Darken walked slowly out of the halls of the Crystal Forever, mulling over what Maryna and his mother had said. He was so wrapped up in his own thoughts that Sachiel almost ran him over. He looked quite haggard, his blue hair wild from running.

"Darken!" Sachiel cried. "Come with me now!"

Darken was struck off-guard. "Sachiel, what is it?"

"Something awful has happened," he said. "It's Kael."

"Kael?" Darken repeated. He felt a deep sense of foreboding, and suddenly felt he knew what Sachiel knew without him having to be told. He took to the skies immediately. Sachiel ignited his fire wings and followed behind him. Within seconds, they were at the gate. Even though the process seemed to take less than a minute, to Darken it was still maddeningly slow.

The gate opened, and within seconds, Darken and Sachiel were streaking over the tree line of Deianyra, Darken pushing forward as fast as he dared, his heart darkened by deep foreboding.

I can't lose him, Darken thought. Not when I've lost so much. Not him too.

They circled the temple, using the turn around the temple to break their speed. Darken landed with such force, he felt a bit unsteady when he started to walk. The temple was surrounded by Seraphim, from the looks of it, Sachiel's own guard. They made no effort to stop Darken or Sachiel, who was desperate to keep up with him as Darken made his way down to the library.

Darken saw Kael, or what was left of him, slumped against the wall, very very dead. Darken went to his knees, unable to stand. He did the only thing he could. He cried.

"I must say, you've done excellent work," Kirone said, caressing the stack of books that Lanicrus and Vertigo had brought to her. "And Kael dead in the bargain?"

"Yes, my lady," Lanicrus said, unemotionally.

"Well, that's excellent news," Kirone said. "Maybe, once you kill Darken, we'll just take the entire temple too, hmm? I have to admit, all those secrets in that temple would make for some exciting learning, wouldn't you say, Vertigo?"

"Whatever," Vertigo said, waving a disinterested hand at Kirone. "All I know is, it was almost pathetically easy. Darken wasn't even there. And to be honest, I don't find stealing from old men--or whatever he was--to be much of a challenge."

Kirone cocked an eyebrow, smiling like a shark. She brushed her flame-red hair out of the way and considered Vertigo's words. "You know something Vertigo? You're absolutely right. That's why, now that the repairs to the Skyshadow are complete, I think it's time we ended our exile, and got back to the work of subjugating the Seven Spheres. Is that more to your liking Vertigo?"

Vertigo nodded. "Fantastic," Kirone said. "I can't tell you how happy it makes me to hear you say that. After all, we wouldn't dream of doing this without you. We can't."

Matariel, flanked by his personal guard, stepped into the gravity pagoda with something like caution. There were skyships scaffolded and moored around them, in various stages of construction, but more or less complete. Sandalphon stood beside him, smiling with satisfaction over his four ships.

"There you are, my lord," Sandalphon said, waving a hand over the four skyships in dry-dock. "The Warlock, the Sorcerer, the Necromancer, and the Enchantress. Our Warlock-class skyships."

"Interesting design Sandalphon," Matariel said. "Much smaller than I'd expected. The way you described them, I imagined them as much larger."

"The proof is in their power, my lord," Sandalphon said. "They must be small and maneuverable. It makes them much more effective in battle. One of these ships is more than a match for a larger ship like the Skyshadow."

"I see," Matariel said. Out of the corner of his eye he could have sworn he saw something, a shadow? No, something alive. He dismissed it and returned his attention to Miral and Sandalphon.

"And it was necessary to build four of them?" Matariel asked. "Even small skyships are quite expensive for a kingdom like ours."

Sandalphon shifted his feet. "We made certain to use only surplus materials left over from the building of our cities to create them. And, until we find more surplus, these four will be the only ships of their kind. I hope, my lord, they will be all the deterrence necessary."

Matariel nodded. There was something he wasn't telling him. Sandalphon was an excellent soldier, he always had been, but he had made his reputation as being very cunning. He had his reasons for building these ships, but he wasn't going to tell him.

"Now, if all the questions are over with," Sandalphon said, attempting to end the interrogation. "Would you like to tour the ship?"

"Oh god no . . ." Darken said. His legs went out and he knelt at Kael's side. Kael was there; his massive body slumped against the stairs. His blood had seeped into the stones, caking and drying in the balmy heat. Darken found himself unable to say anything.

