1 Week Later:

"Well, it looks like today is the Branching Exam registration. I wonder what Diana is going to do?" Lori questions as Chelsea, Mary, and her get pampered at a spa. They decided to have a girl's day out since it is a weekend, but Diana couldn't join them. She told them she had an important project to do so only the three of them went out.

"I don't know. You signed up, right, Mary?" Chelsea questions their friend whose eyes are hidden under cucumbers.

"Yeah, I signed up for the Salix Branching Exam bright and early before all the crowding started. I have to pass and get in. Help me study, Lori." Mary says to the red head who pouts a bit as her hair is being washed by the woman in charge.

"Okay, I'll help you, but if you can't do it, then don't force yourself, Mary." Lori says to her, and Mary frowns a bit and removes the cucumbers from her darkened eyes. Chelsea and Lori can feel her displeasure, but don't remove their cucumbers.

"I can do it. I will be in the Salix building with Dean. I won't give up on him just yet." Mary tells them with confidence. The girls hold in their sigh, wishing that Mary would realize Dean will never look at her now that he has found Diana. The one and only person he can be with.

"Alright, ladies, it's time to remove your masks." The woman says to the girls. They all nod and sit back, ready to have the masks on their faces cleaned off.

                                                                   ~0~

"The Student Registrar, this is where the sign up is. What should I do?" Diana questions mentally as she looks at students filing in and out for the Branching Exams.

"I didn't even want to take this exam. Damn you, Dean."

"I'm sorry." Diana gasps and puts a hand to her chest as Dean pops up beside her. She pats her chest and then glares over at Dean, who grins at her.

"So you're going to take the Branching Exams?!" Dean questions her, taking her hands happily. Diana blushes and casts her gaze to the side with a slight frown.

"I-I don't know. I may wait." Diana says to him. Dean pouts a bit and then heads to the building.

"I'm going to see if I can get into DW then." He says to her. Diana looks at him surprised and then grabs his arm.

"Wait, wait, wait! Alright, alright, I'll take the Salix Branching Exam! I don't even think you can test down without flunking!" Diana says with a heavy sigh. Dean grins and hugs her. Diana blushes brighter, not holding Dean back as people stare at the duo. She pulls back and tries to calm down.

"Okay, where's the line for the Salix Branching Exam?" Dean questions Diana as they step in, trying to get past people who are also looking for their preferred section or are stepping out with their pin number to head to the library and get their study material for the section they're trying to get into.

"Hmm. . . Oh! Here is the map showing which room is for which exam." Dean says as he walks up to the bulletin board. Diana follows him and looks up at the directions to the Salix Branching exam. "Let's see, you have to go left from here to the fifth door on your left."

"Okay, then I'd better go, and you should probably wait outside, or people will think you're here to take the exams as well. They'll probably get mad when they see you were just there keeping me company." Diana tells Dean after he tells her the direction she has to go. Dean pouts a bit before saluting her and heading out of the building to wait for her. Diana smiles and shakes her head before she walks down the hall, asking a few people in which line they're waiting since the Salix and GCW section exams are near each other and a lot of people want to enter the highest ranking sections of Vachellia Nilotica.

"Is this really for the best? I never wanted to come this far. I wanted to fail and get kicked out of the academy and go beyond The Wall. I wanted to find myself, about my past. But after what Crowley has told me. . .the search for my answers will start here. By taking and passing the Salix Branching Exam." Diana thinks with determination as she waits in the long line.

"Hello, are you busy, Professor Crowley?" Diana pops into the Serpent building, walking past students who finished their current training for Flat-Topped Acacia. She steps into his office to check in on his office hours and make sure he's free.

"Hey there. I've got time for you. What's up?" Crowley smiles kindly at Diana. She lets the office door close and salutes him with her right hand over her heart. Crowley's brow twitches a bit. "Don't do that. I don't need it. We're the same age -"

"You're still a professor and one of the Five Elite. I should be respectful under prying eyes." Diana feels gazes behind her. Crowley looks ahead towards his door, looking through the window on it, to students who are gathering outside his office for their own meeting with Crowley for his open office hours. "I'm sorry, this must be a bad time. You should tend to your students."  Diana sets her hand down and turns to leave.

