A/N: If you do not like these pairings or plot then do not read.

DISCLAIMER: All is owned by P.C and Kristen Cast.

CHAPTER 2

POWER SURGE.

Nikke packed all of her stuff and sat on her bed, opening her laptop and played some jazz music while she looked at her facebook profile, almost everyone had deleted her off their accounts. Nobody understood that she wasn't evil and it looked like they never will. Sighing deeply, Nikkie moved her cursor to the button that said "Delete Account." And pressed the necessary button and her account shut down.

'Goodbye my old life.' Nikkie thought solemnly and then put the electronic device back on the desk and decided to go for a walk.

She thrust her hands deep into the pockets of her dark jeans, mumbling about stupid people and how they didn't understand what being different meant, just when she bumped into Stark.

"Oh, sorry, Stark! I guess I didn't see you there! I'm sorry!" She said from her place on the ground, her butt on fire from falling on it.

"Oh, shit, sorry! Don't apologize to me! Are you okay? Looks like that hurt." He said and pulled her up carefully.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Apart from my ass on fire and I'm completely disoriented and I think I'm lost. I'm good!" Nikkie said, smiling brightly. Something about this vampyre just made her say everything, like he was a big brother figure, a shoulder to lean on and a person she could trust.

"Yeah, I know. I was Marked in Chicago and I know how scary the first day was, but there are people just like you, going through the same thing right now. Zoey was basically the same on her first day, and since she is a special fledgling, it's harder for her to have a more settled life, like the rest of the fledglings here." Stark said and rested his hand on her shoulder, patting it.

Nikkie sighed and smiled wearily. "Thanks, that actually makes me feel better." Her voice was soft, croaky as she stretched, yawning softly.

Zoey almost bumped into her, reading a book. "Oh, crap! Sorry Nikkie. I'm super stressed about this Vamp Soc test I've got and if I don't learn this concept, I'm so gonna fail!"

"A Vamp sock? Your doing a test on a vampyre's sock?" Nikkie asked, utterly confused and Zoey's lips twitched and her hazel eyes shined with amusement.

"Not a sock, Vampyre Sociology, I'm in the upper class." Zoey giggled, trying to contain her laughter for Nikkie's expense, unlike Stark who was doubling over in laughter, his eyes shining with tears as he laughed so hard.

"Well, at least someone thinks I'm amusing!" Nikkie said, trying to look angry, but failing miserably and joined in the laughter.

"Who's laughin' like that?" A sweet Okie twang spoke from behind them.

"Oh, hey Stevie-Rae, we were just laughing at something Nikkie said." Zoey said smoothly, still giggling. "Oh jeesh, that was funny."

Stevie-Rae giggled at Nikkie's half miserable, half amused face. Rephaim chuckling behind his mate.

"Okay, I'm going to find my class." Nikkie said, smiling as she waved at her new friends and jogged away. But it wasn't before she saw a tall, muscular man with long black hair and bronze skin. His chest bare, wearing only a pair of jeans in her path. What really shocked Nikkie were the long midnight-coloured wings that adorned his muscled back.

Amber eyes met silver and then all Nikkie saw was a black abyss and felt the cold ground as she keeled over.

"Oww.." Nikkie complained as she arose from her slumber, her fingertips kneading the hard surface of her skull. "Fainting is not recommended."

"Are you alright?" A familiar deep voice asked, worry evident in it's bass depths.

Her eyelids opened and her vision slightly blurred but Nikkie was able to make out beautiful blue eyes.

"Erik?" Her croaky voice was far from seductive, like she would have wanted.

"Yeah it's me," a relieved smile lit his face and her heart started racing. "I heard you fainted near Nyx's statue, I was worried so I came to check on you."

"Where am I?" Nikkie asked, her vision clearing and the image of Erik so close was one to behold, yet, she ripped her gaze from his handsome face and looked around the white, cold and crisp room, reeking of disinfectant.

"You're in the infirmary." He answered her question and smiled softly, as he looked into her pretty silver eyes.

Nikkie finally remembered the accident. "Erik! There was this winged guy! He was right in front of me! He was staring at Nyx's statue when he looked at me! Is he real!? Is he a ghost!?" Nikkie panicked, grabbing Erik's arm with a death grip, which made him smile even wider.

"That was Kalona, Nyx's fallen Warrior. He's one of the good guys . . now. He carried you here after you fainted." He explained in a placating voice. "Don't get yourself so worked up, the nurses said you just need rest. I'll take you back to your dorm room, you must feel more relaxed there huh?" He asked, holding her elbow and helped Nikkie stand and walk into her dorm.

Luckily, everyone had classes so the dorms were empty and silent for a change.

"Which is your room?" Erik asked, maintaining his firm grip on her arm to keep her from falling or tripping.

Nikkie directed him and he opened the door, helping her inside and laying her on the bed. "You decorated the place nicely." Erik said with an appreciative smile.

"Thank you. My mum taught me well." Nikkie said with a genuine happy smile.

"Do you want a glass of water or anything?" Erik asked, concern shadowing his face again.

"No, I'm okay. You don't have to fret over me. I'm not a fragile newborn." Her voice was sarcastic yet warm, letting him know that she wasn't aiming to wound him.

"I see." His voice was thoughtful and a cocky grin adorned his handsome face, making him look boyish and cheeky.

"I like it here. It's so much better than normal school, and the people here are so nice. Give or take a few people." Nikkie shrugged, looking up at Erik drowsily, rubbing her eyes like a sweet child.

"It's a great place, and I can see you're bored with me already. I'll let you rest." Erik teased her, with a huge grin on his face.

Nikkie smiled back. "Yes, your boring me with your awful looks." Nikkie and Erik shared a laugh, though it wasn't long before she fell asleep.

Erik untied her All-Stars and slid them off her feet and set them down carefully, pulling a knitted blanket over her, he examined it.

Handmade it seemed, a rainbow with silver flowing through delicately. It matched her well.

Erik finally took one last look at her beautiful sleeping form and left, shutting the door softly behind himself.

Then Nyx appeared next to her new daughter. "My sweet daughter, you are blessed among those who are gifted far beyond their imagination. Here, I shall watch over you and hope that you pray to me in your time of need and love. Know this, my daughter, with great power comes responsibility. You will know, among all others, what the ultimate sacrifice is and what it entails. Be careful and be sure."

And with that, Nyx left, bestowing a great gift on her daughter.