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to be careful not tojostle the bed toomuch. Her face was bruised and burned from the airbag that had saved her life. Part of her lipand her cheek had stitches darkening them. She had a bandage on her head andher right arm wasswathed in a scary-looking cast. Ironic, isn`t it, that my wounds look so terrible, but they are far less painful and far-reachingthan the invisible wounds inside of you, she said. I started to tell Grandma I was really okay, but her next words sliced through whatwas left of mydenial. How long have you known you were the reincarnation of the maiden A-ya?CHAPTER FOURZoeyI felt drawn to Kalona from the first second I saw him, I said slowly. I wouldn`t lietoGrandma, but that didn`t mean telling her the truth would be easy. But almost allthe fledglingsand even the vampyres were drawn to him--actually, it was like they were undersome kind ofspell he was able to cast. Grandma nodded. So I already heard from Stevie Rae. But it was different withyou? More thanjust this magical allure he has?Yeah. With me it wasn`t so much that I was under his spell. I swallowed past thedryness inmy throat. I wasn`t tricked into thinking he was Erebus come to earth, and I knewhe plannedevil with Neferet. I saw his darkness. But I also wanted to be with him--not justbecause Ibelieved he might still be able to choose to be good, but because I wanted him, even though Iknew it was wrong. But you fought against that desire, u-we-tsi-a-ge-ya. You chose your own path, that of love andgoodness and your Goddess, and thus the creature was banished. You choselove, she repeatedslowly. Let that be balm to the wound he has rent in your soul. The tight, panicky feeling in my chest began to loosen. I can follow my own path, Isaid withmore conviction than I`d felt since first realizing I was A-ya reincarnated. Then Ifrowned. Therewas no denying that she and I were connected. Call it essence or soul or spirit orwhatever--ittied me to an immortal being as surely as the earth had imprisoned him forcenturies. I`m not Aya, I repeated more slowly, but I`m not through with Kalona. What do I do, Grandma?Grandma took my hand in hers and squeezed. As you said, you follow your path. And right nowthat path is leading you to a soft, warm bed and a full day's sleep. One crisis at a time?One thing at a time, she said. And it`s time you followed your own advice, Sylvia, Sister Mary Angela said asshe bustledinto the room with a Dixie cup of water in one hand and pills in another. Grandma smiled wearily up at the nun and took the medicine from her. I noticedthat her handswere shaking as she placed the pills on her tongue and drank the water. Grandma, I`m going to let you rest now. I love you, u-we-tsi-a-ge-ya. You did well today. I couldn`t have done it without you. I love you, too, Grandma. I bent and kissedher forehead, and as she closed her eyes and settled back against her pillows with a contentedsmile, I followedSister Mary Angela from the room and fired questions at her as soon as we were inthe hall. Didyou find rooms for everyone? Are the red fledglings doing okay? Do you have aclue if StevieRae got Erik and Heath and whoever else together to check out the area aroundthe abbey? Iseverything safe out there?Sister Mary Angela held her hand up to stop my word flood. Child, take a breathand let mespeak. I suppressed a sigh but managed to stay quiet as I followed her down the hallwaywhile sheexplained that she and the nuns had set up a cozy dormlike area for the redfledglings in thebasement, after Stevie Rae had told her they`d be most comfortable down there. My gang wasupstairs in the guest dorms, and yes, the kids had given an all clear on the RavenMockersoutside. You know, you really are incredible. I smiled at her as we paused outside aclosed door at theend of a long hall. Thank you. I am my Lady`s servant, and you are most welcome, she said simply and held thedoor openfor me. This is the stairwell that leads down to the basement. I`ve been told thatmost of the kidsare down there already. Zoey! There you are. You have to come check this out. You will not believe whatStevie Raedid, Damien said as he hurried up the stairs toward us. I felt my stomach clench. What? I immediately started down to meet him. What`swrong?He grinned at me. Nothing`s wrong. It`s incredible. Damien took my hand andpulled me withhim. Damien`s right about that, said Sister Mary Angela, coming down the stairs afterus. But Ithink incredible is the wrong word for it. Is the right word