"Diana, wait! Please, don't go. Like I said, I've got time to hear you out. Sit, please." Diana looks back at Crowley. For an instant, he sounded a bit desperate to keep her there. Diana doesn't see anything expressing that anymore when she does look back at him. Her feet lead her over to the chair across from his desk, and she sits down.

"I... I need advice. I remember that you feel the same as I do. You don't want to keep fighting for Artemia because you don't belong here. I don't feel like I belong here, I want to know what is beyond Artemia. I want to know where I come from... the people I come from. I need to leave this place!" Diana looks at Crowley pleadingly. She hopes that he will have some answers for her. Some guidance to convince her that she is right in leaving Artemia to find her way.

Crowley leans back on his chair, letting it spin slightly to the side. He reaches for a pen and lets it twirl in between his fingers. Diana stares at the pen and then at his pensive expression. Like he is trying to find the right words to say to her. She's just not sure in which direction his words will go. This is going to help determine whether she can trust him or not.

"Before you can find your answers out of Artemia, you need to find the answers to your past within. As you are a DW right now, a lot can easily be kept from you. Diana, you'll have to take the Branching Exams in order to start getting answers to your past. I want you to find the answers yourself. I will support you all the way. With whatever decision you make." Diana clenches her hands on her lap, seeing his point.

"Thank you... so, if I do this, and I find my answers... would you help me find a way out of Artemia?" Diana questions Crowley. "I heard that the monsters that live here may be expelled from Artemia-"

"It's still a split decision from the higher-ups. Nothing is set in stone yet, so don't put all your hope in that plan. But, if that's what you want... I will make sure you can leave Artemia when the time comes." Crowley promises her. Diana looks up at him surprised, she didn't expect someone to readily be the hope she has been looking for all her life.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" Diana reaches out without thinking to link her fingers with Crowley's. Both their eyes widen at the action. Before Diana can pull back, Crowley curls his fingers to also link to hers.

"I'm happy to help, Diana." Crowley smiles at her. Diana looks down at their hands before she breaks the hold. It came so naturally to her, and it doesn't feel weird even still. She stands back up and puts her hand over her heart.

"Farewell, Professor Crowley, thank you for your time." She waves and steps out so other students can have their turn.

She clenches her hands and walks up to the secretary and gives her the student ID given to her at the beginning of her time in the Vachellia Nilotica section. She waits for her information to register, and then she takes the pin number that is written to her by the secretary.

"Alright, it's time to go to the library, which will probably have long lines for the next few days until the students finish signing up." Diana heads out and meets Dean who had gotten frozen slushies from one of the vendors allowed on campus during the weekend to sell to students who rarely go home due to the distance their home is from the academy or they have nobody to go back to.

"Boy, what a long wait. Was the line that long?" Dean questions Diana as he drinks from his cobraberry slushie. Diana nods as she takes a sip of her lime slushie and then looks up at the library. A long line that even makes it outside of the building. Diana groans and looks at Dean helplessly. He shrugs sympathetically.

"If you want, I can wait with you. If we chat a bit, I'm sure the line will move faster." Dean tells her. Diana nods her head gratefully, and they walk to the line before more people show up.

"By the way... it's a weekend, so why are you here exactly?" Diana asks him as they wait around.

"Oh, I came to see if you would register for the Branching Exams or not!" He tells her right out. Diana just stares in shock at his bluntness. He didn't hesitate to give her an honest answer. It makes her laugh.

"What?! What?! What's so funny?!" Dean questions, also wanting to be part of the joke. Diana only ends up laughing harder before she pushes his face back from trying to understand the joke. 

                                                            ~0~

"Headmaster Acacia, it seems that Diana Green has entered the Branching Exams." Nichole says as she enters Chandler Acacia's office of the Emerald building. Chandler leans back on his seat and nods.

"Yes, I just saw her name pop up on the list of candidates for the Salix Branching Exam. It seems she's going to make that huge leap. Hmm, maybe we should have brought Dean and Diana together much sooner. Although, my son is becoming cautious around us, especially me, and is protecting Diana Green." Chandler says to Nichole, who nods her head.

