House of Night 7
PC and Kristin Cast
Kalona watches the affects of his killing Health on Zoey. She throws her Spirit element at him as hard as she can and he can feel her soul break. He is flung away from her and Neferet comes to him. Rather than taking his body close to the sky to heal, she convinces him to risk his soul to ensure Zoey’s friends don’t try to bring hers back to her body. Neferet has him drink her blood and then she gives her blood to send him away to the spirit world with the promise she will sacrifice an innocent for his travel.
Rephaim is still hurt. He has started moving from underground to get closer to the sky and has made his nest in a closet. There is a girl’s ghost there that doesn’t understand what he is. He sends her away. He can feel the Red One’s pain through their imprint and it is so intense it brings him to his knees. Rephaim feels the best way to make it stop is to go to her, but he can’t because of his broken wing. He sends spirit to strengthen and draw her to him and watches the red mist of it float away to the south.
Stevie Rae has been healing and sleeping since the other red fledglings tried to kill her, but was saved by Eric and Lenobia. Dallas is with her when she wakes up in the House of Night infirmary. She is still stiff, but her back is mostly healed. Dallas tries to kiss her, but she pulls away. He gives her some blood bags. Lenobia comes in to give them the news about Zoey. Dragon comes in to tell her she is going to have to help lead when Neferet uses the opportunity to attack. Stevie Rae sends everyone out of her room and breaks into tears. She is completely overwhelmed by all that has happened. The red mist comes to her telling her to go to Rephaim. She decides she will go to him and if he can’t help her she will kill him.
Aphrodite cries outside of the council chamber to be let inside. Neferet says Aphrodite should go in because she is a Prophetess of Nyx. Once inside, Aphrodite sees Stark crying over Zoey’s body. Thanatos tells her their powers come from the same place: the Otherworld. Aphrodite asks Nyx to help her see Zoey and she is able to see her friend is not in her body. Aphrodite tries to tell the Council that Neferet is responsible. Neferet admits she wishes to put vampires back in control of the world, but she denies having anything to do with Zoey’s soul shattering. In her defense, Neferet has Kalona’s body brought in. Aphrodite can also see that Kalona is also not in his own body.
Zoey wakes up in a grassy meadow with a lake. She doesn’t know where she is and it takes her a few minutes to remember Heath, who is with her. She tells him she tried as hard as she could to save him. He knows she did. She starts seeing different versions of herself all around them. Heath urges her to go home, but she knows she can’t until all of the pieces of her are back together as one. She has to accomplish this before she dies. Heath thinks this is just the beginning of his journey, but Zoey has too much to accomplish in the real world. A black mist starts to curl around them. Heath takes her hand and they run.
Dallas tries to convince Stevie Rae not to leave the House of Night, but she knows she has to find a way to help Zoey. She needs her element, Earth, around her to do it. She promises Dallas she won’t go back to the Depot and gets in Zoey’s car. Dallas tells her Kalona’s soul is also missing from his body. She thanks him and leaves. As she drives, she realizes Kalona is going after Zoey. When she gets to Rephaim, they discuss their newly formed bond. They can feel each others’ emotions. She has gained his ability to heal quickly. He can sense her better because he is her consort. Stevie Rae decides they need to eat and fix his wing before they do anything else. She warns him that she will know if he lies to her, and she will kill him if he does anything to hurt Zoey. Stevie Rae uses her ability to implant things in human’s minds to get them into the Museum. She doesn’t like to do that because Nyx gave everyone free will. Zoey freed her and allowed her to make a choice and now Stevie Rae is doing the same for him. He warns her that he will join his father if he returns, but she isn’t convinced. She asks about his father’s soul shattering. He knows Neferet is behind it.
