Having just been grabbed by a Seraph, Anatheia was a little worried, but she played it cool.

“Can we talk in private?” She whispered back. She knew this meant she would have to expose her wings, but you lose some things in the pursuit of safety.

“Okay! Up?” The seraph agreed, and pointed up. Ana nodded, let go of Lilith's hand and flared her wings out wide to take off. The Seraph and her both took off, the Seraph holding her hand and pulling her along a little faster than her wings could keep up with. By the time they were at a private height, her arm was a little sore.

When the Seraph turned back around and saw her wings, she realized it wasn't her Luci, but...she looked like her.

“Listen, I don't know your Luci, I'm a Fallen by the name of Anatheia.” She explained, holding up her neck ring, formerly a halo. When angels fell, their halo became a chain about their neck. A reminder of the burden of their actions, and that they were destined to be imprisoned in the realm of the mortals for eternity unless they redeemed themselves.

Then she continued, “But, I also don't remember my past. So there is a chance I may have known or been your Luci in the past.

“Luci is dead, or was supposed to be dead, but you sound like her, and you look just like her, exactly like her. Except for your wings. Luci was a seraph, with wings that shone. Red and white in near equal measure. Righteous and Just. Merciful yet Unyielding. However you...What have you done to lead such a tragic life, full of so much bloodshed, so much pain?” the Seraph explained. The way she talked about Luci, it was almost how one talks of their lover.

“Like I said, I don't know. There are a ton of memories crammed in my head, but I can't access them whenever I want. They crop up at the worst times and it is as if they are appearing from multiple lives. I am doing my best to sort them, but...” Anatheia trailed off, and for the first time since waking up here, she let herself feel vulnerable in front of someone.

She didn't know why, but this person felt okay to let loose to. Anatheia was so far out of her element, but she didn't want the others to know that. A leader had to appear fearless and never second-guessing their decisions. They had to exhibit power and perfection and couldn't chance showing weakness. Suddenly, as she closed her eyes to hold back tears, she felt arms pull her into a powerful hug.

Immediately Anatheia panicked and pulled back from the embrace, placing a healthy distance between them. It took everything in her power not to pull her weapon and point it toward the seraph.

Anatheia apologized, “I'm sorry I don't do well with hugs or being touched without my prior knowledge. I don't know why.”

“Oh Anatheia, I'm so sorry you have gone through all this. Whether you were Luci matters not, I cannot stand to see someone hurt the way you do. Let me properly introduce myself then I'll do something about this. My name is Euriel. I am a Council member, the only one to vote against the actions taken against Luci,” Euriel replied, a softness in her voice that wasn't there before.

“Michael will not be happy with this, but I am going to help you. Take this,” She said, holding out a large crystal. Looking at it, Anatheia realized it was a Skill Crystal. She looked up at the Seraph in alarm. This was worth a lot. Even if it was only a single Angelic skill. It was amazing. Call of the Angels. It allowed her to speak with another angel whenever she wanted. It was one of the skills stripped from every fallen angel.

Of course Michael would be pissed if he found out, this was practically declaring the Council was wrong in its methods. And what she could remember of Michael, he was not one to take questioning or attempts to deviate from policy well.

“He'll kill you if he finds out you did this,” Anatheia said, trying to give the crystal back. Euriel shook her head and pushed it back.

“He won't. He can't afford to lose me, I do run the Guiding Legion after all. This is also especially true after losing you, I mean...Luci. The Council is still in disarray after losing one of our number with no 'suitable' replacement in line. Michael considers Luci's entire Legion to be tainted by her ideas, the dangerous kind according to him,” she explained. Since the Seraph was so sure, Anatheia crushed the crystal in her hand, and the skill absorbed into her body, providing her with the ability to talk to other Angels remotely again. It was as if a part of her that had been lost was returned. Slowly her body was becoming whole again.

She continued, “I will do my best to keep your reappearance secret. I was actually sent to check on a disturbance of Holy mana that manifested nearby, but nothing was there. I take it that was your awakening that did it. If so, I can lie to Michael. He is not infallible, after all, he isn't the Goddess.” Her smile was radiant. Giving Anatheia warning, she held her arms open for a hug, and Anatheia acquiesced. Her embrace comforted Ana in a way she didn't think possible. She still had anxiety from the situation, but she did not panic.

“Thank you Euriel, I appreciate the help. Hopefully I turn out to be as great an angel as the woman you keep comparing me to. I feel the need to live up to your aid, “ Anatheia admitted to her benefactor. Again the woman smiled radiantly before responding.

“I wish to see you soar with your true wings once more, even if they may be colored by your experiences from your other life, so this is a bit selfish of me. Now, I must leave. If I take too long Michael will get suspicious. Please, take care of yourself, and amass the strength we will need in the coming battles, because Michael will not give up without one. It is his way after all,” Euriel elaborated. Ana knew she was right. From what she could remember of that angel, he was more demonic than any angel had any right to be. However he believed all his actions to be just.

Before she flew off, Euriel planted a kiss on Anatheia's forehead, a blessing of sorts, though she lingered as if she wanted something more. Then Ana watched as she took off, and used her new skill.

“Thank you so much Euriel,” was all she said.

“Until next time Lu, may our Lady's light guide you,” Euriel replied affectionately, her voice strained. Ana watched her leave until she was simply a speck in the sky. She dove down to the ground, giving up on the whole hiding what she was thing. It would never have worked for very long anyways. She took her cheap cloak off, handing it to a street urchin whose clothes looked particularly threadbare.

With her wings fully exposed, and a lack of a halo above her head, people gave her a wide berth. The stories of fallen angels were horrific, and none of them wished to offend her in case she decided to slaughter them. She wouldn't hesitate to do so if they were a threat to her of course. But they didn't need to know that.

She decided to walk to find the others, but luckily they were waiting right near where she had taken off from, she had simply landed in the wrong place while caught up in her thoughts. As she approached, they all noted her lack of cloak. Clearly her encounter with the seraph had changed her thinking. Now that they thought on it, they also noticed her lack of halo along with the ring around her neck. These were well known symbols of a fallen angel.

“Sorry to keep you waiting everyone. That was...a problematic conversation,” Ana apologized. Lilith was the first to step forward and shake her head.

“We are a team now, we don't leave anyone behind. Do you wish to share what that was about, or is it too private. You do have a little something on your forehead after all...” the human woman said rather grumpily. Confused at this turn of mood from the normally chipper woman, Ana looked to the others before wiping her forehead.

It was Euriel's lipstick...

“Devil Child, why are you mad that a friend gave me a parting kiss? Have you already fallen for my immense charms?” Anatheia teased the younger woman, leaning in to get to her level. The others smiled as they thought about how she clearly had no clue on the effect she had on Lilith.

“That's all she is? A friend?” Lilith interrogated her. Ana chuckled.

She reassured the assassin, “A friend and nothing more...at least that I know of. It is difficult to explain. How about we discuss this somewhere more private? It will take some time...”