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Shaunee

The Sons of Erebus Warriors went grimly about the job of stacking timber and building Dragon's pyre. Shaunee tried to do what she could to help them. She could tell how well wood would burn just by touching it, so she pointed out all of the particularly dry logs, or planks, and guided the Warriors into placing them just right, so that the fire would burn cleanly and quickly.

Shaunee tried to be encouraging. She told them they were doing a good job, and that Dragon would be proud of them, but that only seemed to make them quieter, grimmer. Darius was even silent and almost felt like a stranger. It was only after Aphrodite breezed up, tossing her hair and talking with her usual take-no-prisoners attitude that things started to get better.

"So, handsome, do you remember the lecture Dragon gave you when you and I first started going out?" Aphrodite winked at several of the other Warriors. "I'll bet Stephen and Conner and Westin remember it, don't ya? Wasn't it the three of you who had to pull extra training with Darius after Dragon found out he was fraternizing with a fledgling?" Aphrodite had lowered her voice and affected a tone that sounded weirdly like the Sword Master.

The Warriors had actually smiled. "Three days in a row Dragon made each of us have a go at your boy there."

Darius snorted. "Watch yourself, Conner. I have not been a boy for decades."

Conner laughed. "I think that's what Dragon was having a problem with."

Aphrodite smiled flirtatiously and ran a hand down Darius's thick bicep. "He was trying to tire you out so that you wouldn't be energetic enough to fraternize with me."

"That would have taken an army of vampyres," Darius said.

It was Stephen's turn to snort. "Really? Is that why Anastasia had to intervene?"

Aphrodite's blond brows went up. "Intervene? Anastasia? You didn't tell me that, handsome."

"It must have slipped my mind, as I was too busy fraternizing with you, my beauty."

"Ha!" Westin scoffed. "There is no way any one of us could forget Anastasia, hair flying, descending upon our Sword Master, calling him to task for picking on poor, young Darius."

Shaunee had to join the laughter. "She seriously said Dragon was picking on Darius?"

Conner, who was tall and blond and almost as hot as Shaunee's element, said, "She absolutely did. She even called him Bryan and reminded him that had she not fraternized with a fledgling a century ago, his life would be much less interesting."

"I'd known Dragon Lankford for fifty years," Stephen said. "I'd never seen him bested by any other Warrior, but Anastasia could stop him with a single look."

"It is good that they are together," Darius said.

"He lost himself without her," Westin said.

"Something I can well understand." Darius lifted Aphrodite's hand, kissing it gently.

"You truly did see them reunite?"

"Yes." Darius, Aphrodite, and Shaunee spoke together.

"He's happy again," Shaunee said.

"She died first, but she waited for him," Aphrodite said. She was smiling at Darius, but Shaunee could see tears in her eyes.

"She died a Warrior's death," Westin said.

"As did Dragon," Darius said.

"We need to remember this tonight," Shaunee said. "Remember their joy and their oath and that they still have love."

"Always love," Darius said softly, touching Aphrodite's cheek.

"Always love," she echoed. Then she raised a blond brow. "If you're not too tired, that is."

"Ha! So Anastasia was right! We were picking on poor, young Darius." Stephen and the other Warriors laughed and Darius sputtered while Aphrodite teased.

Shaunee backed away from the growing pyre and the group that surrounded it. Fire, warm this small spark of joy that Aphrodite managed to ignite within them. Help the Warriors to remember that Dragon and Anastasia are together and happy. She felt the warmth of her element rush from around her and circle the group, invisible to the eye, and almost undetectable to anyone who didn't have an affinity for fire. But it helped. She had helped. Shaunee really believed it.

Feeling slightly less awful, she wandered away. Shaunee knew she needed to go to the stables, but that didn't mean she was eager to face the destruction that her element had caused. I wasn't wielding it, though, she reminded herself. Still, she meandered, taking a circuitous route and heading toward the courtyard that had the pretty fountain in it. From there she'd walk the back way, by the parking lot, that led more directly to the field house than to the stables.

Shaunee heard water before she heard Erin's voice.