Stevie Rae and Rephaim figure out that Neferet used Zoey’s blow to Kalona to make a sacrifice and send him to the Otherworld without his body (which was banished). Rephaim says they will need someone that can sense the Spirit world to be able to go after her. He can do it, but Stevie Rae knows that is a lot to ask of him. She says they will save that as a last resort. First they will go to the Vampire High Council for help. Rephaim insists on going with Stevie Rae. She wraps his wing again and he asks her to talk to distract him. She does and he notices she mentions her mom. He suggests she tell her she is alive. She leaves Rephaim in his nest at the museum. When she gets back to the House of Night, Dallas is waiting for her. The High Council is meeting and they are not happy that Stevie Rae left during it. When she enters the meeting, Lenobia tries to scold Stevie Rae for leaving when a meeting was called. Stevie Rae reminds her that her element is Earth and she will need time alone with it to think. When the teachers start arguing over what is going on, Stevie Rae sets them straight. Aphrodite is a prophetess and they have seen her visions work. Neferet is not the reincarnation of Nyx and Kalona is not Erebus. She doesn’t have time to listen to their arguing because she (as the only High Priestess they have left) has to save Zoey. Kramisha and Dallas follow her.
Aphrodite is in the Council chambers as Neferet and Stark argue about what happened when Kalona killed Heath. Darius takes over explaining more calmly for Stark to keep him from getting into trouble. Aphrodite’s phone rings and Stevie Rae is on the other end. They exchange stories quickly. Aphrodite can see a black web of Darkness around Kalona that confirms Neferet is using evil to hold him there. However, none of the Council members are able to see it. Stevie Rae says they need to get Zoey back into her body, but in the meantime, she needs a warrior to protect her in the Otherworld. Aphrodite is convinced sending Stark after her is the best plan for both of them. Stevie Rae warns her of the story they were taught in school where a warrior went after his soul-shattered High Priestess and both died. Aphrodite scoffs at the warning. Stevie Rae reminds her not to let Neferet know what they have learned. Aphrodite gets ready to put on another act.
Neferet is in the process of being granted permission to take Kalona to Capri. Stark is furious and yells at the Council not to let her go. Aphrodite comes in and tells him she has a way to help Zoey. He calms down as she talks to the Council about Zoey being put into Stark’s care. They remind her that in their records, a warrior that has followed his High Priestess into the Otherworld after her soul has been shattered has always lead to death for both. Aphrodite comments to Stark that they may have been too old to handle it. Stark requests permission to take Zoey so he can figure out the best way to protect her. The Council is hesitant until Damien reminds them their laws put her car in her warrior’s hands until she is dead. They agree and Stark carries her out. Once everyone is gathered in Zoey’s room, Aphrodite fills them in on what she knows. Thanatos arrives to help. She explains that Stark should not kill himself to go after Zoey because she wouldn’t be able to take her warrior dying after her consort. She explains he will have to become a Shaman to walk in the Otherworld. They all agree to tell Thanatos what they know.
Thanatos realizes the entire story has always been a struggle between Lightness and Darkness. She explains the Council has become too civilized over the years and have tried to hard to overbear the barbaric. Part of their ancient culture was symbolized by two bulls (Light and Dark) fighting. Stark realizes he needs to go to the Isle where warriors used to train because it hasn’t been touch by civilization. The reigning Sgiach retreated to the Isle of Women when the training of the Sons of Erebus were spread throughout the House of Night locations. Stark plans to take Zoey there so he can learn how to get to the Otherworld without dying. However access is limited and he will have to get Sgiach’s permission. Damien asks about being able to do some research on the Sgiach and ancient ways. Thanatos says she will ask Duantia to give them permission to study the archives. Zoey is with Heath, but feels out of sorts. She starts to pace and sees her skin ripple. Heath tries to reassure her everything will be fine, but she can tell he is still on high alert. The shadows start approaching with a ripe smell and Heath takes Zoey further into Nyx’s grove even though Zoey can’t feel her goddess in it.
Aphrodite calls Stevie Rae to give her an update. They agree that they will continue looking for information that will help Stark get to the Otherworld without dying so he can help Zoey. Stevie Rae decides she will commune with the Earth on her way to check on Rephaim. As she is about to leave her room, Kramisha shows up with a new poem that is obviously about Stevie Rae. It warns her about her heart and being involved with beasts. She has Kramisha walk with her to the garage and tells her there is another guy, but she doesn’t think it is like that. Kramisha promises not to tell Dallas about it. As Stevie Rae is about to leave in Zoey’s car, Dallas comes up to see if he can go with her. When Stevie Rae says no, he gets upset because he knows he cannot be her warrior. She changes her mind and tells him he can come along knowing she will have to find another excuse to leave later. She wonders how Zoey handled it all and realizes that she couldn’t; her soul was shattered.
