Chapter 22

Oksana and Mark's POV

Mark and Oksana arrived in Las Vegas late in the afternoon. They picked up their luggage and without further delay hired a car to drive to the outskirts which the GPS approximated would take them an hour to reach their destination. They had an old address to go by and truly hoped Robert had not moved since. When they reached the address the house looked run-down and in desperate need of TLC. Weeds had overrun the front lawn and the fence was in desperate need of a paint job. As they walked down the concrete step path that was broken and cracked they noticed hundreds and hundreds of envelopes on the front porch.

"Do you think he has moved? This is the right address the envelopes are all addressed to Robert Duru!" Oksana could sense the presence of spirit but it was very weak.
"I am not sure, there is only one way to find out!"
"You're right! Here goes nothing". Oksana knocked on the red front door that looked like it was about to fall of its hinges. Nearly 5 minutes went by when they decided to give up and turn around but in the next moment the door creaked open.

"Yes hello who is it?". A man appeared through a little crack in the opening of the door to the house that was locked via a door chain. The man appeared frail with a blank look plastered on his face.
"Robert, Robert is that you?" Oksana knew it was Robert not only from the clear image she evoked from memory but also from the golden aura surrounding him. Yes there were other colors mixing in with his aura especially the unmistakable swirl of black threatening to engulf the gold, but it was definitely Robert.

"No I'm sorry there is no Robert here!" wait what! Could Robert not tell it was them? Could he not sense my aura or was he just too afraid to open up to his past.

"Robert it is us Oksana and Mark". There was a slight pause but after a few moments the door shut in their faces. "Robert it is us, don't you remember us?" Their pleas were desperate for Robert was their only hope to uncover the mystery behind changing a Strigoi back. There was nothing but silence.

"Mark what are we going to do" I think spirit has really affected his mind!" Oksana was fearful that Robert might not help them.

"We have to try and convince...". The door opened again, this time properly and Robert looked like he was a completely changed person. Where there once was a blank face, it was now replaced with a smile. Not a full blown smile but a smile all the same.

"Oksana and Mark, what has brought you here?". In a split second his appearance changed to one of a frightened little child. "Wait what are you doing here? How did you find me? Who sent you?" The array of different personalties that Robert was occupying was overwhelming to say the least.

"Robert you gave us this address many years ago we actually thought you might have moved we kind of just went on a whim in hoping you still lived here.". Mark was trying to put on a brave and friendly face but he was so worried for Oksana. Was this the future that awaited his love. They were on a quest to try and restore a Strigoi and god only knew how much Spirit that would evoke.

Robert sensing the internal struggle in Mark again changed his attitude.

"Mark what is it you are afraid to tell me, what is wrong?"
"I think it is better if we go inside and talk don't you agree?" Robert was still a little hesitant before letting them both inside his house.

"Here Robert I have a gift for you" Oksana held out a plain silver ring in her hand for Robert to take.

"What, what is it, are you trying to trick me, your aura is presenting a hint of deviousness"
"No Robert I promise it is a charm please take it and you will instantly feel its effects" Robert took the ring and the change is instantaneous.

"My dear friends it has been too long"
"Robert, yes it has been too long may we please come inside and talk to you?"
"Yes yes yes you're right of course, please my friends come and sit down in the lounge." They walked down a small hallway to the lounge where the paint was peeling from the walls. The lounge room chairs where moulded and food wrappers were lying around everywhere. Flies seemed to have taken up residence as well.

"Robert this is an interesting place you have here" Mark had to refrain from dry reaching as the smell was beginning to become unbearable.

"Please let's skip the pleasantries Mark what is it that you both want?" Robert could sense both auras were full of a mixture of anxiety, curiosity and doubt but also hope, this was indeed and interesting mix.

"Alright Robert we have a friend that has been turned Strigoi and if our memory serves us correctly you said that once upon a time you managed to turn a Strigoi back to their natural form. We need to know Robert if the story you told us is true?"

"Yes it is true I freed a woman for what feels like a life time ago" Robert's posture relaxed and his eyes glazed over as if he was thinking back to his past.

"Robert please, we must ask how did you do it?"
"Simple man, I staked her!"
"But this is impossible if you stake a Strigoi they die"
"Not if you stake them with a stake charmed with Spirit as well as the other four elements."
"So we must infuse a stake with Spirit and then just simply stake the Strigoi in the heart. That seems simple enough". Oksana couldn't believe her ears, she already had mastered the art of infusing charms with spirit, this would be a piece of cake.

"Unfortunately there is a catch! Only the Spirit – blessed have the gift of freeing the soul therefore only you or someone like us could return a Strigoi to their former self.". Oksana was taking in all the information silently and slowly sifting through all the possible outcomes.

"No, I won't let you do it! Oksana this is madness! I know what you are thinking and I can not let you do this! Do you know how hard it is to stake a Strigoi it takes a fully qualified Guardian decades to master the technique." Mark was outraged by the new information handed to them and new exactly what would result from their actions. He would not allow Oksana to put her self in this dangerous situation.

"If you please Mark this is something that Oksana must do and on her own, she holds the power!" Robert seemed to be slipping into his crazed conversations with himself looking out into space and fidgeting with his hands out in front of him while repeating the mantra only the spirit-blessed have the power...

"Mark I think this is our cue to leave" Oksana grabbed Mark by the arm and they both left the house along with its deranged occupant.

"Oksana please I beg you, you can't do this!"
"I can and I will and I hope that you will support me, or else you can turn around and go back to Russia!" Oksana used such force and finality in her words that it stopped Mark short and all he could do was give her a nod confirming that he will stay by her side.

"Good now I shall call Dimitri so that we can meet up with him and get this over and done with".