A/N: Okay, so it's been a while. Real life got in the way and I had reconstructive spinal fusion surgery two weeks ago. I'm healing along nicely and since I'm sitting up at the moment I thought I'd give you guys a new chapter.

Chapter Song: O'Children by Nick Cave

Chapter 24: Crystal Clear

2 Months Later...

The tavern she'd walked into was dim and cozy, unlike what she'd imagined, given the name. She glanced down at the crumpled piece of paper in her hand and walked to a table near the back. All she had to do now was wait. A waiter came by to ask if she wanted anything to drink. Moments later, he brought her back a scotch.

Galen looked down at her watch and tugged at her lip nervously. She wondered if he was coming still, whoever he was. Of course, Galen was assuming the person who'd written the note was a he. She sighed and leaned back in her chair, thinking of everything that had happened in the last few months.

She kept in constant contact with Leo, Isabel, and Eric. She had not spoken a word to Godric since he'd broken up with her. She blinked as she remembered that night.

Godric had left Galen positively speechless. They really were over, and she had no one to blame for this but herself. She had ruined everything. As determination spread through her, she vacated the library and went to the room she and Godric shared. He was in the bathroom showering.

She began to go around the room collecting every single item that belonged to her, shoving it all into a large duffel bag and a suitcase. In five minutes, no traces of her remained in the room. Anything she had left in the bathroom was worth leaving. Those things were replaceable.

Sighing, Galen pulled her hair up into a ponytail and made her way downstairs to the front door. It was pure luck that she didn't run into Leo on the way, though she suspected that he was staying away on purpose.

As her luck went, it was raining outside. Shrugging, she righted the duffel bag on her shoulder and pulled the suitcase over the threshold. She walked down the long street, eventually coming to a bus that would take her to the train station. She took one last look around at New York City before getting onto the bus without a second thought.

"Ms. Frost." a voice said, startling her from her thoughts. Galen looked up and saw a tall man with long, icy blond hair that was gathered into a ponytail at the nape of his neck. It had to be the person who wrote the note.

"You're Niall?" Galen asked.

"I am. I called you here tonight to discuss something of importance to me." Niall replied as sat down in the chair across from Galen.

"Well, go on then." Galen said, instantly on alert. She didn't know who this strange man was but she had a feeling he wouldn't hurt her.

"As I am sure you very well know, we have two empty places on the High Council: the chairs of phoenix and vampire are empty. Accalia has resigned her place on the council to whomever we see fit to replace her." Niall said quietly.

"I'm not a vampire, Mr. Brigant. I am a phoenix." Galen replied drolly. She wasted no time pretending she didn't know what Niall was talking about. She wouldn't be surprised if the entire council knew already that she was phoenix.

Niall folded his hands underneath his chin and stared at Galen,jade eyes staring into brown. "That is precisely why I wished to come to you personally, and ask you to fill the phoenix chair of the High Council. I could not imagine anyone better suited for the position. You are strong, bull headed, and very fair. I have observed you for some time now, Ms. Frost."

Galen sighed, closing her eyes. She had been traveling rather aimlessly for the last two months since she'd left Godric. With nothing to do, all she could think, all she could feel was guilt, sadness, sorrow, and anger, all directed at herself for ruining the one good relationship she'd ever had. Perhaps being on the High Council would be good for her. She opened her eyes and stared at Niall.

"What would I have to do?"

Niall sat up a bit straighter. "The High Council meets on the island of Crete once a month and convenes for a week prior to the summer and winter solstice. Some supernatural activities are known to occur during that time and it is best that all of us are in Crete for regulation purposes."

Galen rested her face on her hand, observing Niall carefully. "That it?"

Niall smirked a bit. "You will get some form of compensation for your duties. It will be an amount I am more than certain would provide you with a comfortable lifestyle. The next meeting is in a three days, in Crete, as I mentioned. We will be discussing issues within the supernatural community and the like."

Galen ran a hand through her dark hair and sighed. "Fine. I'll do it. How long am I doing this for?"

"Until you decide to resign, until there is another phoenix, or until you die, whichever comes first. Of course, all members of the High Council are provided with a manner of security to ensure that you are safe at all times." Niall answered.

"Fine. I'll do it."

Galen's mind drifted to how much her life had changed in the past year. To go from a stage five heart cancer patient to being a vampire to being a phoenix to being a member of the high council, it was all insane. And in between all of that was Godric. Lord, how she missed Godric.

Looking back, she realized that they hardly knew each other. She realized that she had been nothing but a whiny, selfish bitch to him. She realize that Godric had always had her best interests at heart from the time they'd met. She realized that she had taken Godric entirely for granted, and it was too late to fix it.

Galen promised herself that the next time she saw him, she would apologize for screwing over him, for taking his love for granted. As much as it would hurt Galen if Godric were with another, she would understand completely. After all, what room did she even have to be hurt after all the things she put Godric through?

There was a part of her that wondered who Niall had gone to about the vacant vampire chair on the High Council. She thought of Leo, of Isabel, and of Godric. Either one would have been a perfect fit for the job, but something told her Leo was comfortable with the power he already had. She hoped it would be Isabel or Godric. She wanted to apologize to them both.

Sighing, Galen looked out the window of the private jet she was in and noticed that she was nearing the island of Crete and the small city of Sitia. The place where she would be was a compound of sorts further inland, just beyond Sitia.

After her plane dropped her off at the Sitia city limits, Galen noticed a car waiting for her as Niall said it would. The windows were tinted black as midnight, so Galen could not see much outside the car once she was inside. The driver remained silent (Galen wondered if he was glamored to do so) and the drive lasted nearly two hours. Finally, the car stopped and Galen's mouth dropped open.

The compound in front of her reminded her of a slightly smaller version of the Pantheon in Athens. Of course, the building was intact and people flitted about the place. The rooms inside were just as extravagant as the outside. There was a large atrium of sorts in the middle of the building that was used for balls and other such things. The rest of the mini pantheon consisted of multiple rooms, kitchens, and studies. Galen was taken to an area of the smaller pantheon that was restricted from the use of others not of the High Council.

There was a note on her bed:

The meeting will begin tonight at 7p.m. Please arrive on time.-Niall

Galen figured this meeting would most likely be held in the large study across from her room. She hadn't gotten a chance to explore much of the compound, but at the moment, she didn't wish to. All she wanted was to lie down and go to sleep, which is exactly what she did.

A/N: I know its not quite what you guys wanted but I'm just glad to be back in the swing of things really. Summer is fast approaching so I will have more or less time to write more chapters for you guys depending on what I'm doing. I thoroughly appreciate you guys and reviews are love :)