Once they reach the park, Stevie Rae casts her circle, ending with Earth. She lights the sweet grass and asks Earth for answers. When the answers do not come, she decides to summon the white bull (which Aphrodite forgot to mention is Darkness rather than Light). The sweet grass catches fire and she is surrounded by smoke. Dallas tries to get to her to get her out of the circle, but he can’t get in. The white bull appears and says he will answer her questions. Stark must look to his blood to enter the Isle of Women and defeat himself to enter the arena. She doesn’t understand, but the bull is not concerned about it. He takes his blood price from her and she screams out Rephaim’s name.
Rephaim feels Stevie Rae’s pain. He commands his power to lead him to her. When he gets to the circle, Dallas is trying to stab through the wall Darkness has put up. Rephaim goes to the north end of the circle and has his power protect him to get inside. Stevie Rae is covered in tentacle-like darkness that slices her skin at each touch. Rephaim offers to take her punishment himself. The bull agrees and starts taking blood from the Raven Mocker. While Stevie Rae is ignored by the bull, she calls the black one. She agrees to pay any price and there is an explosion of light. The black bull tells Rephaim not to make Stevie Rae regret her decision to save him. Dallas goes to attack Rephaim, but Stevie Rae has the Earth trip him. She tells the Raven Mocker to leave and she will meet him later. He only goes after she promises she is okay.
Dallas gets Stevie Rae back to the House of Night. She insists being taken to her own room, but they run into Lenobia and Kramisha on the way. Lenobia has her taken to the infirmary where the nurse, Sapphire, gives her baggies of blood. Dallas tries to tell them Stevie Rae was attacked by a Raven Mocker and won’t listen to Stevie Rae’s protests. Eventually she lashes out and says he couldn’t see what happened because he couldn’t get inside the circle. Sapphire has Dallas leave so she can cut off Stevie Rae’s jeans to get to her wounds. Stevie Rae tells them she summoned the white bull not knowing it was Darkness. The Raven Mocker distracted the bull long enough for her to call on the black bull. Sapphire starts sanitizing her wounds, but they are healing very quickly. Everyone there thinks her blood smells odd, but Stevie Rae blames it on the bull. She borrows Kramisha’s phone to relay everything to Aphrodite. Stevie Rae also tells her that the answer the bull gave her and passes that along. Stevie Rae is ready to get some rest, but Kramisha recites her a poem about penetrating the disguise of the beast. Stevie Rae admits she needs to pay more attention to Kramisha’s prophetic poems. She falls asleep thinking about Rephaim.
Stark wakes up to Zoey’s cold body and Aphrodite hurrying him to get to the library with the others to help get the high priestess back. Stark gets frustrated with Zoey’s friends for joking and laughing while she is in trouble. Thanatos and Darius return with food for every one and remind him he needs to focus on life in order to survive. Damien starts explaining they have split everything into Light and Darkness. He goes on to tell them The Guardians of the Ace, a group of warriors sworn to Sgiach. They discover the Guardians were made up from the Clan MacUallis, which is Stark’s grandfather’s last name.
Aya appears to Zoey and Zoey blames her for everything that has gone wrong with Kalona. After Aya (Zoey’s compassion) disappears, Zoey sees her kids self that represents her joy. Zoey doesn’t feel like she deserves to ever be happy again and the child disappears. Brighid (Zoey’s strength) warns her that she will get more and more incomplete with time if she doesn’t pull the pieces together. Zoey says she can’t return to a world without Heath. Brighid leaves her. Heath comes to tell Zoey they have to move again. He takes her hand and pulls her along promising he won’t let Kalona get her. Erik, Dragon, and Lenobia try to keep Stevie Rae from going out again. She tells them she is not going to let the threat of one Raven Mocker keep her penned up inside the House of Night. Lenobia thinks she has a point and thinks they should focus on getting the school back on a regular schedule and including the red fledglings. Kramisha insists on going with Stevie Rae. Dallas pulls Stevie Rae aside to tell her it is okay if they break up. She tells him she doesn’t want to and he is relieved.