"Shall I do something about it? If Diana Green passes, we can put her in my class, and I could befriend her. We need to have her on our side for this war. She's the ace up our sleeve since Crowley has turned his back on us and refuses to fight in the war to save humanity." Nichole says to Chandler, who turns in his chair and looks out over at the students in their regular clothing, walking around campus. He stands up and looks over them proudly.

"We must keep humanity alive. I do not want to see this peaceful scene disappear. I will accomplish this by any means necessary. Even if. . . even if I have to use an innocent outsider to keep us all safe." Chandler says as he sees Diana and Dean walking past the offices of the Headmaster, Chairmen, and Chairwomen of Acacia Academy.

"I will assist you to the very end, sir." Nichole says to him, and Chandler looks back at the blackette with a small smile as she bows her head and puts her hand over her heart.

"Thank you, Nichole. You are one of the few I can trust during this time." Chandler says as he walks up to her and puts a hand to her shoulder. She nods her head and looks at him with a small smile. They stand there in silence and hope that Diana will see their ways and help them in the war, even if they have to use her relationship with Dean to get it.

                                                            ~0~

"Hey, Crowley. Knowing you, you've probably seen the students entering the Branching Exams for the Vachellia Nilotica section, huh? More specifically, Diana Green." Sean says as he stands in front of the door of Crowley's lab for his students. He sighs and looks away from his book.

"And if I have? What of it? If I know her, I know there's a deeper meaning than just taking the exams to help in this pathetic war between humans and monsters." Crowley says as he looks up at Sean. He glares at the older man and steps in, letting the door close behind him.

"You... I hope you die in the war, Crowley. You are nothing but an ungrateful outsider who wouldn't think twice about turning his back on the people that took him in and rai-"

Crowley snaps and grips Sean's neck, pinning him against the door. Crowley's eyes look icy blue as he glares into Sean's brown eyes. Sean grabs on to his wrist and glares at him. He tries to build up magic into his hands to get him off.

"I owe no gratitude to the scum that have manipulated me ever since I can remember, who lied to me about my origin, and the scum who . . . who separated me from my little sister." Crowley says darkly to Sean, who is trying to breathe, making him lose focus on his magic. Crowley lets him go, and Sean drops to the ground, coughing and gasping.

"Anyway, I shouldn't blame you at all. I shouldn't let out my frustrations on you. You're only a clueless child who has been blinded by the glitz and glamor of the Acacia family and the head families. You know nothing of what's really going on, and I pity you." Crowley says as he walks away from Sean and goes to his desk, sitting back down.

"Separated from your sister? What are you talking about?" Sean says hoarsely as he stands up to look at Crowley confused.

"Oh, come on, don't act like you don't know. All the Five Elite of Artemia know about me, but of course, I'm still being kept in the dark from a few other things about myself." Crowley says to Sean, who just frowns further in confusion. Crowley looks over at Sean and frowns a bit as well.

"You really have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?" Crowley questions Sean, who shakes his head and continues to rub his throat.

"Well, then you can do what you want with this new information about me. Now, maybe you'll understand a little more why I am so hesitant to help these people." Crowley says to Sean as he bites his lower lip and looks around, unsure of what to do with the information he now has. Crowley tosses him a healing elixir. Sean catches it and looks at the bottle. He shakes his head and leaves Crowley's lab as students begin to arrive and heads back to the advanced section of Acacia Mangium.

                                                              ~0~

"Ah, my feet hurt being up for so long. But at least I got the study material I needed." Diana says with a heavy sigh as she and Dean sit on the Four Seasons fountain. They eat a pre-packaged lunch that was offered to the students once they left the building for free.

"Yeah, it was a pretty long wait. The library was pretty understaffed for this. Maybe they'll do better for the Branching Exams for the other sections of the academy." Dean says as he takes a bite of his fruit. Diana nods in agreement as she takes a bite of the salad she was given.

"Dean, can I ask you for a favor?" Dean stops mid-bite of his apple and looks over at Diana curiously. She blushes a bit and casts her gray eyes at the study booklet on her lap. She nods her head and looks over into his mismatching eyes.

"Dean, please help me study so I can pass the Salix Branching Exam? Actually, I think I will need everyone's help." Diana says to him. He puts his apple down and then hugs Diana.

