The warehouse was quiet, too quiet for somewhere that was supposed to be the lair of a group involved in the kidnapping of five people. As Yanko and the others entered the building there was a large explosion.

16 hours earlier.

"Time to get ready." Boomed a voice from the doorway of the makeshift night room. As Malic opened his eyes he could see Kalab standing in the doorway. "Some training, a briefing then we are going to hit the warehouse." He added as he watched the three rise from their slumber with a few disapproving grunts.

Malic was first to his feet, despite the good solid sleep he had he felt off balance, as through his head was on but his brain wasn't firing right. He tried to shake it off as he walked to meet the others who were sitting in chairs around a table. No one looked excited except Kalab who was sharpening his scythe blade. Yanko was sat looking through a stack of books as Megan wrote down anything he found of interest. Kandra he realised wasn't in the room but as he thought of her he felt a hand on his shoulder.

'The view before him was a lush open field, animals grazed and birds flew over head. Dense woodlands stretched from the edge of the field right up to the foot of the mountains that rose along the horizon. The sun and moon both sat high in the sky and the day was warm. Standing there he could not move except to turn his head, and that was when he saw her, Kandra standing beside a man much like himself. He waited to see what would happen but they stood silent looking over the land before them. Then there was a crack of thunder but no clouds and a voice. "You both shall always be drawn to one another. In death and in life, you may take each other as provider and dependant, as lovers and friends, to be kind and strict in times of need, to be both bold and humble, to cherish and envy the time together and apart. For I bind you to each other across time, so that no man or god should be able to break you apart. I charge you as husband and wife to do all that is needed to be one together and one apart. As it is that I am Tyther, you shall always be Honsi Priest of Nefi and Kandra Huntress of Hearts. May the Gods look upon you as I do, now go and be sure that while your time is short now, it will come again in short spells through the ages, as a loop unbroken, a system to protect all things now and to come. You are blessed by the God most High." As the voice disappeared another crack of thunder sounded like the sky was torn apart. Looking around the world had suddenly changed. He stood over looking the city, he could see the library, the school, everything as it is now. Then suddenly it faded.'

"Malic?" Said the Librarian as he stood shining a torch pen into his eyes. Malic blinked and Yanko stepped back. "I think he'll be fine." The others stood around him waiting to hear him speak.

"I just..." He started a little shaken. "I think I..." Despite his best efforts he couldn't find the words to say what he had just experienced.

"You recalled a memory didn't you?" Asked Yanko as he sat back down.

"Yes but how?" Malic responded.

"Everyday you are with us the connection to your former self grows stronger. I wondered how long it would take but this is faster than I expected." Yanko slid a book across the table to the empty chair opposite. "Come take a look."

Malic and the others, including Kate and Chris who had rushed into the room when Kandra began screaming for Malic to wake up, came and sat at the table with Yanko.

"He who was the first to fall will be the first to rise." Malic read it a few times to himself. "Sounds like a Proverb, something straight out of the bible." He added looking at Yanko.

"We thought so too, until now." Yanko turned the page and again in bold text separate from the other writing on the page Malic read the next part.

"For his fate is sealed by Tyther to fall and rise while she draws breath." Yanko turned the page again. "Bound together through ages lost she will find him through love alone." Again Yanko turned the next page and Malic continued to read the bold text. "It is the hope to heal the world that gives him new life." Malic turned the page quickly. "Yet his fate is not to stay, his purpose is to die again, a fate he made to save us all." Turning the page Malic didn't find any more bold text so he kept turning pages in growing frustration. "It can't end like that." He screamed. He pushed the book back to Yanko stood up and left. Everyone lingered a moment before Kandra followed after him.

"Malic wait please." She called to him before he could open the main doors and leave. "Look I know this is a bit of a shock but just stick with us. Stick with me, please." She pleaded hoping he would listen, he turned to her and smiled then opened the door and left.

Yanko stood in the corner of the back room with Uthar who had pulled him aside. "We need to keep Kandra and Malic apart. We don't know what will trigger the full memory recall of Honsi, but when it happens we loose Malic and I have to say, he's a good man, much like Honsi before the betrayal. If he remembers that, we all lose." Uthar placed his hand on Yanko's shoulder, "Try and get in touch with Alexicus and see what he can do, the fate of everyone depends on Honsi never remembering that moment." Uthar walked away leaving the Librarian lookin worried in the corner.

Kandra returned to the room without Malic "He's gone."  She said looking defeated.

"Kalab, Uthar go find him, keep an eye on him and make sure he isn't aware you are following him, try and keep an eye out for anyone who might try and grab him." Yanko threw a small wooden hammer at Uthar. "If he needs it, give it back to him." Uthar nodded and the two men left.

