Chapter 12

Anna woke up early that morning in the darkness of Semyon's flat. She sighed and rolled over onto her back, glancing at the bright numbers on the digital alarm clock; they read 05:31. This was the day she needed to decide whether to stay in Moscow or leave for England. But she had almost pretty much made her mind up. She looked over to Semyon, who was lying asleep next to her, on his back and snoring loudly. She smiled at him, reaching over and stroking the fluffy hair on top of his balding head, happy that it did not disturb him. It was strange to think that before she came to Moscow, she knew nothing of this man, but now he meant everything to her.

She leaned over and kissed him before climbing out of bed and picking up her scattered clothes. Anna yawned and stretched as she changed, feeling the muscles ache and tense after their usage last night. She hadn't used them that much before or indeed in that fashion, even at the gym. She smiled slightly; only the gym wasn't as enjoyable as last night with Semyon. But that was an obvious effect really, she thought as she exited the bedroom into the living room.

Anna made some breakfast quickly in the small kitchen and sat back down on the sofa in front of the TV. She switched it on, turning onto a new channel. There was a story about a brief disturbance in the metro where several people had apparently been shoved by unseen, fast moving objects. There was a conspiracy from several people that the metro was haunted because it had been dug into 'sacred land' or some rubbish. Anna smirked; ten years ago, she'd have been ready to believe that. But now she was aware of the Others and the Gloom, and these things were normal for her to recognise. Anna heard movement behind her and she turned round to watch as Semyon came into the living room, looking a little exhausted. But that was to be expected. He sat down next to her and put an arm about her, leaning his head against hers.

"You are an early riser," he grumbled.

"Did I wake you?" Anna asked.

He yawned. "I felt lonely and then woke up to find you'd gone."

"I'm sorry, but my stomach was rumbling."

He laughed at her, she ruffling his hair affectionately.

"Coffee?" she queried.

"Off you go then," Semyon answered with another yawn.

She got to her feet and left for the kitchen, Semyon watching her absently as she walked away. He smirked and returned to the news, which had now moved onto business reports. It was only talking about the health system budget, overspending on the millennium celebrations and the gas and oil industry. Semyon laughed; in the countless centuries he'd lived in Russia, the amount of backhanders being passed here and there had certainly increased.

Eventually, Anna returned with his coffee and sat back down next to him on the sofa, handing it to him. He took it and put it down on the table in front, suddenly remembering something and turning to face his partner.

"Some advice for living in Moscow," he began.

"Helpful advice, or…?"

She trailed of and shrugged.

"Just advice to give you as my student," he continued. "If you come across any policeman whose trying to book you for a stupid little thing, don't automatically go to use your powers. Do not try and re-moralise him! It'll alert the Day Watch, and you don't want that. Just give him a bribe."

"Semyon! You're telling me to bribe police officers!"

He shrugged and took a sip from his coffee.

"This is Moscow, my love."

He set it back down on the table.

"Have you made up your mind yet?" he asked, getting onto important things.

"You mean about today?" she queried.

"Yeah."

"I've thought a lot about it, and I'm afraid there's only one solution."

Semyon looked worried. "You mean you're leaving?"

"Well…"

She trailed off and looked at him, a smirk rising to her lips at the look of concern in his eyes. He really was dreading the possibility of her returning home; in face, she was almost willing to swear he would have cried.

"Of course I'm staying in Moscow!" she laughed.

His expression changed to a glare.

"Am I cruel to you?" Anna asked, a cunning gleam in her eye.

"Amazingly so."

Anna sighed and looked back to the TV, looking at a replay of the firework display over the Kremlin. She smiled and turned back to Semyon, wrapping her arms about his neck and drawing herself into closer to him.

"I love you," she told him.

He smirked. "I'll see to it that you do."

He bent to kiss her, but the phone rang from a shelf near the door. Grumbling a little at being interrupted, Semyon got to his feet and crossed the room, answering the call.

"Yeah," he replied, a note of irritation present in his voice.