Sachiel watched him for a time, then dismissed the garrison of Seraphim angels who had discovered Kael. He waited outside in an antechamber. Darken would need a private moment, he reasoned.

Darken tried to talk, tried to cry, tried to scream, but found the sound would not come. All he could do was stare at the man who, for all intents and purposes, had been his father for most of his life. He was the last of his kind; much like Darken had been the only one of his kind. Now Darken felt alone.

"I'm sorry he's dead," an unfamiliar voice said.

Darken's left eye glowed, a reflex, he looked around the room, looking for the source of the voice. "Who said that?" he asked.

"Don't bother looking for me, I'm invisible even to you," the voice said. "Listen to what I have to say--Kael was murdered by two people. I do not know who they are, but you may. They were here for his knowledge, for the books."

The air seemed to shimmer in front of him, presenting him with a picture of the attack on Kael. Darken wanted to tear his eyes away, but found he couldn't. He recognized at least one of the attackers.

Vertigo. He thought he had dealt with her already.

"Who are you?" Darken asked. "Why are you doing this?"

No answer. Darken felt a thousand different emotions at once, all of which threatened to tear him apart. He finally doubled over, sobbing with all his might.

There was a flash of light, and Phoenix was with him. She spun around to see, Darken, looking sadder than she had ever seen him. She walked over toward him, and put her hand on his shoulder. Darken put his hand over hers, happy she was here.

"What's wrong?" Phoenix said. "I caught this feeling for your sadness so strong it pulled me here." She looked over at Kael, then back at Darken and immediately wished she hadn't said a word.

Darken slowly rose to his feet, the shock still making him feel shaky. He used his wings to steady himself. "It was Vertigo," he said flatly, without emotion. "Somehow Vertigo escaped, and killed Kael. The only thing I can't understand is . . .why?"

Darken and Phoenix both looked up, hearing sounds of scuffle. Liandra burst through, moving so fast her twin fairies could barely keep up. She ran down the staircase, black wings almost causing her feet to leave the floor. She threw herself in Darken's arms, sobbing.

Phoenix glared at them both. Darken looked at Phoenix, looked at Liandra, and realized what was wrong. Fortunately, Sachiel came in at that moment, and saved him from an very awkward situation.

"Darken," he said. "There's something I think you should see here."

Darken looked at Phoenix, who looked at the ceiling. Darken, confused beyond reason started up the stair to Sachiel, leaving Liandra and Phoenix alone there.

"Well," Phoenix said icily. "He never told me about you."

"I don't know what you mean," Liandra said innocently. She crouched down, taking Kael's hand in hers. Phoenix noticed that the fairies that accompanied Liandra were bowing to her.

"Come on," Phoenix said. "You're his girlfriend, right?"

Liandra's head snapped back up. "No I'm not," she said. "I don't know where you got that idea. Darken and I are close, but he's my big brother. I don't think of him like that."

"Big brother?" Phoenix asked. "Wait, I'm confused. I thought he didn't have any brothers or sisters."

"We're not blood related," Liandra said. "But we were both raised by Kael, ever since we were babies."

" . . .Oh," Phoenix said, feeling just a bit foolish. She looked at Liandra again. She didn't look like any angel she had ever seen--her wings were black, but the purple hair was a bit of a shock--most angels had silver-white or blonde hair, or at least the ones she had seen. It hung over her eyes in a thick collection of bangs.

"Darken saved my life once," Liandra continued. "Did he tell you that?"

Phoenix shook her head.

Liandra smiled a very innocent smile. Except for the fangs she had protruding from her smile. "Well, I had fallen in love with a Fallen, Darknova was his name. Everyone warned me about him--he was with Kirone, he was a vampire--but I loved him all the same. Until he turned me, beat me, tried to kill me."

Phoenix recoiled. "Why?"

"Because," Liandra said. "The only person he really cared about was Kirone, I was just . . .a distraction. And when he found out I was close to Darken . . .that was all the excuse he needed."

The fairies were looking only at Kael now. "I just realized," Phoenix said gently. "You're blind."

Liandra nodded. "Darknova, again. Darken and he fought, Darknova almost killed him, until he tried to turn Darken. Darknova was never that smart."

"Oh?" Phoenix said. She had never seen Darken really angry before.

"Darknova drained his blood, but something in Darken's blood--perhaps it's the dragon parts of it--made something happen. Darknova burst into flame. I was very happy to see him die."

