Chapter 17

There was an air of uncertainty as the team climbed the stairs to the Gorsvet office. No one knew whether Geser would be in a good mood or a bad mood. The boss's emotions always varied from one day to the next; one day he'd be the best guy in the Watch to talk to and the next, he'd be the last man you'd want to look at. They all wondered what mood he would be in now and what reaction they'd receive when they turned up at his office. However, if they were expecting anything at all, they certainly weren't expecting what they saw when they arrived.

Geser was not alone in his office. With him were Zavulon, Wolf and Nadya of the Night Watch followed by another man no one had seen before. Anna felt her stomach clench; he was from the Inquisition. Geser looked grave and silently furious; what was he thinking? Did he believe that some sort of punishment was necessary? Semyon instantly moved to Anna's side and held her hand.

"The accused must stand alone," the man ordered.

"Maxim Ivanovich please," Semyon protested.

"You know the procedure, Semyon Pavlovich."

"While she is under my tuition and protection, I must stay with her at all times to make sure she stands a fair trial. After all, it is up to me that I teach her how we work in the Night Watch. And she needs protection against him."

Semyon glared harshly at Zavulon.

Maxim sighed. "Permission granted, Semyon Pavlovich."

Geser nodded approvingly at Semyon, who sighed with relief. The other Night Watch officers were forced to stand to one side, all of them with concerned expressions on their faces. None of them were expecting things to go this far. Anna took one glance at the smug expression on Wolf's face; what had he claimed?

"The accused is Light Magician Anna Vsevolovna Kepalenko of the Night Watch," Maxim proceeded. "She is charged with two murders; one by use of magic and the other forcing an officer of the Day Watch into the Gloom forever. Do you plead guilt of this crime, Anna Vsevolovna?"

"I did it yes," Anna replied. "But it was no crime."

"She should leave the Watch!" Wolf exclaimed.

"I agree it was merciless killing," Zavulon added, calmly.

"You bastard!" Semyon growled.

"Semyon Pavlovich," Nadya cut in, sternly.

She turned back to her boss.

"No Zavulon," she began. "As licensed by the Night Watch, it is my duty here to ensure that Anna Vsevolovna receives a fair trial by the justice of the Truce. We have already heard Evgeniy Yaromirovich's version of the story; a perspective not witness to the event and even shielded by Lord Geser from the Night Watch officers. Anna Vsevolovna's views must be heard."

"You forget your place Nadya," Zavulon snarled.

"I am doing my job. It's about time you did your properly."

"she was treading on thin ice at the moment, but under the watch of the Inquisition, he could do nothing to her. Even if Zavulon wanted the punishment, her own licence and loyalty to the Truce would deny it if Anna was proved innocent. Anna had just been given a hope to reduce the punishment by a respectful enemy. A Dark Other maybe, but one who played by the rules.

Maxim nodded. "Go ahead, Anna Vsevolovna."

"It was a simple plan," Anna explained. "Semyon and I entered the Second Level of the Gloom to unlock the door protected by the two Day Watch guardians, allowing our comrades to proceed in the First Level. The two Shape Shifters met us there, one forcing Semyon deeper into the Third Level and the other focussing on me. I had to kill him before he forced me deeper and left my to be taken by the Gloom. Then I went after Semyon, who was being taken himself, so I forced the second wolf into the Gloom forever and used my remaining energy to free Semyon."

"Why is it so important to save his life?"

"Because he's a comrade in the Night Watch."

"Is that enough? Enough to commit murder?"

Anna paused a little. "I'm in love with him, sir."

"And does that also excuse your actions?"

Anna went to reply, but Ignat cut in.

"I think it does," he noted.

"You may not speak out of turn," Maxim snapped.

"Let him speak Maxim Ivanovich," Nadya cut in. "The other officers of the Night Watch present here are witness to the event, even though they were in higher levels of the Gloom. If Ignat has any extra detail to add into this trial, then please allow him to speak his views."

She was even able to forget her dislike of Ignat.

"Permission to speak," Maxim agreed.

So far, it appeared the Day Watch had the upper hand.

"In your accusation of Anna Vsevolovna, you are forgetting one important thing," Ignat began. "The Day Watch were holding Vsevolod Kepalenko, Anna's father, captive and then they used two agents to attack Semyon and attempt to kill him. Does that evil deed not entitle the Night Watch to do a good deed, as agreed by the Truce?"