"What could that tiny hammer do?" Asked Chris once they had left.

"If he needs to use it you'll soon find out." Yanko replied. "In the meantime Kandra and Megan I could do with your eyes and tactical experience. You two." He pointed at Kate and Chris. "You two go and open up the Library and keep an eye on things up there for me." He didn't wait to see their response before grabbing some paper from the desk and a few markers.

While Yanko was planning Kalab was ducking behind a large bin in an alley. Malic had decided to stop outside a cafe, he had already gone inside to grab a drink and was now sitting outside watching the world go by. Uthar was nearby somewhere but Kalab wasn't exactly sure where. They had spotted a few Oris followers as they kept an eye on Malic. They knew Malic wasn't stupid and was probably aware he was being followed. This very public pause was probably part of a plan to either draw them in or shake them for a while. Either way he knew he couldn't give up his position.

Uthar wasn't having it as easy as he dodged another left hook. How he got to be where he was, he wasn't too sure, he was following one of the Sons of Oris down an alley until Malic stopped to go into the cafe  across the road. When the six foot four, two hundred and thirty pound man saw he was being followed he took a ladder to the roof top above and Uthar followed. There had only been one he was sure of it. Yet now on the roof there were four each one swinging wildly at him, he could kill them all, he knew that but did he need to, and for that reason alone his sword remained in its sheath.

Taking a sip from his mug of coffee Malic noticed movement on the roof across the road, seeing the billowing coats of those who had been following him he knew Yanko had sent someone to watch over him. He had expected as much, he couldn't do anything but watch as he spotted Uthar drop kick one of his assailants over the edge of the roof down into the alley below.

The body crashed into the bin Kalab was hiding behind which caused him to jump from his hiding spot to see the folded over form of a Son of Oris. He suddenly knew where Uthar was and he realised he probably needed help. He quickly searched the body and found some random bits in the guys pockets before he stuffed them into his own and ran off to find a way to the roof.

Uthar felt the fist connect with his jaw before it sent him spinning to the floor. Now with only three of them he hoped it would have been easier but it wasn't. As he knelt on he floor ready to strike he reached for the handle of his sword and as one of the men rushed for him he went to draw it before he watched the body crumple to the floor in front of him. Looking up he could see Kalab and his Scythe looming over him. "Need help?"

The other two men ran without any further fighting, Kalab check the pockets of the man he had killed and again stuffed the belongings into his pockets. "We need to get Malic, I spotted more of them as I was climbing up here." Kalab said and as they ran to the other edge of the roof they watched as Malic lifted his mug of coffee up to them.

By the time they got back to the front of the building from the alley Malic was gone but the string of long coats gave them the direction he was going. Weaving along the alleyways they stayed out of sight as best as they could. The occasional Orisian appeared but they dealt with them quickly and without any second thought. As they entered the park they spotted Malic stood with his back against the wall of a bridge over the river that ran through the park. Quite a few men were gathering around him, Kalab took the small hammer from his belt and held it up. "Let's hope this works." He threw it with all of his strength toward Malic before calling out to him. "Malic catch."

The hammer spun through the air and as Malic saw it heading his way he got ready to catch it. There was a sense of familiarity with the hammer that he couldn't explain and as he took hold of the shaft he spun on his heel and slammed the hammer into the floor. The impact of the blast knocked all of the men around him to the floor after sending them through the air several feet. Malic lifted the hammer and noticed that the small wooden object he had caught was now a heavy metal hammer with ornate carvings all over it. He looked at it with smile as they other two raced to his side.

"Well I am glad that worked, but Malic we have to go. There are more of them in the city. We need to get back to Yanko and he others at the library." Uthar grabbed his arm amd yanked him a few steps forward. "Lets go."

Megan slammed a book on the table in front of Yanko who jumped with a start. "Nothing." She said as she opened the book. "There is no mention anywhere of this idea of yours." She didn't look too happy after spending almost an hour searching the library for something that now seemed like it didn't exist.

"It has to be here, I'm sure of it." Trying to think where in the hidden library the text was he sat down and rubbed his head in frustration.

"Looking for something." Asked Kalab as he walked into the room with Malic behind him and Uthar close behind.

"Yes." Responded Yanko as he looked at Malic the hammer strapped to his back. "I see you ran into some trouble."

"Some..." Started Uthar. "Try a small army. The Sons of Oris are really upping their game. They also seem hell bent on getting to Malic. I hope they remember the legends of the hammer next time they have a sit down." He slapped Malic's back twice before moving passed him.

"I like this hammer." Added Malic.

"So you should, you or at least Honsi, built it from metal forged in the Valkiran Fires, the markings are Runes to call on the power of the Gods, all of them. Which one did he use?" He asked Kalab with some excitement.

