Chapter 19

"You know, I really don't think you should be carrying anything right now," Fritz pointed out casually.

"I'm not carrying her," Magnus shot back flatly.

It was true. Katerina was technically walking on her own, her thin, shaking arm wrapped securely around Magnus's shoulders, her small waist encircled by one of Magnus's arms. The Russian girl struggled to keep up with Magnus, her violet eyes still wide and frighteningly-blank. Magnus bit his lip and shot the silent girl a worried glance before he turned back to the Hungarian boy, his blue eyes zeroing in on the limp Italian that was cradled gently in Fritz's arms.

"...How is he?" Berlin asked quietly.

Fritz fell silent, his eyes darkening as they followed Magnus's gaze.

"...Resting," he lied.

Magnus took a deep breath and turned away, his grip tightening around Katerina. The Russian girl stared up at him, her lips trembling as a thin film of tears fell across her eyes.

"Прости (I'm sorry)," she whispered. "I d-didn't m-m-mean t-too..."

"No," Magnus croaked gently. He allowed his arm to fall from Katerina's waist for a brief moment, his newly-freed fingers brushing tenderly across her bruised and bloody cheek. "Don't be sorry, liebling (sweetheart). Don't be sorry, it's not your fault..."

"Прости," Katerina repeated shakily, as if she hadn't heard him. "I-I'm s-s-so sorry..."

Magnus drew in a shuddering gasp and pulled the girl into his arms, his face disappearing into her blood-soaked blonde hair moments before his shoulders began to shake. Katerina shuddered at his touch, a small, broken sob breaking through her own lips as tears began to stream down her cheeks.

Fritz shuddered and forced himself to keep moving forward, to focus on putting one foot in front of the other as he made his way back to where he had left the adults. His grip tightened automatically on Francisco, even though he already knew that it was pointless. His cousin was beyond noticing any small gestures of kindness now. Fritz doubted that the Italian would ever feel anything again.

"Ludwig! I've found them!"

Fritz froze at the sound of Italy's voice, his snowy skin paling to a sickly ivory as the Italian's auburn head turned the corner, his amber eyes wide and bright with an absurd hope. Feliciano's smile faded when he focused on the slim body in Fritz's arms, his knees buckling beneath him just as Germany, America, Russia, and England rounded the corner.

Fritz was still and silent as the countries stared at him, his muscles tensing when Germany drew closer.

"Is he-" Ludwig's voice cracked and he clenched his fists at his sides.

"A szíve megállt (His heart has stopped)," Fritz murmured.

Italy sobbed out loud, causing those around him to flinch. Germany ducked his head for a moment, his broad hand pressing weakly against his eyes as a single tear ran across his jaw.

"...Where is Magnus?" he whispered brokenly. "Do I- do we still have him?"

"He's upstairs," Fritz murmured. "With Katerina."

"Is she alive?" Russia growled, his violet eyes wet and vulnerable despite his fierce tone.

"Yes."

Ivan nodded and brushed past Fritz, his shoulders slumping with a desperate sort of relief. After a moment, Italy followed, his red-rimmed eyes flickering pleadingly over his shoulder when Germany failed to follow as well. Ludwig shook his head and moved forward to take his son from Fritz's arms. The German stared down at Francisco for a long moment before he closed his eyes and slowly slipped to the floor, his eldest son still cradled gently in his arms.

"Verzeih mir, mein Sohn (Forgive me, my son)," he whispered.

Fritz shuddered and turned away just as his father's silver head appeared in the hall, his eyes widening in slight alarm when he realized that America and England were watching him with narrowed eyes.

"Where is she?" England demanded quietly, his calm facade cracking to reveal the desperation in his eyes.

"Who?" the Hungarian asked carefully.

America snarled and took a step towards the teen, only to pause when Prussia shot him a warning glare.

"You know who," he hissed. "Where the hell is my daughter?"

