"And why are you tailing me again like a little dog?" Hedith asked with a little hint of teasing in her tone. Carlos follows her around Arendelle with his hands inside his pockets.

"I'm your bodyguard today," he said, cheekily. Honestly, of all the personality trait he could acquire in the course of her absence, it had to be cheeky.

"I have magic and Mavros. I'm more like your bodyguard," she deadpanned but Carlos shrugged.

"You wouldn't know when you will be needing medical attention."

"You're a vet!"

"I was talking to Mavros," and as if he agrees, the dog barked. Hedith glared at her towering hell hound and sighed in defeat.

"Fine. But don't get in my way."

"Roger that, your royal Highness!"

The group went to the local library and asked for the list of citizens residing in the capital. While Hedith looked through it and into the list of recent souls provided by Thanatos last night, Carlos uses Mavros as a giant beanbag.

"Hell hounds may seem like a normal dog but it still intrigues me how much it differs to a normal one," Carlos said while rubbing Mavros' head.

"From what I know, hell hounds grow a hundred times bigger than a Doberman so Mavros is still practically a puppy. They also live for over a millennia. Cerberus is the oldest one recorded," Hedith said, not taking her eyes off the lists.

"You know plenty. Anything else?"

"Hell hounds eats noisy people so I suggest you to shut up."

Carlos shots up from his position and raises his hands, "Woah! No need for unnecessary threats."

"What if I say it's not?" Hedith smirked, sparing him a side glance. Carlos looked up to Mavros and he both heads eyed the son of Cruella. This made him scoot a little farther than the head and Hedith chuckle.

"I'm not evil, dog boy. He won't eat you unless I say so."

"Great. Cause that gives me real assurance," he said, sarcastically, "How do you even know if a soul will be stolen?"

"Being daughters of Hades, Mal and I have the ability to see souls leave its material body once it...you know, permanently shuts down."

"Wait! So Mal can see dead people all this time? How come we never knew?" Carlos said in utter shock.

"The Isle of the Lost nullifies that ability and outside the Isle, you haven't seen someone actually die, right?" Hedith asked and sighed. She closed the book that records the citizens in Arendelle and saw no recent addition to the citizens of the Underworld.

"Additionally, Mal is more attuned to Maleficent's powers rather than dad's and I am more attuned with his rather than Maleficent's. So I have some abilities that Mal doesn't have and Mal has abilities that I don't," she said as she put the book back into the shelf. She took her phone and puts it into her pocket.

"Like what?"

"I can sense when a nearby person pass away. It's not very settling but it is a useful ability in missions like this," she said and started walking out of the library. Carlos and Mavros followed suit.

"Wow. That's creepy."

Hedith looked at him through the corner of her eyes. Carlos realized his statement and instantly tried to correct it but dailed miserably.

"No! I mean, you're not creepy! I mean, you are, I'm not lying...but not the bad kind of creepy! But the good kind since you're good. The cool kind of creepy, I mean! The cool gothic— no, I mean—"

He was halted from his stammering when Hedith started laughing out loud. Good thing they just left the library. Carlos watches Hedith perform the well-known laugh that she usually do when a well-thought prank is executed. It shows that the Hedith that he was accompanied with while growing up is still this Hedith in front of him that is now all business and no nonsense on. It's a breathe for fresh air really.

And to be honest, you don't see many woman really laugh as freely as Hedith. It's cute, he thought with a fond smile.

"Oh man! You really are a dork. Even with a really serious profession, you are still dog boy," she said once she stopped laughing.

Carlos frowned, "Stop with that nickname. I don't like it."

"Oh really, dog boy? What are you gonna do? Bite me?"

"That is just...childish," he said and Hedith chuckled.

"The nickname is already tied to you. You can't change it. It's already part of who you are."

"You know what? Maybe I'll get you a nickname, too! Something that will also annoy you by," he declared, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I'd like to see you try."

"AAAAAAAAHHHH! HELP!"

The group perked up and immediately ran towards the direction of the scream. It's just behind a house on the outskirt of town. There, a woman is being held down by a hooded figure that is holding a knife.

"Let go of her!" Hedith yelled and Mavros attacked the figure. They dropped the knife and fled the next moment, "Carlos, bring the lady to a safe place!"

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to follow that punk!" She jumped onto Mavros and they chased after the mysterious figure.

The hooded figure ran towards the mountains and on one tree, a horse us waiting. They jumped on the horse started riding it away, gaining more speed.

"Gift of nature, hear my call. Catch that figure, make him fall!" Hedith's eyes turned green and the trees started moving, trying to catch the runaway.

