The light receded gently. The Warriors and the Jezebels uncovered their eyes and blinked as if waking from a fevered slumber.

One of the Holy Ones spoke. His voice seemed to surround them, but also come from within them. It was a voice clothed with love. "Watch over the daughters. Heal and protect them. Guide them. Teach them."

Light flooded the room again, briefly. The Holy Ones were gone. The incense had burnt out. All was quiet.

For a moment, no one moved, as they tried to take in all that had happened. Libuse was covered in blood. Most of it was not her own. An elf, three fairies and a werewolf were dead. Several other Warriors and cambions lay injured.

Rhys, now able to stand, turned to the Domina and said, "I'll take the bodies and the wounded back to Tweldor."

Libuse nodded mutely.

Eden was still seated on the floor with Myrddin in her arms. She reached up and pulled on Rhys' trouser leg to get his attention. "My father..." Her words choked in her mouth. She couldn't finish what she wanted to say. She looked at her brother in confusion. "W-w-why can't I s-speak? And why is my face...leaking?"

Rhys thought his heart would burst open. He knew that he must have thousands of siblings. Besides his human half-sister Ganeida however, he had had no interaction with them. He had chosen to stay well away from his father's cambion offspring or collected experiments, until Eden had come to Tweldor. He and Myrddin were determined to teach her empathy. It would seem they had succeeded, perhaps too well. He had come to love this little cambion like a blood sister.

Rhys looked at Libuse. She had been elected Domina shortly after the outbreak of the second World War. She had seen many cruelties and many miracles, as had he. Nevertheless, they were both moved by Eden's plight. Libuse's bottom lip quivered as she fought back tears. She looked back at Rhys and nodded. Mind linking him she said, "She is ready," whereupon Rhys turned to Eden and hugged her tightly. She responded by melting into his arms, and allowing herself to sob.

"Your face is not leaking, little one. You are only crying. They are tears. They are not harmful," he said.

"But it hurts. I don't understand why it hurts."

"It hurts because you are starting to love. It may take some time but...eventually you will understand what that truly means. Now, you need to let go of Myrddin, so that he can be taken to hospital along with his sister, Gwendolyn."

Tallulah and Chantal would be the Warriors who stayed behind to call the police and paramedics. Since they had both been working undercover at Bedlam, they could come up with a logical cover story about how they had stumbled upon the hidden temple, and found Myrddin and Gwendolyn.

Eden allowed the Light Warriors to move Myrddin from her lap, before hurling herself back into Rhys' arms.

One of the cambion girls moved forward to get a better view of Eden before asking her, "One hundred and eleven, why are you holding our brother like that? What is the purpose of that vice-like grip? If he has harmed you, there are surer ways to end him." She stepped forward menacingly.

Eden and Rhys broke apart. Rhys looked at the sister who had spoken, with a mixture of sadness and amusement, but Eden was horrified.

"NO! Do not harm him Bundaberg ninety-one. He has helped me. He is helping me still. I was holding him because-because, it made me feel better. It felt...good. I do not yet comprehend all the concepts that he and the Luminous Warriors are showing me, but I want to learn. They are willing to teach me. They are willing to teach all of us.

"My time with them has been short. Only a few hours would have passed here, but time moves differently at the citadel of Tweldor. I have uncovered several lies... Think about what we have just witnessed.

"We were taught that the white wings only destroy our kind, and yet the one who spoke asked that we be healed and protected. Does Asmodeus protect us? Did he protect my mother?

"We are taught that sentimental emotions are a weakness, but that there is strength in rage, anger and hate. No! Those emotions have not served us well. They make us tremble and feel unwell. They make us slaves AND WE ARE NOT SLAVES! Listen to me sisters. Our emotions are our own. We are free to feel them. I am learning to feel love. I like that I am free to feel it. I want to understand it." She turned to Libuse and knelt before her. "I belong to you now. You are my Domina. If you'll accept me."

Libuse was stunned. "Oh, my darling child, no! Never kneel before me in submission. You belong to no one! Yes, I am the Domina, but the Luminous Warriors have elected me to lead and protect them, not subjugate them. They show me respect as a leader but they do so freely." She raised Eden to her feet. "We kneel only to the Creator, and as a mark of respect, to his mother and his divine messengers, the Holy Ones. We do so willingly et amor in lumine."

Bundaberg ninety-one folded her arms and asked Libuse, "In love and light? What does that really mean?"

