The next day was just as bitter cold as the days before, the wind whipping around the city, biting at anyone who was unfortunate enough to be outside working or dedicated enough to be outside training. It seemed like the loss was on the mind of even the weather. Even while trapped with Rothbart, Odette had never felt so somber, so melancholy.

But if she was melancholy, Angel must have been drowning in misery. However, when she first saw him, he looked composed, emotionless, but composed all the same.

"How are you?" she asked tentatively, careful with her tone, careful with his broken heart.

"I'm… not sure yet," he sighed, his eyes still sorrowful. "I keep expecting her to walk to me, to say hello, to kiss me, anything. It's not that I'm only mourning her death, I truly miss her. I miss having her around, and what makes it worse is that everything here reminds me of her. Everything here bears her mark. I see her when she's not really there, and I hear her voice. It's like everything here is an elaborate illusion to me, making me think she's still around."

"I believe she is," Odette said ponderously. "I think you're right. Everything here bears her mark, and she's still among us. Fiera, even in the two months I knew her, had a strong presence. She's not going to fade away easily."

"Do you think she knew she was going to die?"

"I'm not sure," Odette admitted. "But I know she didn't care if she did."

"Derek's been talking to you," Angel noted, a hint of a smile playing on the corners of his mouth. "He doesn't want you to feel guilty. And neither do I, Odette. I want you to know that I could never tell Fiera what to do, which also means I can't blame you for an action Fiera took. I don't blame you for any of this."

Odette smiled. Derek had been talking to her, telling her exactly what Angel had just said. Even though Derek was trying to convince her that none of this was her fault, it felt good to hear it from Angel. "Thank you, Angel."

"It's nothing. Anyway, we still need to find Leda and stop her, not just for the sake of revenge, but because everyone's in danger."

"You're right," Odette agreed, thinking more of avenging Fiera than anything, to be honest. Still, finding and fighting Leda was on the top of the list of priorities. She couldn't sulk over the loss of her friends any longer. Even Angel, who loved her more than his own life, had decided to move on, though she was sure he was driven by thoughts of fighting for Fiera. "I'll get Derek, and we'll track her down."

"No," Angel said solidly. "We need to get information first. Meet me at the library in the east wing, and we'll learn about Fallen Guardians before we try to fight one."

Odette did as he asked, and she and Derek quickly joined him in the library, where he already had several thick volumes, paper, and writing utensils piled on a desk. He was busily taking notes when Derek and Odette walked in.

"I've found a few books with information on Fallen Guardians," he said, motioning with one hand toward the books, not looking up from the one in his hand, "but nothing to substantial so far. I was thinking we could also read about Hell's Might, but I found even less information on that. But I do know someone who might be able to help us with that when we're finished here."

"I'll help you look through these," Odette volunteered. She sat down across from him and took a piece of paper and a quill. The hours passed slowly and frustratingly as she found less and less in each book. Derek occupied himself by combing through the other books in the library for anything else that might be useful.

"I found something," Angel called. "It says Fallen Guardians are most dangerous because they're not as detectable as demons, which sounds about right, sense Fiera had to point out the feeling of there being something wrong before I noticed it. A Fallen Guardian is a Guardian – obviously – who turned to darkness. They can corrupt both humans and Guardians to join them. They prey on Guardians who walk alone, and it takes less than five minutes to change them. There are accounts of Fallen Guardians who have converted entire human villages to join their cause."

"What do you think Leda's cause is?" Derek asked.

"Probably to take Elmswell. She's hated the royal family, your family, Odette, since before I can remember, before I was born, for that matter. It was only Fiera who stopped her from taking over, most of the time. She's a political warrior, meaning she can get just about anything she wants just by throwing some fancy words around. But Fiera made people see through her. That's why they hated each other so much."

"So how did she get her hands on the Forbidden Arts, or Hell's Might, or whatever we're supposed to call it?" Odette inquired.

"I don't know," Angel replied. "But like I said earlier, I think I know someone who does."

XxX

The three of them left Elmswell, headed to a house that, according to Angel, sat precisely between Elmswell and Rayne, another Guardian city, though 'village' was a better word to describe it, as it was much smaller and less significant. The flight didn't last long, even though they were flying straight into the wind. Their powerful wings propelled them onward, barely hindered by the howling wind.

Finally, they made it to the quaint little house. Angel knocked on the door with three solid raps. A dark haired woman answered it, smiling a little. Odette recalled seeing her at Fiera's funeral, but she didn't know who the woman was.