However, they managed to dodge every attempt, maneuvering expertly with their horse.

"Annoying little prat," Hedith sneered. The figure went to a turn, going straight to the mountain. Hedith went straight in pursuit.

However, she have to stop when the figure phased through the solid mountain wall. Jumping down Mavros, Hedith touched the wall in confusion. It's pure rock and soil. But her eyes weren't playing tricks. She was sure that the hooded figure and its horse when through it as if it's a gateway.

Stomping on the ground, Hedith sneered at the wall before mounting unto Mavros.

---

Hedith met up with the royal family, Carlos, and the woman in the castle lobby when she came back. She quickly went to inspect the woman for any anomaly and sighed in relief when she found nothing.

"What was that?" Carlos asked, "Where's the guy who did this?"

"He got away. Phased right through a mountain wall," she said despite the fact's absurdity.

"Would he be the one you're looking for?" Elsa asked as she stands beside the woman and her sister trying to comfort the traumatized victim.

"I'm not sure. Is it alright if I ask a few questions, madame?" Hedith asked the woman. She looked into her dark optics and after a moment of hesitation she nodded, "What happened before we came? Did the guy told you something?"

The woman looked down, trying to remember, "He...He said something about...it's for the king. He said that I should help him restore the king's glory by sacrificing myself. A-And, that's when you came. I'm sorry that's all I remember."

"Did you see anything on the guy that can help us distinguish him?" Anna asked while rubbing the woman's arms.

"H-He has this..knife with a red ruby on it. And what looks like a teeth. A beast's teeth!" she exclaimed and Hedith puts a finger on her chin, thinking deep.

"Red ruby and beast's teeth. Thank you," Hedith said and Anna told the servants to take care of the woman. Once she's out of earshot, they decided to acknowledge the elephant in the room. The event for tomorrow.

"We should cancel the wedding," Anna said and Kristoff puts a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you alright with that?"

"Yes, not when a threat is looming over the kingdom," Anna said and Hedith frowned.

"I'm so sorry, Anna. I wish I was able to catch him right there and then," she apologized and Anna gave her a small smile.

"It's not your fault."

Elsa took a step forward, "As rulers of our land, we have to put our people's safety over our own needs."

"The wedding can wait," Kristoff agreed, "It's not going anywhere."

Hedith watches the warm display of comfort and love between the three. Kristoff's love and devotion to his fiancee. Elsa'a love and care for her sister and Anna's uncrumbling resolve to the safety of everything that she cares about. One that she had seen on her own sister. That was enough for her to have a confident face and say the following words.

"In less than a week...your wedding will be held. And it will be the greatest celebration ever!"

And with that, Hedith walked over to her room to plan her next course of action.

Meanwhile, Carlos watches her retreating form. Mavros's right head nudged him, catching the blond's attention. He whined a little and Carlos rubbed both of his heads.

"Is she always like that?" Elsa asked Carlos. He turned to her and back to Mavros.

"What do you mean that?"

"She's somehow enigmatic," Elsa said and Anna snorted a little. Quite unbecoming of a queen but nonetheless, she is Anna.

"Like you're one to talk."

"Yeah, she just likes taking things to herself, unless it's with her friends," Carlos said ignoring the silent banter between the sisters.

"Aren't you her friend, Carlos?" Kristoff asked as Carlos sighed.

"That's what I'd like to think, at least."

It wasn't long before Hedith came out of the palance after telling Anna that she'll be looking for the figure in the mountain. She had a feeling that it is bound that the figure is just hiding in the tall mountains of Arendelle. The Queen was reluctant at first, knowing that it will be a risky move but bid her good luck as she gives her the permission she had asked for. At the same time, Anna and Elsa promised her that they will also make sure that the citizens of Arendelle will be safe in their homes.

On her way to her mission, she saw Carlos at the gate who also looked to be geared up for a trip. Dude sitting beside him in a similar fashion.

"Heyya, Hedith," the dog greeted.

"Don't tell me you're planning on going with me?" She asked.

"Yes, and you won't be able to stop me."

There was a moment of contemplation within Hedith. Carlos is stubborn, she knows that. Pretty much everyone in the group that he originated in are just as stubborn as he is. And she would know because she's directly related to one of them. Even if she wanted to, Carlos would still tail her on the quest.

Carlos is capable enough to survive three magical journey is his teens. This may just yet be another adventure for him but the stakes are raised higher this time. But he doesn't care. He just can't sit around knowing Hedith is dealing with a mad man.

"Fine. But know your limits."