At that moment everyone was silent. Death was no more. Raden stood chest heaving ready for another attack. The rest watched in uncertainty but would follow Raden.

Deimos landed a ways off and neither he nor Azrael could see what had happened. They only knew the fighting had ceased. Azrael leaped from Deimos' arms and sprinted into the smoke and fire ignoring all protests from Deimos. She fought back tears as the smoke burnt her lungs. Raden couldn't be dead. Not now.

"Stop!" Deimos yelled. "We don't know what's in there." He stopped dead in his tracks behind Azrael who had frozen. Deimos had already spotted Raden but when he looked at Azrael she was wide eyed staring at the body ahead. He leaned down. "It's not him."

She blinked her eyes rapidly and looked up at him. "What?"

"Look." Deimos pointed toward the middle of the group. Azrael followed and saw a tall figure standing over the body. Sword grasped tight ready to swing again. She felt that her knees might give way.

"Raden?" She called out. The angel turned his head ever so slightly but enough for Azrael to notice. "Raden!" This time he turned to find who was calling out. As soon as Azrael saw his face, she bolted. Tears blurred her vision as she raced towards Raden.

Raden dropped his weapon just in time to catch Azrael. He wrapped her in a tight embrace as she buried her face in the crook of his neck. "I've got you. I've got you," he muttered over and over. The shock had overcome all his senses and at that moment nothing seemed real.

~~~*~~~

A large fire had been started to clean up the bodies of the dead infernal that littered the streets. The fallen soldiers of Ifera would be laid to rest at another time in honor of their bravery. The body of Merikh was tossed into the fire as the death angels stood around watching the corpse being destroyed along with any of the intentions Merikh had of destroying this world.

Azrael and Raden sat a ways away watching the cleanup. Azrael couldn't stomach watching the dead burn.

Raden turned his head watching Azrael. Her lips held a slight frown and her eyes were bloodshot from the fighting. "You doing okay?"

She nodded slightly but never broke contact with the fire. "He killed Arjan," her voice was scratchy as she spoke. The smoke had done quite a number.

"What?"

Azrael finally moved her attention to Raden. He could see the heartbreak in her eyes. "She tried to stop him. He didn't love her enough to stop his plan. His hatred was greater than any love he ever had for her." Raden wrapped an arm around Azrael and pulled her closer. She rested her head on his shoulder closing her eyes in exhaustion.

Two Gods. Two Gods had been killed. Things were far more serious than Raden originally thought. He kiss Azrael on the head and slipped away from her as he headed to the group of death angels quietly talking.

"Hey, Raden." One turned. The angel's face dropped when he saw the look of exhaustion mixed with worry. "What's going on."

Raden sighed, "We have a bigger problem." They all perked up. "Arjan is dead."

"What!"

Raden rubbed the back of his neck. Which he always did when the anxiety got the best of him. "I know I know."

"Do you know what kind of chaos this is going to cause? Not to mention the fact that now there's going to be a huge fight amongst the Gods of who will take their places."

Raden looked over. "You don't think I know this, Crius." There was a heavy silence that fell. Raden shook his head. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lash out."

Crius nodded. "What do we do now?"

"Get ahead of this." Raden shrugged. He truly didn't know what to do. "First things first. We need to speak with Libena and Javiad."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Raden looked over at Azrael who was speaking with one of the archangels. Crius placed a hand on Raden's shoulder. "Who's going to tell them about Arjan?"

"I'll tell Deimos and he can tell his men." And just like that the weight of the world fell back onto Raden's shoulders. Crius patted his shoulder in comfort and support before walking off. Raden let out a frustrated sigh and went to find Deimos.

Word traveled quickly after Raden told Deimos. Raden was soon surrounded by angry and confused archangels demanding answers that he didn't have. Crius and the others stood by Raden threatening a fight if the archangels didn't back down. This caused quite a bit of chaos to erupt. Insults and threats flew through the air and the scene was becoming a dangerous place to be. Azrael stood trying to find Raden in the sea of celestials. She saw the increasing hostility and jumped into action.

Azrael cast a forcefield in the center of the mass causing many to stumble and all in all confusion. She stood there arms crossed waiting for the arguing to cease. "You all done acting like children?"

Everyone looked at her as if they were looking at a monster with three heads. She rolled her eyes.

"You stay out of this. No human will have a say..."

"In what exactly," Azrael challenged. "How about you explain to me what I'm to stay out of."

Raden smirked to himself as he watch Azrael. She was forced to be recond with.

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The celestial scowled and pushed through the crowd to meet her almost nose-to-nose. Deimos placed a hand on Raden's chest keeping him from making the situation worse.

"It doesn't concern you," the angel spat.

Azrael stepped forward arms still crossed. She peered up eyes narrowed. "I was the weapon to destroy worlds. I am the daughter of the Nameless Gods and I am their voice. I think what's going on concerns me more than you would ever realize. Now I suggest moving your ass out of my personal space before I do it for you."

"That's my girl," Raden whispered. Deimos chuckled patting him on the chest. Raden pushed through the crowd and made his way over to Azrael. "I suggest you listen to her. She isn't one to back down from a fight." The celestial turned to Raden with quite a sour expression. "Got something to say?"

Not a word.

"As much as I would love to beat the crap out of some of you." Raden glanced at the celestial that threatened Azrael. "I think this needs to be discussed before it gets out."

"Why would we listen to you?" Someone yelled.

Another joined in. "You're just an idiot with a sword!"

Raden rolled his eyes and walked away as the fighting ensued again. Azrael and Deimos followed after him.

"How do we get them to listen?" Azrael spoke up. Raden just shook his head as he sat on the rubble of a fallen building.

He looked up at Deimos. Deimos just shrugged knowing that getting his men to listen was going to be impossible. Azrael looked between the two and felt helpless. Her shoulders fell and she slumped next to Raden.

"Does Lorcán know yet," Azrael asked.

Deimos shook his head. Even though they trusted Lorcán, word spending to the Gods would make things worse than they needed to be at this moment.

"Maybe we explain..."

Deimos interjected. "It's better that this stays between us right now. About Arjan at least."

Azrael knitted her brows together. "Why? You all keep saying this or that it isn't my place to know because I'm mortal."

Raden sighed, "If one of the four Ancient Gods is killed, then their roles will need to be filled. It isn't like killing the God of war or the Goddess of spring. You can't mess with the balance of the four. Word getting out now that not one but two of the Ancient Gods were killed is going to start a bloodbath amongst the Gods. It won't be pretty."

"Oh," Azrael said quietly. "So what now?"

"We need to talk with Libena and Javiad." Deimos answered, "But how we get in touch with them... I don't know."

Azrael perked up a bit. "I might be able to get in touch with Libena."

Raden looked over at her and realized what she was talking about. He nodded and turned to Deimos. "We need to get to Lorcán before one of your men decides to act out while Azrael speaks with Libena." He stood walking off with Deimos giving Azrael a questionable raised eyebrow.

She shrugged and he ran off. She could hear him faintly say, "Wait why wouldn't it be my men? What if it was one of yours...."

Azrael chuckled as Raden argued back but couldn't exactly hear what he was saying. She would head up to one of the gardens hoping Lorcán would let her use them.

