Hey sorry it's been a long wait but I am super swamped. Anyway thanks for your understanding and here's another a chapter.

Enjoy!

Max's POV

I was woken by a slam, instinctively clutching Molly's body closer to mine. We were in a different position from the plane. We weren't propped up against the wall but were instead strewn carelessly on the floor, Molly's body in front of mine a few inches from me with my arms wrapped tightly around her. It felt like we had be thrown in.

"Now you to keep quiet, it's a long drive to St Petersburg from here," a voice said as laughter started up.

An engine revved into life and Molly groaned, lifting her head from resting on my arm.

"Max? What's going on?" she asked, pushing herself up into a sitting position. I sighed, rubbing my face.

"I think we're heading for a place called St Petersburg," I mumbled, sitting up against the wall. Molly's eyes widened.

"We're in Russia?" she cried.

"Shut up back there!" a gruff voice that sounded like Uri shouted. I sneered at the wall before laying my head back against the wall.

"Max?" I looked over at Molly. "What do you thinks goanna happen to us?" I sighed again, opening my arms for her. Although slightly reluctant, she slowly crawled into my embrace and curled into a ball on my lap.

"I think that, once we get to where they are taking us, we will wait for the opportune moment before making a clever escape," I whispered into her blonde hair. Molly lifted her head and looked at me.

"How can you be sure?" she asked and I grinned.

"A magician never reveals his secrets," I said, fighting off a smirk at the hidden message in my words. Molly gave me an unsure look before shrugging and snuggling back into my chest.

Rough hands grabbed my shoulders as the doors to the van opened, blinding me temporarily with light. Molly was wrenched from my arms, kicking as soon as what was happening set in.

"Let me go! Let me go! Max help!" she cried as she struggled towards me. I struggled as well, until a blow to my stomach caused my legs to buckle out from under me.

"Stop struggling! Vladimir vants to speak to both of you!" Uri roared as he pulled me along.

I didn't know where we were but my senses could tell a few things. It was cold and I could see snow around. I could hear wind howling through the air and taste the staleness of the frozen air mixed with smoke? Before I had the chance to look around I was shoved into a building and led down a corridor with a lot of doors on each side. It was rather old fashioned, the building made of old wood that barely kept the cold out.

"What's through those doors?" I asked. Uri sneered down at me.

"Living quarters," he mumbled.

"For who?" I asked and Uri glanced over at Molly who had been pushed into place beside me.

"You'll see," he said with another chuckle. Before I could ask I was shoved through the very last door at the end of the corridor.

Inside was a dank little room only holding a few items. One was a table covered in dollars, euros, currency for almost every country. Maybe a million of each. Sitting behind the table was a man, arms folded over the money. He was slim and muscular with slicked back black hair and a thin moustache and beard covering his strong jaw. His eyes were grey, almost black.

"Uri, stand by the door, the rest of you leave," the man instructed. The others nodded as Uri let them out before shutting and locking the door. There was a long pause. "Mr. Russo I presume?" he drawled out in a thick Russian accent.

"Vladimir?" I asked and the man nodded.

"Yes, and I presume the girl is Molly?" Molly snorted.

"I'd say it was a pleasure but…" Vladimir's face darkened.

"Take her to von of the rooms," he instructed and Molly was dragged out, struggling as usual.

I stared down at Vladimir, weighing my options on how I could get me and Molly out of this. Magic would be my first choice, as long as Molly didn't see.

"I hope you don't intend to use your…skills as a means to escape," I froze, staring at Vladimir. "Because the charm around your wrist rather prevents that," I looked to my wrist to see a sliver bracelet with a red gem in the centre around my wrist. I looked back up to meet this mans eyes.

"Who are you?" I asked and Vladimir chuckled.

"You may not know me know Mr. Russo but you will," he said as he stood up. I watched as he circled around the room like a vulture circling its prey. That's right, I can do fancy similes. "vhere do you vant me to start Russo?" Vladimir asked.

"Who are you?" Vladimir chuckled.

"Although I was born here in Russia, I am no mortal like the rest of them. I also know that you are no mortal, Max. You are a vizard." he gave me a sick smile at that last one. "For now I vill not tell you vat I am but I vill tell more of a different subject."

"But you never really did answer my question," I countered and he sneered at me.

"True. If you must know I am an Ungifted." my eyebrows creased together.

"An Ungifted? I've never heard of one of you," I said and he chuckled.

"Not many have. An Ungifted is someone who cannot use any powers," I snorted.

"Sucks for you huh?"

"But also cannot be harmed by any form of magic or magical creature," he finished and my smirk dropped.

"I can see how that would be helpful," I mumbled and he smirked.

"But not being affected by magic is not enough. I demand power!" his voice raised and I flinched. "Others vere granted power vhile I was left to rot!" I could already piece together this guys past.

"Older brother or sister get their powers? I've been there buddy," I said. He glared at me, fury in his eyes and he stalked over to me and punched my jaw, sending me to the floor.

"Younger sister if you must know, but she vas dealt vith," he said with venom in his voice as he walked back over to the other side of the room.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I managed to gasp out, holding my jaw as I pulled myself back onto my feet. I heard Uri give a snort of laughter.

"My sister met her end so that I could get vhat vas mine," he said before flicking his hand. Before my eyes a plate of fruit appeared on the table. My eyes widened and I looked over to an exhausted looking Vladimir.

"I thought you said you were Ungifted," I said and Vladimir grinned.

"Magic can not affect me still, but thanks to an ancient spell I was able to transfer half her powers into me, even if this is just a simple conjuring spell. Unfortunately it vas too much for her body to handle and she died before I could get all of her powers."

I glared at Vladimir with disgust. I could see he felt no remorse for basically murdering his sister and all he saw in me was the other half to his quest for powers.

"What are you going to do to Molly?" I demanded, my voice shaking with anger.

"That question is certainly not vat I was expecting," Vladimir mused and I fought back my growl. "She is…different to all the other girls here. I can not tell if she is mortal or not but if she is not vat we think she is then she vill at least sell for a good price."

My eyes narrowed.

"What are you talking about? Molly is mortal," I said, praying that she was. Vladimir chuckled, nodding his head slightly.

"Ve shall see," he mumbled as Uri grabbed me and dragged me out of the room. I was dragged down the corridor again and thrown into a room three doors down from Vlads. Uri threw me onto the floor before backing out of the room and locking the door. I scrambled up, throwing myself against the door.

"Let me out! Where's Molly!" I yelled through the door.

"Max!" I heard someone shout back off to my right. I walked over to the wall and placed my ear against it.

"Molly? Is that you?" I asked.

"Max! they locked me in here!" she answered through the wall. I could hear the distress in her voice. "Max, when are we going to get out of here?" I asked. I sighed.

"I don't know Molly. It looks like this magician's been locked in his own trick," I said, slumping down against the wall.

There was a long pause and I could hear Molly copy my position. "You were right Molly, this is all my fault," I mumbled in self pity. I heard a sigh.

"This wasn't your fault Max, Uri was targeting me anyway. If anything it's my fault you're hear. I'm sorry Max." I sighed.

"Let's just try and think of a way out of here," I mumbled. I didn't blame Molly for any of this. If it wasn't me he caught, it probably would have been Alex.

All I can do now is keep my promise and make sure no harm comes to Molly. Without magic though, this could prove to be impossible. Soon my eyes grew heavy and I drifted off into a distressed sleep.

Hope you liked it.

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