As Stevie Rae drives Kramisha reads her the poem she wrote before everyone left for Venice. Parts of it have already come true. They agree it is important that Zoey hears it. Kramisha texts the poem to Aphrodite to have Stark memorize it. Stevie Rae tells Grandma Redbird what has happened to Zoey. The old woman says they must burn cedar needles around Stark when he goes and to have him breath it in and take it with him to the Otherworld. Sister Mary Angela sees Stevie Rae and says she will have all of the sisters pray. Kramisha refuses to lie for Stevie Rae, so Stevie Rae tells her she is going to see the “other guy” and doesn’t want to hurt Dallas. Kramisha knows Stevie Rae needs to figure the situation out and agrees to let her go alone. She plans to tell the vampires she is with a human.
Rephaim is glad to see Stevie Rae when she comes to see him. She wants to get him outside so she can attempt to use Earth to heal him. He protests at first, but eventual agrees. She tells him that Dallas has complicated things because the other vampires are nervous knowing there is a Raven Mocker still in town. Rephaim suggests he heads West, but Stevie Rae admits it would be hard for her if he were so far away. Stevie Rae calls on the Earth and has the healing power flow through her and transfers it to Rephaim through their hands. She asks Rephaim to return the power to the Earth once he feels better. He is confused why he wouldn’t keep it, but knows it isn’t right. He does what she asks and is healed. Stevie Rae realizes Rephaim was healed when he got to her to save her from Darkness. He admits he called on his father’s power to heal him and didn’t care it was Darkness that healed him because he needed to get to Stevie Rae. Stevie Rae starts to hurry off, but Rephaim grabs her wrist and asks if she will return. She says she promised she would, but he doesn’t want her to feel forced to come back. She says it wasn’t a promise to him she made and then leaves. He is very frustrated with how she makes him feel and starts flying east.
A helicopter takes Stark, Darius, Aphrodite, and Zoey’s body to Scotland and only touches down long enough for them to get out before it takes off again. Darius and Aphrodite feel like they should be running away, but Stark only feels determined to restore Zoey. When they get to gate, he demands to see Sgiach. When he tells the guard, Seoras, his human name was MacUallis, he tells him to wait there. When he returns, he has the Sgiach with him. They here his case and grant him access. Darius requests access for himself, but Sgiach and Seoras are skeptical because she is a human. She explains she was a fledgling, but became human. Nyx still sends her visions and so she is an Ace and her warrior could benefit from the training. They are granted access as well.
Sgiach disappears and Seoras drives them in a vehicle to the castle. When they arrive, the warriors (male and female) pour out of the castle to show their respect. Stark has trouble letting go of Zoey, but something about Seoras’ gold chieftain’s torque on his wrist makes him trust the other warrior. He hands Zoey over and she is placed on a litter to be carried inside. The guard at the front gives up her spot to Stark. Inside, Seoras leads them into the throne room. Stark explains his purpose for coming to the island and seeking their help. Aphrodite explains that the ancient bulls were manifested the previous night in Tulsa. Sgiach explains to enter the Otherworld, Stark must also become a Shaman. Seoras is the only warrior they know of that is both. He tells him the warrior inside must die to give birth to the Shaman.
Stevie Rae returns to the House of Night and Lenobia is waiting for her. A few of the red fledglings killed four humans by ripping out their throats. Lenobia has not informed the high council because Stevie Rae is their high priestess. Stevie Rae decides she needs to get all the red fledglings together and confront Nicole’s group. If they don’t agree to shape up, she is going to collapse the tunnels and take away the depot from them. As Stevie Rae is on her way to the dorms alone, she can’t help thinking about her relationship with Rephaim. Her promise to the black bull was that she would forever be tied to Rephaim’s humanity. When all the red fledglings are gathered in the garage, Stevie Rae tells them what happened. They all agree to go with her and take back the tunnels for themselves. Kramisha suggests they draw out the bad kids using Stevie Rae as bait. Stevie Rae uses her affinity with Earth to fake her presence in her old room. Stevie Rae, Dallas, and Kramisha get in Zoey’s Bug while Johnny B. Drives the remaining fledglings. As they drive, Stevie Rae realizes the bad kids know about Rephaim. She tells herself her group will believe her over them. When they get into the tunnels, Dallas hears a buzzing sound. He goes to the wall by the wires he ran through the tunnels and can tell the other fledglings are in the kitchen.
