The House of Night

The last thing Zoey remembered was the Tracker standing by her locker...waiting. Once she approached her locker her finally spoke in a dangerous and seductive tone. He was like blood mixed with melted chocolate. "Zoey Montgomery! Night has chosen thee; thy death will be thy birth. Night calls to thee; hearken to Her sweet voice. Your destiny awaits you at the House of Night!" He lifted one long, white finger and pointed at her. As her forehead exploded in pain she passed out. Awakening what seemed like hours later she looked around and realized she must be dreaming.

Zoey sat up what seemed to be a hospital and looked around. The door to the room was open and there were people walking back and forth. One paused when she noticed Zoey sitting up in bed. "The High Priestess will be right with you." The woman speaking to her walked into the room and examined her "tattoo's". "Your looking pale, how are you feeling?" Zoey watched the woman but some how couldn't answer her. At the moment the most beautiful woman Zoey had ever seen, walked into the room. "Zoey Montgomery, welcome to the House of Night!" The woman hugged her gently. "How are you feeling?" It was then that Zoey realized her throat was just dry. Indicating her throat, the beautiful woman smiled. "Some water?" After a quick nod from Zoey, the woman walked over to the sink and filled up a paper cup than handed it over to her. Gulping the water down, Zoey sighed gently and closed her eyes. "Thank you." The woman pulled up a chair and smiled. "My name is Neferet. I am the High Priestess at this House of Night, or as you would know me as, the principal. I will also be your Mentor. Each Fledgling has a mentor to guide them through there time here. Now we should get some things out of the way. You are now starting your life over, what is the name you choose?" Zoey didn't hesitate when answering. "Zoey Redbird, after my grandmother." Neferet smiled softly and nodded her head. So it shall be. Now, if your able to stand, I'll be taking you to your room now. Your roommate, Stevie Rae is very excited to meet you." Zoey swung her legs over the side of the bed and nodded. "'Kay..."

Neferet led Zoey to the girls dorms and smiled. "This is the living room. Through those doors over there is the kitchen. We only allow healthy foods here, don't want our vampyre's in training to be eating unhealthily. Oh but we do have Soda. You'll get used to it." As Zoey glanced around the room, she gasped. There were 7 42' screen tv's, for the students pleasure. "You think that's cool, we also have to widest variety of movies." Zoey looked up into the face of Neferet and smiled. "Wow..." Neferet laughed slightly and guided her up a flight of stairs. "Your room is the second room on the right. Let's go meet Stevie Rae." Knocking once on the door she slowly opened it and peeped in. "Ready?"

A young blond woman inside turned at the interruption, but, seeing who it was, she grinned broadly, abandoning her bed making. "Well hi there!" she greeted enthusiastically. She bowed her head politely to Neferet, fist on her heart. "High priestess," she greeted properly first before reaching out and taking Zoey's hand. "And you must be Zoey," she said, still smiling as she shook her hand. "I'm Stevie Rae and I am just so excited to meet you."

Zoey hesitated before returning the gesture. "Hello, I'm Zoey Redbird." Letting her hand drop to her side she glanced around the room. "My stuff!" She noticed her Star Trek poster above the headboard of her bed and her outer space comforter and sheets on the bed. Everything from her old room was placed in her new room. "Yes, we had it brought here while you were...asleep." Neferet's words were soft and kind as she beamed at Zoey. "Welcome to the House of Night, Zoey Redbird. Anything you need, my quarters are in the house by the rec room, Stevie Rae will show you if need be." She bowed her head and swiftly left the room. Zoey glanced around once more and her eye caught the window. "It's dark outside, is it that late?"

Stevie Rae glanced out the window once before looking back at her. "Sure is. You almost slept the whole night away!" she chastised without cruelty, still grinning at her new roomie. "Wouldn't of been fun if you was to wake up in about twelve hours with the sun all beaten down. I wouldn't of seen you until tomorrow night!" She chuckled and stepped back a bit, inviting Zoey to come further in. "So you're from around here already, right? Guess this isn't as much a change for you then."

Zoey stared at her new room mate as she walked further into the room and sat down on her own bed. "No...This is so different. What did you mean by you wouldn't have seen me until tomorrow night? Why wouldn't we have met at breakfast or...before?" Zoey felt slightly stupid with all of her questions but she figured they were things she would eventually need to know. "When do classes start?"

Stevie Rae was giving her a confused look. "Breakfast? Hun, supper was over a few hours ago," she explained, walking over to sit on her own bed. "We live at night. We don't go out during the day. In fact, dawn's approaching, we should head to bed soon. Classes start at seven."

Zoey yawned loudly and giggled. "Sorry. I don't know why I'm still tired. So, night? Really? I guess that does make sense. I have tons more questions but I guess I can ask them in the morning." Heading over to her dresser she squealed at her clothes. "My Breaking Benjamin sweats and t-shirt!" Pulling them out of the dresser she quickly changed for bed, feeling more at home now that she had on her favorite shirt.

