Nina's POV

I stared blankly at the screen. I closed my laptop and looked at Fabian. His eyes were shadowed with concern; I shook my head. The video chat wasn't successful. I let Fabian slip his arm around me and lead me out of the living room, heading for his own. Mick had chores with Mara and the other Anubis Residents were elsewhere. "Tell me what happened," he coaxed, arm still around me as we sat on his bed.

"You were there and saw the whole thing," I retorted, more confused than angry. I just couldn't believe what happened to my old friends – Nathan, Stacey, and Monique, and everybody else I'd grown close to – all getting stuck like that. All because of me.

"Well, if you need someone to talk to, no one beats your own boyfriend, right?" he offered.

That night; Fabian's POV

I was so worried about Nina. She tried contacting her American friends, but it did not work. I thought I heard her calling to me and Amber in her sleep. I'm all the way downstairs, I told myself silently. How could you possibly hear her?

Only, I knew the answer already. I loved her, and nothing could change that. Love makes bonds between people stronger than they were before. So when the blond fashionista burst into the room with a swift knock, I wasn't too surprised. I hurried up to her room to check on Nina.

Nina's POV

I tossed in my bed, feeling the sheets wrap around me, trapping me more so in the flames of my dream. I could just barely make out another person with me, separated by another wall of fire, and I didn't know who it was. Two dark shadows loomed closer to me, eyes glinting and mirroring the flames as searing heat engulfed me…

I woke with a start, practically leaping out of bed only to be stopped by the sheets. I touched my hand to my forehead as I reached for the locket with the other. "What have I become?" I murmured.

A hand rested calmly against my back. "Are you okay, Nina?" I knew who was trying to calm me – Fabian.

Pulling him down into a hug, I felt my heart lurch. "No, I don't think I am." We weren't in Anubis House anymore, and that alone made me feel better. But not by much. I was positive the Greek goddess Artemis couldn't protect me, either. Not when I was like this, anyway.

Amber caught the flash of fear in my gaze. "Hey, Fabes, why don't you stay in here for the rest of the night? I'm sure Mick won't mind."

About an hour later; Fabian's POV

Nina couldn't sleep well even after I agreed to stay. It seemed as though I made things worse for her. Reaching from my position on the floor to touch her hand, I felt her shudder.

Suddenly I was enveloped in the brightest fire I have ever seen. I had been dragged into her dream along with her. There was someone else on her other side, but like her, I couldn't see who it was. She didn't notice me at all.

Two dark silhouettes were outlined against the brightness of the flames… and I knew this was a creation of the turmoil within Nina.

"You'll never get them!" I heard her scream above the roar.

"Oh, but we already have," one of the people responded.

The other looked like he was nodding. "And we'll soon have them all."