Chapter 16

It was unusual for the Dark Others to do this kind of things during the day; the Night Watch worked to catch them at night, but then again, the Day Watch were in operation during the day and Vsevolod was asleep at night. The six of them, now minus Bear and Tiger Cub, crowded around the vans. Semyon climbed into his, Anton and Vyacheslav getting in next to him. Anna sighed and turned back to her van and coming face to face with Ignat.

"I'm stuck with you then," she noted acidly.

"I'm under orders to behave," Ignat replied.

"Good. Do you get travel sick?"

"Thankfully not."

"Hmm, pity."

She turned to Stingray.

"Could you kindly sit in the middle please," she told him.

The young Magician laughed. "Why of course!"

Anna climbed into her van on the driver's side, Stingray sitting in the middle passenger seat between her and Ignat. She started up the engine, looking over to Semyon's van, but he was still taking to Vyacheslav.

"You're Semyon's student," Stingray noted.

"Yeah, he's a good tutor," Anna replied.

"And a bit more than that too, right?"

Anna turned to look at Stingray. "Right."

He burst out laughing, leaning back into his seat,

"What's so funny?" queried Anna, a little nonplussed.

"Sorry," Stingray apologised. "It's just a bit amusing that's all. While you hung about with your family a bit before you saw the fireworks with him, Semyon came to my flat to catch up a bit. You know; over a glass of vodka, checking if I could still do all the things he taught me, seeing how my course is going. It's just that every time he talked about you, he blushed! It's very funny."

"Did he now?"

"He really likes you."

"I know, I'm in love with him."

"When I join the Night Watch properly, they're going to use me to track energies and back up the front liners. I keep looking at Semyon's and every time he talks about you, he literally glows like a light bulb! It's rather amusing. A powerful Magician like that and you can make him weak at the knees!"

"How nice," Ignat added.

Anna noticed the rather painful smile on his handsome face; he really did hate to think that some women never fell for him. She glanced out of the window and caught Semyon's thumbs up signal, driving off after him. The van accelerated from zero to 120km/h very quickly, the sudden burst of speed pushing them back into their seats. Anna turned a sharp corner, matching speed and path with the van in front.

"You drive like Semyon," Stingray observed.

"He did teach me," Anna replied.

"Though he's better than this."

Anna laughed. "Don't I know!"

She was suddenly distracted by a sudden noise outside to her left. Trusting herself to keep her eyes off the road and still concentrate without crashing into the back of Semyon, she wound her window down. Next to them, travelling at the same speed was Tiger Cub and Bear on a motorbike.

"Lena!" Anna called. "Tiger Cub!"

She glanced at her briefly and waved cheerfully.

"Since when did you have that?" asked Anna.

"A while!" Tiger Cub replied.

"See you at the tower block," Bear added.

Anna wound her window back up again as Tiger Cub drove off ahead and passed Semyon's van. She regained her concentration on the road again, putting both hands on the steering wheel; that felt more comfortable.

"I never knew Tiger Cub had a bike," she noted.

"She loves it!" Stingray replied, grinning.

"Can Semyon ride motorbikes."

"Oh yeah; Tiger Cub gets annoyed with him for borrowing it."

"I'll love to experience that some day."

"Semyon used to ride me to college on it some yeas back when I was 16. Then Tiger Cub got irritated and she turned up on my doorstep instead; Semyon only took me in the van after that."

"I bet you were popular."

"That's how I got to know Kostya."

"The Vampire?"

"Yeah, but he's a nice guy."

Anna swerved in behind Semyon to avoid a cement mixer. Travelling at about 150km/h on a Moscow city road was more difficult than it sounded. But Anna had a funny idea that Semyon was making sure she stayed right behind him. Eventually, they parked up alongside Tiger Cub's motorbike, the two shape shifters waiting for them and discarding their helmets.

"Great wheels Lena," Anna noted.

"When Semyon stops pinching them," Tiger Cub stated.

"That is rather rude Semyon."