Stevie Rae giggled, already in a tank top and sleeping pants with some pink patter printed on them. "It might take some adjusting, but you get used to it." She laid back, sprawling onto her own bed. She closed her eyes. "I get up at five, but I can be quiet if you'd rather sleep in."

Running her fingers through her long thick hair, Zoey thought for a moment. "I'm not sure how I'm going to be, sleeping through the day and all. So...just go about how you normally would. If I wake up, I wake up." Yawning slightly she plopped down in bed and crawled under her covers. "When do I get to know what classes I'll have?"

"In the evening I'd suppose," Stevie Rae replied as she found her way under her own covers. "You can check then. For now, let's just get some rest. We'll get you all set up when the sun goes down, don't you worry."

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The next evening, around 5:30 pm.

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Polgara walked through the hall, she was up kind of early, most of the others would just be waking, but she was having trouble sleeping and wanted to find a quiet place to write. She wore just a pair of jeans with a black shirt and a light blue scarf tied in her hair, she wore no makeup, which was rare for her, and she clutched her beat up notebook to her chest.

Zoey quietly slid out of bed, fixed her sheets and comforter neatly and quickly pulled on her jeans a black turtle neck and the vest that held the Third former crest on it(Crests-HON). She went over to her desk and began rummaging around in it. Smiling she snatched up a sheet of paper that had her schedule on it. "Aha!" She said this a little to loudly and hoped she hadn't woken up her new roommate.

Jack was up way too early for his own liking. Despite this, he had already slid into a pair of faded blue jeans and a plain black t-shirt. He had walked down to the commons room and was reading a leather-bound book at the fireside.

Xander was still in bed. He really disliked getting up early and knew he wouldn't need that much time to get ready for classes anyway, so he was lazily reading comics.

Polgara walked into the commons room and found a seat, there was someone already there, but he was just reading. She found a seat, flipped through the pages of her book and finally found a blank one, she pulled out a pen and began to write.

Hearing movement in the room, Jack peeked over his book to see the female sitting down. He simply continued on with his reading, licking his finger before turning the next page.

Zoey grabbed her small messenger bag and cell phone and headed down to the commons. She came to a halt at the sight of people. Oh god...what if they stare at my Mark? Unlike normal fledglings Zoey's Mark was completely filled in. Glancing around she noticed what looked to be a kitchen. Heading over to it she rummaged through the cupboards and found a box of granola bars. Grabbing one she headed back out into the commons and sat at one of the couches. Setting her bag beside her she opened and pulled out the book she was reading. Stokers, Dracula. Sitting back she got comfortable and opened her, not so healthy breakfast and began eating.

Polgara didn't even look up as Zoey came though. She was already drawn in, lost in the world that the ink from her pen was creating. She would not return to reality for a while, not unless someone distracted her.

It was only a couple of minutes later that a rather nervous looking Stevie Rae was poking her head into the room, looking around for her room mate. The girl had been asleep when she got up and went about getting ready and all that. She'd come back to the room to make sure she was awake and poof, she was gone. But there, in a seat, was her new room mate, and Stevie Rae smiled, relieved, as she walked quickly into the room and over to her. She herself has on some kind of nice knee high boots and plaid skirt with a soft v-neck sweater and a blazer that had obviously been tailored to fit her, her crest proudly on the front like Zoey's vest, though distinctly different. "There you are!" she greeted, though not really raising her voice. She didn't want to disturb people so early in the evening, even if they were awake. She caught sight of the book and frowned a bit, tilting her head as if to see it better, effectively making all her hair fall to one side. "Well that's a bit cliche, isn't it?" She smiled to show she was only teasing before standing upright again. "Did you find your schedule?"

Smiling, Zoey looked up at Stevie Rae and nodded. "Yes. Did you know that Stoker actually fell in love with a vampyre? She actually killed him because of the book he wrote. He was trying to give away vamp secrets." Most actors, actresses, and other famous people were vampyres. No wonder why they were all so gorgeous. Zoey slipped her bookmark back into the book and replaced it in her messenger bag. "Here take a look." She lifted up her schedule and smiled. "I think I'll take Drama for my third period. You know, since it's letting me choose. I took it back at my old school so it shouldn't be that bad."

Naylinn walked into the common room, looking around nervously. She went over to one of the other couches, hugging a large leather journal to her chest. Naylinn was wearing simple tan casual dress pants that flared out at the bottom that had vine embroidery on it in pale green thread. Her shirt was in a peasant style and matched the pale green thread in her pants. Over the peasant top, she had on a black vest that went down to her waist that had the crest for a Third Former on it. The cut of her top showed of her silver necklace with a crescent moon and star inlay, and shining on her finger was a simple silver ring with a jade stone set in it. Naylinn had chosen to just leave her long wavy black hair down, and her bright green eyes looked over the room telegraphing her nervousness. She laid down the bag that had been on her shoulder, pulling out a black pen, before opening her journal up to herself and working in it.