"It means that nothing is hidden. It means that we strive to uncover deceit by shining the light of truth into darkness, uncovering what might be hidden in the shadows. It means that we do all this with love in our hearts for the benefit of all.

"You are all free to choose. Those who would like to come with us to Tweldor may do so, but we will not force you. We will need to move very soon however, as it is obvious something sinister has occurred here.

"The human law enforcers will be here to investigate soon. Many of you are under age. You will be placed in care until you are legally adults. For some of you this might be a good thing, but others may find it hard adjusting to the human world. I do believe however, that you have seen enough, and that you are all old enough to make an informed decision. We must leave for the citadel now. I am opening a portal. Those of you who will travel with us please stand to the right with Eden, and your brother, Rhys."

Bundaberg ninety-one and several of her sisters began to step forward tentatively. Of the two hundred and thirty that had come through the tunnel, only fifty-seven chose to return to Jezebel's, come what may. Libuse sent up a silent prayer of thanks as the last of the girls who had decided to make the journey with her entered the portal. It would not be an easy task but Eden was proof that they could be rehabilitated.

She was about to leave herself and close the portal, when the cambion at the head of the queue returning to Jezebel's let out a frightened shriek! Constantine Papadopoulos had entered the room with more Shadow Eaters.

"The tunnel is sealed. There's no going back now. You know what we do to traitors." He licked his lips and fondled the girl who had screamed, running his tongue along her neck. She whimpered, seemingly accepting that she was about to die.

Most of the Warriors had returned to Tweldor. Only Libuse, Tallulah and Chantal remained. If the girls chose to remain passive then there was no hope. They were surrounded.

"You have to go through, Domina, quickly!" Chantal yelled. "Get Ylva and Chris. Tell them it's time!"

She was right. It was their only chance. Libuse vanished into the portal, sealing it immediately.

Tallulah looked at the frightened women around her. Regardless of the speed at which Libuse could act, it would probably not be fast enough to save them. She decided she had nothing to lose. She had to try. "NOW YOU LOT LISTEN TO ME! YOU NEED TO TOUGHEN UP. YOU BELONG TO NO ONE, CAPICHE! YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR LIFE AND HOW YOU LIVE IT SO START TAKING SOME FUCKING RESPONSIBILITY, OR YOU'RE GOING TO BE SNAKE FOOD!"

She caught the eye of the whimpering cambion, and saw a spark of hope there. Constantine was standing behind the girl. Distracted by Tallulah's rant, he had let her go. With her hands now free, she reached back and grabbed his package, squeezing and twisting as hard as she could. When he dropped to his knees, she swung around and kicked him in the chest. He fell onto his back. The Children started towards her but they were quickly surrounded by her sisters.

"Oooh, nicely done!" Tallulah smiled at her.

"BITCH!" Constantine panted. He was winded and as a result he had not managed to utter the words of command to the shadow eaters. They stood trance like with downcast eyes awaiting instruction.

Chantal grabbed a discarded athame. Kneeling at his side, she pointed it at his crotch. "I'm not in the best of moods Con job, so I suggest you do not give me a reason to turn you into a eunuch!" she snarled.

Tallulah stood above him with a sword. "Creatures with solid black eyes will be difficult to explain to the police. Send them back from where they came; unseal the tunnel so that it is visible, or I swear to you, I will do it."

Con did not hesitate. "IRJI'U MIN HAYTHU JITUM!" he cried, as sirens could be heard approaching. The Shadow Eaters appeared to evaporate and were gone. The tunnel opening could be seen once more.

Tallulah addressed the girls again, "Christian and Ylva are good people, they will do their best to make sure that those of you that are under eighteen are fostered with decent families. If possible, they will try and find your human parent."

The girl who kicked Constantine approached Tallulah. "Thank you," she said meekly. "I wish I had gone with the others, but I was afraid."

"You don't have to be afraid anymore, Love. What is your name?"

"I am Jezebel Newcastle Fifty-four," she answered.

"Is any of you Jezebel Sydney Forty-two?" Chantal enquired.

"No, she's gone," Fifty-four whispered sadly.

"Gone where?" Tallulah asked.

"She was sold," Fifty-four explained.

"SOLD! Bloody hell. When? To whom?" Chantal asked.

"Last night, to Amir El-Molech," Fifty-four replied.

"DAMMIT!" Tallulah thought she was going to be sick. How is Theodora going to take all of this? Myrddin, unresponsive possibly brain damaged, and now the news that her daughter has been sold to the very demon that she had escaped, when she was fifteen.

"FREEZE!" The arrival of the police put a stop to any further pondering.