“And that's the long and short of it. I am a fallen angel, so if any of you are going to attempt to kill me any time soon, I would prefer it to be right now,” Anatheia explained in the living room of Lilith's apartment. Nobody made a move, and most of them frowned at her, except for Nase who smiled.

“We would never do that to you! How could you even think that?” Lilith shouted. She stood and went into her room, slamming the door. Anatheia rubbed her temples. She never knew what this girl was thinking. She always seemed all over the place to her. She was a skilled assassin, but almost child-like at times.

“Miss Anatheia, you have to understand why she feels hurt. You have healed each and every one of us, either in battle or out of it. Had you not been there, we likely would have died at the hands of bandits during that ambush. Even with you there, we almost lost Tyan,” Nase explained, cutting through her thoughts.

He continued, “I think I can speak for the party, with the exception of Olena, that we would not attack you for being a fallen angel. And none of us are ungrateful in the least. Even Marcos wouldn't betray you. Olena though...she's a zealot. She probably already knows, based on the signs you said. She could have reported you to the church.” His warning was clear. Olena was a threat, and could bring the church down on her.

However, she had no way of telling, so she would have to let the woman go until she made a move. She wasn't direct enough a threat for her to attack. Even if the woman gave her a horrible feeling whenever she looked at her. She also noted that for a zealot, she didn't wear any of the Goddess' symbols, which was quite unusual in her eyes. Who was this Olena woman...

“Lady Anatheia, Mr. Nase is correct. Neither I nor my brother would wish harm upon you, and you clearly know Miss Lilith's stance on the matter. As far as Mr. Marcos, you can trust Mr. Nase. They have known one another a very long time,” Syl added, speaking more words at once than she had since Anatheia had met her.

Even though she was being honest with them about some things, she did not show them her brand, or tell them about the fact that her memories were shattered across two potential lives. That could very well make them turn on her. She felt too used to betrayal to trust them with something like this yet.

The fallen angel replied to their support, “Well, thank you, all of you. I guess I should go get Lilith.”

“No need, I'm back. I'm sorry for acting that way. I should be less emotional,” Lilith apologized, bowing her head in contrition.

“No, don't let anyone tell you that you can't experience your emotions. You just have to learn how to process them better. Plenty of those emotions are useful in combat, ” Anatheia said, standing up to hug the woman. It was clear her priorities were a little off, but she meant the comfort, so Lilith accepted the hug, leaning into the angel.

Ana continued, “Alright, so what do we do now? It is pretty late after all. And I need to find a place to sleep or live. At least for the time being. Though I don't have to sleep, sleeping is nice.” Nase and the twins looked at one another before staring at Lilith whose face was burning red. They already knew she wanted this. She had uncharacteristically been quite forward about it while Anatheia was talking to the seraph.

“Y-you can s-stay with me,” She offered to the amusement of the rest of the party. Ana sensing a chance for fun tilted Lilith's head towards her.

“Please look at me when you say something like that Demon Child,” she said, and Lilith's lower lip trembled. Then suddenly, her face became imperious, resolute and commanding.

“You are staying with me!” Lilith proclaimed, staring up into Anatheia's eyes. This outburst surprised everyone. To see her so forward was incredible. However, the moment she finished saying it, her blush renewed, but her gaze remained steady.

Ana seized on this, “Why Devil Child, that was impressive. Well, if you say it with such conviction, who am I to question it? I guess my lodging has been decided.” She hugged the girl again, ensuring she understood Ana's appreciation.

With that decided, they picked a location to meet in the morning. Then Nase left some deer steaks to cook for dinner, and left with the twins, both going to their own dwellings.

“I'll cook, to thank you for your hospitality. I regret to inform you it shall not be nearly as delicious as what Nase cooks, but I am a capable hand at this,” Anatheia told Lilith as she took the steaks to the stove.

As she cooked, she contacted Euriel, “Euriel, how did it go with Michael? Did he suspect anything?”

“No Luci, Anatheia...sorry. He was really caught up on the pillar of Holy Light though, insisting it is a sign from the Goddess. He won't let it go,” Euriel explained, her voice tired. Interacting with the Arch-Seraph must have been taxing. His personality was grating at the best of times.

Ana asked, “Well, as long as you maintain you know nothing, and could find nothing, there shouldn't be a problem right? Then again, he isn't the most rational at the best of times.” She was trying to find a hope for her new old friend to hold onto.

“Look, you're gaining your memories back slowly! Wonderful! You have to be her,” Euriel exclaimed.

“Fragments, but yes, maybe I am your Luci after all,” Anatheia responded. She could be, and very likely was in her mind, but that still brought a bunch of questions like why she was killed and why she fell while losing her seraph rank.

“I'm sending one of my angels down to keep an eye on you. She's someone we can both trust, and Michael won't question her going down on a mission. Her name is Hibiki. Luci never worked with her in the past, so she won't ask questions,” Euriel elaborated her decision.

She continued, “I'll loop her into the conversation so you'll know her voice. You there Hibiki?”

“Hibiki is here! Hibiki is ready for this job Lady Euriel! It has been so long since Hibiki got a job on the surface,” a very energetic, high-pitched voice replied. Anatheia felt she could picture the girl without her even being there.

