"Zoey!" I vaguely heard Stevie Rae's sob as she wrapped her arms around me. I wondered how she had gotten there.
"No! You can't die, Z. You just can't." I was shocked at the crying Aphrodite. "What the fuck are you doing here? This is your fault, Loren Blake." Her words were sharp and harsh and just down right mean. I tried to tune them out but it was no use.
"Where... where is everyone, Z?" Stevie Rae whispered. I opened my eyes and smiled weakly.
"Too many secrets. They hate me." I whispered, my voice rough. I turned my head and coughed again. Everything was hazy then, and I found it hard to focus.
"No. Z. Look at me." I looked up at Aphrodite's tear streaked face. She took the hand that Stevie Rae wasn't breaking. "I'm scared, Z." She whispered. I tried to laugh but it ended in a cough.
"Why are you scared, Aphrodite?" I breathed.
"Because I'm losing the sister my mother was too selfish to have." She said, her voice breaking. I smiled and wrapped my arm weakly around her in a hug.
"But, Aphrodite... I want to die. I don't want to live if everyone hates me. If all I'm going to feel is pain." I whispered.
"But... they promised." Stevie Rae whispered.
"Yeah. And I screwed up." I said. I closed my eyes again before slowly opening them again. My eyes went to Loren.
"Don't let her bring me back." I said. "Please. Don't let her bring me back." I was practically begging. He caressed my cheek and shook his head.
"I can't promise that." He said.
"Tell my friends I'm... sorry." I breathed before my soul was ripped out of my body. I heard one last sob from Stevie Rae before I was in the Otherworld, facing my goddess, Nyx.
She smiled sadly. I ran over to her and threw my arms around her.
"I'm so sorry, Nyx." I nearly sobbed. "I was just so hurt and... I couldn't make myself do anything." She hugged me back before she pulled away enough to look at me.
"I understand, Zoeybird." She said warmly. "Well, there is nothing we can do now."
"But, Nyx. What if Neferet brings me back?" I asked, scared stiff at the thought. She smiled.
"Loren will not let that happen, Zoey. Whether you believe him or not, he truly is sorry for what he has done to you." I scowled. "Zoey," She caressed my cheek and sighed softly. I tried hard not to wince. I didn't want to be touched anymore. "I am so sorry for what has happened to you. But you are strong. I know that you will get through it, my daughter. I believe in you." I felt tears in my eyes. I laid my head on her shoulder.
"How." I whispered, my voice broken. She rubbed my back gently.
"Because, you are my daughter. Because you are strong and you don't let things bring you down." She said. I suddenly felt myself being ripped in two. It didn't hurt, exactly, but it wasn't comfortable. I pulled away from Nyx, confused. She looked pained.
"I will see you one day, Zoeybird." She said. "But you have a job to do. Back on earth." My eyes widened.
"No!" The word was ripped from my soul and everything went black.
"Wake up, Zoeybird." A familiar voice asked. I was scared to do so, honestly. I tried to open my eyes. But I couldn't. I couldn't move anything. I heard Neferet sigh in annoyance.
"Watch over her. If she wakes up, call me." She said to someone else. I heard her shoes clicking on the phone and a door shut.
"I'm so sorry, Zoey." I heard another voice whisper. I groaned softly. "Zoey?"
