"Okay, so, what leads do we have?" asked Penelope, turning to face Baz and Simon from the chalkboard.

"None" Said Simon flatly, chin resting in his palm.

"Wait, we have one…" said Baz, looking at Simon, who looked back curiously. "The hostage"

"You have a hostage!?" Screeched Penny, looking shocked and disgusted. Baz sipped his tea nonchalantly.

"He tried to murder me" he pointed out. Simon nodded, but Penny still seemed unconvinced.

"And you're holding him captive!"

"Yes!" exclaimed Baz, pointing for emphasis. "That is typically what one does with a hostage, is it not, Bunce?"

Penny rolled her eyes and tsked.

"Let's go ask him some questions" She said grumpily, shaking chalk dust from her shirt.

"Ehrm, he doesn't… talk…" said Simon, a bit awkwardly.

"What?" Asked Penny sharply, whipping her head around. "Why not?"

"They, whoever hired him, that is, cut out his tongue" spat Baz, an undertone of malice creeping into his voice. Simon put a hand on his shoulder and he took a deep breath, calming down.

"Can he write?"

"Yes"

"Well then, let's go"

-0-0-0-

"Okay" hissed Penny through clenched teeth. "For the last time, just write down the name. Now"

The boy winced, feeling the angry magic pouring off of Penny. Fearing what might happened if he pushed her more, he shakily put the pen to paper and began to write a single name.

Morgana

"I knew it!" Penny and Simon cried in unison.

"Of course. Who else would it be! I say we charge Watford now!" stated Penny, slamming her hand onto a table and making them all jump.

"Bunce, that's stupid" interjected Baz from the corner he had been lurking in. "We charge Watford and-what? We go into this Morganas classroom and demand she free Agatha? What makes you think that she will? Or that she won't have to power to blast us to pieces the moment we enter the room?"

Penny paused, not expecting Baz to use, *shudder* logic.

"You're right" she relented, sighing.

"We need a plan" Baz explained. "First thing, are we absolutely sure that this is the Morgana we're after?"

Penny nodded vigorously. "Yes. I've read her files. She's gotten warnings from the council about toying with necromancy, but they've just been warnings because they never actually had proof. And she's a poison expert. She knows how to make and cure them all" Penny exaggerated, eyes gleaming.

"Okay. How about this. I, for one, am tired of being stalked. It's really-" he glanced at the boy in the chair. "Getting old. We make her the prey for a change. Let's follow her, at least until she's alone, then we strike"

Penny and Simon nodded. Baz's stomach growled. He sighed and blushed.

"I'll, uh, be back soon" he growled, eyes narrowed. Simon watched him go up the stairs and heard a door slam before following. Penny watched him leave and sighed.

"Lovebirds"

-0-0-0-

Simon used his phone flashlight to follow the deep tracks Baz left behind him. He entered a clearing and just barely glimpsed a bit of blood and a body of…something… lying in the snow before him. He flinched and turned his light instead to a rustle he had heard in the woods behind him.

"Snow" Baz hissed, flinching at the sudden light in his face.

"Sorry!" cried Simon, quickly flicking it off.

"What are you doing here? Why are you following me?" He accused, lowering his arms. Simon looked up at him guiltily. He sighed, brushing a gold curl out of his eyes.

"I don't know, I just, you seemed upset" he said lamely.

"I am upset" said Baz flatly. "But it's nothing that you can help with"

"Try me"

Baz huffed angrily, eyes flashing. "Fine" he hissed. "Simon, I was so close. So, so close. And you stopped it, reversed it, and now I'm further than ever" he almost shouted. Simon just stared, confused, until a wave of understanding washed over his face. Of course. While he had been staring into space, Baz had crouched down and was sitting in the snow, face in his hands. Simon kneeled next to him and gingerly wrapped his arms around a trembling vampire. His trembling Vampire.

"Baz, I-I had no idea…Oh god Baz" was all he could get out. Baz had also hugged Simon back and was shaking and trembling violently, tears staining Simons shoulder.

"I could feel it, Snow. I was alive, I was really, really alive. I was in the light. But now I've just been plunged back down, deeper than before. I'm so lost" he whimpered, sounding like a wounded animal. Simon just held him and tried not to cry himself. He had hurt Baz. He had hurt Baz so bad. But, what was he expected to do!? Just sit back and watch Baz die? He couldn't have done that, either. How could he?

"Snow" rasped Baz after a minute.

"Yes, love?" replied Simon softly.

"I died. Really died. I'm not sure for how long. I was out in the forest and I just died. And I knew it was death. I could sense it. The Grim Reaper was finally here. And everything was white, and I was happy. I knew that everybody I cared about was safe, and that they knew I loved them. I was happy. Then I saw my mother. Actually, I heard her first. She just kept saying the same thing over and over again. It's not your time. It's not your time. I remember stumbling around, trying to find her, until I was just back. And I can't explain it, but it happened. I know it did. And now I'm back, and you're all in danger again"

Simon didn't move. He couldn't. Baz had just told him that he had died, that he was happier dead. So Simon stayed where he was, tears moving silently down his face. They stayed like that until the sun started to shine once more.

-0-0-0-

The veil is lifting. I'm lifting it. Oh Nicky, I can see everything you do. Why? Don't you know? Trying to kill the girl, trying to kill Simon? I made the choice to save Agatha that day, even though I knew the consequences. It's hard to do, but I'm using every last bit of magic I have to see you again. Please don't do anything rash until then.

A/N: Oooh plot twist! Please don't be angry! Sorry this took a while. I've been getting writers block lately. It's almost February where I am, anyone want to be my internet valentine? ;)