The Magician climbed out of his van.

"Two against one eh?" he asked. "That's an unfair advantage."

Anna could feel the energy all about them of the Night Watch officers, but no one was actually here. She could see individual drivers standing with their vans, but they couldn't give off al that energy alone. Understanding, she followed her comrades as they slipped into the Gloom and the rest of the Watch appeared. Here, the vans were shining search lights at the tower block, a pair of guards standing outside the stop intruders, both in the Gloom and the human world. Vyacheslav and Semyon lead the way, walking up to the doors and greeting the guards.

"Hey Igor," Vyacheslav spoke.

"Vyacheslav Berezkev," the guard nodded.

"Geser sent us."

"Ah yes, he said you were coming."

"He tells us this door is closed from the Gloom."

"Yes; no one here dares go any deeper to open it."

"Fortunately, two of ours will with a third to keep an eye out."

Vyacheslav stepped aside and allowed Semyon and Anton to come forwards, Anna following them nervously. Anton lit his torch and pressed it against the entrance door; the light beam was pushed against it but it reflected off as if it were a mirror. The door didn't want to budge. He struggled to see beyond it, but he could faintly make out the forms of two wolves standing guard.

"Dark Shape Shifters behind," he stated.

"Then we have a fight on our hands," noted Semyon.

He turned to Anna and held her by the shoulders.

"You need to learn how to summon the Gloom from within the Gloom," he explained. "That's the only way we can get through that door. From there, we can immobilise the guards and let the team in. Understand?"

"I think so," Anna replied.

"Good. It's just like entering the Gloom normally, but with one important difference, besides that you are already inside. The deeper you go in, the more energy it can drain, so you really need to concentrate on releasing it gradually. Do not let the guards try and force you in any deeper than the Second Level; the last time I went in that far, I nearly didn't come back. Alright?"

She nodded. "I'll give it a go."

Semyon kissed her. "If you need to come out, retreat back."

"But what about you?"

"I'm better train and strong enough to handle it."

Anna really hoped he was. They approached the door, Semyon peering deeper into the Gloom. Anna took his hand and followed him as they were submerged into the Second Level. The colourless world vanished and was replaced by a thick, swirling grey fog that was difficult to see through. There was hardly any sound here except the calm, deep breathing of Semyon beside her. They pushed the door open and stepped into the tower block, Anton moving into the deep Gloom behind them and clearing the protection on the door. Behind them, they felt the energies of the rest of the team enter via the higher levels.

"We should come out," Anton warned.

"Agreed," Semyon added. "It's very oppressive in here."

But they were cut off as two Shape Shifters in the form of wolves standing guard entered the Second Level after them, growling. Anna backed off a little, glancing at Anton who was struggling to maintain his energy, the grey fog closing in on him.

"Leave Anton!" Semyon ordered.

"Can you two handle it?" Anton queried.

"Go!"

Anton pulled himself away, disappearing back to the First Level. The fog that had been swirling about Anton was avoiding Semyon, Anna also noticing that it tried to come near her, but something was stopping it. It was working. Anna and Semyon turned to face the two wolves, both of them switching on their torches. The beams of light cut through the fog and forced it to shrink back, the bright white light shining on the faces of the two, salivating guards.

"Retreat to the First Level," Semyon ordered.

"We have orders to stop you," one guard snarled.

"By who? Whom do you serve?"

"Evgeniy is our master."

"No surprises there," Anna added.

The second guard jumped out of the darkness at Semyon, who was caught unprepared by such a strong show of energy this deep in the Gloom. His torch dropped to the floor, blue flames spurting out of it as he and the wolf vanished into the fog. Anna turned back and came face to face with the remaining guardian.

"Surrender?" he snarled.

"Never," she hissed.