She hadn't meant to be all creeper-like and lurky. She'd only moved quietly into the shadows around the courtyard because she hadn't wanted a scene with Erin-not because she was spying on her.

Then she heard the other voice. Shaunee didn't recognize who it was at first. He wasn't talking loud enough. She only recognized Erin's flirty giggle. Shaunee was trying to decide if curiosity was the same as nosiness when his voice got louder and she realized the guy Erin was aiming her flirty giggle at was Dallas!

Feeling sick to her stomach, Shaunee moved closer.

"Yeah, that's what I'm sayin'. I can't get you off my mind, girl. You know what water and electricity make when they come together, don't you?"

Shaunee stayed completely still, waiting for Erin to call him a douche bag and tell him to run back to nasty Nicole where he belonged; instead her stomach dropped as she heard Erin's flirty answer, "Lightning-that's what electricity and water make. Sounds hot to me."

"That's because it is hot. You are hot. You're like a sauna, girl-or a steam bath I'd like to soak in."

Shaunee had to press her lips together in a tight line to keep from yelling eew and calling Dallas a douche herself. Erin would. No way would she want anything to do with Dallas. He was a total asshole. He hated Stevie Rae and Zoey! Stevie Rae had said he'd tried to kill her! Erin was just setting him up to smack him down and put him in his place.

Shaunee waited for it. Nothing. She heard nothing. Walking quietly, Shaunee moved even closer. Erin was probably gone. She'd probably rolled her eyes and walked away and not even bothered with telling Dallas to get lost.

Shaunee was wrong. Real wrong.

Erin had backed up against the fountain. Water was flowing all over her. Her hair, her clothes, her body. Dallas was staring at her like he was starving and she was a T-bone steak dinner. Erin lifted her arms over her head, making her boobs press against her soggy shirt, which was white and wet and now totally see-through.

"How's this for a wet T-shirt contest?" Her voice was all sexy and she shimmied a little, making her boobs bounce.

"You win. That's the hottest thing I've ever seen, girl."

"I can show you something hotter," Erin said. With one motion she pulled her soaked T-shirt off and then unhooked her lace bra.

Dallas was breathing so hard Shaunee could hear him. He licked his lips. "You're right, girl. That is hotter."

"And what about this?" Erin hooked her thumbs in the waist of her little plaid skirt and pulled it off. She smiled at Dallas as he stared at the little lace thong she was still wearing.

"How 'bout takin' the rest of that off?" His voice had deepened and he'd moved closer to her.

"Sounds good to me. I like wearing nothing but water." Erin peeled off the thong. Now all she had on were her Christian Louboutin boots. She ran her hands all over her body with the water. "Wanta get wet with me?"

"Wet isn't all I wanta get with you," he said. "Girl, I'm gonna open up a whole other world for you."

"I'm ready for it," she said silkily, still touching herself. "'Cause I'm sick of the boring-ass world I've been living in."

"Lightning, girl. Let's make some lightning and some changes."

"Bring it!" Erin said.

Dallas closed the distance between them. The two of them were wrapped together and so into each other that Shaunee didn't have to worry about them hearing her when she rushed away, totally nauseated, her eyes filled with tears.

Zoey

"If you guys don't mind I'm gonna go to the media center. Damien thought there might be some old books on True Sight in the reference section if I dig hard enough. He's probably better at research than I am, but I'm stubborn," Shaylin said. "If there's something to find, eventually I'll find it."

"No problem," I said and Stevie Rae gave a shrug saying, "Sounds good to me."

She started to walk away and then paused. "Hey, thanks for letting me come with you and talk to Thanatos. And thanks for hearing what I had to say in there. And, well, sorry again for that thing with Aphrodite earlier."

"I'm not the one you need to keep apologizing to for that," I said.

"Yeah, well, I think you're the only one who will listen," Shaylin said, glancing in the direction Aphrodite had twitched off.

"Aphrodite'll listen. Just not very well," Stevie Rae said. "You did good in there, Shaylin. I like what you say about people's colors. I think you should focus on following your gut about what you see."

"Huh," Kramisha huffed as she hurried up to us. "I say guts can get you in a shit ton of trouble."

