Oh my gawd (_ for those who believe you shouldn't say god's name in vain, I'm giving you a free space here) I absolutely love the house of night series. I only started reading it like a week ago and I'm already on "Untamed". I love this series! Okay, this is basically a version of how I'd view Zoey just after Stevie Rae's death in book 2 "Betrayed" because I was literally hysterically crying (it's not normal for me to cry if im insulted or someone just died. I'm just emotionless) because it was just so easy to get attached and then have her die. It was just so good. Well, enough out my constant blabbing. I'm gonna try and make it as sad as I can.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own this novel. It all belongs to Kristen and P.C. Cast. If anything, then it owns me heart and soul by blood signature XP. (I find myself not putting these in my other stories. I will fix that _)

I just stared at her. She was pale. Blood trickled down her lips, slowly past her chin and down to her lower jaw as if eternity was just non existent. I could only keep looking down. Her eyes were closed so gently like butterflies resting on blue rose petals. She looked so peaceful. However, her hair matted down with sweat and her eyes that had bags suggested otherwise. My best friend had just died.

The green colored candle just flickered for a moment and then vanished.

Why?

Why so soon?

Nyx had given her the wonderful affinity for Earth just only moments ago. Why was it that her body rejected the change? It was so soon. It was too soon. She only got to experience for minutes of our casting the circle. It wasn't fair. It's like it was only me and her now. We were covered with the darkness of nothing but sadness and despair.

Where was everyone?

Where did they go?

Why did they disappear?

"Zoey, sweetheart, you need to let her go." Oh, there's Damien.

"Zoey, why don't you come with us?" There's Shaunee. Shouldn't Erin chime in by now?

"Yeah Zoey, You need to come with us." Oh, there's Erin.

"She's in shock. Speak calmly to her and try to get her to release Stevie Rae's body." Oh, that's right. Neferet was here too.

Stevie Rae. That's right. Here I am thinking when I'm not even focusing on what I should. Stevie Rae is dead. She's here in my arms. She died in my arms. Dead.

Dead.

It keeps echoing over and over and over and over. I could only squeeze her tighter. Even if she's dead, she's still my friend. I have to keep her warm when she can't for herself.

I can only think of the last moments before. She was happy. Yes, she was coughing for a bit but she had this grin on her face as she held her candle representing Earth in our circle. Then she was coughing more. Then there came the sounds of gurgling and liquid when she coughed harder. But it wasn't spit that came out. It wasn't vomit. It was crimson. Scarlet. Vermillion. A variety of all the different reds there could be to describe it. The color would have been a wonderful thing to look at if it hadn't meant the end.

I could only remember her shaking and quivering. She couldn't even stand. She even had trouble sitting up right so I had to hold her. I was so upset. Hearing her words could make me happy knowing she cared so much. But then again, they could only tear me up more and more like fragile tissue that will just fall to the ground.

"And will you do something else for me?"

Yes. Anything.

"Since you don't have a mama or daddy would you tell my mama and daddy, you're their daughter now? I'd think it worry me less if I knew ya'll had each other."

Yeah. Just like you want. I'll tell them.

"Mama will bake you her special chocolate chip cookies now too."

"Ya'll stick with Zoey. Don't let anything pull you apart."

"Of course." Oh, there's pain in Damien's voice just as much as Stevie Rae's.

"We'll take care of her for you." That all Shaunee could get out. And Erin didn't say anything at all. They both were crying so hard, they couldn't do much else.

"Good. Z, I think I'm going to sleep now for a while, kay?"

Okay honey. Just rest. You'll wake up again. I won't say it because you might start to cry. But I hope you'll wake up when you heal.

"Will you stay with me?"

I'm your best friend. I'll stay here with you and keep you safe. When you wake up, everything will be normal again.

I'm still hoping she'll just get up. A groan of pain and then she'll go "I'm not sleepy but I hurt like the dikins. Hey Z, where are the freakin paramedics around here?" It's been bit now. How long does it take for someone to wake up?

Yeah right Zoey. Lie to yourself but you know the truth. You're making it harder for yourself.

Yes. I am. I'm selfish.

She was hurting. Only her affinity for earth took away the pain. She's without pain now. Yet here I am wishing she'll get up and still be in pain. Only because I want to be called her friend saying I want to save her.

Isn't she safe now? She's with Nyx right?

Even so I still hurt. I want to say I hurt for Stevie Rae but I really only hurt for myself. I just want to sit here and wallow in my own sadness and let it tear me down and keep me chained. Please tell me. Why did it have to happen at all? Can't things just be as they were? Watching movies together as a family. Talking about how stupid my mom was for falling in love with my step- loser. Mildly teasing Damien about him being gay and with no relationship and then he'd get mad and say he's waiting for a lasting relationship. I just want everything to go back to normal.

"Z. You have to let her go." Erik was here too? How many people were here?

"But I told her I'd stay with her."

"You did. You stayed with her until the end. There's nothing more we can do."

"Please Zoey." Damien is trying so hard to help me too.

"Okay. But I don't know how to let her go."

"I'll take her from you Zoey bird." Neferet will take her from me because I can't let her go. I'm so stupid. There's nothing I can do now. I guess it's true. I have to let her go.

When Stevie Rae was taken, I could only watch her body be loaded on the stretcher and slowly walked away. I only then realized why I too was so cold. My black dress was stained with her blood. It didn't smell sweet like before. Now it smelt dead. Like mold. There was liquid on my face too. It wasn't sweet. It wasn't dead. It was full of bitter tastes but it showed the rawest form of love.

Please. If I can't hold onto her body forever then please. Just let me cry.