"Semyon?" the response came. "It's Vyacheslav."

"Is this Wolf again, Slava?"

"No, not this time! Anna's mother and sister are packing their bags; they're flight out of Moscow is at 9:30 our time and they need to be at the airport two hours before. Anna needs to get down there to inform them of her decision."

"Sorry, I'd forgotten!"

"You'd best be on your way."

"Right away."

"I assume she's with you."

"Of course."

"How were the… err… fireworks?"

"Yes, we did watch them! I held myself until we got home."

"Good man, Semyon. Now get in that truck!"

"Yes sir."

Semyon shoved the phone into his jacket pocket, picked up the television remote off the table and turned it off. Anna watched him as he picked up his coffee and drained the whole lot before hurrying into the kitchen to dump it in the sink.

"Why the hurry Semyon?" Anna asked him.

"We need to get to the Cosmos," he replied.

"What for at this time?"

"Your lot need to be at the airport for 7:30."

"Blast! Really that soon?"

"Didn't you know?"

"I never thought to ask about the return flight."

"Thankfully Vyacheslav can read thoughts, now come on!"

Anna drained the rest of her coffee and slung on her Gorsvet jacket, holding Semyon's hand as they left the flat. They rushed over towards the yellow van, clambering inside and hurriedly belting up. Semyon slammed his foot on the accelerator and drove the truck out of its parking space and onto the road leading down towards the Cosmos. Once they got there, Semyon parked alongside Anna's van and they got out, rushing into the hotel.

"Can I help you?" asked the woman behind the check in desk.

"It's alright," Anna replied, breathlessly. "I'm staying here."

"Name?"

"We're booked under Sarah Smith."

The woman checked the computer.

"And who's your friend?" she queried.

"A visitor."

"Go ahead then."

Thanking the woman quickly, Anna and Semyon got into the lift and headed up towards the third floor. Taking a breather, they leaned back against the wall of the lift, trying to regain the energy they'd lost from running. As it stopped, they got off and walked down to Anna's room at the far end of the corridor. Fortunately, both doors had been left open so they could go between the two.

"Morning mum," Anna greeted.

Sarah came out. "Did you enjoy yourself?"

Anna and Semyon glanced at each other.

"The firework display was lovely," Anna replied.

Glancing down, Sarah noticed that her daughter was still holding Semyon's hand. She smiled, glancing between them.

"You're together now then?" she asked.

"I would say so," Anna replied.

She smiled up at her lover as he put an arm about her shoulders.

"Does that mean you're staying here then?" Sarah asked.

Anna nodded. "Yes it does."

"Then I hope it all works out for you."

"I'll have to move all must stuff over to Semyon's flat."

"In that new van of yours, I take it."

"I'm a licensed driver now."

Sarah nodded. "And fixing electrical things."

"That is what we do, yes. City Light Company."

"Why did you bring this?"

Sarah lifted up the search light Anna had brought with her, along with a small metal canister she'd been given by Geser. She set the light down on the table and unscrewed the lid on the metal tin, taking out one of the UV crystals inside.

"And what are these for?" Sarah asked.

"I brought the torch because I was worried we might have a black out," Anna shrugged. "You know how snow can clog up generators, and I'm scared of the dark. As for those, well, they're spare bulbs I got from Gorsvet."

"These aren't regular bulbs."

"They're for Russian torches."

"But this is a Duracell torch."

Anna shrugged again. "Same fitting."

"Please Anna, tell me what's going on."

"Nothing's going on, mum."

Sarah sighed. "Who are Semyon and your other friends?"

"We all work for Gorsvet."

"And what kind of organisation is Gorsvet? A City Light Company? I had this Russian guy in a weird fluffy hat stop me in a car; the woman with him spoke to me in English. She told me that my daughter was in trouble with their boss. They told me they were enemies of the people who worked for Gorsvet. And then Kate had a dream about the night when the Russian police came, except it was different from what happened. She said she was attacked by a Vampire and that you came, backed up by some people called the Night Watch. She told me this morning that your Semyon was there, and the others, with super bright torches."