I was thinking, understatement of the year, as Stevie Rae was asking, "What's up, Kramisha?"

"It's Dallas's red fledglings. They're actin' like they wanta help clean up the stable."

Stevie Rae frowned. I chewed my lip. Kramisha crossed her arms and tapped her foot.

"Is helping a bad thing?" Shaylin spoke into the uncomfortable pause.

"Dallas's group has been, well..." I hesitated, trying to form a phrase that didn't involve using words I tried (pretty much) to avoid.

Kramisha beat me to it, "They's ass bites."

"Maybe they're trying to change," Shaylin said.

"They's devious ass bites," Kramisha added.

"We don't trust them," I explained.

"And we have lots of reasons to don't trust 'em," Stevie Rae said. "But I have an idea. Thanatos said I gotta practice being a leader and Shaylin's gotta practice her True Sight thing. So let's do both." Stevie Rae straightened her back and her voice changed from sweet and girl-like to a woman who sounded more confident and lots older. "Shaylin, you can go to the media center later. Right now you'll come with me to the stables. I want you to look at the colors of the red fledglings there and tell me which ones are most dangerous."

"Yes, ma'am," she said.

"Uh, you don't have to call me ma'am," Stevie Rae said quickly, sounding like herself again. "Just lettin' me boss you around is good enough."

"You ain't that bossy," Kramisha said.

"Well, I'm tryin' to be." Stevie Rae sighed, then glanced at me.

I grinned at her. "You can boss me if you want to."

She gave me an ack! look. "If I ever try to you can call me a wiener and tell me to slap myself with a bun and mustard."

I laughed. "Well, then, if you don't care I'm gonna take some time by myself. I need to think about this Seer Stone thing. I'll meet you at the stables in a little while, though. If you see Stark, tell him I'm fine and I'll be there soon."

"Okie dokie," Stevie Rae said.

I watched the three of them walk off. I could hear Kramisha asking Shaylin about her color, and before the kid could answer her, she was already explaining to Shaylin that there was no damn way her color could be any kind of orange 'cause she didn't like her no orange. Shaylin was looking confused but interested. Stevie Rae looked thoughtful and determined, like she was trying to reflect on the outside the leadership she was working on on the inside.

Me? I imagined if you put a mirror up to me I'd look confused and tired and see that my mascara was clumping and my hair was frizzing.

I wanted to go with my friends and help them get the stables cleaned up. I wanted to find Stark and have him hold my hand and tease me about over-worrying and Internet health symptom googling. Mostly I wanted to forget about the stupid Seer Stone around my neck and focus on something that made more sense-like hateful red fledglings and homework. But I knew Thanatos had been right. We would need all of our gifts to have a chance at even just keeping Darkness at bay. So instead of following my friends, I walked a different path. I cleared my mind as much as I could, and let my instincts guide me. When it was obvious where my feet were leading me, I whispered, "Spirit, please come to me. Help me not to be too afraid." The element I felt most comfortable with soothed my fear, so that by the time I was standing before the shattered oak tree, it was like my emotions were wrapped in a soft, warm blanket.

I needed the comfort blanket. This place scared me. Professor Nolan had been killed here. Stevie Rae had almost been killed here. Kalona had ripped from the earth here. Jack-poor sweet Jack-had died here.

My gut had taken me here. Worse, my Seer Stone had started to radiate heat.

Yep, I thought. Like Kramisha said, following your gut can cause a shit ton of trouble. I sighed and admitted the truth my instinct had followed-if there's old magick at the House of Night, this was an excellent place for it to be hiding. Sgiach had told me that old magick was powerful. It was also unpredictable and dangerous. I remembered her explaining that how it manifested had a lot to do with the Priestess who had called it to her.

So, what did that mean for me? What kind of Priestess was I becoming?

I sighed. A confused, crappy one who didn't get enough sleep.

One with potential, drifted through my mind.

One who doesn't know enough, I mentally countered with.

One who needs to believe in herself, the wind whispered to me.

One who needs to quit screwing up, my mind insisted.

One who needs to believe in her Goddess.

And that stopped my mental battle.

