So sorry that my schedule for updating had been off. My computer is sort of broken, and we just had some centipedes in the house, but that's over now, I think. Anyway, I think this chapter's pretty good. Review!

Long story short, we made it to Police Plaza, the center of Haven, and then to the Operations Room. On the way, we passed hundreds of short fairy people, some with wings and green skin. I wasn't even weirded out.

There was a camera outside the Operations Room. We threw down the cam foil, and Holly screamed at the camera until Foaly let us in.

"'Party Ponies'? You sent me those pictures," he accused her as soon as the door slid open.

I couldn't help but stare. The other centaurs in battle were one thing, but up close, I wondered if I was dreaming.

"That's right, Foaly, but we're in trouble." Holly briefly explained about Gaea.

The color drained out of his face. "Come inside."

It was a small room, cluttered with technology, but Foaly cleared away a spot on the desk for Angel. We placed her carefully on her back; she was awake, but she was still under the spell Hermione had cast.

Foaly placed a quick call, telling us he was getting Qwan over here. I'd heard that name from No. 1, but I still didn't know who he was.

"Can you reverse the spell on her for a second?" Foaly asked Harry and Hermione. "I'd like to know what she's thinking right now."

"You can just ask her," said Percy. "Apparently she's some sort of mind –"

"No, she's not," I snapped, worried. If she knew she could use Angel's powers, would she?

Percy looked confused, but he looked at Angel and then at me, and I could see he'd figured it out.

"Of course," Hermione said to answer Foaly's question. With a wave of her wand, Angel/Gaea was freed from the spell, although she was still bound.

Right away, Gaea began screeching at us.

"You've trapped me in this weak form, but I am still strong! This mortal's powers are numerous! I will use them all to send you to Hades, and then I will find your souls and destroy you there!" et cetera, et cetera.

"No. 1," said Artemis over the racket, "could you please force her to listen?"

No. 1 smiled and his eyes glowed red. Suddenly Gaea's mouth slammed shut.

"She can only talk when she's answering something we ask her," he provided. Then he tilted his head. "I think. Sometimes I get my enchantments mixed up."

Foaly bent over her. "Eh, what powers does Angel have?" In response to our looks, he said, "What? It's a starting question. If you Mud People have something to ask her, go ahead."

Gaea wrenched Angel's jaws apart and snapped, "I refuse to answer."

"I forgot a truth spell," No. 1 said, and his eyes glowed once more.

"Aquatic respiration, prophetic abilities, shape-shifting, mental telepathy, the list goes on," Gaea growled, looking resigned. She was now under a truth spell, and it seemed like she was giving up.

I had a question for her. "Can you use them?"

"Max," said Artemis, "I don't believe it's a good idea to test her…"

Gaea's eyes flickered and a smile came to Angel's face. Slowly, her skin sprouted white feathers, and her wings merged with her arms.

Jacob swore. "Seriously disturbing."

Slowly, she returned to normal. She had used Angel's shape-shifting power. What else could she do?

"Guys, guard your thoughts," I whispered to the others.

But I had another question. An important one.

"Is Angel still there?" I asked her, fingers curled into fists. "Is she okay?"

"She's fine," Gaea replied grudgingly. "Now let me go." She looked like she wanted to say more about our destruction, blah, blah, blah, but No. 1's spell prevented it.

Suddenly, Foaly's computer beeped. He clopped over to it, typed something on a keyboard, and the door to the Operations Booth slid open.

Another demon person stood there. He/she/it was bigger than No. 1, a lot bigger, but they were both only about up to my waist.

"Qwan," said No. 1. Ah, this was Qwan. "Sorry?"

Qwan strode over to the table, inspected Angel/Gaea, and turned to No. 1. "You had a serious lack of judgement today, No. 1."

No. 1 nodded miserably. It was like he was a kid being scolded by a parent.

Qwan clapped his clawed hands together. "We'll work out your punishment later. For now, let's transfer the goddess's soul into something a bit more stable than a centipede. I'm thinking a hamster."

No. 1 nodded, undoing the spells he'd placed on Gaea. At once, she continued ranting.

"I will access your genetic coding! I will change the course of your life! You will hear my voice for years to come!"

I froze. Hear her voice…?

No. It couldn't be.

Together, No. 1 and Qwan lifted her glowing essence out of Angel. Gaea's hold on Angel was slipping, but she managed to do one last thing before she was ripped away and forced into the unsuspecting hamster.

I heard her voice in my head, echoing.

Kill them.