"How strange," Anna commented. "What did she drink?"

"Please tell me; you've been so strange since you met these people."

Anna sighed and glanced at Semyon.

"Did something go wrong?" she asked him.

"I'd better get Vyacheslav over," Semyon replied.

"Should I explain to my mother?"

"As best as you can until Vyacheslav turns up."

"Is it best for him to wipe her memory?"

"If it'll protect her and your sister, then it'll be alright."

Semyon left the room into the corridor outside, walked passed Kate as she entered the room after hearing conversation. Anna sat down on a chair, listening as Semyon dialled Vyacheslav's number. Her mother and Kate sat down on the bed, Kate glanced outside at Semyon before looking back to her sister.

"Did anything happen?" she asked.

"A firework display," Anna replied, shortly.

"I don't mean that, I mean at his flat."

"Yes, but it's my own business."

Anna turned back to her mother.

"What do you want to know?" she asked.

"Anything that'll explain what'd going on."

"Ok; I don't work for an electrical company, but trust me, it's not the Russian Mafia or anything. Gorsvet pose as electricians so that humans think we just do regular jobs. We are the Night Watch, the fighting force of Light Others which is here to protect mankind from the Dark Others. So long as humanity has been here, Others have also been with them. The woman in the black car you spoke to; she works for the Day Watch which looks for Light Others breaking the Truce."

"You mean you're not human?"

"Not any more; I'm an Other now. With special abilities."

"What kind of abilities."

"You may find it hard to believe, but I'm a Magician with a unique power to take command of electrons. Semyon's also a Magician and he can do similar things to me, but much more powerful. Anton's a Seer; he can have uncontrollable visions of the future. Vyacheslav is a Psychic, which is more or less a Magician who can only specialise in the mind; he can alter people's memories, read people's thoughts and translate languages telepathically. Bear and Tiger Cub are Shape Shifters; their nicknames are relevant to the form in which they can take."

"So you can make lights come on?"

"We can all do that; we feed on Light."

"How?"

"It's simply how we exist in the Gloom."

"What's the Gloom?"

"It's sort of like a parallel world where the Others exist. We can cross between ours and yours, only you can't. All Others draw their power from the Gloom, whether they are Light or Dark."

"And you expect me to believe all that?"

"Anna paused, glanced at Semyon who had returned to the room. He nodded and indicated to the light bulb on the ceiling, leaning back against the wall and observing the no smoking sign sadly. Sighing, Anna turned to the light and raised her hand to it, reaching out into the Gloom. Carefully, she absorbed electrons only containing less than one volt. Sarah watched in amazement as the beam of light travelled from the bulb to her daughter's fingertips. Anna crossed the room and sat down between her mother and Kate on the bed.

"Touch my hand," she stated.

Sarah looked unsure.

"It's only averaging 0.87 volts," Anna reassured her.

Slowly, Sarah reached out and touched Anna's hand, but flinched away as a slight tingling sensation reached her fingers. Smirking, Anna turned back to the light and filtered the electrons back into the mains, the bulb glowing slightly.

"That's what we call particle telekinesis."

They all looked in the direction of the doorway, Anna surprised to see Geser standing there with the other Night Watch officers behind him. He crossed the room and sat down on the chair, the others gradually filling up the room.

"Who are you?" Sarah asked.

"I am Geser, Lord of Light," he replied.

"You can speak English?"

"No, Vyacheslav can translate for us."

Sarah glanced at Vyacheslav, who nodded.

"No secret Russian technology?" she asked.

"Just a very powerful mind," he replied.

"Anna is a very gifted young woman," Geser cut in.

"Certainly!" Semyon added.

Anton laughed and slapped him on the shoulder.

Anna blushed. "Thanks Semyon."