As quick as a flash, she picked up Semyon's torch and aimed it at the guard. With a whimper, he flinched back from the flames, sparks flying angrily as the Dark Shape Shifter reacted to the light. Anna was no longer worrying about the Second Level of the Gloom; she was strong enough to control her energy well enough to fight the Day Watch guard. The wolf got to his feet, now in human form as his energy was lost; a short, stocky man with a bald head and one blind eye. His upper lip curled back in a venomous snarl, he withdrawing his belt and unfurling it into a long sword with a curved tip.

Anna loaded the search light, the bright beam glowing even brighter and pushed back more fog. The Shape Shifter slashed his swore through the air, cutting through the beam of light and reflecting some of the scattered rays at the wall. Anna ducked down under the recoiling blade, lifting off the ground and kicking the weapon out of the Dark One's hand. He jumped back, his hand burnt from the light, his eyes closed as Anna shined the search light beam in his face. The Shape Shifter ducked under it in momentary panic and grasped hold of the torch, the bright beam narrowly missing the top of his head. Anna struggled against him, feeling the Gloom fog creeping up on her as it tried to take her.

"I'll take you with me!" the Shape Shifter snarled.

"I'm not so easy," Anna replied.

She drew in electrical energy from the torch, time almost drawing to a complete halt as all the surrounding electrons came to her. She released the energy, the explosion of light scattering the Gloom fog and momentarily raising her and the Dark One to a high level between the First and Second. The other Night Watch officers glimpsed the shadowy form of Anna amidst the burst of light. The Shape Shifter was thrown back in the explosion, his dead body lying crumpled and burnt in the corner of the far wall. Anton looked back to Anna, who was now glowing ambiently with all of her energy protecting her from the Gloom.

"What the…" he trailed off.

"I'll be back," Anna replied.

"Where are you going?"

"I need to get Semyon."

Anna vanished back into the Second Level, shining her search light all around but Semyon was not there. Holding her breath, she looked deeper into the Gloom and immersed herself into the Third Level; the one Semyon was so afraid of. This world was so powerfully oppressive and was pitch black; no fog, just a thick wall of nothingness. Her torch beam only lit a small circle of floor at her feet.

"Semyon!" she called.

There was no answer and her voice echoed all around, breaking the silence. She slowly walked around, beginning to feel heavy as the Gloom drained her energy; but she need to find Semyon. That thought seemed to release the pressure a little, though she wouldn't last much longer. Eventually, she came across Semyon who was lying sprawled out on the floor, his eyes closed and his breathing slow. Dashing over to him, Anna crouched down besides him, feeding him with a little light through her fingertips to protect him. The sole remaining guardian appeared above Semyon, his energy now depleted too much to regain his human form. And Anna did not pity him; this evil bastard would be lost forever.

"I will take him!" the Wolf wheezed.

"Never," Anna said, her voice quite and dangerous.

"I will not go alone…"

"You will!"

She shouted the words at him, raising her search light and putting energy back into it. The beam of light intensified as the Wolf howled in pain, vanishing back into the darkness and disappearing into the Gloom forever. Semyon opened his eyes briefly, feeding off the bright light. Anna set the torch down and bent over him, kissing him and sharing enough energy with him to safely bring them back up to the First Level. The colourless reality came back and it now seemed so bright and welcoming. The Gloom had consumed a victim today and it was full of energy; no one else would be in danger today in the higher levels.

"Bloody hell!" Anton exclaimed.

"Are you alright?" Bear asked.

Semyon glanced up at the other Night Watch officers, reaching up and rubbing his eyes. He slowly sat up, Anna supporting him before he leaned against her, she holding his shoulders.

"Semyon?" Tiger Cub queried.

"I'm alright," he replied.

"Are you sure, you went in very deep."

Semyon turned round and looked at Anna.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"I'm fine," Anna replied.

She gently stroking his hair, smiling.

"What about the guards?" asked Semyon.

"I killed the first before he killed me," she explained. "I went into the Third Level after you and protected you from the second. I forced him into the Gloom forever and then helped you escape. If I'd have taken any longer, I fear I might have lost you."

"The Inquisition won't like this."

