Despite Dmitri's protests, Mike, Lu, Og, and Anastasia refused to go to Paris without Pooka. As they were going, there was a white bat named Bartok watching everything. He also overheard that when Mike, Lu, and Og were alone was that they were on a mission and that Mike was a descendant of Anastasia. The bat flew and went to find his master, Rasputin. Due to Rasputin coming to back to life and the word of Anastasia being back, he planned to make it so his prophecy can be fulfilled and the last of the Romonovs would die. The bat was ranting to himself and before he knew it, Rasputin was indeed brought back.

"Bartok?" a raspy voice asked. "Is that you?"

The white bat gasped once he got himself settled and saw the rotting remains of his boss. "Master, you're alive?"

"Yes," Rasputin revealed himself with his mangy black hair and sickly grin spin in ripped and tattered robes. "In a matter of speaking."

Bartok looked up, then cringed and winced since Rasputin's eye popped out of its socket. "Whoa! That fell right out there, sir."

"Something's happened." Rasputin remarked as he took his eye and put it back in place.

"Yeah..." Bartok looked really sheepish and nervous.

"I knew it!" Rasputin grinned darkly. "I could feel the dark forces stirring!"

"I'm not surprised, because I saw her," Bartok replied. "Anastasia, and these three kids who aren't from this time apparently. The red-headed one claims to be a direct descendant of Anastasia herself!"

"Anastasia!?" Rasputin was no doubt enraged. "Alive!? And she has descendants!?"

"Uh, sir..." the bat backed up since Rasputin's mouth dropped. "Your lips... They're..."

"THAT ROMONOV BRAT!" Rasputin snarled.

Bartok moved the lips back in place, though he was very disgusted to do so. "Yeah, ain't that the kick in the head?" He smiled nervously. "I guess a curse just ain't what it used to be."

"That's why we're stuck here in limbo!" Rasputin stormed off. "My curse is unfulfilled! Look at me!" His body was decaying, rotting, and slipping apart quick. "I'm falling apart, I'm a wreck!"

Bartok cringed a bit and came close to the fallen man. He gently offered a sympathetic ear and tried to motivate his boss into doing what he would do best. "Actually, considering how long you've been dead, sir, you look pretty good..."

Rasputin refused to listen and found himself sobbing noisily.

"You do, sir, you do!" Bartok repeated, even more encouragingly.

Rasputin blinked, deciding to listen this time. "Really?"

Bartok gave a nod. "Sir, is this the face of a bat who would lie to you? Come on, for a minute there, you had your old spark back!"

Rasputin didn't feel too much better now, but he did get off his lazy and sad butt. "Before I lost the gift from the dark forces... The key to my powers!"

"What?" Bartok observed as he took out what Rasputin had been looking for all this time. "You mean this requilery?"

"WHERE DID YOU GET THAT!?" Rasputin sounded amazed and pleased.

"I found it." Bartok informed with a smile.

"Give it to me!" Rasputin demanded.

"Alright, alright," Bartok hesitated a moment before handing it over. "Don't get so grabby!"

Rasputin took it and felt very pleased. "My old friend... Together again..." he had an evil chuckle as he felt completely motivated. "Now my dark purpose will be fulfilled... And the last of the Romonovs will DIE!"

There was a dark blast of green thunder then. Rasputin was now planning with Bartok about how he was going to go after the case in the dark of the night. He was going to get rid of Mike too, she was essential to the plan as well.