"I don't mean in that way," Geser cut in. "I mean she's a very gifted young Magician who was able to master many things before being trained. She could create an entire lightning storm at will which not even you can do Semyon, with no affinity for electricity. Anna could be quite dangerous if she turned to the Dark, but thankfully she turned to the Light so she can use her abilities responsibly. Her position in the Night Watch is now critical and, I'm afraid Sarah Smith, I really need your daughter to remain in Moscow."

"What do you do again?" Sarah asked.

"Catch Dark Others breaking the Truce."

"What's the Truce?"

"A treaty forged between the General of Darkness and I long ago at the Great Battle. Don't worry, it's difficult for humans to accept our existence, so I wont go through all the gory details of centuries back. All that happened was that our armies were equally matched, and to stop all of us being wiped out, I stopped the battle and forged the Truce. Ever since then, the Night Watch has been around protecting humans and the Day Watch has been around making sure we don't mistreat our purpose."

"How old are you?"

Geser smiled. "No older than Semyon."

"Both of you are centuries old?"

"Yeah," Semyon replied. "I know we don't look it."

"Tiger Cub certainly doesn't!" Bear added.

Tiger Cub blushed. "Thank you."

"We don't age like ordinary humans," Geser replied.

"That's why age doesn't matter with Semyon like it may have done if he were simply human," Anna explained. "I know he looks about 20 years older than me, but that is nothing for an Other. Now you know why I fear the dark so much and I really could turn those lights on. I can convert the energy of my fear to produce the light I need."

Sarah sighed. "This is difficult to understand."

"Maxim also finds it difficult, but he accepts it."

"Maxim knows about this?"

"From Vyacheslav."

"But how come you're an Other?" Kate asked.

"My father is," Anna replied. "He's a Dark Other."

"He never told me that," Sarah said.

"He wouldn't have done," Geser reassured her. "He turned Dark after peer pressure to look good. You see, the Dark Ones have always been know as being very glamorous; like working in nightclubs and driving posh cars. We've always been known as a shabby, under funded government Light Company. You can imagine how Vsevolod would have been lured into it; he was bitten illegally by a friend of his, but he had to license Vsevolod when he turned. He's a Vampire, you see."

"What?"

"I know that seems strange."

"But he never… err… you know…"

"He was beginning to resent allowing that boy to bite him, and he saw his decision had been wrong. You leaving him triggered that off. He's getting help from me and protection from Semyon to try and fit back into the human community. He doesn't feed on the living anymore and he wanted Anna to join the Night Watch."

"So she had a choice?"

"Anna chose the Light, perhaps long before she came to Moscow."

"The Dark didn't appeal to me," Anna added.

"Only podgy, balding van drivers," Anton laughed.

"Watch it Antosha," Semyon growled.

"You could have worked in a nightclub Anna!" Kate proclaimed.

"Be realistic," Anna told her. "Me?"

"You could have had a fast car."

"I've got a rocket powered van, Kate."

"Just what you wanted then."

"An under funded Light Company suited me more."

"Who wouldn't it suit?" Tiger Cub questioned.

Kate decided not to comment on that, and it was there that she was happy Kate was not an Other. The lifestyle of being a slutty pop star in a sleazy nightclub would appeal to Kate and would make her choose the Dark. Even if they didn't like each other that much, Anna would not have wanted her to be on the side of Evil. But she was only human after all and completely English at that.

"We need to go to the airport," Sarah noted.

"I'll pack me case too," Anna replied. "I'll take you to their airport in my van."

Anna left the room, Semyon following her. Geser continued to answer her mother's questions as she heaped everything back into her case, Semyon wheeling Kate's out into the corridor. She sighed and sat down on the bed after she'd filled the case and zipped the top back on. A few moments later, Semyon came back in to join her on the bed, slipping arm about her waste.

"You seem troubled," he stated.

"I'm a little worried," Anna replied.

"About what?"

"Staying here while my mother goes back to England. I've never really been away from home for a long time before and I'm not really used to being without my mother. I guess it's not such a big deal, bit it means that I'll rarely get to see her again. It's worrying for me. Other or human, I'm still 21."

