Nyx in the House of Night

blame on their evil heritage. Of all these mythical beings, A-ya alone, a human creation, lacks the ability to make a choice.
    Every human and immortal character, every player in the battle for the soul of the world, has the power to choose the path of darkness or light, no matter how far down one path they’ve already walked.
    Or flown, as the case may be . . .
    “DARK SPIRITS OF THE WORST TYPE”: THE RAVEN MOCKERS
    In the House of Night series, we first meet the Raven Mockers at the beginning of Untamed , when Zoey hears a raven’s call as she feels a sudden chill and a flapping in the air around her, along with the sense that someone—or some thing —is watching. Aphrodite later has a vision of one of these creatures killing Zoey by slicing her throat. Sylvia Redbird, Zoey’s grandmother, describes them as “ravens, with the eyes and limbs of man” and “mischief makers—dark spirits that take pleasure from annoying the living and tormenting those at the cusp of death.”
    Grandma Redbird’s description of the Raven Mockers’ activities—if not their appearance—is taken directly from the legends of her people. In Cherokee mythology, the Raven Mockers, or Kâ’lanû Ahkyeli’skĭ (Anglicized as Kalona Ayeliski ), are evil spirits of either gender who rob dying people of their lives. Usually they appear to the old and sick, who may report seeing fiery figures flying, arms outstretched and calling like ravens as they descend. They may also see pale, shriveled figures—like very old men and women—huddled at their bedside. This aged appearance is supposed to reflect the many lives they have stolen.
    Once the Raven Mockers have arrived, they torment the weak person to hasten his or her death. Then they consume the heart of the deceased. By doing so, they add days or years to their own lives at the expense of their victims (i.e., the extra time that the victim would have lived has been added to the life of the Raven Mocker).
    Though usually invisible to everyone but the sick and dying, the Raven Mockers can be seen by medicine men, who are often employed to guard the stricken ones until they have either died in peace or recovered. Any Raven Mocker who dares to appear in the presence of a medicine man is likely to die within seven days.
What a Difference a Week Makes
T he seven-day period is a common one in many mythologies and stories.

In Genesis, God is said to have created the world in six days, using the seventh to rest (hence the creation of the Sabbath).
In Cherokee creation mythology, the animals were asked to stay awake for seven nights. All but the owl and the cougar fell asleep, so these two animals were gifted with night vision.
Also in Cherokee creation mythology, the first woman gave birth to a new person every seven days until the earth became overpopulated, at which point the birthrate was cut back to once per year.
In Burned , Zoey can only dwell in the Otherworld for seven days before her soul completely dissipates and the earth is in big trouble.
    According to James Moody’s History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees (a great resource on Cherokee myths!), the Raven Mockers are only one type of Cherokee witch, but they are the most terrible. Even other witches fear and hate them, and when a Raven Mocker dies, the witches will take revenge by digging up the body and abusing it. As Zoey’s grandmother is quick to point out, Cherokee witches are evil—nothing like the modern-day, earth-embracing followers of Wicca.
On the Wings of Night
O ne Cherokee term for witch, tskĭlĭ’ , can be Anglicized as Tsi Sgili —the name Neferet loves to call herself. Tskĭlĭ’ is also the word for the bird species known as the great-horned owl. Among Cherokees, owls are thought to be witches in disguise. Another term for witch is sûnnâ’yĭedâ’hĭ , or “night goer,” since they are thought to appear mostly after dark. Hmm, just like vampires . . .
    So where do the Raven Mockers come from? Who or what created them? Cherokee myth gives us no hint. They just are. They always have been. Good and evil exist, pure and simple, and Raven Mockers are evil. Period.
    That’s where the Casts come in.
    “BEAUTIFUL BEYOND COMPARE”: KALONA THE BETRAYER
    The House of Night series provides a compelling origin story for the Raven Mockers, a story reminiscent of the ultimate Christian villain himself.
    As imagined by P.C. and Kristin Cast, Kalona is an immortal being who was originally a