Fritz shook his head, remembering the frightened determination in Alyson's emerald as she begged him not to let her parents find her, pleaded with him to give her some time, to give her a chance to fix everything.

"Please... I need to keep my promise."

"She's missing," the Hungarian murmured. "I couldn't find her... I'm sorry."

Budapest turned away from their devastated expressions, trying to convince himself that he had done the right thing.

Russia hesitated when he caught sight of his daughter, his heart throbbing painfully in his chest when he caught a glimpse of the blood in her hair. He watched for a moment as she cried into Magnus's trembling shoulders, a shudder running through his body as he realized that he recognized the sound, recognized the broken cries and frightened moans that were torn from Katerina'ss lips.

Matvey... Forgive me... She is like me...

"Katenka," he called quietly, his chest tightening when the girl stiffened at the sound of his voice.

Katerina turned slowly to look at her father, her violet eyes wide and blank and frightened... haunted by images that no one else could possibly imagine.

"I-I d-didn't mean it," Moscow whimpered. "I-I'm sorry... I didn't m-m-mean it."

"Я знаю (I know)," Ivan sighed. Russia moved forward without another word and pulled the teen into his arms. Cold, merciless fear stabbed through him when she failed to react, her bright purple eyes- so like his own- staring uncertainly into his from beneath Canada's wavy blonde hair. "Believe me, мой ангел (my angel), I know."

"I'm not an angel," Katerina whispered. "I-I'm a monster... s-she s-said so."

"Мы все монстры (We are all monsters)."

Alyson finished drawing the pentagram with shaking hands, her eyes flickering up to meet Tink's anxious gaze as she made her way to the center.

"You'll tell me what to say, right?" she muttered. "'Cause I have no idea what I'm doing here."

"I will," the fairy promised, her wings trembling anxiously. Tink fluttered towards the American, her bright green eyes taking in Alyson's posture with a critical eye.

After a few moment, Tink nodded.

"Okay," the fairy murmured. "This can work..."

"Hey, Tink?"

"Hm?"

"Did my... Did Mum know about this spell?" Alyson whispered.

The fairy stopped.

"He did, didn't he?" New York City guessed. "He didn't use it."

"None of us would let him," Tink murmured.

"Why?" Alyson pressed.

The fairy hesitated for a moment, her tiny lips trembling with something that wasn't quite fear.

"It's a dangerous spell," Tink admitted. "Even if the spellcaster is at full power, something could go wrong. The past isn't meant to be changed..."

"But... I'm not at full power, am I?" the American asked. "So, what-"

"You will die," Tink told her bluntly. "But you can change this future, as long as you do things right."

"I'm... going to die," Alyson repeated slowly. "I-I don't-"

"It won't be permanent," Tink insisted. "You'll change everything, you'll come back, everything will be okay, it won't be like this-"

"How can you be so sure?" Alyson screamed, interrupting the fairy mid-rant.

Tink frowned and fell slightly until she was staring into the teen's eyes, her jaw clenched in determination.

"Because you're England and America's daughter," she hissed. "...I'll be waiting for you."

"...Cisco?" Alyson whispered.

"He'll be waiting for you, too."

The American nodded and closed her eyes, her lips falling open just as Tink began to whisper the spell into her ear.

"Dumbledora the explorer..."

Yeah, I know, I'm cruel. /shot/. So... I'm really sorry for the delay here. I had honestly planned on writing this sooner, but it took a little while to get into the swing of things at school, soo... Yeah. Also, my work schedule should be filling up soon, so that might mean more delays but I promise that I'll try and update one of my stories at least once a week, okay? Just... stay patient with me?

Also, I don't know if any of you remember, but earlier in this story I asked for you all to pray for my speech coach's wife who had been diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, she died two weeks ago tomorrow. I want to thank everyone who prayed/thought for her, and I would really appreciate it if you would do it again for her family. Thank you again and... I'm not going to ask for anything else. Review if you want, but it's up to you.

I hope everyone is having a great school year so far. :)