"Angel, I'm glad you're here," she greeted warmly. "And you two as well, Derek and Odette."

"Derek, Odette, this is my friend Bethari. Bethari, you of course know Derek and Odette."

"Of course," Bethari smiled. She had a purr to her voice, smoothing out her voice, making it soft, kitten like. However, unlike a cat, she was calm and not a dominating person. "Come in," she said, gesturing them in.

Odette, Derek, and Angel complied. Bethari led them into her dining room, and she bid them all sit down. As they took their seats, she turned to Angel. "I know this can't really be a social call, given the timing."

"It's about Leda," Angel admitted.

"I might have known. You told me at the funeral that she has fallen. Was there something you wanted to know about that?"

"Well, I found out everything that matters about that."

"That she can convert humans and Guardians? That she is pure evil now? That she is stronger than a normal Guardian?" Bethari fired off the questions with a stunning speed, making Odette rethink her previous assessment of the woman.

"Yes to all," Angel answered smoothly, unmoved by how rapid the line of questioning was. "What I wanted to know about is Hell's Might."

"I take it Leda wields it now," Bethari surmised. Angel nodded. "Then this is a problem. Hell's Might is one of the strongest magical forces known, so long as it is wielded by a Guardian."

"I'm not so sure about that," Derek contradicted. He quickly explained his dealings with Clavius, Zelda, and Rothbart.

"Remember that you are stronger now, Derek," Bethari said. "What was once a challenge for you is nothing now. However, Leda now wields them, and that does not bode well."

"How did she get them?" Odette asked.

"There are many sources, ancient scrolls, books, and the like. There are a number of ways she could have found a copy of the words and learned how to use the magic. The magic tends to bring out the greediness and hatred in people, and Guardians are no exception. Leda wasn't the kindest person before she learned how to use the magic, but now her heart is blackened, it's dark now with no trace of light left."

"How do we beat her?" Angel's brows had furrowed. He couldn't let Leda run around wreaking havoc on the world and those he loved – those he had left, that is.

Bethari pondered that a moment. "It will take time and effort – a group effort, meaning no one Guardian can handle it alone. You will have to work together to beat her, as well as any Guardians or humans she might have acquired. Beware, as her minions aren't as strong, but they are ruthless. They don't fear death."

Derek, Odette, and Angel didn't stay much longer after those grave words were spoken. They needed a plan of action, not to mention a way of tracking Leda, which would have been much easier if Fiera had been alive. However, she wasn't, and that was something they would have to work around – and avenge.

XxX

Fiera awoke on a bed that was not hers. She looked around for Angel, but could not find him.

"Where am I?" she muttered to herself, rubbing her throbbing shoulder. Then she remembered. "How am I not dead?!" she asked herself with more awe and excitement. She looked at her surroundings. They were oddly familiar, but she could not place them until someone began to speak to her, answering her rhetorical questions.

"You are here, and I saved you."

Fiera quickly looked up and smiled. "Hello, Helena. It's good to see you."

"It has been a while," Helena agreed, smiling back.

"How is the first Guardian in history today?" Fiera asked, all her confusion gone.

"Just fine. You, on the other hand, are not."

"How so?"

"You were nearly killed by Leda. She wields Hell's Might."

Fiera laughed. "Helena, I'm death-prone, not forgetful."

"I know. How has life as a repentant demon been?"

"It's gone well. I've just about finished repenting, I think. The dreams – nightmares don't come nearly as often as they used to."

"And they won't come anymore," Helena declared. "Your repentance is over. But there is something you need to do."

"Defeat Leda?" Fiera guessed.

"Yes. She's far too strong for Odette right now, and this wasn't Odette's fight to begin with. It's yours. Leda knew you'd jump to save Odette, and that's why she was successful in beating you. But she didn't know I'd save you from complete death."

Fiera nodded, remembering when Helena had offered her a second chance at life more than twenty years ago, when she died as a half demon, showing human kindness just before doing so. Helena had more power than most Guardians, having been the first one to ever walk the earth. True, she was dead, but her spirit had great authority and presence in the world, which gave her the ability to once again save Fiera from true death.

"If Leda beat me once, with almost no trouble, how am I going to defeat her?" Fiera asked, feeling unsure of herself, something that didn't happen often.

"Simple. I'm going to help you. You're going to change into something stronger than even a Fallen Guardian."

Yes, she's back. Hold your applause. Just kidding. I know, that was conceited. :D Anyway, thanks for reading and putting up with me this far. Review, please. Thanks!