"Of course I'll help you! I want you to be in the Salix building with me! We could be partners!" Dean says to the bright red girl. He grins and pulls back to look at her. Even he ends up blushing a bit as he looks at her embarrassed face and her slight pout that makes her look younger.

"Um, didn't Lori and Chelsea invite you to go out today?" Dean questions her as he starts to eat the rest of his food. Diana just nods and plays with her hair.

"Well, they did. . . but I was deciding what I should do about the Branching Exams. I guess they're going to be happy for me when I tell them the news." Diana says to Dean as she looks up at the swaying branches of the trees.

"Yeah, they're definitely going to be happy. I hope that you and Mary do well. I'd love to have my two friends beside me." Dean says, and Diana's gaze saddens a bit, but she tries to hide it with a smile.

"Damn, I hate how my chest hurts when you mention Mary since I know how she feels about you. In these last two weeks that I've known you. . . I've grown these undeniable feelings for you. Ever since that night, we almost kissed, and you haven't made any attempt to get close again. Although, neither have I, but my mental state would make me believe that I was desperate by making the first move. I'm not desperate, not at all." Diana thinks to herself. She jumps as she feels a gentle hand touch her hair and tuck it behind her ear gently.

"Diana, what's with the sad look in your eyes?" He questions the blackette who just shakes her head and keeps herself from looking at him. He moves his hand to the other side of her face and gently makes her turn towards him. Diana gulps and looks up at his mismatching eyes.

"You know you can tell me, right?" He says to her. Diana nods and then grabs his hand to put it back down, but doesn't let it go.

"I know, but I don't have the confidence to talk about it with you. I . . . I just don't know how you really feel about me. What's been happening between us. . . this stuff isn't something that happens with friends." Diana says, getting quieter the more she talks. Dean blushes at her words and now looks ahead of himself.

"I guess it's not all that clear since I haven't properly said it, huh? Um, well, I guess now is as good a time as any." Dean says after a moment of awkward silence. He nods his head and looks over at a concerned Diana. He relaxes a bit and looks at their touching hands. He holds it up a bit and smiles a bit.

"Well, what I told Chelsea before and what I said to you near The Wall. . . they're real. But I'll say it properly this time. Diana, I really like you as more than just a friend and would want nothing more than to be with you." Dean says with confidence. Diana's face heats up, and she looks away to put her hands on her hot cheeks. She lets out a breath as her heart pounds in her chest.

"Oh wow. . . I haven't felt my heart pound like this in ages. It's pretty frightening to hear such sweet words. I'm afraid, Dean. . ." Diana says to him. Dean puts his arm around Diana and makes her rest her head on his chest. Diana tenses a bit but then relaxes as she hears his pounding heart.

"I'm scared too, especially during a time like this. I'll protect you with my life from the monsters who want to destroy us all. I won't lose the happiness I have gained thanks to the people I love." Dean promises Diana. Diana nods her head and stares at the ground in silence.

"No, I won't falter either. I will also protect Dean and my friends. I don't want to lose them, not anymore." Diana thinks to herself, determination filling her heart. She finds the feeling of having someone to protect very fulfilling.

Diana and Dean pull apart and smile at each other warmly.

"So, how do you feel about me, Diana?" Dean questions suddenly. Diana blushes and starts to play with her hair again, looking to the sides before she looks at Dean nervously.

"W-well, even if you're so touchy feely and hyperactive. . . the opposite of me. . . I still really like you and feel at ease with you. I-I'm definitely starting to believe that there is such a thing as love." Diana says shyly. Dean smiles at her wider and then starts to lean close to her face. Diana's gray eyes widen, but she doesn't move away from his lips.

"Whoa! Bad timing again!" The pair quickly pulls back from each other and looks over at Lori, Chelsea, and Mary. Before more can be said, Mary quickly runs away.

"Mary! Mary, wait!" Chelsea calls out to the running auburn haired girl.

"Easy there, Dean! I don't think you're the best person to go after her!" Lori says as she stands in front of Dean, who tried to go after Mary.

"But Lori! I have to make things clear! I have to apologize to her!" Dean says to her as she shakes her head at him. Diana stares at the scene with guilt. She feels like her presence began to tear the four friends apart. She clenches her hands and looks at the group.