"I . . .can imagine," Phoenix said.

"Darken helped me after that. Since Darknova hadn't killed me, I wasn't a full vampire, so as long as I stayed on this sphere, I wouldn't be hunted," Liandra said. "And soon after that, we found the fairies, and they have been my eyes ever since."

"I'm . . .sorry," Phoenix said. "I thought . . .well, never mind what I thought. I hope I didn't make you mad."

Liandra smiled. "You didn't. I'm happy for you and Darken. He loves you very much. More than he will ever be able to tell you."

"You know?"

"Yes. He talks about you a lot. You're very special to him. I don't know what he would do without you in his life. He wouldn't be anywhere near as happy as he is right now."

"Well," Kirone said, gesturing over the massive engine of the Skyshadow. "I think we're ready at last."

"What do you have in mind?" Vertigo said. "That is, if it isn't a big secret and you won't be too theatrical about it."

"I promise you, Vertigo--no theatrics," Kirone began, a sly smile playing on her lips. "This engine has an almost eternal power source. All it needs is the proper fuel source. Once we have that, the Skyshadow will take wing. Then, we will recruit the rest of the Fallen, the tribes who have pledged their loyalty to me, and we will launch an assault on Nycheladra."

"Ambitious," Vertigo said. "But isn't this angel-sphere pretty heavily armed since the last time you tried that?"

"Yes it is," Kirone said. "But Monstructor has been working very hard, with the knowledge from Kael's library to upgrade everything about the ship, from its power, to its weaponry. All it needs now is a catalyst."

They walked down the concourse, to a small chamber at the trunk of the engine assembly.

"You're going to need something mighty impressive to power this," Vertigo said.

"Yes I will," Kirone said. "Fortunately, I have just the thing. Lanicrus?"

Lanicrus blasted Vertigo with full force, a green shimmering light emitting from his laser eye. Vertigo fell to the floor, her face wearing an expression of shock and of betrayal.

"Put her in the chamber," Kirone said. Lanicrus did as he was commanded. Vertigo was still conscious but unable to move, unable to comprehend why he was doing this. Lanicrus set her down gently and locked Vertigo in the chamber.

The beam wore off after a few seconds; Kirone had her face pressed to the glass.

"I just wanted to thank you," she said, smiling. "I really, really, REALLY couldn't have done this without you."

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" Vertigo screamed, banging the glass.

"You're my fuel," Kirone said. "The chamber you're in is an energy reactor. It will break you down to your component molecules, rip you to atoms, and then reassemble you. The release of all that energy, my little godling, will power this ship."

"You can't DO this!" Vertigo said.

Kirone looked perplexed. "Oh, that's odd, because I just did." Kirone laughed maniacally. "Oh, in case I forgot to mention? You will be conscious the entire time. I imagine it's quite painful, but try to remember that you're doing this for the greater good, okay?"

"I'LL GET OUT! I SWEAR! I SWEAR I'LL KILL YOU KIRONE!"

Vertigo pounded on the glass. "Oh now don't humiliate yourself," Kirone said. "Monstructor and I made sure you couldn't break out, even with all your power. If I were you, I'd pray I went mad soon, maybe then being ripped apart and reassembled--over and over and over again--won't be so bad."

Vertigo tried to spit at Kirone, but it impacted futilely on the glass. Kirone laughed again and threw the switch. She watched with interest as the process began.

Vertigo heard the machines begin to hum, then her entire world exploded in a supernova of pain. She felt herself get ripped in half, then half again, then half again, eternally being ripped apart. The pain was incandescent.

Kirone, smiled, showing all her teeth. This had come together so well, she thought. Vertigo had served her purpose and was quite useful. Besides, she felt a certain amount of pride. Kirone Witchfire, God-slaver, had a nice ring to it.

"Monstructor?" Kirone asked. "How is progressing?"

"The cycle is well within normal, my lady," he said, scanning the readouts. "All we have to do now is start the engines."

"Then I guess it's off to the bridge, then," Kirone said happily. "Monstructor, Lanicrus, let's go. Vertigo's not going to be any more help to us . . .she's gone all to pieces."

Kirone and Monstructor left the engine room, but Lanicrus tarried a bit, looking at the swirling tornado of energy in the chamber. He reached out, gently touching the glass.

"Forgive me," he said, genuine warmth in his voice. "My . . .beloved."