A/N: Okay, so first off, I want to start by giving, from the deepest core of my heart, all of you my most sincere and effusive apologies for the huge delay that had befallen this story for more than a year. I firmly believe it is a writer's moral duty to his/her readers to give them timely updates, and I am extremely sorry for failing in it. I would tell you guys about the misfortune, and terrible fate, that I was dealt with IRL, but I can still scarcely believe it myself, let alone accept it. Truth is, I lost my Mom, and the powers that be not only took away a huge support system from my foundation, but also my best friend, possibly my only friend, and a part of my soul. It's been nearly a year, but it took me all that time to even come to terms with the fact enough to not tremble while writing it down here, even. I don't mean to burden you all with my problems; everyone has enough of their own, and we all come here to try to escape, do we not ? I just want you wonderful group of people to know how much you mean to me, and how much I look forward to every interaction with you. You, all my readers, have been with me for so long, and I now implore you to know and believe that I am back, hopefully with timely updates and fulfilled promises this time around. Thank you for bearing with me, and for not giving upon this story. I hope I see new readers too, but to all those who have stayed with this story till now, this is a special shout-out ! You guys are my inspiration and my drive, so thanks a lot. Now, go ahead and read, and I'll see you at the bottom, and in the review or PM section.

DISCLAIMER: The characters belong to Richelle Mead, and a big thank you to her for giving us comfort and new people to love through her words. No copyright infringement is intended by me through this piece.


The Belikova household was buzzing with early morning activity, pots and pans clattering and women chattering, some cheerfully, some still a tad sleepily. It was normal, it was routine, broken only when the eldest member of the house descended the stairs rather before her usual time, halting all activity and ceasing all chatter as the rest of the members gaped at the fact that Yeva Belikova had broken even a single norm of all her life. She had always had a schedule, one she stuck to almost adamantly, and one that was completely removed from any and all scrutiny from every member of her family, her deceased grandson included.

"Mama." Olena Belikova's single whisper seemed to sound akin to a gunshot, there was such silence encompassing everything. "You're up early." She smiled. As much as the environment may have rattled the outsider, and brought them to the conclusion that Yeva was much feared by the rest of the house, the opposite of that was the actual fact. Yeva may have been much given to the airs of mysteriousness, but she was also a mother and a grandmother who loved and revered her children and all little ones, and never shied from showing them her affection, although that wasn't to say she had never had trouble and had to use the means of a stern eye, ever, for she remembered Olena to have been an eager child, always adventurous and getting into trouble. Part of that was what was responsible for her attraction to that waste of space who fathered her children and Yeva's grandchildren. That was the only good deed that man ever did with himself.

However, reminiscing wasn't the reason Yeva had come downstairs early. She had had another vision, this one a tad clearer than the others, although not as much as she would have liked. She just knew that they would soon be having company, and one that brought trouble with it. Not the easily solved kind of trouble either, but one where Yeva could sense a potent dark presence where once shone a bright, throbbing light, full of life. Now that spark was alarmingly dimmed, surrounded by shadows that had no business being there. She knew what it signified, at least who the light indicated, but she couldn't tell the others that, so like so many times before, she simply smiled at her child and asked her to be prepared for the company they were sure to have by mid-afternoon.

Obliging with her mother's notice, Olena walked to the kitchen to start on the day's meals as Yeva settled into her armchair and pondered on the events of her dream. What could possibly have happened to have made such a drastic change in what she deemed was the most promising and most wonderful presence she'd ever encountered ? Had the child failed in her mission ? Had she been turned over to the dark side too ? But, no. That couldn't be. That would mean she was lost to all life, and that wasn't what Yeva saw. There was life in there, almost perished and wanting rescue, but there nonetheless. Her dream had, at least, told her that the child needed help. And not just any help. The help and healing provided by the fifth element. That meant Oksana and Mark would need to be at the Belikova household for when the party arrived. She would need to call on them; perhaps after breakfast.

Yeva watched as Olena pottered around in the kitchen, smiling and humming lightly to herself. Her girl had been through quite a lot in her life, what with her only son being taken away from her at such a young age, and the other problems she dealt with, behind the closed doors of her room, not the least of which were the monetary issues of the family and the expenses that she had to micro-manage to make do with a family of so many, added with the emotional toll that grief took on one, piled upon the trauma and scars from her years with that piece of entitled Moroi waste, and yet, despite it all, her daughter managed to find that little sliver of optimism and purpose in each day, something that never ceased to amaze Yeva. Olena's positive attitude and inherently loving nature would be a blessing in the upcoming storm, she was certain.

Post-breakfast saw Yeva heading down to the outskirts of the town to meet up with Mark and Oksana at their residence, contemplating the words that needed to be said all the way, since she needed to be careful in what she revealed; the future was a fragile thing, with nothing really set in stone, and even one wrong word or decision could lead to great, far-reaching consequential changes in it. She soon happened upon the well-maintained cottage that housed the bonded pair and Mark, who was out in the garden, greeted her warmly, inviting her inside for a cup of tea. Both Oksana and Mark, though they knew she had more to tell than she actually did, nonetheless agreed to accompany her back home to help. It possibly also helped that being who she was, Yeva was one of the only people that Oksana couldn't very clearly read, and it intrigued her. Over the years, Oksana had come to respect her so much, she never even prodded into her mind, and it made Yeva that much respectful of her, though she never showed it much.

