more authority to her words. I started—it sounded much like my own voice when I used the special High Priestess tone, only perhaps more powerful. Kalona faltered, and came to a halt. The look of malice that had previously overrun Kalona's face melted away and he dropped his sword. Now his face was filled with shock, and he fell to the ground.
I'm s-sorry Erebus—my lady; I don't know what came over me, Kalona said in barely a whisper as he stared at the ground with wide eyes.
"I don't know what came over me," he murmured gently from next to me.
And then, with a flick of his wrist, Kalona scattered the memory. He stared off into the distance, not moving. I slipped my hand out of his, and stepped back.
"You…attacked him," I stated plainly. "For no reason."
He nodded slowly, before closing his eyes, leaning his head back and letting out a huge sigh. "I don't know why…" he repeated.
"What if you hadn't been able to save her," I demanded, "Because you were too infatuated to protect her? What if Erebus hadn't come?"
"I would have kept fighting—even if it took forever—until she was safe again."
I paused. "And you want me to help you?"
"Yes."
I looked at him warily. He said he could take me to my body, and I knew that it wasn't a lie. But he was evil. So I could let him help me, and try to help him become good—and I had my doubts—or I could wander around and try to find another way back. I was compelled to take this offer, if not for the imprint we shared, then for the need to get back. I was conflicted with what to do. And then Nyx's words floated back into my head: Do what you think is right, Zoey Rebird...Follow your heart... I suddenly knew what it meant. I knew that he was telling the truth, and my heart was definately telling me to let him take me back, even if it was just te imprint telling me so. But was this the way Nyx had wanted me to get back? I wasn't so sure, but.. I thought it was right. He simply looked at me and said "I will help you."
I unintentionally looked into his eyes once again, and found myself softly saying "Okay."
He smiled at me, seeming so different than the times when he was truly evil. It was almost like he was an entirely different person. I subtly noticed that we were both beginning to shine as Kalona stepped closer to me.
"Do you trust me?" he asked as he held out his glowing hand to me.
"Yes," I whispered, taking it.
He swept his vast wings around me, encasing us in his dark embrace. I became dizzy when he pressed me closer to him. As we began to shine more brilliantly, I looked up at him, and he down at me. He slowly brought his lips to mine, and the instant they touched, I could feel myself shatter into a billion sparkling fragments.
It was the same as when I was usually floating through nothingness, but somehow different. I could constantly feel Kalona's presence beside me, his wings and warm hands keeping me in his strong embrace, and it just seemed right. Although there was no way to judge time in this state I was in, the journey still seemed shorter than all my other wanderings.
And, as usual, we were suddenly in the room I'd been in before when Damien, the Twins, Stevie Rae, and Aphrodite had summoned me. But as I examined my surroundings, I saw that the room was dark and empty. Kalona still had my hands in his, and he promptly dropped them after our arrival.
"Thanks," I mumbled uncomfortably.
"Anything for you," Kalona said with a smile. Then his face became thoughtful and serious. "When I first made this imprint with you, I did it out of desire; for you—or perhaps more accurately, A-ya—and for the power you hold." He stopped and just looked at me, as if to judge my reaction, before continuing. I did my best to keep a straight face. "But now, I believe it has become something more."
Tell me about it, I thought with an internal sigh. I didn't know what to think anymore. I knew Kalona was evil, but now something had me thinking that he could be changed, just as Stevie Rae, Stark, and the other red fledglings had been.
But he killed Heath, a little part of me argued, and he planned on killing more. Which was an extremely good point.
Yeah, well Stevie Rae and all the red fledglings killed people before they turned good, a different part retorted. Which was also a good point. I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples; this was all just so confusing. I really needed to talk to my buddies more than ever.
But how will they react to our imprint? My eyes shot opened. I hadn't even thought of that. It's not like I was keeping it from them, but they'd probably still feel betrayed. I scowled; I certainly would. How could I have let this happen?
I felt Kalona take one of my hands again. I looked at him, and my indecision washed away as he gazed back at me.
"Yeah," I muttered, finally answering his unspoken question. He smiled at me again, looking more human and truly happy than I've ever seen him before. He held out his arms, and asked "May I?" I automatically knew what he meant, and nodded.
I stared into his eyes as he gently lifted me into his arms bridal style. He swiftly and silently carried me over to where my empty body lay. I could hear my gentle breathing as we approached. He paused beside the bed and shifted me in his arms to look at him easier. We stared into each other's eyes for a moment, before he slowly lowered his head; closer, and closer…
Our lips met, but I did not shy away. It was tender, and soft, and he didn't push his luck. When we parted, my head was spinning from lack of oxygen, and maybe a little something else. He bent over and held me—well, I guess my spirit—over my lifeless body. He slowly and carefully lowered me into…well, me. I almost gasped as he did so—My spiritual self was sort of being absorbed by my body, and as I slipped into it, a warm yet icy, sharp, tingly feeling overcame me. The second I was completely bonded, the world spun around me, and I fell into a sleeplike state.
When I first woke up, I kept my eyelids closed for a moment and just listened. I didn't hear any sounds or movement, and wondered what time it was. My eyelids fluttered open, and I took a sharp intake of breath at how…real it felt. The room was dark, lit by a single candle flickering happily beside my bed. I glanced around the empty room, but what I was looking for I didn't know. I pulled the sheet over me a little more because I was cold, and it made a muted rustling noise.