"So you are saying the murders were a good deed?"

Zavulon smirked.

"No," Ignat continued. "I am saying her rescue of Semyon was a good deed."

"That is true," Maxim replied.

"She was protecting, not only a fellow officer of the Light from a fate worse than death, but the man she loves. Love is a power of the Light Maxim Ivanovich, and Light is what Anna feeds on, like all of us here in the Night Watch. The choice was either not kill the Dark Others and let her tutor, protector and lover fall victim of the Gloom, or save his life and kill the enemy. In her situation, only one decision was good, and that was to kill the Dark Shape Shifters."

"Semyon would have been a casualty of war."

"And the guardians were not?"

Maxim paused. "Indeed they were."

"Semyon is a player we can not afford to loose."

"His power is one of greatness in your Watch, yes."

"And is therefore protected by Geser himself against Dark Magicians."

"Hmm, Zavulon failed to mention that."

"But I cannot protect anyone myself!" Zavulon shouted.

"You have Zavulon, you protect Dar Witch Alisa," Maxim snapped.

"You cannot try me for murder," Anna began. "The Dark Shape Shifters made the first move to stop us from rescuing their hostage. They were the ones who attempted murder; against Semyon!"

"You see," Ignat added. "It is the Dark who are guilty."

"Zavulon failed to mention that, too," Maxim replied.

"I was not a witness!" the Dark Magician blurted out.

"Then your conviction cannot be justified!" Geser shouted, angrily. "You would have had Anna given up to the Day Watch, wouldn't you? This is all part of your little scheme involving the captive Vsevolod, isn't it?"

Zavulon appeared to shrink back.

"Speak for yourself!" Maxim ordered.

Suddenly, the Night Watch had the upper hand.

"We had no witnesses," Zavulon replied.

"Then you cannot justify Anna is guilty," Maxim responded.

"All of the Dark witnesses were killed!"

"I was blocked out by Geser," Wolf agreed.

"In no part to protect Anna from punishment by the Inquisition," Geser explained. "No one had any intention in killing anyone; but Anna is right, it was the Dark that made the first aggressive move. My operatives had the right to defend themselves. I was covering my agents from detection so they could safely rescue the hostage Vsevolod Kepalenko without any complications."

"He is nothing to do with you!" Zavulon snarled.

"On the contrary, he is."

"He is Dark! A Vampire."

"And father of a Light Magician."

"That is her choice…"

"He's uninitiated by our word of agreement…"

"Enough!" Maxim exclaimed.

His words filled the entire room, silencing Geser and Zavulon.

"This is getting out of hand," he continued. "I have decided that Anna Vsevolovna has committed no crime against the Dark. Her only crime is being hopelessly in love with a comrade, if you can call that a crime. Therefore, she and her team will only serve a minimum penalty for the war causalities. They will be on leave for a week and will not serve on any mission, but have the right to defend themselves if they are attacked during that time."

"Maxim Ivanovich," Zavulon protested. "I…"

"Stand down Zavulon! This case is closed."

"You are just ignoring murder."

"It was murder in self defence and for the protection of a loved one a protector. Anna Vsevolovna is a Light Magician Zavulon, and she cannot tell lies. Her word is the one I will be trusting and the voice of Seer Nadya Petrovna."

"Anna Vsevolovna's word is truth," Nadya agreed.

"You are now under the protection of the Inquisition."

Nadya nodded her head and vanished into the Gloom, much to Zavulon's disgust. It had never really been known to him that Nadya had been given to the Day Watch as a representative to the Truce. It was clear the Inquisition knew that the Dark needed one player who would go by the rules fairly to influence others.

"You will go on leave," Maxim told Anna.

"Observed?" she queried.

"No."

He smiled a little. "Take this is a holiday."

He turned to Zavulon, who shrank back again.

"You are dismissed."

As Maxim disappeared, he took Zavulon and Wolf with him, leaving the Night Watch unpunished. Anna relaxed against Semyon, who held her against him and sigh with relief. Geser also smiled, looking much less furious and tense as he did during that uncertain trial. The others looked relieved as well, feeling that they were lucky Nadya had been chosen as one of the representative of the Dark. They could have equally chosen Yuri, which would not have gone down well.

"That wasn't so bad," Ignat commented.

"Well done Ignat," Geser told him. "You did well."

"You need all of our thanks," Semyon turned to his friend.

