Rephaim followed his father to the railing. "Dead? You killed Stark in the Otherworld?"

Kalona snorted, "Of course I killed that boy. He and I battled. He could not possibly have defeated me, even if he did manage to become a Guardian and wield the great Guardian claymore."

"Nyx resurrected Stark?" Rephaim said, incredulous. "But the Goddess doesn't interfere with human choice. It was Stark's choice to defend Zoey against you."

"Nyx did not resurrect Stark. I did."

Rephaim blinked in shock. "You?"

Kalona nodded and continued to stare out at the night sky, not meeting his son's gaze as he spoke in a strained voice as if he had to force each word from his throat. "I killed Stark. I believed Zoey would retreat then and remain in the Otherworld with the souls of her Warrior and mate. Or perhaps her spirit would shatter forever and she would be a wandering Caoinic Shi'." Kalona paused and then added, "Though I did not wish the latter on her. I do not hate her as does Neferet." To Rephaim it seemed his father was talking aloud to himself more than speaking to him, so when Kalona went silent he was silent and patient, not wanting to interrupt him, waiting for him to continue.

"Zoey is stronger than I anticipated." Kalona continued speaking to the night. "Instead of retreating or shattering, she attacked." The winged immortal chuckled at the memory. "She skewered me with my own spear and then ordered me to return Stark's life to repay the life debt I owed for killing that boy of hers. I refused, of course."

Unable to stay silent, Rephaim blurted, "But life debts are powerful things, Father."

"True, but I am a powerful immortal. Consequences that govern mortals do not apply to me."

Rephaim's thoughts, like a cold wind, whispered through his mind: Perhaps he is wrong. Perhaps what is happening to Father is part of the consequences he has considered himself too powerful to pay. But Rephaim knew better than to correct Kalona, so he simply continued, "You refused Zoey, and then what happened?"

"Nyx happened," Kalona said bitterly. "I could refuse a childlike High Priestess. I could not refuse the Goddess. I could never refuse the Goddess. I breathed a sliver of my immortality into Stark. He lived. Zoey returned to her body and managed to rescue her Warrior from the Otherworld, too. And I am under the control of a Tsi Sgili who I believe to be utterly mad." Kalona looked at Rephaim. "If I do not break this bondage she may take me into madness with her. She has a connection with Darkness that I have not so much as sensed in centuries. It is as powerful as it is seductive and dangerous."

"You should kill Zoey." Rephaim spoke the words slowly, haltingly, hating himself for every syllable because he knew the pain Zoey's death would cause Stevie Rae.

"I have, of course, already considered that." Rephaim held his breath when Kalona paused. "And I have come to believe that if I kill Zoey Redbird it would be an open affront to Nyx. I have not served the Goddess in many ages. I have done things she would view as"-- Kalona paused again, this time struggling with his words--"unforgivable. But I have never taken the life of any priestess in her service."

"Do you fear Nyx?" Rephaim asked.

"Only a fool does not fear a goddess. Even Neferet avoids Nyx's wrath by not killing Zoey, though the Tsi Sgili does not admit so to herself."

"Neferet is so swollen with Darkness that she no longer thinks rationally," Rephaim said.

"True, but just because she is irrational that does not mean she isn't clever. For instance, I believe she may be correct about the Red One--she could be used or perhaps even turned from the path she has chosen." Kalona shrugged. "Or she can continue to stand with Zoey and be destroyed when Neferet comes against her."

"Father, I do not believe it is simply that Stevie Rae stands with Zoey. I believe she stands with Nyx, too. Is it logical to assume Nyx's first red High Priestess would be special to the Goddess, and therefore should she remain untouched like Zoey?"

"I see validity in your words, my son." Kalona nodded his head in solemn agreement. "If she does not turn from the path of the Goddess, I will not harm the Red One. Instead of me, Neferet will be incurring Nyx's wrath if she destroys Stevie Rae."

Rephaim maintained a tight control on his voice and expression. "That is a wise decision, Father."

"Of course there are other ways of hindering a High Priestess without killing her."

"What do you plan to do to hinder the Red One?" Rephaim asked.