"Lori, let him go. He needs to talk with Mary." Chelsea says with a heavy sigh. Lori looks over at her in concern but eventually moves, and Dean looks back at Diana apologetically before running in the direction Mary took.

"Oh damn it all, this is so messed up. I'm so sorry..." Diana doesn't know what to do with herself. It really is a hard hit that her feelings for Dean could tear apart their friend group. She doesn't want Lori and Chelsea to take sides, especially not hers. She hasn't been with them long. They've been together almost their entire lives.

Lori and Chelsea look at each other, also feeling a bit conflicted. Yet, they are not blinded by love, so they can see the common sense. No siding with anyone will make Dean or Diana like each other romantically, more or less. They also see the genuine concern and conflict in Diana as she falls further for Dean and the way it hurts Mary so badly.

"Diana -"

"Please, don't sugarcoat anything. I don't blame you two for being upset with me for putting a rift in your long-established friend group..." Diana interrupts Chelsea, who tries to say something nice. Lori fires up and feels it's her time to be blunt and honest.

"We have all been friends for over fifteen years by now. If our friendship can't withstand this, then it would be a baseless friendship. Diana, no matter what, real friends don't walk away from each other if it's real!" Lori says with her whole heart. Chelsea smiles a bit as she looks at her, putting her arm through hers.

"Our friendship has withstood so much during the years. We can only come out of this stronger on the other side. This is what real friendship is like." Chelsea assures Diana, the one who is inexperienced in a real friendship. She looks at them surprised, not having known that before. 

"Yeah, Dean and Mary will absolutely make up, and we will be a great friend group. You'll also be a part of it!" Lori assures Diana with a bright smile. Diana feels some relief that the duo before her don't hate her. It's the first time that she has cared about someone's opinion on her.

"Thanks, you two... Maybe someday this will all work out as it should. Um, anyway, uh..." Diana sighs, unable to bring herself to change the subject. It doesn't feel like it is proper to do so. She tucks back her exam materials to keep them out of sight. The trained eyes of future soldiers catch on to the shift in Diana's demeanor. 

"Diana?" They both call out to her. She jumps and looks up at them, trying to look as innocent as possible. 

"Diana, did you sign up for the Branching Exams?!" They both exclaim. Diana is surprised how quickly they got it. Then again, she realizes it's not that hard to figure out with today being the first day of registration.

"Uh... I did. I have my study materials now." Diana shows them her text books and study packets. 

"Hooray!" Lori charges to hug Diana. Chelsea jumps and holds her back so she doesn't end up knocking Diana's materials into the fountain. Diana holds the materials protectively. She is very grateful for Chelsea's save. 

"Okay, relax, Lori. Anyway, I suppose it's better to get started now on your studying. We can help you out until we get some word from Dean and/or Mary. I think it'll help ease our worries for a bit, too." Chelsea suggests to her friends. They nod in agreement.

"Let's go to Diana's dorm!" Lori offers the blackette's room without asking. Diana and Chelsea laugh a little while Lori bounces up and down on her heels. She is eager to get going.

"Sure, why not? Let's go to my dorm." Diana gets up and makes sure she has everything. She collects her trash and Dean's and throws it away in the waste bin. The girls head out towards the Vachellia Nilotica dorms, chatting about what they had been doing while they were apart from each other these last few hours.

                                                                ~0~

"Serena! Serena! I agree! I'll help you!" Mary yells out as she looks around the empty sports field, hoping that her plea is heard. She jumps as a pink butterfly makes its way towards her and lands on her palm. She looks at it, realizing that the butterfly is Serena's familiar. She watches it flatten and becomes like a tattoo on her inner wrist, and then she hides it as she hears running footsteps.

"Mary, please don't run and let me explain what happened!" She clenches her hands and looks back at Dean with a frown as he looks at her sadly.

"Listen, Mary, I'm sorry I can't correspond to your feelings. I don't want to lose you as a friend, though. You, Lori, and Chelsea are my only friends, and I don't want to lose any of you. Please Mary, don't let this tear our long-time friendship apart." Dean pleads to the auburn haired girl who continues to look at him coldly.