"You'd have had to move away eventually at that age."

"I suppose being with you makes it easier."

He smiled. "Of course it does."

"But I have to stay here."

"You don't have to you know. It's up to you, not Geser."

"Semyon, I cannot go back home to England, even if I want to. I'm working for the Night Watch now and at home, I can't do that. I'm among my own people here. And I can't leave the only man I love."

She ruffled his hair. "You mean too much to me."

"It's a privilege to hear you say that."

She kissed him. "It better be!"

She stood up off the bed and pulled up her suitcase, putting her bag over her back and picking up her laptop carry case. Semyon took her hand and they left for the corridor outside, meeting Sarah and Kate.

"We'd better get the truck loaded," Anna noted.

"Are you sure you can drive?" Kate asked.

"Of course, Semyon taught me and he's driven vans for 70 years!"

Kate glanced at Semyon briefly, Vyacheslav coming up behind her.

"Don't say that," he warned her.

Kate jumped back and stared at him.

"Don't say what?" she asked.

"What you just thought," Vyacheslav replied.

"Alright, so what did I want to say?"

He sighed. "You were surprised he could fit behind the wheel."

"Be glad you live in England girl," Semyon growled. "And be glad that I serve the side of the Light. If I had no respect for my gift and the Night Watch, I'd put a vortex over your head!"

"Only I can insult Semyon," Anna added.

"Does that mean I can insult you too?"

"Of course not, or you'll be the one with the vortex."

"Anyway, Vyacheslav I needed to ask you why your psychic memory ran out. Kate said she had a dream about the real event involving the Vampire. Shouldn't she have always thought she was lured in by a vicious, most wanted local psycho who was caught by Anna and me?"

"Yes, I'm not sure why," Vyacheslav replied.

"Are you feeling ill or something?"

"Perhaps the thought wasn't strong enough. I have to admit, I was that desperate to shut her up that I did a hasty job of replacing the memory with the false one. Clearly that has shone through."

"We need to get to the airport," Sarah cut in.

"Sorry."

Vyacheslav glanced at his watch. "Indeed we should!"

Semyon, Bear and Anton lugged the cases over to the lift and stepped into it, Anna following them, but they filled up the lift completely, so everyone else had to rush downstairs. Sarah signed out of the hotel and paid the bills while Anna assisted Semyon in loading her van. They shut the side doors of the van, turning to face the rest.

"We'll have to split up between the vans," Semyon observed.

"Sarah and Kate you can come up front with me," Anna explained. "Tiger Cub, do you think you can squeeze up front with these two? No offence meant Bear, but my mother and Kate take up pretty much the same amount of space as you."

"None taken," Bear replied.

"You never say 'no offence' to me," Semyon noted.

"It's not my duty to insult Ilya," Anna explained. "That's up to Lena."

"I'll remember that," Tiger Cub said, smiling.

"Now you've done it," Bear grumbled.

"Geser and Anton had better sit up front with me then," Semyon explained. "Bear and Vyacheslav, you'd better get in the back. In my van though, you'd possibly get crushed by all the suitcases in Anna's."

"Then blame Kate for packing too much," Anna said.

They all climbed into the vans, Anna pulling up behind Semyon as he lead the way to Sheremetyevo 2. Tiger Cub glanced up at the items hanging from the mirror; there were three things there; a CD, a plastic Gorsvet logo and a small tennis ball. Looking over to the corner, she saw a small red fan which was used to cool the driver.

"Ivanova's fan," she commented.

"I've been told she hated the summer," Anna replied.

"Oh, she did. She was born in arctic Russia. I hate summer, too."

"Hmm, I don't like it myself."

Tiger Cub looked at a small photograph stuck on the dashboard near the wheel. The picture showed Anna and Semyon sat together, both looking very happy. Actually, Tiger Cub had never recalled seeing Semyon as happy as that.

