A.N: First off, I'll like to thank trinityblood-lust for their review: Thank you very much. I'll try to update whenever I can, unless I have writer's block. Enjoy this new chapter; things are starting to pick up.

Drakesdarktwinsister: -happily- Thank you, trinityblood-lust! - Newsperson voice- And on a more serious note, drakesdarktwinsister (that's me) is working on a KARAOKE CROSSOVER! Just a crossover in general. TB characters, YYH, IY, HSM, real people...-quietly- MCR. Message me if you want to be in it or have song ideas! Bye!

Search against time

Haleef and Tareef strolled through the vanishing, swirling gas. Their plan had worked. Now it was time to claim their prize…

The two methuslahs scanned the unconscious nobles, making sure all of them were out. Haleef bent to double-check a duke before continuing with his partner.

"There…" Tareef nodded at the fallen woman by the throne.

Careful and alert, the two approached her.

Even sprawled on the floor, she was graceful and beautiful, her long blond hair casted a blanket of silken gold across the marble.

She must be the empress! Still…something wasn't right; this was too easy…

Silently, Haleef kneeled by her and grasped the veil lightly; they were both eager to see what she really looked like. Gently, delicately, he pulled the thin cloth from her face.

Their jaws dropped…They had been tricked! It wasn't her…

The two recognized the Duchess of Moldova at once. The rumor they had heard was true. She did play as her Majesty's double. But then, where was the real one? She had to be in the palace somewhere…

Outside, Baybars raced towards the palace. He had heard the commotion of the attack and hoped he wasn't too late.

The captain darted through the front gate and flew down the hallways till he reached the throne room's doors.

The doors were wide open, bodies littered the room but no blood had been spilt. Luckily, they were just unconscious. By the throne, Mirka laid unveiled but safe.

Whoever did this must have been someone who lived near Byzantium, someone who was familiar enough with its nobles to beable to tell them apart. Now, it was clear who they were after. The guard just prayed she was safe.

A groan and a movement caught his attention. Next to his grandmother, Ion stirred and made a disoriented attempt to sit up. He held his head wearily before slowly looking around the room.

It took him a minute to comprehend what he was seeing. When he did his eyes widened in shock.

"What happened?" he asked no one numbly.

Baybars knew he hadn't noticed him," Earl," he called, formal and aloof as always.

The blond nearly jumped at his voice and instantly turned his head to gaze up at him with almost teary eyes. Baybars wasn't surprised; he was still just a boy afterall…

"Lord Baybars…" he murmured," Who attacked us?"

The older methuselah shook his head," I don't know. I just arrived here myself,"

Ion then noticed Mirka next to him and his sharp mind realized what the attackers had been looking for. He gasped in horror before whirling around to gaze at him intently.

"Her Majesty! Where is she? Is she alright?" he demanded, pale and in panic.

"Baybars narrowed his eyes slightly," I wish I knew…"

The blond jumped up, suddenly renewed, and ran towards the side door," I suddenly remembered! She went to her room for the night!"

Not waiting for his response, Ion raced though the door and disappeared. The Duke followed, knowing he was right…

Haleef and Tareef hurried towards the Empress's bedroom. Maybe if they were lucky she would be asleep and easy to capture. But what if she wasn't? Would she put up a fight? Could they trick her?

Only one way to find out…

A.N: First off, I'd like to thank crusnik O2 for their kind reviews. Just to let them know, they were right on the answers to the questions in Metamorphosis. Good job.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter. I already have about half of this story written out. The problem is typing it. I stopped this chapter where my good friend Drakesdarktwinsister advised me to. It'll pick up even more as the story goes on.

Drakesdarktwinsister: (claps) Yay! I'm mentioned! And crusnik02 (hands you a huge bag of candy)

WinterShadow: Bye. R&R.