~~~*~~~

The palace was eerily quiet as she walked through the courtyard alone. It seemed that Raden nor Deimos had made it yet given the lack of chaos. Two guards stood like statues by the main entrance watching Azrael as she approached.

"The palace is on lockdown right now miss," one answered. They both were eyeing Azrael carefully as if she may attack. She couldn't blame them though.

Azrael took in a deep breath. "I'm sorry about this. Somnum." Both guards slumped to the ground in a loud clatter of armor sound asleep. Azrael rushed passed hoping no one saw her. Through the empty palace, she hurried. Hopefully speaking with Libena before Lorcán was told the news.

She headed down a main hall and cut across through a small unused room. Azrael poked her head out making sure the coast was clear before making her way down the hall hoping not to get lost. She turned the corner and one of the many gardens Lorcán had built stood to her left. This would do for now. There were tall enough plants to hide anyone who came in from prying eyes. A small path lead to the center of the garden where a bench sat in an opening under the sun. Azrael followed the path and sat down wondering how she would contact Libena. She thought for a time until a familiar voice caught her attention.

"Hi, Azrael." It was Libena who had walked into the garden. Her smile was as warm as ever but not as bright as Azrael remembered.

"How did you..."

"I can feel in your heart when I am needed. And it seems that I am needed at this moment." Libena came and sat next to Azrael. Azrael had no clue what she would say. Her hands felt clammy and her heart raced but she knew this was the only way. "Javiad thought it best not to come right now. Especially given where we are. He wouldn't want dear Lorcán trying to persuade his thinking."

Azrael looked up at Libena. She was calm and poised as she sat to listen. "What do we do? What will happen now?"

Libena let out a deep sigh. She placed a hand on Azrael's cheek. "You find those best suited for the roles."

"I'm not fit to do this." Azrael shook her head in protest. She stood and began pacing anxiously. "Can't this be something figured out by you or the Gods?"

"Azrael," Libena said softly. Azrael continued to pace back and forth until Libena stood and gently took her by the shoulders. "You wouldn't be doing it alone. I'll be there helping you and Rade." Her eyes twinkled with delight under the sun. "And I'm sure your God under the mountain would be more than willing to give his help."

Azrael's eyes widened and she stepped back. She felt like she would puke from her stomach doing summersaults. Her face paled and she began to shake with fear.

Libena's famous smile faded and she held her hands out to catch Azrael thinking she would collapse. "Oh my dear I didn't mean to frighten you." She sat Azrael back down.

"How did you know?" Azrael asked looking over at Libena.

"Raden had mentioned that you enjoyed spending time in the forest at the base of the mountains. I placed two and two together given what your powers are."

"And you aren't mad?"

Libena pulled back slightly and a frown found itself growing on her lips. A very rare occurrence. "My dear, I would never be upset that you've found a God."

Azrael shook her head with her brows knitting together. "But he is a part of the Nameless. Was at least."

"I know. Merikh and Arjan were the ones who had quite the issue with them. I enjoyed their company but the stories will never mention us getting along will they." Libena sighed. "Arjan and Merikh did everything in their power to strip their powers which were successful."

Azrael knew why Arjan would've been angry and jealous. It made sense. Merikh wanted to cause harm in any way he knew how. Still, the question that would never be answered now. Did Merikh ever love Arjan truly, or was she second best to Anéislis' sister? Azrael looked over at Libena again. Libena was truly genuine. "So what now? There is quite a large and angry group of angels in Ifera ready to kill Raden if we don't get going on finding a worthy replacement for Arjan."

Libena stood and held her hand out for Azrael. "Then it seems a council meeting should be held right here. I'm sure Lorcán wouldn't mind."

"What about the angels? I think they should have a say in who their leader should be."

"Oh, I couldn't agree more." There was a hint of mischieve in Libena's voice. "No other Gods here. I want all angels there and Azrael," SHe glanced over. "I want you to call for... what's his name?"

She knew. "Oh um, Anéislis."

Libena smiled and continued walking. "I like that name. Quite the power you have been able to name a Nameless God."

Azrael stared straight ahead. Adrenaline was still coursing through her veins and she hadn't hit a wall yet. She prayed that sleep would eventually find her and she'd wake up from this insanity.