The trio ended up back at the Belikova household some time before lunch, with time to spare before their guests arrived. Oksana and Olena settled at the kitchen table, talking about inconsequential gossip around the small community they lived in, Zoya playing around them, the two women keeping an indulgent eye upon the toddler, and Mark settled on the couch with a book in hand, though his shoulders indicated the tension he almost always felt when Yeva called upon them for something pertaining to Spirit. He would never ask her about it outright, but he knew there was something major coming their way, and it would need Oksana's specialisation quite a lot; Yeva wasn't one to ask for them to help very lightly. The house was otherwise quiet, missing the constant, distracting chatter of the girls and Paul who were off to school or work, and it seemed to bother Mark a bit, who couldn't shake the swirling feeling of something impending fluttering away in his gut.

The shrill tone of the ringing phone startled Mark from his thoughts, who could only stare at the thing for a few seconds until Yeva picked it up, talking in hushed but calm tones to whoever was on the other end. Almost as soon as the call ended, there was the sound of rushing vehicles that punctuated the still air of a suddenly not-very-bustling Baia. Olena rushed to the door and flung it open just as Ibrahim Mazur himself alighted from a black SUV, followed by his Guardians surrounding two more people, obscured by their large frames, and one Guardian carrying somebody prone in his arms. The air turned much more somber than it already felt to Mark, and he suddenly knew what was wrong. The girl being carried was none other than Rose Hathaway, the bright, unpromised Guardian they'd met just a few months ago when she'd returned from killing Dimitri Belikov in Novosibirsk, and needed help with rescuing the Dragomir Princess from halfway around the world.

Olena and Oksana's collective gasp could have sucked all air out of Baia right then, before tears flooded Olena's eyes at the predicament the young girl seemed to be in. Ignoring everybody else, she directed the Guardian carrying Rose, Pavel, she vaguely recognized, to the couch where he laid her gently amd she proceeded to prop her head on some cushions. She looked so fragile, so vulnerable in her state, it was difficult for Olena, and even Oksana, to reconcile her with the fiery girl they'd met what seemed so long ago. What could have happened to render the beautiful girl to such a state ? But before she could ask any questions, Yeva moved forward, gently patting Rose's head before looking to Oksana. No words were exchanged, and it seemed even the air in the room had gone entirely still, and nobody moved a muscle while Oksana rifled through Rose's mind. Or at least, tried to, for she came across something that had never before been her experience. Her eyes flew to Yeva and her lips opened on a silent sob-like sound. Mark, who'd seen what his wife had through their bond, quickly moved forward to gather her in his arms. The gesture seemed to move everybody else in the room, and murmuring chaos erupted, Abe demanding to know what was wrong with his daughter, the Guardians dividing themselves along the wall in formation, Christian trying to understand what was happening, Sydney glancing around nervously and Olena showering questions upon anyone who could answer them. The only calm one was Yeva, whose motherly hand had never left Rose's hair, waiting for everyone to settle somewhat before addressing Oksana again.

"She is..." Oksana started, but had to stop to clear her throat. "...I can't get a read." She looked to Yeva to imply her meaning, but Yeva shook her head. "The girl lives." She said in Russian, and it seemed as if everyone in the room breathed a little easier at that. Until Abe spoke.

"She isn't breathing." He said, and Pavel, and even Christian, could see the tense line of his shoulders and the set state of his jaw; the man was barely holding himself together. Oksana breathed deeply then, composing herself. "Yes." She replied, gesturing for everyone to settle on the table and not crowd around Rose. "It seems like she has...burned herself out." She said. "It's related to Spirit, from what I can assess, and it's not pretty. She's shadowed to the point of almost no return. There are injuries onto her mind, scars that are going to take a long while to heal." Her voice stuttered slightly. "I don't know what happened to have put her in a state like that, but-" But Mark interrupted her here, taking over. "It seems it's the ghosts the shadow-kissed have access to." He continued. "I warned Rose not to overdo her interactions with the ghosts, or open herself to them so much, but I guess she didn't listen." He sighed, "And now they have taken over." Throughout the explanation, Yeva remained quiet, Olena sat stock still, Sydney lingered close to Rose, who never once stirred, and Christian and Abe both listened with bated breath. Finally, Christian managed a slightly weak, "What are you saying ?"

Mark squeezed Oksana's hand and looked directly at him. "I'm saying that Rose is in stasis, and the ghosts are trying to pull her into the world of the dead. For good."


A/N: So, over the course of time, I have written, re-written, and edited this chapter multiple times, because I kept feeling something was off. When the final piece, which at least somewhat satisfied me was done with, it tuned out to be too long to post as one chapter, even with some details crossed out, so I thought it best to divide the chapter up into two while keeping the details. I know this isn't my best work yet, but it'll take the story forward, and I hope I didn't sound forced in this chapter. I would like to know your thoughts on this, as always, so don't forget to review, or PM me. And I'd also like to see where you guys think this story is going. So keep reading, and stay safe and healthy, and loving unconditionally. I'll see you soon !

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Ahluwalia Kaur