If I died, would it get me out of my geometry test tomorrow? One could only hope.

Then, with an enormous rush of meadow-filled wind, the green candle went out, and my best friend died.

Over Kyle's shoulder she could see grandpa, looking like a cross between a grizzly bear and a giant pissed-off blowfish.

Grandma Redbird: Honey, you have to move past this. Zoey: How Grandma? Grandma Redbird: By living the life she'd be proud of you for living.

The question of what we are can only be answered by ourselves. We each decide what we are by the life choices we make. How we were made, who are parents are, where we are from, the color of our skin, who we choose to love, all those things do not define us. Our actions define us, and will keep defining us until even after death.

The Fomorians skittered backward, away from me, looking justifiably confused. I mean, really, how many human women actually run to them? And I was a human woman covered in swamp yuck, with wild red hair sticking out in matted hunks and arms flailing like a demented Bride of Frankenstein. I'd run from me.

No, Zoey." Heat sounded pissed. It's not okay here. Not for you." Well, maybe that's 'cause I'm not dead. Yet.