The red vampires walk through the tunnels and are not happy about the shape of their home. They get to the kitchen and the bad kids are not willing to leave. Kramisha points out that they are dying without having an adult red vampire around them. Nicole tells them about Rephaim and Stevie Rae calls her a liar. Nicole and two others in her group point guns at them. Stevie Rae and Dallas use their affinities to protect their group. Bullets ricochet and some of the bad kids are killed. Stevie Rae uses Earth to create a tunnel to take Nicole’s group far away from them. They carry the bodies outside in sleeping bags and Stevie Rae uses Earth to bury them. Stevie Rae goes back into the cave to clean up the blood. She starts crying. Dallas joins her and holds her until he is done. He says he has already sent everyone back. They start making out and getting undressed. Dallas wants her to bite him, but she knows that will break her bond with Rephaim. She doesn’t know if that will break her promise to the black bull. Rephaim shouts for her not to do it.
Rephaim can feel Stevie Rae’s anger as she battles the red fledglings. He feels like she is rejecting him when all he wants is love. He didn’t have real emotions before he knew her. When he feels her sadness, he turns around and calls on Aya to find her. When he reaches her, he finds Dallas on top of her and shouts. Dallas immediately gets up to protect Stevie Rae. When Stevie Rae and the Raven Mocker start arguing, Dallas realizes they know each other. He is upset about Stevie Rae lying to him. He calls her a whore and goes to hit her, but Rephaim gets in his way. Dallas uses electricity to take him down, but Stevie Rae heals the Raven Mocker again. She tries to explain to Dallas but he won’t hear it. He ends up transforming into an adult vampire. Stevie Rae uses Earth to block her and Rephaim off from Dallas, but still leaving him a way out. They rush to get out of there and Rephaim flies away with Stevie Rae. He asks what she will do about her friends. She plans to tell everyone that Dallas is being crazy. Even though staying away will give Dallas credibility, Stevie Rae still plans to stay with Rephaim, her consort. Rephaim gets Stevie Rae to the basement of the museum and brings all of this supplies down to join her. He is determined to protect her if anyone finds her. He falls asleep next to her completely smitten.
Seoras prepares the Seol ne Gigh for Stark’s sacrifice. He tells him he is the sacrifice and he will need to stay on the blood stained alter. When it is time, he will need to let go. Stark lays on the alter and is in pain when Seoras slashes his ribs up each side. He fights to stay conscious until Seoras tells him to let go. He makes it to the Otherworld, but it is dark. He pictures grabbing the horns of the bull and it appears. The charge each other and Stark is thrown over the black bull’s head. He lands and it congratulates him. Stark finds a sword in the blood stained ground and cleans it. He goes to find Zoey, but is blocked by an invisible barrier. A copy of Stark is there and is clearly touched by Darkness. He is determined not to let Stark through and charges him with his own sword.
Aphrodite is concerned with how much Seoras is cutting Stark. Sgiach explains he has to maintain a balance to keep him alive but in the otherworld. She suggests Aphrodite user her own powers to see how she can help Stark. Aphrodite and Darius are lead to a private room. Aphrodite immediately gets to work asking Nyx for help. Nyx takes her to the Otherworld and shows her a version of the future where Zoey does manage to get herself back together, but she decides to stay with Heath. Aphrodite is okay with letting her friend go if it means she is happy, but Nyx takes her to the outcome of that possible future on Earth. Kalona welcomes in Darkness and Neferet drinks from him. Stevie Rae is with a Raven Mocker. The world is tipped to far towards Darkness. Aphrodite comes back to herself and has Darius help her to Stark. She tells the queen she needs to speak to stark. Sgiach warns her she will only have a moment to get her message to him. She understands and they start the process.