"Stuff them; I don't care who I have to kill to save the life of my lover."

Anna got to her feet, Tiger Cub moving over and assisting her to help Semyon stand up. They allowed him to remain standing freely, both satisfied at the Magician's quick recovery. Semyon then reached for Anna and took her by the shoulders, observing her thoroughly before smiling.

"You are fine!" he proclaimed.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Anna asked.

"You went into the Third Level."

"I had to save you."

"Anna, not even I can go in deep for so long."

"I'm not sure if I could do it again; I did it for you."

"And with no training; I'm impressed!"

"You taught me how to go as deep as the Second Level; I knew all I needed was a little more spare energy as the Gloom drained more from me. The extra energy came from my desire to save you."

"That's enough."

The other Night Watch officers fussed over Anna and Semyon, making completely certain that they were alright. Stingray was overjoyed at the way which Anna had killed the evil Dark Shape Shifter.

"Geser has shielded our presence from above," Stingray confirmed.

"So, he's contacting you Lev," Vyacheslav noted.

Stingray shrugged. "The boss knows I'm easily confused."

"Bless you Stingray!" Tiger Cub laughed.

She ruffled his hair affectionately as they walked over to the staircase; the lift was now out of order as expected for an office block up for rent. The state of disrepair the old building was in was even enough to stop the lift in the Gloom from working. Before Anna followed her comrades, she felt a hand on her shoulder, quickly turning round to end up facing Ignat.

"That was a brave thing you did," he noted.

She didn't really know how to reply to that.

"Even the boss finds it hard to sustain deep levels of the Gloom for long."

"I'd do anything for Semyon," Anna replied, firmly.

"You must really love him."

"I do."

"Then I accept defeat."

"Both to Semyon and Bear?"

"Yes, I guess you're right."

"Good, I'm glad to hear that's sorted."

Anna and Ignat followed their comrades, moving in behind Semyon for security. Clearly Stingray was also feeling insecure, for he was also hovering around his former tutor. But everyone was suddenly feeling tense about this; as if something wasn't quite right, and it had already started off quite nasty. Vyacheslav stopped them outside where he could feel the thoughts of some of the people.

"In there," he whispered.

"Is it all of them?" asked Semyon.

"No; Boris, Evgeniy and Bogdan."

"What about Vladimir and Vsevolod?"

"They're not in there."

"Maybe they're not in the Gloom," suggested Tiger Cub.

"No; they're simply not in this room."

"Then we nee to find them."

"Subtly; Falcon is hiding somewhere. Thankfully, this place is electrically wired from top to bottom. First the lift shaft, then the lights, the heating, the air conditioning and the computer terminals and finally the backup generator. Anna, do you think you can use the electron pathways to search for your father?"

"I think so," Anna replied.

"Then that's how we'll find him."

Vyacheslav tested the door with his torch, sensing that it was only locked within the human reality; that meant no more long Gloom journeys. He stepped aside, Semyon casting one of his favourite spells and blasting the door of its hinges. Inside, Boris flinched at the sound, cowering back against the wall. The Night Watch officers ran in, aiming their UV lights all over the place. Wolf was standing there in human form, sunglasses protecting his dark eyes. The young man standing next to him had spiky red hair, big round sunglasses, a small red moustache and a spiky collar around his neck. A smile rose to Wolf's face.

"A murder and once forced into the Gloom," he noted.

He turned to Anna. "The Inquisition will love you."

"Leave her out of this," Vyacheslav snarled. "Your men tried to force Semyon into the Gloom, no doubt something Yuri wanted them to do. Anna had the right to protected him and she did so. No one stands and lets a fellow officer fall into the Gloom like that, especially a loved one."

"Zavulon sees it differently."

"Then he'll let that known to Geser."

"What have you done with Vsevolod?" Anton asked.

"Reinitiated him."

"Don't lie!"

"We've hidden him from you."

"You're wrong to deceive Nadya," Vyacheslav snarled.

"What's she to you?"

"She cares about justice."