"Someone needed to say something," Ignat replied.

"Unusual for you to say the right thing."

"It often pays to be gracious in defeat."

"You're admitted defeat to me Ignat?"

"Indeed Semyon I am."

Bear laughed. "History is made!"

Anna glanced at Ignat pointedly, who turned to Bear.

"And also to you," he added.

"Twice," Bear replied.

"Do you have anywhere to go?" asked Geser.

"Actually yes, I do!" Anna replied, grinning broadly. "When I came to Russia, I realised that all the English money I have saved up was worth much more over here. On that discovery, I bought a place up the road from Pevek on the arctic coast. I haven't been up there to check it out yet, so we could all go up there for the week."

"Does it have central heating?" Anton asked.

"Of course."

"And lights?"

"It's in the arctic Anton, of course it does."

"But it'll take all week to get out there," Stingray noted.

"Not flying in the Gloom it wont," Semyon replied.

Stingray and Ignat glanced at each other.

"Fly?" they queried in unison.

----

Later that day, the eight of them had packed a few things to take with them for the week in Pevek. Anna had left telling Stingray and gnat that her van could fly until they planned the leave. So, when they all met outside Semyon and Anna's flat, they were still under the impression they were going by Aeroflot. Ignat was still in disbelief and Stingray was thinking that Semyon would take over the plane and fly them through the Gloom. They were both miles from the truth.

"So how?" Stingray was still asking, impatiently.

"Tell them Anna," Semyon noted, smirking.

"My van could fly," Anna said simply.

Ignat glanced at it uncertainly.

"You're joking," he stated.

"No, I spent half a week modifying it," Anna explained.

"I remember Agent Ivanova couldn't find anyone to do it."

"Ah, but that was before I came."

Tiger Cub nodded. "She's a great engineer."

Everyone loaded their cases into the back of the truck, Semyon and Stingray climbing into the front passenger seat. The others piled into the back, squashing in comfortably with all the suitcases. Anna slammed all the doors shut and locked them securely before climbing into the driver's seat, starting up the engines and driving out of the car park.

"Can I fly through the Gloom?" Anna asked Semyon.

"Just go in as normal, and don't forget the Van and its load," he replied.

Anna pushed the morph button, Stingray hearing the mechanical sounds behind the van. He glanced out through the right wing mirror, staring with wide eyes at the delta shaped wings protruding from the side. Smirking, Anna put her foot down and sped off down the road, taking off into the air. From behind, she could faintly here the sound of laughter as the Night Watch officers laughed at Ignat's surprise.

"It can fly!" Stingray proclaimed.

"Of course it can," Anna replied.

As soon as they reached cruising altitude, Anna looked straight ahead, summoning up the Gloom. The van and everything inside it flew into the grey fog and arrived in the colourless sky of the Gloom. The journey was surreal. They could still move at astonishing speed, but the planes they flew passed on the way were moving very slowly. Time in the human world was normal, but here anything except the Others slowed down.

"Keep going," Semyon told her, softly.

"This is weird," Anna replied.

"But our journey time is cut dramatically."

They flying van flew over the town of Pevek once they arrived, Anna coming in low to land on a small road. Everyone felt the slight bump and the shift as Anna landed and turned the van back into its normal form. They came out of the Gloom before they reached the small northern town, driving out of the centre and along another road until they arrived at a large house that was overlooking the frozen coast line. She parked the van close to the front door and turned off the engines, the headlamps switching off. Semyon glanced out at the snow around the house, that was pretty much solid and it was now too far below freezing to snow. Pevek got most of its snowfall during spring and late summer.

"It's going to be cold out," Anna warned.

"We can handle it," Stingray replied, smiling.

The three Magicians climbed out of the front of the van, meeting the rest of the team outside. They unloaded the van and entered the house, still seeing their breath vaporising in front of them. Clearly no one had bothered to turn the heating on.

"We need some warmth," Ignat shivered.

"I thought you were expert at that," Bear noted, sarcastically.

"No one here wants it from me!"

"You can say that again," Tiger Cub replied.

"You're a wimp Ignat!" Anna proclaimed. "I'll do it."

She drew her energy from the Gloom, the lights in the house coming on first, followed by the sound of the central heating kicking in. That wouldn't warm up for an hour or so, so Anna introduced the warmth of Semyon's flat instead.

"Much better," Anton complimented.

"Thank you," Anna replied, smiling.