Euriel replied to the excited guardian angel, “Glad to hear it Hibiki. This is Anatheia, your charge. You will be with her every day, if possible in her party. Anatheia, this is Hibiki, your guide.”

“Thank you so much Euriel, I appreciate everything you've been doing for me. Hello Hibiki, as Euriel said, I'm Anatheia. You already know I'm a fallen angel, so you should be able to spot me rather easily, even with me hiding my wings,” Anatheia introduced herself.

“Hibiki is excited to meet Miss Antheia! Any friend of Lady Euriel must be important, so Hibiki will do her best on this job! Hibiki does her best on any job,” Hibiki's excitement was palpable, even in a conversation via thought. Anatheia could already see her bouncing about and it brought a smile to her face. She was looking forward to meeting this one.

“I am excited to meet you too Hibiki. I hope that we can be friends,” Anatheia told the excitable angel. Hibiki oozed happiness across the contact. That was one of the odd things about the Call of the Angels, emotions leaked through the connection. It wasn't normally this pronounced unless the emotion was extremely strong.

“Miss Anatheia wants to be friends Lady Euriel! Hibiki is so happy,” the angel proclaimed, her excitement somehow still building to a fever pitch. Anatheia determined it was just a strong emotion. She was almost like a child. Perhaps she was a cherub?

“I heard Hibiki! Now, go get ready for the job, Anatheia and I have a few more things to discuss,” Euriel ordered the angel.

Hibiki rapidly responded, “Okay Lady Euriel! Goodbye Miss Anatheia, I'll see ya soon!” As Hibiki left, Anatheia could feel the relief from Euriel through the contact, punctuated by a sigh.

“I'm sorry about Hibiki. She's a cherub, and a particularly excitable one at that. But she's a prodigy. And with how much she looks to impress me, she wouldn't dare report to anyone else first. You just made a friend for eternity by being so nice to her,” Euriel explained the young angel's disposition, putting a smile on Anatheia's face. For some reason she felt the need to spoil this girl without even meeting her. She'd always been like that towards the little ones, but which life was that?

“That is fine, Euriel. She's more than welcome to be with us. I imagine since she's a Guiding Cherub she isn't very skilled in combat?” Anatheia asked whether

“You would be right. She can hide quite well though, so do not feel worried about bringing her into combat situations,” Euriel briefed further.

“Well Euriel, thank you for all the help, but we are about to eat, and I must let you go. I'll keep in contact as best I can. Goodbye Euriel,” Anatheia said goodbye.

“Goodbye dear Anatheia,” Euriel replied, getting her name right first try this time.

“Dinner is ready dear Demon Child,” Anatheia called to Lilith who was sitting in the living room. The younger woman stood up and waled over, grumbling.

Lilith replied as she sat down, “Please stop that.”

“Again, give me a good reason, and eat, deer is much better warm,” Anatheia advised the human. She continued to explain the situation with Hibiki. And warned that the angel might be staying there. If she did, they wouldn't know except for meals, but with Hibiki it was more likely they'd always know.

“That's fine, kids seem to like me,” Lilith responded, and that was decided. Once the meal was finished, Lilith cleaned up since Anatheia cooked, though the fallen angel helped.

“Well, I guess it is getting pretty late, and we have an early day tomorrow. Shall we go to bed?” Lilith asked as she turned around. There she saw Annatheia making slits for her wings into the new pajamas she had purchased and rapidly changing into them as Lilith watched. Lilith squeaked, turning away, but she had caught glimpse of several scars that littered her back, including a set of very large ones that seemed to nearly line up with her wings.

Forgetting her previous reluctance, she moved forward and lifted Anatheia's shirt slightly. Completely oblivious to what she was doing, she reached out and touched the fallen angel's skin. Anatheia turned and was going to ask what she was doing, but stopped when she saw the look on the woman's face.

Lilith, in tears, asked, “What kind of horrible life have you had to lead?”

Huh...that's the second person to ask that today, Anatheia thought. However she could barely think as Lilith's touch was almost electric. She had to get the girl to stop touching her bare skin.

“I do not know Devil Child, but I do know that you are still touching me, and I might get the wrong idea should you continue,” she teased the younger woman who rapidly pulled her hand back, blushing furiously.

“I guess it's time to g-go to bed then. Good night Miss Anatheia,” She stumbled slightly on what she was saying.

“You would put a guest on the couch? Wouldn't you rather sleep together with me?” Anatheia asked, doing her best attempt to sound dejected

That's the problem! Lilith thought, nearly letting it slip aloud.

“F-f-fine! Please sleep on the bed,” she exclaimed, walking off to the bedroom to change. Once both were in their pajamas, they slipped into the bed.

How am I going to make it through this? How am I going to sleep? Lilith asked herself. She tried to keep a respectable distance between them, but Anatheia was having none of that. Without a second thought, Anatheia moved next to Lilith, and wrapped her arms around her. The younger girl squeaked at the sudden cuddling, but Anatheia wasn't done. She wrapped her wings about the girl into a protective cocoon. Suddenly Lilith felt much more at ease, quickly slipping beneath the waves of sleep that engulfed her.

“Good night my sweet Lilith. May the Goddess protect you, and may Tiluval provide you with good dreams.”