Fox laughed. "Are the rumours true then Berezkev?"

"What rumours?"

"About you and Nadya…"

"She is Dark Vyacheslav," Wolf cut in.

"At least she's not bullying Vsevolod," Vyacheslav growled.

"And we are?"

"Yes!"

Anna caught Tiger Cub's glance and turned away from them, Semyon slipping an arm about her shoulders as though to comfort her. That action was only taken as a sign of sentiment by the three Day Watch officers, so it was ignored. Anna followed the lighting cables out of the room and deep into the mains, travelling up each floor using the lift shaft wiring.

"Can you see him?" asked Semyon's voice in her head.

"Not yet," she replied.

She had followed the wires up to the seventh floor, beginning to feel a different mood up here. There were still a few more floors to go. Strange, why was Yuri running up the stairs so fast?"

"Is he in this building?" Vyacheslav asked.

"Find him yourself," Wolf replied, acidly.

"That's what you're here for, isn't it?" Fox added.

"You're not honouring the agreement made between your boss and ours," Anton replied. "You are supposed to leave him alone and allow him to live alone with no fear from either side. We have right to be here because it is our job to protect him from Zavulon."

"This is not about Vsevolod.2

Anton paused. "Then who?"

"We won't hurt him," Wolf added.

"Then why hold him hostage?" asked Tiger Cub.

"Because you're trying to get us into trouble!" Stingray backed her up. "You made sure Anna got into a situation worthy of a punishment. No you're trying to accuse us of trying to turn Vsevolod to the Light or something. But you know we cannot do that; Dark Others can never turn towards the Light, only towards humanity."

"Sound reasoning Tupolev," Wolf commented.

"That's why he's here," Vyacheslav replied.

"But I'm afraid he is quite wrong."

Anna was ignoring the conversation, letting them talk while she searched the building for her father. Yuri had teleported out of the building with an unconscious and, due to that, an unnameable entity, leaving Falcon behind. Now something was really wrong. The Shifting Dark Magician was doing something. Why could she smell fire?

"Are you alight?" Semyon's voice asked.

She didn't reply.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't…" she trailed off.

She felt heat building up now in Falcon's hands. A time spell was cast; he turned into the bird of prey he commonly used and flew from the open window. She could smell burning; smoke filtered along the wires and disturbed the electrons she was using, followed by fire.

"Get out now!" Anna yelled out loud.

From high up in the office block, there was an explosion and a surge of flames. It was an arson attack planned by Falcon and the Day Watch. Hurriedly, Wolf and Fox changed into their animal forms and exited the Gloom, leaving the room behind and forgetting about Boris. The Night Watch officers looked around, Anton glancing out of the window and watching as debris showered onto the Gorsvet vans.

"We need to get out," he observed.

"You go," Semyon ordered.

"What about you?" asked Anna, concerned.

"I'll put a shield around the top of the building while the field operators put out the fire. Just to stop the building from falling on top of their heads."

The other officers left, Semyon staring at Anna.

"Go now!" he shouted.

There was an explosion and Anna left after Stingray, still worrying about Semyon who remained behind. The Magician saw back into the human world, visualising how bad the flames were. It wasn't as bad as it was in the Gloom but the Night Watch only needed to put the fire out in the world of the Others. Carefully, making sure the floors above him were safe, Semyon cast a strong shielding spell to hold up the damaged floors. He turned to leave, spotting Boris trying to escape unnoticed.

"No you don't!" he growled.

Outside, Anna had ran from the burning building and passed the swarm of Night Watch officers astride the emergency vans. She stopped by her own truck, turning back to stare at the building while Anton and Vyacheslav caught up. She leaned against her yellow van and looked out for Semyon, but he was no where in sight.

"They all got away!" Anton proclaimed.

"What is Zavulon playing at?" added Bear, angrily.

"Where's Semyon?" Anna asked.