"Hysis... Those men quickly learnt that they could fly and then how to land hard." He replied with a beaming smile.

"The Air Pulse, nice haven't seen anyone use that in a while." Yanko took hold of his staff and he looked at the runes etched in it. "Con-yam-ha-hysis-arg-fi-maw!" He uttered as his staff began to glow blue then from the end of it a swirling dark cloud began to form. Malic looked on in amazement. "Fi-cos!" He added and the cloud stopped and disappeared. "Feels like it was only yesterday that I summoned that power. It was almost four hundred years ago." Yanko looked at Malic. "Like I said you still have so much to learn but I think our time is running out. We need to get set up ready to hit the warehouse."

For the next few hours everyone took turns training as well as going over the plans to storm the warehouse. Yanko didn't want to leave anything to chance so he went over everything again and again.  Once he was convinced he had covered all of his bases he said it was time to go. He ordered Kate and Chris to remain in the library as the others left. He couldn't be responsible for them, they would be safe within the Library.

The walk to the outside of the city took a few hours but no one showed signs of tiredness or fatigue. When they reached the warehouse they walked in and suddenly the place exploded.

As the dust settled Malic was stood with the hammer raised in the air and for a second an orange shimmer shielded them from the cloud of dust that lingered within the rubble of the building. As he lowered the hammer the shimmer disappeared and Kandra and Uthar got back to their feet. Yanko looked around at the almost total destruction of the warehouse.

"Well at least we know they were here, that or this was a trap." He took a step up onto what was the office roof. "But surely they couldn't be that stupid, they would know this wouldn't kill any of us." As he looked about he felt a sense of doubt. "It's not a trap, it's a distraction. They are hitting the library." He ran down the rubble heading back toward the city, Megan and Kalab was close behind him.

Uthar stopped short and lifted his arm to inform the others to halt. He heared a cry for help and as he tried to find it he walked toward where the far wall should have been. All the heavy brick work was thrown across the carpark and beneath a large slab he could just make out a few bodies. He called the others over to help.

Under the rubble were men dressed in bright yellow work jackets. Clearly they had been working in the area when the explosion happened. No matter what they did it was too late, the weight of the rubble had already crushed some of their chests, broken arms even severed a leg. There was nothing they could do to save them. Kandra found one of the men, his chest was exposed but a metal rod was pinning him to the floor through his intestines. She pulled the necklace from around her neck and placed it over his heart.

Instead of attempting to consume the heart the necklace began to release a red mist that began melting the man's skin. Kandra pulled the necklace free as the man disolved before her eyes. "Damn it he's an Orisian, I've lost one of the hearts I collected. Leave them all. Lets get back to the Library." Malic and Uthar turned and waited for her to catch up before they all ran back to toward the city.

Kalab was first back at the library to find the doors wide open, Megan was close behind him and she rushed inside to look for Kate and Chris. Uthar and Malic rushed inside to help Megan. Yanko and Kandra arrived last as they were discussing what had happened at the Warehouse.

Uthar rushed from the library carrying the frail form of Kate in his arms. "She's alive but she is badly hurt, the place has been turned upside down. It looks like they were looking for the hidden library." He said as he went to lay her blood covered body on the floor.

"No get her back inside, get her on a table and I'll see what I can do. If there's nothing I can do Kandra will have to make the most of the situation." Yanko pointed back into the library and Uthar followed the command without a second word.

"The outside of the building is fine." Said Kalab as he materialised from the alley.

"No sign of anything amiss inside either." Added Megan as she appeared in the doorway.

"Ok lets get inside and get this place locked down." Said Yanko as he grabbed his staff and waved it infront of the doors in a systematic pattern.

Once inside the Librarian rushed to aid Kate who was bleeding out rather slowly on a table. Yanko looked into the wound and realised he would not be able to stop the bleeding. "Kandra you have a green light. There is nothing I can do." He stepped back from the table.

"Wait." Said Malic as he stepped forward. "Kate, we are out of options, so we are going to do something to stop the pain and let you go in peace. Is that ok?" He said resting a hand on her shoulder, she panicked a little knowing it was the end. When she had calmed down she nodded. Malic kissed her on the head and stepped away.

Kandra stood over her with the necklace. "I'm sorry Kate." She held the necklace over her heart and a blue wave pulsed from the artifact. Everyone stepped back and the necklace lost the glow from another stone.

"Kandra, go, you haven't got time to waste, you need three hearts in the next hour." Yanko grabbed her shoulder and pulled her to one side. "Go now." She nodded and ran from the room. "Malic she's a Nefilite, the necklace just healed her, we just need to hope that Kandra can manage to get what she needs."

For the rest of the evening everyone waited in silence for Kate to come round and Kandra to return.