"This time I have something really cruel planned..." Rasputin smiled evilly at Bartok.

"Oh dear," Bartok sighed. "Master, what are you planning?"

Rasputin rubbed his hands together and narrowed his eyes at Anya's newspaper clipping sitting in front of him. "I'm going to make her fall in love with me..."

Bartok's eyes widened. "Well, that's a new one. Master, I think the maggots may have gotten to your brain a bit too much lately. What possible purpose would that serve?"

"Don't you see, Bartok, for all that she's done to me, for all the stress she's caused me, I will kill her in the worst possible way. I will make her fall in love with me, be willing to do ANYTHING for me... Then take her from those she loves, and kill her right in front of them."

Bartok gulped. "Okay, Master... Sounds a little bit much. Let's say though, for question's sake, how do you possibly expect her to fall in love with you? I mean, you're not... Well... You're..."

"Are you saying I'm not ATTRACTIVE?" Rasputin bellowed at the bat.

"No, no! Of course not... I mean, of course you are! You're quite handsome, if I do say so myself!" He laughed nervously. "It's just, well, you did happen to kill her whole family. I'm pretty sure the girl isn't your biggest fan."

"Ah, that is solved simply with a love spell. My reliquary should give me that ability." Rasputin picked up the glowing, green talisman and stroked it. "Come, my minions, find her and do my bidding!" Tiny Demons climbed out from the top, a red mist dancing around them, and flew toward the window of the tower.

Rasputin grinned maliciously at the bat. "I will make her suffer even greater than she could possibly imagine... There's no greater pain in the world than to be killed by someone you love. If she had just died like she SHOULD HAVE, this wouldn't have had to happen. She's brought it on herself by awakening my anger. And now she will pay."

Bartok shivered. "Excuse me, Master, but I don't want any part of this. This can only end in tears." Before the mad monk could stop him, he flew out the window.

"Pooka!" Anastasia called, running after him down the palace steps. "That silly dog..."

Pooka ran faster, barking, into the palace gardens. Anastasia frantically chased him. "Pooka, stop! What's the matter?"

The dog ran further still. Sighing, Anastasia chased him under an archway, not noticing when it sealed behind her.

She stopped, no longer hearing Pooka's barking. "Where could he have..." She stopped when she heard a deep whisper.

"Anastasia..." She turned around, eyes wide.

"Anastasia..."

"W-who's there?" She began to back up as a red mist surrounded her. She tried to scream, but the mist filled her mouth, her nose, traveling down the front of her dress into her cleavage. Invisible hands lifted her dress and let the mist underneath. With a moan, she fell down and fainted.

Rasputin waved his hand and appeared, approaching her slowly, smiling. "My dear Anya, you look so vulnerable... If I wasn't a gentleman..." He looked her up and down, slowly. "I forget though, I'm not a gentleman... But we'll save that for later, in front of your loved ones. Oh, how I will relish this..."

He kneeled over her as she awoke. Her eyes fluttered open as she saw his face. Overcome, she reached up and brought his face to hers, kissing him long and thoroughly. She sighed happily, threading her fingers through his long beard.

"Oh, Rasputin, my Rasputin! I'll do anything for you, my love..."

Rasputin smirked, and stroked her face. "I know, my dear, I know... There is one thing I would have you do."

Anastasia shot up and beamed at him. "Anything, my love, just name it!"

"Your family, they have caused your Rasputin a lot of pain. Even your Grandmama. She should not be in your life, if you want me. You do want to be with me, don't you?"

"Yes! Yes, of course I do!" She grabbed his rough hands and looked earnestly into his brown eyes.

"Good, my sweet." He sighed, looking down at her. "Then I need you to come into the ball with me now and tell them the truth. That you love me, and want nothing more to do with them. Will you do this for me, my love?"

She nods. "I will have nothing to do with anyone who has hurt you, my darling. Don't fear! You're safe with me!"

"Good, my love, good. Then come." He offered his hand and she took it.