I jumped in alarm when the rustling continued even after I stopped moving. It was coming from a shadowy corner. The corner was completely dark, and all I could see were blood-red eyes glinting in the soft glow of candlelight. The menacing, yet familiar, eyes moved upward, and came towards me and into a lone candle's gentle light so I could finally see all of her.
Remarkably, I wasn't the least bit tired, so I sat up in my bed and watched her. There was something different about my good friend, but I just couldn't place it. Maybe it was the way she moved—it was more fluid, catlike and wild than I'd remembered. Or maybe it was the look on her face—it was completely void of emotion, but held something more sinister within. I smiled tentatively at her as she stood beside my bed and looked back at me with no emotion.
"Hey," I began hesitantly, "Long time, no see." Her blank expression finally changed, but it wasn't what I'd been hoping to see.
"Cut the crap, Zoey, we all know what you did," Stevie Rae spat, her face contorted into a mask of fierce disgust. I leaned back and flinched—her words seemed strong enough to physically score through me.
"What do you mean?" I asked in barely a whisper. How had they found out?
"Your little imprint with Kalona," Stevie Rae said with disgust. "Thought we wouldn't find out? Huh?"
"Stevie Rae, please," I urged, "It was an accident. I never would have done that on—"
"Well, guess what?" She paused for a moment, as if listening for something. "You messed everything up, Zoey."
"I'm sorry," I whispered, and all my guilt and remorse flooded back into me, seeming stronger than ever before. I had ruined everything…
"How can we defeat him now? With you," Stevie Rae snarled, "Helpin' him, he'll be dang near impossible to defeat!"
"I wouldn't—I didn't mean—" I started, my eyes beginning to burn in the beginnings of tears.
"Yeah, ya didn't mean to doom the whole dang world!"
I couldn't even speak—the tears had spilled over and ran down my cheeks in a race to see who could escape my presence the fastest. I had thought, of all my friends, Stevie Rae would be the most understanding. But no, she was furious at me. If she was this mad, what were the others like? As if reading my thoughts, Stevie Rae continued angrily.
"The others want nuthin' to do with you, now," she glared at me with her bloody eyes, and they seemed to rip right through me. "I was the only one who would stay to talk to you. They're all off tryin' to get somethin' done, since you screwed it all up."
"They want nothing to do with me?" I asked in a small voice.
"Nope. I'm havin' a hard time restrainin' myself right now. Zoey, do you know how much this'll cost us…" Stevie Rae fell back into the closest chair, her temper gone. She sighed, ran her hand through her hair, and closed her eyes as if in defeat. "Zoey…I don't know what we're gonna do now…"
"I could—"
"No!" she yelled with such force that it rang in my ears for several seconds. She gave me the death glare, and hissed, "You've. Done. Enough. Just…go."
She turned away from me, and I sat where I was in shock. Finally, I slowly got to my feet and silently walked out the door; the tears still falling. I had no idea where I was, and I only had a hospital gown on, but I held it closed and kept on going. My bare feet made a light smacking sound against the hard tile floor as my pace quickened. I wasn't quite running, but I was speed-walking out of there as fast as I could. I flew down several flights of stairs, my unused body creaking in protest, and exited from the first door I saw.
I just walked into the chilly night, not caring where I was headed. I needed to think. I bit my cheek to stop myself from crying any harder, and it sort of worked. The cool grass caressed my aching feet, and I had the urge to sit down. When all you've been doing for a week—according to the calendar in the room I'd woken up in—is laying in bed, breathing, and you suddenly decide to go out for a jog, your body tends to complain.
I realized that I'd wandered to the scene of Heath's death, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't control the tears that flooded my face. I bit down until I bled, and I spat out a large gob of nasty. I sat down in the grass, and put my head in my hands. Heath's death hurt more than ever, because now that I was in this body, I wouldn't see him again. And now I had to deal with my friends, Kalona, Stevie Rae…Stark…
I suddenly felt someone watching me. I quickly scanned the area around me, but found nothing that made my vampyre senses tingle. I slowly got to my feet, still looking around warily. I heard a twig snap to my left, and I almost jumped out of my skin—which is no fun, I can tell you from experience. I saw a shadowy figure approaching me, but even with my vamp-enhanced night vision, I couldn't tell who it was. It raised it's arm towards me, and that's when I chose to run. My legs pumped harder than they probably should have after so long without use, and my vamp senses were finally going off. Something in me screamed to Get the heck outta there! The figure had been practically radiating pure evil. It was one of the scariest thing I had ever felt—almost like just by standing in it's presence, it could strip you of your righteousness.
All of a sudden, it was really hard to move. It felt like instead of running in the cool, night air, I was swimming through hardening glue. I struggled ferociously and tried to call out for help, but couldn't make any sound come out. Soon I couldn't move at all either, and I was frozen in the middle of taking a step. If my eyes could have widened in fear they would have, but as it was, I couldn't move anything but my chest—to breathe—and my eyeballs. And even so, it was getting harder and harder to breathe…It was taking longer to catch a single breath…I was getting lightheaded from lack of oxygen…The world was whirling around me…
And then I spun out of consciousness.
Ahh, don't we all just love the classic 'and then everything went black' ending for a chapter? Yeah...Sorry about this, but…it's my story. And I wanted you guys to wonder…
Please tell me what you think of this chapter. Review, review!
Well, I must be off. I've been hearing my cat outside growling/meowing menacingly at another cat, but I haven't been able to find them yet. So off I go! I'm bringing a shovel, just in case the other cat is evil...
Your Pal,
SuperOreoMan