"What a lovely picture," she observed.

"I can look at him when I'm stuck in traffic," Anna explained.

"Just so long as you don't miss the green light."

"Oh I'm sure impatient drivers behind me would let me know."

"When did you take that?"

"Last night after the firework display before we went back to his flat. We found a photo booth in town somewhere and selected a large size single photo so I could stick it in my van. Semyon's got one as well, although he wasn't ready in that so his eyes are closed. He looks quite cute."

"Cute?" Tiger Cub laughed. "How lovely!"

"If Semyon's not with me in the truck, I need a photo."

"But if he was in the truck, would you get any driving done?"

"Good question. Probably not."

The two of them laughed, Anna following Semyon as he parked the van in the short stay car park opposite the terminal building and dragged the cases into the airport, leaving Anna's behind in the van. They left Kate and Sarah to get their luggage on the belt, Anna joining her friends in a café bar. They sat down on one of the sofa seats, Anna sitting down besides Semyon and putting an arm about him. Anton and Vyacheslav went to order drinks, Bear and Tiger Cub steeling their seats on the sofa and also sitting rather closely.

"Are you sure you're willing to stay?" Geser asked.

"There's more for me here," Anna replied.

"It takes a lot of courage to leave your family behind."

"But I cannot leave here. I know it's hard to say that there are more important things in my life now than family, but I've come to realise that now. Of course, you could say my position at the Night Watch is only a job, but I've got Semyon as well. He is rapidly becoming the most important thing in my life."

"That's a good enough reason to stay."

Anton and Vyacheslav returned with four of the ordered drinks, having to make two more trips to fetch the other five. They returned to the table for the final time, glancing between Bear and Tiger Cub and back to the chairs. Both of them sat down, still looking troubled.

"New seating arrangement?" Anton queried.

"The sofa's more comfortable," Bear replied.

"What about us?"

"You two don't need to sit so close."

Bear rested his arm along the back of the sofa behind Tiger Cub, she smirking at Anton and Vyacheslav. Soon, Kate and Sarah returned with their luggage swapped for plane tickets, pulling up some extra chairs. Vyacheslav pushed their drinks towards them, glancing over to the computer screens to check flight times.

"It's still on time," he commented.

"Good," Sarah replied. "I hate waiting."

"I trust you managed to get tickets?"

"Yeah; they allowed a seat deletion without charge."

"Good to hear."

He cleared his throat and drained down some of his coffee, stretching and leaning back in his seat. Sarah decided not to comment; she still wasn't used to the story about the Others yet.

"We'll have these drinks and go to customs," she stated.

"And then we'll have to go," Anna replied.

"You can watch us take off, can't you?"

"No; we can't go passed customs, you know that."

"So that's it then?"

"Yes. I stay here while you go on through."

Sarah nodded. "It's your choice, I guess."

"I can email, I promise."

"What about all your stuff?"

"I can gradually get it over somehow."

"By Aeroflot? That would be impossible,"

"Only a few clothes, cables and gadgets."

"What about your computer?"

"Hmm, there is that…"

She trailed off and glanced at Semyon.

"How would you fancy a trip across Europe to see the Euro Tunnel and England in the truck?" she asked him. "We could take turns in driving and stop off at truck stops along the way. You know, eat and the service stations, sleep in the van on the roadside and yell at foreign people. It could be fun!"

"I like the idea!" Semyon replied, grinning.

"You do?"

"Even if it's just for cosy nights alone in the van."

Anna nodded. "I thought you'd see it that way."

"That is impractical," Geser cut in.

"You think so?" Semyon asked, a little disappointed.

"A little. However I can think of another way."

"Learn to fly a plane?"

"Not quite."

Geser turned to Anna. "I have something you may like."

"Ooh, what?" she asked eagerly.

"We'll discuss it later."

Geser glanced at Semyon. "You can stay too."

"Then I shall," he replied, smiling.