Stark is fighting his Other when he is pulled back to reality. Aphrodite quickly tells him he has to get to Heath first and have him move on so Zoey can come back. He is shoved back into the Otherworld and is still fighting his Other. He realizes the Other is part of him, even if it is the bad part. He drops his guard to draw the Other in and it attacks. Stark uses the opportunity to take his shot. He is able to bring the Other down. Seoras is there and reminds him that Honor is what is most important to a Guardian. Stark grabs his sword and kills the Other. He sets off to find Zoey. He knows she would be content to stay there with the boy she has loved most of her life. He tries to sense her, but can’t. He sees the wishing tree and it has a gold ribbon in it. He remembers that for a Warrior, honor trumps love. The ribbon comes untied and he follows its path.
Heath is stressed out because Zoey seems to be falling apart more and more as time goes on. Darkness appears to him and tells him to use his bond to have her pull herself together. Heath starts heading towards Zoey to tell her he will stay there with her when he hears Stark calling him. Stark tells him what is going on and why Heath needs to move on. Heath realizes Zoey would be miserable if she knew her friends would be in trouble because she stayed. Heath decides he will have to go. Stark promises he will get Zoey back to her body and always protect her. Heath goes to Zoey and tells her he has to go so he can have another shot at life. He promises he will find her again someday. He leaves and she starts pacing.
Kalona has been stalking Zoey and Heath. He realizes if Zoey agrees to stay in the Otherworld with Heath, he will be fulfilling his promise to Neferet and able to return to his body. Stark approaches Zoey and tells her what he knows. He recites the poem to her, but she points out it is for him and not her. Suddenly, he knows what he has to do. Kalona owes Zoey a life debt for killing Heath. He intends to get her to make Kalona pay that debt. He pulls Zoey to the edge of the protective grove. He leaves its protection and calls out to challenge Kalona. Kalona creates an arena in the ground and attacks, but Stark is able to summon the Guardian claymore and fend off the immortal.
Zoey can’t take the thought of Kalona killing Stark in the newly formed in-ground arena. She calls the pieces of herself back to her and she becomes whole again. She goes to the edge and calls out to Kalona. Stark is loosing, but smiles up at his newly whole queen. She intends to collect the debt Kalona owes her. When she smiles at Stark, Kalona uses her distraction to drive his spear through Stark’s chest and kill him. Zoey uses air to keep Kalona grounded and then takes Starks sword and puts it through Kalona’s chest. She demands he bring Stark back to life by giving him a piece of his immortality. Kalona refuses. Nyx appears and demands the same thing of Kalona. Zoey can see he still loves the goddess. Kalona agrees and Nyx banishes his spirit from her realm. He asks why she will not take him back and she tells him he has to be worthy of her forgiveness. After she leaves, Kalona brings Stark back to life and is carried out of the realm by Darkness. Zoey and Stark end up in the grove.
Stark fills Zoey in on what she has missed. She will be able to follow Spirit back to her body, but Stark doesn’t know how to get back since Seoras is the one keeping him there. Zoey sees how weak Stark is and tells him to feed off of her. He starts to and then asks her to let him be her Guardian, which is an even bigger connection than being her Warrior. She accepts and he continues to drink her blood. As he does, the elements wash over them and Zoey gets her tattoos back. When Stark is healed enough, she tells him to trust her to get him back. He does.
Stevie Rae wakes up to several missed calls. Lenobia left a message checking in on her since Dallas did not return to the House of Night. Aphrodite left an update about Zoey and Stark. Stevie Rae and Rephaim start wandering around the Museum. Stevie Rae feels Nyx wash over her. When she looks at their reflection in a fountain pool, Rephaim is a Native American boy. He can sense when Kalona returns to his body. Stevie Rae feels when Zoey returns to hers. Rephaim thinks that means they can’t be together. Stevie Rae says she will wait for him to decide they can be even though it will upset people. She says she will miss him and he tells her the same. Zoey and Stark stand by the hanging tree in the Otherworld. She picks out a the gold ribbon Stark used to get to her. She ties it around his wrist and jumps into darkness to return. She sees Stark and leaps to save him from the Guardian that is cutting him. Sgiach tells her that Seoras is helping Stark. Zoey knows how to bring him back. She asks Seoras to stop cutting and thanks him for helping Stark get to her. She uses water to wash away the blood and sees the slashes form arrows. She still has the gold ribbon in her hand and she ties it around Stark’s wrist. It becomes a gold bracelet with three arrows, one broken. Stark returns to his body when Zoey kisses him. Nyx tells her it is just the beginning.