"Why? Why did you have to like her, Dean? I've been there all along, so why couldn't you like me. . . like me like I like you! No, how I love you!" Mary says as tears begin to stream down her cheeks. Dean looks at her sadly and tries to reach for her, but feels like it may not be a good idea at the moment.

"I'm sorry, Mary. I don't have control over my heart. My heart chose Diana to love, not you, and I'm sorry for that. I really am, but I can't change my feelings. I wish there was a way to make this better." Dean says bluntly, unintentionally sounding inconsiderate of Mary's feelings. Mary nods her head and touches her wrist with her other hand.

"They will get better. I know it." Mary says to him before she backs away and then walks away from him.

"Mary!" She keeps going, ignoring Dean. He doesn't go after her again and watches her head towards the direction of her home. He sighs sadly and heads back towards Acacia Academy school buildings to find Lori, Chelsea, and Diana. Regretting that he has hurt one of his precious friends so badly.

                                                                            ~0~

Serena smiles to herself as she sits at her throne. Her loyal guards look to her. She has grown up to appear twelve years old. She has grown taller and stronger now that her body is beginning to contain all her power.

"Lady Bathory?" The woman questions her queen curiously. Serena giggles a little and puts a finger to her red dyed lips. 

"All is going according to plan, of course." Serena sighs content and stands up from her throne. She walks down the steps towards the balcony of her throne room. She spreads out her arms and looks out to the vampire and lycan country that she rules over. Her guards follow behind her to look at what she looks.

"Our city will be expanding once again. At the most unsuspecting moment, we will strike the land of Artemia. We will kill or assimilate all humans. We will conquer all the other monsters that reside in the once monster-friendly land." Serena hums happily and twirls, a few glowing pink butterflies follow her movements. She kisses one of them, and it flies away.

"Fly! Fly away to Miss Mary Hale! Fly away and bind her to me, so then I can bind Dean Acacia to me for eternity." Serena sings out before the remaining butterflies float to her outstretched finger.

"My lady, I am relieved to see you so happy. May our vampire empire continue to grow. Long live, Queen Serena Bathory... the First Progenitor." Serena turns to her servants that bow before her. Her smile spreads, showing her razor-sharp fangs.

"Tonight is the first step towards the end of humanity. I just can't wait to see them all fall before me. Not even the Holy Horn's tune will bring me down!" Laughter spills out from Serena. She is the most delighted she has ever been. Serena stretches her arms out and looks up at the starlit sky.

"Mother, I'm sorry, but I must destroy the cruel humans that you once sought to protect." Serena thinks to herself as she continues to giggle. Her own choice feels so freeing.

                                                                          ~0~

"Master Amon, the women we sent to Artemia are prepared now. They will begin the hunt for the wielder of the Holy Horn as well as search for information on the other guardians of the sword and grail. The women have been able to become employed in fairly high positions around the island. One of the women was able to get into the City Hall of Artemia." Actor reports to Amon as he chugs his beer. He lets out a long burp as he lies back.

"Great! We are already getting closer to beating that old lady! Any word on the living dead man's weakness?" Amon questions Actor as he stands up, his head is still bowed in respect to Amon.

"Not yet, but I believe we can get into the mind of the holder of the horn to get to the other holders. A leader of Artemia should know the whereabouts of the other holders and their chosen wielders. The humans just aren't clever enough to hide all their secrets." Actor assures Amon. Amon lets out a loud and obnoxious laugh as he receives this news.

"It's alright, we have time during all the commotion that's gonna go down! Gimme another beer!" Amon holds up his empty mug. It immediately gets filled up by a young woman. Amon continues to enjoy the constant festivities he makes possible for all his followers who live in his land. 

"With your permission." Actor bows before Amon as he goes back to drinking and partying. Amon waves him off, and Actor makes his way out of the party place to the rooms that are quieter in the cellar.

He sighs and pulls off his mask to reveal a handsome face with blue skin and matching blue eyes. The hood of his cloak hides his hair. "Juliette... be careful out there if you meet that man once more." Actor quietly pleads as he pulls out a silver locket from under his hood. He opened it to look at a picture of his wife when she was younger. A kind smile directed at the camera he had used to take her picture. Beside that is an image of the two of them when their son was three. He appears more human like his mother, other than his pointed ears and the white hair that sparkles under the light and the darkness.