"I do believe in you, Nyx. I always will." Resolutely, I pulled the warm Seer Stone from under my T-shirt, took a deep breath, lifted it, and stared through the little Lifesaver-like hole at the broken, battered oak tree.

For a second nothing happened. I squinted, and the tree was just a messed-up old tree. I started to relax and, typically, that's when all hell broke loose.

From the center of the shattered trunk an ugly, terrible whirling vortex of shadows emerged. Within the whirlpool I could see horrible creatures with twisted bodies covered in skin that was mottled, as if they were rotting from disgusting diseases. Their eyes were cavernous sockets. Their mouths were sewn shut. I could smell them. It was a stink like old roadkill mixed with a backed-up toilet. I gagged and must have made a retching sound, because as a group, they turned their sightless faces to me. Their long, skeletal fingers reached toward me.

"No! Stop!" Spirit's comfort was shattered. I was paralyzed by fear.

And then from the very center of the vortex a beautiful, full moon-colored light flashed up, burning the horrid creatures into nothingness and knocking me backward on my butt. I dropped the Seer Stone, severing my link to the old magick. As I blinked and gasped, the tree became the tree again. Old and creepy, but mundane and broken.

Not caring about Thanatos or Death's commands I scrambled to my feet and ran like hell.

* * *

"I'm not crazy. It's my life that is crazy. I'm not crazy. It's my life that is crazy..." Between panting breaths I spoke the words like a mantra, over and over to myself, trying to find my normal-my center, or even just a small measure of calm, but my heartbeat was pounding so loud I could hear it in my ears and I couldn't seem to catch my breath. Heart attack, I thought. This level of crazy is too much for me and I'm having a heart attack.

I'd just realized that maybe I couldn't catch my breath and my heart was pounding like crazy because I was still running, when strong, familiar hands grabbed me, jerking me to a sudden stop. Like a total girl I collapsed against Stark, shaking so hard that my teeth were chittering.

"Zoey! Are you hurt? Who's after you?" Stark kept me tucked against him while he turned me so that he was staring through the darkness behind me. I'd wrapped my arms around him and I could feel that he'd slung his bow and an arrow holder over his shoulder. Readiness radiated from him. Even through my panic, his presence calmed me. I gulped air, shaking my head. "No, I'm okay. I'm okay."

He held me out at arm's length, looking up and down my body like he was checking for wounds. "What happened? Why are you freaked and running like a crazy person?"

I frowned at him. "I'm not a crazy person."

"Well, you were running like one. And inside here"-he pressed a finger against my chest over my quieting heart-"you were definitely feeling whacked."

"Old magick."

His eyes widened. "The bull?"

"No, no, nothing like that. I looked through the Seer Stone at the tree. You know, the tree, by the east wall."

"Why in the hell would you do that?"

"Because Thanatos told me I needed to practice with the stupid Seer Stone in case it could somehow be used to fight Neferet."

"So you saw something that came after you?"

"Well, no. Yes. Kinda. I saw some creepy things inside something that looked like a tornado whirlpooling up from the middle of the tree. Stark, they were seriously the most disgusting things I've ever seen. And they smelled bad. Really, really bad. Actually, they almost made me puke. I did gag, which was when they noticed me, but before they could do anything this bright light zapped them." I paused, thinking through my panic. "Actually, the zapping light was kinda like Sookie's fairy-light-thing. Do you think there's any chance I'm a fairy?"

"No, Z. Focus. True Blood is fiction. This is the real world. What happened after the zapping light?"

"I don't know. I ran." I glanced around us and noticed that I'd run all the way along the inside of the wall and I was almost at the stables. "I ran a really long way."

"And?"

"And nothing. Except that you grabbed me. Goddess, I thought I was having a heart attack."

"So you were scared. That's it?"

I frowned at him again. His voice was kind, but his expression was strained, like he was trying to choose between shaking me, or kissing me. "Well," I said slowly. "Yeah, but I was really scared."

His grip on my shoulders turned into a giant, squashing bear hug. I felt his body relax. He let out a long breath that ended up being a chuckle. "You scared the bejezzus out of me, Z."

