"The only reason we know anything is because we're bound and fucking determined never to be wrong."

 -Urban Shaman Proverb

Byanei strode into Dumbledore's office again, absolutely livid. He turned barely in time to duck the objects being flung across the room.

"ARGH!" she roared, shaking in fury in the middle of the room. "The bitch, the whore, the wasted, damned, worthless..."

"What happened?"

"She pulled a Council. The Hierarchy was met, right in this realm."

"What?"

"And while the armies were attacking the Gates! It can't… no." The last word was flat and forceful, as though the syllable could change the course of events.

"She held a Council while you were attacking the Gates?"

"And defended the Gates while holding a Council!"

"What?"
"She's learned something these past few years. She was in two separate realms, doing to separate things, at full strength, simultaneously. It can't be done, Albus."

"But she did it."

"… Yes."

"Then it is possible."

"I can't fight her, I can't capture her, if she can face me in doubles wherever I turn to overtake her."

"Have you considered the fact that we cannot overtake her and still save face? Hell will crash and burn if we remove her from the Hierarchy, Byanei."

"All the reason we put her there in the first place. We have the card over her to send her back."

"Severus has disappeared from us, Byanei."

"If we put her in a position where he is sent to Hell, that their punishments are reversed, she will crawl back to the damnable place like a whipped puppy."

"You underestimate them both. He will never let her, and she would never go."

"Then he would."

"There are ways around that, and she knows them!"

"Astaroth is not worth shit to be called on in the name of Satan, Albus. He's an elf! Elves were never meant to be demons in Hell. Lucifer will tear the place to shreds in minutes, Beezlebub has not the strength, Lilith has not the concentration. Together, they make a formidable force, but there's not one of them I can put in Ranistaka's place without the Apocalypse resulting!"

"You were the one who said she could be held there in the first place! Stop punishing her; give her what she wants in exchange for the service. End their exile and save what's left of our realms! Morrigan-"

"No!" the word shattered the walls and sent nearby birds flying. A Thestral screamed in response. Their eyes locked, and cold dread hit Albus like ice water. This may not be a war goddess, but she was not completely devoid of her sister's strengths. "I will not give in to her. I will not show such weakness before either of them. Let him rot desiring her, Let her burn coveting him, I don't care! She can't. Love. Anything!"

Paint chipped and his teacup trembled with her fury.

"Then," he replied gravely, "you better take one more time the measure of the woman whom you have created."

[A/N- thank you, Jen, for all of it. All I have to tell you at this point is that that is pivotal to the theme of this story. It will all be explained in time, but I think it's awesome you picked up on it! There's another point in this I'm waiting for someone to pick up on, if they haven't already. It involves Byanei. Give me your best guess. *grin*]