The others stopped talking and looked around, but Semyon still hadn't joined them. How long was he going to take? There was an explosion from one of the upper floors of the office block, several chunks of burning debris being hurled onto the streets below. A clear reaction of the Magicians trying to put out the magical fire. A cold spot suddenly hit Anna inside' had something gone wrong with Semyon's Spellcasting?

"He must still be inside!" Anna exclaimed.

"What is that idiot doing?" Vyacheslav questioned.

"I have to get him."

She ran off before Anton could stop her.

"Anna don't!" he called after her.

"What is she doing?" Bear sounded amazed.

"Hurting herself most likely."

"Leave her," Tiger Cub warned.

"Are you insane?" Stingray queried.

"She loves Semyon; she wont leave him behind."

"You remember at the door," Ignat added.

Anna ran back across the road, pushing passed the other Night Watch agents who were there to prevent the fire spreading beyond the Gloom. The orange glow looked quite surreal against the colourless backdrop of the gloomy sky. The officers tried to call her back, but she ignored them; there was no way she'd let Semyon remain behind in this building.

"Semyon!" she called into the Gloom.

She ran back into the building through the door they'd unlocked earlier on. Looking around, she saw Semyon in the foyer holding his torch at the Vampire Boris, who was lying on the floor.

"Semyon!" she cried.

He turned to face her.

"What are you doing?" he asked her.

"Get out of here!" she shouted.

"I need to arrest this insane man and put him up for execution."

"Let the other Magicians deal with him."

"But he could get away…"

"I don't care Semyon!"

There was another explosion several floors above the, more debris raining down to the street outside. Semyon ignored the dust that was dislodged from the ceiling and turned back to face Boris, who flinched away from the torchlight. Anna ran over to him and turned him round to face her, taking his head in her hands.

"No Semyon!" she exclaimed. "It's too unstable."

"But I've put up a shield," Semyon explained.

"Only a temporary one! It's not worth it, Semyon."

He looked into her eyes, seeing the fear.

"I can't loose you!" she continued. "You mean too much to me."

Semyon closed his eyes and wrapped his arms about her, holding her against him in a rough embrace. There was a second explosion and a ceiling tile was cracker, the hard chunks falling on top of Boris and knocking him unconscious. Like that, he only had a few minutes to go before the Gloom took him. That would be a fitting punishment for all of his crimes.

"I'm sorry Anna," Semyon told her gently.

"Just get out of here," she ordered.

He picked her up in his arms and carried her out of the building, jogging across the road with her. The fire really was under control, but the Gloom was also aiding in crushing the building at the same time. That was why the ceilings were all beginning to crack. Semyon went over to his van, Anna still in his arms. He deposited her besides it, released her, took her face in his hands and kissed her roughly. She pulled away from him, stroking his stubbly cheek.

"Don't do that again," Anna snapped.

"I won't," he replied.

"You can't get killed Semyon!"

"I know, I know! I've been told that many times."

"I love Semyon. I need to know you're safe."

He brushed back some of her black hair.

"Then don't let me out of your sight."

He smiled, taking off her sunglasses and slipping them into her jacket pocket. The entire team shifted out of the Gloom, only one or two of the other Night Watch field operatives actually in the human reality with the vans. They were making sure humans did not come to close to the office block. Here, you could no longer see the fire, only damage apparently caused by neglect. The truth lay within the Gloom.

"Let's tell Geser the bad news," Anton stated.

"Oh he'll love this," Vyacheslav shook his head.

"He'll know it's not our fault right?" asked Anna.

Ignat sighed. "Hopefully."

"Hmm, but you know the boss," Anton added.

Anna climbed back into her yellow Gorsvet truck, Stingray and Ignat joining her in the passenger seat. She watched as Tiger Cub and Bear hopped onto the motorbike and Semyon, Vyacheslav and Anton got into the other van. It was hardly their fault; neither Anton nor Vyacheslav could predict the arson attack. She sighed and followed Tiger Cub on her motorbike, Semyon following her back to Gorsvet. Hopefully Geser could see that too.