"Dad, is Mom still okay?" Actor jumps a bit, but relaxes as he recognizes the young voice. He smiles and looks over to his son, who is wearing a comedy and tragedy mask just like his. He walks up to the young teen and pulls off his mask to look at his face. His light brows are furrowed in concern.

"Your mother is just fine. I just got word from Karina Wood. Your bright mother has gotten a position as a consultant for the goblin folks that still live in Artemia." He explains to him. The boy nods his head, but that doesn't seem to ease him at all.

"Son-"

"I hate this. Master Amon is one of the most powerful goblins here, so why do we have to send my mother and the other aunties to such a dangerous place?" Actor covers his son's mouth. No one is there, but he still looks around just as a precaution.

"Please, do not speak ill of Master Amon. We are a community, we work together, we fight together... your mother is just fulfilling her role to make this world peaceful. It's rare to find kind souls like your mother in the human world. We must change them. Teach them again." Actor quietly lectures his son as he puts his blue hand down. 

"Right... sorry. I just really miss her. I haven't seen mom in a week." Actor smiles in understanding. He, too, misses his wife but holds it in to keep up the strength for his son. He just hugs him, putting his hood back over his hair.

"I know. Now, put on your mask. You know how Master Amon hates seeing men's faces. We don't want trouble, Marsh." Actor helps Marsh put on his mask. He places his own mask back on his face, and they both head back out to the commotion of the goblin and ghoul parties.

                                                            ~0~

"Lady Acacia, are you available to speak right now?" Caroline pauses her typing as her office door is opened. She straightens up and looks up at a gray-haired old woman. She stands from her seat and puts her right hand over her heart.

"Of course, come in, Lady Dragul." Caroline motions to the seat across from hers. The seventy year old woman walks in elegantly. Her fancy cane echoes each time it touches the floor. She sets it beside her once she sits down on the cushioned seat across from Caroline. She runs her wrinkled hands over the handle of the cane, a golden dragon head with its mouth closed.

"So, what can I do for you?" Caroline questions as she sits back down to face Imogen Dragul. 

"As we all know, the monsters are making their move day by day. We are getting more reports of monster attacks across the land. Charon is busy right now, so I thought it best to once again come together with us leaders and the Five Elite to finally close our doors to the monsters. We must end the undecided split ad young Crowlry refuses to vote for either side. So, someone else must break the tie." Imogen announces to Caroline. Caroline puts down her reading glasses and meets the equally intense chestnut colored eyes of the old woman.

"Yes, I suppose things are just too split between all of us. However, it seems that Lord Matthews, Vincent, Chandler, nor Nichole want to be rid of the monsters yet. The only person who can break the split is Crowley if no one else changes their vote." Caroline sighs before she continues to go over the arguments they've had on letting Artemia continue being a monster friendly land.

"It's as you say. An outsider has the final say in all of this." Imogen clenches the handle of her cane.

"Not only that... he has always been a contender to wield one of the Holy Weapons. The other two should be easy to get on our side, but Crowley is our wildcard." The two women nod, concerned about what could happen with Crowley. He could change the outcome of the war.

"Then, we must find a way to convince him to our side." Imogen suggests. Caroline remembers all she can about Crowley. Yet as she's remembering, she recalls the argument she had with Dean about the origins of Crowley and Diana Green.

"Lady Dragul, let me investigate a few things before we continue on this conversation." Caroline asks of the old woman.

"Oh? Well, then I will leave things to you then, Lady Acacia." Imogen nods in agreement as she looks at the slightly younger woman.

"Thank you. I will see to it that things change in Artemia. As they are now, it is not working any longer." Caroline and Imogen shake hands before the old woman slowly makes her way out.

Caroline waits for the door to close before logging into the personal files of the Five Elite. "Oh? Has someone else been lurking into these files?" She catches on to a few updates on the files. That information had been printed out during the early hours of the morning. A time when most people are sleeping.

"It comes from the academy. I suppose it's my brother. Well, so be it. I need to continue to convince him to go through with getting rid of the monsters that could turn on us before the Three Generals strike." Caroline puts her glasses back on and goes back to her work for the day.