Anna shook her head. "One of these days Semyon, I'm going to feel lost without you around. If I go anywhere and you're not with me, I probably wont know what to do! I'm getting used to your presence too much, but that's how it should be."

"Hmm, what do you like about my presence?"

"I always feel safe; I know that you'll protect me."

"Of course I will. Anything else?"

"I love everything about you."

Anna leaned against him and kissed him, Anton laughing and causing Semyon to gesture at him. After a few moments, Anna sat back, glancing at the board and watching the minutes tick by. Sarah and Kate felt increasingly uncomfortable, but she couldn't tell whether that was to do with a dislike for Semyon or her being an Other. She knew that Kate detested overweight men and anything differing from the 'normal', and her mother wasn't exactly imaginative. Although the decision hurt a lot, Anna had to face the fact that she'd ultimately loose contact forever.

"Customs time," Geser broke the silence.

They all hurriedly finished their drinks.

"Passport Kate?" Sarah looked at her daughter.

"All in here," Kate replied, indicating to her little handbag.

"Good, then we're ready."

As they got to their feet, Semyon took Anna's hand, squeezing it affectionately just to let her know he was with her. She smiled; loyal Semyon. It was great to be in love with such a man, and such a rare thing. It was even better to have that love returned unconditionally, but she would expect nothing else from him. She watched as Sarah and Kate walked off ahead, slightly separate from them; she may as well have been in the Gloom. She sighed. Now it was evident that Semyon was the most important person in her life.

"We'd better join the queue before it gets too long," Kate suggested.

Sarah turned to Anna.

"What shall I so about the college?" she asked.

"Tell them that I have a job," Anna replied.

"That you're an electrician in Moscow, you mean."

"That is all you can tell them."

"What about Maxim?"

"Tell him I met Vyacheslav as he told me to."

"And that's it?"

"He'll know to get in touch with him."

"And all your stuff at home?"

"I can let you know when I plan to come over."

Sarah nodded. "And then what? You leave forever?"

"You're making this very difficult, you know. I have a different life now and there is no way I can go back to what I was, even if I wanted to. I have an obligation to keep the forces of Evil at bay. I have a binding to Semyon and I wont abandon him regardless to what you say or think; this is my choice."

"Like choosing this so-called side of Light."

"You can't understand this, mother."

"So I'm just to sit back and loose you?"

"I have a new life."

"Look what you've become Anna. You're not the same anymore."

"Of course I'm different now; this is my true self."

Sarah nodded. "Then you are no longer my daughter."

"What right have you to interfere with my choices? What right have you to decide my future for me? None at all! It's not up to you if I stay with the Night Watch, it's not up to you that I fell in love with Semyon and it's not up to you to tell me who I am. I wish you could understand, but you cannot because you are afraid of being different. You are afraid to see a different world. Then I…"

"No Anna!" Vyacheslav exclaimed.

Semyon grabbed her and pulled her back.

"Say no more," he warned, softly.

"What do you mean?" Anna asked him.

"You heard that?" Vyacheslav queried.

"You're an Other Anna," Semyon continued. "You know that certain things must not be formed into words; you can't go around cursing yourself for having a human family. You have enough energy to create a lightning storm across the whole of Russia. You will also have enough energy to open a Vortex around you capable of wiping out an entire continent! Some words are not simply words."

"Not anymore," Geser added.

"How did you hear her thoughts?" Vyacheslav asked.

"I don't know," Semyon replied.

Anna turned back to Sarah.

"You'll never understand me," she stated.

"Maybe I don't want to," Sarah replied.

"I learnt to walk away; so walk away I must."

Taking a deep breath, Anna turned her back on her mother and younger sister, Semyon putting an arm across her shoulders. Slowly, she walked away from the customs office with the Night Watch, leaving her family to exit the airport. It was strangely liberating, turning her back on humanity and lifting the chains binding her to mortality. Her life was about to change forever, and it was even possible that her destiny would never be decided until the balance between Good and Evil slipped. And then the destiny of her friends and enemies would also be decided.