Jack flipped another page, looking up at the new people in the room. He looked over to the girl reading Dracula and laughed slightly, "You know, not only is that cliche, but also a bit ironic, no?" He pulled the book down to his chest and set it there for a second so that he could talk.

Zoey's eyes rose up and met Jack's, her smile was sweet and friendly. "A little. Have you ever read it?" She got up and moved to a closer to Jack so she didn't feel like they were shouting, and so that Stevie Rae could be part of the conversation too if she wanted. "I've been reading this book since I was about 9." She held it out to him to show the horror of the pages and the spine. "My little brother got a hold of it a few years back."

Jack laughed a little, "Yeah, it looks like it. I haven't read it myself, then again, maybe I should sometime," he said as he dusted off the from cover of the book he was reading, revealing the word "Inferno" on the from cover of his book, "Then again, I do love the classics."

Naylinn looked over at Jack's book and then Zoey's book. She closed up her journal so that all the others could see was the Celtic symbols pressed into the leather. "Both are beautiful classicals..." she whispered. "I...love reading the classical's of the ancient worlds...Homer's works...being one of them...."

Zoey almost squealed with joy. "I've heard Inferno is...amazing. So...I have a question. I don't know how attached you are to your book. But I was wondering maybe when your done reading we could exchange books. Since you've never read Dracula, and I've never read Inferno."

"Sure. The way I read, I'll be done with it here in another day or two," Jack said as he skimmed over the last half the book with his thumb, "I've heard Stoker was brilliant, so Dracula should be a good read."

Naylinn looked back down at her journal, opening it back up, allowing her hand and pen move skillfully over the page she was currently on. She had the journal tilted up so as to have just a little privacy to her work.

Zoey smiled softly and held out her hand to Jack. "My name is Zoey Redbird." It amazed her that this whole time, not once had Jack looked at her filled in Mark.

Jack fully smiled for the first time this whole morning, "Jack Green," He said as he reached out to grasp Zoey's hand. When he took hold of her hand, a sudden wave of energy washed over him as he felt her life force for the first time.

A shiver ran down Zoey's spine. "Oh wow. What was that?" She closed her eyes for a moment and sat there, soaking in the feeling that was running through her. She jerked her arm away when a slight shock went through her. "Holy crap!" She massaged her hand and forearm as she looked at Jack. "I feel so stupid. This could be normal and I don't even know it."

Jack laughed gently, "Oh, sorry. You must've not run in to too many students with gifts yet. I'm...gifted...you see? I have the ability to see the life force of people, and I end up storing up energy myself sometimes. You probably just got sparked by that energy."

"It was...cool. I mean...liberating. I feel, energized. May I?" Zoey motioned towards his hand. It was kind of addicting. She wanted to reach out and touch him again. She snapped out of it slightly but was still curious.

Jack reached out again, "No, go ahead. I don't mind. Getting used to things like this will be good for you around here." He nodded to his hand, laying it palm up towards Zoey. "Just feel lucky, some gifts go far beyond mind, and get a lot more weird."

Zoey placed her hand in his and closed her eyes as the sensation washed over her once again. "This is the first time anyone's touched me since I changed." She inhaled deeply as the tingling in her spine grew more distinct. Letting out a soft sigh she opened her eyes and looked at Jack. "I'm sorry, but thank you."

Jack smiled, "Not a problem. If you need anything else, I'm willing to help. I'm usually down here every day reading... So, you've been secluded this whole time since you got your gift? You poor thing."

Stevie Rae smiled as she watched Zoey with Jack. She turned and went into the kitchen to find something for breakfast. Zoey was in good hands at the moment. Zoey met Jack's eyes and looked confused. "Gift? What gift? I'm to young to have a gift, aren't I?"

Naylinn looked over at Zoey and Jack again, listening, curious.

Jack shook his head, "No, no, I meant your mark. Like this one," He said as he pulled his shirt collar down, revealing the crest that he bore over his left pectoral, "You do have one, don't you?"(I'm sorry but the marking part needs to be changed)

Xander had finally been able to drag himself out of bed and showed up in the common room properly dressed for school, but with a really messy hairstyle. clearly something had to pay when getting from bed to the door took at the most 5 minutes. He was carrying some school papers and a pen, since he hadn't yet finished today's homework, still, he headed straight for the closest tv in a somewhat zombie like fashion; the sight of him in general was screaming "let me go back to bed now".

"Oh! Yes." Zoey's free hand reached up and touched her forehead. "I'm not sure why it's different than everyone else. Neferet said that it's because Nyx has trust in me and has gifted me with an important future. I don't know about all that, but whatever." Slowly she took her hand back from Jack and blushed softly. "Thank you, for showing me that. Um...I was wondering, since your the only person besides my roommate that's talked to me, I was wondering if you could show me to my classes."

"The gifts...." whispered Naylinn, as her hand seemed to be doing something on the page of her book, without looking down. Then she looked down into her journal, continuing, with a small smile.