"Sorry," I mumbled against his chest, wrapping my arms around him again and squeezing him back. "Thanks for finding me and being totally ready to save me."

"You don't have to say sorry. I'm your Warrior-your Guardian-it's my job to save you. Even though you're usually pretty good at saving yourself."

I leaned back so I could see his eyes. "I'm a job?"

His lips tilted up in his cocky, half grin. "Full time. Totally. No benefits and no days off, either."

"Seriously?"

"Okay, no." His cocky grin got wider. "I do remember getting some sick days when an arrow burned me and a few more when a crazy Scotsman cut me up. So, I take that back. I get benefits. They're just crappy ones."

"You're so fired!" I would've smacked him, but I didn't want to take my arms away from around his shoulders.

"You can't fire me. I signed up for life." Stark's smile faded from his lips, but remained in his eyes. "You're my Priestess, my Queen, mo bann ri. I'll never leave you. I'll always protect you. I love you, Zoey Redbird." He bent and kissed me so tenderly that I felt the truth of his commitment deep in my soul.

When his lips finally left mine I looked up at him. "I love you, too," I said. "And you know you don't have to be jealous of a dead guy, right?"

He touched my cheek. "Right. Sorry 'bout that last night."

"That's okay. And, um, speaking of-there's something you need to know."

"What?"

I took a big breath and blurted, "Last night at the end of the ritual I looked through the Seer Stone at Aurox and I saw Heath. That's why I didn't let you and Darius hurt him."

I felt the tension level in Stark's body shoot back up to the Danger! Red Alert! range.

"Is that why you were calling Heath in your sleep last night?" He sounded more hurt than pissed.

"No. Yes. I don't know! I was telling you the truth. I don't remember what I was dreaming, but it makes sense that Heath was on my mind after seeing him when I looked at Aurox."

"That bull thing is not Heath. How can you even think that?"

"It's not that I'm thinking it. It's what I saw."

"Zoey, look, there has to be an explanation for what you saw." He took a step back. My arms slid down from around his shoulders.

"That's why Thanatos wants me to practice looking through the Seer Stone, so I can figure out how it works." I felt cold and alone without his arms around me. "Stark, I'm sorry. I didn't want to see Heath in Aurox. I don't want to see or say or do anything that would hurt you. Ever." I was blinking hard, trying to keep from bursting into tears.

Stark ran his hand through his hair. "Z, please don't cry."

"I'm not crying," I said, and then hiccupped a little sob and backhanded a tear that had somehow escaped from my eye.

Stark reached into his jeans' pocket and pulled out a crumpled tissue. He stepped close to me again, and wiped the second tear that had followed the first escapee. Then he kissed me, softly, handed me the tissue, and pulled me back into his arms.

"Don't worry, Z. Heath and I made peace in the Otherworld. I'd be glad to see him again."

"Really?" I had to step out of his arms long enough to blow my nose.

"Well, yeah. Glad to see him again, but not as glad for you to see him again." His honesty made both of us smile. "And I know you wouldn't hurt me on purpose. But, Z, that bull thing is not Heath."

"Stark, I knew Aurox had something to do with old magick from the first time I saw him. He made me feel weird as hell." I hated telling him, but he deserved nothing less than honesty from me.

"Of course he made you feel weird. He's a creature of Darkness! And, yeah, he's old magick. He was created by the nastiest kind of that shit when Neferet killed your mom as a sacrifice. I'd worry about you if he didn't make you feel weird."

I let out a deep breath. "Well, I guess that does make sense."

"Yeah, and I'll bet if we work on it together we can figure out why that stone showed you Heath last night." When I just chewed my lip he kept on, like he was reasoning aloud. "Think about it, Z. What all have you seen through the stone?"

"Well, on Skye I saw those old sprites-the elementals."

"Were they like the things you saw today?"

I shuddered. "No, not at all. The elementals were unearthly, mysterious, strange, but in a good way. What I saw today was grotesque and terrifying."

"Okay, except for just now at the tree, and last night at the ritual, has the Seer Stone shown you anything else since we've been back from Italy?"

I met his gaze. "Yes. You."