"Where's this from?" Semyon asked. "I know it."

"So you should! It's the warmth of your own bloody flat!"

"So it is! Well done, you've captured it well."

Bear looked awkward. "Warmth from where?"

Anna glared at him. "The radiators."

"Good, I thought it was something else for a moment."

Semyon's face went red, Stingray laughing.

"You're glowing again!" he observed.

"Stop looking at that," Semyon protested.

"I enjoy looking at energy auras, and Boris Ignatovich says I need all the practice I can get before I join the Night Watch. Speaking of the boss, I have to say that his is the most interesting. I can always see quite vividly his changes in mood from either really happy or really angry."

"That's Geser alright."

"Where are we all sleeping?" asked Ignat.

"You would ask that," Bear grumbled.

"I'll show you," Anna explained. "But no bringing people back Ignat, not on my property."

Ignat blushed, the others smiling at him with satisfaction. Anna showed Semyon to the first small bedroom, where he would share with her. In the second small bedroom was where Tiger Cub and Bear set up together on two single beds they pulled together. The third room was much large and Anna pulled out four beds; two free standing, one from a sofa and a fourth from the wall. Anton, Vyacheslav, Stingray and Ignat all shared, another incentive to get Ignat out of his usual habits.

"So the motto is?" Stingray queried.

"Be overweight and get a room to yourself?" Anton suggested.

That earned looks from Bear and Semyon.

"Hmm, I was thinking more of get a lover and get your own room."

"No problem," Ignat replied.

"I mean a real one using proper means."

Ignat reddened at Stingray's comment, meaning the young Magician only believed in permanent lovers. That was a bright start for a young lad his age, who was presently more interested in numbers, stars, galaxies and computers than women. Wise move. Anna had always been the same until Semyon came along.

After sorting out bedrooms and dumping the suitcases upstairs, the team were now settled downstairs. They had all fetched drink and food and were having a small party in the living room and adjoining terrace, which was covered in snow. Semyon, Tiger Cub, Bear and Anna were all smoking, Semyon teaching Anna how to use an easy ventilation spell. He said that using it correctly could also ease breathing problems or stop the effect of poison gas attacks.

"I learnt this during the First World War," Semyon began. "As you know, the Germans used mustard and chlorine gas over the trenches. I fought on the Eastern Front of course; front line! Sadly, due to the way the Truce works, we could only prevent the effects of this happening to Others. Firstly, we are not allows to influence humans, and secondly, any act of good we do allows the Dark to do evil."

"You love your stories Semyon!" Anton noted, cheerfully.

They looked at his smiling face carefully.

"Are you drunk Anton?" asked Bear.

"Me? Never! How dare you suggest…"

He took his bottle of vodka and gulped down some more of the strong, clear fluid. Anna read the label, seeing the Russian Cyrillic spelling out 'Stolichniskaya – distilled and bottled in Russia' along the red line. She shook her head, glancing over to Semyon who smirked.

"You can be Anna's test subject," he told Anton.

"What?" the Seer asked.

"Go on Anna."

Anna now understood why Semyon classed this kind of magic as simple. She concentrated on the building toxin levels in Anton's body, dispersing them and observing the unusual affect this had on her friend. His expression changed from rather dazed and smiling to completely sober and a little confused. He looked down at his hands and then back up to Anna.

"You can do that to!" he proclaimed.

"It's actually quite simple," Anna replied.

"Could you do this for me all the time?"

"Err… I see no reason why not."

"Good, because Semyon refused most of the time."

Anna glanced at Semyon. "Why?"

He shrugged. "Anton needs to learn not to drink so much."

"That's fair I suppose."

Anton looked slightly disappointed, but then again Anna was too good a Magician to be fooled. Now that young Stingray was here, he'd probably get him to do it. Although only a year younger than Anna, he was slightly less mature and not so good. Semyon and Anna sat down together, watching Ignat and Stingray who were engaged in a game of chess. Stingray had an unfair advantage because he was able to us his sound logic and Ignat's energy to work out his moves and make unpredictable ones himself.

"That's cheating a bit," Semyon noted, smirking.

"Yeah, but I'm chess champion oat MSU!" Stingray replied.

"Picking on humans too much, Lev."

"Kostya suggested I put my name down."

"Taking suggestions from a Dark Other?"

Semyon looked a little disapproved.

"He's alright you know," Stingray replied.

"He does know you're a Light Other, doesn't he?"

"Sure, but that doesn't stop us being friends."

"What if he comes to us for a licence?"

"Maybe I'll help him keep to the Truce."

Semyon nodded, watching as Ignat cured when Stingray made another ridiculously harsh move. He knew that it was maybe a good thing that Stingray would help keep Kostya nice and legal. However, he also knew if the Vampire was ever lured into the Day Watch, Stingray would be a little upset. That would turn too friends into enemies.

"Let things turn out Semyon," Anna spoke in his head.

"You do learn fast," Semyon approved.

"It's more appropriate than to say it aloud."

"I only worry for Lev's safety."

"I'm sure he's aware of that."

"Sometimes I wonder if he only thinks I go one at him too much."

"Semyon, Stingray's a Magician you trained and he will soon be ready to join the Night Watch. All he needs to do is listen to you to know that all you care about is his safety. During the day, Stingray is Lev Tupolev, a student at the Moscow State University studying for a degree in physics, and Kostya is his friend. Maybe that kind of friendship is good for both of them. Anton is Kostya's friend and neighbour too, don't forget."

"Fair and true Anna."

"Let's leave it at that."

She smiled at him.

"And Kostya's father helps mine."

"Hmm, I guess there's no harm yet."

"Exactly."

"And I know Lev's more sensible than he looks."

"That's not very difficult!"

They both laughed, Semyon yawning and looking around the room. Bear and Tiger Cub, who had been sitting separate with each other and excused themselves for an early night. Anton was also disappearing, staggering upstairs now due to tire rather than drunkenness. Stingray had also beaten Ignat rather easily at chess, both of them now packing the board and pieces away.

"I'll challenge you tomorrow Stingray," Vyacheslav offered.

"Hmm, I'll think about that," Stingray replied.

"It'll beat you at your own game," Ignat muttered.

Vyacheslav laughed, heading upstairs for bed himself.

"I'm going up too now," Semyon stated.

"Do you want hot chocolate first?" Anna asked.

"You drink that a lot in England, do you?"

"Hmm, it's one of the best."

"Bring it up when you join me."

He kissed her and went upstairs, Anna disappearing into the kitchen to warm up hot chocolate for herself and Semyon in the microwave. Stingray came to join her, Ignat wandering in and out to load glasses up for cleaning.

"Thanks for backing up Kostya," Stingray noted.

"You shouldn't listen in on conversations," Anna replied with a smirk.

"Sorry, but I had to make sure that Semyon doesn't disapprove too much of our friendship. I guess as a top Magician, he wouldn't make many friends out of Dark Others, but Kostya's not a Day Watch officer. He knows that I was trained in the Night Watch, but somehow, he seems unaffected by that."

"Semyon worries for your safety."

"I know."

"But he respects you."

"Do I really not look sensible?"

Anna laughed. "Honestly no!"

"Hmm. Ah well, I can't change that."

Once the microwave beeped, Anna opened the door and took out the two steaming mugs, leaving them to stand for a bit.

"How did your parents deal with you being an Other?"

"Yes, I heard about what happened with yours; they didn't understand you. My parents died Anna and it's something I've keep hidden. I did it accidentally when I was only 14; my mother got angry and I cursed her, giving her a black vortex. She slipped on ice and cracked her head open and my father got hit by a trolley bus as he crossed to the car park from work. I met Semyon after that and found out I did it; I was so upset and regretful of it that it forced me to turn Light when I entered the Gloom. I signed up for the Night Watch and began training."

"That's a sad story."

"But it's made him who he is," Ignat added, vanishing again to fetch some plates.

"That is true," Stingray agreed. "Geser fear that if I never found out, I'd be Zavulon's. The boss saved me from turning to the Light by getting Semyon to show me what happened. Then I went to live with him and grew up with the man who saved my life. That's why I'm so close to him."

"Hmm, you're in his debt."

"But because we are Light, it never needs to be repaid. Only honoured."

They left the kitchen, Anna pausing as Ignat went into the kitchen for the last time with a small pile of plates. She picked up the towel from the radiator, catching Ignat before he exited.

"Wash up will you Ignat?" she asked.

She threw the towel at him and left with Stingray. Ignat looked put out, turning the pile of waiting dishes. If he hadn't concentrating on perfecting his infamous ability to seduce, he might have learnt how to wash dishes without having to use elbow grease. He sighed and got to work.